Sculpture masters · manager at Sir Robert McAlpine. “Each one rises from ground level on a 12...

LONDON REACHES FOR THE SKYWHERE’S THE VALUE IN SOCIAL VALUE?CPD: SINGLE PLY ROOF SYSTEMS INSIDE: CONTACT NEWSLETTER

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Sculpture mastersHow Sir Robert McAlpine cast a challenging concreteframe for Glasgow School of Art’s Reid Building

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | APRIL 2014 | 3

News and views04 CIOB forum pushes for reform

Members’ Forum to be held in Qatar.

06 NVQ route to membership Design managers welcome simpler passage to MCIOB.

08 Leader Construction can bring social value

to the UK... and the Middle East. 09 Feedback Letters; and readers on Sir David

Higgins’ HS2 Plus report.11 Comment BIM is about information, not

process, says Ray Crotty

Features36 Cover Story Touching the void Creating a concrete frame and

internal “driven voids” was a challenge at Glasgow School of Art’s Reid Building.

14 The height of fashion No less than 236 buildings of 20

storeys or more are planned for London. CM asks what this rush for height means for construction.

22 Gearing up for giving back Social value is becoming an

important part of procurement strategies. But many contractors are confused over what it means.

40 Insulation Denim tunes into Sochi; demo

researches solid wall insulation; training scheme wins award.

42 CPD: Single ply roofing systems Easy to install, durable and sustainable. What’s not to like?

62 Project of the month Manchester Central Library gets a new lease of life.

Construction professional28 CDMCs have their work cut out Richard Thorne on the key changes

in the new CDM regulations.28 BIM bytes

Consultants and contractors are fast embracing BIM, but what about clients?

29 How watertight is your insurance? Tony Keilty offers advice to SMEs

facing flooding threats.30 The technical watchdog There’s been a subtle shift to a

technical due diligence regime.30 Five things to know about... ... engaging workers via

intermediaries.32 Getting what you pay for A new initiative aims to provide

better assurance for retrofits.

+ Contact49-60Industry urged to take lead on tackling poor apprenticeship numbers

CM’s CPD Zone has generated huge interest from CIOB members as the most popular destination on our website. Check it out at construction-manager.co.uk

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It also runs schools, and works with a number of organisations to build new facilities in Qatar, including campuses of eight international universities in Qatar. The Foundation now insists that any work commissioned in their name must abide by the standards set out in the charter.

While the charter does not have legislative backing, Blythe points out that it still has considerable traction. “Qatari Rail, which is building the rail infrastructure, is adopting the principles set out in that document. The principles are quite rigorous, covering everything

from working conditions to housing. If you don’t abide by it, you won’t get work with the Qatar Foundation or Qatari Rail.”

In January Blythe participated in a round table with the Qatar Foundation, Engineers Against Poverty, and Amnesty International on migrant workers, hosted by the CIOB’s Middle East president Stephen Lines. Another participant was Chris Newman MCIOB, welfare manager for the Qatar Foundation. “His job is to bring in policy around migrant workers. We’ve got members at the heart of trying to deal with this,” Blythe notes.

CIOB forum in Qatar to push for reform Chief executive Chris Blythe outlines reasons behind decision to take Members’ Forum to Qatar The CIOB’s 2014 Members’ Forum and conference is to be held in Qatar, putting the CIOB at the heart of efforts to drive forward progressive reform on workers’ welfare in the Gulf state and World Cup 2022 host. The venue was unanimously chosen by delegates at last year’s Members’ Forum in Leeds, writes Rod Sweet and Elaine Knutt.

The Members’ Forum is part of a six-day event from June 13 to 19 that includes the CIOB’s annual general meeting, the Members’ Forum itself, site visits and, on 18 June, a one-day conference.

But Qatar has recently been in the news for all the wrong issues. Following a report in The Guardian in September 2013 cataloguing deaths and appalling treatment of immigrant labour on Qatar’s construction projects, the UK and global media have been alerted to long-standing abuses of workers’ rights in Qatar.

The CIOB will not be shying away from this. Blythe says that a “large part” of the conference will focus on workers’ issues, while the Members’ Forum will also promote reform. “The CIOB can be part of helping to change things by working with others putting pressure on the Qatari authorities to change the system and to move on from the system they have.”

Asked for further detail, Blythe refers to a meeting between deputy chief executive Bridget Bartlett and CIOB president Peter Jacobs with the Qatari embassy in February. “We told the chargé d’affaires what our plans were for this conference, who would be attending, and that we were going to be critical of what goes on. We

wanted them to understand that we couldn’t go there and just ignore it. And they welcomed that.”

But wouldn’t the Members’ Forum and conference just be another talking shop? Blythe acknowledges the risk, but says: “If you don’t engage in conversation nothing will happen. I think the Qatari government is eager to hear from anybody who can contribute positively to the debate as opposed to just criticising. If you ignore them and say I’m not even getting involved, don’t expect things to change. That’s a strategy for leaving things as they are. If you’re concerned about the fate of migrant workers, walking away from Qatar is not going to solve the problem.

Blythe is hoping that the CIOB Members’ Forum will represent one step on a path to far-reaching reform. “The Members’ Forum will make recommendations on possible ways forward for Qatar. I and others have already suggested that a government-run body takes in all the migrant workers and hires them out to the employers, in effect cutting out the agents. That’s been tried in Bahrain to a limited degree and there’s no reason it couldn’t work in Qatar.

“It would amount to nationalising the migrant worker business. That way you can set out and police

things like conditions more easily. But it’s having the will to do it. It would also mean contractors and all the other employers adjusting their business model. So it needs thinking through.”

He concludes: “Often the excuse is, well, this is not our problem, it’s the subcontractors. That really is unacceptable. Everyone has to share in the issue. This is why I think that if Qatar doesn’t do something it will be a matter of international shame. The high profile that Qatar has sought for itself has a price, and the price is to do things right. If they don’t they end up being diminished.”

The CIOB is a long-standing supporter of a charter on the welfare of migrant workers published by the Qatar Foundation in March last year. The Qatar Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 1995, aims to improve education, science, community life and the arts.

4 | APRIL 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

News

Balfour Beatty trainee wins achievers’ awardHarriet Bower ICIOB won the Project Management category at this year’s Duke of Gloucester Young Achievers’ awards run by the Construction Youth Trust charity.

The 24-year-old assistant bid manager at Balfour Beatty saw off competition from seven other shortlisted finalists, which recognised her resilience in coping with dyslexia through school and then going on to achieve a first class honours degree in Construction Project Management.

The scheme’s overall winner was Gary Fowler, a site agent at J Breheny Contractors, who also came top in the Construction Delivery category.

The Duke of Gloucester Young Achievers’ Scheme, now in its third year, celebrates the achievements of young professionals across the industry under the age of 30, who have overcome barriers in life to achieve a great start in

their career.This year’s awards were

sponsored by CITB, KPMG, Aecom, Byrne Group, EC Harris and John Rowan & Partners.

Each winner received a cash prize and will take part in a one-year mentoring programme to help take their future careers.

Cheshire-based Bower achieved nine GCSEs and three A-levels at school, despite severe dyslexia. Thinking university was beyond her reach, she started work in an admin role, but with the support of Balfour Beatty she completed a part-time degree at the University of Salford, graduating last year.

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One-day conference focuses on CSRThe one-day conference on Wednesday 18 June will be themed on corporate social responsibility, with a sharp focus on people and worker welfare. “The conference programme that was sketched out last year focused on infrastructure and the people building it, but now I think it focused too much on the infrastructure and not enough about the people,” says Blythe.

The conference will be chaired by incoming CIOB president Professor Ghassan Aouad. Confirmed speakers include Dr Abdullah Al Khulaifi, Qatar’s minister for labour and social affairs; and Sh. Khalifa Bin Jassim al Thani, chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Also on the conference agenda are Dr Alexander Amato of the Qatar Green Building Council, and Ziad Baradi, operations director for Drake & Scull in Saudi Arabia.

There will be two panel sessions, the first chaired by the CIOB’s Middle East president Stephen Lines, entitled “Should our responsibilities stretch beyond the realms of the built environment?”

Chris Blythe will be chairing a second panel session on “Workers welfare, where do our responsibilities lie?”

The Gulf location for the conference and Members’ Forum follows Leeds in 2013, Dublin in 2012 and Shanghai in 2010. Blythe commented: “It gives us a chance to go to places the CIOB wouldn’t normally go. We’re a global institute so that’s fitting.

“Going somewhere completely different is very useful. Your usual terms of reference are gone. The world is crashing in on your senses. We really noticed this in Shanghai. You think about the issues in a completely different way.”


The CIOB will not ignore Qatar’s abuse of migrant labour at its Members’ Forum, says Chris Blythe

News

Blueprint for NottinghamPlans for a new neighbourhood of up to 160 low energy homes at Trent Basin, Nottingham, have been approved by the city council’s planning committee. It is the latest major project by specialist regeneration developer Blueprint and the result of a collaboration with the government’s Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The Al Wakrah Stadium designed by Zaha Hadid Architects is a signature project for World Cup 2022

“If you’re concerned about the fate of migrant workers, walking away from Qatar is not going to solve the problem”


CIOB News Bridget BartlettCompletion is just as critical as the build

I was reminded, when I heard CIOB Sir Ian Dixon Scholar Mike Rider present his research project recently, how important managing completion is not only to the builder but to the client anxious to occupy their new building. As a very dissatisfied client of my new home four years post completion, it struck me that the builder had, through failure to manage a proper completion, incurred financial and reputational damage detrimental to its business and to the peace of mind of its client.

You might assume I am dealing with a small outfit without specialist resources here. However, my neighbours and I are dealing with one of the biggest housebuilders in the UK, a well-known company created through merger, and quite frankly, I expected better from them.

While recent flooding in Chertsey is having a devastating effect on many other riverside dwellers, our problems are compounded by the ongoing failure of the housebuilder to fix drainage problems from rooftop terraces, which cause water ingress and misery for home dwellers below. If water flowed uphill, the problem would be solved by now: it is clear that the levels of the drainage holes are higher than the roof terrace. Pretty basic stuff, yet the contractor has sent in the same subcontractor four times, rebuilt the terrace walls (badly) and failed to rectify the fundamental issue of the level of the drain holes.

So now we homeowners have no recourse other than to call in the lawyers which will add more anxiety and expense.

What can homebuilders do to avoid this type of scenario? Read Mike Rider’s report. And from a client perspective, my advice is: manage the completion process with as much care as the build, listen to the concerns of clients during the snagging phase and rectify defects quickly, communicate and keep proper records of actions taken.

Our builder recently told a new occupant of a flat suffering with water ingress that there was no record of any problem, despite having attended to it on four previous occasions. When a large hole appeared in his lounge ceiling and a carelessly discarded loose brick dropped through he was understandably upset. This upset is compounded by inept customer care, poor communication and buck passing.

With housing being the fastest-growing sector of the industry, lessons should not only be learned but practice improved for the sake of the sector's reputation and the client's wellbeing.

Design managers welcome NVQ route to membership...Experienced design managers who have traditionally fallen into a professional no man’s land between the RIBA, CIAT and CIOB have welcomed the CIOB’s move to recognise the Edexcel Level 7 NVQ in Built Environment Management and Consultancy Practice as a direct route to membership.

Recognising the equivalence of the NVQ and the professional standard expected of members — based on a study last year by UK Naric, the national agency providing information on qualifications — means that holders can bypass the professional competence assessment in the CIOB’s Professional Review, instead filling in simple application forms.

Steve Jelley, group design and technical manager for housebuilder and contractor Howarth Homes in Middlesex, is working towards the qualification and promoting awareness of the new route among his colleagues and wider industry network.

“I’m passionate about the design manager role, no institute has engaged us or take us under their wing, but if you calculate that every housebuilder usually has five to ten design managers per region, and main contractors are often employing at least a hundred design managers, there are likely to be thousands of us in the industry.

“The RIBA likes architects to be running the design side, but that doesn’t reflect the reality of the industry. So for many years, we’ve never had a home. Now the CIOB has basically recognised the role of design manager."

Jelley has so far discussed the new route with about 20 colleagues and contacts who he feels would be capable of meeting the NVQ requirements, and is now also hoping to encourage fellow directors to join the CIOB, so that Howarth Group can achieve Chartered Building Company status. “Because we are going to be tendering for a lot of Homes and Communities Agency funded projects, it will give us a unique edge in the bidding process," said Jelley.

He says that design managers are often architectural technologists who drift into design management without any formal qualifications, some start down the RIBA route but then switch over and become a design manager, and others come over from site management.

“I would say there’s a lot of highly experienced design and technical managers out there that haven’t got a formal qualification, but would meet the requirements for the NVQ and CIOB, because it recognises these NVQs," adds Jelley.

“Membership of the RIBA and CIAT hangs on degrees, but usually it’s only people in professional consulting backgrounds that have degrees. But a design manager typically sits at the head of the table. On a 50-storey tower, you would have a design manager monitoring, running and instructing the design team, the architect, the M&E engineer and the structural engineer, so we have to have skills in all three areas and resolve any issues. So it’s a different skill set — MCIAT often isn’t appropriate.”

… Saudi-based engineer is first to take advantageThe first individual to achieve MCIOB via the Edexcel Level 7 NVQ in Built Environment Design and Consultancy Practice is Derek Shelley (pictured), an experienced design manager currently working in Saudi Arabia as a resident electrical engineer.

Shelley, 58, has worked in construction for around 40 years, but his formal qualifications are an HNC in engineering, and other supplementary qualifications at sub-degree level. But as he says, employers — especially outside the UK — are increasingly asking for degree qualifications.

Shelley says: “I’d looked at doing a Masters degree, an MSc in Design Management, but the number of courses available has decreased, and the cost has gone up. Plus it would take three

years part-time or distance learning. At my age, it’s a lot of time and money.

“I found out about the NVQ on the internet in December 2012, and later I found [from NVQ assessment company CAD UK] that I could also get chartered membership of the CIOB as an added bonus. I started the course seriously in April, and had finished by early June.

“Essentially you provide evidence of what you’ve done, offering a description of the way you worked and providing examples — luckily I had kept quite a lot of records from my previous job. It took quite a bit of time, there was sustained effort in the evenings and at weekends. But I’m now applying for Chartered membership.”

“For design managers, I think it’s worth it. People work long hours and a degree might not be worth it for the amount of time they have left in the industry.”

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CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | APRIL 2014 | 98 | APRIL 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

We bring social value here, and also in Qatar

DO YOU WANT A SIDE order of “social value” with your new homes, new school or new offices? Increasingly, the answer from public sector clients, and even some private developers, is “yes”. And the industry is happy to oblige, knowing the scale of the multi-million investments passing through its books, the ability of major construction projects to catalyse regeneration in a locality, and the overall benefits that flow from training young people, and supporting local businesses.

Of course, as anyone who ever dines out will know, these side orders do inflate the overall bill. When contractors are delivering bespoke training programmes and work placements, targeting their local spend — and simply diverting attention from their core business — there will be a cost. Mostly companies will simply pass this on to the clients (and let’s assume they actually delivered what they costed for). Or in the worst case scenario, it will reduce their profit margin and ability to invest.

And in the light of the industry’s current focus on reforming and boosting its capacity to train young people, following on from last month’s No more lost generations report, another possible cost is that social value policies naturally create a patchwork of local training initiatives — many of them excellent — that nevertheless divert attention away from a coordinated national approach and a consistent baseline that everyone can work to.

No one is saying the industry shouldn’t

shoulder some responsibility for strengthening the social fabric as it creates our new physical fabric. After all, the industry exists to build the facilities needed by our society and economy, so it’s in construction’s overall long-term interests to help strengthen them in the first place. Nevertheless, there has to be an awareness that construction can’t provide an endless shopping list of social benefits without creating costs.

Then there’s Qatar, and the question of whether the industry can deliver a side order of social justice and legal reform alongside the stadia, hotels and infrastructure. That’s the intention behind the CIOB’s decision to hold this year’s Members’ Forum in the Gulf state. But it’s a tougher ask. In Qatar, a picture is emerging of a country with a relatively thin layer of accountable and reform-minded government, presiding over a deeply entrenched kafala system.

So can construction make a difference in Qatar? As with social value in the UK, there has to be recognition that there are limitations on what it can do alone, and probably costs too. But as with the UK, construction isn’t, or shouldn’t be, a commercially-driven entity that simply sucks up money and moves on. Its interests lie in building responsibly and sustainably, in all senses. It will be challenging to make changes in Qatar, but the industry should certainly be trying. Elaine Knutt, editor

Feedback

Sustainability needs to account for deconstructionMick Ulyatt MCIOBI read with interest the Myths of sustainability feature in March CM. But sustainable construction never elaborates on an important part of true sustainability — deconstruction.

To deliver a complete sustainable construction agenda, deconstruction that has minimal waste and environmental impact must become a core aspect of planning, design and construction strategy and practice.

All building products are designed to fulfil a function within the built environment, but how many can be shown to be functional and suitable for reuse after their normal life cycle has ended? Advances in technology have brought about change in construction products manufacture with increased use of man-made materials that are extremely difficult and costly to dispose of. Modern buildings with these stored up waste legacies abound.

Environmental targets should include end-of-life impacts. Extending BIM parameters, particularly COBie information, to include deconstruction data will inform designers and users of the legacy impact of widely used products and processes.

Good design practice must come to include consideration of end of life of all building products irrespective of their material base or manufacture process.

It will require a seismic shift in the design and construction mindset, but it is a necessary shift if we are to move forward to deliver the broadest intent of sustainable construction.

CDMC role should be contractor’sKenneth Ferguson ICIOB, via website I am delighted to hear that the role of CDM coordinator is to be abandoned (HSE: delayed CDM 201X will be law by April 2015, online).

It does mean a loss of income to me, as a CDM coordinator, but, in my view, it is unnecessary to have a separate role, with an extra fee, for the management of the

Vox popHas Sir David Higgins – and his proposals in the HS2 Plus report – saved HS2 from the doubters?

CDM regulations. Their management should rest with either the principal contractor or designer for a project.

Also, it is crazy that work to a rented house is subject to CDM regulations but a privately owned and occupied one is not.

Shifting CDMC role is a disasterPeter Schofield ACIOB, via websiteGiving the responsibility for CDM to the lead designer will be a disaster. As a planning supervisor/CDMC since 1995 I have only come across one or two designers who truly understand and

CDMCBill Price, via website I totally agree that Egan got it wrong (so did Latham) (in response to Ray Crotty’s online piece “Collaboration” failed — let’s just collaborate). The industry produces too many documents that contractors have to plough through, that are meaningless and only get looked at in the event of a major dispute.

Let’s go back to the days when an architect actually knew what he had drawn, could talk intelligently about it and handed you a dyeline print on site.

properly implement risk control, and none who have practical working knowledge of the management requirements. Why can’t the HSE recognise that design teams spend hours reviewing BREEAM assessments purely because there is a piece of paper at the end of the process?

Giving the CDMC the same responsibility to effectively “sign the project off” at tender and completion stages may increase my PII premium, but will also ensure all stakeholders, especially the client, properly implement the requirements. Simple!

“We need to get on with it, if we’re going to stay ahead in Europe and the rest of the world, but in this country we just mess about.”Chris Kane, Greendale

Contact usDo you have an opinion on any of this month’s articles? Email:construction-manager@atom publishing.co.uk

More Construction Manager online and on Twitter Our twice-weekly newsletters give you breaking news, and online-only content, including more coverage of the Qatar Members’ Forum, plus fresh perspectives on the week’s news. Sign up at www.construction-manager.co.uk. For news from CM and other sources as it happens, join our 3,600+ Twitter followers @CMnewsandviews.

Sir David Higgins’ report could put HS2 on track

ahead of schedule. For such a large investment, I would expect to see a number of trickle-down contracts for regional contractors like Stepnell, who embrace building information modelling (BIM) and a collaborative approach to design, engineering and construction.

Chris Kane MCIOB Founding director, Greendale I’m all for it, I think they should get on with it. That guy delivered the Olympics didn’t he, he’s the one to do it – and let no barriers get in his way.

You only have to look back at the Industrial Revolution, where what helped was transport connections, the rivers, canals and railroads. Or the Japanese bullet train that can travel at 200mph. We need to get on with it, if we’re going to stay ahead in Europe and the rest of the world, but in this country we just mess about.

Mark CowlardGlobal head of rail, EC HarrisSir David’s ability to manage politicians is of great value, he has now pushed the ability to reduce cost firmly back at the feet of Parliament which now needs to accelerate the Royal Assent process for both phases to allow HS2 to quickly deliver the railway and to reduce overall development costs.

It’s critical for HS2 that its connections to HS1 are effective. Removing the scheme from the Bill is the right thing to do, but I fear they will push this critical element of route to the back and miss a great early connectivity opportunity.

Vance BabbageDirector, B&M BabbageI’m not convinced he has. His idea of extending the line from Birmingham to Crewe by 2027 to help complete the second phase more expediently sounds achievable, but proposing the Crewe extension is likely to require more debate by government to get HS2 through Parliament, making it even more costly.

Some people say we should approach it like the French did and build all the main elements of HS2 simultaneously, but their bludgeoning response of hammering everything through isn’t the best way, and nor is taking forever and a day debating it. A measured response that tries to get the best value for tax payers is the best solution.

We also need a specific completion date for HS2 in its entirety, rather than the current open-ended situation. The

completion deadline for the London 2012 Olympics no doubt helped Higgins succeed in coordinating it. He couldn’t be late for the lighting of the Olympic torch, and nor should HS2 for the first train journey north.

Sean JefferyExecutive director for infrastructure, KierYes, Sir David’s report is a strong proposal for a positive and earlier commitment to improve connectivity to the northern cities, Wales and Scotland via the Crewe hub and earlier delivery of Phase 2.

The recommendations could create better development opportunities at Euston to improve and regenerate the area and we need to bring that station on a par with its sister stations at St Pancras and King’s Cross and provide better connectivity with them.

His report provides a more sensible proposal for future connectivity opportunities with Crossrail 1 and 2 and the London Underground. It will be good for business, the construction industry, jobs and upskilling our workforce.

Mark WakefordManaging Director, Stepnell Sir David’s involvement in HS2 is good news for the project and I’m sure the changes he’s outlined in his report will be effective. He has the knowledge, vision and credibility in these matters to lead the project and his insight into how HS2 could benefit everyone is excellent.

Sir David is also process-driven and will put the right people and systems in place to fast-track the project and deliver it

HS2 Plus | Context

10

Passenger traffic, for instance, between Greater Manchester (population: 2.7 million) and the Leeds city region (2.2 million) is much less than you would expect between two cities of such size and significance, 40 miles apart. Less than 0.5% of commuters into Manchester come from Leeds, and vice versa. Common sense suggests that there is huge untapped potential for much more trade and commerce across the Pennines, but that would require better connections than currently exist.

That is the status quo, and if you compare it to the key principles I set out at the start of this report, then clearly it fails the test. Our infrastructure has not stood the test of time: it is a series of imperfect compromises which have not provided a strategic answer to the needs of the country. It has not maximised local synergies and it has reinforced the imbalance in the national economy, rather than acting as a catalyst for change. That is the problem: HS2 Plus can be the answer.

Fastest current journey times: Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull

Source: HS2 Ltd

Hull

London

Liverpool

Manchester

Leeds

47 mins

53 mins

54 mins

2 hrs 12 mins

2 hrs 8 mins

2 hrs 13 mins

2 hrs 38 mins

HS2 Plus | Context

7

Number of FTSE 100 companies in Britain by location

1

1

1

11

1

1

11

11

1

1

11

1 111

1

1

11

1

2

22

2

10

C O M PA N I E S

66

Hurn

10 companies arelocated outside of the UK.

Note: Royal Dutch Shell A & B are counted as two companies,bringing the total to 101.

Bristol

Crawley

Cheshunt

LONDON ANDTHE SOUTH EAST

Denham

Slough

Windsor

Cambridge

Cardiff

DunstableLuton

Addlestone

Edinburgh

Glasgow

Perth

Aberdeen

Newbury

Reading

Leicester

Warrington

Redditch

Coventry

Mansfield

Newcastle

Bradford

York

Chertsey

Birmingham Northampton2

In England, only

six FTSE 100 companies are north of Birmingham

Source: London Stock Exchange


AS BUILDING INFORMATION Modelling gathers more momentum, a worrying trend seems to be emerging. The process issues which surround BIM have come to dominate the discussion, obscuring the central technical innovation — the perfect information that BIM systems can generate about the building.

The defining feature of BIM is the use of “intelligent”, 3D modelling systems for designing buildings. BIM enables the user to insert accurate, fully detailed building components at specific points into a computerised 3D representation of a building. The model is assembled in a manner that is highly analogous to the process of constructing the real building.

Modelling systems can generate design information that is richer, far more accurate and more fully coordinated than drawing-based systems are capable of. They can generate “effectively perfect” design information that is:l Trustworthy — it does not need to be checked before re-use.l Computable — it can be passed from one computer system to another without human interventionl Intelligent — it can be used to embed aspects of human knowledge and rules about the physical world.

It can be incredibly difficult to ensure that drawing-based information is internally consistent, that it’s properly coordinated with related documents, that it’s complete and correct and that it is clear in its representation.

The poor quality of information contained in drawings undermines all areas of construction activity. It makes design processes error-prone and inefficient. It makes effective, competitive procurement of contractors impossible, because drawing-based information is inherently incapable of generating accurate, complete scope documentation. This makes it impossible to evaluate competing contractors’

bids effectively, which in turn makes it impossible to challenge and eliminate spurious or predatory tenders for construction work.

The result is that construction contractors compete more on their ability to win projects and manage claims, than on their ability to carry out the actual construction operations efficiently and economically. The distressingly low levels of profit in contracting and the persistent failure of the industry to improve its productivity are a direct result.

Poor information and the difficulty of accurate scope definition also lead directly to the industry’s dismal record of project cost and schedule overruns.

So three of the main areas of strategic failure in construction — profitability, productivity and predictability — can all be attributed directly to the poor quality of information inherent in the use of drawings to develop and communicate the design of buildings. BIM, when it becomes mature and established in the industry, will change that because it will enable design, procurement and construction to be carried out on the basis of effectively perfect information. Getting to that situation, however, has become a bit of a circus.

As noted above, the key feature of BIM is the use of intelligent modelling systems to generate high quality information in the design of buildings. Such systems are now available for all of the major design disciplines and for some of the specialist building analysis activities. Clearly, in the design phase

of a given project, these systems will need to share and re-use each other’s data easily and accurately. And, having created such high quality information, it’s going to be important to maintain its integrity through the subsequent procurement, construction and handover phases of the project.

This introduces two challenges: how to exchange data between systems with different internal methods of representing and storing data; and commercial and contractual relations between the firms involved in these exchanges.

The government’s BIM Task Group has done good work in promoting BIM and in analysing the practical issues involved in Level 2 BIM. Inevitably an element of hype has crept in — “buzzword bumph” as Building columnist Tony Bingham recently called it. And as I said earlier,the process issues which surround BIM have come to dominate the discussion. The key concern is that the processes in question are largely about the way we do things today — drawing management and so on.

The proposed solutions — creating British Standards to embody today’s practice in these areas might be harmless in other circumstances, but when these subsequently become subject to the government’s “BIM by 2016” mandate, there is a danger that those particular solutions will become cast in contractual concrete: processes as an end in themselves, smothering initiative and stifling innovation.

There is also a significant danger, already evident, that the initiative will generate yet another layer of “validation” and “certification”, more box-ticking and check-listing.

To avoid that outcome we must refocus on the technical modelling issues and develop a more light touch, open-minded approach to the softer, process side.Ray Crotty is managing director of C3 Systems. www.c3systems.co.uk

We all recognise the benefits that BIM can bring to projects. But consultant and long-standing BIM advocate Ray Crotty warns against overcomplicating things in the charge to efficiency.

BIM is about information, not process

Comment Ray Crotty

“Contractors compete more on their ability to win projects and manage claims, than on their ability to carry out construction efficiently.”

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IF IT WERE POSSIBLE to zoom 15 years into the future and take a tour of London, you might find your sense of geography getting a bit confused. Around Vauxhall you’d find a cluster 20 towers, forming a new high-rise suburb. In Stratford there’s a canyon banked by 100m cliff faces. Canary Wharf has spawned a new office quarter and residential towers, looking down on a cluster of seven high rises across the river at the Greenwich Peninsula. And London’s South Bank, from Blackfriars to Waterloo, has been punctuated with new towers that will forever change our views of central London.

This emerging skyline is starting to take shape today: developers are maximising the value of London’s scarce land by building tall, stacking new apartments for a buoyant housing market fuelled by the capital’s steady population growth.

The trend is explored at the “London’s Growing... Up!” exhibition at the Building Centre curated by New London

Architecture, which also commissioned research by property company GL Hearn into just how many high-rises are proposed. The results were startling : no fewer than 236 towers above 20 storeys are in the planning process at the moment (see diagram). Of these, 80% have a primarily residential use.

The Vauxhall-Nine Elms area shown in this CGI is typical of what’s predicted to happen. It forms one of 11 “intensification areas” identified in the mayor’s 2011 London Plan, where future transport connections have caught the attention of home-grown developers such as Berkeley Group, international developers such as China’s Dalian Wanda, overseas sovereign wealth funds, and existing owner-occupiers looking to redevelop their sites.

The original masterplan centred around the 181m tall tower in the centre of the cluster, One St George Wharf. But that single focal point has already been joined by applications for towers substantially taller, including the 200m Chinese-backed

Feature Tall buildings

Hundreds of towers of more than 20 storeys are being planned for London. Elaine Knutt investigates why height is a growing trend and what the impact will be for the capital and contractors.

One Nine Elms hotel. “Vauxhall is the one most people will be

startled by,” says Nigel Barker, planning and conservation director for London at English Heritage. “Imagine One St George Wharf surrounded by another 20 or so towers of the same height. That change is radical, and I’m not sure everyone is aware of it.” Barker adds that the mayor’s planning framework makes provision for 20 tall buildings without specifying their height, but none of the applications are coming in at under 100m. “English Heritage is concerned that there has not been enough upfront work done to define the character, and sense of place these opportunity areas will have.”

Barker also gives voice to widespread fears that the new towers will do nothing to enhance residents’ and visitors’ experience of London, instead transforming it into an architecturally bland Anywhereopolis. “We’re not saying you can’t do things, but we’re worried about the scale and pace of change,” he

THE HEIGHT OF FASHION

CGI of the Vauxhall-Nine Elms area, one of 11 “intensification areas” in Boris Johnson’s London Plan


>

Tower Hamlets 55 Barnet 20

Newham 16

Lambeth 31Southwark 20Wandsworth 11 Greenwich 18

Croydon 11

London’s proposed tall buildings

warns of the long-term impact of reliance on developers’ largesse as a threat to London’s social character. “What sort of communities are you developing? If you develop the north of Southwark and Lambeth into high end flats, you don’t get lively communities, and you get the affordable housing in the south of the borough. So we’ll end up with a donut — London with a hollow centre.”

But there’s no doubt that what Boris Johnson calls the “capital of the world” needs to do something to accommodate its underlying population growth: a city of 7 million in 1999 is now home to 8.3 million, with a projected increase to 10 million by 2030. Equally, building tall is part of a global trend: in cities with high land values like London, building up is often the only economic option. And there’s also a convincing argument that concentrating density in key locations and containing urban sprawl is a sustainable strategy for growing cities.

Aecom director Brian Smith feels that towers around transport nodes are inherently sustainable. “There are clusters around investment in infrastructure,

whether that’s pre-existing infrastructure in Croydon and Canary Wharf, or future infrastructure like Crossrail and the Northern Line extension. There’s an argument that tall buildings are less efficient in space terms, but towers are good for longevity — you don’t see that many knocked down. A lot of 1960s buildings have been demolished, but the towers are still there,” he says.

And whereas tall buildings were once thought of as more energy hungry than low rise buildings of equivalent floor space, advances in technology and design now mean that high rise construction is more energy efficient than once thought (see box opposite).

Already, 19% of the 236 towers identified in the GL Hearn/NLA study



says. “There’s something about the mix of London that makes it unique in world terms — New York, Shanghai or Singapore don’t have that vibrant mix of old and new. But Boris Johnson and the GLA have been looking at emulating models of development based on Singapore and the Far East, not enhancing London’s distinctiveness.”

Peter Murray, director of New London Architecture, also believes we should be asking questions about London’s high-rise future. “Our position at the exhibition is we have no problem with tall towers as buildings, but are they in the right place, and are they of the right architectural standard? A lot of people will see them from a lot of places,” he points out.

But while the City towers of the last decade quickly attracted nicknames based on their quirky architecture — the Pinnacle, the Walkie-Talkie and the Cheesegrater — the emerging crop haven’t been interesting enough to warrant any.

“They’re more orthogonal, although that’s partly because we’re talking about residential space, not offices,” agrees Murray. “Offices are able to build in a greater flexibility of floorplate, with residential you tend to have a similar geometry as you go up the building. But Herzog + de Meuron is doing a tower at Wood Wharf [the new extension to Canary Wharf], a striking, high quality piece of architecture.” But even Murray can’t name any other contenders for the architecture prizes of the future.

Community paymentsAnother factor driving the current wave of tall buildings is that local authorities often have a powerful incentive to approve them: the Community Infrastructure Levy payments they negotiate with developers will pay for the affordable housing, new schools, libraries and other facilities for residents that their own income and shrinking Whitehall grants can no longer cover. “The development industry actually pays for much of the public good that was once paid for by the public purse. So there’s pressure on the local authorities to facilitate high rise,” says Murray.

“How else are Southwark or Lambeth going to provide new schools, housing or other social infrastructure?” agrees English Heritage’s Barker. But he also

Tall orders: innovations that keep us reaching for the skyWith London growing a high-profile crop of new high rise buildings, what innovations in design, technology and sustainability can we expect to take hold? At WSP, director and head of client management Bill Price, and head of building services Philippe Honnorat, describe a range of new technologies that will allow tall buildings to push ever higher on shrinking footplates — while also keeping their carbon footprint in check.

“The economics of high rise is often driven by innovation, and as a practice we’re constantly interested in trying to do things differently,” comments Price. One of the most clear cut examples of both principles — a super slim “pencil tower” such as Rafael Vinoly’s 432 Park Avenue — could be arriving in London soon, he says. “I’m looking at three or four towers that are super slender, with very small footprints, and I’m confident at least a couple will happen.”

Their looks could be striking: the Park Avenue tower has an aspect ratio of 15:1, while the recent Heron Tower in the City, also engineered by WSP, has an aspect ratio of 8:1. Typically, such slender towers only have one or two apartments per floor, offering panoramic views.

Stability is achieved by three things, says Price. “The core uses extremely high strength concrete, cast either using travelling slip-form machines that cast each floor in turn, or by jump forms. Usually you would have a perimeter edge that’s not part of the overall stability, but in pencil towers you use the perimeter too.” That means casting a hollow concrete box, then punching out the windows — a form of construction often seen in Japan for seismic reasons. “That’s essentially what we’re doing at Park Avenue, and what we’ll see in London,” says Price.

Finally, to reduce sway to acceptable levels, engineers design a tuned mass damper to sit at the top, a hydraulic system that moves the building in the opposite direction to the wind. This could take the form of a gigantic water-filled tank, a block of steel or a ‘sloshing damper’

where water passes through tubes and gates. “They’re expensive, complex and hard to maintain, but that’s outweighed by the value of increasing the development value for residential,” says Price.

Ventilation strategies, building services and energy efficiency are also going through a phase of technological advancement. Honnorat first points to lift technology, where systems can now harvest energy. LED lighting is also a plus, considering that many high rise towers will have circulation areas with no access to daylight that are lit 24 hours a day. “That’s a big energy saver, 365 days a year,” says Honnorat.

But natural ventilation is also arriving. “People have been wary about opening windows because of the higher wind speeds at height, but developments in facade and window manufacturing now allow fresh air to enter the space, which has an impact on energy use if you no longer need huge amounts of ductwork to push air in and out of the building.”

In practice, this means designing windows with panels that partially glide in and don’t project outwards, allowing air to enter. This allows buildings that have built up heat during the day to be “purged” at night.

In residential towers, Honnorat says the trend is for localised modular services handling hot water and exhaust air for each floor, rather than a centralised system. “People occupy towers seasonally, or permanently, so it’s possible to reduce fixed energy costs,” he says.

On balance, Honnorat says that high rise buildings continue to have higher energy loads compared to low rise buildings of the same footage, given the energy required to move lifts and pump water. On the other hand, they’re less land intensive. “Shall we build at height and have dense city centres, and people connecting to each other by walking from one tower to the next, or suburban sprawl? That’s the big challenge for the future,” says Honnorat.

“The development industry actually pays for much of the public good that was once paid for by the public purse. So there’s pressure on the local authorities to facilitate high rise” Peter Murray, New London Architecture

>



What is it? Wood Wharf, a planned extension to Canary Wharf, including a Herzog & de Meuron towerWhere is it? To the north east of the main estateWhy? It’s been discussed since 2008, but a new planning application with an Allies & Morrison masterplan is being considered

What is it? Newfoundland Tower, Canary WharfWhere is it? It’s the first residential tower on the Canary Wharf estate, rising to 58 storeys, and has been granted planning permissionWhy? The development is part of Canary Wharf Group’s ongoing diversification, adding 566 suites and apartments

What is it? The Hoola Towers, a 360-flat scheme by developer Hub Residential and architect CZWGWhere is it? The Royal Victoria Docks in the London Borough of NewhamWho’s building it? Contractor Carillion won the estimated £40m contract in February. The towers rise to 23 and 24 storeys

Rafael Vinoly’s 432 Park Avenue, New York. Could it be the template for future towers in London?

>

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>are under construction, 49% have planning permission and 30% are at the pre-application stage. It’s likely that funding difficulties, or a future wobbles in the housing market, will mean that some never make the move from CGI to construction site. But assuming a good proportion of these projects do go ahead, what does it mean for the construction sector?

At EC Harris, head of property Simon Light believes that clients and developers could soon experience capacity issues, with a tight supply of experienced contractors, consultants and key suppliers. The sector in general has reduced its headcount and lost capacity during the downturn, and is now experiencing rising volumes of activity overall. Add in complex, technically demanding towers, and we’re likely to see demand — for individuals and supply chain companies — that can only be met from overseas.

“Ideally, you need a high-performance team that has built tall towers before, to get the right blend between cost and value,” says Light. “But from a UK perspective, there’s not a huge amount of tall buildings that have been built in the past few decades. Other parts of the world have a lot of experience, so we need to transfer that capability back to London rather than relying in the traditional UK supply chain. The same goes for specialist subcontractors and suppliers, we need new entrants coming in with specialist capability,” he says.

China invasionParticular pinch points he mentions include joinery contractors/manufacturers in the residential sector, and stonework for use internally and externally, which might end up being sourced from Brazil or South Africa. Also, the amount of facade construction required will put traditional European sources of supply under pressure, creating further demand for the growing Chinese capability in the market — they are already represented here by Yuanda (at the Leadenhall Building) and Far East Facades (currently on site at a low-rise Victoria office scheme).

And there’s no reason why Chinese capacity in general couldn’t come in to the market. “When we see Chinese investment coming in to the UK, the option of Chinese labour, expertise and capability will

definitely be considered. There are obviously a number of schemes that are Chinese backed,” says Light. These include Greenland’s plan for a 36 storey tower in Wandsworth, while contractor Beijing Construction & Engineering Group has said that it is looking for additional schemes to bid for in the UK.

Steve McGuckin, managing director of Turner & Townsend, agrees with Light that the crop of tall towers will challenge the UK supply chain, given that capacity has already been reduced by the effects of the recession. “Contractors are being careful about what they take on, the last thing they want to do is rapidly expand. [Tender] prices aren’t moving like London house prices are moving, but input prices on labour and materials are going up. But it’s only when you see construction prices increasing that contractors can expand — contractors are still being cautious.”

So clients will have to tailor their procurement path accordingly, he suggests. “There will be pressure on clients to go down the negotiation route, or do a two-stage bid — you won’t see any single price lump sum contracts,” says McGuckin. And while blue chip developers such as British Land will have established construction partners, there will also be opportunities for contractors to work with smaller or overseas developers. “You might find medium-sized contractors starting to push through, taking on a few more risks. Clients will be looking to the medium-sized contractors to increase their capacity and capability,” he says.

However, a spokesman for medium-sizes contractor Willmott Dixon said it wasn’t waiting for new tall towers with baited breath. “We’re always looking at opportunities, but they’re as likely to be in development as in contracting [via its Prime Place developer brand]. We haven’t built much beyond 12 storeys, although we’d consider going up to 20, as a developer or as a contractor. But it would probably be as a one-off, I don’t see us doing many of them. We wouldn’t be desperate for the work, we’d look at the risks involved and the team available to deliver it before we went for it,” he says.

But at Aecom, Brain Smith points to other trends that he believes will assuage any capacity issues. “Do we have the capability to build these towers? The answer is yes. The tall buildings that are

being planned and built are only a percentage of the buildings coming through in London, and they take a long time to plan and deliver. The last 10 years have focused on the iconic towers in the City of London, but a lot of the proposals are resi schemes around 30 storeys — there aren’t that many complicated bespoke towers that will test the supply chain. But the towers that do catch the public imagination can put a contractor on the map to say ‘we can deliver this’.”

The public debate over London’s future skyline is only just beginning, but is likely to gain momentum with each new planning approval. Views are likely to be polarised: fears of an increasingly sterile city versus commercial opportunity for the construction sector; one person’s sustainable densification is another’s offensive overdevelopment; CIL funds are either an opportunity for London councils to pay for new affordable housing and social facilities, or a form of hush money that’s silencing London’s vibrant character. Whatever your view, the crop of 236 towers planned for London will undoubtedly make its presence felt. CM

What is it? The Blades, two 41 storey residential towersWhere is it? In London SE1. The client is nightclub the Ministry of SoundWhy? The twin tower design, by Assael Architecture, is designed to cut through the wind and push adverse weather away from the structures

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CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | APRIL 2014 | 2322 | APRIL 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

Feature Social value Feature Social value

GEARING UP FOR

GIVING BACK

Delivering social value to communities is becoming increasingly important in procurement strategies. Some contractors have embraced it, but many remain confused about their obligations. Denise Chevin reports. Illustration by Jamie Cullen.

R ECOGNISE THIS? Eight new apprentices and seven existing ones; 13 work placements for the over 18s; three school placements for 14-to-16-year- olds plus some workshops for students. Then, as part of the £20m social housing scheme you are

bidding for you might be asked for a sizeable percentage of spend on materials from within a 20-mile radius. It’s the kind of obligation list that will be familiar to many contractors.

Increasingly, putting up the building on time and to budget is the easy part. Local authorities and other public clients are seeking to ensure that investments in their neighbourhoods don’t just deliver great new facilities, but the process of constructing them provides local jobs and training too. The mechanisms used to extract this obligation are varied: the requirements could be built into procurement strategies, or an employment and skills plan could become a condition of local authorities granting planning approval, a so-called Section 106 agreement.

Such requirements have been growing slowly for some years now, but expect this growth to accelerate. New legislation, changes to benefits, cuts to council budgets, a new zeitgeist among the public as to what they find acceptable in

business — all these things are aligning to drive forward the social value agenda.

But while there is a general support for such an approach, especially if it does allow the industry to compete on its sustainability and social credentials rather than price, the clamour to ensure return on investment has left firms feeling confused and a tad sceptical. There is, say many, an urgent need for a more rigorous approach to social value which ensures that the requirements are more than box-ticking exercises and deliver genuine benefits to local communities in a cost-effective way.

Over the next four pages we take stock of what’s driving the social value agenda, what’s working well and where improvements need to be made.

What’s behind the social value agenda?“I think we are seeing a change of heart among local authorities to start making demands for employment and skills training,” says Phil Jones, head of regeneration at Calico Homes in Burnley, Lancashire. “Social landlords have been more willing to do this for the past five to six years, but local authorities have displayed a real nervousness. I think the Social Value Act has given local authorities more confidence to do this.”

“We’re definitely on the cusp of change, and

that change of attitude is reflected in other things as well. Business has not just got to be seen to be making money, it’s got to be contributing to society,” says Tim Hayward, Interserve’s financial and sustainability director (see box, page 26).

Indeed, a number of things are happening to drive this agenda. Local authorities are under more financial pressure than ever and they can see it makes both political and economic sense to ensure maximum spend and benefit in their boroughs. Housing providers, such as housing associations and in some cases councils, are seeing their tenants’ benefits cut and are stepping up their efforts to get them into work.

The introduction of the Social Value Act in January 2013 has also proved a catalyst for local authorities to enshrine social value principles in their procurement and planning policies. At the moment it covers the procurement of services, but it has generally given local authorities more confidence that they are not breaking EU procurement rules, which has proved a barrier in the past.

What’s more, a new EU Public Procurement Directive — due to be passed into UK law later this year — will extend the scope and principles of the Act to works as well as services, and re-emphasise the ability of clients to incorporate social value considerations into the evaluation >

The need for measurementOne of the biggest issues that all sides are grappling with is cost benefit analysis — and what the Social Return on Investment (SROI) is. “Everyone is very pro the idea of social value, but I think we’re struggling at the moment to know what we’re doing is worthwhile,” says one contractor. “A particular gripe of mine is

looking to play an integrator role by writing the skills and employment plans for contractors/developers to comply with demands of the local authority, effectively acting as a broker.

Where social value doesn’t deliverAs the No more lost generations report made clear, using levers to promote employment is still patchy and even when they are used, can be little more than going through the motions. At the other end of the scale the most committed public bodies will go through contractors’ quarterly returns and impose substantial fines if they don’t achieve targets.

But as authorities get to grips with using their procurement powers they can often make demands that are unrealistic and don’t understand that the nature of construction has changed, with more work now done off site. Local authorities’ stipulations can range from one apprenticeship per million pounds spent to three apprenticeships per million pounds. Ed Miliband was recently quoted as saying that the new £33bn HS2 should create at least 33,000 apprenticeships and: “As Prime Minister, I would work to make that happen.”

However, guidance put together by the CITB, the UK Contractors Group, the National Apprenticeship Service and the Local Government Association aims to make clear the demands that are deliverable on projects. The guidance is highly regarded, if not yet as widely used as it ought to be.

Calico Homes’ Phil Jones says: “The work CITB has done will stop some

building companies trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes. We’ve seen examples, where names of apprentices are provided, but you find out they have double counted and provided the same names to other bodies.”

The work around employment and skills plans will help to ensure opportunities are maximised.

Social value: the death knell for lowest price wins?A lowest price wins philosophy has long been the scourge of the sector, rewarding those who don’t train and invest over those that do. But as clients and suppliers get to grips with the principles of embedding social values in their procurement processes, will selection on price become a thing of the past?

There’s a long way to go before we get to that. Social value requirements are increasingly stipulated, but they form part of the requirements set out in the bid, rather than something that is scored on.

But taking into account a firm’s wider capabilities and values is becoming part of the evaluation process for some public bodies. The ODA, when it was procuring for companies to deliver the venues for London 2012, famously used a “balanced scorecard” process.

Before that, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) was the first consistent approach to delivering social value via public procurement with non-delivery being linked to loss of exclusivity for future projects (BSF was a framework approach).

“It was evaluated as part of the partnership proposals that formed 40% of the evaluation,” explains Mark Howden, head of regeneration for Balfour Beatty Investments. The company built schools in Oldham, Blackburn and Derby, where it maximised local economic benefits with 43% local supply chain spend and using 36% local labour.

“We are now required to respond in bids with a much more evidence-based approach, emphasising where we have delivered previously and how we performed against the targets set, with the focus on our track record and credibility in delivery. In addition, we are now seeing financial penalties for underperformance included in the project agreements.

“The evaluation of our proposals has also

increased; putting a greater emphasis on social value in the final scoring of our bids, 3-5% of the total is ‘typical’. We are involved in a project in London that has allocated a 6% weighting to social value as part of the evaluation.”

Meanwhile, Knowsley Council worked in partnership to develop its approach to implementing social value in service delivery. It is seen as a leading light in this area. Two years ago, the council invited representatives from voluntary and community sector organisations, the private sector and public sector to take part in a series of workshops, helping them to understand social value as well as demonstrate it when tendering for contracts.

“The results of this partnership working resulted in the introduction of Knowsley’s social value model,

which clearly outlines its definition, outcomes and measures,” says a spokesperson.

The council has identified at least 16 contracts which included social value in the tendering process. The council is now seeking 10%-20% of

the specification delivering social value when procuring contracts.

Andy Tickner, skills manager — skills, regeneration and partnerships at Southampton City Council, says: “We embedded the need for employment and skills plans into planning permission in 2008. We’ve created 170 apprentices put 600 long-term unemployed through training programme.

“We adhere to the CITB’s guidelines for working out what training requirements are feasible for schemes. They provide a very good benchmark.

“We also employ two people full-time ensuring the obligations are followed through and that the outcome after the contract conditions are fulfilled is that people go into jobs or training. Councils need to support contractors in this and not place an unreasonable burden on them.”

Feature Social value

The atrium (left) runs from four storeys at the southern end and forms the seven-storey main entrance to the north (right)


TG20:13CONSTRUCTION

INDUSTRY SCAFFOLDERS RECORD SCHEME

criteria or contract performance conditions.

Another factor is that even though the Act was introduced via a private members’ bill by Chris White, the Conservative MP for Warwick and Leamington, it has cross-party support with Hazel Blears in particular championing its take-up. Several reports have recently been published urging local authorities and public bodies to use the levers available to them. No more lost generations, published in March following the parliamentary inquiry into youth unemployment, chaired by Nick Raynsford and Lord Richard Best and supported by the CIOB and CITB, urged local authorities to leverage planning obligations by mandating “an appropriate and effective level of training and employment of young people” and then “ensuring the requirements are properly monitored”. It also called for greater leadership from social landlords and public bodies to leverage their investment in construction work for more training and employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, in its March report on local government procurement, the Communities and Local Government Committee called on the Local Government Association to disseminate guidance on how local authorities should use procurement to deliver social, economic and environmental objectives on the basis of “best value not simply lowest price”.

Anecdotally, implementation of the Social Value Act appears to be patchy, and it’s fair to say many authorities are finding their feet. The Cabinet Office, in its The Social Value Act one year on report, published at the end of January,

is investigating how well the act is being applied by using a “mystery shopper”-style service.

There are certainly issues to be ironed out, but generally the Act has been welcomed by the industry. Balfour Beatty’s sustainability director Paul Toyne remarks: “I would say it’s galvanised some into action and is therefore a powerful piece of legislation and force for good.”

How does it work in practice?Enshrining social value has thrown up a range of different approaches and demands from public bodies, which are not always deliverable and practical, according to some contractors. As well as section 106 Agreements and contractual arrangements in which requirements are laid out, more enlightened councils and other public bodies are also tentatively starting to properly embed social value into their tender scoring procedures, such as Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (see box opposite).

The reason for the varied approach is that the Social Value Act itself is non-prescriptive. It is a broadly-worded act placing a duty on public bodies to consider social value ahead of a procurement, and it can be interpreted in different ways. But that’s a good thing, says Rachel Rhodes, commissioning and procurement adviser for the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (Navca). Writing in The Guardian in January Rhodes said: “It’s a mere two pages. It does not define what social value is, which aspects of it should be measured or how to do so. In fact legal compliance can be achieved with minimum effort and no significant benefits, which has led many to call for

it to be strengthened and made more regulatory in nature. This is not the route to go down.”

She explains: “Chris White, the MP who first proposed the bill, has called the Social Value Act a work of persuasion, a way of trying to change a culture. He is right.”

As well as different contractual approaches to employing the principles of the Act, social value takes various guises. Local employment or training is often a requirement. But there may be requirements to meet environmental considerations, or conditions obliging contractors to buy goods locally or commit to using a certain percentage of SMEs in their supply chain.

Paul Gallagher, head of socio-economics at Mace, says: “I would say generally there is more precise information and more standardisation of what people are being asked to deliver. It’s not often embedded all the way through in prequalification questionnaires, there is often a request at the end.”

Councils are clearly still finding their way, but there are excellent guidelines emerging. Croydon Council has produced a Social Value Toolkit, explaining the different approach commissioners can take and has pulled together good examples. Meanwhile, Calico Homes is

“Chris White, the MP who first proposed the bill, has called the Social Value Act a work of persuasion, a way of trying to change a culture. He is right” Rachel Rhodes, Navca

“We are now required to respond in bids with a much more evidence-based approach, emphasising where we have delivered previously” Mark Howden, Balfour Beatty Investments

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that you are asked to provide school children with work placements, but you then get people who have no real interest in construction. What is the value of that?

Lack of standard auditable measurement is seen as one Achilles heel. There are a number of measurement frameworks coming through that are almost jostling for position, which tend to set out a general set of principles, such as the framework established by the SROI Network.

Construction is also looking to develop its own measurement frameworks. Rachel Woolliscroft, sustainability director at Wates Group, says it is working with PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and housing association Orbit on a toolkit and measures to embed social value within procurement. The initial findings will be launched at the CIH conference in Manchester in June.

“Many organisations are unsure of how the Social Value Act can be embedded and currently there is no methodology to show the social value,” says Woolliscroft. “Within Wates we are working on methodology to show the social returns on investment for some of our key community programmes. The challenge is everyone is creating their own methodologies based on what works for them. No benchmark standard for this exists but that in turn provides an opportunity for the industry to develop something which works for us.”

Interserve is also looking to measure SROI (see box). So too is Chrissi McCarthy, director of Constructing Equality, which is working with John Moores University in Liverpool. She says the plan is almost to develop what would amount to BREEAM for social value and there is interest from a number of the main contractors to be on a steering committee. She says, however, that it could take two to three years to develop fully to allow measurements to be carried out and tested in practice.

Meanwhile, the Construction Youth Trust (CYT) is working with researchers at London South Bank University to also develop a construction-specific set of measures for SROI. The work is being partially funded by Willmott Dixon and will provide a toolkit to be able to equate the financial benefit to society of investing in the sort of training and pre-employment programmes the Trust provides. CYT hopes to launch the toolkit in July.

Where to next?“If I was to sum up where we are I would say: at phase 1, clients setting requirements. Phase two is being able to quantify that. And I think that is the way the Social Value Act is intended to go,” says Woolliscroft.

She also sees that social enterprises will become increasingly part of the supply chain. “Wates has been building up its employment of social enterprises in its supply chain over the last few years and last year awarded £4.4m of contracts to social enterprises. The prize for that is that for every £25,000 we spend, one part-time position is created, according to Social Enterprise UK.”

Wates Group has now established a



“You are asked to provide school children with work placements, but you then get people who have no real interest in construction. What is the value of that?” Anonymous contractor

Interserve: ‘Businesses need to grasp this broader agenda’Imagine having this as your title a few years ago: group finance director and head of sustainability. But contractor Interserve’s Tim Hayward’s role encompasses these two functions for a reason. The company has pledged to measure its outcome across the company not just on turnover and profits, but the benefits it brings to society.

Hayward, who spoke at the first Social Value Summit at Dartington Hall in Devon in February, says that developing a social return on investment matrix for the £2bn turnover company, feeds into its SustainAbilities Plan, launched in 2013, which has four key strands and 48 different targets, including using local labour, training and reducing carbon footprint.

“Our view is that the legislation is catching up on what we’re doing. And we see it as differentiator,” says Hayward.

For example, Interserve has been able to evidence that across its projects 79.7% of suppliers are local, the highest of any

business monitored by government. Interserve has developed new software incorporating Google Maps

which allows the percentage spend of local suppliers to be calculated.

Hayward says: “We’re comfortable with the idea that the Social Value Act is extended to cover capital works. I think the greater the take up the better the

outcomes will be. We want to be able to compete on other things — quality and social value rather than

slashing prices — and if that becomes more widespread it will have a huge impact.

“The Social Value Act does have a bit of maturing to do, so people understand how to apply it. I think it’s better for being a framework rather than prescriptive.”

“Typical contracts find that they ask for certain commitments and then on top of that ask about what the company is doing generally.”

“We’re on the cusp of change — and the change of attitude of clients is reflected in society. Businesses need to grasp this broader agenda, that you have to be seen to be contributing to society as well.”

Social Enterprise Brokerage to enable more social enterprises to access Wates’ spend and that of others in the sector.

In terms of where the social value is going, Mace’s Paul Gallagher says: “I think it will either become very mechanistic with a whole series of very rigid measures and doesn’t take account of local circumstances, alternatively it could be more of a partnership between developers, contractors and local authorities with a basket of measures, I very much hope it’s the second.”

Paul Toyne, Balfour Beatty’s sustainability director, agrees: “I would hope we get to a commonality of metrics, and make sure the expectations being set out are realistic and cost effective and that it takes into consideration the unique location of the site. We need to build that flexibility into any guidance.

"We have to avoid social value demands from becoming too rigid, which then adds costs without benefiting the local area. Or avoid it becoming another Merton Rule, which was well intentioned but had unhelpful and unbeneficial consequences.”

Calico Homes’ Phil Jones concludes: “Getting people into work is important to the local economy and should be as important as getting a project finished on time and to budget. But I think it might be two to three years before we get that kind of commitment. But it also has to be measured and followed through. It’s part of a journey.” CM

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2015 I was met with expressions of horror and disbelief. My new colleague was totally unaware of the proposed regulations and forthcoming consultation process. However, he quickly grasped many of the key issues, including:l If applied, CDM 2015 would remove the valued input and scrutiny of health and safety aspects by an independent specialist directly appointed by the client. l While architects are well placed to lead on health and safety in design, many would not wish to take on additional responsibilities.l If imposed, preparation for the

How watertight is your flood insurancew?Tony Keilty offers some advice on measures that could bring down insurance premiums for industry SMEs

The recent floods have brought into sharp focus a major problem facing small businesses in the construction supply chain when obtaining insurance.

Owners with properties at risk of flooding have been able to buy affordable home insurance since 2000 thanks to an agreement between insurers and the government whereby insurance companies will continue to cover properties and businesses at risk, on the condition that the government invests in flood protection measures.

This is to be replaced from 2015 by a new Flood Re scheme, designed to protect homeowners in high flood risk areas from excessive insurance premiums by placing a cap on the cost. Crucially, it will exclude business properties.

A recent poll by the Federation of Small Businesses of 854 of its members in flood-hit areas found that 59% expect the cost of insuring their business to increase, 20% of them fear it will go up significantly, and 39% slightly. Worryingly, some firms are struggling to find insurance altogether, with the poll showing that 19% believe it will be significantly harder to obtain insurance and 18% slightly harder.

When a small business is flooded the business interruption consequences can be devastating. The long process of drying and decontamination can mean your business premises are uninhabitable for up to a year. The potential relocation costs or severe breaks in the construction supply chain can also have a major impact on many small businesses.

For instance, many firms in the

construction sector not even touched by the recent floods have still been affected because their subcontractors are flooded, or transport links have been closed.

The owners of commercial properties should now be making contingency plans for their flood-threatened properties. Crucially they should engage their insurance broker to help source the right policy plus explore ways of integrating their policy with flood resilience measures. This could involve:l Replacing doors and windows with automated flood-proof models.l Raising door thresholds to help keep shallow water out.l Checking exterior walls for pointing and applying water-proofing sealant.l Raising damp-proof levels and sealing floors to walls and replacing wooden floodboards with concrete with a damp-proof membrane.l Replacing airbricks with flood-proof varieties or specially designed easy fit covers.l Fitting non-return valves to drains and water inlet and outlet pipes to prevent wastewater from flowing back into the property.l Repositioning electric sockets.l Making best use of the £5,000 government grants available to businesses hit by flooding to better protect their properties.

A broker can also provide a site assessment and advice on risk management measures in conjunction with a recommended insurer. Such measures will ensure your property is more resistant to floods in the short and longer term. What’s more, this should ensure your business


coordination role will take time and resources.l Will there be sufficient fee available to pay for these additional services and corresponding increase in professional indemnity insurance premiums?

It was refreshing to learn that an architect valued the input of the CDMC as views do vary considerably. The HSE, however, has been persuaded that they must go. Ironically, this stance takes us full circle from where we started in 1994.

My view, based on 18 years’ experience as a project supervisor and CDMC, is that many designers, particularly architects,

have improved considerably and will no doubt take on the new lead designer role with energy and commitment. In contrast, and since the start of the recession, I have seen downward pressure on fees to a level where it is often difficult or damn near impossible to deliver compliant and proactive CDMC services. This, coupled with a mixed bag of practitioners, adds strength to calls for change.

I have discussed the question of fees many times with my contacts in HSE but while they acknowledge problems exist, the answer has always been that there is no political will to address the situation hence nothing can be done. So, going back to my meeting, will clients support the allocation of sufficient fees to the lead designer? I fear not.

If the HSE expects the proposed regulations to succeed then it must create and enforce a legislative framework that clearly identifies its expectations. At the same time I urge that expectations for resources, competence and fees are considered so as to avoid the situation I describe with CDMC fee levels. To this end, HSE must ensure that the negative aspects of “market” forces does not restrict delivery on health and safety.

If I come across as being somewhat negative I am not. I see merit in much of the proposed changes and acknowledge that many CDMCs have only themselves to blame for their likely demise. CDM 2015 presents opportunities for competent CDMCs, but I suggest that they now anticipate a change in employer.Richard Thorne MCIOB is director of Richard Thorne Consulting

Construction Professional

A LARGE NUMBER of construction professionals remain unaware of the proposed CDM Regulations 2015, despite their implications. Hardly surprising, I suppose, given the HSE’s lack of progress in publishing its draft for consultation — hopefully by the time this magazine reaches you consultation will be well underway, or the proposed regulations shelved until after the next election.

Whichever the case, you should seek to gain an understanding of what is proposed by reading the CIC Working Group Report October 2012 which considers in detail the potential implications of CDM 2014 (as it was dated then). For updates on the consultation process, the Association for Project Safety website (www.aps.org.uk) and digests are certainly worth following.

In brief, the likely changes include:l Creating CDM duties for domestic clients (likely to apply when projects last more than 30 days). Clients will be able to delegate these to a team member.l The role of the CDM Coordinator disappearing altogether.l Appointment of a project preparation

stage coordinator role — likely to be the principal designer.l Appointment of a project execution coordinator — likely to be the principal contractor. Splitting the role will align CDM with the 1992 EU directive.l Tackling the perceived waste associated with pre-qualification assessments and competence.l A focus on the performance of smaller projects.

Assuming that elements of the regulations may not be welcomed by all, during a health and safety review meeting on a recent project, I set out to seek the views of an architect and lead designer. The meeting, the first opportunity for me to engage the design team for a £20m redevelopment project, went well and I was impressed by how this firm had developed its thoughts and considerations for health and safety. Needless to say, I soon concluded that this fellow (like many other architects I have worked with, particularly on collaborative projects) would be well suited to the proposed lead designer/coordinator role.

When we moved on to the issue of CDM


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I have raised the question of fees with my contacts at the HSE. Will clients support the allocation of sufficient fees to the lead designer? I fear not

CDMCs have their work cut outRichard Thorne MCIOB outlines the key changes in the forthcoming revisions to the CDM regulations and the implications of cutting out CDM Coodinators.

BIM bytes: Client-led BIMGovernment backing of BIM has given consultants and contractors the critical mass of throughput such that profit can be gained from investment in BIM skills and technology. Can the same be said on the client side?

For public sector clients, where the government’s demand for BIM Level 2 use by 2016 suggests a funding imperative, there is caution in spending public money when market norms and guidelines are still developing.

Private sector clients do not have the same government-driven timeline within which to change practices, but should still be convinced

by the efficiencies that BIM-led projects have been shown to produce. However, the efficiencies during construction will in part be driven by the more competitive market and when the risks are sufficiently certain to avoid risk-pricing. In that light, it is understandable that some private sector clients are waiting for issues to be ironed out and for the volume of BIM projects to increase (thereby increasing economies of scale) before investing in BIM.

Perhaps the most convincing argument for BIM is the efficiency that can be realised during the maintenance period. Unfortunately,

public sector clients suffer more than most from the division between capital and revenue financing and the tendency towards annual budgeting. Even a marginal percentage saving in the overall lifecycle cost can vastly outweigh the cost-cutting during the build. However, the dichotomy between project and maintenance budgets does not allow justification of investment in whole-life cost.

As the justification for investment must come before the upskilling, client skills may lag behind their more entrepreneurial private sector service providers, who are able to more

easily specialise and invest in future areas of growth. This leads to a further natural caution that comes with heavy reliance on third-party consultants and contractors leading the requirements when BIM-led projects are being procured.

Such caution will likely continue until clients have experienced a project from inception into the maintenance period. Only then will it become apparent whether BIM has had a positive impact on the time and cost of the initial

project and whether the information sought during the project is useful during the maintenance period.

Until then, a cautious client will naturally review the risks that it is taking and look not only for a fair distribution of risk, but also a distribution that will encourage the client to make the leap. By Assad Maqbool, a partner at Trowers & Hamlins specialising in projects and construction

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The technical watchdog Richard Aitchison on the rise of technical due diligence.

CONFIDENCE HAS begun to return among banks, funders and investors in backing building and infrastructure projects. In this new post-crash construction environment there has been a subtle shift in the requirements for technical due diligence (TDD) monitoring compared to the regime that existed pre-crash.

TDD can be defined as the analysis and mitigation of commercial risks associated with property and the development of assets in the built-environment. This is conducted in parallel with legal, tax and company due diligence in initially assessing a project and then in monitoring and policing the project when underway. The analysis aspect of the project monitoring role is predominantly conducted as a desk exercise, particularly at the proposal stage and in reviewing designs, before becoming more of an inspection role once the project moves on site.

Prior to 2008, when undertaking technical due diligence, project funders were mainly focused on cost. The monitoring surveyors therefore tended to be either a quantity surveyor with project management experience or a cost consultant. Construction quality has now become increasingly important to funders as new requirements concerning sustainability and future proofing projects comes to the fore. Cost will still play an important role, but better cost control has allowed funders more flexibility to increase their focus on quality.

Partly driving this shift towards quality is the fact that banks and investors had their fingers burnt during the recession with many experiencing difficulty in offloading substandard or unfinished developments on their books after the debtor defaulted.

Significantly, TDD monitoring surveyor teams now incorporate surveyors with both building and quantity surveying skills. The way they work has also changed. TDD is no longer viewed as just a box-ticking exercise. The monitoring surveyor now works as part of a multidisciplinary team, examining projects at inception, so risks can be avoided, designed

out or planned for. Sustainability has also risen up the

rankings of areas of concern for TDD teams in the past six years. The 2011 Energy Act is seen as particularly challenging by the construction and property industry. Under the Act, buildings with an energy performance certificate rating poorer than an E is likely be illegal to let after 1 April 2018.

In addition, a national target for zero carbon non-domestic building has been set for 2019. Set against this, there is a risk that buildings that only meet current requirements could become illegal to let as sustainability standards continue to tighten.

Property investors and occupiers are also paying increasing attention to building

energy performance measurement metrics, such as EPC, BREEAM and Energy Star. For metrics such as BREEAM, a weakness lies in the fact that achieving an “Excellent” rating does not necessarily mean that the energy performance of the property is equally good. For this reason, project monitoring teams will double-check the energy assessor’s calculations if they believe there to be a discrepancy, or if the client specifically requests

the team to look at the energy performance rating, as is often the case.

Currently, there is little empirical evidence that the most sustainable buildings will achieve the highest rents. However, across the world, high-quality building stock that inherently has good sustainability performance is in greater demand from occupiers and investors compared to poorly performing building stock, which is being discounted for sale and for lettings.

As a result, environmental performance of buildings will affect their future asset value. This means that the monitoring surveyor must analyse the future-proofing of the building or development asset, particularly against a background of tightening environmental legislation and the demands of occupiers and stakeholders. Richard Aitchison MRICS is a partner and head of monitoring TDD and Construction Banking Support at property and construction consultancy Tuffin Ferraby Taylor



Sustainability has also risen up the rankings of areas of concern for technical due diligence teams in the past six years

Five things to know about...... engaging workers via intermediaries

1Why is it a talking point now?New rules on 6 April stop the

engagement by intermediaries of labour only workers on a self-employed basis. These rules require the intermediary to apply PAYE and national insurance on payments they make. HMRC believes that intermediaries have been used to allow workers to be engaged on a “bogus” self-employed basis when, on the basis of the work they do, they would normally be considered an employee.

2 Why are these changes important?Whilst it is the responsibility of the

intermediary to comply with the change in rules it is likely this revision will impact on the cost of procuring labour via intermediaries and if intermediaries are going to have to bring these workers onto payroll then the intermediary will want to pass on the increased costs to the contractor who is using the worker. This could impact on costs of projects when labour was calculated on the historical costs of engaging workers via an intermediary.

3 Are there possible ways of avoiding PAYE/national insurance?

HMRC anticipates that the intermediaries will find ways of avoiding bringing workers on to the payroll. It says if it finds these rules not being complied with it will consider introducing anti avoidance rules which could be applied retrospectively. It may be possible in some instances to change the basis of the contract with the worker to avoid PAYE and national insurance, for example if the basis of the contract moved from a “labour only” arrangement to risks attached to the worker personally.

4 What if you don’t do anything?If the intermediary fails to apply PAYE

and national insurance then they will be liable, so on this basis there is little risk attaching to the contractor personally. The contractor needs to be careful to ensure that the basis of the working practice is not such that HMRC could say that the engagement is between the contractor and worker (ignoring the intermediary).

5 Is this a start of a clampdown on status in the industry?

The problems surrounding labour-only subcontractors have been a matter for discussion between the industry and HMRC for many years so it is unlikely we will see anything major in the short term.By Alastair Kendrick, a director of MHA MacIntyre Hudson. A longer version of his article can be read at www.construction-manager.co.uk/management/hmrc-turns-heat-self-employment/

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What we are offering is an assurance that you’ll get what you pay for — that the project will perform in the way that we have said

THERE ARE GUARANTEES for insulation. There are warranties for structural failures of refurbished social housing. There are promises about reduced fuel bills. But until recently there has been no comprehensive performance pledge for retrofit that covers all the risks that really matter. However, the Better Retrofit Partnership has now taken some bold steps in this direction.

It started with the growing realisation that a high percentage of retrofit projects are not performing as expected, and worse, are actually increasing the risks to long-term fabric viability and occupant health. Measures that are widely accepted throughout the refurbishment industry consistently have unintended impacts on other areas of fabric and performance.

Building heating, insulation and ventilation cannot be taken in isolation, any more than you can specify what will work in one house based on a similar property half a mile down the road without considering the way each of those buildings is used.

The current chronic failure of retrofit schemes across the country can only be addressed by a wholly new approach: one that is fully integrated across the whole house. It must consider energy, health, fabric, durability, environmental impact and usability together, and in the case of our heritage buildings, it should not compromise their character or structural integrity either.

The Better Retrofit Partnership comprises home energy efficiency consultant Parity Projects, ventilation specialist Aereco, building materials manufacturer Baumit and sustainable materials supplier Natural Building Technologies (NBT). We will work to ensure that we think through design and offer appropriate approaches to retrofit using the evidence established over many years. We’re offering estates managers, social landlords and home owners a process that is fully integrated at every stage, from the initial impartial survey and specification through to post occupancy feedback and monitoring.

The partnership is so confident in this approach that we’ve launched what we believe is the UK’s first comprehensive performance assurance, covering the whole house performance of ventilation, thermal insulation, fabric durability and usability and maintenance.

Although we still have to work out all the details, we are convinced this is essential and something the entire retrofit industry needs to be doing. The danger is that some of the cracks appearing in the way retrofit is currently happening are going to seriously damage customer confidence in the whole market. For us this isn’t just about winning business but raising standards and understanding in general. We all need to be aiming for better buildings.

The Better Retrofit Partnership’s performance pledge begins with a comprehensive survey, energy assessment and risk assessment. This allows us to produce a tailored and cost-effective design and specification, which is then delivered by approved installers and tested post-completion through monitoring and feedback. Importantly, the initial survey and sign-off is carried out in an impartial manner which may or may not result in progression with any of the other partners. We will recommend what is appropriate.

Performance is measured using a

Getting what you pay forRussell Smith describes a new assurance initiative for retrofit schemes.

combination of survey-based modelling and pre and post-completion testing (thermographic and airtightness). Ongoing monitoring and feedback, including internal temperature, relative humidity and occupant surveys, provide additional performance evidence. The methodology and metrics are fully declared, transparent and based upon current best practice and scientific understanding.

An urgent task for us is to work out the period we’ll be measuring effectiveness over. But this is an area where NBT has extensive experience — it is continuing to monitor performance on a number of projects built five or more years ago.

Of course, guaranteeing performance in all of these areas — particularly those that could be said to be subjective such as usability — is complicated and inherently risky, which is no doubt why this hasn’t happened before.

While we are working on the detail, what we are offering now is an assurance that you’ll get what you pay for; that the project will perform in the way that we have said.

As soon as we can our aim is to go even further by securing an insurance-backed guarantee for any retrofit project we undertake, which will give the scheme external validation.

There’s growing awareness among a number of industry bodies that the retrofit sector is a disaster waiting to happen. That before long we will start to see the impacts and costs of having taken a piecemeal approach to refurbishing housing stock which actually has a vital role to play in solving the homes shortage throughout the UK.

We won’t solve the shortage through new build alone. We need to preserve what we have by rendering it fit for the future long term. As the Better Retrofit Partnership we see ourselves as long-term stewards of the housing stock — and we will be doing all we can to bring other collaborators on board.Russell Smith is managing director of Parity Projects. For more information visit www.betterretrofit.co.uk

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Touching the void36 | APRIL 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | APRIL 2014 | 37

IT’S HARD TO THINK OF a more intimidating construction project to take on than the £50m Reid Building in central Glasgow. Not only was it designed by New York’s Stephen Holl, one of the world’s most creatively ambitious architects, it is also located directly opposite a masterpiece of modern architecture, namely Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art building.

Built in two phases between 1897 and 1909, the Mack, as it is affectionately known, is considered by many to be one of the most influential buildings ever constructed in the UK, characterised by its asymmetric facades of solid sandstone, intricate detailing and dark wooded interiors. The building achieves much of its drama by being perched on a steep hill, the verticality accentuated by soaring gridded oriel windows on the west facade, which introduced a new style in 20th century European architecture.

The Reid Building, named after the GSA’s former director Seona Reid, stands on the other side of Renfrew Street and extends the same length as the Mack and to roughly the same height. It was built by a team headed up by main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and multidisciplinary engineer Arup, to rehouse the school’s design department. Like its illustrious neighbour, it is focused on providing light and spacious studios.

Rather than attempting to emulate Mackintosh’s architecture, Stephen Holl’s design, developed in collaboration with Glasgow-based JM Architects, aims to achieve “complementary contrast” with the original building, which he describes as “a symbiotic relation in which each structure heightens the integral qualities of the other.”

Thus the Mack’s light steel structural frame and heavy stone facade is “mirrored” in the Reid Building by a very robust cast in-situ concrete frame covered by a translucent skin of glass, which wraps around the studios and extends over the external walls as a rainscreen. Where the Mack is characterised by its intricate details and ornament, the new building presents block-like glass facades to the street and monolithic exposed concrete walls inside.

Construction of the concrete frame was extremely challenging, thanks to a complex design where every space is unique, and wall lengths, widths and floor heights vary across the plan. Most complex of all was a row of three huge 5m-wide concrete cylinders that penetrate through the five storey frame on a sloping incline from the ground floor right up to roof level. Described by Holl as “driven voids of light”, the cylinders are designed to bring light into the centre of the building, while also helping boost the building’s natural ventilation and providing structural support to resist vertical forces and wind loading. In the basement, the voids also function as large cylindrical water tanks for the sprinkler system.

Complex geometry“The geometry of the driven voids was very complicated,” explains Peter Unwin, project manager at Sir Robert McAlpine. “Each one rises from ground level on a 12 degree incline from vertical towards the Mack to the south, and in the basement cranks in the opposite direction at the same angle. The walls include a series of jagged holes, as if cut out by scissors, and Holl wanted each driven void to have a completely smooth concrete surface free of formwork marks or tie-holes, which meant devising an innovative method of casting.”

The project followed a traditional procurement route. Steven Holl led a design team, including Arup, to win the original RIBA competition. Subsequently, Sir Robert McAlpine beat off bids from five other firms, including BAM and Laing O’Rourke, to win the construction contract and were appointed directly by the GSA as a traditional contractor under a Scottish Building Contract. Piling work started on site in January 2012.

“We chose McAlpine because it understood quality was going to be an important element, especially on the massive in-situ concrete structure, and when we marked it through the tender process it was obvious it had some experience in that area and its design team was pretty clear in terms of what was necessary,” said Douglas Anderson, project manager for GSA.

Technical Concrete frame

Glasgow School of Art’s Reid Building features three concrete cylinders – or driven voids – designed to bring light into the building. As Stephen Cousins reports, the challenges were many.

The Reid Building stands opposite Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art building on Renfrew Street

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38 | MARCH 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

In section, the building comprises two long blocks located each side of a central space — a stack of studios on the north side with angled windows designed to maximise access to diffuse north light, and a stack including a refectory and office spaces located on the south side facing the Mack.

The entire central zone is designed as a social space to encourage “creative abrasion” between students. A network of galleries, ramps and meandering staircases rise through it, occasionally intersecting with the driven voids to provide views of the changing southern light reflecting off the curving walls, or of creative work going on inside the studios.

The western end of the building was complicated by Holl’s decision to retain the early 20th Century Assembly Building, a three-storey stone building that has provided a long-term home for the student union. As a result, the upper storeys of the Reid Building dramatically railroad over the top of it in a partial cantilever.

Optimal angleThe layout of the building’s concrete frame is based on a 15m grid, interrupted by the three driven voids, which are inclined at an optimal angle to allow southern light to bounce down into the building, even on overcast days.

But the inclined tubes, in combination with a cantilevered overhang on the top floor of the southern facade, cause the whole building to slew forwards under its own weight towards the Mack.

“It took a great deal of thought and analysis to understand the convoluted load paths and restrain the building from toppling forward,” explains Derek Roberts, lead structural engineer at Arup. “The solution uses the walls on the north side of the building as a restraining arm to pull the driven voids and cantilevers back and prevent them from falling forwards. The huge overturning thrusts from the overhangs are taken through the perforated driven void structure and into the rear Vierendeel trussed walls — all this needed to be designed and constructed as a monolithic whole to work as intended.”

The driven voids were on the critical path for the construction programme and each floor-to-floor section had to be poured and cast in advance of any abutting walls or the floor slab above.

“Each driven void required eight pours, so 24 in total, and it was like a game of chess moving the shuttering around as we rose through the building,” says Sir Robert McAlpine’s Unwin.

The complex geometry of the driven voids and the need for a blemish free surface led SRM and specialist concrete subcontractor Cidon to develop bespoke rigid steel formwork. This system comprised three steel sections, two for the inner surface and one for the outer, which were erected and filled with self-compacting concrete, then dismantled and erected again in stages to create each floor-to-floor section of driven void.

The rigidity of the steel negated the need for through ties connecting the outer shutter to the inner shutter, as used in a traditional formwork wall, and ensured that no tie holes were visible in the finished structure. In addition, casting the concrete from floor-to-ceiling meant horizontal joints between floors were concealed behind the floor slabs.

“The formwork was reminiscent of shipyards in terms of the shapes and sizes of steel used. It was incredibly rigid so both the inside and outside shutter could stand independently without the need for ties,” says Unwin. “We were concerned that the technology would work and the finish would be perfect, so we built a full-sized mock up in our yard, which worked perfectly.”

The cut-out holes in the walls of the driven voids are freeform in shape and had to perfectly align to the radius, which meant rejecting traditional timber void formers in favour of precision cut CNC-manufactured ones made in a factory in the Midlands directly from Arup’s 3D Rhino model.

“The architect pushed us as much as they could on the driven voids, to deliver their vision and the permeable connectivity between the creative spaces without weakening the structure, which was central to the client’s aspirations for the building,” says Roberts. “However, there were some pinch points where clever reinforcement detailing was needed to get the forces to balance out. Steven Holl had a very clear strategy as to how they wanted the geometry to provide the holistic ventilation and daylighting aspects of the driven voids, and this really pushed the structure,

> resulting in a strong collaboration with Arup and Sir Robert McAlpine when planning the structural build.”

In contrast to the driven voids, the vertical walls in the building have a rough finish, created by nailing 2-inch deep softwood battens horizontally to the shuttering. The porous nature of the wood helped emphasise the grain on the surface of the wall and also smoothed the consistency of the concrete, unlike plywood formwork, which would have created pock marks in the surface.

A hard stair The scheme’s main pre-cast concrete element is the “slow stair”, which meanders up sporadically through the centre of the building at a 19 degree angle. McAlpine decided to separate the stair treads from their supporting spine beam, developing an elemental system in collaboration with the precast subcontractor and Arup. Adopting this method meant the spine beam could be prefabricated as a unique element, with the treads formed separately as identical zig-zag profiled units, each providing four stair treads prefabricated in a repeated mould and then bonded to the spine beam on site with a special epoxy mortar. This brought a greater cost efficiency to the units and eased cranage restrictions.

The complexity of constructing the Reid Building’s many concrete structures took its toll on the programme for the frame which was ultimately delayed by about eight weeks. “We had underestimated just how complicated it was going to be, although we did have some rubbish weather which increased downtime,” says Unwin.

Nevertheless, the finished building delivers a wonderfully bright and intriguing complex of spaces, which open up on each floor and around every turn to provide inspiring views into and through the driven voids, as well as opportunities for creative encounters with other students that Holl intended.

“We are delighted with the finished building, which has created a huge amount of local interest,” says GSA’s Anderson. “It’s unique, exciting and inspiring, ideally suited for an artistic community, which complements the Mack, rather than trying to outshine its brilliance,” he concludes. CM

1 Product design studio2 Offices3 Refectory4 Interior design studios5 Exhibition Space6 Wood workshop7 Storage8 Dye Lab9 Communication design studio10 Service11 Metal Workshop

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From top: Driven void and “slow stair” under construction; bespoke steel formwork; timber void formers used to create asymmetrical cut-outs

Reid building section

1 Product design studio2 Offices3 Refectory4 Interior design studios5 Exhibition Space6 Wood workshop7 Storage8 Dye Lab9 Communication design studio10 Service11 Metal Workshop



Left: In total the frame used 3,000m3 of concreteBelow left: The cut-out holes had to align perfectly to the radiusBelow: The pre-cast concrete “slow stair” meanders through the centre of the building

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A social enterprise set up to manufacture low carbon thermal and acoustic insulation from recycled cotton had its product installed in a 2014 Winter Olympic Games broadcasting centre in Sochi.

Sheffield-based Recovery Insulation (RI) was established by charity Schools & Homes Energy Education Project/Solar-Active with support from social enterprise funding organisation Key Fund South Yorkshire.

Its product, Inno-Therm, is an eco-insulation made from recycled cotton and denim waste which is collected, sorted and produced in France by RI’s parent company Le Relais. Several years in development, the firm claims its product uses 70% less energy in production than the equivalent conventional inorganic insulation.

Inno-Therm was used as acoustic protection in the US broadcaster NBC’s HQ during the London 2012 Olympic Games before being shipped to Sochi for re-use during the Winter games.

Previous projects the product has been used in include the South Yorkshire Energy Centre in Sheffield, by Allen Tod Architecture; Anns Grove Primary School, Sheffield, by architect White Design; and the Genesis eco building at Somerset College of

Design & Technology, designed by Architype. The product has also been chosen by Kevin

McCloud as one of his eight “Green Heroes”, innovative eco-friendly products due to be exhibited at Grand Designs London, staged at Excel in May.

Inno-Therm comprises roughly 80% cotton and 20% polyester and is treated to prevent the growth of bacteria, mould fungus and moths.

The product contains no chemical irritants and has a thermal conductivity, when dry, of 0.039W/m2K. It behaves like a hydro regulator, absorbing and releasing water vapour, and has a fire resistance of Euroclass E (or Euroclass B/S1/d0 under gypsum board). It has a sound absorption coefficient of 0.95 and acoustic fading is 42dB with a density of roughly

45kg/m3 and a thermal conductivity when dry of 0.044 W/mK.

For every square metre of insulation sold, RI donates a percentage to Solar-Active to support renewable energy, fuel and money-saving activities in schools and community projects.

Denim tunes in to Winter Olympics UK product made from recycled material used by NBC in Sochi

Technical Insulation


Demo project to research solid wall insulation in 1950s homesA demonstration project funded by the Technology Strategy Board aims to improve the efficiency and cost of retrofitting insulation in solid walled homes, also creating new commercial products and services in the process.

The S-IMPLER project (Solid Wall Innovative Insulation and Monitoring Processes using Lean Energy Efficient Retrofit) is a three-year collaboration between the BRE, Carillion Energy Services, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) and other partners.

It will aim to achieve a 60% reduction in monitored energy costs in 1950s solid wall homes, and demonstrate how retrofit work can be completed faster and with less disruption than today’s techniques. The S-IMPLER trial will

concentrate on seven 1950s NIHE demonstration homes, and the results are expected to benefit many of the UK’s 6.9m solid wall homes.

The project will implement a range of innovations and collaborative techniques,

including a new surveying tool developed by VRM Technology, and a BIM tool developed by the University of Salford, which will allow clients to model different cost and benefit options.

BRE associate director Ross Helleron told CM: “The survey tool is being led by VRM which has an advanced iPad application that simplifies both the physical surveying process and will draw in supplier and installer specific costs. The output will be a detailed bill of quantities for the main contractor and property owner.

“In addition, a whole house monitoring system developed by Tensor Systems will assess real energy performance and Leeds Metropolitan University will conduct more detailed analysis of the fabric performance of the retrofitted homes.”

Internal wall training scheme wins awardA joint CITB and Saint-Gobain training scheme for internal wall insulation won a Retro Expo award in December.

The Internal Wall Insulation Standard Upskilling Programme, developed by CITB with British Gypsum, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, was set up to provide installers with a standard vocational qualification proving their ability to complete internal wall insulation work to the latest sustainable standards.

The NVQ-based training is delivered by British Gypsum’s Technical Academy team and meets the requirements of Route 1 and 2 of PAS 2030, the standard for installing, managing and providing energy efficiency measures in existing buildings under the Green Deal and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). It also won a Green Deal training award at the Association of Interior Specialists Awards.

The course is suitable for existing tradesmen and contractors, or site supervisory staff and merchant personnel and is designed to increase knowledge of customer needs in meeting Building Regulations and identifying solutions, as well as offering guidance on installing British Gypsum products and systems.

Inno-Therm is made from recycled cotton and denim waste

Seven 1950s homes will be monitored

Find out why Recticel should be your preferred choice: www.recticelinsulation.co.uk or call 0800 0854079

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INSULATION FOR FLAT ROOFS | PITCHED ROOFS | WALLS | FLOORS

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CPD

42 | APRIL 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | APRIL 2014 | 43

Continuing Professional Development Single ply roof systems• Features and benefits • What standards are applicable • Design and installation considerations

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THERE ARE A NUMBER of considerations that specifiers must be aware of when designing and selecting single ply roofing solutions. This Sika-Trocal CPD module will look at the benefits, the applications, and the methods of attachment, before examining key factors in roof design and product selection such as falls, type of membrane and sustainability credentials. It will also indicate the key standards and guidelines that specifiers should use to help them to assess products.

The benefitsSingle ply can provide one of the best all-round solutions to achieve cost effective, durable and sustainable systems. Choosing a single ply system and designing to best practice will provide solutions that offer:● High levels of performance. Single ply roofing membranes generally have a design life of in excess of 30 years, ensuring whole life performance is maintained while minimising the impact on the environment.● Fast and clean installation. Single ply ensures today’s fast-track programmes can be met on site by providing a quick and clean approach, achieving initial waterproofing rapidly so internal works can start very early.● A range of guarantee options. From a standard 12 years or even up to 25 years with certain applications, the flexibility in choice allows budgets to be met but most

Continuing Professional Development Single ply roofing systems

If you’re looking for a roofing solution that combines ease of installation with durability and sustainability, a single ply system could fit the bill. Pete Hollingworth outlines the key considerations in specifying it.

importantly gives the client peace of mind and control of future costs. ● Meets industry standards. Sika-Trocal single ply systems are independently assessed by the British Board of Agrement which in turn satisfies Building Control departments and gives confidence to clients and insurers. Sika-Trocal S is also an approved Factory Mutual (FM) assembly in the US.● Suitability for all types of build and sectors. The versatility combined with user-friendly application methods results in value for those involved in the construction process.

ApplicationsSingle ply can be used and designed into many forms of roof construction. It is most commonly used in new build but is increasingly being selected for refurbishment. Single ply can be adapted into warm, cold and inverted deck roof constructions. A “warm” roof design is the most widely specified form of roof as the risk of condensation is greatly reduced. Single ply can also be overlaid with pavers, ballast, timber decking and a green roof finish.

Single ply is not only associated with flat roofs but is very often considered on feature roofs such as pitched, waveform and curved. Furthermore, the aesthetics of single ply can be enhanced to imitate a more traditional look such as standing seam or lead roll.

Methods of attachmentThere are different methods to restrain single ply against wind uplift forces: either by mechanical fasteners, the dead weight of ballast, or adhesives. In the case of mechanical fasteners, the number of fixings required will be determined by calculation in accordance with the latest Eurocode standards.

For ballasted roofs, ballast should consist of rounded gravel 20-40mm diameter laid at a minimum rate of 80kg/m2 and 50mm thickness, or pre-cast concrete pavers of 50mm thickness.

The use of timber decking can also be considered as a ballasted application, but due to the lack of sufficient weight, the membrane would need to be secured.

With a green roof, again there is a minimum weight requirement of 80kg/m2 to hold the membrane system below.

A roof system that covers all the bases

Green roofs are increasingly becoming a prerequisite for planning approval, either through biodiversity action plans, flood risk reduction as part of sustainable drainage systems, or legislation. The main types of living roofs are:● Extensive — lightweight, low cost and generally self-sustaining with low maintenance. ● Intensive — thicker substrate medium, higher levels of maintenance and can be complex.● Biodiverse/brown — encourages local biodiversity by using the roof space to create or replicate natural habitat for local flora and fauna.

In the case of adhered roofs using polyurethane adhesives, special fleece-backed membranes are needed to provide a key for bonding to the substrate. Adhered applications can be limited by the

delamination resistance of the selected insulation board or due to wind uplift exposure determined mainly by height and location.

A closer look at the features and benefits of each attachment method will help specifiers choose the right system for their project.

Mechanically fixed solutionThe exposed, mechanically fixed membrane roof is the most widely specified option and is generally the fastest and most economical method to use, especially where the disc fixed method are used when both membrane and insulation is secured with the one fixing, where their locations coincide.

This fixing method can potentially minimise the amount of fasteners by up to 50% and reduce labour costs when

compared to traditional single ply mechanical fixing methods.

Additionally, because it is lightweight, this will often enable savings to be made on the supporting structure.

The homogenous nature of the membrane also allows the use of “plastic memory”, so that when installed a limited amount of self-tensioning will take place, removing the creases that are impossible to avoid during installation.

Adhered solutionAn adhered membrane really lends itself to refurbishment applications where the use of mechanical fasteners is inconvenient because of the type of existing structural deck. For example, fixing into concrete can be slow and tedious, whereas fixing to a woodwool slab may not be possible if the

A mechanically fixed roof is generally the fastest and most economical method to use, especially where the disc fixed method is used

An SKG membrane from Sika-Trocal was specified for the domed roof on Block A as part of a £15m redevelopment of Lancaster and Morecombe College

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | MAY 2013 | 4544 | APRIL 2014 | CONSTRUCTION MANAGER

Continuing Professional Development Single ply roof systems

reinforcement channels can’t be found to fix into.

If the existing roof finish is of a bitumen or asphalt nature and is firmly secured but has come to the end of its life, an adhered single ply membrane can be applied directly as an overlay or, more commonly these days, adding insulation with the use of cold applied adhesives — eliminating the use of “hot works” and minimising disruption to the building.

Fleece-backed adhered membranes can also provide an enhanced visual finish to the roof, minimising the “ghosting effect” of insulation board joints coming through on the underside of the membrane.

Ballasted solutionBallasted single ply membranes are highly resistant to ageing, pollutants and the bacteria that generally flourish at the membrane level. Additionally, the membrane and its joints are root resistant, which makes it suitable for living/green roofs. These membranes will be reinforced PVC which is designed to eliminate shrinkage and provide dimensional stability from the loads imposed.

Clients have the benefit of protecting the membrane in a variety of ways, including pavers, stone ballast, timber decking and living/green roofs. The key benefits of having a ballasted roof would be improved fire, acoustic and life performance.

Other Design ConsiderationsOnce you have decided on what type of system to go with, there are other design considerations that play a significant role to ensure you get an efficient single ply roof that is maintenance free, in line with current regulations and ensuring safety for those that access the roof.

The standard for the design of flat roofs is BS 6229. To encourage the removal of water from the roof surface, BS 6229 recommends that no part of the finished roof should have a fall of less than 1:80.

All weatherproofing upstands occurring around the roof area, such as doorways, openings, rooflights, vents and plinths, must have a minimum height of 150mm measured from the finished roof surface. In the case of a ballasted roof, you would take the 150mm from the top of the ballast surface.

Achieving current U-value requirements within the Building Regulations is simple within a single ply system, in fact many projects are constructed with thermal performance far above the regulations’ requirements. Single ply systems can accommodate uniform and tapered rigid insulation boards in PIR, mineral wool, expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extended polystyrene (XPS) in thicknesses of 200mm plus, achieving U-values below 0.08W/m2K.

Through the use of a combination of a long plastic tube and short coated carbon

steel, thermally broken fasteners offer a simple yet effective method of reducing thermal bridging and provide economical attachment methods.

With the use of vapour control layers, air leakage at junctions and penetrations can be minimised using simple standard practice.

The fire performance of a roof construction is determined in accordance with European standard DD CEN/TS 1187:2012 and BS 476 Part 3:2004. Single ply systems can achieve unrestricted use under the Building Regulations but always check with your local Building Control office as they define the fire ratings required.

Where access is required to the roof for maintenance, it is vitally important consideration is given as to whether further protection is needed. Single ply membranes on their own can resist light foot traffic. However, in situations when there is rooftop plant that requires frequent inspection and/or maintenance, then a walkway system is required to contain the effects of that traffic.

Detailing optionsThe correct detailing of single ply membranes is key to ensuring a long-term durable solution. Manufacturers should be able to provide standard details that cover the most common details architects and designers face including parapet, penetrations and abutment details.

It is recommended that advice is sought on non-standard details. Again, a competent manufacturer should be able to assist and provide guidance.

Quality suppliersThe building owner should expect to be provided with a proven, long term, trouble free, reliable roof. In addition, quality manufacturers of single ply should be able to demonstrate the following:● Cost effectiveness — By this we mean “best value” and not necessarily cheap or expensive.● Tailored design — A project specific specification rather than a “one size fits all” approach.● Flexible solution — Multiple application use. Third party products can be considered.● Suitably integrated components — Ancillary products that can be included >

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When there is rooftop plant that requires frequent maintenance, a walkway system is required

Achieving U-value requirements within the Building Regulations is simple. Many projects are constructed with thermal performance far above the regulations’ requirements

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To check which card you should apply for go to www.cscs.uk.com/cardfinder

CSCS is the leading certification card scheme for construction providing those who work on construction sites with a portable means of identity and proof of their qualifications and training.

Green cards are changing From July 2014 CSCS green cards are for Labourers only. People working in other occupations need to apply for the CSCS card that’s relevant to their job. Labourers applying for or renewing CSCS green cards need to pass a specified basic Health and Safety Qualification and also pass the Health, Safety and Environment test.

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CPD test paper Single ply roofing systemsThe CIOB requires members to assess and fulfil their own CPD needs. Members can therefore choose to study the CPD articles published in CM as a valid part of their personal record of CPD activity.

To complete the questionnaire printed below, members should log on to www.construction-manager.co.uk then click on this month’s CPD article. Scroll down to the end of the article, and you will find a link to the online questionnaire and the five multiple choice questions printed here. Select your answers, fill in your contact details, then click “submit”. If all five questions are answered correctly, you will be invited to download and print a PDF document confirming your successful completion of the questionnaire. If one or more questions is answered incorrectly, please reread the article and try again, pressing “submit” to resend the amended form.

We no longer offer the facility to send questionnaires by fax or post. Please email any questions regarding this CPD service to [email protected].

1 With a green roof application the minimum weight requirement to hold the membrane system in place is:l 80kg/m2 l 70kg/m2

l 60kg/m2 l 100kg/m2

2 The disc fixed method of installing single ply roofs can reduce the number of fasteners by up to: l 10% l 25%l 50% l 75%

3 The standard relating to the design of flat roofs is:l 0.08 l BS5534l BSEN 12326 l BS6229

4 Single ply roof systems can achieve U-values below:l 0.8W/m2K l 0.018W/m2Kl 0.08W/m2K l 0.18W/m2K

5 A single ply roof membrane generally has a design life of:l In excess of 30 years l In excess of 25 yearsl In excess of 50 years l In excess of 10 years


Continuing Professional Development Single ply roof systems

under the same warranty, for example vapour control layers, adhesives, walkway protection and rainwater outlets.l Durability — Proven long-term life expectancy.l Quick installation — Speed and ease suitable for demanding site programmes.

Manufacturer expectationsSpecifiers should expect a high quality service from manufacturers, which should include:l Technical competence and experience. Manufacturers should demonstrate best practice through their knowledge and experience in the use of single ply. Case studies, technical literature and data sheets should be readily available.l Technical survey support. Detailed assessments should be carried out by the manufacturer and supporting roofing contractor for roof refurbishment.l Technical design support. You should have access to a technical department or local technical manager.l Project specification. Either according to NBS section J42 or detailed manufacturers’ specification service.

Integrated system componentsManufacturers of single ply membranes should also be able to provide a range of ancillary products that can be

integrated into the roofing system. These items, when specified, can then be included under the manufacturer’s product warranty.

These include fasteners and adhesives to attach exposed single ply membranes; vapour control layers, both polyethylene and bitumen based; drainage outlets to drain water through conventional gravity outlets or via parapet walls with the use of scupper outlets.

Also, membrane laminated metal for drip details and to form flashings to abutments, upstands and around penetrations; walkway systems for follow on trades/maintenance; and decorative profiles to mimic traditional roofing.

Specifiers can also check industry accreditations and it is important that manufacturers are associated with them to show a commitment to maintaining standards and codes of practice.

SustainabilityManufacturers’ environmental and sustainability credentials are also under scrutiny and this is only going to receive more focus and attention in future.

Single ply in a built up system can contribute to a positive BREEAM rating for a building. If referring to the BRE Green Guide to Specification, it can achieve an A+ rating on specific constructions. Single ply manufacturers should all be manufacturing to ISO 9001 and specifically 14001.

Single ply PVC can be recycled back into new production, however, the percentage is very low to ensure and maintain higher quality.

Single ply green roofs are a perfect example of maximising sustainability to roofscapes, reducing CO2 levels in cities and reducing the water management burden in flood risk areas.

Single ply can create cool roofs with white or light coloured membranes that increase solar reflectivity, which in turn reduces electricity usage in buildings running air conditioning. Single ply, if properly protected, can also support a wide variety of solar thermal and solar PV solutions.Pete Hollingworth is national sales manager of Sika-Trocal. For further information contact Sika-Trocal on 01707 394444, email [email protected] or visit www.sikaspec.com

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Sika-Trocal provides flat roofing membranes suitable for a wide range of applications including new build, refurbishment and green roof specifications.

Speed, choice and efficiency are at the core of the Sika-Trocal concept. Designed to enable the delivery of buildings with low maintenance roofs and better environmental performance, Sika-Trocal uses lightweight, durable and flexible membranes to ensure a fast, safe and economical installation process that is suitable for most roofs.

Sika-Trocal’s range of roofing membranes have been used on a number of high-profile roofing applications, across a variety of sectors, including the Billingham Forum Leisure Centre and Blackpool Sea Life Centre; Trafford General Hospital and Ronald McDonald Teenage Cancer Trust Ward at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Sika-Trocal area technical managers offer design assistance and advice on product selection, while site monitoring is carried out by dedicated Sika field technicians.

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Associate Membership (ACIOB) with QCF Level 3 NVQ Diploma Construction Site Supervision

or Construction Contracting Operations

Incorporated Membership (ICIOB) with QCF Level 6 NVQ Diploma Construction Site Management

or Construction Contracting Operations

Corporate Membership (MCIOB) with QCF Level 7 NVQ Diploma Construction Senior Management

NVQ is the only route recognised for obtaining

CSCS Supervisor and Manager Cards

Tel: 01600 772011 email: [email protected]

www.caslgroup.co.uk

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | SEPTEMBER 2013 | 59

Senior Site Manager/ Site ManagerBuilding communities, building careers£Competitive plus benefits including Car/Car Allowance and bonusLeicestershire, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, BuckinghamshireOne of the UK’s most successful homebuilders, we see ourselves as a business that builds futures. For our customers, by creating communities where people aspire to live. And for our people, by creating a culture where people want to work. Join us, and share in a positive culture which rewards effort and initiative.Leading a large site construction team from set-up to customer handover, you’ll set meaningful goals and motivate your team and sub-contractors to deliver under pressure. Ideally professionally qualified, you’ll know the construction trade inside out, and have site management experience within the homebuilding sector. Just as important is your ability to focus on both customer expectation and commercial needs – because both lie at the heart of this role. Find out how we can build a future together.For more information and to find out what we have to offer, visit www.buildingcareerstogether.co.uk

www.buildingcareerstogether.co.ukAn equal opportunities employer

Download the new Polyflor iPad AppPolyflor has launched its first App! The Polyflor app for the iPad is free and can be downloaded via the Polyflor website or directly from the Apple Store. The App allows the user to look through hundreds of installation images by sector or by colour. High quality sample scans of all colours can also be viewed, along with product details and technical specifications. Samples can be added to the ‘sample basket’ as the user browses through the content and at the end of the session, address details are entered and the samples are dispatched free of charge. There is also a ‘My Gallery’ section which allows the user to collect images whilst browsing through installation shots, these images can then be viewed and emailed in a pdf format. Tom Rollo, Polyflor’s Marketing Manager comments ‘the App is a great tool for the flooring contractor and specifier alike, allowing instant access to product information, imagery and sample requests and is a useful addition to Polyflor’s online presence.’ http://www.polyflor.com/ipadapp

TO ADVERTISE YOUR POSITIONS ON THESE PAGES, CONTACT TOM PEARDON ON

T: +44 (0)20 7490 5595 E: [email protected]

Classified

RECRUITMENT

BUISINESS OPPORTUINITY TO AQUIRE A

CHARTERED BUILDING COMPANY

Midlands based Chartered Building Company seeks expressions of interest for merger or sale.

A phased share sale to an experienced Chartered Builder would also be considered.

An Award winning £5m turnover Principal Contractor with an excellent reputation and long standing corporate and local authority clients with high levels of repeat and

referral business.Retiring Managing Director happy to work with incoming investor for several years,

to ensure continuity.

Interested parties should apply in confidence to [email protected].

48_CM_APRIL_CLASSIFIED.indd 48 25/03/2014 16:53

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITYTO ACQUIRE A

CHARTERED BUILDING COMPANY

ContactThe Chartered Institute of Building | Members’ Newsletter | Issue 121 | April 2014

Construction fi rms must do more to help young people into the industry, says report

>A group of Parliamentarians is urging construction chiefs

to tackle the sector’s growing training and apprenticeship crisis.

In a report called No More Lost Generations: Creating Construction Jobs for Young People, the group’s joint-chairman Nick Raynsford MP said: “Construction apprenticeships have plummeted in the past few years. For 2013 the number completing their construction apprenticeship in England fell to 7,280, just half the fi gure for 2008/09. They are pathetically dismal fi gures.”

Lord Richard Best, fellow joint-chairman, called for a “concerted effort” from major fi rms. “Without suffi cient skilled home grown staff, employers are once again looking to import labour from other countries – particularly from Eastern Europe. This is not in the longer term interests of either the industry or the country.”

Falling fi guresThe report follows a Parliamentary inquiry – supported by the CIOB – into how more young people can be employed in construction. The commission found that the drastic fall in apprenticeship training comes at a time when the construction industry is forecast to need 182,000 more workers in the next fi ve years.

Raynsford said: “There are nearly one million young people not in education, employment and training. We cannot tolerate this continuing mass unemployment when there is such scope for increasing training, apprenticeships and employment in our construction industry. We want to see a step change in both the quantity and quality of training.”

No More Lost Generations

Government urges industry to take lead on tackling poor apprenticeship numbers

acknowledges that there is no one single solution and actions will be needed to overturn current attitudes across a number of fronts. Key recommendations are:

• For the CITB and the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, with backing from the Construction Leadership Council, to convene a high-level summit with contractors, specialist contractors, house-builders, local authorities and social landlords to get momentum behind Construction Jobs for Young People. This echoes a similar summit for industry leaders in 2001 on the theme of safety: by raising the profi le of that issue, huge progress has been made on construction sites to reduce signifi cantly fatalities and accidents.

• For the CITB to spearhead a new apprenticeship strategy to ensure that training programmes are better linked to the nature of the jobs and reduce the drop-out rate from apprenticeships and other training courses.

• For public bodies and social landlords to use the levers available through public-sector procurement

and the planning system to require realistic and effective training and employment commitments from employers. This will require committed support from government, social landlords and local authorities.

• For the sector to improve an understanding in schools of the exciting and varied opportunities for those who want a career in construction and make it easier for young people to fi nd an appropriate route into the industry, whether through apprenticeships or degree-level qualifi cations, through the creation of a new careers portal.

Michael Brown, director at the CIOB said: “During the course of the inquiry we saw excellent examples of not for profi t and commercial organisations preparing young people for work and providing them with construction skills. The issue we have is one of scale. We need creative leadership to take current best practice and make it available across the industry.”

A full copy of the report can be accessed at www.ciob.org/youth-unemployment-inquiry

POLICY

• p50 ON THE RADARAll the latest news and developments from the CIOB at HQ and in your area including Student Challenge results and George Clarke as guest speaker at Cambridge event

• p54 COMMENTAndrew Carpenter of the STA on energy effi ciency in housing valuation

• p55 IN GOOD COMPANYWhat happened when the WWF made carbon measurement a contractual obligation

• p56 LEARNING CURVEMeet the recipients of the Sir Ian Dixon scholarship

• p58 MEMBER BENEFITSTake advantage of exclusive member benefi ts and special offers. PLUS this month’s dates for your diary

INTHISISSUE

• p60 FROM THE TOPJane Hopwood FCIOB

BOOK FAST FOR RETROFIT CONFERENCE

>Regional heats of the CIOB’s annual Student Challenge competition have been

taking place over the past month. This popular event asks teams of construction students to take on a brief in the morning to research and present as a proposal to expert judges in the afternoon.

Teams from six colleges participated in Ireland’s Northern Centre competition: Belfast Metropolitan College, University of Ulster, Northern Regional College Ballymena, South Eastern Regional College Downpatrick, South Eastern Regional College Lisburn and South West College Omagh. The winner was University of Ulster. The report and presentation from the University of Ulster team will now be judged against the winner’s report from Limerick to determine the overall Irish winner.

In Scotland, teams competed from Robert Gordon University, Heriot Watt University and Glasgow Caledonian University, with the latter taking the

competition

Novus heads for London treasure huntnovusin brief

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> NOTIFICATIONS FOR SCOTLAND BRANCH AGMSThe CIOB in Scotland has its AGM on 28 May in Glasgow. Novus and several regional Scottish centres will also be holding their AGMs in May. For full details turn to the diary dates page on p59

> AWARDS DINNERSThe East Midlands Committed to Construction Awards Dinner 2014 takes place on 11 April at the Crowne Plaza, Nottingham. Tickets are £50pp or £450 for a table of 10. The evening will have entertainment, dinner, awards and a raffle in aid of a Leicestershire Charity Prem Babies. Nine awards will be announced on the night. Email Kiren Gill to book tickets at [email protected] in the month on 25 April the Scotland Branch will hold its Annual Dinner at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow. Robbie Glen and Len Murray will be the guest speakers and tickets are available from Lynne McKay at [email protected]

> NOTIFICATIONS FOR YORKSHIRE BRANCH AGMThe Yorkshire Branch AGM will be held on 7 May at Barnsley College’s Think Low Carbon (TLC) Centre. The AGM will start at 6:30pm. Before the AGM starts, there will also be a tour of the TLC Centre at 5pm followed by refreshments.

The £4.75m Think Low Carbon Centre, based on Barnsley College’s Honeywell site, is packed with working low carbon technology. It has been constructed with the latest energy efficient materials. Among the centre’s features are solar panels, a green roof, triple glazing and a building management system which automatically opens windows and vents to regulate temperature. The power generated and used in any moment is publicly displayed on-screen.

To register your interest in attending the AGM, email [email protected]

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Next week Gregory Barker, minister of state for climate change, and John Vidal, environmental editor at The Guardian are to talk at The Retrofit Conference in Cambridge. This one-day event will focus on the practical, financial and strategic issues and solutions associated with retrofitting listed, historical and traditional buildings.

The programme features experts who have successfully implemented carbon optimisation strategies and/or are currently working on them, as well as strategists and consultants with a deep knowledge of the subject.

Organised by Bidwells, the CIOB and the National Trust, the event is designed to provide delegates with practical as well as hands-on

top spot and earning a trophy and a week’s work experience with Robertson Construction. The Scottish event also incorporated fun activity this year where the teams competed in a giant game of Jenga.

At the Rose Bowl in Leeds, teams from Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds College of Building, Huddersfield University, Sheffield Hallam University and Novus competed in this year’s Yorkshire challenge, which was won by Sheffield Hallam. Across the Pennines at the University of Central Lancashire, the Liverpool John Moores University team were named winners narrowly beating teams from UCLan, Liverpool John Moores, University of Salford, University of Bolton and Blackburn College. In the North East a team of first year HNC students from Sunderland College were announced winners.

London and East of England are holding local challenges in the autumn, and then both branches will go onto a joint branch final showdown to include a site visit.

Student challenge competition hots upas regional winners are announced

“I think the construction market in the UK is getting stronger at the moment and we would very much like to have a bigger presence there. The UK buildings market is also coming back and getting stronger.”David Richter Chief operating officer of Hill International www.globalconreview.com

Novus Treasure Hunt will start at Trafalgar Square and take in London’s historical architecture

Student challenges are taking place across the country

The Think Low Carbon Centre incorporates many green features

MP AND LEADING JOURNALIST TO BE GUEST SPEAKERS AT CARBON EVENT

>The East of England and London Novus groups are joining forces to host a

treasure hunt based around London’s historical architecture in June.

The event follows a similar successful day last year when over 60 people paired off in to teams to compete against each other for what turned out to be one of the most successful Novus events.This year’s event will take place on 7 June and starts at Trafalgar Square at 1pm.

“It is an ideal opportunity for teambuilding. Come along with your partner and/or friends as this event will be open to the general public rather than just to construction professionals,” says Salvatore Capotosto.

On arrival participants will be briefed and given a map and everything else they will need to take part. There will be challenges and forfeits along the way and prizes will be awarded to the most successful teams.Refreshments will be available at the end.

The cost is £10 per person which will be used to finance the event and to fund prizes for the day.

To book email Sally Hill at [email protected]

insight into the complex area of retrofitting and help them plan and implement in their own projects. The conference qualifies for CPD credits.

For more details and to register visit www.retrofit-conference.co.uk

HAVE WE GOT YOUR CONTACT DETAILS CORRECT?• If you have moved or changed any of your details recently, don’t forget to tell us. You can update your details online – simply log in to “members area” of the website www.ciob.org. Or email us at [email protected] or call our membership customer services team on +44 (0) 1344 630706 for further help. If you would rather post your details send them to: The Chartered Institute of Building, Englemere, Kings Ride, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7TB, UK

The Retrofit Conference on 9-10 April in Cambridge

CIOB CEO CHRIS BLYTHE HAS HANDED OVER THE KEYS TO ENGLEMERE (BELOW) TO MARC TAYLOR FROM MILLGATE HOMES. THE CIOB NOW HAS A NEW HQ IN BRACKNELL

>George Clarke, architect and TV personality, will be the guest

speaker at the East of England Branch industry Gala Dinner In June.

Clarke is the presenter of many successful series for television, including Channel 4’s Restoration Man, The Great British Property Scandal and George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.

The dinner will be held at the historic St Catherine’s College, Cambridge on June 27 at 7pm. The event is expected to attract more than 200 local industry leaders including local dignitaries and other professional institutes.

The East of England Branch has a few sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Sally Hill [email protected] for further information.

branch dinner

>The Novus Scotland group attended a site visit to the

University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre currently being constructed on a brownfield site in Glasgow’s Merchant City area by Lend Lease. The design and build project is the University of Strathclyde’s single-biggest investment in its research capacity.

Developed with industry, for industry, the Technology and Innovation Centre has already attracted partners including Scottish and Southern Energy, the Weir Group, Scottish Power and several other major cross-sectorial industrial partners.

The building is a nine-storey, steel framed wedge shaped structure occupying a sloping brownfield site. Conditions proved to be challenging at first, due to the topography and the water environment which included run off from excavations and some localised perched water. This

Novus enthuses about new technology centre at Strathclyde University

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TV architect to talk at dinner

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP? BECOME A CIOB FELLOW

ABOUT FELLOWSHIPFellowship is the highest class of membership in the CIOB. It is awarded only to those applicants who hold very responsible positions in their chosen field, who have brought distinction to construction and who have added to the prestige of the Chartered Institute of Building. The Fellowship Committee, which decides upon transfer to Fellowship, meets four times a year in March, June, September and December. Applications for transfer must reach CIOB headquarters no later than one month in advance of each meeting.

THE FELLOWSHIP MEETING DATES FOR 2014 ARE:• 19 June (applications to be

received by 16 May)• 16 September (application

to be received by 15 August)• 4 December (applications to

be received by 3 November)

Applicants are advised of the result of their submission within one week of the Committee meeting.

QUALIFICATION FOR FELLOWSHIPFor transfer from Member to Fellow, applicants must:

(a) Have achieved and maintained a very responsible position in their chosen field of construction for the last five continuous years from the date of the application submission.

(b) In their chosen field of construction demonstrate either:• High qualities of

leadership• High managerial ability• High technical ability• Have made a significant

contribution to construction knowledge (by papers, books, lectures or contributions to the work of committees, study groups etc.)

If you would like further information, please contact Wendy Hewlett on 01344 630785 or email [email protected]

membership

George Clarke will be the guest speaker at the East of England Branch dinner in June

ONETOWATCH

Q Why did you choose a career in construction?I started designing websites at the age of 13, a hobby that paid better than my friends’ paper rounds. However, my career in construction started at the age of 19 by chance, when a company I built a website for offered me an apprenticeship working under their surveyor.

I’d left college with little knowledge of opportunities within the construction industry, yet found myself enrolling onto a part-time HNC Construction course, which eventually led to an HND, degree and post-graduate diploma that required over seven years of studying, more than double that of most of my friends at university.

The difference was that I had the work experience with my qualifications that allowed me to become a full member of the CIOB and achieve chartered status with the RICS at the age of 27.

Q What’s been your worst professional mistake?I once ordered over 100 doors incorrectly for a site that should have been fire rated, but I failed to recognise the “FR” symbols on the door schedule. I now always check things twice and then again.

Q What would you have done if you hadn’t worked in construction?I almost followed in my father’s footsteps and joined the police at 18, but was told that I needed more life experience. I’ve also always been good with computers so I could have continued to design websites or perhaps gone into competition with Microsoft and Apple.

Q How do you relax when you’re not at work?I relax at home, usually feet up in front of the TV watching Grand Designs telling my girlfriend how they should be controlling their project and costs better! When I’m not at home I’m out playing football or squash. Q What’s the best bit of advice you’ve ever been given?A college lecturer advised me to take advantage of the CIOB student membership and attend local CPD and networking events, as the ability to engage with other professionals is vitally important. Within the workplace my boss is often heard shouting “He who dares, wins!” when things are going well and I believe if you put the effort in you’ll get the result you set out for.

Q What’s your most embarrassing work moment?Soon after joining my first company, still young and naive, I was sent to the local builders merchant to pick up a list of materials that included a pack of “sky hooks” and a “foam hammer”. I found myself phoning the office to check what colour we wanted the hammer as green (our corporate colour) was apparently out of stock!

Q If you were starting your career again what would you do differently?I would certainly go back and say yes to every training course or seminar I was offered. The industry is changing at a rapid speed and learning new skills is essential.

David James MCIOB, commercial manager, Village Developments Strategic Land

lengthened the groundworks programme and also meant the steelwork erection had to be sequenced accordingly.

The Technology and Innovation Centre and the surrounding International Technology and Renewable Energy Zone (ITREZ) are expected to generate 700 new jobs and attract millions of pounds of inward investment to Glasgow.

A detailed presentation was provided followed by a site walk round, Paul Brown, chair of Novus Scotland, thanked Norman Smith, project manager at Lend Lease, and his team for their time on the evening and the preparation involved in the lead up. The evening concluded with some networking over refreshments.

“It was great,” said Brown. “The audience included people at all levels in law, surveying, planning, engineering, management and design – all sharing the same enthusiasm.”

The Technology and Innovation Centre as it will look at University of Strathclyde

As a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) you’ve demonstrated commitment to continuing professional development and have achieved the globally recognised status of MCIOB in the construction industry. You may not be aware, however, that it is a relatively simple process to progress to the very highest grade available — Fellowship.

2013 was the fourth year running in which nine “supertalls” — buildings higher than 300m — were completed, according to a

report from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Dubai is still a height hotspot: the tallest building to complete in 2013 was the 355m JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2. And for the second year in a row, three of the five tallest buildings completed in a given year were in the United Arab Emirates in 2013. Read the full story at http://www.globalconreview.com/trends/increase-completions-last-year-marks-return-tall-b/

Performance matters

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“As family budgets continue to be squeezed and energy prices

keep rising, a building’s operational performance will become something

buyers will focus on more. The industry will need to respond to this”

W hen the World Wildlife Fund contracted Willmott Dixon to construct its new HQ in

Surrey, it didn’t just pay lip service to sustainable construction – it made minimal carbon usage a contractual obligation. The result is the £13m Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, designed by Hopkins Architects, which has a whole-life carbon footprint 42% smaller than the submitted scheme. However, it proved to be a tough challenge for Willmott Dixon.

The building features a mixed-mode ventilation system, drawing air out through roof cowls in natural ventilation mode, and tempering incoming air by drawing it through 60m of earth ducts in mechanical mode. Warmth is provided by a ground-source heat pump, roof lighting doubles the light of a typical office and 20% of the building’s regulated energy needs are provided by photovoltaic panels on the roof. It will use 53% less energy than a typical office building and has been certified as BREEAM “outstanding”.

The Living Planet Centre is also the first building in the UK to have undergone a full whole-life carbon assessment, including for all of its furniture. WWF insisted on full Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification for all timber products on this job. This proved to be problematic with suppliers, so Willmott Dixon, which is FSC certified, built its own joinery workshop on site.

Assessment of the whole-life carbon was handled by Sturgis Carbon Profiling, which found that the devil was in the detail – simple measures such as using a different glue for the glulam beams reduced the carbon significantly. But assessment of embodied carbon through the supply chain was onerous, admits Willmott Dixon’s sustainability manager (and CIOB Sustainability Scholar) Richard Bartlett. The build was equally challenging as materials and products had to be selected based on their carbon impact, but without compromising performance or quality.

Willmott Dixon rose to the challenge and made some significant gains, including finding an alternative supplier of aluminium framing that used 80% recycled aluminium, using plastic earth tubes instead of concrete, and recycled steel and aggregates. Site energy was reduced using well-insulated accommodation, new plant and LED lighting, securing an early connection to the grid and using diesel generators. The target of 11% of carbon budget for site operations wasn’t quite met, proving how tough an ask that can be.

CARBON CHALLENGEwillmott dixon

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O ver the past year, energy efficiency has been pushed right back up the agenda of the construction

industry. The government’s long-awaited changes to Part L of the Building Regulations – which are due to come into force this month – should ensure that the planning process does everything possible to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change. Currently, however, the energy performance and the long-term running costs of a building are still not taken into account when it comes to its valuation.

Despite this the project provides an exemplary demonstration of environmental, social and economic sustainability. WWF has got a building that reflects its values, and Willmott Dixon has fulfilled tough environmental criteria while maintaining its margins.

HOW THEY DID ITSturgis Carbon Profiling provided “ideal scenarios” for each feature of the Living Planet Centre based on existing best practice, and in many cases Willmott Dixon was able to exceed these benchmarks.

Willmott Dixon engaged suppliers on the vision, aspiration and expectations of the project, demanding FSC certification, BES 6001 (responsible sourcing) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) throughout the entire supply chain.

To push the boundaries of sustainable construction, the embodied carbon of more than 271 building components was measured and every change order had a cost and carbon metric against it. Recycled (and recyclable) materials were used wherever possible: • Recycled aggregates were sourced and

Andrew Carpenter discusses how a building’s energy performance should be reflected in its valuation

of new buildings, and surveyors should be able to take this into account when valuing a home or non-residential property. In fact, RICS is very much behind incorporating this into its valuation procedures. Even the Housing Forum has entered the debate, with its recent Housing for the Information Age report. This calls on the government, house builders and estate agents to introduce “Home Performance Labels” detailing the energy performance of new and old buildings alike.

Yet individual stakeholders cannot create change by working in isolation. An industry-wide, collaborative approach is needed to transform the way in which properties are valued.

When assessing the borrowing needs of the consumer, lenders are still using traditional valuation methods, such as the location of the property and square footage, in determining how much to lend. For energy efficiency to start playing a part in this process, there must be a culture change among the major high street banks, led by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, of incorporating the long-term operational costs of a building into its value, rather than just the initial capital outlay.

Although industry bodies are able to make small inroads into affecting this change, the government must drive this from the front with regulation.

From an industry perspective, it is important that we are able to offer consumers the option to improve the

performance of their dwelling, especially with regards to new properties. We currently offer different options in terms of bathrooms, kitchens and other fittings – why not allow consumers to specify the fabric and wider energy performance of the building? If government and local councils were to offer incentives for choosing more environmentally friendly buildings, such as reductions in stamp duty or different levels of council tax, in a similar vein to the gradations which currently exist when taxing a car, then consumers would be more likely to factor energy efficiency into their decision making process.

Our industry now takes a whole of life approach to construction, with energy efficiency and long-term operating costs at the heart of that we do. Momentum is building across the entire sector for this new approach to be taken and it is high time surveyors acknowledged this by adapting their valuation procedures accordingly. •Andrew Carpenter is chief executive of the Structural Timber Association. He is also a director of Construction Excellence South West, as well as sitting on the board of the Housing Forum.

INGOODCOMPANY

As family budgets continue to be squeezed and energy prices keep rising, a building’s operational performance will inevitably become something that buyers will focus on more in the coming years. The construction industry will need to respond to this demand by providing consumers with the information they require when it comes to the performance of the dwelling, as well as ensuring energy efficiency is subsumed into a property’s valuation.

All the appropriate data currently exists with regards to the energy performance

carefully blended to produce the fair-faced finish.

• 80% recycled aluminium was used for the framing (compared to 30% in the original plan).

• Second-tier suppliers were contacted to establish the origins of materials, right down to checking that the recycled paper used in dry screed board was post-consumer (not post-industrial).

• Fixtures and fittings were also factored into the whole-life carbon assessment, including 100% recycled carpet tiles and refurbished furniture from the London 2012 Olympics.

• 99% of construction waste was diverted from landfill, “take back” schemes were demanded, and manufacturers and suppliers were required to follow the waste hierarchy. Waste timber was donated to a local community company, and other materials were used to build a new community centre.

• The Living Planet Centre features a mixed-mode ventilation system, achieving 7% of the total energy saving in the building and a 40% efficiency improvement on conventional systems. The “diagrid” roof and glazing optimises natural light, providing twice the light of a typical office.

• The passive design (form, facades and materials) provides a daylight factor of >4% over 90% of occupied floor area. Additional lighting has an installed power density of 8W/m2 with daylight and occupancy sensing.

• Photovoltaic panels on the roof provide 20% of the building’s energy demand. The remainder is low carbon electricity from Thamesway Grid.

• The Living Planet Centre uses 53% less energy than a typical office building.

• All the appliances are among the most energy efficient.

• Living walls support a green roof and a new wetland habitat has been created by the integrated sustainable urban drainage system.

• An intelligent irrigation system uses moisture sensors in the soil and delivers stored rainwater where and when it is needed. •

Willmott Dixon faced a tough task when the WWF insisted on putting its money where its mouth is and specified a new HQ with minimal carbon usage

For more information on the Structural Timber Association and its work, visit www.structuraltimber.co.uk

>The WWF headquarters is the first building in the UK to have undergone a whole-life carbon assessment. It uses more than 50% less energy than a typical office building

andrew carpenter

>In the second of our occasional series on recipients of the

CIOB scholarships we meet two more talented young professionals who were awarded the Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship.

MIKE RIDERMike Rider is a construction manager with by Sir Robert McAlpine in Manchester. Rider graduated from the University of Salford in 2005 with an honours degree in Construction Management. Since completing his degree he has worked on various developments ranging from residential and commercial to education. He has worked at Sir Robert McAlpine for seven years and is currently working with Manchester Metropolitan University, contracting its flagship campus Birley Fields just outside Manchester city centre.

The scholarship research undertaken by Rider is titled “What is Completion and How Can It Be Achieved More Effectively?” The aim of the project was to analyse the problems experienced in the management of completion from a practical and contractual point of view.

This was done, in part, by carrying out a full review of the most commonly used standard forms of contract and evaluating them individually by means of a practical assessment to identify if the content of the contracts caters for the completion process. The results showed that the most commonly used standard forms of construction contract do not include specific clauses and definitions that provide clear instruction as to how completion is achieved.

Industry research was carried out in the form of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Just three parties

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ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIPS

Providing a scholarship student can be an effective way for firms to contribute to wider industry debates and highlight their specialist knowledge or expertise.

For the individuals, winning a scholarship means that they will have the chance to grow and develop professionally over a 12-month period and to rapidly build a network of professionals outside their own companies. For their employers too, there are great networking opportunities and the chance of positive publicity.

The CIOB works with other organisations, including the Worshipful Company of Constructors, the College of Estate Management, and LABC, providing experts to help mentor sponsored students through their research activities.

The Sustainability Scholarship encourages a company to carry out research using one of its employees. Established in 2007, the £2,000 scholarship is awarded

annually. The subject of the research must benefit both the individual company and the wider industry. The selection process is rigorous.

Companies must agree to host the scholarship before putting forward a possible candidate and will continue to pay their salary during the scholarship year. That candidate will then meet with experts every few months to receive support and mentoring, with a presentation, hosted by their company, to share their findings at the end of the 12-month scholarship period. In addition, the scholar must also produce a bound report of 8,000-10,000 words, together with an abstract.

The research will also be considered for publication to a wider audience via the CIOB magazine Construction, Research and Innovation, which goes out to directors and senior managers around the industry.

For more on CIOBScholarships visitwww.ciob.org/scholarships

Scholarships

Baker joined Sir Robert McAlpine in 2008 as sustainability manager at the Olympic Stadium where her responsibilities included delivery of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s Sustainable Development Strategy.

Her scholarship on the effectiveness of contract clauses in securing sustainable outcomes followed her appointment as sustainable procurement manager with Sir Robert McAlpine. Baker’s research identified that existing guidance for the inclusion of sustainability within contract clauses is not being adhered to, with sustainability inclusions instead being found within addenda or appendices to contract documents.

Baker also found that the inclusions for sustainability elements were unbalanced, with environmental elements being widely covered while social and economic aspects received much less coverage.

For the construction industry to maximise the benefits derived from including sustainability requirements within contract documents there needs to be greater visibility of and access to the existing guidance.

Baker’s research also identifies that, rather than general requirements, there is a need for sustainability requirements which are specific to a project, work area or work package. •

to the completion process were used as participants of the industry research: clients, design consultants and principal contractors. While the feedback identified varying opinions as to what completion actually means, there was a consensus that the standard forms of contract are not delivering completion effectively and that a common use guidance document would benefit the industry.

The opinions and feedback achieved through the industry research, coupled with the findings and indeed the shortcomings identified through the evaluation of the standard forms of contract and available guidance documents, were utilised in completing the project’s main outcome. This was the development of a best practice guideline that can be used collaboratively between the project stakeholders to effectively achieve completion of building projects.

The guideline, named The Road to Completion, is a framework consisting of seven straightforward steps, from the development of the completion stakeholders to finally collaboratively agreeing project completion has been achieved.

ANNA BAKERBaker has 10 years’ experience in the construction industry working for both main contractors and clients. After completing an MSc in Environmental Management she joined Whessoe Oil & Gas as an environmental adviser on the construction of the Dragon LNG terminal in Pembrokeshire, south Wales. She then worked on secondment from environmental consultant RSK Group at the National Grid Grain LNG site providing environmental advice to the client.

The CIOB’s Scholarship Awards are a prestigious opportunity for companies and individuals to develop

as businesses and professionals and also to advance industry thinking. They are awarded to individuals, but most of the seven available scholarships involve the companies they work for, with the aim of providing encouragement and support for those companies in developing their people.

Research identified that existing guidance for the inclusion of sustainability within contract clauses is not being adhered to, with sustainability inclusions instead being found within appendices to documents.

EAST OF ENGLANDGround Investigation and Peterborough AGM 9 April, 6pm, University Centre PeterboroughContact: [email protected] Building That Keeps Giving10 April, 6pm, County Hall NorwichContact: [email protected] of England AGM29 April, 6pm, British Racing School, NewmarketContact: shill;@ciob.org.ukTax in Construction 30 April, 6pm, Holiday Inn Orwell Contact: [email protected] EAST MIDLANDSAwards Dinner11 April, NottinghamContact: [email protected] Regulations24 April, Northampton Contact: [email protected] Management30 April, LincolnContact: [email protected] Learned from Projects1 MayContact: [email protected]

IRELANDEastern Centre Committee Meeting and AGM8 April, 6pm, CIF, Dublin Contact: [email protected] Centre AGM9 April, CEF Offices, 143 Malone Road, BelfastContact: [email protected] Review Workshop16 April, 6pm, CorkContact: [email protected] Ceremony26 April, 10am, Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2Contact: [email protected]

LONDONGreen Roof TechnologyWednesday 9 April, 6pm, The Burns Room, The Union Jack Club, Sandell Street, Waterloo Contact: [email protected] Cross Station Site Visit30 April, 4pm, King's Cross CentralContact: [email protected]

NORTH WESTNW Novus Alder Hey Site Visit24 April, 6pm, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, LiverpoolContact: [email protected] Your Personal Impact at Work8 May, 6.30pm, Timperley Sports Club, AltrinchamContact: [email protected]

NW Regional Black Tie Dinner16 May, 6.45pm, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Emirates Old TraffordContact: [email protected] Integrity15 April, 6.30pm, The Cottons, KnutsfordContact: [email protected] Innovative Volume Low Energy & PassivHaus Solutions24 April, 6.30pm, The Liner, LiverpoolContact: [email protected] SCOTLANDDUNDEE Site Visit: Forth Replacement Crossing (maximum 40 people)29 April, 3pmContact: neil.smyth@morrison construction.co.ukPlease bring own PPE to site visit EAST OF SCOTLAND Site Visit: Straw Building — Achieving Passive Housing 22 April, 5.45pm, Straw Building Site, Outside Stow Village, A7 North of Galashiels HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS Novus Event: Presentation Skills 23 April, 6pm, Inverness College Contact: [email protected]

SOUTH EASTProject Management — Lessons from the Past, followed by Oxford Centre AGM3 April, Holiday Inn, OxfordContact: [email protected] — Demolition, Top Down or Bottom Up?28 April, 7pm meal, 8pm lecture, Holiday Inn Maidstone-SevenoaksContact: [email protected] Valley AGM followed by The Story of Heathrow Terminal 230 April, Cantley House Hotel, Milton Road, WokinghamContact: [email protected] Centre & Sussex Novus Centre AGMs10 April, 6.30pm, Pelham House, St Andrew’s Lane, LewesContact: [email protected] Out What Shale Gas Exploration In Sussex Will Mean To You10 April, 7.30pm, Pelham House, St Andrew’s Lane, LewesContact: [email protected] the Private Sector Ready for Project Bank Accounts?30 April, 6pm, Offices of Blake Lapthorn, EastleighContact: [email protected] Landings Explained8 May, Gipsy Lane Campus, Oxford Brookes University Headington, Oxford Contact: [email protected]

SOUTH WESTBuilding Regulations Part L8 April, 5.30pm, Quattro Design Offices, GloucesterContact: [email protected] CPD: Keeping Yourself Out of Trouble16 April, 6.30pm, The Pheasant Inn, SalisburyContact: [email protected] AGM & Is That Crack Serious?23 April, 6pm, Trouville Hotel, BournemouthContact: [email protected] AGM & Monthly CPD Lunch Meeting24 April, 12.15pm, Guernsey Yacht ClubContact: [email protected] Problems with Roofs30 April, 6pm, Plymouth, venue tbcContact: [email protected]’s Over My Head: Problems with Roofs1 May, 6pm, Hall for Cornwall, TruroContact: [email protected] WALESCardiff AGM and Talk on BIM in the Heritage Cottage8 April, 6.30pm, Village Hotel CardiffContact: [email protected] & Talk on the Regeneration of Rhyl23 April, 5pm, Rhyl Town HallContact: [email protected] Talk on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and Centre AGM29 April, 6.30pm, Village Hotel SwanseaContact: [email protected]

WEST MIDLANDSSustainable Challenges7 April, 5.45pm, Coventry UniversityContact: [email protected] Weeds8 April, 6pm, Sixways Stadium, WorcesterContact: [email protected] Terrorism for Built Environment Professionals10 April, 2pm, West Mercia PCC, Hindlip, WorcesterContact: [email protected] Prevention and Prolonging the Life of Reinforced Concrete Structures10 April, 6pm, Holiday Inn Express, Snow HillContact: [email protected] Awareness15 April, 6pm, Ramada Hotel, TelfordContact: [email protected] Construction 201425 April, 6.30pm, ICC BirminghamContact: [email protected]

YORKSHIRELeeds & West Yorkshire Centre AGM and Building Regulations Update3 April, AGM 6pm, presentation 6.30pm, Carnegie Pavilion, LeedsThere will also be a tour of the Carnegie Pavilion at 5pmContact: [email protected] Deal/Sustainability30 April, 6pm, MP Centre, RotherhamContact: [email protected] Yorkshire Golf Day2 May, 11.30am, De Vere Oulton Hall, Leeds£50 per person/£200 per four ball Contact: [email protected] or [email protected] Branch AGM including tour of Think Low Carbon Centre, Barnsley7 May, Tour 5pm, AGM 6.30pm, TLC Centre, BarnsleyContact: [email protected]

APRIL TO MAY DATESFORYOURDIARY 2014MEMBER

BENEFITS

CIOB

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If you have a smartphone, iPhone or tablet, why not search your apps for a free downloadable QR reader and scan our details.

CIOB HILL INTERNATIONAL MASTERCLASSESHill International and CIOB’s Masterclass training series Tel: 020 7618 1200 www.hillintluk.com

IHS Critical technical information and decision-support toolshttp://uk.ihs.com

CIOB and VESOURCECar LeasingTel: 0845 052 5268www.vesource.co.uk/ciob.asp

CIOB TRAININGCPD-approved courses Tel: 020 7665 2432(quote WIZ1272) www.thomastelford.com

To find out more about events in your area go to www.ciob.org.uk/regions or look out for your electronic news and event updates from your CIOB branch or CIOB centre. To receive information from the CIOB visit www.ciob.org.uk and log on to the members’ area to input/update your details and preferences.

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Masterclasses on South America and Insurance> After the phenomenal success of the first ever Masterclass in Saudi Arabia, a Masterclass will be held in Sao Paulo in April, featuring some of the world’s top experts in delay, disruption and the law.

If you’re doing business in South America, the Masterclass on 23/24 April will give you the perfect opportunity to find out more about working in this burgeoning region. And on 12 June in London, a Masterclass will focus on insurance.

Numerous aspects of your projects might be affected by insurance, but what are the risks? What if named parties on a policy change, and are you sure you're covered for product liability?

For more information go to www.hillintluk.com or call Gregory Hill on 020 7618 1200

EXCLUSIVE

MEMBER

DISCOUNT learning

Knowledge and expertise at your fingertips> BRE Connect Online gives you immediate online access to all new and published BRE titles and more for an annual subscription of £399 + VAT.View more than 1,700 BRE publications with an easy and powerful searching interface, and benefit from the unrivalled expertise and insight of BRE, the UK’s leading centre of excellence for the built environment.

BRE Connect Online provides a huge resource for architects, designers, consultants, surveyors, planners, local authorities, contractors and suppliers, giving

clear technical advice, practical guidance and solutions from a source you can trust.

You get access to:› 700 books, reports and guides – research,

innovation, best practice and case studies› 250 Digests – authoritative state-of-the-

art reviews› 600 Information Papers – BRE research

and how to apply it in practice› 150 Good Building and Repair Guides

– illustrated practical guides to good building and repair work

› Specify IT (Silver) – a searchable database of more than 90,000 construction product catalogues from 9,000 suppliers and more than 30,000 CAD drawings from over 80 manufacturers

› Abstracts of 26,000 documents from over 475 other construction publishers (including BSI, TRL, CIBSE and CIRIA)

› In 2014 we are adding more than 50 new titles worth more than £1,000.

ONLINE

RESOURCE resources

Call now on +44 (0) 1344 328038 to find out more or arrange a free trial

NEW NEC3: ECC Project Manager Accreditation>NEC collaborates with project managers to provide industry-first accreditation during construction industry boom

With the booming construction industry undergoing its fastest growth since the recession, hot on the heels of the launch of the ECC Project Manager Accreditation course, the NEC has added extra dates for its courses supporting client project managers in response to unprecedented demand

› The only NEC3 accreditation available – set yourself apart from your peers

› Offers complete clarity on what to deliver and how to deliver it as an ECC project manager

› Peer reviewed course content and expert delivery from an NEC3 specialist

› NEC certification on completion and membership on the nec(r) register of

NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract Project Managers held by the Institution of Civil Engineers

› Available in formats tailored to suit the training needs and objectives of your organisation

THE NEC

GOLD

STANDARD resources

Full details and booking: Web: www.neccontract.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 020 7665 2474

Find out more about insurance, the risks involved and how to avoid them at the Hill/ CIOB Masterclass in the Brewers’ Hall in London on 12 June. More information from www hillintluk.com or [email protected] Discounts are available to CIOB members

chairman of the north west branch

ON HER CAREERI began my working life in architecture, starting straight from school. When the 1991 recession hit, architectural practices were the first to feel the pinch. I diversified into project management and joined a housing association.

Living and working in the Lake District, I saw at first hand the combined effects of the “right to buy” scheme and the increase of second homes purchasing. Many families, born and bred in the Lakes, found themselves without affordable places to live. From there I moved over to the construction side and worked as a contracts manager. I also became an Associate Member of the CIOB, gaining full membership through the ‘DMX’ route. I ran my own building management company for seven years.

I have always maintained my interest in the provision of rural housing and have been a trustee of Cumbria Rural Housing Trust for many years. Currently I am project managing an affordable housing scheme in Kendal in Cumbria. I’m a keen environmentalist and hope to add Chartered Environmentalist to my qualifications this year.

“Many families born and bred in the Lakes found themselves without affordable places to live”

Q&A

jane hopwood fciob, self-employed project manager

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FROMTHETOPHIGHLIGHTS AND REGRETSHighlights have to be working in Cumbria. It’s a fantastic place at any time of the year, and driving up to site on an early spring morning with bluebells in the woods and late snow on the hills always gives me a buzz. Meeting young people whose families have worked in the Lakes for generations and seeing their delight at being given keys to a new affordable, well insulated, spacious home is also a real joy.

I also have to say that receiving my Fellowship certificate is up there in “my proudest moments”.

Conversely, my biggest regret is not having experienced life in a big city. I would like to have been involved in a really complex inner city development.

ADVICE TO YOUNG CONSTRUCTION MANAGERSTake one step at a time: construction is complex but in bite size chunks, anything is achievable. Learn to work in a team, you’ll achieve so much more and make good sound friends along the way. Move around and experience working on some very big projects but do remember that in large organisations you are a small cog in a big wheel and you have to work as a team.

Work in a small-to-medium company as well and experience multi-tasking. I would strongly advise joining the CIOB, it opens up a network of fellow professionals to you and access to limitless experience and advice. Join your local Novus group and you’re also likely to make friends for life. •

The Chartered Institute of Building is at the heart of a management career in construction. Our focus is on those entering and already in a management career in construction. By delivering qualifications and certifications that meet the needs of a changing industry. We work with members, employers, academia and governments across the globe to drive forward the science, practice and importance of management in construction.OUR VISION: Built environment professionals making a differenceOUR MISSION: To contribute to a modern, progressive and responsible construction industry, meeting the economic, environmental and social challenges of a global societyOUR VALUES: • Creating extraordinary people through

professional learning and continuous professional development.

• Promoting the built environment as central to quality of life for everyone, everywhere.

• Achieving a sustainable future worldwide. • Being socially responsible and advocating

exemplary ethical practice, behaviour, integrity and transparency.

• Pursuing excellence in worldwide management practice and technological innovation rooted in evidence based research.

• To be the inclusive valued Institute of choice for built environment professionals.

We have over 47,000 members around the world and are considered to be the international voice of the building professional, representing an unequalled body of knowledge concerning the management of the total building process.

The Chartered Institute of Building

ContactsGeneralMain CIOB telephone number +44 (0)1344 630700Chief Executive Chris Blythe 01344 630701Member ServicesHead of Member & Business Development 01344 630852Change of Address 01344 630789/630731Direct Debit Enquiries 01344 630831Membership Certificates 01344 630720Membership Enquiries/Progression 01344 630706Subs Enquiries (Members) 01344 630831Training Partnerships 01344 630726Certificate Ceremonies 01344 630785SMTS Enquiries 01344 630742Experienced Practitioner AssessedProgramme (EPA) 01344 630887Experienced Practitioner AssessedReport Route (EPAR) 01344 630887Benevolent Fund 01344 630780Professional Development 01344 630716Library Enquiries 01344 630873/737Head of Education 01344 630822Adjudication and Dispute Resolution 01344 630732Scholarship and Faculties Manager 01344 630798Chartered Building Company/ Consultancy SchemeChartered Building Scheme Manager 01344 630746Administrator 01344 630743

PublicationsMagazine subscriptions (non-members) 01344 630811Construction Research and Innovation (CRI) 01344 630811Construction Manager 020 7490 5636Contact 07704 336835 Policy and External RelationsDeputy Chief Executive 01344 630702Press Office 01344 630766Web Site Enquiries 01344 630738

CIOB InternationalGeneral Enquiries +44 (0) 1344 630791CIOB Africa + 27 11 234 7877CIOB Australasia +61 (2) 9816 4700CIOB China East +86 21 2211 1556CIOB China North +86 10 6528 1070CIOB China West/South +86 23 3670 6360CIOB Hong Kong +852 2543 6369CIOB Malaysia +852 (603) 2284 5754CIOB Middle East +971 (0) 4457 9107CIOB Singapore +65 6334 4116

The views expressed in Contact are not necessarily those of the editor or the CIOB. The editor reserves the right to edit any article submitted for publishing. Printed on paper produced from a sustainable source.

curriculum vitae

January 13–presentSelf-employed project manager. Currently working on a new build scheme of 93 houses, 47 of which are in partnership with a housing associationApr 2007-Dec 2012 Contracts manager, Thomas Armstrong (Construction), LancasterNov 2001-Mar 2007 Director & company secretary, Alto Building Services, KendalMar 2001-Nov 2001Project manager, Amber Building Management, Kendal1997-2001 Business development Manager, Leck Construction, Kendal1991-1997Project manager, North Housing Association (now Home Housing Association)1987-1991Senior architectural technologist, Hanson Walford Marston, Kendal1984-1987Self-employed architectural technologist1972-1984Architectural technician, Tom Mellor & Partners, Milnthorpe, Cumbria

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Specifiers’ pagesTO SHOWCASE YOUR PRODUCTS ON THESE PAGES, CONTACT TOM PEARDON ON T: +44 (0)20 7490 5595 E: [email protected]

LEVOLUX KEEPS ‘THE WILSON’ COOLThe Wilson - Cheltenham’s Art Gallery & Museum - has opened to national acclaim, featuring a unique solar shading solution from Levolux. The solution comprised fixed, tubular ceramic Louvres, applied horizontally to the building’s south-facing façade, along with internal Slimlock double roller blinds. These help to maintain optimum conditions within the building. T 020 8863 9111 E [email protected] W www.levolux.com

GEZE GOES GREEN WITH ISO 14001 The UK’s leading door and window control system manufacturer, GEZE UK, is demonstrating its green credentials by achieving ISO 14001.

ISO 14001 is the world’s most recognised environmental management standard. To achieve it organisations need to measure their impact on the environment and set goals to improve their performance. www.geze.co.uk

TILED AND TESTED Redland’s Heathland Plain Tiles have been specified for both the roof and the façade of a self-build project in West Sussex to provide the traditional country appearance the owner was looking for.

The Heathland range of concrete tiles is designed to be a cost effective alternative that is virtually indistinguishable from its handmade clay tile counterparts. Jonathon Pons, the owner of the house in Albourne

chose the product for just this reason: “they look just like the leading brand clay tiles at a fraction of the cost”.

The Heathland tile features varying hanging lengths and irregular sides to mimic the handmade tile look. Finished with a subtle surface texturing of randomly applied fine sands it has all the visual features of a handmade clay tile without the price tag.www.monier.co.uk

ANCON LAUNCHES BIM OBJECT LIBRARYANCON, manufacturer of high integrity steel fixings, has launched a comprehensive BIM Object library to support the industry’s transition to digital building modelling.

Available free from the NBS National BIM Library, the new data-rich BIM Objects allow Ancon products to be easily incorporated into a 3D building model and its associated component database.

Offered as part of the NBS portfolio, users can be confident each file has been

quality-checked by the NBS team, catalogued in line with the National Building Specification and has a product structure designed to work seamlessly with the BIM specification tool NBS Create, as well as being compatible with COBie spreadsheets and IFC data exchanges.

These NBS-verified BIM files can also be downloaded from the Ancon website.

To download Ancon BIM objects visitwww.NationalBIMLibrary.com/Ancon or www.ancon.co.uk

NEW ACADEMY IS TAKING THE ENCON GROUP’S CUSTOMER SERVICE TO HIGHER LEVELSThe interface between specialist distributors and manufacturers and installers of insulation and interior building products, including suspended ceilings, partitioning and drywall systems, has been taken to a new level with the launch of a training academy by the Encon Group.

The Encon Group companies, which include specialist distributors Encon Insulation and Nevill Long, have unveiled the academy at their North West branch in Chorley, to help their employees provide added value and

superior service to their specialist contractor customers.

The Encon Group claims to be one of the first companies in the industry to offer an academy approach and has invested over the last few years in training its workforce in the areas of sales, leadership and operations. The academy building itself takes this to a whole new level and was recently shortlisted in the AIS (Association of Interior Specialists) Best Practice Awards’ Training Best Practice category. www.encon.co.uk


Switchboard+44 20 7490 5595

EditorElaine Knutt

Associate editorDenise Chevin

Contributing editorStephen Cousins

Production editorLucien Howlett

Art editorRichard Krzyzak

Advertising managerDave Smith

Key Account ManagerTom Peardon

Credit ControlEva Rugeley

Managing directorStephen Quirke

CirculationNet average circulation 30,644

Audit Period: 1 July 2012– 30 June 2013

SubscriptionsTo subscribe or for enquiries, please contact:

Subscription teamTel: 01344 630831 [email protected]

Or write to them at:CIOB2nd Floor1 Arlington SquareDownshire WayBracknellRG12 1WA

Construction Manager Published for the Chartered Institute of Building by Atom Publishing Clerkenwell House 45/47 Clerkenwell Green London EC1R 0EB

Tel: +44 20 7490 5595Fax: +44 20 7490 [email protected]

Construction Manager is published monthly by Atom Publishing. The contents of this magazine are copyright. Reproduction in part or in full is forbidden without permission of the editor. The opinions expressed by writers of signed articles (even with pseudonyms) and letters appearing in the magazine are those of their respective authors, and neither the CIOB, Atom Publishing nor Construction Manager is responsible for these opinions or statements. The editor will give careful consideration to material submitted – articles, photographs, drawings and so on – but does not undertake responsibility for damage or their safe return. Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd. All rights in the magazine, including copyright, content and design, are owned by CIOB and/or Atom Publishing. ISSN 1360 3566

Project of the month Manchester Central Library

MANCHESTER CENTRAL Library has re-opened after a £40m redevelopment and update, with designs by Ryder Architecture. The project has reshaped the way library, information and archive services are delivered in central Manchester, and dramatically improved circulation routes in the grade II* listed neo-classical 1930s building.

In the original 1934 design, only 30% of the floorspace was accessible by the public. But the new interpretation flips the percentages, and now almost 70% of the building is accessible .

The library is dominated by its central domed reading room, which lay above four floors of book stacks, and was surrounded by four “quadrants” of offices, book stacks and committee rooms.

Removing the floors of book stacks was fundamental for accessibility and public

interaction. Now housed in the basement levels, the collections and archives enjoy the right environmental conditions (to BS5454:2000), while the newly created open ground floor space has become the public heart of the building.

Improving access to the upper floors of the library was also a key aim, as the existing staircases were visually impressive but functionally poor.

Ryder’s proposal was to hollow out one of the quadrants to insert stairs and a bank of scenic lifts. Choosing the eastern quadrant minimised the impact on sensitive historic spaces next to the library, namely the Town Hall Extension and the Library Walk.

The library now features a sweeping minimal steel and glass stair and 16-person glazed scenic

lifts, in effect creating a new atrium. Openings have been created on each floor from the new atrium, from the basement to the fourth, allowing the new spaces to merge with restored areas.

The reading room, featuring the original Scagliola columns, takes the central space on the first floor, with differing types of study spaces occupying the outer ring. Furniture and fittings have been restored, and the central timber plinth, clock and desk have been returned to their existing positions.

The spectacular coffered ceiling of the Shakespeare Hall has also been painstakingly restored.

The main contractor was Laing O’Rourke, with project management by Mace and cost consultancy by Aecom.

The library is dominated by the central domed reading room (left); new staircases (above) improve access to the upper levels; the coffered ceiling of the Shakespeare Hall has been restored (above right); the exterior of the reading room (right)

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The Building Regulations are changing with further reductions

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