BRE announce live workplace well-being pilot project

,

BRE has unveiled plans to undertake a pilot project to measure the real-world health and well-being of building occupants by creating the Healthy Research Building – the UK’s first operational workplace research environment.

The project will see BRE refurbish one of its existing office buildings at its head office in Watford and create a fully operational office that will enable occupants to be monitored whilst they go about their day-to-day work. The aim of the project is to enable BRE to research the impact of indoor environments on human health and well-being whilst generating evidence-based information that can be used in practical ways to create healthier indoor spaces.

It follows the announcement that the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) and BRE are pursuing alignments between the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL) and BREEAM that will make it easier for projects pursuing both standards.

The building, currently home to 60 members of staff, will be reconfigured into BRE’s Healthy Research Building and will form part of the company’s Innovation Park. The refurbishment will pursue BREEAM and WELL certifications and once work has been completed staff will be allowed to freely use the office whilst being monitored using advanced sensor technology and remote monitoring. Data relating to the health and well-being of the staff will then be analysed by BRE with the view of providing the industry with a greater understanding of how different products, materials and internal configurations affect occupants.

“It has been claimed that we spend over 90% of our time indoors and in an office environment, 90% of the cost is the people inside,” commented Martin Townsend, Director of Sustainability at BRE Global. “It is therefore vital that we better understand the effects that indoor environments are having on their occupants. By refurbishing one of our offices to achieve BREEAM and the WELL Building Standard and integrating state- of-the-art monitoring technology we will be creating the UK’s first living laboratory.”

In addition to creating the Healthy Research Building, BRE are calling upon the industry to help participate in the project through the undertaking of specific product testing to ascertain the impacts on occupant health and well-being.

“The health and well-being agenda is such an important part of our sustainable built environment and something that needs to be industry inclusive,” continued Martin. “As such, we don’t just want to research our own staff to drive this agenda, we want to work with the industry to create an inclusive agenda on research. To ensure we actively undertake the research that the industry needs we’re calling on the industry to work with us on an industry supported health and well-being research programme.”

The announcement comes at a time when the industry is increasingly looking at the importance of occupant well-being and the realisation that there is a huge gap in understanding how the built environment impacts biological sustainability as opposed to just environmental. The alignment between BREEAM and WELL will now provide a more cohesive approach to delivering projects that place sustainability and occupant health and well-being at the top of the agenda, and the Healthy Research Building will ensure that real-world data can be ascertained to help make informed decisions.

For more information on BREEAM visit: www.breeam.com and on WELL visit: www.wellcertified.com
/0 Comments/by

Explore Offsite Zone to be showcased at Ecobuild

,
  • Offsite construction expert voice added to the schedule for Ecobuild 2017
  • A series of masterclass seminars will explore the role offsite construction technology will play in tackling the housing crisis and the efficient delivery of infrastructure projects

Ecobuild has announced that it will be partnering with Cogent Consulting, leading experts in offsite construction and Radar Communications, the organisers of the Explore Offsite series of events and conferences to deliver a focused exhibition zone and series of offsite masterclasses for the 2017 edition of the show.

Explore Offsite at Ecobuild, in partnership with Offsite Magazine and the Offsite Hub, will be a dedicated show feature focused on supporting attendees in learning more about the exciting opportunities offered by offsite technology in the future of construction, through a three-day seminar programme and exhibition. By focusing on technology and product innovation, the extensive calendar of masterclasses and demonstrations will highlight the benefits of offsite technology across the built environment – from housebuilding to infrastructure.

The seminars will take place alongside exhibitions showcasing each of the six main types of offsite construction – modular volumetric; steel; timber; concrete; roofing and MEP/pods.

Offsite construction is contributing to resource efficiency, the circular economy and diversifying the skill set in the built environment, all of which will be evidenced by a range of leading exhibitors representing the sector at Ecobuild 2017.

Explore Offsite at Ecobuild comes at a time when the Government is acknowledging the substantial potential of offsite construction. A white paper to be released this month, announced by housing minister Gavin Barwell MP, will look at ways to utilise offsite technology to build 100,000 modular homes over the course of this Parliament2, in a bid to tackle the housing shortage.

With the UK also facing a potential shortage of primary school places, Explore Offsite at Ecobuild will feature the latest innovations in the use of offsite construction to create additional classrooms or add storeys to existing school buildings1.

Visitors will be able to see how extensions can be manufactured away from the building and craned into place in a matter of weeks – offering a sustainable choice by reducing vehicle journeys and increasing efficiency.

Martin Hurn, brand director at Ecobuild, said: “Offsite is clearly the future of construction technology, and it’s happening now. Offsite presents many opportunities for the private and public sectors. Currently some projects can deliver a modular home in 48 hours, which has huge implications for the industry. Our audience wants the latest technologies, systems and processes, and Ecobuild can find no better partners than Cogent Consulting and Radar Communications to bring this to the stage in 2017.”

Darren Richards, Managing Director of Cogent Consulting, said: “Increasingly the construction industry is turning its attention to the substantial benefits offsite technology can offer. In order to make the most of what is possible, clients, contractors and industry at large must have up to date knowledge of what offsite technology suppliers can offer.”

Ecobuild wants to hear from companies who are championing innovation in sustainable construction, design and energy in the built environment. If you are interested in helping shape the 2017 show, find out more at www.ecobuild.co.uk.
Learn more about Explore Offsite at Ecobuild at  www.ecobuild.co.uk/exploreoffsite
/0 Comments/by

Vortice fans selected for award winning regeneration project

Voted the UK’s best regeneration project in the National Housebuilder Awards, Branston Leas by St Modwen Homes, has selected Vortice system 1 centrifugal Quadro fans for its two, three, four and five bedroom properties in Burton upon Trent. Branston Leas was named the best regeneration project in the UK thanks to the many measurable economic, environmental and educational improvements that the development has brought to the local area.

Vortice

Technical Marketing Manager Jennifer Quinn said “We are delighted to be working alongside local electrical contractor PCE Installations of Burton Upon Trent in supplying our range of Quadro fans to this prestigious local project. These energy efficient ventilation fans are stylishly designed and fit beautifully into the interior decor at Branston Leas. ”

The Vort Quadro is an elegant centrifugal fan which comes in inbuilt or surface mounted versions.

Full BIM models and specification details can be found on the Vortice website www.vortice.ltd.uk.
/0 Comments/by

Stanley is proud finalist in Security & Fire Excellence Awards

STANLEY Security is pleased to announce it is a Customer Care Initiative of the Year finalist in the prestigious Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2016 for its Customer Excellence Initiative.

Now in their eighteenth year, the Security & Fire Excellence Awards have consistently broken new ground in highlighting the very best people, projects and processes that the security and fire sectors have to offer. A high number of quality entries were received this year –17% up from last year – making finalist status an even greater achievement than ever.

As part of the Customer Care Initiative award entry, STANLEY Security explained its Customer Experience Team strategy for delivering customer service excellence. This strategy is based around bespoke management, whereby customers receive a dedicated Customer Management Executive to support their needs alongside their Account Manager; a robust CRM system to aid management of all aspects of the customer relationship; and a Customer Management Team which centralises the customer contact point to a single dedicated team. This approach helps differentiates STANLEY Security’s customer experience and has proven to be highly regarded by customers, which is reflected in a consistent fall in customer attrition over the last three years consecutively.

Concise, achievable KPIs have been established across all five STANLEY Security customer touchpoints: account management, installation, service, monitoring and billing. These address all call centre customer interactions, complaint handling by the Customer Management Team and retention tracking to both measure the percentage of Win Backs of contracts expiring and analyse all reason codes to highlight where process or system improvements are required. The KPIs are regularly measured and monitored and lead to genuine, actionable activities to further feed in to the customer experience programme.

Continuous improvement is a key factor in the success of STANLEY Security’s customer service strategy. STANLEY Security staff receive ongoing training to enhance customer experience, including weekly call coaching at the National Call Centre. Furthermore, the company is establishing a Customer Journey which ‘hugs’ the customer from initial contract through to re-signing or termination of contract. Going forward this process will provide a Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a management tool that can be used to gauge the loyalty of customer relationships. Customers are then engaged in a discussion about the feedback they provided through the NPS survey process, with in-house results used in continuous improvement workshops to feed back to the business.

“We are delighted to have achieved finalist status at the Security & Fire Excellence Awards this year” states Ray Parfitt, Head of Business Excellence at STANLEY. “STANLEY Security considers a positive, unique customer experience is vital to clearly differentiate ourselves in a crowded market. We have invested considerably in achieving this and have a clear and concise roadmap for reaching customer service excellence in 2018; we are certainly well on our way to achieving that. Becoming a finalist for the Customer Excellence Award is a great recognition of all the work put in by our team.” Leanne Taylor, Head of Customer Services also added that “The Customer Experience is so much more than a paper exercise, you really have to have passion and belief. I am lucky enough to have a strong, creative and passionate team that is committed to providing a unique experience to all our customers. The National Call Centre and Customer Management Team have fully embraced the Customer Excellence Initiative taking pride in all they do internally and externally by remembering the key sentence ‘always put the customer first’.’’

Winners of the Security & Fire Excellence Awards 2016 will be announced on 23rd November at the evening ceremony held at LONDON HILTON ON PARK LANE.

For more information on STANLEY Security, please go to www.stanleysecurity.co.uk
/0 Comments/by

Saint-Gobain Partners with UK-GBC for Industry Training Programme

Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland has teamed up with UK-GBC for its Learning and Development Programme. The partnership, which began in October, will continue throughout the rest of 2016 and into 2017, equipping the industry with the knowledge and skills to help create a more sustainable built environment.

Saint-Gobain and UK-GBC are working closely as part of the partnership to carefully plan the courses to provide the best information and skills necessary for built environment professionals, sustainability leaders and businesses to grow their understanding of sustainable building.

The partnership aims to achieve this through the delivery of a compelling message on sustainable buildings across 3 learning levels – awareness, understanding, and application.

Shenaaz Chenia, Director of Industry and Community Training for Saint-Gobain UK and Ireland, said: “The programme offers a broad range of skills to widen the industry’s understanding of the impact that creating sustainable buildings can have on the environment and the occupants. Partnering with UK-GBC is a great fit for us, as its goals to encourage and grow thought leadership on sustainability in the built environment, as well as the emphasis on comfort, health and wellbeing, perfectly match our vision for the industry.”

The next course in 2016 is:

Integrated Planning: Creating Sustainable Communities, Wednesday 30th November

Understand ways to engage stakeholders and plan sustainability at a community and citywide scale. Learn how environmental issues, planning policy and sustainability-focused tools can inform decision making at the planning stage. Find out more and register here.

/0 Comments/by

MEDITE SMARTPLY highly commended in Energy Awards 2016

,

Names from left to right: Pat Beardmore, Operations Director at MEDITE, Pat Breen, Engineering Manager at MEDITE, James Ryan, Maintenance Supervisor at MEDITE

MEDITE SMARTPLY has been highly commended at the Sustainable Energy Awards 2016 in the large energy category.

The event, which took place on the 3rd November 2016, brings together leading innovators and companies that demonstrate a proven track record of going beyond best practice in integrated energy management.

This award, in part, is a result of the MEDITE SMARTPLY Operation Excellence programme that began in 2014.

The programme initiatives consisted of product and process flow optimisation, variable speed drive monitoring, controls, lighting, ISO 50001 certification, electric transport, and a steam turbine generating onsite electricity driven by their own biomass steam boiler.

The company has also undertaken employee awareness initiatives including displaying energy targets in real time at operator stations, children’s Energy Calendar competition and an Energy Fun Day.

The company has systematically and effectively focused resources on opportunities for energy reduction saving the company in excess of €250,000/per annum in energy costs.

“This award is an independent external acknowledgement of the hard work and efforts that all of our teams across Europe have put in from day one. From our new technologies, such as our Mat Preheater, compressed air energy reduction and process pumps upgrades, to our engineering works on LED lighting and airflow optimisation, everyone has had a part to play,” comments Pat Beardmore, Operations Director.

“The innovation and passion shown by all members of MEDITE SMARTPLY reflects what a truly energetic place it is to work and grow. We will continue our work and chase the top award next year.”

The company has set its sights on achieving an energy reduction in excess of 10% in the coming years. With five projects already in planning in order to achieve these ambitious goals MEDITE SMARTPLY will continue to lead the way in energy management in its sector.

For more information please visit www.smartply.com.
/0 Comments/by

Bauder delivers largest solar array in higher education sector

The University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol has recently quadrupled its solar generating capacity through the installation of 1,731 solar panels, which will enable it to produce over 400 MWh of electricity each year and making it the largest solar panel array in the UK university sector.

The new solar array has been installed on the roof of the University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, which have both undergone extensive refurbishment as part of the required works. Prior to the solar panels being installed, approved contractor Mitie Tilley Roofing overlaid the original failing single ply waterproofing with over 12,000m2 of Bauder’s lightweight, robust PVC single ply waterproofing system Thermofol. The solar modules, which weigh just 12Kg/m2, were then fitted onto the waterproofing using a unique penetration-free, welding method by renewable energy specialists Dulas. This installation technique means that the roof is not compromised by penetrations for fixings nor is it ballasted, which would add additional weight loading to the roof.

The new photovoltaic system will generate at least 74.32 Megawatt Hours of solar power each year which should; cover half of the energy consumed within the building, save around 200 tonnes of carbon and provide annual savings of over £50,000 a year. The university is highly committed to sustainability and energy efficiency, and this solar project is just part of a much wider plan to achieve its carbon reduction goals and enhance local renewable energy capacity.

Fabia Jeddere-Fisher, Energy Engineer at UWE, stated, “From its conception, we chose a roofing system that would mean the flat roof would not need to be strengthened if we chose to add solar panels. Normally, panels placed on flat roofs require either weighing down or fixings that penetrate the roof membrane, which can introduce the risk of leaks. The system we have chosen means that the panels are welded into place, reducing load, and reducing the need for roof penetrations. The University will use 100% of the power generated by the PV array, which will be equal to the amount generated by nearly 200 homes with solar panels. As a large organisation we want to set an example for others to undertake similar projects.”

For more information please visit www.bauder.co.uk.
/0 Comments/by

Aico’s new website delivers essential information & support

Aico Ltd., the market leader in residential Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms in the UK, has launched a new responsive website providing customers with detailed product and alarm technology information along with an extensive selection of support tools and information.

www.aico.co.uk has been completely redesigned, with a clean, modern look and intuitive navigation. The new website is content focussed, delivering information and support in formats required by a wide range of visitors.

The home page of the new Aico website provides instant clear links to the most visited pages of the previous website and links to four key areas – Products, Support, Expert Installer and a new Where to Buy feature. The intuitive navigation is also enhanced by the reactive search bar, helping to find all the relevant information needed in the quickest time.

Clicking through to the Product section allows you to filter by category (e.g. Optical Smoke Alarm), product series (e.g. 160e Series) and/or technology, such as AudioLINK data extraction. Products are automatically loaded to the page that meets the search criteria entered and can be clicked on for detailed information. Each Aico product page has everything you need on one page including product images, product description, technical specification, instructions and datasheets.

Aico has created an Innovation & Technology section of the website which explains the new technologies, such as AudioLINK data and RadioLINK+ wireless interconnection with remote data extraction functionality, that are used across different alarms Series. As alarm technology becomes more sophisticated a dedicated zone was considered a useful addition to the website to explain the technology and applications.

A new dedicated Support section has been designed in the website to house the wealth of information Aico has created and accumulated on all matters relating to Smoke and CO Alarms. This includes technical support, advice on choosing the correct alarm sensor type, alarm testing and commissioning; frequently asked questions courtesy of Aico’s technical team; standards and regulations, including BS 5839-6:2013 which covers fire alarm systems in domestic dwellings; plus a full list of Aico publications which are available to download or order hard copies.

The Expert Installer section enables customers to find their nearest Aico trained installer without even leaving the site’s home page. For more information on the scheme a link takes you to a dedicated Expert Installer page with an overview of the training scheme and a form for interested installers to apply. Created by Aico and highly regarded in the industry, Expert Installer is a training scheme that ensures electrical contractors have all the information they need to successfully install domestic Fire and CO Alarm systems.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is the market leader in residential Fire and CO protection in the UK. All alarms are designed and built in Ireland specifically to meet the UK standards and regulations. With more mains powered domestic smoke alarms installed in the UK’s social housing than any other manufacturer, Aico is tried, tested and trusted.

For more information please go to www.aico.co.uk or contact Aico on 01691 664100 or enquiries@aico.co.uk.
/0 Comments/by

Titon strengthens security with new Overture FH flag hinge

Titon has introduced the new Overture FH flag hinge to its range of high security hardware products, which meet the requirements of the PAS 24 security standard and complies with Part Q of the Building Regulations.

Designed for PVCu doors, the hinge is available in standard and deep body versions, each with 3D adjustability. Capable of accommodating profiles with a step rebate of 14.5mm-26.5mm, each model is non-handed, as well as suitable for open-in or open-out doors.

Designed and developed at Titon’s in-house AREA 24 hardware research & development facility, the new Overture FH supplements the full range of door furniture available from the company, including Overture stainless steel handles and letter plates, as well as the Asterion 3-star cylinder and Maco range of door locks.

Commenting on the new flag hinge, Tyson Anderson, Sales & Marketing Director at Titon, said: “The Overture FH is an excellent addition to our range of high security door hardware. It boasts a number of fabricator friendly design features, including fabricator-friendly packaging and retained adjustment screws, allowing for quick in-factory and on-site work. There is also a fixing jig available to help speed up assembly on the production line.”

The Overture FH provides excellent levels of security, is easy to use and built to withstand a heavy workload. Available in a wide range of standard finishes, the new flag hinge is also supplied with fixing screws, while there is a spares pack available in the event of pieces being mislaid on the shop floor or on site, all at a competitive price.

The AREA 24 website can be viewed at www.titonarea24.co.uk, while more information about Titon and its range of products can be found at www.titon.co.uk.
/0 Comments/by

UK Construction Week celebrates second successful year

,

Returning to the NEC in Birmingham last month, the UK’s largest construction trade event UK Construction Week attracted more than 30,000 trade visitors and over 650 exhibitors to showcase their latest innovations, debate the industry’s biggest issues and do business together.

Featuring nine shows under one roof, the event began on Tuesday 18 October with eight strictly trade shows running for three days: Build Show, Timber Expo, Civils Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2016, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2016 and Smart Buildings 2016. Then, overlapping the last two trade days and running on until Sunday 23 October, Grand Designs Live offered a unique crossover experience between trade and public.

UK Construction Week

Now in its second year, UK Construction Week attracted visitors from across the full spectrum of the construction industry – from tradespeople, self-builders and SME owners to architects, civil engineers, national house builders and interior designers. Organised by Media 10, the show covered over 70,000 square metres of exhibition space and featured more than 165 hours of seminar content from 100 plus speakers.

In total there were 13 different seminar theatres at the event with the main stage being hosted by television presenter and architect George Clarke, business journalist Steph McGovern and television broadcaster and business journalist Victoria Fritz across the three days. Debating topics such as productivity, the skills shortage, BIM, offsite construction and intelligent environments, the seminar theatres provided a powerful platform to share best practice, devise new strategy and drive progress.

UK Construction Week also hosted a raft of major new product launches from leading industry companies such as CEMEX, Easy-Trim Roofing and Construction Products, Condair, Cotherm, Instant Upright Ltd, OX Group UK, Irwin Tools, Banbury and SAVANT to name but a few.

Feedback from exhibitors has been very positive and the show has received a high number of re-bookings for the 2017 event. Some of the companies confirmed so far for next year include Festool, Easy-Trim, Theben AG, White Haus, ForgeFix, Ecovolt, Combilift Ltd, Creagh Concrete and many more.

Joshua Watkins, Managing Director at Swiftec (Build Show exhibitor), said: “There have been a really broad variety of people here, which has been exciting. It’s a great place to meet clients and visitors as well as getting a good grasp of what’s going on in the industry.”

Mick Jackson, IT & Marketing Manager at Joseph Ash (Surface and Materials Show exhibitor), commented: “Honestly we’ve been surprised with the footfall, which has been excellent and has lead to some strong leads. We’re excited to see what tomorrow brings!”

Ian Thornton, Specifier Consultant at Calor Gas (HVAC 2016 exhibitor), also commented: “We did our research before coming and knew we would meet a lot of relevant people here. That’s exactly what has happened and we’ve done a lot of business this week!”

Dave Cole, Sales Manager at Vandecasteele (Timber Expo exhibitor), added: “We’ve long been an exhibitor at Timber Expo and will continue to be in the future as it is a valuable meeting hub for our UK customers.”

UK Construction Week

In addition to all the new products and services on display, UK Construction Week hosted a variety of unique features and industry award ceremonies. The Business Advice Centre provided free professional advice to SMEs at the show, while the Gamification Zone offered visitors an opportunity to learn more about their leadership potential. Among the seven award ceremonies hosted at the show, the inaugural Construction Enquirer Awards were a huge success with more than 500 people in attendance to recognise the construction industry’s best companies to work with and for.

Nathan Garnett, Event Director for UK Construction Week, commented: “We are so pleased with how this year’s show has gone and want to thank all of our exhibitors, visitors, speakers, association and media partners for helping us put on such an impressive event. I believe the show is testament to the willingness to progress and collaborate within the construction industry as a whole.

“With representatives from across the entire sector it was great to see all the innovation and life present in the industry. The seminars were really well attended and engagement was high from visitors, which goes to show that we were able to hit the mark in terms of content. The interest in next year’s show has already started to flood in and with booking the NEC until 2019, we are confident that UK Construction Week will go from strength to strength over the coming years.”

Returning to the Birmingham NEC, the dates for UK Construction Week 2017 are set for 10 – 12 October. For more information about UK Construction Week or to register your interest for next year’s show, please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.
/0 Comments/by