Fire safety: Underappreciated Existing Obligations & Upcoming Changes

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy, the government and construction sector have reconsidered many aspects of building safety and special consideration has been given to fire safety. To target the factors which contributed to Grenfell and to bolster safeguards, the government has introduced reforms and proposed further legislation.

There’s been a lot of discussion about that new legislation, in the form of the Fire Safety Bill, but existing legislation should not be overlooked by employers, contractors, building owners and public authorities, as these laws continue to place fire safety obligations on parties involved in building ownership and maintenance.

Here, Philippa Jones, solicitor at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson takes a look at the existing legislation, if business is complying with it and what changes does the new bill make to propose to this.

Existing legislation

Fire safety in all non-domestic premises in England and Wales (including communal areas of residential buildings with multiple homes, but excluding houses occupied as single private dwellings) is regulated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Order). Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation regarding fire safety.

The Order came into effect on 1 October 2006 and, broadly, it requires any person who has a level of control over premises to take reasonable steps to assess the risk from fire and put in place appropriate control measures including measures to ensure people can safely escape the premises in the event of a fire occurring.

Are you a “Responsible Person”?

The Order imposes various duties in relation to fire safety on each Responsible Person ie:

1. the employer, if the premises are a workplace and the workplace is under the employer’s control,
2. the person who has control of the premises (as occupier or otherwise) in connection with the carrying on by them of a trade, business or other undertaking (for profit or not),
3. the owner, where the person in control of the premises does not have control in connection with the carrying on by that person of a trade, business or other undertaking,
4. the trust, academy chain, or local authority of a public building eg a school or hospital.

Identifying the parties that fall under these definitions is not straight forward. For example, despite a contractor being employed by the employer to undertake works at the premises, the contractor itself would be a Responsible Person as it has control over the premises to carry out the works, and as such they would have additional responsibilities and potential liabilities for any breaches of the Order.There can be more than one Responsible Person with obligations under the Order.

What must a “Responsible Person” do?

The duties of a Responsible Person include:

1. undertaking fire risk assessments,
2.  taking fire precautions to ensure the safety of employees and premises,
3. making arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of preventive and protective measures,
4. ensuring that routes to exits and emergency exits are kept clear at all times,
5. ensuring equipment is maintained in an efficient working order and in good repair,
6. co-operating and co-ordinating with other Responsible Persons to manage risks.

Contractor’s additional requirements

As mentioned above, contractors carrying out works at a premises, despite not being the owner of those premises, are likely to fall within the definition of a Responsible Person because they have a degree of control over the premises for the purposes of carrying out their works.

If you are a contractor, steps you should take include:

1. at the start of any works, consider if the Order applies, including establishing whether the building is a private residence or not,
2. carry out a risk assessment, and nominate a competent person to implement any fire safety measures arising from that assessment –  you should be transparent,
3. bear in mind that there is an expectation that the contractor will notify the premises owner of any perceived fire safety risks identified by itself or third parties (eg failures of equipment to pass fire safety tests) and to cooperate with the owner regarding measures to address them,
4. consider the risks posed by the storing of potentially flammable materials near fire exits even if this is in a separate part of the premises to where the works are being carried out, and
5. remember that since the owner also continues to have control of premises more generally, your control of the premises may not be exclusive – owners are also Responsible Persons, and where there is more than one Responsible Person, you must both co-operate and co-ordinate with each other over fire safety risks.

Failure to comply – enforcement and penalties

Fire safety legislation is generally enforced by Fire Safety Enforcement Officers from the local Fire and Rescue Service but the Health and Safety Executive is the enforcing authority for any work place which is on a construction site.

Enforcement Officers can enter any workplace at any suitable hour, without notice. They conduct inspections to review the workplace, work activities, and management of fire safety.

Non-compliance with the Order can lead to enforcement action including service of Alterations Enforcement and Prohibition Notices and prosecution of corporate bodies and individuals.Fines can be substantial and sentences of imprisonment can be imposed on individuals.Additionally there could be other significant consequences including reputational damage as well as the potential human cost of a fire.

The new Fire Safety Bill

The new Fire Safety Bill, once it becomes law, will strengthen the existing legislation on fire safety. It will:

1. give greater clarity over responsibilities for fire safety in buildings containing more than one home,
2. enable enforcement authorities to hold building owners to account for cladding related non-compliances,
3. give the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government powers to amend the list of qualifying premises that fall within the scope of the Order by way of secondary legislation, enabling the government to respond more quickly to developments in the design and construction of buildings,
4. place an increased focus on evacuation plans to ensure residents understand these strategies.

The Bill clarifies that, for any building containing two or more domestic premises, the Order applies to the building’s structure and external walls and any common parts, including the front doors of residential parts. It also clarifies that external walls include “doors or windows in those walls” and “anything attached to the exterior of those walls (including balconies).” These amendments are expected to provide for increased enforcement action, particularly where remediation of aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding is not yet taking place or the building does not have ACM cladding but is still defective.

Better understanding of fire safety legislation

The Fire Safety Order is often an overlooked piece of legislation and there is a general lack of understanding regarding the responsibilities of Responsible Persons and enforcement, despite the Order being in force for many years.

Better self-education for building owners and contractors about their responsibilities for fire safety will lead to safer communities.

Going forward, construction professionals should be mindful of their continuing obligations under the Order, review sites regularly and report changes which could affect fire safety.

Consideration should be given to whether works being performed make a contractor a Responsible Person and whether responsibilities can be shared with building owners and how contractors can discharge their cooperation obligations to ensure fire risks are avoided.

The industry should also closely watch out for further developments in fire safety, including the progress of the Fire Safety Bill, and its obligations under that.

For more on building safety, visit our re:build Hub.

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Winvic Lifts Bridge Beams Over A5

Winvic Construction Ltd has announced it has successfully lifted eight railway beams into place over the A5, 2km north of the M1 J18.

This is one of three bridges which Winvic is constructing for Prologis at DRIFT III in Northamptonshire, as part of a £29M contract to deliver a new state of the art Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal.

The A5 railway link bridge, which will carry two tracks, has an effective span of 30m over the highway and is a fully integral, single-span, prestressed concrete structure. The line will be networked to the existing DRIFT terminal and the West Coast Mainline at one end and the new Intermodal Rail Freight Terminal at the other. The terminal is to comprise a five-track, 800m-long siding with a rail traverser and a 79,000m² concrete terminal slab. The facility will be capable of receiving up to 24 775m-long trains each day.

The concrete beams were lifted into place onto the reinforced soil abutments and wing walls during a single day under a 43-hour road closure. A 50m-tall Liebherr LTM 11000D crane arrived on site on Friday evening and was rigged on the usually busy trunk road in under ten hours.

The project started in June 2020, with earthwork re-engineering of the plateau; the scheme is set to be completed in summer 2021.

Rob Cook, Winvic’s Director of Civils and Infrastructure, commented: “Every project has its challenges but as you can imagine there has been years of planning, design and hard work to get to where we were this weekend, seeing the country’s newest railway bridge come to life. It has been the whole team’s skills and impeccable partnership work with Prologis and Highways England that have made the journey to this point a smooth one.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them for reaching this key project milestone at DIRFT III, and that they executed the very complex beam lift without any hitches, to schedule and – most importantly – safely. It has been an exciting and impressive thing to watch, but now our focus is primarily on the other two bridges and the rail track installation, and we look forward to completion this summer.”

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Independent Review of Construction Materials

Residents throughout England are set to be better protected as the UK Government takes the next steps to ensure materials that are used to build the nation’s homes are safe and tested properly.

On 20^th April, Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick appointed two experts to lead an independent review of the system for testing construction products. Former Government advisor and construction expert Paul Morrell OBE will be the chair of the independent panel, along with legal expert Annelise Day QC.

The review, which was announced earlier this year, will examine how to strengthen the current system for testing construction products to provide confidence that these materials are safe and perform as marketed.

The review forms part of the Government’s ongoing programme of work to reform and strengthen building safety regulation and comes after testimony to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry exposed evidence of testing irregularities and potential gaming of the system by some manufacturers.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has heard deeply concerning suggestions that some construction product manufacturers may have gamed the system for testing these materials and compromised the safety of residents.

“We are taking these allegations very seriously and will await the Inquiry’s final recommendations − but it is clear that action is needed now to ensure products used on buildings always meet the highest safety standards.

“I am pleased to appoint Paul Morrell OBE and Anneliese Day QC to lead this independent review of the system for testing construction products that will build on the significant progress we have already made to make buildings safer.”

The panel will engage with a wide range of stakeholders to seek their views on how the system of safety testing of construction products could be improved and will report later this year with recommendations.

The Government has already announced that a new National Regulator for Construction Products will be established within the Office of Product Safety and Standards and be given powers to remove any product from the market that presents a significant safety risk; and prosecute and fine any company that breaks the rules.

These measures form part of the Government’s wider, ambitious reform of the sector, which includes the draft Building Safety Bill, that will bring the biggest improvements to building safety standards in 40 years and strengthen the regulation of construction products.

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Tech at Heart of Constructions Future

After a turbulent year, 2021 is the year of recovery and growth for the construction industry. However, with labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and stricter regulations, challenging the industry to innovate must be a priority in order for the sector to recover and become resilient. This was reflected in the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Strategy 2021, with increasing productivity and performance being key challenges to overcome. To do this, it is key for technology to be at the heart of this transformation by accelerating the adoption of new and innovative technologies and processes to create high performing systems that work together, adding value to society.

The adoption of new technology and smarter processes can deliver tangible benefits for construction firms, but there remains a fundamental stumbling block for those organisations looking to capitalise on new innovation – which is finding the best connectivity to do the job.  This could be a frequent lack of high speed, portable and reliable Internet connectivity, particularly for sites located in green and brownfield locations, or having access to emergency comms should there be a delay in a fixed-line installation or accidental breakage to a line. It is therefore imperative that the industry addresses these key issues as a matter of urgency so that firms can gain access to the connectivity they need at new sites from day one. Drew Morris, Sales Director, Comms365, explains.

Foundations for change

With rapid advances in technology and the advent of cloud-based services and applications, the way we work and collaborate has drastically changed. Technology innovation has led industries to continually strive to be more efficient, productive and cost effective. Yet, when it comes to the world of construction, investment in IT has remained low in comparison to other industries. The market has been hampered by technical challenges relating to projects that can be large, complex and geographically dispersed. Combined with varying proficiency and maturity levels of smaller subcontractors, advancing at scale has been difficult and has subsequently led to the slow progress of the digitisation of the construction industry.

Despite these challenges, the available technology in construction has advanced rapidly and we are now starting to see examples of how advances in digital technology can deliver efficiency and productivity opportunities at the start of all projects – truly revolutionising the construction sites of the past. Drones, robotics, 3D printing and augmented reality are no longer works of fiction but can be adopted by forward thinking firms looking to capitalise on the benefits that embracing innovation can bring to the construction site.

The catalyst of connectivity 

Connectivity is a necessity for businesses in virtually every industry and construction is no exception. Crucially, this is still one fundamental hurdle that the industry must overcome if it is to create a solid foundation for all new digital innovation.

Technology that is crucial for the industry to innovate and keep up with demand, cannot function without high speed, portable and reliable internet connections, but gaining access to connectivity can be a challenge for new sites, particularly those that are located in a Green or Brownfield location where there is typically no existing infrastructure. But as internet communications are no longer restricted to fixed-line only delivery, companies can now invest in a blended communications model of wired and wireless internet access that truly satisfies business needs – irrespective of location.

Advanced bonded service solutions enable organisations to gain additional resilience and contingency from combining different internet access connections together into a single ‘virtual pipe’, with precise performance management. With combined bandwidth and enhanced reliable internet performance integrated into a portable solution, this service is highly suitable for rapid deployment emergency situations where internet services are required urgently and communications infrastructure is either missing or may take several weeks to be installed, meaning sites can be up and running in a matter of hours, not weeks. In addition, this approach builds in future-proofing by providing consistent bandwidth for improved performance and backup resilience to a primary connection for business continuity.

The construction industry cannot continue to utilise outdated processes and management methods but instead must embrace digital advances and adopt smarter processes and technology to stay competitive. New technology will continue to disrupt the industry and change how we work, but there is no way that the construction sites of the future will ever become a reality unless the industry can conquer the basics of connectivity.

So, how can construction firms ensure that a strong and stable connection is established quickly at a new site to ensure lack of connectivity does not negatively impact on projects? By working with experienced and trusted providers who can supply the connectivity solutions that sites require. The industry will then be able to continually benefit from the opportunities that the latest advances in innovation present, and meet the priorities laid out in the CLC strategy, bettering the future of construction. The potential rewards to firms that capitalise on digitisation will be instantaneous.

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Tideway East Section Barges Ahead

Earlier this month, London-based marine freight specialist Walsh started to remove more than a million tonnes of tunnel spoil arising from the Eastern leg of London’s super sewer scheme, Tideway.

The materials from the Thames Tideway’s eastern section, between Bermondsey and Stratford, are being moved down river to a pioneering new wildlife habitat creation scheme, which is being spearheaded by wet civil engineering company Land & Water.

Walsh is working in partnership with Land & Water, carrying out the major shift and restoration scheme for Eastern section joint venture (JV) delivery partners Costain, Vinci Construction, Grands Projets and Bachy Soltanche (CVB).

Throughout the next 14 months, chalk and clay from the Tideway sites at Chambers Wharf, Greenwich Pumping Station and King Edward Memorial Park Foreshore in Shadwell are being loaded onto Walsh’s river barges and sent to Land & Water’s restoration project at Rainham Marshes.

By using the river freight for the scheme, the companies are helping to reduce road congestion by keeping around 100,000 lorry movements off London’s roads as well as producing a fraction of the carbon dioxide and other emissions when compared to road haulage. The materials are helping create much-needed habitats for wildlife along the Thames Corridor.

Joe Gifford, Walsh Managing Director, said: “We’re extremely proud to be playing such an important role in the delivery of the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The Walsh marine business is uniquely positioned to move materials to and from major infrastructure schemes that support development and regeneration in London. The fact that we have such a huge capability to move freight by river means that we can add real value to major projects like Tideway, especially when spoil can be put to good use in land restoration elsewhere along the river.”

Tom Melhuish, Project Manager at Land & Water, said: “Having already received over 450,000 tonnes of material from the west section of Tideway, we are looking forward to supporting the tunnel drive from the east section. This will enable us to make significant progress with our restoration at Rainham, helping to create an oasis for wildlife. The Tideway project has highlighted not only how the River Thames can be used as a sustainable and reliable transport system but also shown the benefits of re-using waste to create substantial new habitats and foster biodiversity.”

To ensure successful delivery of the project, Walsh made major investments in its marine fleet worth almost £6 million, including the state-of-the-art Damen CS2010 pusher tug (SWS Endeavour) which went into service at the end of 2020 and the adaptable Damen Multi Cat 1908 (SWS Endurance) delivered in 2019. Along with the existing fleet and eight new barges, the new vessels ensure the Walsh fleet is the largest and most versatile of its kind on the Thames, operated by a highly skilled 25-strong crew.

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£4.2m Electricity Supply Upgrade

Thousands of residents in Kingston are getting the benefit of a £4.2 million electricity network upgrade. UK Power Networks has recently completed a four-year project which future proofs a substation that helps deliver safe and reliable supplies to over 73,000 local homes and businesses.

Electrical engineers installed four new pieces of equipment, known as transformers, which will help reduce voltage and deliver electricity safely to other local substations and then into homes.

Paul Rogers, project manager at UK Power Networks, said: “We energised the last of four new transformers at the substation, marking the culmination of a significant investment project that will maintain reliable electricity supplies for the residents, businesses and communities we serve in Kingston.

“The upgraded substation is well equipped to meet future growth in demand for electricity and keep electricity supplies flowing to the local community for years to come.”

The essential equipment plays a key role in enabling people to heat and light their homes and businesses, charge smart phones, power TVs and computers.

These new transformers have replaced the old equipment, which was originally installed in the 1960s and was well maintained. Each of the new transformers weighs approximately 90 tonnes, receives electricity at 132,000-volts and lowers it to 33,000-volts.

The project in Kingston forms part of the £600 million UK Power Networks is investing in the network throughout the South East, London and East of England this year. From schools to hospitals, water supplies to railway stations, the electricity network helps keep a large part of the country running smoothly. Over eight million homes and businesses are connected to electricity via the company’s cables and substations.

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Developers Urged to Quit Fossil Fuels

With the government setting a UK target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, it is no surprise that both businesses and consumers are seeking ways to contribute towards reaching this goal.

Keith Bastian, CEO and founder of Fischer Future Heat, an expert in dynamic heating, explains why housing developers should be putting an end to using fossil fuel heating systems as soon as possible

In order to help achieve this target, the government has also announced a series of further goals such as the Future Homes Standard, due to come into play in 2025, which will require new build homes to be future-proofed with low carbon heating and world-leading levels of energy efficiency

When fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases, all of which trap heat in the atmosphere.

Because of this, fossil fuels are the main contributor to global warming, climate change and an increased carbon footprint across both the UK and the globe.

Currently, around 95% of homes have central heating, many of which will rely on gas or oil, and home heating is responsible for around 15% of the UK’s total greenhouse emissions.

To reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, the Future Homes Standard sets out to ensure that all new homes built as of 2025 will have 75-80% less carbon dioxide emissions than homes built to current regulations.

Although this is impressive, and it will make a phenomenal difference, what are we waiting for? Why not start now?

Whilst it may appear that the responsibility lies with heating and energy providers to offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions, and to some extent it does, it is also down to the housing developers to build houses and homes that allow for newer, more sustainable heating systems.

For newer homes, it will be relatively easy and affordable to change old fossil fuel heating systems to something a lot less damaging.

However, for older homes, it can be quite the opposite. Because of traditional fireplaces and other energy escape routes through the fabric of the home, it can be extremely difficult for homeowners to make sustainable changes to their heating systems.  The first step should always be – insulate, insulate, insulate.

With approximately 247,000 houses being built in England and Wales each year, we can’t afford to wait until 2025 to become more eco-conscious.

In today’s world, we are fortunate that eco-conscious consumers are beginning to desire more sustainable homes, so it seems obvious that housing developers should first and foremost be implementing eco-friendly heating systems. This will ensure the properties they are building are not only more desirable, but futureproofed when it comes to buying and selling on the property market.

With the need for sustainable homes on the rise and somewhat of a necessity moving forwards, eco-homes are continuing to prove popular.

Using 50% less energy and 50% less water compared to houses being built to contemporary Building Regulations, housebuilders such as Gusto Homes are continuing to lead the way for sustainable housing. By maximising energy sources such as solar panels, minimising heat-losses from north facing elevations and concentrating on the overall eco-performance and waste-water heat recovery systems, Gusto Homes are transforming the industry and other property developers are slowly starting to follow suit.

With this in mind, housing developers and homeowners alike should aim to install independent heating systems, with the likes of electric German clay heaters.

Eliminating the inefficiencies that come with fossil fuelled heating systems, electric heaters are smart and sustainable room powered radiators that are more efficient for both the environment and people’s pockets.

As well as helping to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint, electric heaters provide seasonal comfort. With traditional heating systems, you may struggle to find the perfect balance in room temperatures to suit the time of year, but with electric heaters, you are able to do exactly that.

Electric heaters, combined with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar and the impending introduction of the Future Homes Standard, are a sure-fire way to contribute to the UK’s target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Why wait until 2025 to introduce such initiatives? Start now and make a real difference. The future is electric.

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Wates Wins Second Phase of Camden Scheme

Wates Construction is pleased to announce that it has been appointed to deliver the latest phase in a three-phased regeneration project close to Abbey Road, in the London Borough of Camden.

The project, worth £10 million, was procured via SCAPE and will create a two-storey structure on designated open space, off Belsize Road. It will house a new community centre on the ground floor and is set to include a dedicated garden, creche, hall as well as various spaces for classes, and a state-of-the-art healthcare centre on the first floor.

The building’s design will use timber, brick and glass to make sure it complements its surrounding green open space and will be carefully landscaped along with a new play area. The scheme will be targeted to a BREEAM rating of Excellent, and its unique timbre glulam façade will be manufactured using offsite engineering.

These works form Phase Two of a wider regeneration programme that is being spearheaded by Camden Council – The Abbey Area Masterplan – which aims to bring 241 energy-efficient homes, including new council and affordable homes, along with revitalised community facilities in Camden.

Richard Shroll, Regional Managing Director for London Residential at Wates Construction, said: “The Abbey area regeneration is a landmark investment for Camden and Phase Two is a vital part of its success. The brand new community hub and medical centre will be the cornerstone of the entire project – offering a place for locals to socialise, exercise and receive wellbeing support for years to come – as well as providing vital learning and employment opportunities throughout its build.

“As we’ve already worked with Camden on the delivery of Phase One, we have a strong working relationship with the Council and fully understand the importance of regenerating this iconic area of London. We look forward to starting on site, and completing this exciting, ambitious build for the borough and its residents.”

The new facility on Belsize Road will provide a new, merged site for the existing Abbey Community Centre and Belsize Priory Medical Practice, creating a new community hub. Their current sites will eventually be demolished to make way for new affordable and private homes in Phase Three of the project, which is currently in design.

Wates has already played a large part in delivering the wider Abbey area regeneration, with the firm completing Phase One in February 2019 – which saw the demolition of an underused multi-story car park to deliver the first 141 new homes and additional commercial space.

Phase Two is the latest Wates build to be delivered through SCAPE Construction, a direct award framework designed to drive collaboration, efficiency, time and cost savings on construction projects. The contractor is already working on similar regeneration projects for Incrementum – Warrington Council’s housing development arm – and Burlington Close in Hounslow

As a SCAPE project, ensuring it delivers a positive lasting legacy is key to delivery, and Wates will be targeting local supply chain partners to support the build, as well as providing training and employment opportunities for students in the area.

Planning has been approved with final completion expected April 2022. Other delivery partners include Ikon Consultancy, CBRE, architects AHR, landscape architects Fabrik, engineering partner Stantec and building services engineers Norman Bromley Partnership.

Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities, Culture and an Inclusive Economy at Camden Council, said: “This decision is a milestone in the Abbey Road development, and it brings us a step closer to delivering much-needed, essential and modern community facilities to Kilburn – all funded through our innovative Community Investment Programme.

“While funding from government for new council homes and community facilities has continued to run dry, Camden has remained committed to investing in community infrastructure that supports residents most in need and that helps to reduce inequality in Camden.

“This is important now more than ever. Throughout the pandemic we have all been reminded of the need for a good home, the vital role our healthcare services play, and the difference community facilities can make to people’s lives.

“At Abbey Road we have worked closely with residents to bring this all together; 66 new council homes are already providing Camden families with more space and a better standard of living, upgraded high-quality health facilities will be there to provide care for all residents, a modern community centre will offer an abundance of social and essential services, and residents will have access to invaluable green and play spaces.

“These are facilities that the local community can be proud of and that will remain an asset to the community for years to come.”

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UKEF Doubles Support for Sustainable Projects

UK companies are set to help bring new hospitals, clean energy and transportation to developing countries thanks to record levels of UK Export Finance (UKEF) backing.

UKEF provided more than £2.4 billion in financial support to sustainable projects in 2020, which helped businesses build new hospitals, bring clean energy and develop critical infrastructure to developing countries, according to new data.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was unclear just how many projects which are critical to the wellbeing of billions throughout the world would continue to be financed. However, UKEF helped fill the gap and ensured credit continued to flow to this vital infrastructure whilst also creating opportunities for UK exporters.

An independent assessment of national export credit agencies released by Trade & Export Finance Limited (TXF) showed the UK provided the second most export credit support for sustainable projects in 2020. Sustainable and green projects are defined by TXF in 16 categories, including renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, affordable housing and food security.

UKEF-backed projects in 2020 include:

• Over £430 million for major new healthcare projects in Africa including two hospitals in Ghanaand 108 rural healthcare clinics and a hospital in Zambia
• Over £1.9 billion for major transportation projects including backing for Egypt’s new electric monorail lineand emergency road repairs in Gabon, Ghana and Benin, crucial to infrastructure in the region
• Over £120 million for major energy transformation including financing for two offshore wind farms in Taiwanand two of Spain’s largest solar power plants
• £27 million for a solar powered water sterilisation programme in Ghanathat will deliver 5 litres of water a day for less than a quarter of a penny

Minister for Exports Graham Stuart MP said: “This major financing of critical work helps to bring prosperity to millions of people around the world. We increased UKEF’s capacity to support overseas projects in over 100 markets last year, and its financing has placed UK businesses at the heart of many important global projects as a result.

“Free and open trade, backed by global rules, offers the lowest income countries a better deal. As we build back better from the pandemic, we are determined to help developing countries benefit from UK capability and will use our export credit agency, UKEF, to ensure no viable export fails for lack of finance.”

UKEF’s support for sustainable projects also aligns with new measures the department has put in place to enhance its support for clean energy, with £2 billion of direct lending dedicated to financing clean growth projects.

To connect UKEF with overseas projects that have long-term and sustainable growth potential, UKEF has expanded its internationally based country representatives in Africa, South America, the Middle East and Asia, and is set to significantly increase this network in 2021.

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Pagabo Announce Framework Activation

National framework provider Pagabo announced earlier this month (April 14 2021) that its latest framework is now live. The National Utilities Supply Framework will provide public sector bodies a compliant procurement route for their electricity, gas and water supply contracts.

The framework is split across three lots and will run for four years, enabling compliant electricity, gas and water supply contracts of any value to be accessed nationwide.

Jason Stapley, managing director at Pagabo, said: “It is pleasing to see our new utilities framework go live and know we will be helping public sector bodies save time and money, whilst not sacrificing quality.

“Using this framework will provide our clients with expert market intelligence and will allow for strategic utility procurement based on the daily tracking of the wholesale utility futures market. Using this insight, we will be able to advise our clients on the best time to place their utility supply contracts to deliver the maximum savings.”

NPower will cover Lots 1 and 2, which focus on the supply of mains electricity and natural gas respectively. A range of supply contracts will be available from one year upwards.

Under lot 1, a range of electricity supply contracts are available, including half-hourly and non-half hourly metered supplies, fixed, part fixed, flexible and basket purchasing contract options, as well as supply mixes including green, renewable energy and CCL exempt supplies. NPower will offer 100 per cent renewable as standard under the framework.

Lot 2 offers supply contracts including all meter types, fixed, part fixed, flexible and basket purchasing contract options, as well as options for different supply mixes including renewable and biogas.

Jason added: “We will be helping clients cut down their energy consumption and carbon footprint, helping install sustainable activities throughout every stage of the supply chain. Respecting our value of transparency, this framework will display simplicity and stability in action with the public in mind.”

Lot 3 will be covered by Water Plus and will allow client organisations to access water supply and sewerage services. Again, a range of supply contract durations will be available from one year upwards. Clients will also have access to a unique to the industry flood risk and severe weather alert function.

Through working with both Npower and Water Plus, the National Utilities Supply Framework will help clients to decarbonise their services by reducing their carbon footprint in order to meet net zero carbon legislation by 2050. This can be through the use of green fuels, with improved usage monitoring to identify ways of reducing a client’s consumption of energy and water.

All supply contracts offer client organisations the benefits of direct access to an account manager, access to an online portal to view, manage and receive consumption information and invoices, as well as assisted management of supplies to be provided by Pagabo.

All Pagabo’s frameworks are free to access, easy to use and fully complaint with UK public procurement law.

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JV Wins Place on National Grid Framework

Jacobs/Morrison Utility Services Joint Venture (JV) has been awarded a place on National Grid’s six-year Substations Engineering Procurement Construction Framework in the UK.

The framework will provide collaborative and long-term support via programme management, early contractor involvement, design and construction to deliver National Grid’s performance-based substation regulatory programme under RIIO-T2, where revenue generation is realised through a combination of incentives, innovation and outputs. The contact has an estimated value to £1 billion ($1.3 billion).

As the framework’s principal designer and principal contractor, the Jacobs/Morrison JV will deliver new build, extension, replacement and decommissioning of high voltage electricity substations. The framework also aims to develop the transmission network to help maintain security of supply, whilst facilitating the ongoing transition to, and connection of, low-carbon generation and renewable technology.

Jacobs People & Places Solutions Senior Vice President Europe and Digital Strategies Donald Morrison said: “This project creates further opportunities to build on more than 13 years of working collaboratively with National Grid.

“We look forward to driving innovative solutions to reduce benchmark costs and program duration, enabling transition to the sustainable energy system of the future.”

The Joint Venture will also focus on solutions to challenge convention and help National Grid support the low-carbon economy, using to reduce materials, cost, carbon and scheduling. The organisational and delivery behaviours are aligned with the Project 13 Framework, which is an industry led response to infrastructure delivery models within the UK, where performance is incentivised against outcomes, using collaborative and integrated teams to challenge and maximise value.

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Public Sector Should Collaborate with MMC Providers

The Coronavirus pandemic has had huge consequences on the UK’s public sector, with resources and budgets proving inadequate for dealing with the needs of the country over the last year. As pressures continue to mount, there has become a greater need for new and improved public facilities, such as operating theatres, mental health facilities and classroom space, to try and meet the demand.

One example of an industry where capacity issues continue to grow is healthcare. NHS waiting times hit a record high in January, with almost five million people waiting to start treatment, so it’s essential to provide more facilities to combat this. That’s where construction companies, particularly those able to deliver modern methods of construction (MMC) projects, are likely to play an increasingly important role.

Here, Jane Tabiner, Managing Director at Solutions Asset Finance, the UK’s leading independent offsite and modular construction funding provider, explores how the public sector can work with MMC providers and use their access to private financial solutions and help create much-needed new facilities.

Choosing MMC and the offsite approach

In recent years, there’s been a significant increase in the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) across all sectors, as the construction industry grapples with meeting the Government’s varied and ambitious building targets.

While MMC was historically used to accelerate house-building levels to keep up with rising demand, there are plenty of ways for other industries, such as healthcare and education, to use these innovative solutions. Offsite or modular construction is one such method that continues to grow in popularity in the public sector.

The offsite approach unlocks many benefits, offering a quick and cost-effective way to build important new public facilities that will go towards serving the communities that rely on them. This construction method is affordable, less time consuming and is a more environmentally friendly option than its traditional counterpart, making it an attractive attribute for many industries.

With a significant backlog of work in most public services because of the pandemic, particularly within the healthcare sector, where there is a significant delay to routine theatre procedures, the time for investment is now. Hospitals need quick and effective solutions to increase capacity, which is why engaging with offsite modular building providers is a forward-thinking move.

Sourcing funding from reliable experts

For the public sector to reap the benefits of building new modular facilities, the providers of these buildings must be able to access funds to complete projects to the highest possible standard. Public sector budgets are tight and complex to navigate, something that will likely prevail given that much of the chancellor’s recent budget centred on decreasing the country’s deficit. Therefore, other options must be available to ensure public services work for the people needing them.

Private, experienced finance companies should be engaged with and seen as a positive collaboration, allowing offsite construction specialists to access the required solution to finance projects. This is where private companies, such as SAF, can add true value.

Appropriately structured funding solutions can enable public sector organisations to make the upgrades, additions and extensions needed to both their infrastructure and equipment, without the need for considerable funds upfront. Moreover, they can ensure funding is made available in short timeframes, allowing construction to begin as soon as possible.

Learning from the past

Offsite construction specialists must recognise the need for public sector organisations to future proof their services and ensure resilience, as well as planning for and adapting to new and changing priorities. If the Coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that priorities can change extremely quickly, so adaptability is key.

Financial solutions providers understand that finding capital has been a lasting problem for the public sector, particularly for building work as there is often more urgent and pressing ways to spend allocated budgets. This is what makes flexible and creative funding solutions from private companies so valuable, and an attractive option to offer.

Privately-funded solutions are supplied by experienced and fully compliant experts, with a proven understanding of procurement procedures. This financial assistance could be pivotal in combatting the capacity crisis, allowing our public services to continue delivering their fundamental work.

Considering the needs of communities

Ultimately, it’s vital for public sector bodies to have access to funds and resources that sit outside of their annual budgets – it’s the only way to ensure the UK’s key public services can get back to serving our population when and where needed. This is more notable in the present situation since it’s unlikely there will be enough funds allocated from the Government to provide the enhanced public services that the UK needs.

Flexible finance solutions are a viable alternative and should be seriously considered. A lack of capital outlay should no longer be an excuse for offsite construction projects not being completed and the creation of new facilities should be seen as an attractive, cost-effective option that brings numerous benefits for all parties.

The construction industry plays a significant role in joining up the dots to make sure public sector bodies and offsite construction providers can turn to financial expects to procure funds via an appropriate repayment structure. Through this collaboration, we are facilitating much-needed, effective investment into our public services at this crucial time for the UK.

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Cross Laminated Timber Builds Greener Future

Kevin Mallon is a Contracts Manager with leading construction and fit-out company, Gilbert-Ash. With over 15 years’ experience, Kevin has worked across several sectors including education, retail, mixed-use developments, industrial, hotels and airports. Having used Cross Laminated Timber on a number of high-profile projects, Kevin believes this material can help the construction industry build a greener future.

Globally, unfortunately construction is a major polluter but for a number of years the industry has been on a journey to reduce its impact on the environment.

With the UK government’s commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 now enshrined into law, the journey needs to take to the fast lane at top speed.

In recent years there has been a collective determination throughout the industry to radically improve its carbon footprint. Initiatives such as BREEAM have been welcomed, with procurement, design, and construction now all coming under the closest scrutiny to ensure the highest levels of sustainability and productivity.

However, this will not be enough for the construction industry to play its part in the UK meeting its net zero targets. We need to embrace new materials and practises that will help our buildings be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible.

There have been some really exciting developments on this front such as ‘self-healing concrete’ and bricks infused with wool and seaweed to name just two new materials.

But one material, which has been around since the 90s, is really starting to muscle in on concrete and steel.

Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) is a prefabricated engineered wood product consisting of several single-bonded layers of solid-sawn lumber arranged at right angles to each other and glued together with structural adhesive. CLT offers many advantages over conventional building materials. Its excellent structural properties provide a number of benefits including improved insulation, optimal air humidity, soundproofing, high load bearing capacity and earthquake-proof construction. It can be structural or non-structural and can be the sole building material or part of a hybrid system.

No-one is claiming that CLT is the magic bullet which will completely transform the construction industry and power us towards net zero, but it can take its place in a mix of materials which will help us build a ‘greener’ future.

With timber currently the only mainstream renewable construction material, CLT’s sustainability credentials are there for all to see, especially when the forests the timber comes from are carefully managed.

A building constructed using CLT is significantly lighter than an equivalent steel or concrete design, reducing foundation requirements and the use of significantly less concrete.

Build times are around 20% faster when compared to concrete buildings which helps to greatly reduce the emissions from each project.

With large elements of the build prefabricated, far fewer workers and machinery are required on site, again reducing the carbon footprint of the project. This also helps alleviate the growing problem of fewer skilled workers in the industry.

Design flexibility is greatly enhanced as CLT can be essentially engineered to whatever specification is needed, enabling large parts of the construction to be completed off site. As the wood is precision engineered, the performance of CLT buildings is also impressive with greater degrees of airtightness. The structural performance is similar to that of reinforced concrete.

With mental health and well-being, a significant issue at present, it should not be underplayed the role a building can have in nurturing positive mental health. For example, exposed timber is found to create a naturally calming environment.

Gilbert-Ash has incorporated CLT into a number of recent projects ranging from office redevelopments to student accommodations. In a landmark project, the company also constructed an eco-mosque at Cambridge.

The superstructure of the mosque consists of prefabricated CLT panels, with the 70mm CLT internal faces exposed as internal wall and ceiling surfaces, all treated with a fire-retardant finish.

The CLT flat roof construction is supported by glue-laminated timber (glulam) joists which transfer load to the structural glulam tree canopy. Glulam members also provide trimming to skylights. The CLT roof plate acts as a diaphragm to transfer lateral loads to the external walls.

The new mosque’s prayer hall frame is constructed with CLT double curved glulam timber trees formed from 2,746 individual pieces in 175 variants, the first building in the world to be built with this form of timber construction.

A recent project I was closely involved in, where CLT was a central component, was the City of London Freemen’s School Swimming Pool.

The swimming facility building was constructed using a series of glulam portal frames, structurally braced with cross-laminated timber panels, creating a beautiful yet striking, sustainable building, with over 200 tonnes of CO2 captured, producing a carbon neutral building. The swimming pool building boasts the exposed timber frame that also incorporates windows looking out onto the surrounding woodland, to give a sense of swimming amongst the trees.

Careful planning and coordination were required to preserve the integrity of the specialised timber used in this project, including specific handling and installation techniques. From off-site manufacturing to transport and lifting methods, Gilbert-Ash worked closely with the specialist timber contractors to develop strategic procedures to ensure the timber was not contaminated.

The deep columns of the all-timber construction and zinc with wrap-around glazing afford direct views from the water into the woodland. In addition to providing a warm and natural finish that echoes the surrounding trees, the timber surfaces are robust, thermally insulating, carbon neutral, corrosion resistant, and requires little maintenance.

Despite the evidence of the benefits CLT can deliver for the construction industry, the findings of a government consultation may prevent this material from really reaching for the skies.

The industry is awaiting the outcome of the government’s consultation on the review of the ban on combustible materials being used in or on external walls of buildings. The ban was established in the wake of the Grenfell disaster and essentially means that CLT buildings were blocked from going above 18m high. The government believes this height should be lowered to 11m.

Regardless of how this plays out, CLT can play an important role in the future of construction in the UK. To borrow a phrase from the world of cycling, the sustainable and low carbon footprint CLT delivers is a ‘marginal gain’ as we look at all areas of the industry and the impact we have on the environment.

We just need to ‘get on our bikes’ in realising the full potential of this material and the benefits it can bring.

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Hidden Impact of Brexit Taking Toll on SMEs

Since the reopening of the construction sector in the summer of 2020, confidence has been sky high, with growth in March 2021 the highest on record since 2014. According to figures from IHS Markit/CIPS, the growth of output had grown in line with increased commercial, domestic and civil engineering projects. These works have largely come in the form of restarting delayed projects, critically around office development, leisure and hospitality.

New build residential work has also experienced a major boost, along with domestic renovation, with higher spends in both categories. However, the industry must tread cautiously, as the current growth projections carry a sting in the tail, potentially punishing small trades companies more harshly than ever before.

One could be excused for forgetting, but the initial COVID lockdown both in the UK and Europe was considerably tougher than the most recent events.

In March 2020 the entire UK material supply lines were put on pause for a number of weeks. While the headlines were dominated by the lack toilet paper and pasta, for the trade and construction sector this was plasterboard, cement and many other essential materials. The result of which was that prices of these products shot up rapidly as availability decreased.

While it’s easy to blame the pandemic for these short-term supply constraints, there is another fly in the ointment, Brexit. Without passing judgement on the decision to leave the EU, Brexit has lengthened the supply lines for a number of core supplies from Europe. A significant majority of materials required by UK trade and construction are manufactured or processed in mainland Europe. As the pandemic swept the continent almost all major countries suffered shortages in stock; now however, manufacturers are refilling the supply chains that are closer to home first, with the UK falling to the back of the queue.

While this should ease over time and it is encouraging to see efforts to move material production to the UK, there is no quick fix. This has led to further hurt for SMEs in the trades as larger companies have been able to purchase these products at higher prices, to the detriment of their smaller competitors.

Ben Dyer, CEO of Powered Now, discussed the difficulties that are on the horizon for smaller businesses in the trades: “At Powered Now we are delighted to witness the increase in both order books and confidence. Higher demand for construction and trade services has a real world trickle down to small and medium trade businesses.

“However, we are very worried about the implications of stress on the UK supply chain. While some of these issues will naturally clear as the threat of Covid and Brexit reduces, the short-term impact on the smaller contractor market threatens to derail these good weeks of growth.

“We are especially critical of larger firms choosing to stockpile. The industry is only as healthy as the workforce within it, and these larger companies rely on much smaller contractors to operate, of whom are being unfairly penalised. It is incredibly short-sighted of larger firms to use their leverage over smaller ones. Not only does this hurt the economy but will eventually catch up with them due to their reliance on the SME sector for contract staff. We hope this practice, like COVID, can eventually be eliminated.”

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Notre Dame Restoration Embraces Digital Technology

It has been two years since a fire engulfed Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and in that time a public body dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the cathedral has been established, which recently announced its official patronage with Autodesk.

Autodesk is a global software provider and is contributing design and construction technology solutions, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) support, an intelligent data and geometry 3D modelling process and technical expertise. The use of BIM creates a historical digital record for increased resiliency for future events and restoration.

By embracing the new innovative digital approach, the public establishment which is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of Notre Dame is enabling cloud collaboration among stakeholders as well as relying on a common data environment to serve as a central repository for all project information so all permitted stakeholders can have access to the latest data and plans.

Data created using reality capture technologies prior to the fire enabled Autodesk to create 3D BIM model of the Notre Dame Cathedral as it existed before the fire. Autodesk then used recent reality capture scans to create 3D models post-fire for comparison.

Army General Jean-Louis Georgelin, President of the public establishment dedicated to the conservation and restoration of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, said; “I warmly thank Autodesk for supporting the rebirth of Paris Notre-Dame Cathedral. Using digital technologies designed for the supervision and management of the restoration site is essential for the public institution. Thanks to Autodesk’s patronage, the use of cutting-edge design and construction technologies and BIM, are being leveraged to help prepare for the reopening of the cathedral, and to once again welcome both pilgrims and visitors.”

Nicolas Mangon, Autodesk Vice President of Business Strategy for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Design Solutions, said: “We are humbled to participate in the restoration and future preservation of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, a truly magnificent architectural wonder of the world. Since the devastating fire two years ago, we have provided funding and technology to support the effort through the French Fondation Du Patrimone (Heritage Foundation) and this announcement reinforces our commitment.”

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Balancing the Risks and Rewards of MMC

Innovative, efficient, and reliable, the construction sector’s attentions are once again turning to modern methods of construction (MMC). As well as helping to tackle the UK’s housing shortage, these techniques also have the potential to support an infrastructure revolution. Andrew Cullis, risk analyst at risk management consultancy, Equib, discusses how managers can effectively balance the risks and rewards of MMC when delivering a project.

As part of its Spring Budget commitment, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) promised to establish an MMC Taskforce, backed by £10m of seed funding. Meanwhile, in the private sector, Interserve’s recent appointment of a technical director to focus on modern methods of construction shows that this is something larger companies are now factoring into their 2021 strategy.

One of the major advantages of using MMC techniques, such as off-site construction, is the net reduction in risk. These methods can mitigate the risk of injury to both workers on site, as well as members of public who live or travel close to the area. Whether it’s a traditional house build or a diversionary route on a rail project, people may be using the area during construction. This could expose them to a risk of accidents, due to the large volume of heavy plant and machinery movements in close proximity. Building remotely removes much of this risk. Off-site construction methods also have the potential to reduce material wastage, boost the reuse of equipment, and minimise the need for specialist labour onsite.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted how important it is for project managers to limit the number of people on site at any one time. The Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) site operating procedures have been designed to introduce consistent measures in line with the Government’s recommendations in relation to social distancing. Where projects have been delayed as a result of the pandemic, MMC is a cost-effective way of making up lost time while maintaining high safety standards.

The use of modular systems is one of the initiatives that the rail industry has been benefitting from for some time. Bringing pre-assembled equipment to site that can be easily plugged into the network is an effective way of boosting efficiency. Across the spectrum of off-site products, modular is the most complete in factory finish, allowing structural units to be joined on-site. These methods have been developed and standardised with signalling and Overhead Line Equipment (OLE), as well as on track with Switches & Crossing (S&C) installations.

When managed properly, modular methods can improve efficiency levels and mitigate the risk of overshooting time and cost estimates, however, across the industry there has been some resistance to modular S&C. This involves building up in situ using a modular technique, where trains can drive into the factory and collect the S&C unit before transporting it to its final location on the track, where it is then craned into place. Recently, however, a few derailment investigations by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) have indicated a possible connection to modular S&C builds. While the technique has temporarily become less popular as a result of investigation recommendations, the industry is working to ensure that the process is safe.

In the meantime, an alternative is for a team of specialists to build the units off-track in a separate location. In this case, project managers will be given a set-up time and a dedicated compound or ‘build-up area’. However, this can raise issues around land agreements and consent, which have potential to escalate project costs and cause time overruns.

In order to mitigate the risks associated with off-site construction, project managers should follow risk management best practice. They should start by carrying out a comprehensive risk assessment and analysis, in order to identify and quantify risks and opportunities associated with the project, before putting appropriate mitigation strategies in place. Specialist support may be needed in carrying out workshops with major stakeholders to secure buy in for any cost contingencies required.

Despite their potential to reduce the overall risk profile of projects, off-site construction methods can also bring associated risks such as time delays linked to transporting modular units onto site or prompt investigation of more extreme safety concerns. In some instances, these risks can be critical, therefore, careful management is required from the outset of projects. By conducting detailed and meticulous risk planning during the design stage, managers can minimise the need to rework designs mid-way through, which could push the build back by weeks or even months.

As well as design considerations, logistical factors such as how to transport modular units from the factory to the construction site should be prioritised. Detailed route planning, specifications around load/size requirements and liaison with third parties (highways, local councils etc.) can all help to reduce risk. While this can be time consuming, its importance shouldn’t be underestimated.

Once the project is underway, project managers should ensure that thorough risk identification and assessment sessions are undertaken at regular intervals. Sticking to this approach, from the design stage through to completion, will ensure good decision making and improve project outcomes.

In recent months, the construction industry has undergone a significant transformation. The pandemic has been a force for change and the sector must continue to adapt and modernise to stay competitive. For project managers, this as an opportunity to increase their knowledgebase and breadth of experience by utilising new technology and the benefits it brings to projects going forward.

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4D Health and Safety Training at HS2

Health and safety in the construction industry is getting a welcome boost thanks to funding from HS2 via the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK.

A new customisable online training tool is now in development by specialists in cloud-based Building Information Modelling (BMI) and digital twins, 3D Repo, in partnership with 4D consultancy, Freeform and Balfour Beatty Vinci JV.

The new tool is set to replace the generic training videos and presentations that are normally shown with live walkthroughs of site-specific 4D (construction sequencing) visualisations based on existing BIM models which can be understood in any language.

Generic safety training is set to be replaced by real-time, site-specific visualisations that will be delivered via an easy-to-use cloud-based user interface.  Health and Safety aspects will be coordinated with the HSE’s ‘Discovering Safety Programme’, to help enhance opportunities for compliance and reusability across other contractors.

Funding for this new training system will be provided via a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) innovation competition funded by High Speed Two (HS2) and managed by Innovate UK. The competition aims to deliver innovation which will drive project effectiveness and process for use during the design and construction phase of HS2.

Dan Fawcett, Head of Innovation & Transformation at Balfour Beatty Vinci, said: “Our number one priority is to be ‘Be Safe and Well’ when constructing HS2, and BBV’s work on 4D Constructability Reviews with 3D Repo to date is a great example of innovating to improve health and safety. Introducing further collaboration with Freeform and HSE to build on this work is yet another step forward in ensuring no injury, ill health or incident is caused by our work activities.”

James Bowles, Founder of Freeform, said: “4D models use graphical and non-graphical project information including time, resource, and logistics management to create more predictable, robust plans and sequences. With 3D Repo, we are developing a novel online tool which allows for simple planning and visualisation of intricate tasks to improve health and safety not only on HS2, but for the entire construction industry.”

By using the power of the cloud, this new training system is to provide centralised tracking of induction performance with full audit trail and reporting to measure effectiveness.

Work on the new 4D health and safety toll began last month, March 201 and follows from a recent announcement about adoption of new SafetiBase 4D technology which allows works to safely identify and resolve issues using immersive 360 degree screens.

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Mental Health in Construction Deteriorates

New research from Structural Repairs has found that 62% of construction workers have reported that their mental health has deteriorated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a study from Personnel Today, the construction industry is a crucial component to the UK’s economy, and whilst many industries and companies have stepped up over the last few years when it comes to recognising the significance of acknowledging mental health, it showed that the construction industry is yet to do this.

Physical health is a big concern within the construction industry, and is very much on its radar, but the risk of suicide in low-skilled male labourers, especially those who work in the construction industry, is three times higher than the national average, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This finding must be addressed by organisations within the industry, as a means to protect its workers.

Carl Laidler, Director of Wellbeing at Health Shield Friendly Society said: “While the social stigma around talking about mental health is gradually fading all-round, the construction industry progress here remains patch and needs to change. In the same vein, men have been reported by BMI Healthcare to be half as likely as women to access mental health services and struggle to discuss issue of this nature.”

Interestingly, the results of Structural Repairs showed that out of the individuals surveyed, 71% of women reported that their mental health has declined due to COVID, while in comparison, just 55% of men reported the same. This is an important factor to consider give how male dominated the construction industry with just 11% of the workers being women, as reported by The Smith Institute.

Overall, it can be understood that within the UK, mental health is an aspect which has been both significantly and negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both in and out with the construction sector. While other industries might find themselves better prepared to deal with the unforeseen and rapid decline in mental health, it is quite obvious that the construction sector is still far from where it should be when dealing with the mental well-being of its workers.

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Construction Industry Needs to Stop Hiding Behind “Unforeseen Delays”

Richard Robertson is Development Director at Cadline, which provides technology and services to improve business performance in design, analysis, data management, and collaboration across the architecture, engineering and construction industries. Here, Richard discusses the issue of unforeseen delays and what proactive measures can be taken to solve them.

Recent research published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) suggests that three out of five construction projects are completed late. Considering this is more than 50% of building sites, we need to establish what causes this ongoing issue and look for ways to change. After all, it does no good for construction to be among a handful of industries that are known to never finish on time or within budget. Every new announcement of a construction site experiencing issues and delays costs contractors and firms a good share of public trust.

While construction projects are complex due to the many stakeholders and processes involved, it seems that the collective industry creates a smokescreen about delays – a mentality that is seriously harming trust in the sector.

Some of the UK’s biggest hero construction projects, such as Crossrail and HS2, are notably delayed and considerably over budget, causing frustration for contractors. More often than not, delays are caused by a lack of information or access to data in the planning stages, but these challenges can be easily avoided in future.

Risk mitigation

A major issue contributing to delays within the industry is communication silos. For example, an architect may be unaware of the latest construction timeline while the contractor chases for supplies. Deadlines set without the most up to date information are inevitably missed, and so the domino effect falls. By breaking down communication silos we’re able to set evidence-based project timelines that are far more likely to be met. We should approach risk management in the planning stage with practical eyes, work around any issues and allow time for changes before the project starts.

Large projects require the ability for teams to access and update data in real time throughout the construction lifecycle, such as order changes, redesigns, progress and job costs. This not only reduces the likelihood of error but saves time and resources by improving communication and streamlining workflow for the entire workforce. Often this information is only available to senior stakeholders, but everyone engaged in the project should have easy access to the most accurate information, via a secure platform, to work most efficiently.

Being able to convey information to colleagues in a timely manner is essential in every project, even more so in the current environment where information is changing rapidly, globally. Manual updates and paper or email trails can often become lost or create a backlog, causing essential time to be wasted on searching for information.

Productivity

The pandemic has proven that the industry needs to be set up for modern ways of working in order to avoid delays, having thrown us into the deep end as teams adapted to working remotely. However, it has also helped us to realise that with the right tools, remote operations can be far more productive. For example, waiting for in-person site visits and manual reports to be completed can slow down progress, especially where firms are limited to the number of staff allowed on site at one time. But utilising cloud-based technology enables firms to view a site from anywhere in the world in real time, streamlining productivity, freeing up admin time and minimising delays.

These platforms allow companies to share live progress of projects with their field teams, stakeholders and clients, so all parties are aware of any potential issues and can ensure tasks run on time. It is in the interest of all construction companies to set their staff up for better ways of working and to embrace new methods and technology early – ahead of possible challenges arising.

Creating a construction plan based on estimated data is ineffective, even if the “ideal” results seem more attractive. Utilising technology enables businesses to plan based on accurate, up-to-date data with intelligent and cohesive timelines to offer a more realistic deadline. This avoids any risk of over-optimism and helps team plan for all scenarios, enabling them to be better equipped to make key decisions throughout the project timeline. As a key contributor to the UK economy, the industry is under immense pressure to meet project deadlines and delays cannot be afforded. With more businesses facing public scrutiny and being under the spotlight, it is ultimately how they respond to delays that can truly make or break a project.

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Winvic to Deliver Net Zero Scheme

Firethorn Trust, a commercial real estate investor and developer, has appointed Winvic Construction Ltd to deliver its landmark 25.5 acre site, Ascent Logistics Park in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

With a focus on promoting sustainability, the contract was awarded to Winvic on the basis of its ability to deliver Firethorn’s requirements of a net-zero carbon scheme. The site design includes LED lighting to offices, electric vehicle charging points and solar power generation. Ascent Logistics Park will feature generous outdoor amenity spaces with expansive landscaping, along with dedicated cycle and pedestrian routes as well as modern welfare facilities, which will look to encourage a healthy working lifestyle.

Permission to start construction at the site was granted by Central Bedfordshire Council in January, with work due to commence imminently and the first units due to be delivered by Q4 2021.

Commenting on Winvic’s appointment, Chris Webb, Partner at Firethorn said: “As one of the leading contractors within the industrial and logistics market, we were particularly impressed by Winvic’s extensive project experience and ability to deliver our vision for a net-zero carbon scheme.

“Winvic’s commitment to sustainability is strongly aligned with our own, and the delivery of Ascent Logistics Park will be a milestone moment for Firethorn and our vision to drive positive, sustainable change for the region, local businesses and the environment.”

Danny Nelson, Winvic’s Director of Industrial, Distribution & Logistics, added: “It’s a rewarding time for Winvic, as the company’s reputation for delivering quality industrial schemes is evidently being bolstered by our ability to deliver our clients’ net zero ambitions. Additionally, it’s fantastic to be working with a new client and our partnership work to date with Firethorn has illustrated that we share the same vision for the Net Zero Ascent Logistics Park in Leighton Buzzard. We’re very much looking forward to getting started on site and exceeding expectations at every step.”

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New Accommodation Pods Installed at HMP Ford

Thanks to collaboration with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and its external suppliers, the £2.6 million project to install new accommodation pods at HMP Ford is being delivered and is set to exceed customer expectations.

The work began in December 2020 to upgrade the residents’ living conditions at HMP Ford by installing 80 new self-contained units, or pods. Since then, they have been completed and offer more comfort and privacy, with each pod having a living area, desk, bed, WC, and shower unit.

A team of 10 workers expertly winched the 2.5 tonne pods into place on a newly levelled field at Ford. Here they replaced 20 smaller billets, mostly prefabricated, which were then demolished, meaning the new pods will be ready for occupancy by April 2021.

Project Manager Terry Coston explained: “This is a vast improvement on the previous accommodation. The residents will have much better living conditions, with more comfort, decency, and privacy. For example, each resident will have their own door key and use of a nearby kitchenette, pin phone room with 5 lines, and laundry.”

About HMP Ford: some background

HMP Ford is located near Arundel in West Sussex, on a former airfield. It played a highly strategic role as a squadron base during WW1 and later became RAF Ford Airfield, again playing major military roles in the D-Day landings.

Today, HMP Ford is an open prison committed to providing a safe and educational environment. Ford residents all have under 2 years left to serve on their sentence, so the focus is on resettlement and on men learning new skills to help them on release.

All residents are expected to work as they would out in the community. Work opportunities inside prison include painting and decorating, carpentry, engineering, cleaning and call centre work. Some residents enjoy work in nearby nurseries growing flowers and vegetables which are sold in the Ford farm shop (reopening to public shortly).

Work outside the prison is either supported through community service placements, work experience or paid work. Education provision includes a range of courses offered by Chichester College.

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British Bridges Built by Innovation

It’s easy to forget how far we’ve come with regards to bridge engineering. Our favourite bridges become a part of our natural environment. They are monuments no less than they are essential infrastructure.

But even new bridges appear ageless despite their novelty. This emphasises the prowess of engineers to integrate these giant structures into towns and cities. However, this can prevent us from appreciating the technological marvels that stand before us.

While size and span are already impressive, design and functionality should be recognised. In fact, bridge design has forced innovation in the construction sector. Some bridges are the largest moving structures. Unsurprisingly, bridges push technology to its limits.

Whether modern or historic, many bridges are defined by innovation. Here, we look at the bridges where technology has fronted innovative design.

The Infinity Bridge, Stockton

Not many bridges are shaped by their users, but the Infinity Bridge in Stockton uses innovative technology to react to pedestrians crossing the River Tees. The design of the bridge is striking itself. The dual tied arch design means that, when reflected in the water below, the image of a looping infinity symbol can be seen. However, it’s at night when the design really comes to life.

The bridge is illuminated with custom-designed LEDs, shining blue and white lights on the bridge’s handrail, footbath, and across the arches. While most modern bridges are illuminated in such a way, the innovation of motion sensors sets this crossing apart. When pedestrians use the bridge, motion sensors will detect the user and change the lights from blue to white on the handrail and footpath. Walking across the bridge will slowly return to a blue colour, leaving the impression of a comet tail in your presence. At night, walkers can enjoy dancing across the bridge to create unique light shows for themselves. Inaugurated in 2009, the bridge is expected to last 120 years. While this isn’t quite an infinite amount of time, the innovate design will certainly leave a lasting impression.

The Forth Bridge, Edinburgh

When thinking about innovation, looking beyond the past 100 years may seem questionable. However, Victorian engineering technology is still at the forefront of modern design. It continues to shape how the industry continues to grow.

The Forth Bridge, west of central Edinburgh, was completed in 1889. The bridge was innovative due to its construction material—steel. Previously, structures of this size were made from wrought iron. The Eiffel tower is a contemporary example of this.

Technological innovation allowed for the progression to harder and stronger metal alloys. The Bessemer process was the first inexpensive industrial process for the mass production of steel. This invention allowed the 53,000-tonne bridge to become the first prominent steel structure in Britain.

The longevity of structural steelwork means that it’s still used today as the foundation for many bridge designs. Despite over 100 years of technological innovation, and the changing process to produce steel, the material remains favourable in the industry.

Humber Bridge, Hessle

When the Humber Bridge opened in 1981, it was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world. With a total length of 2,220 metres, it held its record until 1998.

The bridge was innovative for several reasons. Most importantly, the bridge’s spans were constructed from hollow reinforced concrete towers. This was the first time concrete had been used in this way. Previous long-span suspensions bridges had to use steel to sustain the weight of the bridge and heavy traffic.

Since then, research has revealed the effectiveness of this technique, showing how hollowed concrete is particularly suited for suspension bridges. One paper compared the strength of solid concrete beams and hollowed concrete beams. The researchers designated their comparative strengths in various scenarios. The study concludes: “when torsion is dominant, it is advisable to construct the beam as hollow”.

Torsion is a prominent movement in suspension bridges. It involves the twisting of an object when it meets an applied force. This force may be wind or traffic. Many suspension bridges have failed through aerodynamic instability. Preventing torsion reduces the risk of collapse in this situation. The maintenance of steel wires and bridge supports is essential for longevity, and innovation continues to make bridge engineering easier.

The future of bridge engineering relies on increasing innovation. Reinventing common materials and finding new ways to impress bridge users has been a staple of British engineering for generations. Moving forward, technology will play a bigger role in engineering designs and solutions. Pushing construction to its limits it the best way to move the industry into the future.

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Sources

https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/4596/Gateshead-Millennium-Bridge-facts

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/gateshead_millennium_bridge_tilt

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-the-forth-bridge-fife/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225417520_Comparison_between_solid_and_hollow_reinforced_concrete_beams

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How Government are Supporting Self Employed

We’ve now past the one-year point since the first UK lockdown was announced and the impact of COVID-19 began affecting workers all over the nation. The self-employed have been amongst the hardest hit by the pandemic, with the economy grinding to a shuddering halt during 2020 as people were forced to stay home. From construction to catering, the knock-on effect saw contracts cancelled, projects paused and many people found themselves without work.

The introduction of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) by the government was a saving grace for many self-employed workers, whose business and income had been hugely affected by the pandemic. SEISS followed the announcement of the Government’s furlough scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), and allowed the self-employed to claim money from the Government while the ramifications of COVID were being felt across the UK.

To date there have been three separate SEISS grants with millions of claims and billions of pounds given out. A government report last year showed that the sector with the highest number of potentially eligible individuals and the highest proportion of claims was the construction industry¹. By 31 July 2020, construction workers had made 884,000 claims for SEISS, totalling £3.1 billion, and the sector has continued to be a key driver of claims into 2021.

Applications for the scheme’s third grant closed on January 29, 2021, but Chancellor Rishi Sunak used his Spring Budget at the start of March to announce there would be fourth and fifth grants made available. Self-employed workers that continue to need financial support should be aware of the detail surrounding these schemes, to ensure they make a claim where necessary and at the right time.

The fourth SEISS grant

From late April, a fourth SEISS grant will be available and those who are eligible can apply directly through the government’s website. It is thought that claims will be open until 31 May 2021, but this grant will cover the period running between February, March and April 2021.

Those who meet the criteria can claim 80 per cent of average monthly profits capped at £2,500, which is in keeping with previous SEISS grants. The grant will be paid out in a single instalment, so will therefore be capped at £7,500.

The grant will now be open to those who became self-employed during the tax year 2019 to 2020, and the rest of the eligibility criteria remains unchanged, as highlighted below.

SEISS eligibility criteria

• Applicants must have lost profits due to Coronavirus – you can be currently trading but have been impacted by reduced demand, or have been trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus
• You must also declare that you intend to continue to trade, or that you believe there will be a significant reduction in trading profits due to reduced business activity, capacity, demand or inability to trade due to coronavirus
• You must also have traded in both tax years – 2019 to 2020 and submitted your tax return by 2 March 2021; and the year 2020 to 2021.

Those with trading profits above £50,000 will not be eligible for the scheme. It’s also important to remember that any successful grant applications will be subject to tax. For those registered with the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), this could impact any potential rebates that you may have been seen in previous years. It is likely that you will have a tax liability to pay and it’s important that you are retaining enough from the government grant to make payment of your tax when it falls due, you should speak to your accountant about this.

The newly self-employed

For the fourth grant, there will now be an extra 600,000 newly self-employed people who may be eligible to claim. A lot of pressure was put on the government to extend the support to help more self-employed workers, and the Chancellor used the Spring Budget to announce that those who submitted their tax returns for 2019 to 2020 by March 2 would be eligible for the fourth SEISS grant.

There was also an opportunity for the government to go further and consider other self-employed workers with a limited company set-up, who have essentially been overlooked in terms of support so far. There was a proposal on the table for a Directors Income Support Scheme (DISS) but to date the government has not announced anything that would include workers of this type, although there are continued calls for this to change.

The fifth SEISS grant

A fifth SEISS grant will open to claims from late July and cover the months of May, June, July, August and September. The government intends for this to be the final SEISS grant, however this will be kept under review.

The fifth grant amount will be determined by how much business turnover has reduced in the year April 2020 to April 2021. Claimants will either receive a 30 percent grant or an 80 percent grant, depending on their personal circumstances:

• 80% of 3 months’ average trading profits, capped at £7,500, for those with a turnover reduction of 30% or more
• 30% of 3 months’ average trading profits, capped at £2,850, for those with a turnover reduction of less than 30%

Further details will be provided on the fifth grant later this year.

How to apply for SEISS

If you are eligible to apply for the fourth and fifth SEISS schemes, HMRC has promised to contact you. For the fourth grant, this will happen in mid-April and people will be provided with a personal claim date, which is the date you can make your claim from.

To complete the application online, you will need all of the following:

• Self -assessment Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)
• National Insurance number
• Government Gateway user ID and password
• UK bank details including account number, sort code, name on the account and address linked to the account
• Bank account details where a Bacs payment can be processed

Article supplied by Joanne Harris, a Technical Commercial Manager at Nixon Williams, an accountancy firm that works with sole traders, freelancers and contractors.

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