Travis Perkins, the UK distributor of building materials to the trade, construction and home improvement markets, and British Military Fitness (BMF), the provider of outdoor fitness classes, are celebrating a year-long partnership. The partnership, which forms part of Travis Perkins’s commitment to employees’ health and wellbeing, has run 120 dedicated BMF lunchtime sessions with Travis Perkins and plc brand Wickes …

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission has been fined following the electrocution death of a worker serves as a reminder of the importance of training

Bosch has launched a range of compact orbital sanders which includes what is said to be the world’s first cordless 18 V orbital sander. Intended for small preparatory sanding work, the range comprises the GSS 18 V-10 Professional and three corded tools: The GSS 140-1 A Professional, the GSS 160-1 A Professional and the GSS 160 Multi Professional. These orbital …

Roger Bisby tries out the new Starlock range. It is fairly unusual to see rival power-tool companies collaborating in research and development but Bosch and Fein linked up to develop the Starlock system for their oscillating tools. It is an attempt to do what the SDS drill bit did for hammer drills, in other words a simple click lock system …

Nilfisk has launched a range of mid-range hot water pressure washers which feature a four wheel design which makes them easier to pull or push on uneven surfaces such as construction sites. The low centre of gravity of the MH 3M & MH 4M models is enabled by the internal distribution of components making the manoevrable units easy to tip …

A Hertfordshire-based home improvement company has been fined after the unsafe removal of asbestos material from a domestic property. St Albans Magistrates’ Court heard how Ace of Hearts Home Improvement Limited (AOH) removed asbestos containing materials (ACM) from a domestic property in St Albans. Asbestos damage The Asbestos Insulation Board (AIB) soffits surrounding the underside of the guttering around the …

ForgeFix, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fixings, fasteners and associated products, has developed a new range of screws which the company says has exceptional performance characteristics. The best screws on the market? In independent tests, the new screws outperformed most other premium screws on the market in areas such as drive-speed, cam-out reduction, corrosion resistance, shear prevention and …

Roger Bisby takes a look at the Wale Tale (sic), a device designed to minimise the spread of dust when mixing construction powders. Dust and the related health issues are a ticking time bomb in the building industry. Everyone knows about asbestos and most intelligent people do everything they can to avoid exposure to it but dust doesn’t begin and …

A Bristol based manufacturer of concrete products has been fined after a worker’s arm was torn off when it was pulled into the rotating tail pulley of a conveyor belt. Bristol Crown Court heard the injured man was making adjustments to a misaligned conveyor belt at Concrete Fabrications Ltd plant in Henbury, Bristol on 18 May 2015. The court heard …

Volkswagen has revealed the design of its 2017 Crafter panel van which promises good functionality for a vehicle of its size along with a host of safety technology thanks to the addition of electric power steering, a first for a panel van of this size. All-new EU 6 engines and new exterior design give the model the lowest consumption and …

A significant programme of capital investment by the Government is now needed to tackle the threat of a construction recession – as revealed this week by the latest statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The construction industry has grown steadily over the past …

Work to develop a 15- acre brownfield site in Lewes, East Sussex is to begin following the completion of final legal requirements. Planning for the North Street Quarter development was approved in December 2015 by the South Downs National Park’s planning committee. Permission was granted in May 2016 and the judicial review period has just concluded. The way is now …

A construction company in Gateshead has been fined after a worker suffered injury when he fell down a service riser shaft. Newcastle upon Tyne Magistrates’ Court heard how Meldrum Construction Services Limited (MCS) was the principal contractor for refurbishment work at premises in Percy Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne. MCS failed to plan for the requirement for temporary platforms to be …

Timber Conservation windows and doors by Mumford & Wood have been specified by a building developer for his own residential property in Poole, Dorset.  This large coastal town, once a maritime trade hub, has attracted tourists and visitors to its beaches and landscapes for many decades and is an established area of beauty. The 1950s cottage-style property was purchased by …

The electrical contracting industry has agreed a wage deal which will amount to a 10.25% pay rise over four years to take effect from January 2017. This is the first time that an agreement spanning four years has been determined between trade union Unite and the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA). Some of the key changes to be implemented include: Wage …

Roger Bisby looks at some products from the Senco compressed air tool range including the Senco SLP 20XP 18 gauge brad nailer. Every time I review an air tool I start by making the case for using compressed air. In the U.K it is an under valued resource but elsewhere it is a major player. I have been on American …

Households could be generating an extra £3,000 per year by sharing their homes, cars, parking spaces and even power tools according to online parking marketplace  YourParkingSpace and Rent my Items. YourParkingSpace, which enables homeowners to rent out their spare parking spaces and driveways has reported that 1 in 3 adults are already using digital sharing economy platforms to make money …

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) had said Theresa May’s decision to scrap the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is alarming as it signals that improving the energy efficiency of our existing buildings has been pushed ever-further down the list of Government priorities. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “Three years ago Cameron told his officials to …