M4 Final PDF Pages cc

MMC
MODERN METHODS
OF CONSTRUCTION
April 2017
issue M4
MTX deliver a modular unit
MTX were appointed as the main
contractor for endoscopy project
at George Eliot Hospital.
Can you trust a CE mark?
Is the CE mark sufficient
evidence of performance in
the timber industry.
Offsite construction
methods
IKO Polymeric explains the
reasons behind moving towards
offsite solutions in roofing.
p
26 p
34 p
42

SCREW THIS!
(or cut it, or nail it, or drill it…)
Whatever you do to SMARTPLY FR OSB, it will still maintain
it’s CE mark and certification due to the flame retardancy
being built into the panel, not applied as a coating.
Not all OSB’s are created equal
To find out more, please visit www.mdfosb.com

MMC
April 2017
issue M4
Dear Reader,
What do Cadder Primary School in
Glasgow, the Management School at
the University of Liverpool, and Burton
and South Derbyshire UTC have in
common? They are all great examples
of the imaginative use of cladding.
Both a practical and beautiful building
component, these three projects in our
Roofing, Cladding & Insulation feature
on p18 all incorporate this versatile
element.
Whilst rousing at a conference, great
soundbites do not always result in
great actions. Offsite Management
School Project Director, Ian
Heptonstall, says that ‘collaboration’ is
one of those words - but explains on
p14 how supply chain collaboration can
encourage a seamless service.
We love or readers to share their
opinions with us. In ‘In My Opinion’
Chris Slezakowski, Innovation Director
at SIG Plc. tells us how offsite
construction can come to the aid of the
housing market, and describes how
the creation of a moveable housing
development meets demand whilst
permanent homes are built.
And finally, in this issue’s ‘Profile,’ Ken
Davie, Head of Offsite & MMC
Research at Carillion Building, tells us
about his career choices - and his
fantasy holiday!
If you or any of your colleagues would
like to share your opinions with us,
please get in touch.
Regards,
Juliet
14 Collaboration: a catalyst for change
For construction, ‘collaboration’ is too often just one of those words. Ian
Heptonstall, Project Director, Offsite Management School, explains that it gets
bandied about a lot at conferences and in forewords to industry reports, but
somehow fails to find a voice when the talk turns to projects and process
18 First class cladding
Cladding acts as an essential element of a build, but is noticed by its end users
primarily for its looks! We look at three education sector projects where careful
selection of cladding has given them an outstanding appeal.
20 A new social norm?
The UK’s shortage of affordable housing is a growing issue, and one that is
exacerbated by a diminishing labour force, which looks potentially challenging
post-Brexit. Chris Slezakowski, Innovation Director at SIG Plc, looks at the ways
in which MMC, and particularly offsite construction, can help to provide the
social housing boost that the country needs.
28 Energy-efficient façade for new care complex
A new care complex offering a range of options for the elderly, features a Parex
External Wall Insulation (EWI) system to provide energy efficiency, clean lines
and a distinctive combination of colours.
30 Velindre Hospital Free Up Ward Space
The pressure faced by the NHS is widely known. Shortages of nurses and of
beds are often reported, but what isn’t as commonly talked about is the simple
lack of space needed to accommodate rising patient numbers.
38 Metsec framing solution for riverside redevelopment
Voestalpine Metsec plc has provided its Metframe pre-panelised steel-framing
product for a new Travelodge hotel on the Thetford Riverside Development in
Norfolk.
Features Editor:
Juliet Davies
editor@buildinsite.co.uk
Advertising:
Paul Barstow
paul@buildinsite.co.uk
Press Releases:
press@buildinsite.co.uk
Production: Di Smith
di@buildinsite.co.uk
Design: Ellie Rich
design@buildinsite.co.uk
Circulation:
circulation@buildinsite.co.uk
Enquiries 0121 661 9484
Front cover advert
Deceuninck is one of the top three PVC-U extrusion
companies in the world. Over 2,000,000 products are
made from its profile every year in the UK alone. The
company is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and
remains at the forefront of innovation. This heritage and
expertise combined with a knowledgeable network of
experienced fabricators and installers, means that
architects, specifiers, contractors and designers can rely
on us to help realise even the most complex projects on
time and on budget.
For more information see page 12
Specifiers can subscribe free of charge to this magazine, please visit
www.buildingspecifier.com/subscriptions
Publisher’s Statement.
Printed in England. All rights reserved. No part of MMC may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form
without prior permission of the publisher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of editorial content, the editor and publishers
do not accept responsibility for errors or loss and damage caused by any statements, claims or observations made by contributors, authors
and their agents.
BuildInsite Limited. Reg - 10260463
MMC
April 2017 M4 3

MMC
Latest News
Idom Merebrook adds high profile Manchester project to portfolio
Idom Merebrook, one of the UK's leading multi-disciplinary engineering consultancies, has been appointed to manage the outline design for all
mechanical and electrical engineering works on one of Manchester's highest profile residential developments in the city's fashionable Northern
Quarter.
The Northern Quarter project, worth over £9m, is a residential scheme on an infill site bordered by Red Lion Street, Church Street and Union Street,
and has recently been granted planning permission by Manchester City Council.
Idom Merebrook's team of mechanical and electrical engineers last year completed the RIBA Stage 3 Building Services design as part of the planning
application, as well as producing the SUDS report for the project. The neighbourhood, which has a reputation of being the ‘bohemian' heart of
Manchester, is rich in history and runs adjacent to Market St and Piccadilly. The development site itself is situated at the centre of the conservation
area, and as such has been designed to be in keeping with the style of the original buildings.
The exterior design includes maintaining the aesthetics of the original Bulls Head pub façade as an entrance, and above the façade the rest of the
building has been set back by 3.6m to limit visual impact at street level.
Comprising a 38-apartment scheme, the complex designed by Neil Collins Architecture varies in height between three, five, seven, eight and eleven
stories and also includes 2,000 sq. ft. of ground floor commercial space. The residential element will include 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units above office
and retail space on the lower levels.
CIOB appoints first MD
The Chartered Institute of Building has appointed Terry Watts as Managing Director reporting to the Chief Executive Chris Blythe.
Terry, who has extensive experience in the skills, construction supply-chain, and technology sectors and in large and small business change
management, started the newly created position in March. His role includes driving the CIOB’s next stage of development, delivering membership
growth, operational efficiency and improving the quality of services to members.
The position was formed reflecting the growth and breadth of increase in the CIOB’s influence in construction, improving standards, skills and
professionalism in the industry.
Pulse expands management team
Pulse Modular Homes has further strengthened its top
management team with the appointment of Barry Hawkins as
Projects Director. Barry has over 30 years of senior management
experience in the construction industry with John Laing, Whitbread
Hotel Company, Laing O’Rourke and Kier Limited.
He is one of the pioneers in modern off-site construction having
founded the Box Clever brand which focuses on MMC in particular
factory-built construction solutions. Initially developed for the hotel
sector Box Clever is now widely used in housing, education, and
student accommodation construction.
Barry’s appointment follows the appointment of Elaine New as
Chief Financial Officer last month.
Pulse delivers quality fast-track permanent and temporary
modular accommodation in partnership with local authorities and
housing associations. It specialises in the regeneration of
redundant or vacant council brownfield sites through the provision
of sustainable, affordable quality housing.
Construction firm chosen for new Blackpool
Academy
Preston-based Conlon Construction has been appointed to lead a multimillion
pound design and build project at Armfield Academy in Blackpool,
named after Jimmy Armfield who has made such a significant
contribution to the community of Blackpool.
The scheme was awarded as part of the Education Funding Agency (EFA)
Regional Contractors Framework and will see the contractor refurbish
existing accommodation and construct new buildings on the site of the
former independent school on Lytham Road.
Conlon is working closely with Chester-based Lovelock Mitchell
Architects to develop plans for a space that delivers an inspiring study
experience for pupils.
The school, set to be run by Fylde Coast Academy Trust (FCAT), will
accommodate 1,180 2-16 year olds upon completion. The phased
programme of works begins autumn 2017 with the first student intake in
September 2018 and overall completion due in spring 2019.
BSRIA collaboration with H2020 narrows performance gap
BSRIA has announced that it is working in collaboration with the EU on a Horizon 2020 research project titled Built2Spec which was launched in
2015 and fundamentally aims to reduce the gap between the design and build performance of a building.
The B2S project aims to deliver the ambitious objective of meeting the EU energy efficiency targets by reducing the energy performance gap for
both new buildings and retrofits. This is being done through technological advances by development of innovative on-site quality assurance tools.
The energy performance gap in buildings needs to be minimised, to achieve the 20% energy efficiency target by 2020, to reduce energy-related
costs for building occupants, and to ensure the buildings perform as designed.
In order to achieve this, the B2S project will deliver a new set of ‘breakthrough technological advances' such as 3D and imagery tools, building
information modelling (BIM), smart building components, energy efficiency quality checks, indoor air quality tools, airtightness test tools,
thermal imaging tools and acoustic tools; all of which will be connected to a virtual construction management platform (VCMP) supporting the
collection and sharing of all project data, from initial design to delivery.
4 MMC
April 2017 M4

EU worker uncertainty increases need for speedy building methods
Fears that Britain’s construction industry could lose more than 175,000 EU workers if the country does not retain access to the European single
market after Brexit underline the importance of concentrating on quicker methods of homebuilding. That’s the message from insulation
specialist Actis, in the light of the latest report from the RICS which says the 8% drop in the sector’s workforce would have serious ramifications
for infrastructure and construction projects.
It would also have a major impact on hitting housing targets, says Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper.
“The country is already struggling to keep up with demand for a number of reasons, including the less than ideal workforce size we have at the
moment,” he said. “Losing a large chunk of skilled people is clearly not going to help the situation.”
While Mark welcomed the budget announcement of new T-levels which would give technical qualifications such as construction parity with
academic subjects, he said that the newly qualified ‘home grown’ talent would not fill the gaping hole left by the departure of workers from other
European countries. The lack of existing skilled workers and the length of time before the first new T-level students graduate both pointed to
looking at the situation from a different angle.
Celebrating young talent in the construction
industry
Generation 4 Change (G4C), part of Constructing Excellence, provides
a platform to grow and learn through creating development and
networking opportunities with a broad spectrum of construction
industry professionals. G4C is passionate about showcasing
emerging talent, and, new for 2017, the Midlands G4C Awards
celebrate the achievements of young industry professionals and
provide an exclusive opportunity to celebrate outstanding examples
of excellence and best practice within the construction sector.
The Midlands G4C Awards recognise young achievers under 36 years
of age and are not restricted to those engaged with the Generation
for Change movement within Constructing Excellence. There are six
categories available to enter; Apprentice of The Year, Student of The
Year, Young Trainee of The Year, Young Professional of the Year,
Mentor of the Year, and Commitment to Training & Development.
And for those in the construction industry who believe in supporting
the next generation of industry leaders, being a sponsor of the
Midlands G4C Awards is the place to make a difference!
South Yorkshire company secures highest
accolade in water industry awards
Watflo, a Doncaster-based rainwater harvesting company, has scooped
the prestigious Gold award at the biannual Waterwise UK Water
Efficiency Product Awards. The company won the award for its Dual
Flow Water Diverter, filter unit and h20 Harvester Brainbox system,
which are proven to save homeowners and commercial property
owners up to 55% on their water usage.
The presentation took place recently at the House of Lords, where the
awards were presented by Nicci Russell, Managing Director of
Waterwise. Over 150 delegates attended the Waterwise awards
ceremony from the water industry, water harvesting companies and
local authorities. Watflo was also invited to attend the annual
Waterwise water efficiency conference the day after the awards event,
which was held at the Royal Society of the Arts in London.
Watflo was established in 2014 when Melvyn Davenport, an experienced
plastic injection moulding specialist, embarked on an exciting
business venture to develop a rainwater harvesting product, with
support in developing the h2o Harvest Brainbox system from Sheffield
Hallam University.
Biophilic Office project seeks sponsors and partners
Interface, the leading global manufacturer of modular flooring, is the first sponsor to be announced for The Biophilic Office, the research and
demonstration project which will show how biophilic design can create a healthier, more productive office environment.
The project, from BRE and Oliver Heath Design, focuses on the refurbishment of a 1980s office building on the BRE campus, and presents myriad
opportunities for sponsors and partners to get involved.
The project is expected to commence later this year. Experts in building technology will evaluate the office for daylight, lighting, indoor air
quality, acoustic, thermal and humidity comfort. The office occupants will undergo a confidential health evaluation, sign up to a series of on-line
questionnaires and surveys and receive wearable technology to monitor key health metrics. The project will carry out a year of prerefurbishment
and a year of post-refurbishment monitoring.
BRE is seeking other sponsors and partners to join Interface in this exciting project.
Wood Awards call for entries
The Wood Awards: Excellence in British Architecture and Product Design has now launched its 2017 call for entries. Those involved in a UK-based
wood project are invited to enter and have until 26th May to submit their applications.
Established in 1971, the Wood Awards recognises, encourages, and promotes outstanding design, craftsmanship, and installation using wood in
projects throughout the UK. The Wood Awards’ elite independent judging panel not only judges all submitted entries but also visits the shortlisted
projects in person, making the Wood Awards a uniquely rigorous competition.
The Wood Awards shortlist will be announced in July and the winners will be announced at the Wood Awards ceremony on 21st November 2017 at
Carpenters’ Hall in London. The shortlisted projects will be on display at the ceremony and during the London Design Festival in September.
Michael Morrison of Purcell and Max Fraser of Spotlight Press return as chairmen of the Buildings and Furniture & Product judging panels. New to
the Buildings judging panel is Andrew Waugh of Waugh Thistleton Architects. “It’s a fascinating and exciting time to be judging these awards,” he
said. “We are seeing the emergence of a new environmentally aware architecture - an architecture that is centred on the beauty of wooden
construction - an age of timber architecture.”
April 2017 M4 5

MMC
Product News
South Shields starts a new chapter
South Shields is benefitting from a £16m cultural centre featuring
an iconic circular façade created with the Kingspan TEK Cladding
Panel.
Contractors Bowmer & Kirkland have overseen the project, named ‘The
Word, National Centre for the Written Word.’ The three-storey structure,
designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, includes library and exhibition
space, IT suite, 3D printers, and café. The development, completed in
October 2016, is part of a £100m regeneration masterplan which partners
South Tyneside Council with Muse Developments.
Creating a curved structure can pose a challenge, but the Kingspan TEK
Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel installed on ‘The Word, National
Centre for the Written Word’.
Cladding Panel was successfully engineered to provide a smooth, highly
insulated exterior envelope. To achieve this, the structural insulated
panels (SIPs) were designed and factory cut into narrow widths. This
allowed them to be quickly and easily fixed to the concrete frame.
The 142mm Kingspan TEK
Cladding Panel installed on
‘The Word’ can help to achieve
U-values of 0.20 W/m2.K or
better whilst its OSB/3 facing
and unique jointing system
helps to minimise
unnecessary air loss. The
manufacturing facility where
the panels are produced
carries both FSC® (FSC®-C109304) and PEFC Chain of Custody
certification. Also, there are constructions available that correspond to
BRE Global Green Guide generic elements which achieve a Summary
Rating of A+.
“The new building needed to reflect our Sustainable Development goals,
which is why we opted for low environmental impact and sustainable
materials with a Green Guide rating of A or A+ whenever we could,”
explained Councillor John Anglin, Lead Member for Regeneration and
Economy at South Tyneside Council. “This is to help us with our target of
receiving a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. We were also keen to ensure all
timber used on the library was FSC® certified or equivalent.”
Both the Kingspan TEK Cladding Panel and Kingspan TEK Building
System panels are now available in a 172mm thickness, achieving even
lower U-values of 0.17 W/m2.K or better.
www.kingspantek.co.uk
BIM in a basket from Eurocell
Eurocell – the UK’s leading manufacturer, distributor and
recycler of window, door, conservatory and roofline products –
has reimagined the way designers and specifiers access its
BIM models. Users can sign up free to the BIM Centre and then use
Eurocell’s new search and filter tool to find the models they need.
Rather than downloading models one-by-one, they all go into a BIM
basket to be downloaded en masse at the end of the process.
The models downloaded by each user will also be stored in a
personalised BIM Library for access at a later date. And by signing up
for automated updates, BIM Centre members will receive an email to
let them know when models have changed.
If specifiers can’t find the model they need, the BIM Centre has a
simple ‘Request a BIM’ function which will be handled by Eurocell’s
technical support team.
At the launch of BIM Centre it contained nearly 40 models covering
Eurocell’s two most popular ranges, Modus and Eurologik; that
number will grow as new models are added. The models are in RFA
or Revit Family format, requiring Autodesk Revit software.
The use of BIM – a 3D model with information attached to its various
elements – is gaining traction across most construction sectors in the
UK, driven by the 2011 Government mandate that central government
departments should require BIM Level 2 on all its projects from April
this year with ongoing funding to push onto Level 3.
The goal for the implementation of BIM is that all the organisations
involved in the design, creation, and operation of a building or piece of
At the launch of BIM Centre it contained nearly 40 models
covering Eurocell’s two most popular ranges, Modus and
Eurologik; that number will grow as new models are added.
infrastructure gain better understanding of the lifetime cost and
performance of the asset and its elements. This should enable better
decision-making and ultimately deliver better value.
www.eurocell.co.uk
6 MMC
April 2017 M4

MMC
Product News
It’s a new angle as Eurocell
elevates Skypod range
Building upon the success of the market-leading Skypod range
of PVC-U skylights, Eurocell is launching its latest model -
Skypod Acute. As the name suggests, the new addition
features a steeper pitch: 350 in fact, a full 150 more than the current
design
The new 350 pitch is visually very different to the standard 200,
making it suitable for more commercial applications such as schools,
colleges, hospitals and offices, where this pitch degree is better
suited to larger, multi-storey buildings. This market tends to be
dominated by aluminium products, so the arrival of the new Skypod
provides an aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective alternative.
Skypod Acute sports the same stylish, narrow glazing bars and
generous sightlines for residential properties as the rest of the
Skypod range and in its square format it now fits an even smaller
aperture, allowing even more light into parts of the home that
previously was not possible. In addition, no sidebars are needed on
sizes up to 1.5m x 2.75m, so further improving sightlines and letting in
more natural light. Skypod Acute is supplied with self-cleaning,
temperature controlled glass in Blue, Neutral, Bronze and Clear as
standard, with a U-value of 1.0W/m²K achievable.
Skypod’s success in the market is due in no small part to its good
looks and aesthetics especially when compared to other PVC-U
systems. Plus, it offers better value for money than aluminium
alternatives. Its contemporary design means that Skypod is the most
Kingspan Kooltherm K100 Range
expands
Kingspan Insulation has announced the launch of two new
products to join their innovative new Kooltherm K100 Range,
designed to deliver lower U-values with a minimal construction
thickness.
Eurocell is launching its latest model - Skypod Acute
effective means of boosting headroom and volume, while welcoming
extra natural light into otherwise drab flat-roofed rooms. It is very
easy to fit, with even screw holes pre-drilled for accuracy and
convenience; and everything needed is supplied ‘out of the box’.
As with all Skypod products, Skypod Acute has a 10-year guarantee
and is available in the full colour range of Anthracite Grey, Moondust
Grey, Golden Oak, Rosewood and White – with a white interior finish
as standard to maximise the light and airy feel. A further 30 colour
options can be made to order in just three weeks.
For more details, call 0800 988 3045 or
visit eurocell.co.uk/skypod-acute.
Kingspan Kooltherm K112 Framing Board and K107
Pitched Roof Board are the latest product ranges
now available from Kingspan Insulation.
Kingspan Kooltherm K112 Framing Board and K107 Pitched Roof Board
are the latest products in the range, which was launched last year. Their
advanced, fibre-free insulation core has a thermal conductivity of just
0.018 W/m.K across all available board thicknesses, the lowest for any
rigid phenolic insulation board. This revolutionary composition offers
architects, specifiers and builders the freedom to design and construct
buildings with inherently outstanding fabric performance, without having
to compromise on internal space.
All the products in the Kooltherm K100 Range are manufactured with a
blowing agent that has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and very
low Global Warming Potential (GWP). The insulation boards are nondeleterious,
easy to handle and install, and are unaffected by air
infiltration.
Kooltherm, Therma and KoolDuct insulation products and cavity closers
manufactured at Kingspan Insulation’s facilities in Pembridge and Selby
are certified to BES 6001 (Framework Standard for the Responsible
Sourcing of Construction Products) ‘Excellent’.
The Kingspan Kooltherm K100 Range is now available on the Kingspan
Insulation U-value Calculator, and detailed product brochures are
available for download on the website: www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
8 MMC
April 2017 M4
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk

Building the Future of Healthcare
Over the last few years we have all seen the media reports about bed shortages and extended waiting times within the NHS.
Between the UK’s aging population, increasing demand and budget cuts the population has lost some faith in our public service.
For many people health insurance is seen now as a necessity not a luxury. The proportion of people with private health insurance
increased last year, with many people believing it gives them better access to services and a better level of care. The NHS already
offers the ‘right to choose’ which gives many patients the access to privately owned facilities.
with dedicated light and welcoming spaces.
Facilities include a choice of chemo bays or
private bedrooms, giving the choice for those
requiring more privacy.
Due to all of the above factors many
private health organisations are
looking at growth plans.
Business Development Director, Rachel Davis,
Premier Modular Ltd, says the use of off-site
construction is on the rise within the private
healthcare sector, as it brings many benefits.
The engineered and factory assembled
products offer significant advantages in many
areas;
Faster return on investment due to reduced
programmes. As the modules are
manufactured on a flow line there is no risk of
late delivery due to inclement weather or site
restrictions. At Premier’s East Yorkshire
manufacturing hub, they can produce 20
modules a day, approximately 2500m2 per
week.
As much as 75% of a building is manufactured
offsite, this reduces construction traffic and
noise in the sensitive health environment;
meaning the hospital can maintain its high
quality day to day care standards whilst
expanding its service offering
Off-site construction also significantly
reduces the risk of accidents on site and
modules are manufactured to exacting quality
levels in controlled factories.
Premier Modular Ltd recently completed a
new Cancer Care Centre for Ramsay Health
Care at Springfield Hospital, Chelmsford. The
innovative new build radiology centre is
constructed using 17modules over two storeys
providing treatment rooms, a waiting room,
offices, consulting rooms, changing rooms
and clean/ dirty utility rooms. The building is
finished externally in a modern multi coloured
Kingspan panel and the new offsite building is
linked to the existing hospital building.
The new buildings not only provide state of the
art Radiotherapy and scan facilities but also
upgraded facilities for Chemotherapy patients
Premier’s forward thinking attitude means
that they have linked this healthcare
experience to their residential expertise to
help tackle the Extra Care crisis which is
emerging. Eleven million people living in the
UK today will live to 100. A large proportion
will need local social care services to live as
comfortably as possible for the final 30 to 40
years of their lives. Social care services are
vital so older people can live independent and
happier lives, at home and in their
communities.
Rachel Davis says ‘We are always looking for
product improvements and innovation, our
flexible products and experience combined
with market need, made entering the Extra
Care market an easy decision’.
In a market where shortages exist, building
standards for comfort and infection control
are extremely high, sustainability is of growing
importance and budgets are tight. Offsite
construction has to be a big part of the
solution.
www.premiermodular.co.uk
10 MMC
April 2017 M4

FENESTRATION INTEGRATION
When it comes to commercial fenestration projects, it pays to look beyond the product itself and ensure that you’re working with an
experienced delivery supply chain. Deceuninck’s Rob McGlennon explains how next generation MMC solutions are transforming the
way windows and doors are now manufactured and installed.
Responding to the UK’s relentless
demand for new housing, the
construction sector has been driven
over recent years to innovate and develop new
solutions that eliminate waste, time and cost
and help contend with the skills shortage.
Often this innovation has emerged by going
back to the drawing board to design new
products and materials. Take for example our
own Linktrusion TM next generation material
that bridges the gap between PVC-U and
aluminium systems. This trademarked
technology and manufacturing process can
offer up to 30% savings compared with likefor-like
aluminium windows and doors and is
already being used in some of the UK’s
flagship building projects.
A Holistic Approach
Investing in new materials and technologies is
a responsibility Deceuninck takes seriously and
a strategy that our product development teams
across the globe work tirelessly on. But as
more and more forward-thinking property
correct coupling details and performance and
framing construction and design.
For access to the experts: Ask for Deceuninck
fabricators and installers by name
Deceuninck fabricators are used to working
with MMC approaches including modular
volumetric, panellised, hybrid, timber framed
and Metsec. Indeed, we’re seeing an increasing
number of cutting edge projects now benefiting
from the fantastic installation solutions offered
by Metsec combined with specialist EPDM
application. The key benefit of this approach is
design versatility combined with an efficient
and fast construction that’s ideal for hard to
access locations. This airtight and weathertight
installation method sees the window openings
created into the SFS structure which is
normally clad externally with Cement Particle
Board, providing a stable backing wall to which
external cladding - like rainscreen or rendered
insulation - can be attached. The windows are
normally positioned projecting out of the
structural opening into the insulation and
Imperial College: constructed using
windows incorporated into Metsec
Deceuninck is one of the top three PVC-U extrusion companies in the
world. Over 2,000,000 products are made from its profile every year in
the UK alone. The company is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year,
and remains at the forefront of innovation. This heritage and expertise
combined with a knowledgeable network of experienced fabricators and
installers, means that architects, specifiers, contractors and designers
can rely on us to help realise even the most complex projects on time
and on budget.
developers and contractors adopt new
construction methods, it’s crucial that none of
the performance benefits of the products
themselves are lost through incompetent or
incompatible installation methods. That’s why –
despite ‘just’ being the system manufacturer -
the Deceuninck commercial team supports
clients every step of the way from concept
design, through on- or off-site manufacture to
on-site fit out. And it’s this partnering approach
that commercial clients have come to rely on
us for over recent decades.
When you choose Deceuninck products, you get
so much more than a ‘window’ or ‘door’. In
partnership with our customers and our
customers’ customers, you have access to a
knowledgeable and experienced team that
takes a holistic approach to your project.
Collectively, we will provide detail on how the
windows should interface with the fabric of the
building, meet acoustic requirements and U
Value requirements, provide wind pressure
assessments for site location and confirm
12 MMC
April 2017 M4
external finish zones so the installers must be
experienced with EPDM sealants and
membranes to maintain air and weather
tightness of the building envelope during
construction.
MMC has certainly helped our industry make
great strides in terms of consistent quality and
speed and ease of manufacture and build. But
the key part which is often overlooked is the
skill and experience required to work with
these new technologies at point of installation.
It’s surprising how often we get called in to
save the day part way through projects simply
because the incumbent systems supplier does
not have the pre-requisite know-how at this
point of the process - although it all sounded
great at time of tender.
Number 1 In Colour
While the structural part of a build has
certainly benefitted from MMC, so too has
access to better aesthetics, especially colour.
Over one in four UK doors and windows are
now coloured. Deceuninck leads in colour and
sells 50% more coloured profile than the
industry average. We offer an extensive range
of foils, painted profile and contemporary
colours to suit a variety of project styles.
Thanks to our experience in delivering large
volume colour solutions to the commercial
sector over many years, we’ve developed a
unique coating which is applied at source
meaning no retro-spraying or third party
outsourced painting is required. Offering an
extensive choice of contemporary colours with
a matt or satin finish, the Decoroc coating
system applies a unique, tough and textured
oven-cured coating which is incredibly durable,
scratch resistant and wonderfully effective,
making it the perfect alternative to aluminium.
The world of next-generation fenestration is
certainly dynamic with innovation and
investment at all levels of the supply chain.
Forward thinking companies like Deceuninck
together with our nationwide network of
specialist commercial fabricators, installers,
contractors, modular build partners and façade
companies, are certainly committed to playing
our part in the continued delivery of MMC
solutions.”
All Deceuninck’s products are available for
download from the National BIM library. If you
would like to receive a copy of our brochure or
case studies, arrange a site visit to one of our
many projects across UK, visit
www.deceuninck.co.uk/specification or call
01249 816969

Brick Metsec Detailing
Timber Frame Detailing
Abbey Road:
constructed
using windows
incorporated
Metsec
MMC
April 2017 M4 13

Collaboration: a catalyst for change
For construction, ‘collaboration’ is too often just one of those words. Ian Heptonstall, Project Director, Offsite Management School,
explains that it gets bandied about a lot at conferences and in forewords to industry reports, but somehow fails to find a voice when
the talk turns to projects and process.
The industry knows it needs to change its
ways of working and move on from the
traditional adversarial approach that is
now so antithetical to 21st century business
culture. Indeed, Mark Farmer, author of the
landmark 2016 Modernise or Die Review and
champion of the cause for offsite, has made this
point explicitly and repeatedly.
In responses during a Q&A with Explore Offsite,
he particularly talked about the need for
successful major projects in the offsite sector to
help influence ‘collaborative procurement
behaviour,’ if we hope to enable a true ‘Design
for Manufacture & Assembly’ (DfMA) process.
Obviously, the principle of collaboration is
fundamental to the whole ethos of the Offsite
Management School and its parent group in the
Supply Chain School itself. Supply chain
collaboration is key to any ambitions we might
have as an industry of delivering the reductions
in costs, project times, and CO2 emissions
called for by 2025.
By taking a collaborative approach to applying
DfMA techniques and using digital data
throughout the value chain we will see an
increasing use of offsite manufacturing, just-intime
logistics and multi-skilled onsite assembly
that will produce the called-for future
generation of built environment assets that are
leaner, greener and more efficient.
So, how does this ‘collaboration’ actually work
in practice?
A Catalyst for Change
For collaboration to happen, often a catalyst is
needed to help inspire and instigate change.
Take, for example, the case of the new Saint-
Gobain Frame System (SGFS), a warranted
walling solution developed by Saint-Gobain UK –
a Partner in the Offsite School - and Hadley
Steel Framing.
SGFS is a loadbearing pre-panelised structural
steel frame system, suitable for both external
and internal use. It comprises lightweight
Hadley Steel Framing sections, enveloped in
materials produced by a number of Saint-
Gobain construction product manufacturers,
including British Gypsum, Celotex, Isover and
Weber. Including 26 design interfaces, the
specification comes complete with certified SAP
details and ‘SCI Assessed’ mark from the Steel
Construction Institute.
Now, traditionally, one of the biggest challenges
the industry has faced with such a system is that
it might involve literally dozens of products from
a whole host of different supply-chain
manufacturers, creating issues around who
ultimately takes responsibility for warranty of
14 MMC
April 2017 M4
the wall.
Therefore, for Saint-Gobain, the whole purpose
of SGFS is to provide a single-supplier
approach, to take the product from start to
finish - from an initial enquiry, through system
design, installation and onsite support, right into
project aftercare – and provide a seamless
service all the way along.
Given the fragmented nature of construction
supply chains, however, such a unified approach
has typically been anything but easy to achieve.
So, where the Offsite School was able to help in
finding a solution, was by engaging Saint-Gobain
in its Offsite Innovators Network, an initiative
supported by Innovate UK and designed to
provide offsite management with access to
expert assistance, via facilitators, particularly in
areas such as collaboration, DfMA and Lean
thinking.
The Innovators Network hooked Saint-Gobain
up with Tim Hall from Total Flow (also a Partner
in the School), whose experience in
organisational change helped challenge their
thinking and share best practice. The two-year
process of collaborative working has resulted in
getting shared ownership in a truly innovative
and groundbreaking construction solution.
With everything tested and proven, the SGFS
solution now offers the all-important warranty,
taking the risk out of specification for the
customer and giving them certainty on their
offsite project, which represents a massive
benefit to the marketplace. The key to success
was supply-chain collaboration.
“Adopting this innovative approach to
collaboration via the Offsite School was where
we really began to get the buy-in from our wider
stakeholders, supply chain, customers and
other colleagues,” Jamie Willson, Habitat
Project Manager, Saint-Gobain UK & Ireland.
“More importantly, it has given us the
springboard to develop the next stages of the
project.”
Collaboration as Strength
As evidenced by the case study, whilst
collaboration might clearly be the agreed
intention and desired outcome, that does not
mean it will happen overnight. It can take time
and effort on the part of all involved, with a
willingness to graft and a talent for persistence
needed, as well as some creative thinking and
management innovation.
However, when the stark choice presented is
Modernise or Die, the solution is simple: It is
time for collaboration to become a strength in
construction, not just a word.
The Offsite Management School
The Offsite Management School is an initiative
of leading contractors and clients who are
committed to helping their supply chain develop
to meet the big challenges that property,
construction and infrastructure will face over
the next five years.
With several new additions within the last 12
months, the School’s consortium of Partners
now brings together Carillion, Costain, Georg
Fischer, Laing O'Rourke, McAvoy, Prater,
Robertson Group, Saint-Gobain, Skanska,
United Utilities, and Willmott Dixon, alongside
leading knowledge-based organisations such as
CITB, Build Offsite, Exelin and Total Flow. The
Offsite School builds upon the success of the
multi-award winning Supply Chain School,
which now boasts a membership of almost
19,000 and is delivered by Action Sustainability.
Through the School, the group of Partners have
co-invested and collaborated to give a common
and consistent message to offsite supply chains
about the need to transform the way we think
about construction. To be fit for the future needs
of government, business and society, the School
believes the industry must go through a process
called Construction Industrialisation.
The School focuses on the five stages of this
Industrialisation process: Digital design; offsite
manufacturing; logistics; onsite assembly; and
best-in-class maintenance. In support of these,
the School then concentrates on a further eight
enabling management competencies to help
businesses build skills in these areas.
Strongly committed to offsite engaging with the
design community, the School was instrumental
in the development of the Design for
Manufacture & Assembly (DfMA) Overlay
launched officially at the RIBA, last year in
London. The DfMA Overlay to the RIBA Plan of
Work 2013 offers advice at every stage of the
design process on how best to design for
manufacture and assembly and encourages
early engagement of contractors and
manufacturers.
As well as helping deliver projects faster, cut
costs, and boost quality, use of DfMA techniques
can also result in better operational and in-use
outcomes, driving productivity gains towards
sustainability targets in the UK Government
strategy Construction 2025.
For further information on the Offsite
Management School:
Website: www.offsiteschool.com
Email: Ursula@actionsustainability.com
Tel: 0207 697 1962
Twitter: @OffsiteSchool

Direct Apply Render
Rail System Render
Since its launch in March 2015, the Offsite Management School
has continued to grow and develop, both in terms of numbers
and influence. Whilst all School resources are free of charge,
Members are asked to undertake a confidential assessment.
Once completed, this enables an organisation to benchmark
against similar trades and suppliers, plus it provides them with
a targeted action plan.
As the School offers many types of support covering the 13
learning areas, each Member’s personalised action plan
signposts the most relevant resources to help them grow
knowledge in areas that affect their business and industry
sector in particular. All members are also welcome and
encouraged to attend the Supplier Days and Workshops taking
place throughout the UK.
Ian Heptonstall
Rainscreen
Masonry
Offsite School
Partners celebrate
their success at the
Offsite Awards 2016
MMC
April 2017 M4 15

Profile
Steering the way
Ken Davie is the Head of Offsite & MMC Research at Carillion Building, and a registered Architect with more than 35 years of
experience on a wide range of commercial and public sector projects including modular single living accommodation for the MOD
and prefabricated prison buildings.
Currently the Carillion Building focal point
for research into Offsite & MMC
techniques, Ken has a remit to
investigate products, processes and innovation
that have the potential to address the
challenges set in Construction 2025, and
change how buildings and infrastructure are
delivered.
Ken represents Carillion on the steering group
of the Offsite Management School, aimed at
encouraging suppliers and sub-contractors to
increase the use of Offsite methodology and
Construction Industrialisation.
Is your career what you envisaged when you
were at school?
No. My father completed his flying training in
Canada in 1945 but never saw active service,
which obviously influenced me as my ambition
was to be a pilot in the Royal Air Force. I went to
the RAF Aptitude Assessment Centre, which in
the 1970s was at Biggin Hill, and discovered I
was partially colour blind; that was that as far as
flying was concerned. My abiding memory of the
two days was dinner by candlelight in the Mess
because of scheduled power cuts during the
three-day week.
After the flying disappointment I was influenced
by some friends working in architects’ offices so
I changed track and studied architecture at art
school in Dundee. A few people have raised an
eyebrow over the years at the prospect of
working with a colour blind architect!
What was your first job, and what did this - and
other previous jobs - contribute to where you
are today?
My architecture course was three years followed
by a ‘year out,’ which I spent working in London,
then another two years studying. After doing
the theory, the year out was my introduction to
the practice, teamwork and socialising, with the
emphasis on the last one!
I had several summer and part-time jobs while
studying and learned a lot working in a team
netting salmon on the River Tay for two seasons;
the shifts were five hours on and seven hours off
day and night. I did a spell mixing the raw
ingredients for linoleum in the factory where my
father worked. The key things in every one of
them were getting on with colleagues, being
open minded and reliable.
What do you find different about MMC to other
sectors you’ve been involved in?
I don’t regard MMC as a sector in itself as there
is scope for Offsite and MMC to be incorporated
into every single construction or infrastructure
project. The term MMC was first used around
1919 when industrial capacity was seen as the
answer to a major skills shortage after the
Great War. Smart construction is perhaps a
more up-to-date description, although smart is
rather clichéd. If there is a difference in the
sector it is about being open to new ideas,
products and techniques.
What do you consider to be your greatest
achievements?
I consider my greatest personal achievement
as being one of only seven people to graduate
after five years of study and a year of practical
training, out of the original 45 who started.
My greatest professional achievement was
being part of a team which, starting with a
basic client output specification, developed two
master plans and designed 18 buildings in five
months for town planning submission, and
continued with the technical design so that
construction work could start four months
later after planning approval was granted.
Do you think MMC has advantages or
disadvantages over other construction sectors
at this moment?
New and emerging products, techniques and
processes are presenting interesting
opportunities in a challenging construction
environment, which if you read the Farmer
Review is in very poor health. I think MMC
clearly has advantages that have the potential
to address some of the symptoms.
What advice would you give to those wishing to
follow in your career footsteps?
The public perception of the architectural
profession is probably mostly about signature
architects and the buildings they create, but
that is the tip of the iceberg. The reality
requires resolve, dedication, an ability to deal
with change and recognition of your own
capabilities in forging a career. My
architectural education is proving incredibly
influential and useful in my current job as Head
of Offsite & MMC Research for a tier one
contractor.
Given the opportunity to take up to six months
paid leave, what would you do?
I would fly to the United States and hire an RV
to spend four months touring starting with a
return visit to Key West then heading up the
East Coast to take in places like Kitty Hawk and
the cradle of the Civil War before turning west
towards the Great Plains, maybe stopping in
Indianapolis for a motor race then heading off
to see Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and the
iconic Monument Valley.
Ken Davie, Head of Offsite & MMC Research, Carillion Building
I would spend the last two months indulging
another passion; visiting as many Beer
Festivals as possible to enjoy the incredible
range of real ales brewed in the UK!
16 MMC April 2017 M4

Unprecedented Sales Growth for Through
Wall Supplier
2016 was a very successful year for RCM Ltd, a major supplier of building boards, façades and complete through wall solutions in
the UK.
Originally the challenge for 2016 had been
to further enhance RCM’s product range
and services, as well as being the very
best in offering cost effective solutions without
compromise on quality.
On top of successfully achieving these
objectives, RCM also managed to increase its
overall turnover by £4m compared to the
previous year.
This unprecedented sales growth was seen
across RCM’s product range, with particular
emphasis on the sheathing board range. This
includes products, such as Cemboard, with its
excellent acoustic properties and the BBA
certified A1 non-combustible certified Y-wall.
Dafa’s airtightness products, as well as RCM’s
façade offerings, told of an equal success story.
Since 2004, RCM has steadily increased its
turnover and in 2016 managed to achieve sales
in excess of £12m. 2016 also saw the company
undertaking a successful array of interesting
and high-status projects, ranging from the huge
Rathbone Market project to more recently the
new Holiday Inn Express in Birmingham, where
RCM supplied the façades, providing the hotel
with its unique appearance.
The exclusive distributor appointment of RCM by
Extremegreen for its MgO board range, in the
UK and Eire, also took place in 2016. This was
followed by another coup for RCM with the
signing of access to Swiss Pearl products for
distribution in England, Wales and Scotland.
RCM is proud to have been supported by a
dedicated, knowledgeable and loyal team.
“RCM have grown at a steady pace since 2004.
We are very proud to have achieved such great
results in what is just a little over 13 years.
Since 2014 we have witnessed a steep increase
in sales for RCM with 2016 sales figures being
the best yet.
RCM is very fortunate to have a great product
portfolio, great customer relationships and a
great team working to the best of their abilities.
The results speak for themselves.” (Ian
Quinton, Managing Director, RCM Ltd)
Investment in infrastructure to accommodate
the ever expanding team, acquisition of
additional cutting machinery, as well as
obtaining testing and fire-rated certifications for
its expanding range of products are just a few of
RCM’s commitments for 2017 and beyond.
Looking to the future, RCM hopes to continue its
successful journey by satisfying and exceeding
all its customers’ expectations.
CPD Seminars
For those interested in finding out more,
RCM provides informative CPD sessions
including a guide to materials,
applications and specification
considerations for building boards,
internal and external linings and
rainscreen façades, covering:
• What a specifier needs to consider
• Board materials and benefits
• Board applications
• Work on site
For more details call 0800 612 4662 or
email info@rcmltd.biz
www.buildingboards.co.uk
ENCOURAGING HOME-GROWN TALENT VITAL IN
POST-BREXIT BRITAIN
Theresa May has officially triggered Article 50, signalling the start of the official process to leave the EU.
The UK will have two years to negotiate a comprehensive exit agreement with
the EU which will, among other things, regulate the UK’s access to the single
market. The UK will officially leave the EU on 29 March 2019, regardless of
whether an exit deal has been agreed or not.
The National Federation of Builders (NFB) believes that securing an inclusive exit deal
with the EU is fundamental to a prosperous future for the UK’s construction industry.
With 35,000 new workers needed each year to cope with current demand, and just
20,000 apprenticeships started in 2015, the industry faces a shortage of skilled
workers that needs to be addressed.
The Government should work towards an exit deal that helps the industry encourage
more British people to undertake construction careers, whilst also adopting a flexible
visa regime for construction workers once Britain has left the EU.
Richard Beresford, chief executive of the NFB, said: “The construction industry is
undergoing a major skills crisis and remains heavily reliant on skilled workers from
the EU, who make almost 10% of all construction workers in the UK. That is why we
need to foster home-grown talent and attract more people from all backgrounds to
join a career in construction.”
April 2017 M4 17

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation
First class cladding
Cladding acts as an essential element of a build, but is noticed by its end users primarily for its looks! We look at three education
sector projects where careful selection of cladding has given them an outstanding appeal.
Glasgow’s Cadder Primary School has
specified VIVIX® by Formica Group
(www.formica.com) for a commissioned
façade renovation project, helping frame a
backdrop to the school’s playground.
With reports showing that 91% of school
teachers in the UK believe better designed
schools correlate with better grades and pupil
behaviour, for the architects, creating a visually
stimulating entrance and environment for the
school was a priority.
Vertical panels in five complementary shades
created a façade that was modern, quirky and
striking for the front of the school building.
Ocean Grey and Baikal were specified
alongside the blue and green tones of Maui,
Terril and Tornado as accent colours.
The façade not only created an inspiring multicoloured
aesthetic for the pupils and teachers,
but with the sustainable panels being
reversible they also help reduce maintenance
and upkeep costs making them suitable for
school budgets. With the recent RIBA Better
Space for Learning report stating “good design
is about creating cost-effective environments
that help enhance teacher-and-pupilwellbeing,
while limiting future running and
maintenance costs,” the properties and cost of
VIVIX panels proved to be ideal for the project.
According to the RIBA report, “upwards of
£150m is being wasted on the running and
maintenance of these buildings each year”
which stems from “substandard” schools that
have neglected the impact architectural design
can have on its students.
The cladding was placed on top of an existing
brick façade, so it was vital to have ease of
application. And as installation of the
rainscreen cladding was taking place on both
The façade not only created
an inspiring multi-coloured
aesthetic for the pupils and
teachers, but with the
sustainable panels being
reversible they also help
reduce maintenance and
upkeep costs making them
suitable for school budgets
18 MMC
April 2017 M4
the entrance and the back of the building, a
robust, sustainable and impact resistant
product was necessary to provide a framework
to the relating high traffic areas.
By taking simple steps towards enhancing the
school’s exterior façade, the Cadder Primary
School building now offers a location to inspire
its young minds, boost teacher and pupil
productivity, and reduce conservation
expenditure for the local council.
Due to its success and strong reputation, the
Management School at the University of
Liverpool is attracting increasing numbers of
students and has increased its capacity to
allow additional students to attend.
Architects Austin-Smith:Lord
(www.austinsmithlord.com) developed a design
to achieve this through reorganising and
extending the existing facilities.
The new design aims to embrace modern
methods of teaching in a state of the art facility
that encourages collaborative and social
learning. The accommodation also includes a
case pit for debate and discussion and a
trading floor.
“The University of Liverpool has a distinguished
architectural history,” explained lead architect,
Adam Sunderland of Austin-Smith:Lord. “The
best buildings on the campus are confident
expressions of their age. The pieces form a
coherent whole by respecting the context. The
vision for the new extension as the third
component in the evolution of the Management
School is to modernise, raise the profile and
rebrand to meet market expectations.”
The new extension, which is a highly
sustainable, BREEAM Very Good building, is set
back from the street, behind a formal
landscaped zone, consistent with the character
of the campus. A green wall has been
incorporated into the south west corner of the
building at ground floor level to create a south
facing courtyard.
The pavilion extension is linked by a double
height glass box to the existing building. The
scale and proportions of the cladding module
pick up on the grain and verticality of the
existing building. The cladding, Kingspan
Benchmark (www.kingspanbenchmark.com), a
rain screen panel system in anodised
aluminium, is subdivided vertically into floor
zones and accommodation zones. Joints are
staggered between the zones and windows are
placed as required in the accommodation zone.
Kingspan Benchmark adds to the design
attraction of the Management School at the
University of Liverpool
Larger volumes such as the atrium are
expressed by spanning windows across two
accommodation zones and the floor zone, which
in these areas is set back from the glazing.
This structured and flexible approach enables
the fenestration pattern to be determined by
the needs of the spaces animating the simple
pavilion form.
EQUITONE [natura] fibre cement materials
from Marley Eternit (www.marleyeternit.co.uk)
have transformed Burton and South Derbyshire
University Technical College as part of a
remodel, refurbishment and new built
extension project, bringing an influx of students
into the city and placing the UTC at the forefront
of teaching for Systems and Production
Engineering and Health Science.
The £8.6m development, built by BAM
Construct and designed by Bond Bryan
Architects, has renovated the interiors of the
original listed building as well as constructing a
contemporary, modern extension to the side of
the property. The existing building and new
extension, creates 5,400m2 of inspiring
learning and workspace for UTC students and
staff alike.
EQUITONE is an external cladding material that
is constructed of smooth, tactile fibre cement. It
is a through coloured façade material, creating
minimal maintenance combined with a sleek
style. The renovation and construction of the
UTC took just under one year, opening to
students in September 2016.
Reflecting the texture and brick formation of
the original property perfectly, the architects
chose the cladding to add a clean and
contemporary feel to the renovation, with the
red hues changing in shade dependent upon the
sunlight shining upon it, marrying modern and
traditional aesthetics together.

QVIVIX ® by Formica Group brightens
Cadder Primary School in Glasgow
EQUITONE [natura] from Marley Eternit
has helped to transform Burton and
South Derbyshire UTC
MMC
April 2017 M4 19

In My Opinion
A new social norm?
The UK’s shortage of affordable housing is a growing issue, and one that is
exacerbated by a diminishing labour force, which looks potentially challenging post-
Brexit. Chris Slezakowski, Innovation Director at SIG Plc, looks at the ways in which
MMC, and particularly offsite construction, can help to provide the social housing
boost that the country needs.
Chris Slezakowski,
Innovation Director at SIG Plc
The fact that there isn’t enough affordable
or social housing to go around shouldn’t
come as a surprise. We’ve all heard
about families stuck on waiting lists for a
home, or young adults who still live with their
parents because they can’t afford to take that
first step on to the property ladder.
This is something that’s been recognised by the
Government, with the recent release of its
Housing White Paper: Fixing Our Broken
Housing Market, looking to address some of
the key issues, and suggest the methods by
which the UK can build more homes more
quickly. This is especially pressing given that
the Government also put a target in place to
create one million new homes by 2020, a figure
that the nation is currently falling short of.
The intentions of the White Paper are laid out
in its foreword, provided by the Prime Minister,
who states that the UK needs to increase its
efforts in “doing more to prevent homelessness
and to help households currently priced out of
the market.”
Later in the paper it is also stated that
“Housing Associations have a vital role to play
if we are to build the homes we need. They
already build the vast majority of new
affordable homes, in addition to increasing
numbers of homes for market rent and sale.”
Of course, all of this is well intentioned, but
how does the construction industry actually
achieve it?
Alongside talk of a greater use of public
brownfield land for housing and a simplified
planning system, the White Paper discusses
the use of alternative approaches to
housebuilding, including offsite construction.
amounts of time and finances needed for these
companies to get up to the standards provided
by specialists.
Instead, offsite construction should be seen
more as a supplementary method, working
alongside traditional methods to build homes
faster than ever, while also providing some
unique design opportunities.
For instance, SIG Offsite was recently involved
in the PLACE/Ladywell project, based in
Lewisham, South East London. Working with
Lewisham Council and architecture firm
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, SIG Offsite
was tasked with creating a moveable housing
development, which would meet urgent
demand to be met in the area while more
permanent solutions were put in place.
Once additional homes are created, the
development can then be moved to another
area where it is needed, and the process can be
repeated.
PLACE/Ladywell provides high quality
accommodation for 24 social rent families in its
upper floors, while the ground floor offers
additional space for commercial and
community use, feature an indoor market, film
screening room and café. Far from being a
flimsy temporary structure, the development’s
units were created under factory conditions to
offer high levels of air tightness as well as
thermal and acoustic insulation, helping to
reduce energy bills and maximise comfort for
residents.
As this project shows, offsite construction has
its place, whether it’s meeting an unusual
challenge or working alongside traditional
methods to provide wall, floor or roof units in
order to reduce build times.
By taking this approach, and combining the
best of traditional and modern methods of
construction, the target of creating one million
new homes by 2020 looks slightly more
achievable, and in turn so does reducing the
amount of families in need of social housing.
www.sigplc.com
The PLACE/Ladywell development shows
the flexibility offered by offsite construction
As a reasonably well-established construction
method, offsite/modular building’s benefits are
already recognised, with the White Paper
stating “Industry reports suggest homes
constructed offsite can be built up to 30% more
quickly than traditional methods, and with a
potential 25% reduction in costs. They are high
quality, reliable, more productive and can be
highly energy efficient.”
Faster, cheaper, high quality, energy efficient,
offsite construction seems to be the route to
take, but this isn’t the time for every contractor
to turn their backs on traditional methods and
jump headlong into modular building. That’s
because it would simply be too much of a
change to happen overnight, with substantial
20 MMC
April 2017 M4

Brexit to Re-shape House
Building Industry
Of all the potential shocks to the UK economy that loomed in the aftermath of Britain’s June 23 vote to leave the EU, few seemed as
dramatic as the impact on the housing market. Eight months on, Prime Minister Theresa May is to officially notify the European
Union that the UK is leaving and with its prospect of choking off the supply of EU workers, Britain's home-building industry is
reshaping, with big companies increasingly looking to factory-manufacture houses.
Steve Hardy, JMD of offsite specialists
Sidey tells us that offsite construction is
absolutely the way forward in delivering
cost effective, long term thermally efficient, and
quick to deliver dwellings for future
generations with minimal labour required.
“It has been well documented by the Scottish
Government and the SFHA (Scottish Federation
of Housing Associations) that Scotland
desperately needs more affordable homes in
order to solve its current housing crisis, and
although there has been a commitment to
delivering at least 50,000 new affordable homes,
backed by more than £3 billion, over the lifetime
of this parliament, there are other factors
impacting on the sector’s ability to deliver
increased numbers of affordable housing. The
key issues include economic uncertainty
surrounding Brexit, planning availability of
affordable land and access to skilled workers.
Offsite Construction is the solution
“The solution to some of these problems has to
lie in the growth of offsite construction. Costs
are now no more than when building through
standard construction methods, but the two
huge pluses are the delivery of better buildings
by design, and delivery on time”.
“There is a growing lobby of government
agencies, procurement organisations, and
individual housing associations all reviewing
whether they should directly invest into, or
partner with offsite manufacturing factories;
they are recognising that the housing crisis
which the country faces is being exacerbated by
a basic failure in the construction sector – an
inability to deliver on time”.
“Offsite is well and truly proven as a
construction option and it is the way forward for
the Housing Association sector wanting to build
better quality homes; cost effectively, and most
importantly sure to be delivered on time”.
Offsite construction automatically brings a
collaborative approach to the supply chain
“One of the great benefits to a company such as
Sidey, is the opportunity for us to get involved at
the design team stage, to work collaboratively
with the architects, the constructors, and the
clients themselves; to understand exactly what
they want, and to offer them bespoke solutions,
and to ensure that our element of the build –
enhanced specification windows and doors that
are manufactured in-house, air-tightness and
offsite installation solutions- compliments the
whole of the rest of the construction”.
There is capacity in the offsite market to fill the
growing demand in a controlled and health and
safety conscious way, and at the same time to
offer the best products on the market to give
them a long term return on their investment and
further reduce waiting lists of thousands waiting
on affordable housing”.
www.sidey.co.uk
“One of the great benefits to a
company such as Sidey, is the
opportunityto get involved at
the design team stage, to
work collaboratively with the
architects, the constructors,
and the clients themselves.”
22 MMC
April 2017 M4

Caledonian checks in £70m
new business wins
Newark-based Caledonian continues to build on its recent successes with £70m worth of new orders.
The £50m order to supply worker accommodation to Hinkley Point C is
the largest hotel development in Europe since Disneyland Paris.
The latest new contract announcement is a
£50m order to supply construction
worker hotel-type accommodation units
for the new Hinckley Point C nuclear plant. The
contract guarantees Caledonian 15 months’
work designing and constructing the
accommodation for 1,500 workers building the
UK’s first nuclear power station in 20 years.
Caledonian held an event recently at its 40 acre
manufacturing site in Newark to mark the first
of the worker accommodation modules leaving
the production line.
Each unit is supplied 96% complete, including
tiling, wall and floor finishes and internal M&E,
ready for rapid commissioning on site. This also
minimises the impact that constructing the
campus locally may have on the community. In
addition, all external cladding will be applied
during the manufacturing process enabling
each 34 bedroom block to be quickly completed
once delivered to site. The accommodation is
equivalent to a three-star rated hotel, which
makes this contract the largest hotel
development in Europe since Disneyland Paris.
The offsite construction of the campus
accommodation is managed by Caledonian in
partnership with Laing O’Rourke.
In what is a succession of major new business
wins for Caledonian, the company is close to
completion of a £13m new school dormitory for
ACS Cobham, a prestigious International school
based in the UK, where Caledonian are acting as
Principal Contractor. Other new contract wins
include a £2.5m project to deliver a new Sports
Complex for Ashville College in Harrogate.
Caledonian will act as full turnkey contractor,
including manufacture, delivery and installation
of the new building as well as demolition and
ground-works. Various other new business wins
and imminent orders take the total to over £70
million.
Continued success at Caledonian is part of a
strategic aim of re-establishing the company’s
position as the leading manufacturer of
permanent volumetric offsite buildings in a fastchanging
construction environment.
Paul Lang, Chief Executive Officer at Caledonian,
said: “With a strong management team,
financial stability and a clear business plan for
long term sustainable growth we are perfectly
positioned to capitalise on an increasing
awareness of, and reliance on, offsite
construction techniques.”
As well as new contract wins, Caledonian is
aiming to further bolster its order book by
securing work from a number of strategic
Frameworks that have been created primarily to
serve the Public Sector. These include the LHC
Modular Framework, the Southern Modular
Framework and more recently inclusion on the
NHS Framework.
Moving forward the business will primarily focus
its operations on three key market segments;
Residential, Education and the Defence Sector
and has plans to grow revenues to over £100m
over the next 3 years.
Over the last eighteen months, the business has
gone through a sizeable restructure and Chief
Executive Officer Paul Lang comments: “We had
to strengthen the team in a number of key areas
and we’ve brought in some high calibre
Caledonian have been appointed as full turnkey
contractor on a £2.5m project to deliver a new
Sports Complex for Ashville College in Harrogate.
individuals from across the construction and
offsite sectors.”
The company will be doubling the size of its
workforce over the next few months as it
continues to win new orders. All new recruits are
put through an intensive training programme at
the company’s manufacturing site in order to
ensure they have the necessary skills to
maintain Caledonian’s reputation for high quality
offsite building solutions. Caledonian is able to
act as Principal Contractor/Lead Designer, or as
a specialist Subcontractor on a wide range of
projects, giving it the ability to deliver both large
and small projects from conception through to
handover.
For more information on Caledonian, or to find
out about a career at the company,
visit: www.CaledonianModular.com
or call: 01636 821645
MMC
April 2017 M4 23

Bristol's only speculative office
building gets rare BREEAM ‘Outstanding'
Aurora at Finzels Reach, Bristol, is the only office building in the UK outside London to achieve the rating.
CGI of Aurora at night
Aurora, Bristol's only speculative office
building, has scooped a rare BREEAM
‘Outstanding' accreditation - an
indicator of its excellent sustainability
credentials.
The 95,000 sq ft building is part of Finzels
Reach, the new quarter being created in the
heart of Bristol by Bristol based developer
Cubex.
The scheme achieved a BREEAM
‘Outstanding' design stage certificate under
the BREEAM New Construction 2014 for
Offices assessment category.
It is the only office building outside of London
and one of only six in the UK to have achieved
this accreditation.
Gavin Bridge, director at Cubex, said: "It is
fantastic news that Aurora has been
recognised with this rare award for its
outstanding environmental credentials.
"Not only is Aurora the only speculative office
building in Bristol, where the availability of
Grade A space is at a historic low, but it has
now set a benchmark for sustainable office
development in the city.
"Sustainability has played a key role in the
design of Aurora from the outset, with key
features including rooftop mounted solar
panels, intelligent LED lighting, water saving
technology and an important emphasis on
creating a healthy environment within which
to work.
"Future occupiers of the building will also
benefit from a roof terrace garden with views
across the city, as well as bicycle storage
facilities, lockers and showers on site."
Other energy efficiency measures include a
heat recovery system, which reuses waste heat
and continually supplies fresh air to workers,
whilst the solar panels will generate 29,800
kWh per year of renewable energy.
A sophisticated building management system
will ensure the office environment is
comfortable for occupiers and the intelligent
LED lighting will respond to daylight and the
movement of people within the building
automatically.
Aurora will be a landmark headquarters
building in Bristol's central business district of
Grade A quality, a term used to describe brand
new premier office space.
Gavin Bridge added: "We are confident that we
will have a lot of interest in Aurora from
organisations across the city and from further
afield. It also presents a fantastic opportunity
for companies working on the Hinkley Point C
development to be able to take space right next
door to EDF, which has its headquarters for the
project at the neighbouring Bridgewater
House."
Carbon Consult Limited has worked alongside
the Aurora team as BREEAM assessor and
accredited professional from early design
stages to ensure sustainable aspects of Aurora
were maximised and to achieve the BREEAM
rating.
Aurora will consist of six storeys, with each
floor measuring 15,500 sq ft. Its striking façade
and double height reception area will lead
through to a central glass atrium which will
extend to the full height of the building.
There will also be 51 secure car parking
spaces, electric car charging points and secure
motorcycle and bicycle storage. Cubex expects
the building to be ready for fit out by the end of
this year.
Finzels Reach
Finzels Reach is one of the largest mixed
use developments in the South West and
once complete will include 440 new
apartments, two Grade A office buildings,
a 168 bedroom Premier Inn which is due to
open in 2017, plus a host of cafes,
restaurants and a microbrewery.
The 4.7 acre site has a rich history. Once
the heart of the medieval city, later it
became a sugar refinery and more
recently the site of the Courage Brewery
until 1991.
The vibrant vision of mixed-use space is
that of Cubex, the Bristol-based company
that took on the site four years ago, with
investment from London-based Palmer
Capital, after a previous attempt to
regenerate the site had fallen into
receivership. The project combines the
sensitive restoration of some of the
existing and historic buildings, including
the Grade 11 listed Generator Building,
with high quality new buildings.
24 MMC
April 2017 M4

CGI of how Aurora's roof garden will look
MMC
April 2017 M4 25

MTX deliver a modular Endoscopy Unit
to George Eliot Hospital
MTX worked closely with the
Trust team and ensured that
the whole project adhered to
and was consulted through
JAG. This ensures the quality
and safety of patient care by
defining and maintaining the
standards by which
Endoscopy is practised
In May 2016 MTX were appointed as the main contractor for a modular Endoscopy project at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton,
working directly for the NHS Trust.
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust had
scope to relocate their existing
Endoscopy Department to a completely
new building, in order to provide more
Endoscopy facilities and create a larger
patient intake.
The Trust had already distinguished an area in
which the new facility could be constructed;
situated within an existing court yard with
existing building adjacent to all four sides. This
area of redundant space was identified where a
previously demolished theatre block had once
stood. This space had the advantage of easy
access to the hospital’s car park, which was
directly opposite, in addition to being in close
proximity to the main hospital building,
therefore providing excellent and efficient
routes to the other departments.
The MTX Team produced a design for a single
storey modular building to provide the Trust
with Endoscopy Treatment Rooms,
Bronchoscopy Treatment Rooms,
Decontamination Clean and Dirty facilities,
male and female 1st stage recovery, male and
female 2nd stage recovery, dedicated male and
female consenting patient prep changing
areas, consultation rooms and staff areas. A
spacious reception was also provided to create
a modern welcome area for patients.
The building was made up of 21 modules and
provided 1,000m² of column-less space.
Although created as a single storey, there was
potential for an additional storey to be
constructed in the future to allow for any
possible expansion needs. Sustainable and
renewable technologies were used throughout
including smart technology LED lighting.
Repeatable Room designs were also utilised
throughout and clever colour coding was used
to identify male and female only zones.
The Endoscopy and Bronchoscopy suites were
designed and validated in accordance with
design requirements and associated guidance
documents specifically in relation to HTM 03-01
Part A, and HB 04-01 Supplement 1. In addition
to this, the design and installation of bespoke
supplementary external housing facility for the
new Entonox manifold plant, allowed for
medical gases installation for specialised
treatment facilities.
MTX instructed our architectural partners to
create a contemporary and minimalist interior,
which they achieved to an impeccable
standard. The finish was extremely clean and
minimal and presented a relaxed environment
for patients.
Due to the nature of the works that were to
take place within the new facility, the area
walls had to meet Hygiene standards. In order
to attain this requirement the hygienic area
walls were constructed with a pre-finished
steel product, specifically formulated to help
maintain a clean and safe environment. In
addition to this, MTX controlled a well
organised and safe execution of the crane lift in
order to position main external air handling
plant and associated equipment.
MTX worked closely with the Trust team and
ensured that the whole project adhered to and
was consulted through JAG. (Joint Advisory
Group on GI Endoscopy). This ensures the
quality and safety of patient care by defining
and maintaining the standards by which
Endoscopy is practised. The new facility will aid
the Trust in their continuous support for JAG
and maintain their accreditation which was
awarded in January. In addition to this, the
installation and completion of the new building
is another breakthrough for the Trust and their
Endoscopy services as it was recognised by the
Royal College of Physicians earlier this year.
MTX successfully came up with a solution to
pacify George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust’s
Endoscopy requirements by providing state of
the art, quality facilities constructed using
modern methods of construction. The bespoke
modular building has a design life of up to 60
years and is highly customisable with the
unlimited option for future extensions. For
more information, please call 0845 130 9639 or
visit our website.
www.mtxcontracts.co.uk
26 MMC
April 2017 M4

The Client’s professional team compromised of IDP Architects, Stewart
Associates Consultant Building Services Engineers, Holbrow Brookes LLP
Quantity Surveyors and RPS Planning and Development Advisors.
MMC
27

Energy-efficient façade for new
care complex
A new care complex offering a range of options for the elderly, features a Parex External Wall Insulation (EWI) system to provide
energy efficiency, clean lines and a distinctive combination of colours.
The new Vida Grange development at
Pannal, Harrogate, North Yorkshire,
provides facilities for up to 124 residents
and is divided into eight self-contained
“houses”.
Each home is self-contained with all bedrooms
having private en-suite bathrooms, with
communal areas, including indoor courtyards
and outdoor sensory gardens.
Built on stepped single, two and three-storey
levels, the development is a design & build
project by Leeds-based GMI Construction Group
PLC, with the whole project completed in little
over a year.
The Parextherm Acrylic EWI system was
selected following a cost engineering exercise
using a combination of pastel colours to provide
a visually pleasing external façade with clean,
modern lines.
“The Parextherm Acrylic EWI
system was selected following
a cost engineering exercise
using a combination of pastel
colours to provide a visually
pleasing external façade”.
Based on a structural steel frame system, the
building features 12mm RCM Y-Wall render
board which was mechanically fixed to the steel
frame. The building then received 200 mm
Rockwool Dual Density insulation slabs that are
both mechanically fixed and bonded to the
render board using Maite adhesive. The
insulation then received a base coat of Maite
embedded with Parex 355 AVU Mesh for added
reinforcement.
Two West Yorkshire based applicators ACR
Plastering, of Wakefield and Sprayrender, of
Bradford, worked in partnership and applied
Parex DPR Primer prior to hand-applying a top
coat of Parex DPR Sand Coarse acrylic render in
four shades of Green, complemented with
Anthracite Grey and Natural White. The
combination of the greens, in particular,
complementing the garden roofs that are
featured throughout the project.
The completed building has approximately 1,000
m 2 of externally insulated and rendered
elevations.
Built on a former manufacturing site amidst
high specification external landscaping, Vida
Grange is the latest home operated by the Vida
group which specialises in centres of excellence
providing quality care for dementia in the UK.
www.parex.co.uk
28 MMC
April 2017 M4

Changing the perception of
buildings and construction
m odular
MTX are a leading Healthcare construction and engineering
company in the UK, offering a unique alternative to a
traditional construction solution.
MTX deliver a fast, quality service with guaranteed cost and programme certainty.
Building uses include, but are not limited to:
• Operating Theatres
• Diagnostics
• Clean Rooms
• Ward Accommodation
• Mental Health
• Data Centres
• Mortuaries
• Out Patients
• Plant Room
s
For more information contact us on:
0845 130 9639 www.mtx.co.uk
@mtxcontracts

Health & Care Homes
Velindre Hospital Free Up Ward Space –
By Building An Office
The pressure faced by the NHS is widely known. Shortages of nurses and of beds are often reported, but what isn’t as commonly
talked about is the simple lack of space needed to accommodate rising patient numbers.
Modular construction may not be the
miracle cure for all the problems facing
the NHS at present, but offsite building
methods can produce space quickly, and without
putting excess pressure on already stretched
hospital budgets. Offering a 50% reduction in
time and cost compared to traditional build
methods; modular wards, offices and surgeries
can provide relief to hospitals in need of more
room, with minimal time and cost output. Not
only does modular provide a faster and more
cost effective build method, but reduced time
on-site means less disruption to patients and
staff while construction is underway.
Wernick Buildings have worked with a number of
hospitals over the years, providing space
solutions from wards to new dialysis centres, but
Velindre Cancer Centre in South Wales had a
novel way of solving the problem; by building an
office block.
Velindre Cancer Centre is a vital service,
providing treatment and support to over 1.5
million people in South East Wales and beyond.
Much like many other hospitals, the Centre is
also incredibly busy, with over 5,000 referrals
and 50,000 new outpatients arriving every single
year. With demand for the service so high, space
is often at a premium – so Velindre decided to
move staff offices out of the building to free up
more room for patients.
“The centre had offices spread throughout the
building, some in locations that would be better
suited to patient care,” explained Mike Ellery,
Capital Development & Operations Manager. “We
wanted a new office block to consolidate our
administration staff in one location, in turn
allowing us to expand our patient care areas.”
The hospital chose to use modular construction
for the new office block because of the time of
year construction would take place. With the new
building starting life as modules in a controlled
factory environment, offsite construction could
promise a delay free build schedule that
traditional build methods couldn’t provide.
“We wanted the building in place early in the
year,” commented Mike. “We knew that
traditional construction would be more at risk of
delays through the winter, whereas a modular
building gave us a better guarantee on
deliverables.”
Aware of Wernick Buildings’ reputation as a
provider of high quality modular buildings, the
hospital contacted them. The building was
manufactured in just 6 weeks in Wernick
Buildings’ specialist factory, only 25 miles down
the road from the hospital. While the office was
being constructed in the factory, work could start
on-site could start at the very same time. As the
office block was being built, Wernick over-saw
the demolition of an old office block on the site,
and began the ground works for the new
building.
While the building process was swift and easy,
the installation proved a little more challenging.
Contracts Manager Ben Hitchcock told us; “The
proposed site was located between protected
buildings and a protected tree. The lift also
required a 250 tonne crane which presented a
challenge in itself; it took us an hour just to get it
on site.”
But space wasn’t the only challenge Ben and his
team faced; as the offices were being installed,
some local residents were unhappy with the
initial appearance of the building.
Ben explained; “when a building is going to be
overclad, we construct the external walls of the
units using colour-coated steel that may
otherwise go to waste, regardless of colour.
This can lead to some strange looking
buildings, and I had to speak to a number of
concerned locals when they saw the multicoloured
units being installed. I was happy to
put their fears to rest.”
Once the units were installed, it wasn’t long
before the external finish of white render with
cedar cladding features, was complete. Despite
being the product of modular construction, the
building looks no different, internally or
externally, from a traditionally built office
block.
The building also features external lighting and
security systems, vital for the out of hours
working often conducted in the building.
Internally the building features conference
rooms, open plan office space, disabled access
lift, toilet facilities and an ADT alarm system.
Such are the benefits of the offsite method;
hospitals can receive a high quality new ward
or office facility with the same appearance and
facilities as a traditional building, but faster,
and at a reduced cost.
Mike Ellery seemed pleased with the finished
product. He commented; “Staff are very happy
with the new building, it’s spacious, open and
bright. The on-site team were also excellent at
communicating with us and local residents to
ensure the finished building was to everyone’s
satisfaction.”
www.wernick.co.uk
30 MMC
April 2017 M4

Gloucester care home sparkles with new
Gerflor flooring
MODULAR SHOWERING SOLUTIONS
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Run by Gloucestershire County Council, Great Western Court Care Home
in the centre of historic Gloucester provides personal care to thirty
people.
In a recent refurbishment, the care home would need 300m2 of flooring
for seventeen of their resident’s bedrooms. Achieving stunning looks
coupled to high levels of safety performance would be the challenge. A
challenge well-met by the appointed installer who specified Gerflor’s
Taralay Impression Control safety flooring.
In 2016, Gerflor won the coveted CFJ/CFA product of the year category
with their Taralay Impression Control range. This safety flooring
collection is perfect for refurbishments and new builds. A multi-purpose
floorcovering available in 2m sheet format with a Group T wear rating,
it’s ideal for a host of heavy traffic environments where slip resistance is
a must.
www.gerflor.co.uk
TAPLANES
R
S H O W E R I N G S O L U T I O N S
Stargard
The original“Warm to the
touch” handrail
4mm thick (4,000 microns) PVC
over galvanised
tubular steel
www.handrailsuk.co.uk/ stargard
Email: sales@sgsystems.
co.uk
Tel:
01473
240055
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- warm to the touc ch handrail
S targard
Il l umine - LED illuminate d handrai l
ntinel - stainless steel bal ustrad
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MMC
April 2017 M4 31

NEW GUIDANCE ON WASHROOM LEGALITIES
AND GOOD PRACTICE
By law (Equality Act 2010), venues need to make anticipatory ‘reasonable adjustments’ to the built environment to prevent disabled
people being put at a ‘substantial’ disadvantage- that includes suitable toilets!
To help all involved in the decision-making process get it right, Closo-Mat-
Britain’s leading provider of toilet solutions to restore
dignity to people who need help to ‘go to the loo’- has produced a
new white paper. ‘Accessible Toilets, Washrooms & Bathrooms- The
Provisions Beyond Building Regulations Approved Document M’ explains
why Approved Document M type toilets do NOT meet the needs of up to
14million people*, and outlines the relevant British Standards and
guidelines for compliance
‘There is an assumption that a Document M type wheelchair accessible
toilet ‘does the job’,” says Robin Tuffley, Clos-o-Mat marketing manager.
“But for up to 14million people, who need more space, and/or more
equipment, it doesn’t. It therefore precludes their ability to access the
venue. So by not accommodating their needs, you are shutting the door on
20% of the UK population, who spend £86billion a year at least. Can you
afford to do that, especially when all that is needed to open the door to
them is a minimum 7.5m2 (including a standard unisex wheelchairaccessible
toilet), an adult-sized changing bench, and a hoist? Our white
paper simplifies the legal and ‘best practice’ considerations, in one useful
reference tool.”
The new white paper is available free of charge for download from Clos-o-
Mat’s website www.clos-o-mat.com. It is complimented by papers specific
to the various accessible washrooms- Changing Places, Space to Change,
hygiene rooms- and to industry sectors, plus technical support material
including CAD blocks, NBS specifications, dimension sheets and
installation data.
Clos-o-Mat, founded over 55 years ago and family-owned, is the leading
provider of toilet solutions for disabled people in Britain. It is unique in
manufacturing its products in the
UK, and in its ability to deliver, inhouse,
the complete package from
design advice through project
management, supply, install,
commissioning, to after-sales
service & maintenance. No other
major provider of ‘away from
home’ toilets with changing
facilities can deliver that full
gambit.
www.clos-o-mat.com
LNT GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION
LNT Care Developments has received planning permission to build a 66 bed care home on the site of the former Herne Bay
Golf Club in Herne Bay.
Canterbury City Council approved the planning application on 16th
March 2017 for the care home. The facility will provide residential
and dementia care for those aged over 65 years..
Construction is due to start in June 2017 with a predicted completion
date for May 2018. Once complete, the home will be a strong community
facility, integrating with the nearby local facilities of shops, churches and
schools. It will provide outstanding accommodation with fully en-suite
bedrooms, spacious communal areas, and state-of-the-art amenities
including a cinema, library, garden room and tea shop, all surrounded by
beautifully landscaped gardens.
The home is designed to best enable the delivery of quality care and
provide a positive lifestyle choice for local people who may be frail,
elderly or living with dementia.
Christine Cooper, Project Director at LNT Care Developments, said:
“We are delighted to be building such a fantastic care home for
Barchester Healthcare. It is also great news for Herne Bay creating 50
jobs in the local area and providing a high quality resource for elderly
people in the local community. The facility will incorporate intelligent
dementia design and be eco-friendly by benefitting from ground source
heat pumps, solar thermal panels and LED lighting keeping utility costs
low.”
Mark Bennett, Barchester’s Director of Property Services said:
“This site is a beautiful setting for a new Barchester care home and we
are very excited about the construction work starting in June. Barchester
is committed to the delivery of high quality, person-centred care services
in superior care environments and we hope that the new home will not
only be loved by future staff and residents, but that it will also become a
community hub at the heart of Herne Bay.”
32 MMC
April 2017 M4

Need more
patient space...
...without the headaches?
Wernick Buildings can deliver ward space of exceptional
quality with time and cost savings of up to 50%
compared to a traditional building.
Modular building solutions for healthcare
To find out more and view healthcare case studies go to:
www.wernick.co.uk/healthcare
0800 18 18 22

CAN YOU TRUST A CE MARK?
When the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) introduced the compulsory CE marking of all construction products back in 2013,
it should have meant that specifiers could be entirely confident that the performance of the marked products met the standards
expected. However, in the timber industry at least, there are occasions where this is not the case.
The legislation surrounding the
composition of the mark itself is
comprehensive and it also lays down
what supporting information will be supplied as
part of the CE marking process – including
confirmation of what characteristics the
product should exhibit.
So far, so good. However, the manufacture of
timber products can involve a two-phase
process by which the product – Plywood or OSB
for example – may be CE marked for its original
performance but then post-treated to perform
an additional function, such as flame retardancy.
This approach too often allows a product into
the market with the original CE mark showing
clearly, but not making clear that the finished
product – i.e. with the post-production
treatment – has not necessarily undergone the
rigorous checks in its finished state that would
have allowed the CE mark to be displayed.
There is no ambiguity in the legislation: David
Murray, Innovation Manager at MEDITE
SMARTPLY explains: “Products that have a CE
mark applied prior to treatment must have a
new Declaration of Performance (DoP) issued
after treatment to declare the improved reaction
to fire classification, but just as importantly to
declare that the structural properties of the
panel have not been reduced by the liquid
pressure treatment process. This must involve
sampling, testing and certification, all carried
out by an independent ‘Notified Body.’
“There are many companies who cut corners to
make their life easier or cut costs by ignoring
the law. Such behaviour is not only illegal, but
reckless, and can have very serious
consequences for the building owner.”
This is a serious consideration when it comes to
an issue as fundamental to human safety as
fire-retardancy and it is an issue that has been
recognised as a concern by Wood Protection
Association. Steve Young, Director at the Wood
Protection Association, outlines the problem:
“In recent years, many site-applied coatings
and post-treatment products have appeared in
the UK with DoP, CE Mark and CPR compliance
claims and application choices that make them
appear an attractive alternative to in-line FR
factory production processes.
“However, it is absolutely essential that fitness
for purpose is verified prior to the use of any
FR treatments purporting to offer extensive fire
protection performance. That’s because such
products are intended to be brush or sprayapplied
on a building site, or are superficially
applied with little or no factory control. Such
products cannot guarantee compliance with
the CPR.”
Reputable companies on the other hand invest
in the technology to eliminate this approach.
MEDITE SMARTPLY, for example, developed its
recently introduced SMARTPLY FR OSB/3 to
support the Health and Safety Executive and
Structural Timber Association’s move to create
a safer timber frame industry. It is one of the
few panel products in the flame-retardant
category that can be said to be truly CE
certified and CPR compliant.
“All OSB and MDF panels that MEDITE
SMARTPLY produce are CE certified, and our
new FR OSB/3 is no exception. We add a high
performance flame retardant called
Zeroignition® to the wood strands during
panel manufacture, which is a crucial
difference to other inferior post-treated panels
that are out there in the market. Our FR
addition process is independently audited and
certified by the Wood Protection Association,
and the final products are independently
sampled, tested and certified by a Notified
Body (Exova Warringtonfire). Therefore, every
panel that leaves our factory is CE marked for
both structural performance and flame
retardancy, and that is how we guarantee full
compliance with the CPR.
“We know that many other OSB and plywood
panels used in the industry are post-treated,
leading to visual and structural degradation
and invalidation of the CE mark, even though it
often remains visible. It’s this type of deception
within the industry that we want to eradicate,
and as an industry leader, that process starts
with setting the standard with our own
products.”
The net result of this type of discussion is the
conclusion that the display of a CE mark is not
enough, in isolation, to guarantee the correct
performance quality. For the specifier, this
means that the product specified is not only CE
marked, but that the supply chain is closely
examined in order to determine if there are any
stages that could invalidate the mark.
Post applications and additions of spray-on
products on site are just two examples of
potential damaging factors that will affect the
way the boards are said to behave pretreatment.
By choosing a product that can be
tracked right through the supply chain, from
sapling to site, you can be sure that your CE
mark remains valid and compliance will not be
challenged.
MEDITE SMARTPLY recommends that
specifiers protect themselves from possible
prosecution that can result from noncompliance
with the CPR by insisting on
receiving the following four critical documents
from potential suppliers in relation to the FR
wood panel:
1. Technical data sheet
2. Declaration of Performance (DoP)
3. Fire classification report
4. Certificate of Constancy of Performance with
CE mark
The CE mark represented a significant step
forward, but the conclusion to be drawn is that
a mark is never, in itself, sufficient evidence of
performance. Shortcuts can be dangerous and
it is still incumbent upon the specifier to be
sure that the manufacturer can live up to the
claims made by the display of the CE mark.
www.mdfosb.com
34 MMC
April 2017 M4

The CE mark represented a
significant step forward, but the
conclusion to be drawn is that a
mark is never, in itself, sufficient
evidence of performance.
Shortcuts can be dangerous and
it is still incumbent upon the
specifier to be sure that the
manufacturer can live up to the
claims made by the display of
the CE mark
MMC
April 2017 M4 35

JJI-Joists – the versatile answer for
floors, walls and roofs
Using I-Joists in place of solid timber joists for floor installations in domestic housing is now so commonplace as to be
unremarkable. A combination of light weight, resistance to bending and dimensional stability has made I-Joists a firm favourite
with builders across the UK. And first choice amongst the builders is the James Jones & Sons Ltd JJI-Joist, which is the UK market
leader with an estimated 40% market share.
Cassette Roof
Russwood head office
• UK Manufactured
• Market leader
• FSC and PEFC Certified
• BIM compatible
• Best resourced design and
engineering back up
What is less well known however is the
versatility of JJI-Joists in being used
for much more than just floor
systems. JJI-Joists are now commonly used as
wall studs where the range of depths available
and 9mm web make them ideal where thermal
efficiency and depth of insulation are
paramount. A lot of architects are turning to
JJI-Joists when designing to Passivhaus
standards for just these benefits.
JJi-Joists are also being increasingly used in
roof structures as well. James Jones & Sons
pioneered the Intelli-Roof concept over a
decade ago; where cassette panels, formed
using JJI-Joists and OSB sheets, are used to
create a fully insulated ‘room in a roof’. As the
cassettes are craned into place in sections, the
process of getting a watertight roof onto a
building is much, much faster than
conventional construction methods – the
record, using Intelli-Roof cassettes is seven
house roofs in one day on a site. Today the
cassette roof principle has been widely
adopted, and not just for houses. JJI-Joist
based cassettes are ideal where larger spans –
up to 12 metres - are required, such as schools
and leisure facilities.
JJI-Joists offer the largest range of standard
sizes on the UK market and come with full FSC
and PEFC certification. For those designers
and builders concerned about the carbon
footprint of their project, uniquely JJI-Joist
production has been independently audited to
PAS 2050 standards, meaning that James
Jones is able to advise the CO2E negative figure
embodied in the
JJIs for every
project. A typical
3 bed detached
house from a
mainstream
builder will store
around 400kg of
CO2E in the floor
system alone.
The high grade
solid timber
flanges and
OSB3 web mean that JJI-Joists are easy to
work with on site as you can nail and screw into
the flange and service holes are easily cut in
the web itself.
But it’s not just the versatility and ease of use
that make JJI-Joists so popular. The joists are
manufactured in the UK at the James Jones’
Forres plant. The plant has recently benefitted
from over £4.5 Million investment, including a
new high-speed finger-jointing line, resulting
in greater manufacturing capacity and
flexibility and the ability to meet the needs of
customers more efficiently. The JJI-Joist
design and engineering teams are also based
in Forres and, by working with the field based
technical sales team means that James Jones
& Sons is able to
offer the best
resourced support
in the market.
Image courtesy of
Touchwood Homes
The JJI-Joists
themselves are
sold through a
network of
distributors
across the UK, as
well as France
and Benelux, all of
whom have fully
trained staff and full access to the bespoke
James Jones Floormaster software which
means they can give architects, engineers and
builders an optimum design solution for any
project. The software is also fully BIM
compatible if required for larger buildings. To
help customers JamesJones has produced a
comprehensive technical manual which details
layouts, fixing details and installation guides.
www.jamesjones.co.uk/ewp
36 MMC
April 2017 M4

METSEC DELIVERS FRAMING SOLUTION FOR
THETFORD RIVERSIDE REDEVELOPMENT
Voestalpine Metsec plc has provided its Metframe pre-panelised steel-framing product for a new Travelodge hotel on the Thetford
Riverside Development in Norfolk. The use of modern methods of construction allowed efficiency savings to be made and ensured
the initial build phase of the project was completed within budget and to tight deadlines.
Thetford Travelodge is a 62-room hotel
and is part of a 41,000 sq ft
redevelopment of the riverside area in
Thetford, which will also see the construction of
a three-screen cinema and five restaurants.
Opened in Autumn 2016, the investment into
modern retail and leisure facilities represents a
key part of overall renovation plans for Thetford
town centre.
Work on the project began in June 2015 with
Metsec product installed onsite by approved
Metframe installer Vietchi Interiors in just eight
weeks between December 2015 and February
2016. The Metframe load bearing walls and
concrete floors formed the top three storeys of
the hotel building. The acoustic properties of the
hotel’s building structure were an important
factor in the design process to prevent sound
travelling between rooms and having a negative
impact on overall guest experience. The
concrete floors specified as part of the
Metframe design provided the high levels of
acoustic insulation required.
Metsec was engaged early on in the tender
process to help assess the foundation and
loading requirements of the building, establish a
38 MMC
April 2017 M4
value engineered plan and achieve any savings
possible.
The Metframe solution was selected due to the
structural efficiency of the system and
manufacturing the product offsite contributed
to a fast build, allowing that section of the
project to be completed to a tight schedule.
Value engineering the structure resulted in key
savings. For example, reduced weight allowed
the use of shallower foundations, which
reduced the amount of materials required and
the overall cost of the building. Metsec’s SFS
in-fill walling was also selected for use on the
adjacent cinema building.
Colin Kennedy, Managing Director at Vietchi
Interiors said “With the Metframe product we
were able to achieve exactly what the client
required on time and within budget despite
challenges presented by the winter weather
and a location where access was limited by
proximity to the river. Metframe was chosen for
this project due to the greater stability and fire
resistance of the system compared with
alternatives such as a timber-frame kit
construction.”
The pre-panelised Metframe system is a
lightweight steel structure designed to meet the
demands of the modern construction
environment. The cold rolled sections are
manufactured in precise lengths and the panels
are then assembled off-site.
Stairs and lift shafts are an integral part of the
Metframe system and are installed as each floor
is constructed. This removes the need to rely on
external scaffold for access to upper levels,
providing convenience and added speed to the
erection sequence.
Phillip Browne, Contracts Manager from
Farrans Construction concluded: “The Thetford
Riverside development required a high quality
solution that would meet the required acoustic,
fire and insulation u-Values. Metframe ticked all
these boxes and represented a solution that
could streamline the construction process while
maintaining high levels of build quality. The
build of the hotel went exactly as expected. It
was simple and straightforward, the panels
came straight off the delivery in the correct
sequence and were lifted into place.”
www.metsec.com

Actavo | Building Solutions is the partner of
choice for innovative, design-led, offsite
construction - delivering exceptional performance
every time…
We are leading experts in the provision of offsite
building solutions. With fast-track construction and
project management expertise, we offer a full
turnkey service, from initial planning and design
through to manufacture, delivery and completion.
Our highly-skilled team allows for the harnessing
of ideas and ensuring customer focus is maintained
at every stage of the build process.
Full Turnkey Solution | BIM Compliance | Flexible Approach to Design and Build |
Client-Led Bespoke Product Offering | Dedicated Project Team | Committed Customer Care Programme
Education Healthcare Defence Rail Corporate Construction Residential Utilities
www.actavo.com/buildings | Tel: 0330 1 025 544

Modular construction –
healthcare’s ideal match
As patient-led demand grows, healthcare environments are continually looking to adapt and expand their facilities quickly and
cost-effectively. The healthcare sector doesn’t have the time or resources to commission lengthy construction programmes and,
reflective of this, the NHS new construction framework has been created solely for the supply of modular buildings.
Matthew
Goff,
director of
UK operations at
Actavo | Building
Solutions – one of
the modular
building specialists
appointed to the
NHS new construction framework – explains
why the capabilities of offsite construction
weigh in favour of healthcare facilitators across
the UK.
Modular buildings are built in controlled,
energy-efficient environments
From initial works to completion, it takes up to
67% less energy to produce a modular building ,
compared with a traditionally-built project.
Whilst initial, onsite ground works are being
completed, modules – which make up a
modular building – are manufactured offsite, in
a controlled, factory environment.
Pre-fitted with electrics, plumbing, heating,
doors, windows and internal finishes before they
are taken to site, modular buildings are now
also installed with energy-efficient systems
such as PIR sensors, enhanced ‘U’ values and
solar panels. Not only is the offsite manufacture
greener, buildings are also designed to be
energy-efficient for their entire life cycle.
When you build offsite, you plan and construct
with meticulous precision. It takes strategic
thinking and rigorous co-ordination, but
modular construction allows for minimal
disruption to staff and patients which is
particularly key in the acute care environment.
Offsite construction also allows for a 90%
reduction of the total number of deliveries to
site as well as reducing up to 90% of waste
generated as the structure is recyclable.
Cost-effective and time-saving
NHS bed availability is at an all-time low, but
offsite building techniques are the NHS’s
construction dream. Modular buildings can be
delivered up to 50% quicker than traditional
methods, which affords healthcare
establishments a degree of certainty in meeting
their needs quickly and efficiently.
Although initial costs are comparable with
traditional construction, the whole-life
efficiencies weigh in favour of offsite. Easily
adaptable to any future, changing industry
needs and standards, 21st century medical
modular buildings are built to stand the test of
time.
There are also many cost savings associated
with modular build, stemming from a reduction
in project timeframes, leading to reductions in
overall construction costs.
Modular is built to the same standard as
traditional
Modular buildings can be designed and built to
meet the same medical standards as traditional
construction including Health Technical
Memoranda (HTM) and Health Building Notes
(HBN).
In a medical environment, a construction team
must remain vigilant in following strict infection
control protocols. By using controlled, modular
methods of construction, particular attention
can be afforded to reducing the spread of dust,
especially where immune-deficient patients are
being treated.
A new, fast-track procurement method
The NHS has announced a new, £750m, fouryear
construction framework. Promoting faster,
cheaper and greener building solutions, the new
framework has been awarded entirely to
specialist, modular construction contractors.
As well as keeping expenses to a minimum
through its fast-track modular construction
methods, medical offsite buildings – including
patient wards, theatres, A&E department and
cleanrooms and many more – can be designed,
built and delivered in weeks.
Actavo | Building Solutions was named the UK’s
fastest-growing modular buildings company in
2014, 2015 and 2016. Showcasing the true
benefits of offsite construction, Actavo delivers
cost-effective and high-quality solutions to the
healthcare sector, quickly and efficiently.
www.actavo.com/buildings
North Walsham
40 MMC
April 2017 M4

Whatever you ask of it, a JJI-Joist has the answer every time. No ifs. No buts. No matter how complex or awkward the job, we
have built the ultimate can-do joist. By manufacturing to the highest specification our I-Joists are light, strong, thermally efficient,
BIM compatible, FSC and PEFC certified and PAS 2050 accredited (to cut a long list short). But it’s also the back-up we offer that
no one can equal. Our expert team of designers, engineers and regional technical support is always there to say ‘yes we can’.
WEB: www.jamesjones.co.uk/ewp EMAIL: jji-joists@jamesjones.co.uk

Offsite Construction Methods:
The need for innovation is greater
than ever!
Dave Coldham, Specialised Products Divisional Manager of IKO Polymeric, explains the reasons behind moving towards offsite
solutions in the roofing industry.
Uncertainty in the national and global
political situation has had an
undeniable impact on the construction
sector’s confidence. Article 50 has now been
triggered; we are officially leaving the EU and
the questions surrounding skills shortages
remain a constant debate.
In anticipation of the problem getting worse
before it can get any better, innovative
construction products are being introduced to
the market. IKO Armourdek is the roofing
adaptation of these modern methods. With up
to 12 metre spanning capability, this composite
roofing panel can achieve installation rates of
up to 1000m2 per day while minimising the
number of skilled workers needed on-site.
Drivers for change
Nearly 8% of the 2.5 million construction
workers come from abroad, the majority being
from the EU. Experts say the actual number is
even higher. There is a risk for the UK
construction sector to lose almost 200,000
workers if the country pulls out of the single
market; leaving construction firms with no
choice but to look for alternative solutions to
meet the Government’s 2025 targets.
Innovative solutions
Significantly reducing the reliance on
subcontracted labour, off-site construction is
the only solution in place for the current skills
shortage, which is predicted to get worse.
IKO Polymeric’s offsite manufactured
composite roofing panel Armourdek offers a
solution that no other manufacturer in the
market can currently match. Benefiting from a
permanent and highly-skilled off-site
workforce, Armourdek is manufactured in a
controlled factory environment. It doesn’t
Armourdek Composite
Roofing Panel
42 MMC
April 2017 M4
require the level of on-site labour that a
traditionally built-up roofing system needs.
Dave Coldham, Specialised Products Divisional
Manager at IKO Polymeric, explains: “The
traditional built-up roof system would require a
deck/substrate to be installed, along with a
VCL, insulation boards and waterproofing layer.
All of these components are individually
installed and fixed on-site, which of course
requires a trained workforce. Armourdek
incorporates all the key elements of a roof
build-up together in one component. The
structural supports are incorporated within the
panel too; so for instance, purlins and joists are
not required, avoiding another on-site
installation.“
He goes on to explain what convinced IKO
Polymeric to invest in such a unique product:
“In the last few years, we have seen a strong
need for offsite construction methods in the
roofing industry. The lack of skilled
construction workers and Government’s
Construction 2025 Strategy left the contractors
with so many difficulties to deal with. Not only
did they have pressure from their clients to
deliver faster projects but were also
challenged to improve their thermal and
acoustic performance. Identifying the need for
a solution, we came up with the idea of
Armourdek. With its long spanning capabilities,
this composite roofing panel can reduce the
installation times by 50% and offers high
thermal and acoustic performance.”
According to a recent report, the UK needs to
cut down its carbon emissions by 80% - a third
of this is caused by heating poorly insulated
buildings - to achieve the low levels of
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Government wants to prioritise the energy
efficiency as a national infrastructure by
putting a ‘zero-carbon’ policy in place for
buildings as of 2020. Armourdek’s high thermal
performance ticks another box for the
specifiers who want to meet the new
parameters of the industry and work towards
the future’s energy-efficient, sustainable
buildings.
Further Benefits
Armourdek’s benefits are not limited to the
above. This pre-fabricated panel provides
improved quality control procedures within the
factory environment, minimising the
installation errors on-site. It also reduces the
risk of accidents that might occur as a result of
working at height and offers a safer
manufacturing environment.
Manufacturing in the factory also avoids the
negative effect of poor weather conditions,
especially in the winter months, leading to
project delays.
Armourdek also offers ‘zero-waste’ to landfill.
When the product is delivered to site, it is
complete and ready to install without
generating any waste. Unlike some traditional
roof build-ups, Armourdek deliveries all come
from a single-point source reducing the
number of vehicles, which contributes further
to CO2 reductions.
Most off-site manufactured products are
assumed to be more expensive; but there is
evidence to prove this wrong. An average
construction site only achieves around 30%
productivity, due to so much down time during
the process. Offsite factory manufacturing can
achieve around 80% productivity which cuts
down the manufacturing costs, as well as
providing shorter turnaround. With early
project engagement using Armourdek, it is also
possible to reduce the material costs, as fewer
support elements would be required in the
building frame.
Historically, innovation in the construction
sector has not been rapid, but going forward
the industry is pushing its borders with
innovative products like Armourdek. Adding
value to the construction process with fasttrack
installation, excellent thermal and
acoustic performance, reduced material costs
and CO2 emissions, improved site safety and
‘zero-waste’ to landfill; Armourdek ticks all
the boxes for the requirements of today’s
modern construction.
www.ikopolymeric.com

ROOFING TECHNOLOGY
MATCHES THE CORPORATE
PHILOSOPHY
A new concept in hotels focused on delivering a travel experience
that marries modern technology with affordability has extended
the promise to the roof.
Moxy Hotel, Aberdeen
Moxy Hotels is aiming to open 150 hotels in the next decade; the
first to be built in the UK - a seven-storey, 200 bedroomed- is
now under construction in Aberdeen. Specialist roofing
contractor for the project Procladd is reflecting the brand’s philosophy of
marrying modern technology with affordability, in the choice of roofing.
Project co-ordination is being managed by Robertson Construction.
Some 1200m2 of Protan SE 1.2mm single ply has been bespoke
manufactured in white, and prefabricated in made-to-measure lengths
and widths. Procladd simply mechanically fixes along the edges and
abutments to install the roof membrane.
“The client’s corporate style is white for the roofs, for solar reflectivity.
Procladd’s preferred solution was to use Protan, to deliver the
specification required, in the most cost-effective way,” explained
Procladd’s Stuart Tulloch. “Protan’s ability to prefabricate the sheet to
specific sizes- also a unique benefit- has further been an influencing
factor, as was the use of Protan’s Proplan software, which enabled
calculation of the most effective usage of the prefabricated material to
minimize wastage. Prefabrication reduces significantly the time taken to
construct the roof, and the number of laps needed, thus enhancing the
roof’s integrity once complete.”
Added Fraser Maitland of Protan UK, “Moxy is about delivering modern
technology at an affordable price. That combination of technology and
affordability is reflected right through to the use of innovative roofing
options.”
Protan’s prefabricated solution uses the company’s bespoke Proplan
software to calculate the most efficient usage of material to minimise
waste; the SE single ply membrane is then manufactured according to the
plan, and factory-welded in a controlled environment, optimising the
integrity and on-site performance of seams. On site, all the contractor has
to do is fix along the edges and abutments, and detail round penetrations
etc. Research has shown potential savings in labour and time of up to
70%. Yet the option is still cost-competitive with conventional rolls of
membrane.
Protan SE single ply membrane has been developed to withstand even the
harshest weather conditions found in Europe, and is proven to perform for
30 years. The company offers a full support service, from NBS
specification and in-house CAD design through to technical advice and
variable warranty depending on specification from its UK headquarters in
Warrington.
www.protan.com
MMC
April 2017 M4 43

CARBON NEGATIVE “FIRST” FOR ECODEK
British manufacturing company, Ecodek has achieved “carbon negative” status for the production of its composite decking system.
Ecodek is a wood polymer
composite made up of 55%
hardwood waste – mainly
sawdust and wood
shavings – and 40%
recycled high density
polyethylene – the material
that plastic milk bottles are
made from
Ecodek wood polymer composite decking achieve carbon negative status
Alife-cycle assessment programme, undertaken by the BioComposites Centre of Bangor University, considered production of the decking on a
cradle to factory gate basis, accounting for all significant materials, transport, energy use and packaging inputs
Results showed that production of Ecodek actually had a net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere rather than adding to it – hence
carbon negative - a huge achievement in modern manufacturing and one that clearly illustrates the company’s environmental credentials.
Ecodek’s Technical Director Alex Collins, explains: “Ecodek is a wood polymer composite made up of 55% hardwood waste – mainly sawdust and wood
shavings – and 40% recycled high density polyethylene – the material that plastic milk bottles are made from. These raw materials give Ecodek a 95%
recycled content and it is 100% recyclable, back into composite decking”
He continued, “Carbon negativity is defined as the reduction of an entity’s carbon footprint to less than neutral, so that the entity in question – in this case
Ecodek - has a net effect of removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere rather than adding to it. To achieve negativity
requires a much more aggressive approach than carbon
neutrality, which merely nullifies the effect that an entity has
on the environment”.
To get a clearer picture of what this means in the real world of
carbon emissions, an average tree locks up roughly 2 kgs of
CO2 per year [Forestry Commission]. The total quantity of
Ecodek produced in 2016 actually consumed 610.45 tonnes of
CO2. So a bit of simple arithmetic shows the Ecodek
manufacturing process does the same job as 300,000 trees,
every year!
The Ecodek system is widely used for the construction of
apartment balconies, commercial and domestic terraces and
a variety of applications where timber would otherwise be
used. Ecodek’s durability, strength and low maintenance
making it the preferred choice for these applications.
www.ecodek.co.uk
Ecodek at Monument. Image, Neil Kenyon. Arki Magazine)
44 MMC
April 2017 M4

NFRC launches strategy to support UK
roofing skills post Brexit
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) - the UK’s largest roofing trade association - has unveiled an ambitious
four-year Workforce Development Strategy that is designed to elevate standards and ignite growth across the roofing sector.
Seeking to attract full government and private sector backing, support and engagement, the new strategy will ultimately open
doors to new jobs, higher standards, and help reach UK Construction targets.
insisting upon roofing contractors with
accredited roofers is simply an essential
requirement.”
In attempting to uncover the barriers to
supporting growth in the roofing sector,
the Research project identified the
following eight issues:
specialist skills in roofing are not
recognised externally
This landmark development is the result of
an independent and extensive research
project undertaken by Skyblue Research
on behalf of NFRC, the Roofing Industry
Alliance and funded by the Construction
Industry Training Board (CITB).
The research set out to identify the key
challenges facing the roofing sector and after
engaging with a cross-sector group of 141 UKbased
roofing contractors, it concluded that a
revival in the roofing sector could be kickstarted
by satisfying three key objectives. These
objectives form the cornerstone of the
Workforce Development Strategy.
Objective 1: Establish the roofing sector as a
professional, modern, respected and
aspirational sector with clear career paths; able
to attract the best and the brightest apprentices,
students and new workers.
Objective 2: Formalise and standardise a higher
UK-wide training, accreditation and assessment
infrastructure: to upskill and multi-skill its
growing workforce.
Objective 3: Proactive engagement with all
roofing sector companies, suppliers and trade
associations, and seeking endorsement and
commitment from all procurement
stakeholders: enabling growth, increased
training, and access to grants and higher
standards.
The Rt Hon David Hanson MP presents NFRC’s fouryear
Workforce Development Strategy at the All Party
Parliamentary Group for the roofing industry at
Westminster, London on Tuesday 28th March 2017.
Commenting on this significant development,
James Talman, Chief Executive of NFRC said:
“It’s well known that any chain, process or
greater goal is only as strong as its weakest
link, and without doubt the roofing sector has
long felt like the poor relation of the
construction industry. We have a major image
problem due to a lack of clear differentiation
between a qualified skilled worker and an
operative who calls him/herself a roofer after
carrying out a health and safety test.
“The Workforce Development Strategy sets out
to provide insight into the specific areas of
recruitment, training, accreditation and
modernisation, that are perceived to be lacking
in the roofing sector. By adopting the three key
objectives recommended in the report and
obtaining Government backing for roofing, there
would added benefit to the wider construction
industry, apprenticeship and employment
figures, and the UK economy as a whole. We are
confident that we will see a resurgence in our
sector,” adds James.
He continues: “This research and its
conclusions form the cornerstone of our
strategy to modernise practices and behaviours.
These will ultimately establish a contemporary,
relevant professional sector which encourages
opportunity and innovation. In doing so, we will
clearly demonstrate to all building owners
whether in large-scale public procurement or a
householder carrying out an extension, that
limited training and qualification
opportunities
outdated recruitment methods are stifling
new talent
training availability is scarce in some
geographies
assessment is in limited supply UK-wide
difficulties in incentivising training and
development
covering costs of delivery is a bigger
concern than training
one in five construction site deaths are
linked to roofing
Alongside the barriers to supporting
growth, the research also uncovered
several issues that served to cause a sense
of anticipation and optimism amongst
participating companies as follows:
business growth
recruiting specialists
recruiting apprentices
more ambitious targets
diversity in specialisms
a desire for improvement
increased training numbers
closing the skill gap
James concludes: “The roofing sector
recognises its own weaknesses, yet holds a
growing belief in the potential that could be
unlocked. Many of the actions and objectives
required to revitalise our industry as a career
of choice can be taken by us collectively.
However, to really make a difference and to
empower the roofing sector to play its part in
the governments industrial strategy, we need
full government and private sector backing,
support and engagement. The unveiling of our
new strategy is the first step to achieving this.”
MMC
April 2017 M4 45

LED is the Jewel in Lighting’s Crown
By Stephen Hurrell, Divisional Director, Aurora Group UK Projects
There are several misconceptions about
LED lighting, principally that LED
lighting prices will go down so it pays to
wait; LEDs are so efficient that controls are
unnecessary; and that LEDs don’t work well in
high-temperature environments.
According to the Energy Savings Trust, LED
offers best value for money in lighting today;
the price of fittings has come down and, at the
significant reduction in raw materials utilised
in manufacture.
Artificial lighting in buildings is usually
categorised in three ways. The ‘Ambient’
lighting function provides light to the space to
an accepted level. ‘Accent’ lighting highlights
certain features and/or attributes. ‘Task’
lighting illuminates specific working areas to
aid visibility.
light output of 70% of the lumen performance
stated at that period of time e.g., a 1000 lumen
LED luminaire will deliver at least 700 lumens
after six years, based on burning 4000 hours
per year.
An emerging trend in construction is to
insulate the ceiling void by ‘blowing in’ loose fill
insulation as an alternative to loose-laid
products. Loose fill completely encloses the
fitting which could affect LED performance in
inferior downlights.
Enlite’s High Quality, Big Performance LED
solution
The Aurora Group has responded to
increased demand for LED by engineering
the Enlite range of 380+ “Lighting
Essentials”. Enlite offers Offsite’s varied
modular business model the best in value,
quality and performance to meet
specifications and budgets.
Firm Enlite LED favourites in the MMC
sector are the E8 TM 8W integrated fire
rated downlights with halogen like
appearance, the ultra-slim E6060 TM
600mm 2 flat panels for commercial
applications, the UniPac TM and LinearPac TM
IP65 linear anti-corrosives which replace
traditional T8s and the vandal resistant
Orbital TM IP66 bulkhead.
same time, performance has improved
significantly.
The Carbon Trust advocates LED as its number
one efficiency recommendation. Leading
website www.environmentalleader.com reports
that while switching to LEDs creates a onetime
savings event – typically reducing lighting
energy use by up to 50% – integrated sensing
and controls can nearly double those energy
savings, making controls essential for
maximum savings and project economics.
And did you know that by using LED in
construction, it significantly contributes to the
BREEAM rating of a building as it typically
halves energy consumption of traditional light
sources. Miniaturisation has also led to a
Lighting Performance
The four key criteria governing LED
performance are thermal management, optical
control, efficacy of light and reliability of power.
So, what are the guiding principles of best
practice in quality manufacturing?
Heat has a negative impact on any LED light
source’s performance. The next generation in
thermal management dissipates heat away
from the LED chip, providing higher quality,
brighter light for longer. There’s also been
continuous improvement in efficacies of LED
chips so the higher the lumens per watt, the
better.
Look for products warranted to L70 to a stated
number of hours. This means you can expect a
Biodynamic lighting
Light controls our biological or body clock and
this is known as the circadian rhythm. New to
the market, biodynamic LED lighting allows
people to control their environment according
to need, mood and task, which can improve
performance and motivation. Changing the
colour temperature of the artificial lightsource
(e.g. from extra warm to warm through to cool)
can have a dramatic effect. Biodynamics is
particularly suitable for dynamic interior
projects, retail applications, and in healthcare
and homes for the elderly.
Regulatory compliance
Lighting design is a complex issue and part of a
quality manufacturer’s role is to develop
bespoke schemes that will comply with
regulations. A revised version of the Building
Regulations, Part L (2013), came into force in
April 2014. BIM LEVEL 2 was introduced as a
requirement for all government construction
projects this April 2016.
www.enlitelighting.com
46
MMC
April 2017 M4