Construction National

GSHPA welcomes call for urgent action on the electrification of heat

The GSHPA has welcomed the CCC’s strong support for the electrification of heat, contained in its 2023 Progress Report to Parliament. Despite the Government’s positive rhetoric and targets, the fact remains that the UK heat pump market is nowhere near the trajectory needed to deliver 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028. The CCC is right to note that the UK Government to date has avoided “big, impactful decisions,” and to emphasise the need for a complete policy framework to be put in place as soon as possible.

Read more: GSHPA welcomes call for urgent action on the electrification of heat

Etex Group launch new offsite construction brand

Global building materials company Etex Group is driving innovation in the construction industry by launching a new brand focused on offsite construction.

The trend towards greater offsite production has prompted Etex Group to leverage its existing offsite construction companies to create a comprehensive, full-service business to meet customer demand and drive performance.

Read more: Etex Group launch new offsite construction brand

Boost your business at breakfast with Themis at Burnley College

The apprenticeship training arm of Burnley College is inviting business leaders from around Lancashire to join them for a business boosting breakfast.

It’s an opportunity to find out how Themis can work with you to enhance your business, as well as meeting the expert team of Themis advisors and like-minded business people at the college’s industry-leading campus.

Read more: Boost your business at breakfast with Themis at Burnley College

York Handmade plays pivotal role in stunning Cheshire new build home

The award-winning York Handmade Brick Company has played a significant role in creating a stunning contemporary home in Cheshire.

The Easingwold-based firm, one of the leading independent brick-makers in the country, has supplied specially manufactured bricks for the Knoll, a new-build house in Mouldsworth, eight miles north of Chester.

Altogether York Handmade provided 15,000 bricks, in a contract worth £22,500, for the development of the Knoll.

Read more: York Handmade plays pivotal role in stunning Cheshire new build home

Preparing the workplace for a hotter future

Last year marked another record-beating year for hot weather in the UK and meteorologists predict temperatures above 35C could become the norm. Alex Minett, Head of Products and Markets at CHAS, a Veriforce company, looks at five key questions businesses might have about working during hot spells.

July 2022 saw the Met Office issue its first ever red alert for extreme heat. With four out of ten of the UK’s hottest days on record having fallen in the last two years alone, the figures serve as a stark reminder of the accelerating impact of climate change. 

Read more: Preparing the workplace for a hotter future

Aldermore builds new construction finance team

Aldermore is proud to announce the launch of its new finance proposition specifically tailored for the UK construction sector. The proposition will be backed by a dedicated team that bring a wealth of experience in the sector and will leverage our existing expertise whilst offering a refreshed customer experience.

Read more: Aldermore builds new construction finance team

International Rugby Experience - a brick masterpiece with Michelmersh products

Michelmersh is proud to see its products predominantly featured throughout the design of The International Rugby Experience. The International Rugby Experience has quickly become one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland since opening its doors in 2022.

Michelmersh is proud to see its products predominantly featured throughout the design of The International Rugby Experience, Limerick, where it sits on the edge of a conservation area within Limerick’s Georgian Quarter. The International Rugby Experience has quickly become one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland since opening its doors in 2022. The Experience’s verticality was crucial to the project’s success, where capacity was integral to it. The height of the building also provides impressive views over the city with its crowning public hall. The state-of-the-art facility is a must-visit for rugby fans from around the world, with the target of welcoming 100,000 visitors annually. Described specifically as an “experience” and not a museum, guests will be told a story of rugby through five values: Discipline, Solidarity, Respect, Passion and Integrity.

Read more: International Rugby Experience - a brick masterpiece with Michelmersh products

ASFP releases new passive fire protection guidance

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has published three new Advisory Notes and updated another. The documents cover a range of topics related to firestopping, penetration seals and smoke seals.  

Advisory Note (AN) 13 covers the testing of partial penetrations, for example, socket boxes, which are installed into dry wall systems. Firestopping products are made to help maintain the performance of a wall where such electrical boxes have been added. A CEN standard is currently being drafted to cover the testing of these products. However, in the interim period AN 13 suggests that the firestopping of these products is undertaken using an ad-hoc approach, based on testing to BS EN1364-1: Fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements. 

Read more: ASFP releases new passive fire protection guidance

Exeter College gets a solid investment with donation of 10,000 bricks

Brick by brick, a local housebuilder is building the future of the construction industry in Exeter - and they've just added 10,000 more to the mix. Persimmon Homes South West, has made a significant donation of 10,000 bricks to Exeter College to support the training and education of future construction professionals. The bricks, equivalent to the amount needed to construct a three-bedroom house, were delivered to the college's state-of-the-art construction facilities in the presence of local apprentices and Exeter City Council Leader, Cllr Phil Bialyk.

Read more: Exeter College gets a solid investment with donation of 10,000 bricks

The value of manoeuvrability - why operator comfort should come first

According to the National Safety Council, fatigued worker productivity costs USA employers between $1,200 and $3,100 every year. In the construction industry, which places significant physical stress onto workers, the numbers are likely to be considerably higher. Increasingly, construction companies are looking for ways to get the most out of their workforce without tiring them out. Here Dave Bigham, global director of training at surface preparation equipment manufacturer National Flooring Equipment, highlights some of the key benefits to equipment manoeuvrability.

Read more: The value of manoeuvrability - why operator comfort should come first