Construction National

Ground source heating for off-grid barn conversion

A stunning contemporary barn conversion located off-grid in South Norfolk is benefitting from energy efficient ground source heating from renewable heating experts, Finn Geotherm.

The four bedroom barn conversion in Hethersett was designed and built by homeowner Oliver Clarke. The property used the original 1980s steel framed sheep barn as the base with the new house built inside. Planning regulations required the appearance of the barn to remain as original as possible so Oliver designed and built bespoke exterior wooden shutters to go over each window and door. A large glass wall and bi-fold doors in the main living area provide stunning views over the fields and surrounding countryside. 

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Clark-Drain launches new polypropylene B125 chamber

The new B125 access chamber from Clark-Drain has been specifically designed for traffic signals, street lighting and communication networks.  Constructed of 100% recycled polypropylene, it delivers optimal safety, longevity and strength whilst being lightweight, durable and saving time on site for electrical and groundwork contractors. 

Available in clear opening sizes of 300mm, 450mm and 600mm widths, the chamber provides easy and safe installation and maintenance access to underground utilities.

Read more: Clark-Drain launches new polypropylene B125 chamber

Bull Products to showcase fire safety innovations at this year’s Build Show

Bull Products, a manufacturer of life-saving fire protection equipment, is preparing to showcase its range of innovative products for the first time at this year’s Build Show.

As part of UK Construction Week, the Build Show showcases the latest products on the market and welcomes over 30,000 industry professionals.

Taking place from 9th to 11th October at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, Bull will be exhibiting at stand B48, and will be showcasing its Cygnus Wireless Alarm System – a major innovation in wireless emergency fire alarms for construction sites.

Read more: Bull Products to showcase fire safety innovations at this year’s Build Show

HAKI Scaffolding stair chart unveiled

Following the 2018 release of a number of updated versions in the product range, HAKI Scaffolding has released a new Stair Chart PDF – reviewing the full range of its market-leading stair tower systems.

The handy one-page PDF chart is designed for all sector users of the HAKI Stair Tower range – which are designed and built to meet global working at height regulations simply, safely and adaptably. 

Read more: HAKI Scaffolding stair chart unveiled

Mick George FD’s 54-mile bike ride for charity

Having conquered the wilds and exotic of the Costa Rican Jungle in 2017, Jon Stump, Finance Director at Mick George Ltd found himself in slightly less desirable surroundings this weekend in his latest efforts to raise further charitable funds for the Lewis Moody Foundation.

The setting for this year’s encounter predominantly included the A22 highway, as Jon embarked on a daunting 54-mile hike between South London and Brighton sea front, in a mass-participation bike ride. Completing the challenge in just over 5-hours (including breaks), Jon and his fellow riders should be commended for their achievements.

Read more: Mick George FD’s 54-mile bike ride for charity

What will be the impact of BREXIT on the UK Construction Industry?

Some considerations by Prof. Dr. Michael Benfield of Benfield ATT Group.

Brexit is More than Brexit

Resisting the temptation to consider the impact that leaving the EU will have on Construction as a single event, this paper approaches this question more holistically. In part it regards historical background, recent trends, emerging technologies, social structures, emerging nations and international business as being just as important for the event as Brexit itself. Setting these as the context in which Brexit needs to be considered, it examines some of the pros and cons which emerge and poses tantalising prospective outcomes, before finally postulating that Brexit could be ‘Just what the Doctor ordered’ for the future of Construction.

Read more: What will be the impact of BREXIT on the UK Construction Industry?

Mclennan supply single axis motion system for LiDAR mapping

3D Laser Mapping Ltd is a high technology design, manufacturing and consulting company, based in Nottingham-UK. Its LiDAR scanning hardware and data analysis systems are used for mapping large structures - capturing, processing and providing three dimensional information for surveying tasks such as buildings, road networks and railways as well as creating digital terrain and elevation models of specific landscapes. Amongst a comprehensive range of products and systems targeting these quite diverse areas, 3D Laser Mapping’s PROCESSMONITOR LIVE software and 3DLM-SR-50 laser scanner package is aimed at dimensional modelling in particularly harsh environments such as underground construction projects, bridge and structural repairs and sprayed concrete measurement. To ensure the angular positioning precision and optimum reliability required for the laser scanner hardware, 3D Laser Mapping has chosen Mclennan as a supply and support partner for a Modbus over Ethernet-enabled intelligent microstepping drive and planetary gear unit with absolute encoder feedback.

Read more: Mclennan supply single axis motion system for LiDAR mapping

Hugely worrying!

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Vince Cable has described this year’s Construction News CN100 findings as “hugely worrying”.

The data revealed average pre-tax margins across the 10 largest UK contractors had fallen to -0.9 per cent (down from -0.5 per cent in last year’s analysis), whilst total debt at the 10 biggest companies had also increased by 24 per cent to £3.92bn compared with the firm’s previous financial years.

Sir Vince said that “Construction is the bellwether of the economy, so the huge debt burden and non-existent margins are hugely worrying, particularly if interest rates increase further,” and “they are signals of the economic uncertainty caused by chaotic Brexit negotiations.”

Read more: Hugely worrying!

Mick George Ltd tackle drought damaged Cambridgeshire roads

An initiative which started late last year to repair more than 40 miles of drought damaged roads in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will enter its final stages this month, with multiple locations set for improvements.

Having completed many of the routes, especially within the Peterborough area, attention has now switched to finishing the remaining routes in Cambridgeshire, with local business Mick George Ltd permitting enabling at six separate locations on behalf of the principal contractor, Skanska.

Read more: Mick George Ltd tackle drought damaged Cambridgeshire roads

Palmers Scaffolding provide modern access for historic Old Mint in Edinburgh

Leading British access brand, Palmers Scaffolding UK are providing modern scaffolding solutions on an historic old mint in Edinburgh, for top main contractors, ISG Construction Limited.

ISG’s premium central Edinburgh re-development project – to be known as ‘The Registers’ – comprises the mint building (previously used for the manufacture of currency) at 28-52 West Register Street, which incorporates a listed warehouse constructed in the Venetian Gothic architectural style of the 1860s, just adjacent to the well-known St Andrew Square in the city centre. It is a mixed-use re-development of the mint building, where the team at ISG are creating create 5,700 m2 of Grade A office space and 1,000 m2 of leisure space across ground and basement levels.

Read more: Palmers Scaffolding provide modern access for historic Old Mint in Edinburgh