Capital Safety champions protection against dropped objects with acquisition of Python Safety, INC

Capital Safety, the world leading provider of safety solutions for workers at height has announced the acquisition of specialist manufacturer of tool drop prevention equipment, Python Safety, Inc.

Capital Safety’s industry-leading products, which include harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting lifelines, engineered systems and rescue devices, are sold through the globally recognised brands DBI-SALA® and PROTECTA®. The addition of Python Safety to the portfolio will support Capital Safety’s mission to bring every worker at height home safely by focusing on eliminating accidents from dropped tools.

Falling objects are a leading cause of injury for workers. According to DROPS, the Dropped Objects Prevention Scheme, more than 850 incidents have been recorded in the oil and gas industry alone since 2010, with predicted incidents on the rise*. Ensuring employers are focused on providing a total safety solution to protect workers at height, as well as those on the ground, from dropped objects is paramount to reducing and ultimately eliminating these incidents.

Nate Damro, President – Europe, Middle East and Africa at Capital Safety, commented: “We are very excited to have Python Safety become part of Capital Safety. This acquisition is a natural extension for us and in line with our continued commitment to bringing workers home safely.

“Struck-by falling objects is a leading cause of injury for workers and Python Safety’s portfolio of products are designed to prevent tools and equipment from falling. This deal enables us to bring a broader range of solutions to our customer base and helps them keep their employees safe.”

Mark Caldwell, CEO of Python Safety, added “We are delighted to join Capital Safety. As a combined organisation, we will be able to leverage Capital Safety’s global organisation and distribution channels with our core strength in drop prevention to broaden our reach and bring even more innovative solutions to a larger customer base. It will also allow us a better opportunity to expand the definition of fall protection to include tools and equipment.”

Capital Safety will be launching the premium range of dropped object prevention products for tools and equipment – including tool holsters and pouches, attachment points and lanyards – at the upcoming Safety & Health Expo. Taking place on 16-18 June 2015 at the ExCel exhibition centre in London, the event will offer delegates access to Capital Safety experts who will be available to discuss specific application challenges and solutions for workers at height. Stand – P2200.

For further information on Capital Safety, visit www.capitalsafety.com.

For details on Python Safety, go to the website, www.pythonsafety.com.

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Bracknell roofing tops off new £250m Center Parcs

A stunning sustainable roof installation has been completed by roofing specialist Bracknell Roofing at Center Parcs’ new £250m Holiday Village in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire.

The team was commissioned to carry out the roof works due to its expertise in sustainable roofing solutions and the recently completed project, which was shortlisted in the Roofing Industry Awards 2015, saw the Bracknell team install Western Red Cedar Shingles as an alternative to traditional roof tiles to the site’s main centre building.

Housing a number of restaurants, the structure sits at the heart of the site’s ‘Village Square’ and the innovative roof has been installed to deliver optimum aesthetic appeal, as well as boost the building’s sustainability credentials.

Timber shingles supplied by John Brash Limited were chosen for the roof covering due to the site’s location in Woburn Forest and, being a low carbon material, met the demanding sustainability requirements.

Bowmer & Kirkland was the main contractor on the new build and appointed the specialist Bracknell Roofing team. Steve Marsh, contracts manager for Bowmer & Kirkland, comments: “On a high profile project such as this we needed a roofing expert we could rely on completely. We have worked with Bracknell Roofing before so knew it had the in-house skills to tackle a high profile project of this scale. Shingles are often a complex roofing material to work with, due to the natural variation in colour and grain, which is another reason we appointed Bracknell as a specialist partner.”

The success of the project has been reflected in its shortlisting in the Roofing Industry Awards 2015, which are led by the National Confederation for Roofing Contractors to recognise outstanding workmanship and safety across the roofing industry.

Dave Cook, regional contracts director at Bracknell Roofing, adds: “At Bracknell Roofing, we’re committed to delivering bespoke services and solutions to meet our customers’ individual needs. For this project, due to wooded surroundings at the site, it was important that we created a roof space to complement the natural vernacular, as well as deliver sustainable results. We were delighted to work alongside Bowmer & Kirkland to achieve just that.”

Bracknell Roofing is part of the Etex Group, a major European construction company, and is committed to the ongoing investment of skills and development across its national network of branches. The company works as both a principal contractor and sub-contractor, depending on customer needs.
To find out more about how a project could benefit from Bracknell Roofing’s specialist skills, call 08705 626800, or visit www.bracknellroofing.com/contactus 

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Fast curing Cold Liquid Systems provide Blitz Waterproofing Solution

Morris Blitz Court is a residential housing estate located in Hackney that has recently undergone an extensive amount of refurbishment works as part of the Decent Homes Programme. Included within the approved scheme was the refurbishment of all of the building’s balconies and walkways, as well as the transformation of the 1,000m2 concrete podium deck located above the car park into an aesthetically pleasing social space.

Prior to any work commencing on site, Hackney Council hosted regular consultation meetings with all Morris Blitz residents where plans were presented and discussed. Upon receiving approval for the proposed refurbishment works the building was surveyed by flat roofing specialists Bauder to investigate the options available for improving the aesthetics and functionality of the podium deck, and to determine what course of action needed to be taken to ensure the building was watertight. The client’s main priority for the podium deck was for it to be totally free draining so that there was no standing water, which had previously caused problems. Various waterproofing system options were explored, however it was decided that Bauder’s cold liquid applied systems would be the most suitable solution given all the requirements.

One of the major challenges for this project was the low door thresholds connecting to the podium deck, which couldn’t be raised, meaning that the entire build-up for the majority of the cold liquid waterproofing and landscaping elements would need to be less than 100mm in height. Because of these restrictions the only drainage and protection board suitable within the system was Bauder’s Versicell 20, which is just 20mm in height but can withstand extremely high loading. The LiquiTEC system also incorporated 140mm of Bauder’s JFRI insulation in sunken areas of the podium, ensuring a level surface across the deck and combining thermal efficiency with environmental friendliness. The surface of the deck consists of three distinct finishes; permeable paving on the ground floor patios and walkways, artificial turf featuring fibreglass planters to serve as a communal garden and rubber mulch to create a play area for children.

The cantilever style balconies and communal walkways were waterproofed with Bauder’s LiquiBALKON system; demanding a high degree of workmanship from Bauder approved contractor Armour Group due to the amount of intricate detailing requirements. This waterproofing system features PMMA resin technology that provides exceptionally fast curing times and can in fact withstand foot traffic within an hour of being installed. This was essential as the residents of Morris Blitz remained in situ throughout the installation and working hours had to be scheduled between 10am and 2pm to accommodate for school hours. Despite the various design, technical and installation challenges encountered all waterproofing and landscape works were completed on time and to budget much to the delight of all project stakeholders.

Harsha Amin, Project Manager from Hackney Homes, stated “The required refurbishment works at Morris Blitz Court were by no means straight forward. However Bauder were able to deliver a comprehensive, single source waterproofing solution of the absolute highest quality; providing expert technical support throughout the project and demonstrating exceptional levels of workmanship. They caused minimal disruption to residents and have successfully transformed this housing estate in terms of appearance and functionality; creating a visually appealing and inviting communal space where residents of all ages can relax and socialise.”

For more information please visit www.bauder.co.uk

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Safety Conscious Stormking

Safety conscious contractors will welcome StormFix – a new product from prefabricated building products specialists Stormking.

StormFix from Stormking

StormFix fixing kits have been sourced in partnership with RAWLBOLT and the packs are exclusive to Stormking and offer fixing bolts to ensure safe and secure fixing of structural frames to all common types of external wall applications.

Choosing the correct anchoring with such a diversity of wall types can pose problems for contractors – and getting it wrong can have severe consequences.

The new StormFix fixing packs remove all the uncertainty of choosing the correct bolts to ensure risk-free anchoring for the full Stormking range of grp entrance canopies and bay window roofs. When finished with tiling, these can impose considerable demands on the building structure and it is essential that the fixing bolts are able to bear this load.

The StormFix packs are supplied with the Stormking canopies and roofs and are available for both lightweight and structural units and come pre-packed with matching bolt cap covers. They come in two sizes – 80mm and 120mm – and in packs of four or eight, to cover the complete range of Stormking roof and door canopies and are the ideal reassurance for housebuilders’ Health & Safety managers and contractors who carry the responsibility for ensuring safety in their building works.

The Stormking ranges of bay window roofs and entrance canopies offer housebuilders an almost limitless choice of styles and sizes to create a distinctive street scene. Made to the highest quality standards, Stormking prefabricated building products are a highly cost effective alternative to using traditional building materials such as stone, slate, concrete and timber. They also have many advantages, especially saving time and cost by eliminating site fabrication and the inconsistencies which can often result. They are also virtually maintenance free and have proven longevity.

Manufactured to comply with European approvals, StormFix from Stormking offers the one-stop, simple but totally safe and reliable, easy to install structural frame fixing, providing the confidence developers need as they become evermore responsible for safety in the houses they build.

For more information please visit www.stormking.co.uk.

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HVAC 2015 unveils impressive seminar schedule

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Preparations are gaining momentum for the strongest trade event the building and construction industry has ever seen as Media 10, the UK’s biggest design and build event company, announces its comprehensive seminar programme for HVAC 2015, part of UK Construction Week.UKCON0615-BS-ARTICLE

Spanning the first three days of UK Construction Week, 6 – 8 October, HVAC 2015’s seminar schedule is packed with debates, workshops and panel discussions that focus on the key issues facing the HVAC industry today. With participation from some of the leading innovators, training providers and manufacturers, as well as the opportunity for visitors to join in, HVAC 2015 provides a valuable platform to engage with and learn from professionals at all levels.

The first day kicks off with an introductory guide to under-floor heating systems designed to help those looking to capitalise on the current increase in demand for more efficient heating solutions. The focus then moves to the future of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps, as experts share their opinion on the direction technology and the industry as a whole is heading. The first day will also include a discussion about energy reduction strategies for commercial buildings.

Day two of HVAC 2015 will feature a detailed look at the best high-efficiency boilers available in the UK, as well as a practical session on how to future proof HVAC design. A more technical session will follow on the properties of air and how it can be influenced to obtain specific environment requirements.

The third and final day of seminar content will tackle the diversifying field of HVAC controls, with experts sharing tips on how to get the most out of control systems and what is set to become possible with controls in the near future. Energy efficiency in central heating systems will also be on the agenda.

Each of the three days will be concluded with a Meet the Installer networking session, designed to link main contractors and manufacturers with installers. These sessions will provide a valuable opportunity to generate new business and long-term partnerships, offering visitors maximum return on the time they invest attending the show.

Richard Morey, Group Events Director at Media 10, said: “We have worked really hard with our event partners to develop the seminar content for this year’s UK Construction Week and I’m confident that what we have come up with will meet the needs of today’s construction professionals.”

Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October), UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Bringing together nine shows under one roof, the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with more than 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show, Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live and Smart Buildings 2015, in addition to HVAC 2015.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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Freefoam Launch New Style Double Shiplap Cladding

Freefoam, a leading manufacturer of a wide range of innovative products for the building industry in Ireland, the UK and Mainland Europe, has made a valuable addition to its popular cladding range and launched Fortex Pro, a new style double shiplap board.

The new product features an increased width of 333mm and thickness of 9mm creating a stronger board through improved profile design and offers greater coverage at 1.665sqmt per board with a quick and easy calculation for specification purposes. Colour choice is important for any exterior building product and as colour specialists Freefoam have now added four new colours to this product range, Misty Grey, Cement Grey, Slate Grey and Cappuccino, making a total of ten. The combination of all these new features and the addition of superior colourfastness and weatherability properties using advanced skin technology makes Fortex Pro the perfect choice for all building professionals.
The Fortex® cladding range includes a double shiplap plank format 300mm wide, a weatherboard style at 170mm wide both with an attractive embossed textured wood effect finish and a 250mm wide board with an authentic render finish.

PVC-U cladding requires minimal maintenance once installed, a major benefit for property owners and a compelling feature for any property developer or public sector housing provider. With significant environmental credentials, being awarded an A+ rating from the Building Research Establishment’s (BRE) ‘Green Guide To Specification’ when installed with standard components, the range makes a real alternative to timber and fibre cement products.

Aidan Harte, Managing Director, Freefoam, comments: “We’ve seen a surge in our Fortex cladding with sales doubling last year. Now is the right time to augment our existing range with a product specifically manufactured for the professional trade market. A robust board with an attractive finish and impressive range of colours will give our customers a valuable addition to their portfolio of products and a real opportunity to develop new business streams”

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Fermacell embraces BIM

Systems from Fermacell are now available through bimstore.

Systems from Fermacell, manufacturer of the “ultimate building board”, are now available through bimstore.

Downloadable in the Revit format, more than 30 Fermacell systems for walls, floors and ceilings are now available through the UK’s largest BIM portal, www.bimstore.co.uk, as well as through www.fermacell.co.uk.

The Fermacell BIM components include steel and timber stud partitions, steel and timber wall linings and SFS wall systems as well as dry floor screed and steel frame and timber ceilings.

Fermacell’s BIM models provide 3D digital replicas of the products as well as the critical COBIE data which an architect will need about them to guide them through the whole design and construction process.

The 3D images complement the drawings and details that are the legal documents in the design and construction process when the information model is a basis for tenders and proposals.

Fermacell general manager Gary Carter said: “Fermacell sees BIM as an integral part of the strategy to maximise the construction process from inception through to completed construction.”

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Pre-payment Solution Meets Metering & Billing Regulations

With the recent introduction of the heat network (Metering & Billing) regulations for District and Communal heating systems, building owners, developers and Housing Associations must now ensure meters are installed in each dwelling to accurately measure energy use for residents. Prior to these regulations it was common place for residents to pay a flat rate for heating and hot water, which was not based on usage but just divided equally by all dwellings.

Evinox Energy offer a simple solution to meet the regulations with their PaySmart® pre-payment technology, which is inbuilt in every ModuSat® Heat interface unit. Not only is the technology integrated, it can also be activated remotely at any time, providing a flexible billing approach.

The Evinox Energy range of ModuSat® heat interface units is the only product available that features integrated pre-pay ready billing technology. Other pre-payment systems require additional hardware to be installed in the dwelling, which can add cost to the project. In addition, many other solutions are also wireless, which may sound attractive, but can bring a host of issues especially where there is an unstable connection. Unlike our hardwired Bus or Ethernet system, which is not susceptible to any of these wireless connectivity issues.

The PaySmart® system enables residents to be in control of their own energy bills by paying in advance and therefore removing any burden of building up unpaid bills or debt. Unlike traditional pre-payment systems, the process of adding energy credit to the PaySmart® system is automated so there is no requirement for the resident to insert a card for activation. Residents can purchase their energy online using our Residents Website 24hrs a day, at a local Payzone outlet, by monthly Direct Debit or Standing Order, using our Web App on a smart phone or tablet any time or over the telephone.

Evinox Energy offer various metering & billing solutions for heat networks. Contact us today on 01372 722277 or visit www.evinoxenergy.co.uk for further information.

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Fife Council to install 30,000 Aico fire/CO alarm interfaces

Fife Council, awarded the Council of the Year in Service Delivery 2014 by the Association for Public Service Excellence, is undergoing a programme to install 30,000 Aico Ei414 Fire/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarm Interfaces throughout its housing stock.

The Ei414 is a flexible device that provides a dedicated connection between Aico RadioLINK Smoke, Heat and CO alarms with most new and existing Telecare/Warden Call Systems, enabling an emergency signal to be transmitted directly to that system if fire or CO is detected.

Previously Fife Council had been using different components which did not ‘talk’ to each other, resulting in a potential safety issue. The new Ei414 overcomes this, directly interacting with the different systems fitted within the properties to ensure the safety of the Council’s tenants.

Fife Council played an important role in the development of this innovative product, working with Aico and parent manufacturer Ei Electronics. Jim Macdonald, Lead Officer Specialist Services, Communities/Housing Services explains: “Following an incident within a property I met with the management of Ei Electronics and discussed our requirements to have a user friendly product which makes better use of the RF [RadioLINK Radio Frequency wireless alarm interconnection] to integrate different appliances and detection systems installed in Fife Council’s properties i.e. sprinkler systems, warden call, community alarms, extruder alarms, etc. I found Ei Electronics to be very helpful and willing to listen to the requirements of their clients and not force their agenda on us.”

The Ei414 Fire/CO Alarm Interface is the result of this collaboration and was tested by Fife Council from September 2014. It has been developed to enable connection to Telecare/Warden Call Systems wirelessly or via hard wiring directly between the two devices.

Fife Council has been so pleased with the results of the test that the decision was made to not only install the Interface into its sheltered housing properties and complexes but, due to the nature of its tenure, throughout its entire housing stock, which equates to approximately 30,000 units. Due to the flexibility of the Ei414, a property’s smoke and CO alarms can be connected with sprinkler systems, warden call, panel systems and community alarms.

Fife Council is a long standing Aico customer, very forward thinking in its approach to tenant safety. “Fife Council have always had a good working relationship with Aico and found them very helpful when discussing the products available and their uses” states Jim, “as well as planning and training not only Fife Council Operatives but also our partners.” Fife Council also had bespoke hands on training at Aico’s Centre of Excellence in Oswestry.

The Ei414 can be powered directly from the mains or from a 12-24V DC supply, from the Telecare/Warden Call Systems for example, and has built-in tamper-proof rechargeable Lithium Cells which will power the device in the event of any mains failure.

Exceptionally easy to use, the Ei414 features a removable key with three positional settings: On, Off and Test. When ‘On’ the Ei414 responds to an alarm signal generated from a House Coded RadioLINK Aico Smoke, Heat or CO alarms, and switches the relevant ‘Fire’ or ‘CO’ relay contact to trigger the Telecare/Warden Call Systems. The ‘Off’ position prevents any Aico House Coded RadioLINK Signals, be they Fire, CO or Service Alarm triggers, being sent to the Telecare/Warden Call Systems, which is particularly useful should a property becomes vacant or the tenant not require the assisted living function enabling. Finally, the ‘Test’ setting allows a responsible person such as a local authorised Warden or Fire/Maintenance Engineer to functionally test the entire system, which would include a signal being transmitted to the Telecare/Warden Call Systems. LED indicators provide visual confirmation of mains power and fire or CO alarm activation.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Ei Electronics, Aico is a 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. 2015 sees Aico’s 25th anniversary. With more mains powered domestic smoke alarms installed in the UK’s social housing than any other manufacturer, Aico is tried, tested and trusted. Aico has a dedicated team of Regional Managers to support specifications and supply of products. Aico also offers technical support over the phone and an internal sales team to help with any enquiries.

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

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UK Construction Week unveils heavyweight main stage seminar programme

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Placing a firm emphasis on knowledge sharing, discussion and debate, UK Construction Week has revealed the seminar programme for the main stage of the event, which takes place at the Birmingham NEC in October.

The Seminar Theatre will deliver high-level insight into the key issues affecting the industry, during the three trade days (6 – 8 October) of the weeklong exhibition. Each seminar session will consist of an hour-long panel discussion, covering key topics such as house building, government policy and BIM.

The full programme has been announced on UK Construction Week’s newly updated website, which features in-depth sections for each of the nine shows that come under the event’s umbrella, as well as a host of visitor information, exhibitor details and the latest news from each of the shows.

Kicking proceedings off on the Tuesday morning, the keynote presentation will feature the newly appointed minister for construction, who will set out parliamentary plans and policies for the construction industry over the next electoral period – giving the incoming government an opportunity to clarify how it intends to support construction while in power.

The economy will also be under fire on day one, with sessions on protecting construction from economic weakness and improving the industry’s image among investors and policy makers. The sessions will feature high-level speakers from Glenigan, the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and the Federation of Master Builders.

Skills will be the focus of the second day, with Marie-Clade Hemming from the Civil Engineering Contractors Association asking how construction can attract and retain the best talent, while Rupert Scott from TRADA will lead a thought provoking discussion on facing up to the construction industry skills shortage.

The final day will look at procurement and the supply chain, asking how different construction disciplines can work smarter together. Paul Bogle from the National Federation of Builders will also explore how contractors can make the most of the public procurement platform, as well as giving useful insight into the 2014 EU Directive regarding procurement models for public projects.

Rounding off the final day will be a dedicated session on the outlook for BIM in construction, which includes an update on the UK BIM Task Group, its progress in supporting BIM adoption and what the next steps will be – as well as useful advice on how SMEs can make the most of BIM.

Richard Morey, Group Events Director at Media 10, the event company producing UK Construction Week, commented: “From day one we have set out to create an informative and insightful programme of content, as we recognise that this is a key attraction for visitors and exhibitors alike. I think we’ve put together a line-up that reflects the needs and concerns of the industry today, which I hope will challenge and inspire participants in equal measure.”

Bringing together nine shows under one roof, UK Construction Week will be the biggest construction trade event the UK has seen in years. Taking place at the Birmingham NEC from 6 – 11 October (with the trade only days from 6 – 8 October) the event will unite 1,000 exhibitors with an expected audience of 55,000 visitors.

Visitors will be able to attend Grand Designs Live, the Build Show, Timber Expo, the Surface and Materials Show, Energy 2015, Kitchens & Bathroom Live, Plant & Machinery Live, HVAC 2015 and Smart Buildings 2015.

For more information please visit www.ukconstructionweek.com or follow @UK_CW on Twitter.

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