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MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION<br />
> issue <strong>5542</strong> | <strong>Feb</strong> | 2016<br />
Whatever the exposure<br />
– EJOT ® has the anchor<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> Magazine offers an insight into service<br />
and fixings solutions.<br />
Taking a property’s pulse<br />
The University of Nottingham has developed a<br />
novel and easy-to-use test for measuring the<br />
airtightness of buildings.<br />
Cross code project nears completion<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> reviews a highly energy conscious, mixed<br />
tenure social housing development down near<br />
the Bristol Channel.<br />
> See page 34
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CONTENTS<br />
issue <strong>5542</strong> | <strong>Feb</strong> | 2016<br />
Dear Reader<br />
Welcome to the first edition of <strong>MMC</strong> for 2016 and<br />
what promises to be a seminal year for the uptake<br />
of offsite technologies; thanks to commercial<br />
pressures and impending legislation.<br />
The Government’s much heralded BIM<br />
requirement for public contracts will come into<br />
force before our next issue appears, quickening the<br />
changeover to the advanced 3-D design tools and<br />
the availability of manufacturers’ product ranges<br />
as BIM objects.<br />
Then fresh ‘forward guidance’ from the Bank of<br />
England and other central banks would have us<br />
believe that base rates will remain at their historic<br />
lows for at least another couple of years: keeping<br />
mortgages cheap and underpinning demand for<br />
new housing. And as long as we have no control<br />
over who comes to our country, the pressures on<br />
all areas of the residential market can only<br />
continue to grow.<br />
Unlike our stagnating neighbours in continental<br />
Europe, hamstrung by the calamitous single<br />
currency project, Britain has a steadily<br />
strengthening economy. In fact I believe Brexit<br />
would only be a disaster for our alleged EU<br />
partners who continue to plunder our public<br />
finances and hamper small businesses with<br />
bureaucracy, while constantly plotting ways to<br />
undermine the City as a world business centre.<br />
As long as our economy remains vibrant, all<br />
sectors from commercial and retail to student<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation and the wider residential market<br />
will clamour for more capacity, and Modern<br />
Methods of Construction will be essential to<br />
feeding that hunger. Furthermore, moving more<br />
construction into a clean and safe factory<br />
environment can also help attract more of our<br />
young people into the industry, helping to bridge<br />
the skills gap and cutting the stubbornly high<br />
unemployment rates amongst so called NEETs.<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
Bruce Meechan<br />
10 Sweat equity<br />
Technical Editor, Bruce Meechan, reflects on<br />
the new impetus from Government that could<br />
dramatically increase the number of self-build<br />
projects being completed across the country.<br />
18 Could offsite construction<br />
attract new home grown talent?<br />
Ministers have just today announced that they<br />
want the construction industry to focus efforts<br />
on attracting, developing and retaining home<br />
grown talent into the industry and remove<br />
barriers currently preventing more young<br />
people from entering the sector.<br />
34 Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger<br />
Are you looking to build a new house? Do you<br />
want a house that surpasses current building<br />
regulation requirements? Look no further,<br />
Thermohouse low energy building system can<br />
offer this and much more!<br />
10<br />
20 Taking a property’s pulse<br />
The University of Nottingham has developed a<br />
novel and easy-to-use test for measuring the<br />
airtightness of buildings. <strong>MMC</strong> reports<br />
24 BSRIA backs ‘AI’<br />
Juliet Woodcock reports on the latest offering<br />
from the UK’s foremost research and testing<br />
organization covering building services<br />
Editorial Enquiries Tel: 01827 301190<br />
Press Releases, Advertising, Production,<br />
Design & Circulation Enquiries<br />
Tel: 01827 301198<br />
Features Editor Bruce Meechan<br />
News Editor Juliet Woodcock<br />
Press Co-ordinator Gemma Spilsbury<br />
press@wavcoms.co.uk<br />
Advertising Nasser Agha-Khan<br />
mmc@wavcoms.co.uk<br />
Design Ellie Rich and Di Smith<br />
Circulation<br />
circulation@wavcoms.co.uk<br />
Publisher’s Statement<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> is published quarterly. Although the editor and<br />
publisher make every effort to return photographic<br />
material, it is sent at owner’s risk. Printed in England. All<br />
rights reserved. No part of <strong>MMC</strong> may be reproduced or<br />
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form<br />
without prior permission of the editor. Whilst every effort<br />
is made to ensure the a<strong>cc</strong>uracy of editorial content, the<br />
editor and publishers do not a<strong>cc</strong>ept responsibility for errors<br />
or loss and damage caused by any statements, claims or<br />
observations made by contributors, authors and their<br />
agents.<br />
Waverley Communications Ltd.<br />
Waverley House, 11 Galena Close,<br />
Amington Heights, Amington Industrial Estate,<br />
Tamworth, Staffordshire. B77 4AS.<br />
42 Smartply offers sustainable<br />
solution to long-term energyefficient<br />
housing<br />
Wood panels are the natural choice for<br />
developers and house builders looking to<br />
utilise the time, cost and quality benefits of<br />
off-site construction<br />
< Front cover<br />
Are you looking to build a new house?<br />
Do you want a house that surpasses<br />
current building regulation<br />
requirements? Look no further,<br />
Thermohouse low energy building<br />
system can offer this and much more!<br />
See page 34 for more info...<br />
www.theromhouse.co.uk<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 3
NEWS<br />
Levy causing concern<br />
MPs are right to criticize Government<br />
over Apprenticeship Levy, says<br />
FMB: backing the BIS Select<br />
Committee which was unhappy about the<br />
Government’s lack of consultation on the new<br />
Apprenticeship Levy.<br />
Sarah McMonagle, Head of External Affairs at<br />
the FMB, said: “The findings of today’s report<br />
(1st <strong>Feb</strong>ruary) by the BIS Select Committee<br />
reflect widespread anxiety within the<br />
construction sector that the new<br />
Apprenticeship Levy is being implemented<br />
without sufficient consultation. With little<br />
over a year until the Levy will be introduced,<br />
construction SMEs are still in the dark over<br />
how the new levy will work alongside the<br />
existing Construction Industry Training Board<br />
(CITB) levy. Given that the Levy is about<br />
enabling more apprenticeship training, and in<br />
construction it is SMEs that do the vast<br />
majority of training, this lack of clarity is<br />
distinctly unhelpful.”<br />
Government tax<br />
avoidance measures<br />
could cost<br />
development industry<br />
£660m a year<br />
The British Property Federation (BPF)<br />
has warned that Government<br />
proposals to restrict the tax<br />
deductibility of interest – which will<br />
essentially increase the price of debt - could<br />
have a disproportionate effect on debtreliant<br />
industries such as real estate and<br />
infrastructure.<br />
Ion Fletcher, director of policy (finance) at<br />
the British Property Federation,<br />
commented: “While we are wholly<br />
supportive of the Government’s plans to<br />
clamp down on tax avoidance, the current<br />
proposals go much further than is<br />
necessary and are particularly punitive for<br />
capital intensive industries like real estate.<br />
Almost a million jobs around the country<br />
rely on sustained investment in commercial<br />
and residential property and the proposals<br />
put these at risk.<br />
New website hosts wealth of data on energy<br />
efficient buildings<br />
The Digital Catapult has created the Building Data Exchange to stimulate<br />
innovation and help constructors build more efficient properties.<br />
A wealth of information on best practice and pitfalls in construction of modern,<br />
energy efficient homes, offices, shops and public buildings is to be shared through a<br />
new Building Data Exchange.<br />
The Exchange has been created by the Digital Catapult centre to allow designers,<br />
developers and constructors to take advantage of the wealth of information gathered<br />
over the last six years by Innovate UK’s £8 million Buildings Performance Evaluation<br />
programme.<br />
The full data set will be available for a hackathon on 5-7 <strong>Feb</strong>ruary. It will be made<br />
available to the public shortly afterwards as part of a three-year Catapult programme<br />
to encourage interaction between the construction industry and digital innovators.<br />
Housebuilding jobs bonanza<br />
Over 100,000 new jobs were created in England alone last year as a result of<br />
the big increase in house building, a report released in January, ‘Building<br />
Communities, Boosting Employment,’ revealed. Analysis by the Home<br />
Builders Federation shows that the house building industry is now supporting around<br />
667,000 jobs, and details how local economies the length and breadth of the country<br />
are benefitting from the thousands of additional homes now being built.<br />
House building rates have rocketed over the past few years. Improvements to the<br />
planning system and the highly su<strong>cc</strong>essful Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme have<br />
helped house builders increase output by around a third in just two years. The most<br />
recent Government figures show that there were 170,690 net additions to the housing<br />
stock during 2014/15, an increase of almost 25% on the previous year. The main<br />
component of this new stock was from 155,080 new build completions.<br />
50 contractors appointed to £836 million New<br />
Build Housing Framework<br />
Re:allies, the strategic collaboration of three of the largest social housing<br />
consortia in the UK, Procure Plus, Efficiency North and Central Housing<br />
Investment Consortium (CHIC), has awarded contracts to 50 construction<br />
companies of all sizes over the four lots of its New Build Housing framework.<br />
Managed by Procure Plus on behalf of Re:allies, the framework offers options for<br />
innovative offsite manufacturing as well as traditional new build, and has an<br />
estimated total £836 million demand pipeline over its four year lifetime.<br />
In line with the Government’s agenda for the sector, which recognizes the need for<br />
more investment in affordable new housing and an increase in training resources to<br />
deliver it, the Re:allies New Build framework offers not only a swift, flexible and costeffective<br />
route to providing new homes, on both a small and large scale basis, but also<br />
the added benefits to local communities of employment and training opportunities.<br />
4
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Product News ><br />
Airtight sealing and ventilation<br />
explained<br />
Is an airtight seal just an<br />
airtight seal?<br />
Vision London Returns with over 160<br />
Speakers in its Second Year.<br />
Launched in 2015, Vision is the event for architects, specifiers,<br />
clients and suppliers. The place where these communities come<br />
together to discuss, debate and showcase the latest innovations and<br />
developments in architecture, design and the built environment.<br />
The event focuses on new and innovative building products and<br />
materials, providing ideas and solutions for new and inventive ways<br />
to achieve better building design solutions and comply with ever<br />
changing legislation.<br />
Building on the huge su<strong>cc</strong>ess of last year’s launch event, Vision will<br />
return to London Olympia on 7 - 8th June 2016, and promises to<br />
deliver even more educational content, practical solutions and<br />
innovative products for today’s busy specifier.<br />
Through a series of seminars and case studies delivered by over 160<br />
leading international speakers, alongside a carefully curated<br />
exhibition of cutting edge products and solutions, Vision is the ideal<br />
meeting place for professionals connected to the built environment<br />
and a unique opportunity for suppliers to showcase their products.<br />
In Vision’s second year, over 200 organisations will be exhibiting<br />
their new and inventive solutions that facilitate the creation of<br />
better building design. The event also boasts an extensive CPD<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>redited seminar programme where over 160 influential industry<br />
figures speak on a range of topics covered under the themes, Future<br />
Materials & Systems, Technology Talks, Innovation in Architecture &<br />
Design, Building for Health & Wellness, Smart Buildings, Building<br />
Information Modelling (BIM) and Offsite Construction.<br />
Vision has also agreed later opening hours for 2016 – as some busy<br />
Architects would like to visit the event in the early evening. Opening<br />
hours on the 7th June will be 10am until 9pm, and will incorporate<br />
the incredibly popular drinks reception and Pecha Kucha sessions<br />
organised by the NLA, open to both Exhibitors and Visitors. On the<br />
8th June the event will run from 9am until 4.30pm.<br />
Vision 2016 takes place at London Olympia<br />
on 7th and 8th June.<br />
Peter Thompson, General<br />
Manager of ISO-Chemie UK, gives<br />
insight into the trade-off between<br />
airtightness and ventilation in<br />
sealing products.<br />
The legal requirement to consider<br />
airtightness in building designs<br />
has been around since the 2006<br />
changes to UK Building<br />
Regulations.<br />
When designing to Passivhaus standards, this gets a little more<br />
complicated as they refer to airtightness as so many changes of air<br />
per hour.<br />
However, the more airtight we make our buildings the less fresh air<br />
we get into them through random unwanted gaps within the building<br />
fabric. Such problems can cause other issues for people with<br />
respiratory problems or young children, so proper ventilation is<br />
crucial.<br />
How is ‘Build Tight and ‘Vent Right’ achieved? Put simply, with<br />
natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation.<br />
An airtight seal therefore needs to be more than just an adhesive<br />
tape. ISO-Chemie has seen a bewildering range of options on the<br />
market. ISO-Chemie has a regional network of field-based Technical<br />
Advisors, as well as an office based technical hotline, designed to<br />
discuss particular customer requirements<br />
www.iso-chemie.co.uk<br />
Portakabin Hire announces £22m<br />
investment<br />
Portakabin Hire has announced a £22m investment in new modular<br />
buildings available for hire. This is in response to the rising demand<br />
for a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation for interim use in both the commercial and<br />
public sectors and will make the Group’s hire fleet among the<br />
newest in the UK. It will also give customers the benefit of even<br />
shorter lead times.<br />
The £10m first phase of the investment has already been<br />
completed and included £3m for new double classrooms which are<br />
already helping schools and LEAs to address the urgent shortfall in<br />
teaching a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation for primary education across the UK. The<br />
second phase of new modular buildings will be manufactured and in<br />
stock before the end of this year.<br />
In addition to the fleet expansion, Portakabin has an ongoing<br />
programme of<br />
investment in its Hire<br />
Centre estate. This will<br />
enable it to service the<br />
needs of local<br />
organisations and<br />
businesses more<br />
effectively, and the<br />
requirements of major<br />
projects nationwide.<br />
Register for your FREE visitor pass today at:<br />
www.visionlondon.com/register<br />
.<br />
www.portanews.co.uk<br />
6
Whatever the exposure<br />
– EJOT ® has the anchor<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> Magazine offers an insight into the service and fixings solutions offered by EJOT ® UK Ltd.,<br />
the Yorkshire based specialist.<br />
The EJOT ® range encompasses mechanical and<br />
chemical anchors applicable to all types of building<br />
substrate for diverse installation challenges<br />
New EJOT ® Trio ideal for<br />
general insulation<br />
applications<br />
EJOT's new HTK2G 75mm diameter<br />
tubewasher, designed to meet SPRA guidelines<br />
for part-adhered membrane installation<br />
The Met office may be regretting<br />
deciding to individually name every<br />
new weather front that approaches the<br />
UK – at the current rate Storm Zebra should<br />
be with us before Easter – though it does<br />
underline the frequency with which high winds<br />
and driving rain affect the country. Which is<br />
why specifiers require the technical support<br />
and general savvy of a company like EJOT ®<br />
UK.<br />
Those attending the recent RCI show at<br />
Coventry’s Ricoh Arena will have witnessed the<br />
diversity of fixing solutions for flat roofing,<br />
rainscreen systems and other construction<br />
challenges offered under this global brand; but<br />
the products are really only part of a holistic,<br />
service based technical offering.<br />
We are all familiar with the map detailing the<br />
different exposure conditions to which<br />
structures are subjected, but it requires real<br />
expertise to translate wind speeds into the<br />
right fixing patterns and types. Crucially the<br />
EJOT ® range encompasses different options for<br />
mechanical and chemical anchors to suit all the<br />
common exterior substrates: including plywood,<br />
metal sheeting, brick or blockwork masonry<br />
and cracked or uncracked concrete.<br />
By engaging with EJOT ® , contractors and<br />
consultants can a<strong>cc</strong>ess the company’s testing<br />
capabilities which will confirm the suitability of<br />
certain solutions to the location, the height or<br />
configuration of the building and the material<br />
which a rainscreen system or built –up roofing<br />
system is being secured into.<br />
Brian Mack Technical Business Development<br />
Manager for EJOT ® UK Ltd said “Globally<br />
EJOT ® is expanding its product offering relating<br />
to concrete, brick and block substrates: by<br />
consolidating our existing brands, through<br />
research & development, and from consultation<br />
with OEM’s and engineers. We have the<br />
products within the range to meet all<br />
installation issues into the different substrates,<br />
to tackle a wide variety of applications and<br />
performance criteria”<br />
A further example of the latter would be the<br />
Trio ‘general application’ anchor for insulation<br />
materials, which is aimed at sub-contractors<br />
tasked, say, with securing insulation as part of a<br />
rainscreen installation. Described by Brian<br />
Mack as versatile and reliable as well as being<br />
very cost effective, Trio comprises two types of<br />
fixing pin, both of which combine with the same<br />
high quality sleeve.<br />
Meanwhile, the three Trio components can be<br />
used to fix into concrete or clay bricks including<br />
perforated types and aircrete blockwork. The<br />
10mm diameter sleeve itself is manufactured<br />
from high density polyethylene to create a<br />
variable anchor zone, from 30 to 60 mm depth.<br />
The glass-reinforced nylon pin is intended to be<br />
used for securing lighter weight insulation such<br />
as expanded polystyrene back into brickwork or<br />
concrete. Then the metal pin will normally be<br />
used for heavier insulation types, though still<br />
being suitable for lighter EPS material. EJOT ®<br />
Trio then presents a generic, non-system<br />
specific product solution<br />
Also prominent amongst the products<br />
showcased on EJOT ® ’s stand at RCI the<br />
company was introducing its new HTK-75-2G 75<br />
mm diameter tube-washer, for part-adhered flat<br />
roofing installations. Importantly it meets SPRA<br />
guidelines for bonded/mechanical hybrid<br />
installations and is suitable for securing<br />
insulation back into either ply or profiled steel<br />
decks.<br />
EJOT ® ’s technical sales engineers will advise on<br />
the correct fixing centres in relation to windload<br />
calculations, while the tube-washer and<br />
threaded fastener not only address coldbridging<br />
concerns, but the telescopic design<br />
provides resistance to imposed loads. With the<br />
insulation and membrane permanently secured<br />
using EJOT ® ’s hybrid solution, the job is<br />
completed by folding and heat welding the laps.<br />
With such a comprehensive collection of fixing<br />
products to choose from, and technical<br />
resources including site testing available to<br />
back them up, potential customers need to<br />
investigate the EJOT ® offering fully.<br />
For more information email info@ejot.co.uk<br />
or call 01977 687040<br />
08
The Quality Connection<br />
New products for 2016<br />
Now available from EJOT UK<br />
New EJOT® TRIO<br />
The general-purpose<br />
insulation anchor<br />
Versatile:<br />
One sleeve, two pins! Combine<br />
to suit varying insulation<br />
thicknesses and densities<br />
Universal:<br />
Suits all common masonry<br />
substrates<br />
Reliable:<br />
Variable embedment depth<br />
Economical:<br />
Intelligent purchase for smarter<br />
stock and logistics<br />
Concrete, Brick & Block<br />
New ‘through-bolt’ to<br />
chemical anchoring systems<br />
EJOT® Anchor Bolts BA<br />
and MMS Concrete Screw<br />
For embedment in cracked<br />
and non-cracked concrete<br />
EJOT Multifix VSF:<br />
Styrene-free ‘low odour’ two-part<br />
chemical anchoring mortar, based<br />
on a high reactivity vinylester resin<br />
EJOT® Resin Stud:<br />
Approved for polyester and<br />
vinylester composite mortar<br />
New HTK 2G 75<br />
The solution for part-bonded<br />
membrane systems<br />
SPRA guidelines:<br />
75mm diameter tubewasher for<br />
use where membrane is bonded<br />
to the insulation. Meets SPRA<br />
guidelines for resistance to<br />
imposed loads<br />
Efficient:<br />
Combines with HTK or TKR<br />
fasteners to secure insulation to<br />
steel profiles and plywood decks<br />
Limits cold bridging:<br />
Suitable for new build and<br />
renovations<br />
Our Sales Engineers work across the UK providing full on-site technical support and testing.<br />
Product samples available: Call EJOT customer service on 01977 687040.<br />
Visit EJOT UK online<br />
www.ejot.co.uk
Sweat equity<br />
Technical Editor, Bruce Meechan, reflects on the new impetus from Government that could dramatically increase the<br />
number of self-build projects being completed across the country.<br />
This photo (courtesy of Exeter based building services specialist Omni) shows a PassivHaus<br />
project in Devon and what can be achieved by a<strong>cc</strong>essing the right products and services<br />
Most of you I am sure will have felt<br />
some pang of nostalgia or sorrow<br />
when moving out of a property which<br />
holds good memories, or perhaps one you<br />
have invested a lot of time and effort into<br />
refurbishing. For my part I haven’t moved<br />
house for 25 years and have no current plans<br />
to do so, but my wife and I are in the process<br />
of selling a large bungalow which we originally<br />
built for my father back in 2001..<br />
Even though, due to failing health, he never got<br />
to live in it, and I personally have never spent a<br />
night in the place, there is a real connection<br />
with the building because it represents the only<br />
full self-build we have ever been involved on.<br />
Despite the major alterations we have made to<br />
our current home, having designed and<br />
coordinated a series of trade packages – not to<br />
mention having invested a large amount of<br />
sweat equity into the work – leading to a<br />
10<br />
Andrew Carpenter Chief<br />
Executive of the STA<br />
su<strong>cc</strong>essful completion, creates a different<br />
perspective on ownership.<br />
This is why I believe the current moves to<br />
encourage self-build projects and the<br />
Government’s legislation on Custom<br />
Housebuilding, which was passed last year, has<br />
the potential to not only help ease the UK’s<br />
current, seemingly worsening housing<br />
shortage, but might also generate an enhanced<br />
sense of pride amongst o<strong>cc</strong>upants. And<br />
hopefully this can also work through into a<br />
stronger sense of community. Basically if<br />
people invest their own skills, hard work and<br />
money into a dwelling, this will be reflected in<br />
their taking much greater personal<br />
responsibility for its upkeep and protection.<br />
Although the 1700 square foot, room-in-theroof<br />
bungalow which we have rented out for<br />
the past 15 years, is built on land adjoining our<br />
granite cottage, I was involved with a self-build<br />
group in the mid-1980s which searched<br />
unsu<strong>cc</strong>essfully for a site. And a cursory glance<br />
at the estate agents or other plot finding<br />
websites reveal that the search for land is only<br />
getting harder in most regions. “They’re just<br />
not making it any more” as the line goes.<br />
Having listened to some impassioned debate<br />
during last autumn’s Build Show at the<br />
Birmingham NEC, including some measured<br />
contributions from MP Richard Bacon as well as<br />
other panel members, I feel encouraged that<br />
local authorities and other bodies are now on<br />
board with the agenda.<br />
The Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act<br />
Passed into law last March, the act came about<br />
as the result of a private members’ bill<br />
sponsored by Richard Bacon, MP for South<br />
Norfolk. It is summarized as follows: “To place<br />
a duty on local authorities to keep a register of<br />
individuals and community groups who have<br />
expressed an interest in acquiring land to bring<br />
forward self-build and custom-build projects<br />
and to take a<strong>cc</strong>ount of and make provision for<br />
the interests of those on such registers in<br />
developing their housing initiatives and their<br />
local plans; to allow volume house builders to<br />
include self-build and custom-build projects as<br />
contributing towards their affordable housing<br />
obligations, when in partnership for this<br />
purpose with a Registered Social Landlord; and<br />
for connected purposes.”<br />
If one probes into the sparsely punctuated<br />
pronouncements of Parliament, the act’s<br />
primary purpose is to try and drive volume, and<br />
to move away from what is often perceived as<br />
private mansion developments for the very<br />
wealthy. An image which is generally reinforced<br />
by Grand Designs and other TV programmes.<br />
What these television shows do demonstrate in<br />
often agonizing detail is how badly elements to<br />
the work, and the budget in general, can go<br />
wrong due to unforeseen circumstances and<br />
hidden problems, as well as people’s own lack<br />
of planning.<br />
The idea of making serviced plots available will<br />
protect participants from some of the more
daunting aspects to progressing a build. In<br />
particular having navigable a<strong>cc</strong>ess and the<br />
essential services of power, water and drainage<br />
within easy reach is a real boon. Actually<br />
getting out of the ground is another matter;<br />
and as the proportion of brownfield to pristine<br />
Greenfield sites offering good ground<br />
conditions continues to worsen, many will be<br />
looking to piling and sub-structure specialists<br />
such as Roger Bullivant.<br />
While the company has the heavyweight plant<br />
to sink the size of contiguous piles which retain<br />
basement car parks beneath commercial office<br />
buildings, Roger Bullivant’s domestic house<br />
base systems offer low on-site costs while<br />
creating insulated oversites; often supported by<br />
mini-piles or some method of ‘ground<br />
improvement’.<br />
How people proceed from oversite level<br />
depends very much on personal preference, as<br />
the various system solutions – such as steel and<br />
timber frame, reinforced concrete including ICF<br />
and traditional brick and block – are all<br />
nowadays capable of providing the structural<br />
strength and exceeding Part L requirements.<br />
For the bungalow we were early adopters of the<br />
Celcon thin-joint aerated concrete or aircrete<br />
block system which offers enhanced thermal,<br />
acoustic and other performance benefits as<br />
well as being very rapid to erect. For the upper<br />
floor we employed goal-post timber trusses as<br />
a very economic means of facilitating loft living,<br />
but delaying the fit-out for some years until my<br />
in-laws moved in. And timber frame is of course<br />
the dominant form of offsite construction.<br />
Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA<br />
commented: “We see the custom build model as<br />
an excellent opportunity for timber frame and<br />
the members the STA, because most people<br />
who are deciding on their own property decide<br />
to go down the structural timber route. This is<br />
for a number of reasons and because they are<br />
more discerning about construction methods<br />
than those simply buying off plan on a new<br />
development. The association therefore<br />
supports the direction of travel towards custom<br />
build.”<br />
Referring to timber engineering’s wider<br />
potential for easing the country’s housing<br />
crisis, Andrew Carpenter added: “At the STA we<br />
fully support the RIBA’s campaign to encourage<br />
the (Lords Economic Affairs) committee to look<br />
at the barriers to speeding up new housing<br />
projects and focus on better design of homes in<br />
the UK.<br />
“Moreover, we are suggesting that the<br />
committee takes the time to connect with us at<br />
the STA to help research the benefits of timber<br />
frame houses in the UK. As the most cost<br />
efficient, fast and sustainable method of<br />
construction, timber frame has the potential to<br />
help developers meet the demand for more<br />
houses and speed up projects whilst<br />
maximizing profits and safeguarding future<br />
work.<br />
“At this crucial time for the UK construction<br />
industry, the focus needs to be on building<br />
more homes and building better homes and we<br />
firmly believe that more timber frame houses is<br />
the first step in achieving this. As such, we will<br />
be submitting some evidence to the inquiry to<br />
support an increase in timber frame houses<br />
and look forward to assisting the committee<br />
with its research moving forward.”<br />
If we are ever to see the supply of housing<br />
catch up on demand it will take not just medium<br />
sized regional developers to up their game, but<br />
also the much smaller housebuilders and selfbuilders<br />
to step up to the plate. Increasing the<br />
supply of suitable plots and simplifying the<br />
service provisions will be a very good starting<br />
point.<br />
“We see the custom build model as an excellent opportunity for timber frame and the members of the STA,<br />
because most people who are deciding on their own property decide to go down the structural timber route. This<br />
is for a number of reasons and because they are more discerning about construction methods than those simply<br />
buying off plan on a new development.” Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA<br />
Celcon’s Thin-Joint system provides a rapid<br />
build and high performance structure.<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 11
How off-site construction can beat the<br />
housing crisis and maximise on investment<br />
We have all seen the reports on the on-going housing crisis. The prediction is that at least 200,000 new homes will<br />
need to be built year on year until 2020 to avert this situation.<br />
Despite some upturn in house building<br />
output last year; many analysts believe<br />
the industry remains at least some<br />
100,000 houses a year short to meet demand.<br />
76% of house builders themselves have said<br />
that 180,000 or less is achievable with only<br />
6% saying that 200,000 could be achieved on<br />
a regular annual basis.<br />
A number of house builders now state that skill<br />
shortage has overtaken planning and land<br />
availability as the biggest constraint on their<br />
businesses.<br />
To add to this growing crisis the removal of the<br />
cap on student numbers in UK universities has<br />
seen a 3% rise in university enrolment across<br />
the country. This has meant a shortage of<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation with some students having to<br />
share bunk bed rooms in halls - whilst others<br />
have been given reduced rate hotels with two<br />
weeks to find alternative a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation.<br />
In 2015 around £2.5bn was spent on additional<br />
student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation with around a 14%<br />
yield on investment. These figures are expected<br />
to rise.<br />
To answer this gap in the market Premier<br />
Modular developed an innovative modular<br />
building system. This highly efficient light<br />
gauge steel frame based, factory engineered<br />
product is constructed by skilled assembly<br />
teams in the company’s 22 acre site in<br />
Yorkshire.<br />
Director, David Harris, points out that the<br />
modular apartments, rooms and houses are<br />
assembled not by traditionally skilled<br />
tradesmen but rather by manufacturing and<br />
engineering trained factory operatives. This<br />
opens up the possibility of significantly<br />
contributing to the shortage without the need<br />
for finding more scarce traditional resource<br />
that is clearly not available in the UK.<br />
These engineered and factory assembled<br />
products offer significant advantages in many<br />
areas.<br />
Foremost are the time benefits, as<br />
manufacturing is done on a flow line there is no<br />
risk of late delivery from outside forces such as<br />
the weather. David commented ‘Rooms can be<br />
manufactured at a rate of 25 per week and<br />
complete houses at a rate of 20 per week, with<br />
minimal onsite time’<br />
This speed of construction not only reduces<br />
labour rates and prelims but gives a much<br />
faster return on investment whether clients are<br />
selling or gaining a monthly rental income.<br />
Modules are constructed to exacting quality<br />
levels in the controlled factory environment<br />
and with as much as 75% of the buildings<br />
manufactured offsite, the risk of a<strong>cc</strong>idents on<br />
site is greatly reduced.<br />
Premier completed a 5 storey 206 bedroom<br />
student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation block in September<br />
2015. Located in Newcastle Upon Tyne city<br />
centre it consisted of a mixture of 54 studio<br />
flats, 105 en-suite bedrooms and 2 a<strong>cc</strong>essible<br />
en-suite rooms with associated living spaces,<br />
kitchens and study areas. Premier were the<br />
preferred supplier due to speed of programme<br />
and the high quality finish that could be<br />
provided.<br />
Premier Modular has completed their first code<br />
5 sustainable housing development in Hull.<br />
They have now started a number of projects<br />
across the UK. To ensure houses are fully<br />
mortgageable Premier offers an insurance<br />
backed warranty package.<br />
The housing product meets all 5 main elements<br />
to achieve a BRE Green Guide Rating of B or<br />
above and is designed to achieve a Code for<br />
Sustainable Housing Level 3 or above. The<br />
dwellings also meet the requirement of Life<br />
Time Homes.<br />
In a market where an increased rate of build is<br />
required, building standards are increasing, a<br />
reduction of a<strong>cc</strong>idents and incidents is<br />
expected despite the increase in activity and we<br />
have a diminishing pool of skilled tradesman.<br />
Offsite construction can be the only answer.<br />
Why not follow us too?<br />
@premier_modular<br />
Linkedin.com/company/premier-modular<br />
www.premiermodular.co.uk<br />
12
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Exeter campus contract for<br />
Lowfield Timber Frames<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> Magazine reports on a major new student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation complex under construction for the<br />
University of Exeter.<br />
Aconstricted site in the centre of<br />
Exeter has presented offsite<br />
specialist Lowfield Timber Frames<br />
with a challenging first contract in the<br />
booming student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation market:<br />
with the need to address fire risk during the<br />
construction phase as well as logistical and<br />
structural demands. .<br />
The H-shaped five storey apartment building<br />
is being developed for Downing Students<br />
Exeter Ltd by locally based Dawmus<br />
Construction, to provide over 200 bed-spaces;<br />
all with en-suite shower rooms.<br />
Lowfield, which already has a long track<br />
record in the care home and other volume<br />
markets, was approached by Dawmus to<br />
manufacture and erect the wall panels and<br />
floor cassettes. Work on the site in Western<br />
Way began last summer and is progressing<br />
well.<br />
Darren Jarman, a Director of Lowfield Timber<br />
Frames, told <strong>MMC</strong> Magazine: “One of the key<br />
aspects to this project was the building’s<br />
proximity to neighbouring properties; and as a<br />
result of the fire report carried out by our<br />
structural engineer, Milner Associates, we<br />
switched from using OSB to Euroform’s<br />
Versaliner board, which offers category C and<br />
B1 fire resistance as well as the necessary<br />
racking strength.”<br />
Although Lowfield can offer a full range of<br />
factory installed insulation solutions the client<br />
in this case wanted to carry out the process<br />
on site, after the 140 mm thick wall panels<br />
were delivered and lifted directly into position<br />
around the four zones to the floor layout. This<br />
was facilitated by Lowfield’s careful<br />
sequencing of deliveries and provision of<br />
integral lifting strops. Then as the floor<br />
cassettes, measuring up to 2.4 metres wide<br />
and nine metres long were installed,<br />
Lowfield’s erection team were also<br />
responsible for positioning the bathroom pods<br />
and packs of plasterboard to ensure even<br />
weight distribution.<br />
In total just over 500 floor and roof cassettes<br />
have been required for the Exeter project,<br />
with the majority of those intended for the<br />
corridor areas having to be altered in depth to<br />
respect the routing of building services.<br />
James Rae, Lowfield’s project coordinator for<br />
the job explained: “We have decreased depth<br />
“As with other sectors we have<br />
expanded into, our developments<br />
have been led by the requirements<br />
from our clients to ensure we meet<br />
their needs. Be this providing the<br />
fire protection during construction,<br />
utilising floor cassettes to reduce<br />
construction time to the factory<br />
fitting of windows as just a few<br />
examples. As with the residential<br />
care and hotel markets where we<br />
have done so much work, speed is<br />
of the essence across the education<br />
sector as well as maintaining the<br />
quality of the product.”<br />
Darren Jarman, Lowfield Timber Frames<br />
timber joists in the corridor areas to allow<br />
mechanical and electrical services to be<br />
located within the floor zone; and to avoid the<br />
need for any below ceiling boxing. This proved<br />
more challenging in the large open communal<br />
areas.<br />
“Meanwhile there are several areas where<br />
extra design input was required in order to<br />
transfer loads from windows that cantilever<br />
14
The Lowfield system’s wall panels for the Exeter a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation building are<br />
sheathed with Versaliner to provide extra fire resistance as well as racking<br />
strength while the elevations are to be finished with a render system.<br />
ensures the party wall continues up into the<br />
floor zone and greatly reduces sound<br />
transmission from one room to another.”<br />
Then to combat cold bridging Lowfield<br />
avoided using lintels in the external wall<br />
panels: increasing the area of panel void<br />
available to take insulation. The I-beam roof<br />
system selected helps with the cold bridging<br />
issues, as little space is taken up by the<br />
reduced thickness webs of the joist. This<br />
means more insulation can be placed in the<br />
roof zone as opposed to a solid timber joist.<br />
Typically less joists are used in the I-beam<br />
construction as opposed to solid timber joists,<br />
thus increasing the void for insulation.<br />
out from the building line. In such cases, steel<br />
beams were introduced. We’ve also provided<br />
support for the curtain walling within the<br />
timber frame structure.”<br />
Sound transmission is always an issue on a<br />
building of this nature and James went on to<br />
describe some of the measures taken there:<br />
“To ensure we meet acoustic requirements,<br />
we’ve had to look closely at several junction<br />
details and make provisions where required. A<br />
good example of this is the extra solid<br />
blocking between joists where a floor cassette<br />
flies over a party wall. The blocking effectively<br />
Darren Jarman concluded: “As with other<br />
sectors we have expanded into we have been<br />
led by recommendations from our clients. And<br />
as with the residential care market where we<br />
have done so much work, speed is of the<br />
essence across the education sector - as well<br />
as quality and performance. We see a very big<br />
opportunity in providing student<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation for campuses around the<br />
country.”<br />
As a specialist in timber frame manufacturing<br />
Lowfield offers a bespoke TRADA a<strong>cc</strong>redited<br />
design, fabrication and erection service to<br />
clients, including varying panel thicknesses<br />
and a choice of insulation types which<br />
includes rock mineral wool and PIR foam. It is<br />
also a supplier of the Kingspan Tek structural<br />
insulated panel (SIP) system, adding a further<br />
dimension to the adaptability.<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 15
Cross code project<br />
nears completion<br />
Technical Editor Bruce Meechan reviews a highly energy conscious, mixed tenure social housing<br />
development down near the Bristol Channel which is drawing on two of the industry’s best<br />
proven design standards.<br />
The continuing relevance of the Code<br />
for Sustainable Homes to the social<br />
housing sector has been<br />
demonstrated by the development of 25<br />
new homes near to Minehead on the Bristol<br />
Channel, which is making use of both the<br />
points based system and the even more<br />
energy sensitive PassivHaus Standard..<br />
Known as Townsend Farm, the project for<br />
Hastoe Housing is seeing Halsall<br />
Construction Limited build a total of 20<br />
houses to full PassivHaus requirements,<br />
while a further five for market sales also<br />
offer excellent energy performance.<br />
Significantly, the project team which includes<br />
Bristol based architectural consultant, gcp<br />
and WARM Associates as the PassivHaus<br />
certification specialist, is also being specified<br />
to meet Code Level 4 in order to address<br />
wider sustainability issues.<br />
Beyond this site by the Bristol Channel,<br />
Hastoe is constructing all of its new housing<br />
to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4 as a<br />
minimum standard, while 20 per cent of its<br />
developments are set to achieve the<br />
PassivHaus Standard.<br />
Design and Sustainability Manager at Halsall,<br />
Nicola Thorogood has been involved with the<br />
Townsend Farm project from early on and<br />
commented: “It’s a site that has been<br />
identified for a long time for housing and has<br />
been a challenge to get to this point, but<br />
pleased we are now moving forward<br />
providing high quality, low maintenance, low<br />
energy cost homes for local people in and<br />
around Carhampton.<br />
“This design and build project is an exciting<br />
challenge for Halsall building on the<br />
knowledge and experience of low energynear<br />
PassivHaus design, Code for<br />
Sustainable Homes levels 5 and 6 housing<br />
the company has su<strong>cc</strong>essfully completed<br />
over the past few years.”<br />
The construction, while featuring a highly<br />
insulated timber frame system from Taylor<br />
Lane, brings together a selection of other<br />
products in order to achieve the required<br />
standards of airtightness and insulation<br />
across the building envelope.<br />
For example, at the critical floor/wall junction<br />
the designers have incorporated a course of<br />
Thermoblocks; manufactured by Marmox.<br />
These feature miniature columns of concrete<br />
encapsulated within high performance XPS<br />
insulation. They can be used at upper floor<br />
levels and other locations as well as around<br />
the perimeter to the oversite.<br />
The Site Agent for Halsall Construction<br />
Limited, John Gray, explained: “The<br />
PassivHaus properties feature the use of 150<br />
mm wide Celcon aircrete blocks up to floor<br />
level then the course of Marmox<br />
Thermoblocks and another single course of<br />
blocks above, which ultimately carries the<br />
timber frame. The elevations to the buildings<br />
then features either local stone or render<br />
outside a further 200 mm thickness of<br />
insulation. The Thermoblock is employed to<br />
help achieve the very low U-value, while the<br />
airtightness figure required is 0.6 (m 3 /<br />
m 2 /hr)”.<br />
In fact the 140 mm timber frame is factory<br />
insulated with Kingspan Kooltherm insulation<br />
and then encased externally by 200 mm of<br />
Rockwool. The latter has the twin benefits of<br />
offering very good fire protection and sound<br />
reduction while remaining vapour permeable.<br />
Internally the frame has an Intello Smart air<br />
barrier to restrict movement of moisture<br />
vapour into the structure where it could<br />
cause interstitial condensation. Then there is<br />
also a batten cavity for the routing of<br />
building services.<br />
Although gcp Chartered Architects has<br />
designed past PassivHaus projects with slabs<br />
of high density polystyrene beneath the<br />
oversite, the challenging ground conditions<br />
on the former farmland did not lend<br />
themselves to a raft solution. As a result, the<br />
mix of one, two and three bedroom homes<br />
are raised on conventional footings spanned<br />
by a beam and block ground floor. This then<br />
has substantial insulation over and is<br />
protected against cold-bridging by the<br />
Thermoblocks and very energy efficient wall<br />
construction.<br />
Project Architect Colin Powell commented:<br />
“In order to maintain the very good<br />
airtightness and insulation offered by the<br />
fabric of the walls, roof and floor, the<br />
contract to supply the windows was awarded<br />
to TRC, an eastern European manufacturer.<br />
These are timber to respect the village<br />
setting of the development and triple glazed<br />
to keep heat loss within PassivHaus<br />
guidelines. The entrance doors were supplied<br />
by IG.<br />
“Then the properties all feature Zehnder<br />
mechanical ventilation with heat recovery<br />
systems which are ideal for PassivHaus<br />
requirements. In terms of the overall primary<br />
energy the places are heated with a couple<br />
of convector radiators in the bathroom and<br />
hall; while Baxi solar thermal systems will<br />
provide the domestic hot water through<br />
much of the year.<br />
“Overall the aim of the project was to design<br />
it to be as conventional as possible –<br />
adapting standard materials and techniques<br />
to keep the cost down and the appearance<br />
traditional.<br />
“Then of course the PassivHaus performance<br />
gives you a very good starting point in terms<br />
of energy standards to go onto achieve Code<br />
for Sustainable Homes Level 4, where the<br />
houses will be provided with facilities such as<br />
bike stores and water butts.”<br />
As well as the private market sale properties,<br />
the homes at Townsend Farm will offer the<br />
opportunity for both shared equity and<br />
affordable rent. The project is expected to be<br />
completed before the summer.<br />
16
“Marmox Thermoblock is being used to break<br />
the thermal bridge between the sub-structure<br />
blockwork and the superstructure above -<br />
achieving a psi value of 0.007 W/mK”.<br />
“Overall the aim of the project was<br />
to design it to be as conventional<br />
as possible – adapting standard<br />
materials and techniques to keep<br />
the cost down and the appearance<br />
traditional.”<br />
The type of MVHR unit from Zehnder<br />
chosen for Hastoe’s PassivHaus project<br />
Colin Powell, Project Architect, gcp Chartered Architects.<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 17
Could offsite construction attract<br />
new home grown talent?<br />
Ministers have just today announced that they want the construction industry to focus efforts on attracting,<br />
developing and retaining home grown talent into the industry and remove barriers currently preventing more young<br />
people from entering the sector.<br />
This involves looking at how companies<br />
recruit and train, but also at how<br />
adopting modern technologies and<br />
methods could help to keep our sector<br />
interesting, up-to-date and attractive to the<br />
next generation of budding construction<br />
professionals.<br />
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis and Skills<br />
Minister Nick Boles have stressed that they<br />
want the construction industry to re-evaluate<br />
their current business models to see if there is<br />
enough attention being paid to recruitment.<br />
The ministers suggested that businesses should<br />
also consider other methods of construction -<br />
such as offsite manufacturing - to help diversify<br />
the industry.<br />
The Construction Leadership Council has been<br />
called upon to review what skills the<br />
construction industry need to provide enough<br />
homes to meet national demand and tackle the<br />
housing crisis effectively.<br />
The Council has asked Mark Farmer, of real<br />
estate and construction consultancy Cast, to<br />
identify actions that will help bring more<br />
workers to the industry.<br />
Views are being sought on how to best train a<br />
workforce which has a high level of selfemployment<br />
and bring about greater use of offsite<br />
construction. The review will also look at<br />
how the industry can introduce measures that<br />
encourage more investment and new ways of<br />
working.<br />
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said “The<br />
number of new homes is up 25% in the last<br />
year – and this is further proof we’ve got the<br />
country building again and delivering the<br />
homes the nation wants.”<br />
“This means thousands of jobs are now up for<br />
grabs and we’re determined to make sure that<br />
there are enough skilled workers to get the job<br />
done.”<br />
“Construction offers an exciting and rewarding<br />
career and we need to build a new generation<br />
of home grown talented, ambitious and highly<br />
skilled construction workers.”<br />
Skills Minister Nick Boles commented “The<br />
government is committed to getting Britain<br />
building. We are investing in measures to cut<br />
red tape and increase the number of young<br />
people doing apprenticeships and traineeships<br />
to ensure we have a pipeline of skilled<br />
workers.”<br />
“As leaders in the industry, the Council is best<br />
placed to advise on how to boost productivity in<br />
the sector and build the houses and<br />
infrastructure our nation needs.”<br />
Mark Farmer, chief executive officer at Cast,<br />
“...thousands of jobs are<br />
now up for grabs and we’re<br />
determined to make sure<br />
that there are enough<br />
skilled workers to get the<br />
job done.”<br />
Housing Minister Brandon Lewis<br />
added “I’m delighted to be asked to lead this<br />
review. The construction industry’s skills<br />
shortfall has been growing progressively and its<br />
ageing workforce now means affirmative action<br />
needs to be taken to avoid more acute issues in<br />
the future.”<br />
“A healthy and robust construction sector is<br />
vital to underpinning the government’s<br />
commitment to delivering critical new housing<br />
and infrastructure projects. It will also ensure<br />
the unrivalled economic multiplier effect<br />
related to construction activity continues to<br />
play its part within the wider UK economy.”<br />
“The industry needs to seize the opportunity to<br />
celebrate the vital contribution it makes and, in<br />
partnership with government and other key<br />
stakeholders, ensure it overcomes the current<br />
barriers to fulfilling its potential.”<br />
18
Taking a property’s pulse<br />
The University of Nottingham has developed a novel and easy-to-use test for measuring the airtightness of buildings.<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> reports<br />
The University of Nottingham’s handy<br />
new airtightness tool, termed the<br />
PULSE test, has been extensively<br />
researched and developed over 14 years and<br />
works by releasing a short burst of air that<br />
creates a low pressure pulse throughout the<br />
whole building. Taking just seconds to<br />
conduct, this can then be used to measure the<br />
flow through leakage pathways.<br />
Dr Ed Cooper, lead developer of the PULSE test,<br />
from the Department of Architecture and Built<br />
Environment at The University of Nottingham,<br />
said: “The gap between design and<br />
performance of airtightness in buildings can at<br />
best cause discomfort for o<strong>cc</strong>upants, and at<br />
worst create significant energy wastage and<br />
health problems.<br />
“The new test, which is quick and easy to<br />
operate, could help mitigate these problems by<br />
enabling tests that can be conducted by anyone<br />
with minimal training. It could have a big impact<br />
on improving the performance of buildings.”<br />
The latest version of the PULSE test comprises<br />
a composite compressed air tank and control<br />
20<br />
box mounted on a compact and portable trolley<br />
which can be wheeled into a building for<br />
testing. It is also easy to operate and requires<br />
no specialist training to use.<br />
The results are calculated inside the PULSE<br />
unit, which has a user-friendly graphical<br />
interface for analysis, and could have the<br />
potential to automatically upload to the<br />
Internet — removing any potential for results to<br />
be doctored.<br />
The test also offers a<strong>cc</strong>urate and repeatable<br />
results, by measuring at typical infiltration<br />
pressures and a<strong>cc</strong>ounting for changes in<br />
background pressure levels caused by the wind<br />
or outside temperature.<br />
The PULSE test has attracted over £1m in<br />
funding throughout its development, including<br />
an EPSRC First Grant which helped to secure<br />
proof of concept; and an InnovateUK grant for<br />
further software and product development with<br />
industry partners.<br />
The University is currently in negotiations to<br />
license the technology to a joint venture,<br />
consisting of Elmhurst Energy, National Energy<br />
Foundation and Absolute Air and Gas — to make<br />
the PULSE test a commercial reality.<br />
The alternative to door “blowers” has also<br />
recently secured funding to be a pilot project<br />
for the £4.5m ‘Built 2 Specification’<br />
(Built2Spec) initiative, which aims to<br />
revolutionize the way green buildings are<br />
delivered.<br />
Funded by the Horizon 2020 programme,<br />
Built2Spec aims to use innovative new<br />
technologies to transform the construction<br />
industry and help the EU countries hit 2050<br />
carbon targets.<br />
Working alongside 20 partners in eight<br />
countries, such as the PassivHaus Institute,<br />
Lakehouse, BSRIA, VRM Technology, OHL,<br />
Nobatek and TNO, the PULSE will be developed<br />
for integration into the Built2Spec Virtual<br />
Construction Management Platform to help<br />
reduce the gap between design and<br />
performance of buildings.
Permanent buildings constructed using<br />
modern<br />
methods of construction<br />
1<br />
2 3 4<br />
MTX are market leaders in the provision of permanent bespoke<br />
modular buildings for the Education Sector.<br />
Our bespoke modular buildings represent an equivalent alternative to<br />
a traditional construction solution. Our system offers unbeatable advantages<br />
to the education sector in terms of economic efficiency, speed of delivery<br />
and sustainability with guaranteed cost and programme certainty.<br />
Our tailored product offers endless flexibility ensuring we meet your<br />
exact requirements:<br />
For more information<br />
contact us on:<br />
0845 130 9639<br />
mtx.co.uk/mtx-education<br />
@mtxcontracts<br />
• A design life of up to 60 years<br />
• Solid concrete floors<br />
• Unlimited architectural creativity<br />
• Tailored environmental design<br />
• Building control compliant<br />
• Clear span modules maximising<br />
usable floor space<br />
Fairacres House,<br />
Fairacres Road<br />
High Lane, Stockport,<br />
Cheshire SK6 8JQ<br />
1 Steni Cladding Panels<br />
3<br />
Curtain Wall Glazing<br />
2 First Floor Lecture Room<br />
4 Open Ceilings with Exposed Services
Shackerley’s ceramic granite adds<br />
‘civic qualities’ to Consett<br />
development<br />
Shackerley has supplied over 900m 2 of SureClad ® ceramic granite ventilated façade cladding in<br />
different styles for Consett Academy and Consett Leisure Centre, adding premium quality external<br />
finishes for both parts of this £44 million regeneration project in the North East which aims to inspire<br />
the local community into active living and learning.<br />
From the outset, the new academy and<br />
leisure centre were to be constructed<br />
as a single building with many shared<br />
facilities, but it was always deemed<br />
important that each part of the development<br />
should have its own very clear identity and<br />
sense of purpose. The specification of<br />
ceramic granite façade panels in different<br />
colourways and surface textures has helped<br />
to clearly differentiate the educational<br />
establishment from the adjoining sports and<br />
leisure facility.<br />
Seymour Harris, architects for the main<br />
contractor Carillion, had previous experience<br />
of using SureClad ® in the education sector and<br />
had no hesitation in specifying Shackerley’s<br />
patented façade system when developing the<br />
detailed design for this scheme.<br />
Multi-format polished and unpolished black<br />
façade panels from one of Shackerley’s most<br />
popular ceramic granite ranges have been<br />
installed ‘broken bonded’ to form a key design<br />
element of the main frontage of Consett<br />
Academy.<br />
The main frontage of Consett Academy, clad in polished<br />
and unpolished black panels, drawn from one of<br />
Shackerley’s most popular ceramic granite ranges<br />
22
The versatility of the SureClad ®<br />
system allowed multi-format<br />
façade panels to be installed<br />
‘broken bonded’<br />
The lighter stone colourway<br />
of the cladding on the leisure<br />
centre has given the facility<br />
its own fresh identity<br />
Leisure Centre is open to the whole<br />
community, offering state of the art<br />
swimming and sports facilities.<br />
...The SureClad ® ceramic<br />
granite just gave us<br />
everything we were looking<br />
for... excellent clean lines,<br />
stunning appearance of<br />
quality, robustness with long<br />
term low maintenance and<br />
confidence that it would<br />
perform on all counts...<br />
“Using premium black materials normally<br />
associated with the high end commercial<br />
sector underlines the message that the<br />
Academy is a place of work and that learning<br />
leads towards a bigger world,“ commented<br />
Seymour Harris Director, Tim Johnson. “The<br />
Academy also has a technology specialism and<br />
the use of an advanced technical cladding<br />
system seems appropriate as it serves to<br />
emphasise the focus of the school.”<br />
The adjoining Leisure Centre is open to the<br />
whole community, offering state of the art<br />
swimming and sports facilities. Here,<br />
SureClad ® ceramic granite façades in a lighter<br />
stone colourway have been used to clad<br />
external elevations, contrasting starkly with<br />
black detailing at the main entrance. “The<br />
cladding material has given the Leisure Centre<br />
the civic quality required, and maintained<br />
design continuity with the Academy, whilst the<br />
less imposing, brighter colour has given the<br />
facility its own fresh identity,” said Tim.<br />
The SureClad ® ventilated cladding system has<br />
been specifically developed to give maximum<br />
flexibility in terms of façade styling, design<br />
and installation. Undercut anchorage is<br />
employed to securely attach façade fixing<br />
brackets and straps to every panel, with all<br />
undercut drilling carried out in Shackerley’s<br />
quality controlled, ISO 9001 a<strong>cc</strong>redited factory.<br />
This allows for a wide range of bracketed<br />
reveals, returns, soffits and corner units to be<br />
pre-fabricated by Shackerley off site, a service<br />
appreciated by specifiers and contractors<br />
alike.<br />
“The SureClad ® system gave us the design<br />
flexibility we needed,” said Tim,” It allowed us<br />
to manipulate the coursing on the façade to<br />
employ both matt and polished layers of<br />
different heights and to interface effectively<br />
with entrance features and glazing elements.<br />
The ease of forming the junctions with other<br />
materials was an added bonus.”<br />
He concludes: “The SureClad ® ceramic granite<br />
just gave us everything we were looking for...<br />
excellent clean lines, stunning appearance of<br />
quality, robustness with long term low<br />
maintenance and confidence that it would<br />
perform on all counts. The range of aesthetic<br />
choice available to us also meant that we were<br />
able to reflect very effectively the natural<br />
local materials of stone buildings, slate roofs,<br />
and strata and outcrops of the surrounding<br />
landscape in our designs, whilst maintaining<br />
the civic quality demanded and continuity of<br />
detailing”.<br />
For further details please contact<br />
Shackerley on 0800 783 0391 or<br />
visit www.shackerley.com<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 23
BSRIA backs ‘AI’<br />
Juliet Woodcock reports on the latest offering from the UK’s foremost research<br />
and testing organization covering building services<br />
Until quite recently the concept of<br />
artificial intelligence or AI remained<br />
the stuff of science fiction films; yet<br />
now computing power has multiplied to the<br />
point where driverless cars are being tested<br />
on our roads and there is an App to control<br />
virtually everything in modern homes. All of<br />
which increases demand on the organizations<br />
we rely on to guide our industry. .<br />
As always, the Building Services Research and<br />
Information Association (BSRIA) is continuing<br />
to keep its clients and followers well informed<br />
about the latest information and research<br />
surrounding the construction industry, having<br />
launched a White Paper on ‘Future Building<br />
Trends – Impacts - Solutions’ in December, and<br />
then ‘At a Glance’ – Smart Technology’ in the<br />
middle of January.<br />
For the paper, the specific questions asked<br />
were, ‘what do you think are the biggest, most<br />
relevant changes in buildings now and over the<br />
next 10 years; what will be the impact on our<br />
industry; and what products and services will<br />
be required in the future?’ Although the<br />
participants were from mainly North American<br />
organizations, the paper examined how<br />
buildings can improve productivity and<br />
wellbeing – touching on all aspects of building<br />
design, construction, use, and maintenance.<br />
Perhaps most interestingly, though, was the<br />
last question, regarding which Julia Evans,<br />
Chief Executive at BSRIA, explains: “With<br />
increasingly complex buildings and the use of<br />
more technology to run them more efficiently,<br />
the whole service and maintenance of buildings<br />
could change and a new type of company<br />
evolve. The whole life cycle cost approach will<br />
become more popular. Building controls<br />
suppliers must have professional knowledge<br />
and competency in energy management, being<br />
able to predict building energy expense and<br />
remove risk.<br />
“Smart technology, in the form of self-learning<br />
and self-diagnosing products is emerging as<br />
well as software based analytics, all of which<br />
are setting the industry on the path towards<br />
increasing artificial intelligence and new<br />
business opportunities. Clearly, there is a lot<br />
changing in this industry and “the players”<br />
need to be aware of this and decide how they<br />
will respond. They need to evolve, move up the<br />
value chain, embrace new technologies,<br />
develop the necessary processes, and build the<br />
necessary skills.”<br />
Leading us very neatly onto BISRA’s launch of<br />
its Smart Technology guide, an ‘at a glance<br />
publication’ introducing readers to key industry<br />
topics and suggesting further reading.<br />
The guide is aimed at those looking for<br />
introductory information about smart<br />
technology including trends, smart products, the<br />
Internet of Things (IoT) and recent<br />
developments. There is also guidance on the<br />
standard open protocols for intelligent buildings.<br />
The new guide was written by Jeremy Towler,<br />
BSRIA’s Senior Manager – Energy and Smart<br />
Technologies, as well as a leading expert on<br />
‘smart’. He said of the guide: “With so many<br />
new products incorporating sophisticated hard<br />
and software appearing in the market and with<br />
the majority of people now toting a<br />
smartphone, it is not surprising that IoT is<br />
forecast to grow at a phenomenal pace. It<br />
promises to deliver a plethora of new<br />
applications and benefits. This topic guide lays<br />
out some of the most important developments<br />
in smart technology and is designed to help the<br />
reader navigate this rapidly evolving area.”<br />
BSRIA is a non-profit distributing, memberbased<br />
association, providing specialist services<br />
in construction and building services. Both the<br />
paper and guide can be downloaded free of<br />
charge from its website.<br />
The White Paper can be downloaded here:<br />
www.bsria.co.uk/file-depot/28d5ff78062f<strong>48</strong>6c9<br />
The Smart Technology Guide can be<br />
downloaded here:<br />
www.bsria.co.uk/informationmembership/information-centre/bsria-topicguides/<br />
BSRIA has launched a guide to smart technology<br />
Julia Evans<br />
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Article ><br />
“...With so many new products<br />
incorporating sophisticated hard<br />
and software appearing in the<br />
market and with the majority of<br />
people now toting a smartphone,<br />
it is not surprising that<br />
IoT is forecast<br />
to grow at a<br />
phenomenal<br />
pace...”<br />
Jeremy Towler<br />
24
Article ><br />
Precast Concrete Modular<br />
Building System<br />
CASE STUDY<br />
Swansea Bay New Student<br />
A<strong>cc</strong>ommodation<br />
Client:<br />
Swansea University<br />
Regeneration Partner:<br />
St Modwen (Part of a multi<br />
partner public/private funding<br />
initiative)<br />
Main Contractor:<br />
Galliford Try<br />
Precast Modular Building<br />
Installation Contractor:<br />
FP McCann<br />
Value:<br />
£50 million<br />
with hidden tie rods. Joints are finished with<br />
a high-strength non-shrink grout, fully<br />
conforming with Building Regulations. Walls<br />
and ceilings are to a quality fair face finish<br />
allowing for a simple gypsum wash prior to<br />
final decoration. 541 individual bathroom<br />
pods are also being installed as part of the<br />
build.<br />
The precast modular building system offers<br />
excellent acoustic and thermal mass<br />
properties as well as fire resistant qualities<br />
associated with precast concrete.<br />
Project Overview<br />
St Modwen, the regeneration specialist<br />
behind the new £450 million Swansea<br />
University Bay campus, is delivering an<br />
additional £50m of student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation<br />
and student facilities at the site which<br />
opened its doors in September. The<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation agreement will see 545<br />
additional student apartments for<br />
o<strong>cc</strong>upation during the first quarter of 2016.<br />
Main building contractor Galliford Try was<br />
appointed to the contract in 2014 and work<br />
commenced on land formerly a BP<br />
distribution hub in autumn last year.<br />
Project Details<br />
FP McCann (Bell and Webster) su<strong>cc</strong>essfully<br />
tendered for the supply and install contract<br />
on student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation buildings 15 & 16<br />
and commenced deliveries of the precast<br />
concrete modular building system late last<br />
year. Based on a process where walls, floor<br />
and ceiling slabs are linked together to form<br />
a unique cross wall construction, the precast<br />
panels are factory formed to suit design<br />
requirements.<br />
In total some 2400 individual precast units<br />
are being installed consisting of walls, floors,<br />
stairs and landings. Gable walls and party<br />
walls are 160mm thick with each room floor<br />
slab 175mm thick. Window and door<br />
openings have been a<strong>cc</strong>ommodated and<br />
each bedroom has four conduits cast into<br />
the walls for electrics and communications<br />
networks.<br />
All horizontal and vertical sections are<br />
designed for ease of build, linking together<br />
To date, over 33,000 precast concrete<br />
rooms have been manufactured by FP<br />
McCann and erected on a variety of projects<br />
with one of the most prestigious being the<br />
788 room University of East London campus<br />
at Royal Albert Docks. 30 student<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation projects have been<br />
completed nationwide providing nearly<br />
19,000 rooms. On-going contracts include<br />
Southampton University and the student<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation on part of the huge<br />
£1billion North West Cambridge<br />
development.<br />
The new Swansea campus is a major<br />
highlight of St. Modwen’s ongoing 3,500<br />
acre regeneration programme across South<br />
Wales. The on-going development of the<br />
university will create a world-class<br />
educational establishment that will benefit<br />
students, staff and the local community for<br />
generations to come.<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 25
BIM ><br />
BIM objects for roof<br />
slates and ridges<br />
from Cembrit<br />
Following on from a su<strong>cc</strong>essful launch<br />
for natural slates, Cembrit has added<br />
BIM objects for its fibre cement slates<br />
and fibre cement ridges to its growing<br />
portfolio. This is part of an ongoing<br />
process that will see the whole<br />
Cembrit product portfolio available as<br />
BIM objects.<br />
The Cembrit range of fibre cement<br />
Mumford & Wood introduces NBS BIM product<br />
library<br />
Mumford & Wood, manufacturers of Britain’s finest timber windows and doors, have<br />
announced compliance with NBS National Building Information Modelling (BIM) Library Data<br />
for core Conservation entrance, balcony, bi-folding, single and French doorsets as well as<br />
Conservation casement windows, box sash and spring sash windows, in a<strong>cc</strong>ordance with the<br />
Government’s mandate on all publicly-funded new-build projects by spring 2016. Architects,<br />
specifiers and contractors can now visit the Technical page at their website and download the<br />
full Mumford & Wood NBS BIM Library Data.<br />
In this 3D modelling of the company’s core and standard<br />
Conservation products, detailed specification parameters are<br />
shared in relation to thermal performance and U-values, acoustic<br />
specifications, PAS24 compliance, product design details, paint,<br />
glass and warranties. Non-standard products can be analysed on<br />
request using the same criteria.<br />
Mumford & Wood has currently achieved BIM Level 2 approval which<br />
sets an industry benchmark in the timber window and door sector.<br />
www.mumfordwood.com<br />
Metsec in the frame for<br />
Moneypenny’s HQ<br />
Light gauge structural steel specialist voestalpine<br />
Metsec plc has provided its Steel Framing (SFS)<br />
products to support leading UK telephone<br />
answering service and outsourced switchboard<br />
company, Moneypenny, with the development of<br />
its new £15m headquarters in Wrexham.<br />
As part of the first phase of the project, main contractor Pochin Construction brought Metsec<br />
on board to provide SFS continuous and infill walling across all three floors of the new office<br />
block; Pochin Construction will be installing the Metsec products once they have arrived onsite.<br />
slates includes Westerland, Moorland,<br />
Zeeland, Jutland and Diamond, all<br />
offering their own unique appearance.<br />
The slates are ideal for use on<br />
conventional pitched timber roofs with<br />
a rafter pitch of 20° and over, or hung<br />
vertically as cladding on external walls.<br />
The slates are complemented by<br />
matching fibre cement ridges,<br />
ventilation solutions and fixings.<br />
Cembrit holds five BBA Certificates for<br />
its fibre cement slate range, ensuring<br />
that whichever system is chosen,<br />
architects can be confident in the<br />
specified product. To achieve this<br />
status, Cembrit fibre cement slates<br />
completed a comprehensive testing<br />
process and su<strong>cc</strong>essfully met all the<br />
requirements set out by the BBA.<br />
Compatible with both, Revit and IFC<br />
software versions, Cembrit’s Building<br />
Information Modelling (BIM) objects<br />
for fibre cement slates are hosted on<br />
the NBS National BIM Library and are<br />
available to be downloaded and<br />
integrated into any BIM software<br />
programme.<br />
26<br />
www.cembrit.co.uk<br />
Metsec’s design team reviewed the structural external wall options initially and produced<br />
construction principles in Revit (BIM), utilising specially designed dead load cleats at first floor<br />
level to support a continuous external SFS walling system. Infill walling was utilised on the<br />
ground floor areas, Metsec was then able to complete the design in Revit and provide a quick<br />
turnaround on the drawings, and issue these to Pochin for its review.<br />
www.metsec.com<br />
Practical approach reaps<br />
benefits<br />
Used to having to adapt to an ever-changing<br />
industry, established formwork and civil<br />
engineers Mitchellson Formwork has opted to<br />
use Tekla Structures 3D modelling software<br />
from Trimble, to bring time and cost<br />
efficiencies throughout the business and<br />
future projects.<br />
Priding itself on being able to deliver<br />
innovative thinking, excellent technical skills, and state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment to<br />
solve a wide range of complex formwork problems for clients, customers have come to expect a<br />
certain level of service. By choosing to integrate Tekla Structures 3D modelling and<br />
information management software into its operations, a more intelligent way of working is<br />
unfolding, that will not only benefit Mitchellson Formwork as a business, but also support<br />
customers efficiently.<br />
Tekla offers a purpose-built solution for concrete construction. With features such as Organiser,<br />
the software allows the user to extract quantities of concrete and formwork for estimating<br />
quickly and efficiently.<br />
www.mitchellson.co.uk<br />
www.tekla.com/uk
an nge<br />
han ndrail<br />
LED illuminat ted<br />
-<br />
llumine<br />
I<br />
BIM > N e w s<br />
Preparing for April 2016 BIM<br />
mandate<br />
Ajoint initiative between the Construction Products<br />
Association (CPA), BIM4M2, the Chartered Institution of<br />
Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and NBS has been<br />
formed to provide consistent product data parameters and<br />
templates to enable manufacturers to prepare their product<br />
information in line with the Government’s ambitions for the uptake<br />
of BIM.<br />
With April 2016 and the Government’s Level 2 BIM requirement<br />
looming large on the horizon, there is a real and urgent need for<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>urate, a<strong>cc</strong>essible and consistent digital product information.<br />
The manufacturer community needs a single and unified approach<br />
to product data, using a common language. Manufacturers already<br />
have the required information, but a simple and industry-wide<br />
approach to product data parameters and templates has until now<br />
been a challenge.<br />
Now, through this initiative, building and infrastructure<br />
manufacturers will have free and ready a<strong>cc</strong>ess to product data<br />
parameters and templates that are relevant to their products and<br />
have been developed through a defined consensus process. By<br />
using these templates manufacturers will be able to supply product<br />
information in a form that aligns with the UK’s Level 2 BIM<br />
requirements. Each template defines the minimum information<br />
about a product that is required for UK Government BIM projects.<br />
EU BIM Handbook<br />
Members of the EU BIM Task Group have committed to<br />
producing an “EU BIM Handbook”, a guide to using BIM in<br />
public sector projects that could help to create a consistent<br />
approach across the EU.<br />
While the handbook is not seen as the director precursor of an EUwide<br />
BIM mandate or legal requirement, aligning the approach to BIM<br />
across the region could make it easier for more countries to enshrine<br />
BIM in public procurement.<br />
The project will be funded by the EU Commission and will be the main<br />
focus of the existing EU BIM Task Group, which now consists of a 40-<br />
strong advisory “general assembly” and a smaller steering group.<br />
Knauf reinforces the BIM revolution<br />
with contractor training<br />
In response to the needs of its customers, Knauf – one of the UK’s<br />
leading manufacturer of lightweight building materials and<br />
systems – is delivering one-day courses introducing the Building<br />
Information Modelling (BIM) to first and second tier contractors.<br />
Knauf believes that the course is urgently needed because the<br />
Government has stated that all projects should be adopting BIM from<br />
April 2016 – yet there is a lack of training or support being offered<br />
through a<strong>cc</strong>redited training bodies. Knauf also notes the lack of<br />
understanding in the market place from second tier contractors and<br />
so has invested in supporting its customers to understand BIM and<br />
how it will affect them.<br />
Ill<br />
llu<br />
lumin<br />
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L ED handrails<br />
e<br />
Handr<br />
andrail<br />
Ran<br />
ng<br />
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Po<br />
wd<br />
er<br />
Co<br />
oate<br />
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Sta<br />
ain<br />
nl<br />
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s<br />
ste<br />
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Brass<br />
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Warm to<br />
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to<br />
ouch<br />
www.handrailsuk.co.uk/illumine<br />
Tel: 01473 240055<br />
E mail: sales@sgsystems.co.uk<br />
Stargard - warm to the touch handrail<br />
- stainless steel balustrad<br />
Sentinel<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong> 2016 27
Is drive for greater thermal<br />
efficiency leading to overheating?<br />
The drive for greater thermal efficiency in the building of new homes has led to a new problem a<strong>cc</strong>ording to a survey<br />
and report published by the Zero Carbon Hub – namely overheating in homes.<br />
Rob Panell<br />
information as to what the impacts of using<br />
them together will be”.<br />
“It is an interesting story without a doubt”<br />
agrees Mike “like many other suppliers over<br />
the past few years we have constantly been<br />
tasked to provide ever more energy efficient<br />
products to the market”.<br />
“In our role as a supplier over that timeframe<br />
though and in our role as a supporter<br />
of the Fabric First Academy which is designed<br />
to provide some of the much needed<br />
education to architects and specifiers, there<br />
is one thing that we have constantly<br />
championed – to be included from the outset<br />
as a part of the design team on major<br />
projects”.<br />
“The issue of over-heating in homes simply<br />
reinforces our belief that we – and the other<br />
major suppliers to the fabric on a project<br />
need earlier involvement in the design<br />
process so that we can play a part in<br />
discussing the interface of materials and the<br />
effect of using certain products in<br />
combination with one another”.<br />
“Particularly important is addressing the<br />
issue of air-tightness and the impact of it on<br />
the performance of the building when using<br />
certain materials and products”.<br />
“Equally we have a role to play in advising<br />
about the ‘as built’ performance of products<br />
against ‘as claimed’ and what is needed to<br />
balance the effect they have on the overall<br />
energy footprint of a dwelling”.<br />
Rob Pannell Managing Director of the<br />
Zero Carbon Hub and Mike<br />
Stevenson Development Director for<br />
offsite fenestration specialists Sidey and<br />
founding partner of the Fabric First<br />
Academy consider the implications.<br />
“It might seem like an odd subject” says Rob,<br />
“considering that for years’ architects,<br />
designers and specifiers have all been<br />
pushing as hard as they can to deliver the<br />
most thermally efficient homes they can”.<br />
“But the reality is that there is an estimated<br />
20% of homes currently overheating with the<br />
potential for more in the future”.<br />
“The implications to home owners of their<br />
buildings over-heating are numerous – it can<br />
have a very negative effect on their physical<br />
well-being as well as there being negative<br />
consequences for the physical structure and<br />
the individual components within it”.<br />
“We are clearly now seeing homes with inside<br />
temperatures beyond those highlighted as<br />
comfortable in the government’s ‘Housing<br />
Health and Safety Ratings System’.<br />
“It is perhaps an unforeseen consequence of<br />
the problems which architects and specifiers<br />
face when trying to include a suite of energy<br />
efficient products in their designs without<br />
necessarily having recourse to the<br />
KitFix-lifting windows<br />
in panels-small<br />
28
“A big thing for us at the minute when<br />
designing windows is ventilation and the<br />
positive and necessary impact it has on the<br />
overall picture. So often the importance and<br />
the effect of ventilation is underestimated; it<br />
is increasingly important”.<br />
Mike Stevenson<br />
“The same is true of glass specification and<br />
balancing the desire for large apertures with<br />
proper measures to counter solar gain (as<br />
well as u-value and acoustics). Indeed, this is<br />
one of the issues raised in the Zero Carbon<br />
Hub report”.<br />
“The bottom line is that as with most things<br />
in life, prevention is better than cure, and<br />
working together with design teams is the<br />
surest way to ensure that the problem of<br />
over-heating does not o<strong>cc</strong>ur in the first<br />
place”.<br />
“It is a really valid point that Mike makes in<br />
terms of design team involvement and a<br />
proper assessment of the properties of<br />
products which are specified for use<br />
together” concludes Rob.<br />
“It is incredibly important that those who are<br />
building homes, commercial bed space and in<br />
fact any building for o<strong>cc</strong>upation have a<br />
proper process in place to assess the<br />
impact of the products they<br />
choose and the potential for<br />
them to cause over-heating<br />
in buildings”.<br />
“When we carried out the<br />
survey there were close to<br />
40% of those who responded<br />
who did not have any process<br />
in place to assess the potential<br />
for over-heating, while many of<br />
the others relied on the<br />
experience of their staff to<br />
make a judgement rather than having a<br />
formal process”.<br />
“Over-heating in homes is a real issue; it<br />
won’t go away by chance; it needs proper<br />
processes to ensure that it is designed out<br />
before the build process takes place”.<br />
The full report along with other key<br />
documents from the Zero Carbon Hub can be<br />
downloaded from the Fabric First Academy<br />
website www.fabricfirstacademy.co.uk<br />
More information on Sidey in the offsite<br />
market is available from www.kitfix.co.uk<br />
Zero Carbon Hub www.zerocarbonhub.org<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 29
Be a hero with Zero!<br />
Powerwall Group, to deliver a step change reduction in the cost of zero<br />
energy bills homes whilst providing fixed price development solutions.<br />
The idea is to provide a one stop<br />
shop for potential clients. The<br />
intention is to provide both<br />
individuals and developers with fixed price<br />
standard house types and development<br />
solutions, with economies of scale clearly<br />
available offering the best possible<br />
specification for the price. The<br />
Powerwall system will meet Code 6<br />
EN01 and can meet full Code 6 when<br />
tailored to fit each unique site context.<br />
The Powerwall factory will fix its fees at<br />
competitive rates based on the contract<br />
value, and will be employed by Powerwall.<br />
We would seek to offer multi-disciplinary<br />
services and include Engineering, M&E and<br />
QS Cost Management services in all<br />
appointments where appropriate.<br />
Powerwall has a fixed supply chain and<br />
fixed costs for many items (with all<br />
installation and site based labour provided<br />
by the main contractor). These items<br />
include the Energy Roof rain screen<br />
including BIPV roof, Power Wall heat hub<br />
with integrated ASHP, ancillary compressor<br />
driven hot water production and storage<br />
and MVHR ventilation supply unit plus<br />
proprietary air ductwork distribution, and a<br />
Viking Foundation system, triple glazed low<br />
E Windows and Doors, and an external<br />
insulation system and stud timber frame<br />
system.<br />
Powerwall is able to procure items on a<br />
project by project basis, tendering for local<br />
products and services, and achieving best<br />
value without compromising the low impact<br />
environmental credentials, durability,<br />
performance, or embodied carbon<br />
footprint. Items would include the 140mm<br />
stud timber frame system filled with Knauf<br />
Ecose frame bat insulation; all mechanical,<br />
plumbing and drainage services; external<br />
works, landscaping, bin stores, log stores,<br />
garages with pre-grown sedum roofs and<br />
timber clad doors; electric vehicle charging<br />
sockets; all roads, pavements, bollard<br />
mounted external lighting; full responsibility<br />
for commissioning the completed buildings<br />
and achieving sign off from NHBC, LABC,<br />
Premier, BuildZone or Global Home<br />
Warranties insurance backed, which meet<br />
mortgage companies’ lending<br />
requirements.<br />
This split of responsibilities should be<br />
workable, and clarifies which items and<br />
specifications are fixed, and which are<br />
flexible to allow the<br />
Powerwall procurement<br />
purchasing initiatives.<br />
The share/profit split to<br />
Powerwall and the local<br />
contractor must reflect the<br />
total services input of all<br />
parties as a direct ratio.<br />
This should ensure<br />
sufficient motivation for<br />
the local contractor to<br />
maximise their profit<br />
without devaluing the<br />
Powerwall brand.<br />
A supply agreement with full specification<br />
and volume discounts is now set up,<br />
including an audited compliance model<br />
demonstrating that the non site specific<br />
building fabric and energy systems meets<br />
Code 6 EN01 with the optional capability for<br />
site specific contextual masterplans, and an<br />
audited building physics model setting<br />
energy load targets applied to a range of<br />
standard house types.<br />
The agreement also includes a set of<br />
standard construction details already with<br />
SAP thermal bridging and NHBC, LABC,<br />
Premier, BuildZone or Global Home<br />
Warranties insurance backed sign off,<br />
foundation and insulation systems, heating<br />
and energy systems and many more –<br />
check the website for the full supply<br />
agreement.<br />
What is most important is that we build,<br />
register and protect the standards of the<br />
Powerwall Brand on every project. The<br />
plan is to set up a new standard for zero<br />
energy bills housing that becomes the<br />
market leader.<br />
We are looking for contracting companies<br />
who will take the above kit of parts and<br />
give clients fixed price turnkey solutions<br />
without Powerwall taking contracting<br />
risks. We supply the Powerwall<br />
ingredients, do the design and supervision<br />
plus site inspection, and the contractor is<br />
responsible for sourcing and installing the<br />
rest of the scope of works. The joint<br />
venture contractor can be chosen to suit<br />
the size of project.<br />
The Powerwall Group supply multiple<br />
zero energy systems such as Timberframe,<br />
Sips, light Gauged Steel (LGS), Insulated<br />
Concrete Formwork (ICF), Cross Laminated<br />
Timber (CLT) and traditional building<br />
systems.<br />
Contact Powerwall on 0203 824 0600 -<br />
mobile 077108 22196 or email<br />
jpm@powerwallgroup.com<br />
30
A division of the<br />
Powerwall Group<br />
www.powerwallgroup.com<br />
Tel: 0203 824 0600
Article ><br />
Ashmole Academy<br />
MTX were awarded the contract to design, manufacture and install a new flagship<br />
6th form centre for Ashmole Academy, Southgate London.<br />
From the<br />
outset<br />
the aim<br />
was to<br />
produce a<br />
vibrant,<br />
modern building<br />
and environment<br />
for students<br />
entering higher and<br />
further education who<br />
would be using the<br />
building daily as their hub<br />
for studies and relaxation. The<br />
building was also to cater for an influx in<br />
additional student numbers and increase<br />
capacity from 150 to 320 pupils.<br />
A bespoke building comprising of multi<br />
coloured multi textured facades to all<br />
elevations encompassing entrance lobby area<br />
with a<strong>cc</strong>ess to 1st floor via staircase or platform<br />
lift, ground floor lounge and seating area, 2 no<br />
staff offices, toilet facilities and a in house café<br />
catering to staff and pupils. A 1st floor area<br />
state of the art electronic library/study area<br />
with 3 staff offices and servers room. Finishes<br />
within the building are bright and specifically<br />
designed around the brief to instil a sense of<br />
place for all users of the facility.<br />
The building and sub structure too have been<br />
specially designed for this project and take into<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ount the many challenge’s this site<br />
presented. Internally the ground floor main<br />
area is finished with all mechanical and<br />
electrical services left on show along with the<br />
steel framework of the modules. This creates a<br />
modern, industrial look further complemented<br />
with additional features such as feature walls,<br />
reclaimed brick wall and suspended lighting of<br />
various types.<br />
The installation was earmarked for a weekday<br />
installation over 3 days and whilst the school<br />
remained fully operational to pupils and staff.<br />
The location of the school within a residential<br />
area, meant that meticulous planning would be<br />
needed to ensure that the vehicles carrying the<br />
modules could be delivered safely, without<br />
impedance or disruption to a very busy suburb<br />
of London. MTX su<strong>cc</strong>essfully closed of a<br />
number of residential roads to ensure this took<br />
place and with minimal disruption to road users<br />
and residents alike with all 18 modules being<br />
installed over a 3 day period. The project has<br />
been a great su<strong>cc</strong>ess and entered into service<br />
at the beginning of the new school term. The<br />
project was completed in just 25 weeks.<br />
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank<br />
MTX Contracts Ltd for delivering this project, to<br />
...The MTX team have<br />
demonstrated a high level<br />
of competency, and worked<br />
closely with everyone to<br />
complete a ‘fully fit for<br />
purpose’ solution.<br />
We are proud that our new<br />
building has already<br />
received so many positive<br />
comments and<br />
congratulations...<br />
a very high standard and in compliance with<br />
budget and timescale deadlines.<br />
The MTX team have demonstrated a high level<br />
of competency, and worked closely with<br />
everyone to complete a ‘fully fit for purpose’<br />
solution.<br />
We are proud that our new building has already<br />
received so many positive comments and<br />
congratulations.” Daniel Powell – Finance<br />
Director – Ashmole Academy.<br />
www.mtx.co.uk/mtx-education<br />
32
Speed up<br />
setting time<br />
Yara NitCal for cold<br />
weather concreting 3<br />
Yara NitCal ® passes corrosion<br />
inhibition ASTM certification<br />
Yara supply NitCal ® , a calcium nitrate based<br />
multi-function admixture, to the worldwide<br />
concrete using industry. The product is a setting<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>elerator as per BS-EN934-2 and is used<br />
extensively for cold weather concreting to<br />
prevent delays due to slow set. In cold weather<br />
Yara NitCal ® ensures your specified mix will set<br />
in your timescale whereas use of heated mixes<br />
or heated sites is often a costly and ‘hit and<br />
miss’ solution. An added benefit is that the<br />
concrete takes longer to cool down due to the<br />
exothermic nature of the a<strong>cc</strong>elerated reaction<br />
thus reducing the loss of workability, the risk of<br />
freeze damage, and a sub-standard set.<br />
Corrosion inhibition<br />
In 2015 Yara submitted Yara NitCal ® to ENCO for<br />
certification as per ASTM C1582/C1582M-11 ‘The<br />
Standard Specification for Admixtures to Inhibit<br />
Chloride-Induced Corrosion of Reinforcing Steel<br />
in Concrete’ following on from previous research<br />
by SINTEF and UCLA. Using test method G109,<br />
which is an a<strong>cc</strong>elerated test that measures the<br />
efficacy of an admixture in reducing or<br />
preventing chloride corrosion, Yara NitCal ®<br />
passed and is certified for use as a chloride<br />
corrosion prevention admixture. Initial research<br />
also indicated that Yara NitCal ® reduced<br />
carbonation by 40% in an a<strong>cc</strong>elerated test.<br />
A simple admixture<br />
Yara NitCal ® is a simple compound, fast acting<br />
and easy to use. It dissolves rapidly without<br />
residue or side effect. Also it has a low dose<br />
requirement – no more than 4% of cement<br />
weight.<br />
Ask your admixture company about Yara NitCal ®<br />
for your specified mix or admixture. Or contact<br />
Adam Reid at adam.reid@yara.com or 07768<br />
866452.<br />
Yara have over a 100 years of chemical<br />
production and industry experience and are a<br />
global supplier of industrial chemicals, technical<br />
support, research and development, and<br />
expertise.<br />
Yara NitCal for cold<br />
weather concreting 2<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 33
Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger<br />
Are you looking to build a new house? Do you want a house that surpasses current building<br />
regulation requirements? Look no further, Thermohouse low energy building system can offer<br />
this and much more!<br />
Thermofloor<br />
Thermowall<br />
Thermoroof<br />
Thermohouse became a subsidiary of the<br />
MC Group in 2006. The MC Group was<br />
formed in 1994 and is one of the largest<br />
independent family run quarry operators in<br />
Ireland. With MC Group’s wealth of experience<br />
in the construction industry, the company<br />
developed the Thermohouse building system<br />
which combines the inherent strength of<br />
concrete with the thermal benefits of<br />
expanded polystyrene as an energy efficient<br />
method of housing construction. Since its<br />
inception, Thermohouse has gained<br />
considerable momentum across Ireland and<br />
over the past 2 years has expanded into the<br />
UK market.<br />
The Thermohouse wall, floor and roof system<br />
can provide solutions to problems all new home<br />
builders now face. With the introduction of the<br />
amended building regulations across England<br />
and Wales it is important to choose a building<br />
system that is cost efficient and compliant with<br />
these regulations. The Thermohouse system<br />
currently exceeds the expectations of the<br />
amended regulations. With a proven track<br />
record across the UK and Ireland, at<br />
Thermohouse, we manufacture and install a low<br />
energy building system consisting of Insulated<br />
Concrete Formwork (ICF) walls together with a<br />
low energy floor and roof system giving you a<br />
complete airtight, thermal envelope. With<br />
Thermohouse, you can expect a system<br />
34<br />
certified to build up to 6 storeys, full technical<br />
support, excellent thermal performances (to<br />
meet passive standard if required), elimination<br />
of all cold bridging, more creative innovative<br />
design opportunities, superior structural<br />
strength and an easy to install lightweight<br />
system with a substantially reduced building<br />
time.<br />
Thermoroof<br />
• Roof insulation to the highest standard<br />
• No roof trusses, therefore full attic space<br />
available<br />
• Made with two steel beams to take all design<br />
loads<br />
• Fast, versatile and easy to install<br />
• Takes all types of roof covers, tiles and slates<br />
Thermofloor<br />
• Increased speed of construction<br />
• Can be cut on site to meet individual lengths<br />
• Spans up to 8 metres<br />
• Improved control of the thermal insulation<br />
and air tightness between floors<br />
• Light & easy to handle<br />
Thermowall<br />
• Allows a<strong>cc</strong>urate and rapid construction<br />
• Efficient sound insulation that improves<br />
internal living environment<br />
• Superior insulation significantly reduces<br />
energy bills<br />
• Meets and exceeds new building regulations<br />
• Lifetime guarantee, no rust, no rot, no<br />
condensation, no mould, no draughts, no leaks<br />
We are passionate about providing a solution<br />
that suits the home owner by providing a<br />
healthier and more environmentally friendly life<br />
style and the industry professional by providing<br />
them with an opportunity to be part of a new,<br />
innovative and modern method of construction<br />
that is easier to build, has unlimited design<br />
opportunities and is structurally superior to<br />
other methods of building. The professional<br />
involved in a Thermohouse can expect:<br />
• Speed of build<br />
• Competitive build cost<br />
• High performance dwellings<br />
• Certified to build up to 6 storeys<br />
• Flexible design opportunities<br />
• Complete system from foundation to roof<br />
• Fully approved system<br />
• Full technical support<br />
• Speed of build<br />
• Availability of materials<br />
• Ease of handling and installation<br />
• Limited waste<br />
• Full technical onsite support<br />
• U-Values that exceed current building<br />
regulation requirements<br />
www.theromhouse.co.uk
HTC<br />
The industry leader<br />
HTC Sweden AB has more than 15 years experience of<br />
grinding and polishing of different types of floors, and for<br />
the last 12 years we have been market leaders. To be able<br />
to offer the best there is on the market, our tools and machines<br />
are constantly being developed. HTC’s patented<br />
grinding systems consist of both tools, machines and<br />
floor solutions.<br />
Machines, tools<br />
& Floor solutions<br />
HTC floor grinding machines are appreciated by thousands<br />
of customers all over the world. Machines are available<br />
in several different sizes and versions depending on<br />
your needs and demands. HTC machines cover everything<br />
from edges to huge areas of thousands of square<br />
meters.<br />
Based upon substantial research and development, testing<br />
and experience, HTC produces a unique range of<br />
tools to cover all the different type of procedures possible<br />
with the HTC grinding machines. There are tools suitable<br />
for anything from very rough grinding equal to scarifying<br />
to high gloss polishing of natural stone or concrete.<br />
Are you in the process of installing new floors or renovating<br />
existing surfaces? HTC will assist you in choosing<br />
the best available treatment for your floor. HTC will<br />
give you the best arguments to help you select the best<br />
HTC-method for your specific flooring needs.<br />
HTC Floor Systems Ltd.<br />
Unit 4 Kingston Business Park, Dunfermline Court<br />
Maidstone Road, Kingston<br />
Milton Keynes, MK10 0 BY, Great Britain<br />
Tel: +44 (0) 845 460 2500<br />
Fax: +44 (0) 845 460 1500<br />
E-mail: info@htc-europe.co.uk<br />
Read more about<br />
HTC Superfloor <br />
and Twister at:<br />
www.htc-europe.co.uk<br />
www.htc-twister.com<br />
HTC<br />
Professional Floor Systems<br />
www.htc-europe.co.uk
Debunking the myths of modular construction<br />
Modular buildings are still something of an unknown quantity, both inside and outside the construction industry.<br />
Wernick Group Marketing Manager, Leigh Fennell discusses some of the more prevalent misconceptions about<br />
modular offsite construction.<br />
LRI-Hospital Uppingham Community College Weald of Kent entrance<br />
Goals Football Centre<br />
Hillingdon Cycle Circuit<br />
St Giles on the Heath<br />
Are modular buildings of high quality?<br />
Many people’s perceptions of modular buildings<br />
stem from their experience of old leaky<br />
prefabricated classrooms. These were often<br />
supposed to be temporary but often had to be<br />
endured for use by schools across the country<br />
for decades. Before I worked in the offsite<br />
construction sector this was certainly my own<br />
opinion. I have now come to understand this<br />
presumption that modular buildings are of low<br />
quality is a misconception that is easily dispelled.<br />
Firstly, modular buildings follow the same set of<br />
regulations as traditional construction and must<br />
therefore meet the same standards of quality.<br />
Building modules are manufactured in tightly<br />
controlled factory environments meeting ISO<br />
9001 quality management standards and often<br />
IS0 14001 environmental standards. In the<br />
healthcare sector modular building facilities are<br />
constructed to the latest healthcare standards,<br />
including HTM (Health Technical Memoranda),<br />
HBN (Health Buildings Notes), SHTM (Scottish<br />
Health Technical Memoranda) and HAI-SCRIBE<br />
(Healthcare Associated Infection System for<br />
Controlling Risk in the Built Environment).<br />
Another comment I would make on this point is<br />
that many the materials used in modular<br />
building, such as the steel frame, are exactly the<br />
same materials used for a traditional build. The<br />
only difference being that the construction takes<br />
place off site in a more controlled factory<br />
environment.<br />
As testament to their quality many offsite<br />
construction companies will now offer a 25 year<br />
warranty as standard with their buildings which<br />
also have an expected design life of over 100<br />
years!<br />
Are modular buildings just temporary<br />
structures?<br />
While modular buildings can be used as a<br />
temporary solution the quality of build, as<br />
mentioned, means they are built to last. Just like<br />
a traditional building, modular buildings are<br />
steel-framed in construction and can provide<br />
permanent a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation solutions, including<br />
purpose-designed schools, hospitals, office<br />
blocks, police cells and even nuclear power<br />
station a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation. The end product is often<br />
a building that its hard to imagine was<br />
manufactured in a factory.<br />
Is modular construction a proven concept?<br />
The first recorded use of modular buildings as we<br />
know them today was in the 19th century. Some<br />
leading offsite manufacturers have been in<br />
business for over 80 years and there are many<br />
examples of their buildings still standing today<br />
that were manufactured many decades ago.<br />
Are cost savings (when compared to traditional<br />
construction) exaggerated?<br />
It’s commonly stated by offsite specialists that a<br />
modular building is far more economical when<br />
compared to traditional construction, with a<br />
saving of around 50% achievable. Let’s look at<br />
the facts. A report by Laing O’Rourke, who<br />
developed a modular system with an engineering<br />
company, suggested it could build a 1,300 pupil<br />
school for £14.3 million, £6 million cheaper than<br />
an equivalent school under the Building Schools<br />
for the Future Programme (BSF).<br />
The fact that much of the modular construction<br />
process is carried out offsite in a controlled<br />
factory environment means projects can be<br />
completed much faster than traditional<br />
construction methods with no delays due to bad<br />
weather.<br />
Is modular construction as sustainable as<br />
claimed?<br />
By process, offsite construction is also far more<br />
environmentally friendly when compared to<br />
traditional construction. This greatly reduced<br />
programme inevitably minimises the impact on<br />
the environment.<br />
Modular buildings are produced in a controlled<br />
factory environment, in which all waste including<br />
steel, aluminium and timber is separated for<br />
recycling with almost nothing ending up as<br />
landfill. The process is not subject to bad<br />
weather, and subsequent delays this may cause.<br />
As the time on site is reduced, so is the impact of<br />
the construction process on the site and<br />
surrounding environment. Modules can also be<br />
designed to a specifically optimised size in order<br />
to match the supplied sizes of the building<br />
materials, further reducing the amount of waste.<br />
Typically, the end product is a building, which<br />
achieves an Energy Performance Asset rating<br />
(EPA) of B, as standard. An ‘A’ rating is easily<br />
achieved when sustainable options, such as solar<br />
panels are incorporated.<br />
Are modular buildings all the same?<br />
Although modular buildings lend themselves to<br />
standardisation, clients are increasingly looking<br />
for buildings that cater to their specific needs<br />
and are quite understandably less interested in a<br />
‘one size fits all’ approach.<br />
In terms of providing ‘traditional’ finishes, we are<br />
increasingly being asked to provide extensions to<br />
existing buildings while maintaining a continuous<br />
external appearance. This can be done so<br />
effectively that often you cannot tell which is the<br />
old traditional building and which is the new<br />
modular extension.<br />
Increasingly architects are also bringing their<br />
designs to life in a modular environment and I<br />
would encourage anyone looking for a new build<br />
project to seek out the possibilities offered with<br />
offsite construction by reflecting on the finished<br />
product.<br />
www.wernick.co.uk<br />
36
Relieve the pain of rising<br />
patient numbers<br />
A rise of patient numbers means hospitals and<br />
clinics could face a facility shortfall putting<br />
pressure on healthcare management to<br />
provide more space quickly and economically.<br />
Modular buildings from Wernick provide a modern, spacious, energy<br />
efficient environment for patients and medical staff which are fully HTM<br />
and HBN compliant. What’s more, while the building is being<br />
manufactured, the foundation is being prepared on-site. This makes it<br />
possible for us to deliver a building of exceptional quality very quickly<br />
and with a saving of up to 50% when compared to a traditional building.<br />
Modular buildings can form permanent buildings with traditional<br />
features such as a brick finish and a pitched roof.<br />
Why Wernick Modular Buildings?<br />
✔ Speedy completion<br />
✔ Lower cost than traditional build<br />
✔ More dependable build programme<br />
✔ HTM and HBN compliant<br />
✔ 25 year structural warranty<br />
✔<br />
✔ Full project management<br />
✔ Sustainable form of building<br />
✔<br />
✔ HIRE and LEASE options available<br />
Planning and building regulation service<br />
Choice of traditional or contemporary finishes<br />
Sustainable construction without compromise<br />
Sustainable construction without compromise<br />
For additional information visit www.wernick.co.uk/healthcare<br />
0800 18 18 22
Build with Confidence<br />
Magnesium Oxide Board Corporation enters the UK construction industry with the opening of new offices and warehousing facilities in<br />
Harlow Essex.<br />
MgO Corp has established a strong global foundation over the past 7years based on attention to detail and performance of our products,<br />
strong industry hands on knowledge and the highest professionalism aptitude in the building industry regarding mgo based composite<br />
products.<br />
Peace of Mind with The World’s Highest Level of Compliance<br />
ResCom ® building products and our manufacturing facilities are thoroughly audited by independent third party inspectors to assure the<br />
highest compliance for use in building and construction under multiple global building codes including but not limited to:<br />
United Kingdom: BS EN Standards 2015 - Australia: BCA Standards 2015 - New Zealand: NZBC Standards 2015 - Sweden: SWEDAC Standards<br />
2015 - Malaysian Standards Authority 2014 - Guatemala: FHA Standards 2015 - USA: ASTM - NAMI 2015.<br />
Lifetime Benefits<br />
MgO Corps ResCom ® building products greatly benefit us in all aspects of life by immediately<br />
decreasing global greenhouse gasses, lowering carbon footprint of developments and offering<br />
our families safer, stronger, healthier and more sustainable protection from the elements of<br />
water, wind, fire and the cold.<br />
ResCom ® Building Products are a direct replacement for traditional gypsum / plasterboard and<br />
FC linings. ResCom ® delivers revolutionary composite materials that are above FRL60 and<br />
reduce the use of fire rated wall lining from 67% to 50% without any reduction in<br />
performance (tested and proven). For further detailed information or to arrange a meeting<br />
contact: 01279442831 or email info@mgoboard.co.uk<br />
Mgo will stock their full range of board products from 4mm boards up to 25mm in lengths and<br />
widths of 1200 to 3000 and also their 18mm-22mm flooring products.<br />
Mgo will supply their quality Residential and Commercial ResCom ® boards to Builder’s<br />
Merchants Modular House Manufacturers, Construction Companies and other end users in the<br />
UK.<br />
wwwmgoboard.co.uk<br />
Inta goes HIPER for HIUs<br />
Inta has introduced its ‘HIPER’ high performance heat interface unit<br />
(HIU), designed to deliver heating and hot water whilst improving<br />
energy efficiency and minimising costs in multi-dwelling<br />
developments.<br />
Installed in shared residential buildings, the HIU distributes heating<br />
and domestic hot water from a central plant system to individual<br />
properties. By removing the need for each area to have a<br />
conventional boiler, gas flue, and hot water cylinder, the interface<br />
units dramatically reduce build costs for developers.<br />
Inta has worked to develop a product that has more features and<br />
benefits than any other HIU on the market. HIPER HIU boasts a<br />
factory-set, non-electric<br />
temperature control valve which<br />
prevents risk of scalding in the<br />
event of a power supply failure,<br />
as well as featuring the most<br />
advanced dual-speed PID<br />
control (patent pending) of any<br />
unit, intelligently controlling the<br />
heat into the plate heat<br />
exchangers by electronic<br />
modulation of a PICV (pressure<br />
independent control valve).<br />
www.intatec.co.uk<br />
Young academics see the future of<br />
student a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation rise in<br />
Aberdeen<br />
Alumno Developments, the<br />
award-winning UK-wide<br />
provider of bespoke, highstandard<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>ommodation in<br />
university cities such as<br />
Glasgow, Edinburgh, St<br />
Andrews, Birmingham, Durham<br />
and London is mid-way through<br />
construction of its first facility<br />
in Aberdeen.<br />
Kier Construction, as main<br />
contractor on the build at<br />
Powis Place, is working<br />
alongside Alumno to welcome groups of students onsite – giving<br />
them the chance to see key elements of the engineering,<br />
construction and design work which is rapidly progressing.<br />
Veronika, of Veliko Tarnovo, said: “Site visits like these are very<br />
important for us – they give us an opportunity to really visualise<br />
problems and potential solutions in a situation similar to what we<br />
will face when we graduate and become professional engineers.”<br />
Brian McGuinness, senior project manager at Kier Construction,<br />
said: “It’s a real pleasure for us to be able to meet the engineers<br />
who we will work alongside as colleagues in the future.”<br />
38
Article ><br />
EOS Facades on a roll!<br />
One of the UK’s leading specialist metal roll-forming companies, EOS Facades, is expanding its section capability<br />
with a significant investment in new roll-forming machinery that has been specially commissioned and shipped<br />
halfway around the world to the manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.<br />
Airframe<br />
Flatpack modular components<br />
Originating from New Zealand, this<br />
Howick machine along with four<br />
others already owned by EOS Facades<br />
currently roll sections ranging from 65mm,<br />
100mm and 150mm deep in a range of gauges<br />
from 1mm, 1.2mm and 1.6mm thick .<br />
Current outlets for the multi-award winning<br />
EOS Facade sections include SFS infill walling<br />
and cladding markets plus the interior fit-out<br />
market. The introduction of the new machinery<br />
will significantly complement the range of<br />
sections available and this will expand EOS’<br />
target market with a particular focus on the<br />
opportunity to supply the volumetric modular<br />
building industry with sections now ranging<br />
from 150mm deep to 250mm deep and in<br />
gauge thicknesses ranging from 1.2mm to 2mm.<br />
Sections provided by EOS Facades can be<br />
supplied in ‘loose’ bundles to make up in situ<br />
installation or as fully made up infill wallings<br />
produced offsite as pre-fabricated cassettes or<br />
lattice beams for both roofing and flooring<br />
applications. The prefabricated elements can<br />
also be fitted with insulation, lining boards and<br />
decking boards or even assembled in to<br />
volumetric modular space frames.<br />
The flexibility of the EOS Facades approach<br />
means that the company now has the ‘full<br />
gamut’ of sections to suit the requirements of<br />
the offsite manufacturing industry – from<br />
panelised washrooms and bathroom pods to<br />
full volumetric module structures. The degree<br />
of value-added componentry to the<br />
sections/frames is completely customised to<br />
suit client requirements.<br />
Design detailing is supported by a team of CAD<br />
engineers who will optimise section sizes for<br />
the required application and ensure that<br />
maximum value-engineering is obtained. This<br />
is a key part of the customer-focused service<br />
that EOS Facades offer.<br />
...The introduction of<br />
the new machinery<br />
completes the<br />
section range that<br />
we have been<br />
aspiring to offer for<br />
some time now...<br />
Steve Thompson, Managing Director of EOS<br />
Facades comments, “The introduction of the<br />
new machinery completes the section range<br />
that we have been aspiring to offer for some<br />
time now. Being able to offer a complete range<br />
of section and gauge sizes now ensures that we<br />
have become a ‘one stop shop’ for metal<br />
sections within the offsite manufacturing<br />
sector.”<br />
All of the section range offered by EOS Facades<br />
provide the unique swaging technology and<br />
dimpling characteristics that come as standard<br />
with Howick machines. This means that panels<br />
and cassettes that require boarding are<br />
presented with completely flush faces, negating<br />
the requirement for packers and shims. It also<br />
means that tight tolerances can be provided as<br />
the stud and track sections effectively selfalign,<br />
thereby ensuring that dimensional<br />
parameters are achieved without the need for<br />
complex jigging or clamping.<br />
Thompson comments, “As we see a groundswell<br />
of activity within the offsite manufacturing<br />
arena again there has been no better time for<br />
us to make our investment in new machinery.<br />
We have analysed the needs of the downstream<br />
offsite suppliers and now feel that we have the<br />
perfect range of section and service offerings<br />
to meet their exacting requirements.”<br />
To support the specification of light gauge steel<br />
sections EOS Facades offer a range of CPD<br />
sessions. The company will also be holding<br />
Open Days in the Spring in order to<br />
demonstrate the range machinery and services<br />
on offer. If you would like to register to for a<br />
CPD session or to attend an Open Day then<br />
please visit www.eos-facades.co.uk/enquiryform/<br />
and submit your details or call 01325 303 030<br />
Full details of the EOS product and service<br />
range plus a comprehensive portfolio of<br />
award-winning project case studies are<br />
available online www.eos-facades.co.uk<br />
40
portable<br />
foundations for<br />
portable<br />
buildings<br />
Designed to support single, double or triple storey<br />
modular buildings<br />
Leaves playground/car park surfaces undamaged<br />
A<strong>cc</strong>redited by Building Control and chosen as sole<br />
suppliers for temporary classroom foundations for<br />
local authorities around the UK.<br />
100% recycled materials<br />
www.jackpad.co.uk or call<br />
Neil Appleby Business Development Manager<br />
07436 037 818<br />
F ully Finished<br />
Solutio<br />
ons<br />
The W.Howard Group<br />
provides fully finished<br />
door frame, skirting<br />
and architrave<br />
solutions to speed<br />
up your build.<br />
Please contact our sales team on<br />
01942 881900 or at sales@whoward.co.uk<br />
whoward.co.uk<br />
<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong>ruary 2016 41
Smartply offers sustainable<br />
solution to long-term energyefficient<br />
housing<br />
Wood panels are the natural choice for developers and house builders looking to utilise the time, cost and quality<br />
benefits of off-site construction. In particular, engineered wood panels offer specifiers, timber frame manufacturers<br />
and contractors the enhanced flexibility, improved quality and superior safety to ensure the industry continues to<br />
build for the future. SmartPly Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is an environmentally-friendly panel produced by Coillte,<br />
a leading timber panel manufacturer which has a<strong>cc</strong>ess to sustainable, well managed and fast growing softwood<br />
timber. It’s enabled the company to produce a range of materials for use in an array of structural and non-structural<br />
projects.<br />
resistance are paramount. At the new £5<br />
million Wilkinson Primary School in<br />
Wolverhampton, SmartPly OSB3 panels proved<br />
ideal for the timber frame building’s internal<br />
walls and ceilings with the school named as the<br />
winner in the ‘Large Projects’ category at the<br />
UK Passivhaus Awards 2015. The school sets<br />
new standards for low carbon education<br />
buildings and the project demonstrated how<br />
SmartPly OSB3 can play a vital role in the<br />
design and construction of super-insulated<br />
timber frames at industry leading passive<br />
developments.<br />
Progression<br />
SmartPly OSB is manufactured from<br />
locally-grown sustainable forest<br />
resource in an energy efficient process,<br />
giving it a lower carbon footprint than many<br />
types of plywood. It is manufactured by<br />
compressing precisely engineered strands of<br />
wood with exterior resins at high temperature<br />
to create an incredibly strong and versatile<br />
panel. SmartPly is made from sustainable,<br />
fast-growing timber from forest thinnings of<br />
new-growth pine and spruce, including the<br />
tops which are not used to make any other<br />
wood-based product. This is in contrast to<br />
plywood, which uses large logs cut from old<br />
growth forests. SmartPly uses less energy<br />
and resources to make than steel, concrete<br />
and other building materials. Over 75% of the<br />
energy used in the manufacturing process<br />
comes from wood residues and recovered<br />
wood. Burning wood by-products as an energy<br />
source instead of fossil fuels increases the<br />
CO2 benefit further. Manufactured to<br />
European Standard EN 300, SmartPly<br />
satisfies BS5268 Part 2 (Structural use of<br />
Timber- Code of practice for permissible<br />
stress design, materials and workmanship).<br />
SmartPly products are also approved by the<br />
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).<br />
Innovation<br />
Driven by market demand, shifting trends and<br />
changing legislation, SmartPly is continuously<br />
innovating by creating new products and<br />
technologies which are at the forefront of<br />
42<br />
wood-based panel products and beyond the<br />
standard OSB. SmartPly developed a new<br />
SmartPly VapAirTight OSB with vapour control<br />
properties and airtightness engineered into<br />
each panel. As a result, it performed six times<br />
better than PassivHaus standard. The rigid<br />
panel is a sustainable, robust and cost-effective<br />
alternative to specialist AVCL membranes. Fire<br />
safety is another essential building regulation<br />
and SmartPly Flame Retardant OSB3 has been<br />
developed to combine strength and durability<br />
with outstanding fire performance, whilst the<br />
innovative SmartPly SiteProtect is a durable<br />
pre-primed coated panel specifically for<br />
temporary site hoarding and long term security<br />
applications. It is designed to save both<br />
installation time and money and a perfect fit<br />
for housebuilders and developers with a<br />
sustainable strategy.<br />
Versatility<br />
Due to its easy, fast application, durability and<br />
environmental credentials, SmartPly has<br />
provided the solution to a variety of high profile<br />
projects. In December 2015, two pallets of<br />
18mm SmartPly OSB3 were specified by<br />
Greenpeace UK for the design and fabrication<br />
of flat pack emergency weather-proof buildings<br />
in Calais. A highly engineered, moisture<br />
resistant, wood-based panel designed for use in<br />
humid conditions, SmartPly OSB3 was the ideal<br />
choice for the emergency project as it is<br />
suitable for floors, roofs, walls and many other<br />
applications where strength and moisture<br />
Ahead of this year’s Ecobuild exhibition, a<br />
design competition was launched to encourage<br />
the nation’s future architects to showcase<br />
forward-thinking construction. It involved<br />
creating a ‘distinctive oasis’ within the<br />
DISCOVER stand which is sponsored by Medite<br />
– SmartPly and will provide the show’s social<br />
hub. The aim of the winning design, which was<br />
chosen by a panel of judges, was to maximise<br />
the use of sustainable materials including<br />
Medite MDF and SmartPly OSB, whilst<br />
minimising environmental impact and<br />
demonstrating how materials will be disposed<br />
of responsibly after the event. For the winning<br />
students from Bartlett School of Architecture it<br />
created a unique opportunity to hone their<br />
design skills in a real life application whilst<br />
providing exposure for their work.<br />
Vapairtight house<br />
www.smartply.com
Product News ><br />
Raising the bar with composite windows at<br />
Ecobuild<br />
Record year for<br />
Vortice ventilation in<br />
2015<br />
Vortice has seen double digit growth<br />
year on year since 2009, and 2015 was<br />
a record year for its ventilation system<br />
business, with interest in energy<br />
efficiency heightened once more by the<br />
Paris climate summit in December.<br />
Product development at the company’s<br />
Milan headquarters has been focussed<br />
on energy efficient ventilation systems<br />
New, innovative window types and a wider range of timber finishes are all on display at<br />
Ecobuild, on Uniform Architectural’s stand E3200. A wealth of truly original ideas and<br />
benefits to meet architects’ and clients’ requirements are the central theme of their stand for<br />
2016. Every imaginable opening type and the smoothest of Patio gliders are all awaiting your<br />
inspection!<br />
Slender profiles, invisible corner joints, face drainage, trickle vents, hinges, handles, etc., make<br />
the uni_one® Timber/Aluminium Composite Window one of the best designed – and thus,<br />
increasingly popular in London and beyond.<br />
Call Uniform Architectural Ltd. or visit their website<br />
for further information or to request a copy of the<br />
2016 uni_one® brochure<br />
www.uniform-arch.co.uk<br />
Changing shopping habits impact on warehouses<br />
With online retail sales growing at 12% a year<br />
and now a<strong>cc</strong>ounting for more than 12% of all<br />
spending in the UK, retail chains are investing in<br />
more warehouses to meet this demand from<br />
online shoppers. This growth has a direct impact<br />
on companies like Metsec, that play a key role in<br />
building warehouses.<br />
“At Metsec we use light gauge cold-formed steel<br />
roof purlins on a wide range of building types<br />
including warehouses and distribution depots,”<br />
explained Kevin Jones, Sales Director for<br />
Metsec’s Purlins Division. “By using our MetSPEC<br />
design software we’re able to calculate the most<br />
efficient purlin and side rail design that optimises<br />
the use of steel on a project, as well as saving the engineer time. Due to our bespoke<br />
manufacturing software and flexible rolling mills, we’re able to offer short lead times for our<br />
products, which helps us deliver to projects with tight lead times.”<br />
www.metsec.com<br />
McAvoy Group lines up new school projects<br />
for many years now, thus mirroring the<br />
trend for energy efficient products in<br />
many global markets. This trend<br />
combined with creating better ‘indoor<br />
air quality’ is definitely the focus of<br />
Vortice product development.<br />
“Vortice fans are easy to install, less<br />
obtrusive and well designed – all of<br />
these things go together with their<br />
energy efficiency ratings to make them<br />
an obvious choice for the specifier,”<br />
explained General Manager Kevin<br />
Hippey.<br />
Vortice launched a new commercial<br />
kitchen fan and two new heat recovery<br />
systems, the HR350 Avel and the<br />
HR250 Neti, towards the end of 2015.<br />
www.vortice.ltd.uk<br />
Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy<br />
Offsite modular construction<br />
specialists The McAvoy Group have<br />
confirmed they have signed an<br />
£18m contract to build Goresbrook<br />
School, London in the Borough of<br />
Barking and Dagenham which was<br />
awarded through the Crown<br />
Commercial Service (CCS)<br />
Framework and secured preferred<br />
bidder status for an £18m project<br />
at Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy Trust, Slough, awarded through the Crown Commercial<br />
Service (CCS) Framework for Modular Building Systems. Both projects will be funded by the<br />
Education Funding Agency (EFA).<br />
Goresbrook will be a 10,381m2 Wave 3 Free School founded by United Learning. When complete<br />
it will be an all-through school for pupils from nursery to sixth form.<br />
Meanwhile McAvoy are the preferred bidder for a new 8,050m2 build project at the 1100+ pupil<br />
Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy which will be a secondary school for 11-19 year olds.<br />
www.mcavoygroup.com<br />
44
Concrete<br />
considerations<br />
for offsite<br />
construction<br />
7-8 JUNE 2016<br />
THE EVENT FOR ARCHITECTS,<br />
SPECIFIERS, CLIENTS AND SUPPLIERS.<br />
The versatility of concrete<br />
means that it can be<br />
designed and constructed to<br />
deliver high performance buildings<br />
through a spectrum of solutions<br />
ranging from onsite cast concrete,<br />
onsite build using factory made<br />
blocks, through to offsite manufactured two dimensional panels<br />
and volumetric units. When considering offsite solutions there<br />
are additional benefits offered by the use of precast concrete for<br />
offsite construction compared to other systems.<br />
The robustness of concrete, for example means that it can be<br />
delivered and erected without the need for wrappings and covers<br />
to protect it from the elements. Care is required when handling<br />
prefabricated elements made of any material to prevent damage,<br />
but with robustness comes less risk of damage. Quite apart from<br />
the resource and wastage saved, the structural integrity of<br />
concrete is not compromised by weather, a significant advantage<br />
for construction. Less durable structures will be particularly<br />
vulnerable to delayed installation of building enclosure.<br />
Another advantage during construction is concrete’s inherent<br />
resistance to fire, avoiding the need for special measures to be<br />
installed to reduce the risk of fire spreading during build<br />
programmes.<br />
WWW.VISIONLONDON.COM<br />
@VISIONLDN<br />
Precast concrete for housing in the UK historically suffered from<br />
an image problem, due in part to the poorly maintained ‘brutal<br />
aesthetic’ of much of the mass housing put up in the 60’s and 70’s.<br />
While new housing is still more likely to be built from concrete than<br />
any other material, the concrete is likely to be hidden on the inside<br />
of the building, with concrete constructed to higher structural and<br />
quality standards. The range of finishes available in concrete is<br />
very broad, so it is wise to establish the required standard of finish<br />
and tolerances required with manufacturers before tender in order<br />
to align the clients and designers expectations with the right<br />
product or specification.<br />
Improved thermal performance requirements have also lead to an<br />
evolution in the detailing of housing. To achieve the low air<br />
permeability required of current building regulations or passiv<br />
haus standard, designers and constructors now need to pay closer<br />
attention to the joints and junctions of a buildings enclosure. This<br />
is facilitated by the solid, straight edges of precast panels, around<br />
window openings for example. Windows can also be pre-installed<br />
and tested in the panels. Since concrete itself is effectively airtight<br />
a precast concrete inner leaf offers a simple and durable solution<br />
for long term airtightness.<br />
The Concrete Centre will be launching a new publication at<br />
Ecobuild this year, explaining the CO2 saving of concrete through<br />
every stage of construction, including manufacture and demolition.<br />
Using thermal mass is an excellent way to optimise the use of<br />
precast concrete for sustainable construction, but there are also<br />
other many sustainability issues worth considering. These include<br />
long life, climate change adaption, flood resilience, recyclability<br />
and recycled content, local manufacture and local, responsibly<br />
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<strong>MMC</strong> <strong>Feb</strong> 2016 45
Product News ><br />
Knauf know-how<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>elerates school<br />
construction<br />
Innovative fixing systems combined<br />
with top class design and technical<br />
support from Knauf – the UK’s leading<br />
manufacturer of lightweight building<br />
materials and systems – has<br />
a<strong>cc</strong>elerated and simplified the<br />
construction of Hampshire’s first ‘allthrough’<br />
school. The drylining<br />
sub-contractor, MTEC Walling, believes<br />
Senior’s class act<br />
Leading fenestration manufacturer and designer Senior Architectural Systems has helped<br />
deliver a dramatic new design scheme for a new performing arts centre in Newcastle-under-<br />
Lyme.<br />
The new state of the art centre, which is part of Newcastle-under-Lyme College, features<br />
various glazing solutions from Senior that have been installed by Aire Valley Architectural Ltd<br />
for main contractor Bardsley Construction.<br />
The slim sightlines and aesthetic flexibility of Senior’s SMR800 curtain walling made it the<br />
ideal choice to create the modern entrance to the building and the system has been used<br />
throughout to maximise the flow of natural light into the dance studios and communal areas.<br />
The centre’s bright and spacious design has been further<br />
complemented by Senior’s SPW600/E windows and the use<br />
of Senior’s SD automatic doors.<br />
The exceptional thermal efficiency of Senior’s SMR800<br />
curtain walling and SPW600/E windows also met with the<br />
scheme’s stringent sustainability targets which has led to<br />
the centre achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘excellent’.<br />
www.seniorarchitectural.co.uk<br />
Project delays continue to worsen<br />
A<strong>cc</strong>ording to the latest construction industry data, 60% of projects were delivered to clients<br />
late in the past year, with just 69% of overall projects delivered on cost or better. This is in<br />
sharp contrast to figures just released by the Portakabin Group, which has now completed<br />
99.7% of projects on time and on budget every year since 2003.<br />
The UK Industry Performance Report is compiled by the Department for Business, Innovation<br />
and Skills, Constructing Excellence, Glenigan, and the CITB. The research uses key performance<br />
indicators to allow construction companies to<br />
benchmark their performance against the<br />
rest of the industry.<br />
“Off-site construction is highly predictable,<br />
which helps construction clients reduce risk<br />
with far greater assurance of completion on<br />
time and on budget – often to extremely<br />
challenging deadlines and on complex, fully<br />
operational sites,” explained Simon Ambler,<br />
Director of the Portakabin Group.<br />
www.portakabin-group.co.uk<br />
that using Knauf’s simple but<br />
ingenious Linear fixing system to<br />
install Cleaneo Akustik perforated<br />
plasterboard in the new school hall<br />
shaved around 15% from this element<br />
of the construction schedule.<br />
“The specification pack from Knauf<br />
really simplified matters, not only in<br />
terms of making sure that the design<br />
met the acoustic criteria but also in<br />
reducing the number types of boards<br />
required to meet the various<br />
requirements,” said project lead,<br />
Simon Alford from Hampshire County<br />
Council property services.<br />
The same board was used throughout<br />
for the walls and partitions, and<br />
Cleaneo Akustik for the ceilings, to<br />
achieve the robust finish and to meet<br />
the acoustic standards set out in<br />
Building Bulletin 93.<br />
www.knauf.co.uk<br />
46<br />
A much-needed youth centre in<br />
Romsey<br />
Foremans Relocatable Building Systems has started work on a<br />
contract worth in the region of £500,000 to construct a muchneeded<br />
Youth Centre in the Hampshire market town of Romsey.<br />
Designed by Hampshire County Council’s Property Services team<br />
and built by Foremans, the centre will be all on one level, making<br />
it fully a<strong>cc</strong>essible, and will offer facilities for wider community<br />
use.<br />
Foremans is constructing the building from recycled steel<br />
modules fitted out with all-new fixtures and fittings – a faster and<br />
highly sustainable alternative to site-based construction methods<br />
but with no compromise on quality. This innovative approach will reduce work on site to just 10<br />
weeks so the new facilities will be up and running for use by the local community at a much<br />
earlier stage – and with a lower carbon footprint.<br />
The refurbishment of modular buildings is one of the most environmentally-sound methods of<br />
construction – helping to reduce carbon emissions, waste sent to landfill, and improving a<br />
building’s carbon footprint, with no compromise on quality or design flexibility.<br />
www.foremansbuildings.co.uk
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