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Ecobuild to run Construction Job Show

Dylan Garton
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Ecobuild to run Construction Job Show

In response to an industry-wide skills shortage, Ecobuild, the UK show dedicated to construction and energy, has launched a partnership with The Job Show, the nationwide recruitment and careers event, to create a construction-focused job show which will run alongside Ecobuild on the last day of the show, 10th March at ExCeL London.

The Construction Job Show has been designed to bring together employers of all sizes and disciplines with would-be employees.

For construction industry companies, the show gives them the opportunity to recruit their next generation of workers, ensuring they have the manpower – in terms of both capacity and competency – to meet growing, post-recession workloads and address any emerging skills shortages.

Jobseekers will be able to take in a wide variety of potential employment options and take their first steps to a career in fields as diverse as engineering and architecture, surveying to project management.

Martin Hurn, Ecobuild Event Director, said: “With The Construction Job Show we have responded to industry demand to provide a dedicated space that will go some way to addressing the current skills shortage affecting the construction industry. With the recent news from Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) predicting an additional 232,000 job roles being created over the next five years, we believe this skills gap will be a core topic being discussed on day three of Ecobuild, which has a conference programme dedicated to Next Generation.

“The industry is changing at a pace never experienced before and as such there’s never been a wider range of opportunities available for those looking to embark on a career in construction across a wide range of disciplines.”

The Construction Job Show will be held in the South Gallery Rooms on the last day of Ecobuild 2016 on Thursday 10th March.

Product review: Snickers Core Range

Roger Bisby
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Product review: Snickers Core Range
Snickers promises a hard wearing garment that’s easy on the pocket with the new Snickers Core Range but does it live up to its billing? Skill Builder takes a closer look.
If you are someone who has looked at Snickers trousers and decided that they are a bit beyond your budget you might just be stopped in your tracks by the new Snickers Core Range. They are popping up in builder’s merchants and tool outlets who otherwise would not have stocked the full Snickers range.
It cannot have escaped Snickers’ attention that its loyal and dedicated customers are going to view this entry level Core Range with suspicion and disdain and ask, ‘is it the real deal?’
Snickers gives a resounding ‘yes’ to that question telling us that the Core retains the core benefits of Snickers higher priced products but without all the the special features that are valued by trades such as plumbers and electricians. That said they have also been specifically designed for the heavier trades such as bricklayers and construction workers.
If, for example, you are a bricklayer you might not need so many pockets and reinforced Cordura panels but you want a hard wearing fabric that stands up to mortar which is notorious for rotting stitching.
No doubt the idea is also to provide an entry level product into the Snickers brand in the hope that those new customers might develop a taste for it. It is always easier to get people to trade up when they have made the initial decision to buy. It is a marketing strategy used by premium brands the world over. The Snickers idea is also to broaden the appeal of work-trousers in general and bring in trades that might not have considered the benefits of work-trousers. Will they succeed in luring those bricklayers and plasterers away from their ‘trackie bottoms’ into something more professional and fit for purpose? That remains to be seen but trades dealing with the public such as plumbers and electricians have long recognised the value of looking the part when they turn up on a job. A professional appearance not only builds customer confidence it also has a positive influence on the way you work.
Sniickers Core 12
To this end the Snickers Core Range works in conjunction with the new Generation Trouser range, available through specialist outlets, to encourage the building industry to become more professional, something we at Skill Builder have been talking about for years. Clothes maketh the man or the woman as the saying goes. I was reminded of this last year when I came across a lad who had bought two pairs of cheap work trousers out of the dump bin only to find that the zip failed on both pairs within a few weeks. He told me he would like to buy Snickers but couldn’t afford them.
I wondered at the time how many more cheap pairs he would buy before he decided to trade up. Maybe, just maybe, he will see the Snickers Core range hanging in his local merchant and step up to the plate. Personally I think there is a good chance of it happening because buying work-wear at a builders merchant, as opposed to a specialist work-wear outlet or tool distributor is always likely to be more of an impulse purchase. We sling a pair of trousers on the bill when we are buying materials for a big job and it is a painless purchase and gradually we raise our eyes from the dump bin to something better. At least some of us do. The others just buy safety pins in bulk.

Award winning kneepad

Roger Bisby
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Award winning kneepad

A non-foam based, pocketed safety kneepad which maintains its maximum cushioning effect throughout consecutive or prolonged use, can help prevent up to six months down time through knee injury according to the product’s manufacturer.

The claim comes from Cliff Lockyer, CEO of Redbacks Cushioning, the Daventry, Northamptonshire based manufacturers of the UK designed, ‘Redbacks’ cushioning kneepad which won SATRA’s ‘Best Innovation in Occupational PPE Award’.

“It is vital to have the correct knee protection in the workplace in order to avoid long-term pain and discomfort and prevent expensive down time loss of earnings” says Lockyer.

there are currently over 104,000 annually registered knee replacement operations in the UK alone, 50% of which are accredited to occupational hazards

“Based on the fact that there are currently over 104,000 annually registered knee replacement operations in the UK alone, 50% of which are accredited to occupational hazards, in the next 10 years the total figure will exceed over a million people in the UK, many of whom will have damaged knees through inadequate protection whilst kneeling”.

“In addition to the unnecessary pain and suffering, both the employed and the self-employed risk losing their income through injury, and the prospect of litigation will be a real threat to employers for not providing the best possible safety measures for their employees”

Cushioning technology

The kneepad features a soft and flexible TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer) leaf-spring set within a unique honeycomb matrix. The ‘Redbacks Cushioning Technology’ is said to distribute body weight evenly, elevating the knees to relieve back pain and reduce pressure on knee, leg, ankle and foot joints, while minimising the risk of possible injury from sharp or penetrating objects.  For more information about Redbacks kneepads and to order visit www.redbackscushioning.com or email:sales@redbackscushioning.com or telephone: 01327 702104

Sparky paddle mixer review

Roger Bisby
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Sparky paddle mixer review

Roger Bisby takes a first look at the 240 V Paddle Mixer from  Sparky.

Sparky is a  power tool manufacturer from Bulgaria that also rebadges many of its products for other power tool companies. So if you see something very similar to this paddle mixer this could be because it is a Sparky tool in another colour and probably at a different price.

With paddle mixers you need a decent size motor. The motor in this tool is rated at just over 1000 watts depending on whether it is in 110 or 240 volts so that produces a lot of torque, hence the two handles. This is a bit smaller than some paddle mixers on the market in terms of wattage and I would suggest you would only want to mix a bag of Hardwall at a time.

I have heard of people burning the switches out on paddle mixers and being very scathing about this tool because it is low priced. A thousand watt motor is drawing a lot of current and if you continuously overload it and draw excess current through the switch it will cause it to heat up. There are three ways to avoid this. One is to put a big copper heat sink on the switch, the second is to use electronic protection to cut the motor off and the third is to rely on the operator using the tool with some sensitivity. The bottom line is that if you have a labourer who can’t learn the art of mixing gently and gradually by adding the powder a half bag at time you need to buy an expensive paddle mixer and by expensive I mean one costing twice as much as this one from Sparky.

If however you use this mixer intelligently it will stay the course and give you good service.

We have sent it out on site for some prolonged testing and will bring you an update in a couple of months.

Update

Six months down the line it is still going strong and, since the demise of Ian’s larger Bosch mixer he is using this for everything. We told him not to but he is knocking the life out of it.

To Google or not to Google? That is the Question

Roger Bisby
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To Google or not to Google? That is the Question

Some years ago I was working at a house and I discovered that a boiler flue that passed through a floor void had become detached and was leaking into the floor void. I told the householder and she said that both her daughters had once used that bedroom and had become ill. They went to the doctor and he started a process of eliminating allergies. They also noticed that when they went on holiday, the headaches, sickness and drowsiness disappeared. Eventually they suspected that it might be something in the room, though they had no idea what, and when they changed bedrooms they were fine. At no point did anyone suspect mild carbon monoxide poisoning or even think of carrying out a smoke test on the boiler flue. You can understand why because the doctor was presented with the two patients in his surgery and that was his starting and finishing point.

I was reminded of this incident when talking to a close relative who had been to the doctor a number of times but didn’t seem to be getting any closer to the route of her problem. In such situations we are tempted to type in the symptoms and see what the ‘Great God Google’ can come up with. This prompted a discussion (argument) about the merits of doing your own research. Should you go to the doctor armed with theories picked up from the internet or should you sit quietly and rely on the skill and judgement of the doctor? More to the point if the doctor doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere should you give him/her a nudge in one particular direction? There is a risk here because you can seriously piss them off but what are you going to do, die out of politeness?

The problem is cultural, uncertainty equals weakness. People, particularly those in a position of power and influence, often pretend they have the answers. “Trust me I’m a doctor.” But nobody can hold all the information in their head or have enough experience to consider all the possibilities. So why do they pretend? It is pure ego. A friend of mine once told me that he makes no distinction between what is in his head and what is on Google and that, to me, is a more honest approach. It is not cheating to look the answer up. Yet I know plumbers who will not read the instruction manual in front of a customer because they believe it looks as if they don’t know what they are doing. Happily the smart phone is solving the problem for many. They can pretend they are checking emails while sneakily watching a quick video on how to remove that heat exchanger. So long as they remember to click on ‘Private Browsing’ their dirty little secret is safe.

Metabo KGS 18 LTX 216 Cordless Mitre Saw Review

Roger Bisby
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Metabo KGS 18 LTX 216 Cordless Mitre Saw Review

Roger Bisby has a look at Metabo’s new battery operated mitre table saw to see how it performs.

“Personally I have never needed the level of portability from a mitre saw that is provided by cordless technology, given the choice, I would always rather find a power supply and plug in to the mains and given the fact that you are paying a premium for that convenience and portability this saw you have to have a real need for such a tool. Given that all the major power tools companies have such an offering proves that there are enough of you out there who fit this customer profile.

“Before I look at the tool I must mention the Heavy Duty LI-ion battery which has undergone some changes lately to increase power and run time. Metabo says that this battery makes it possible to power high drain tools such as 9 inch angle grinders, chop saws and of course this sliding rail mitre saw.

“Metabo suggests that this cordless saw is equal to a mains powered machine. It certainly has the highest rpm I have come across on an 18 volt saw and I managed to get nearly 200 cuts out of it in 4 x 2 softwood.  The other point worth mentioning is that  all cordless saws  rely on a thin kerf blade which is almost an admission that despite the claims they won’t quite kick out the same level of sustained power that a mains powered machine will.

“Having said that this saw ran a lot longer than I expected. It would easily cope with all the cuts in a kitchen fit or an average room on a single battery and you get two batteries in the box so you could probably complete the best part of a second fix in a small house without having to go near a charger.

“The Metabo KGS 18 LTX 216 also beats its competitors on depth of cut (65mm) and width of cut (305mm) The no load speed is significantly higher at 4,200 rpm than other saws in its class but I have to ask how this speed is achieved? I am assuming that the gearing favours a high run speed rather than high torque.

“Despite the fact that Li-Ion has almost no drop off in power the saw did start to snatch and stall on the last few cuts presumably because the run speed slowed so it is best if you change the battery as soon as you detect any slowing down.

“The 45 pre-sets on the mitre and bevel can be over-ridden to give you a 47 degree cut and there is an easy to use depth stop with a guage for trenching and housing if you are making up your own door liners. The sliding rail allows you to do a generous 305 mm cut which should get you across a window board or door lining with ease.

“The inclusion of two safety release buttons means that the operator’s switch can be used either left or right handed which is a welcome feature. I don’t suppose there are many mitre saws out there that don’t have a laser but this saw also has a light which is very useful for precision bevelled mitre cuts.

“There are pull out supports to extend the table slightly and a removable clamp which could do with an inch more clearance on the right hand side to stop it clashing with the motor housing. I like the measuring guage on the rear fence and also on the depth stop.

“I started this review of the Metabo KGS 18 LTX 216 by saying that I have no real need of a cordless mitre saw but the battery technology and power of this machine has moved it closer to a mains powered unit than anyone would have thought possible a few years ago.  But why should consumers have to choose between those two? It  would be very easy to produce a mains powered 18 volt transformer that slides onto the battery docking point to make the saw, or any other tool on that platform, either mains powered or cordless.  Why that hasn’t happened is not hard to guess.”

Find out more about the Metabo LTX 216 Mitre Saw at www.metabo.com.

How to: Franke Laser LSX651 sink installation

Roger Bisby
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How to: Franke Laser LSX651 sink installation

The Franke Laser LSX651 has a super slim low-profile edge that beds down onto the worktop to produce a sink that is virtually flush. This will keep the customers happy, but what’s in it for the installer?

Franke claims that their clipless sink, which has a patented spring clamp in the sides, is 10 times faster to fit. Despite being given the brief to test out the time saving element of the Franke Laser I am not even going to go there. Fitting a sink is not the sort of job you should rush. Having cut the masons mitre ready for the next run of worktop the last thing I wanted was to make an error on the cut-out so I took plenty of time and double checked every measurement. There are plenty of kitchen fitters out there who would do this in their sleep but I am always slightly nervous when cutting out worktops, one tiny slip up can cost you well over a £100 so why not take a little extra time to make sure it is right.

I began cutting the aperture in situ but when I realised that I was going to cut the rail of the carcass for no good reason (because the drainer sits within a 40mm worktop) I took the whole thing outside onto a set of trestles. The 1½ bowl model is a tight fit in a 600 base unit so you always need to measure carefully.

The sink uses a unique fitting system of barbs which grip the side of the cut-out so you have to make sure the cut-out is accurate. There is only a 10mm lip so don’t whatever you do stray over the pencil line. You also need to make sure the cut-out is plumb. Probably a better bet it to use a ½ inch twin flute router. Any trouble I have had with cut-outs is always caused by using bimetal blades. I gave up using these ages ago on this sort of job because they have a mind of their own and meander like mad through a deep cut. I now use the old fashioned stiff blade. It is better to break a blade or two than to have it waving in and out on the bottom of the cut.

The verdict

The Franke Laser is a good looking sink and not having to tighten clips up and fiddle around getting them past the rail edges is a major leap forward. I like the idea and, yes, it does save time but I used that time making the cut-out perfect because the 10mm lip scared me a bit. So long as you draw around the template and leave the line you will be fine.

www.franke.com

BSS adds pump range

Dylan Garton
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BSS adds pump range

BSS, the heating and pipeline product distributer, has added a selection of quiet, reliable and robust Salamander pumps to its product range.

Whether mains- or gravity-fed, for individual items or for a whole system; the new range provides pumps to boost water pressures for both light commercial and domestic installations.

Products on offer include: HomeBoost Mains Water Pump; ESP Super Boost Packs; CT Force Pumps: and the CT Xtra Shower Pump. The entire range can be provided next day delivery.

The HomeBoost pump
The HomeBoost pump is suitable for a low mains flow supply, especially in multiple occupancy buildings. The product can be fitted directly onto the incoming mains and improves water pressure and flow either directly or indirectly via a combi boiler or mains pressure fed heating system. Where flow is between 1.5 litres per minute (lpm) and 12lpm, it will automatically intervene to increase this flow up to 12lpm.

The product offers a solution for larger housing estates or flats where the mains supply is poor, maybe only at certain times of the day or in top floor flats.

ESP Super Boost Packs
ESP Super Boost Packs are single-ended pumps designed to boost water flows to a single installation such as a combi boiler, electric shower or water heater, multiple showers or washing machines.

CT Force pumps
Designed for gravity-fed installations, CT Force pumps are available in positive head or universal (suitable for positive or negative heads) and can be single- or twin-ended to boost hot or cold water supplies, or both.

CT Xtra Shower Pumps
CT Xtra Shower Pumps, designed for positive head, gravity-fed installations are also WRAS-approved. Available as single- or twin-ended, the pumps will boost either the hot and cold water supplies or both, to thermostatic or manual shower mixer valves and a wide range of shower types and heads.

www.bssindustrial.co.uk

Worker falls through roof light

Dylan Garton
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Worker falls through roof light

A scaffolding company based in Dorset has been fined for safety failings following an incident where an employee fell through a roof light.

Weymouth Magistrates’ Court heard how Weller Scaffolding Limited of Dorset had been contracted to erect access scaffold and perimeter handrails around the roof of a small industrial unit at East Road, Bridport.

An employee of Weller Scaffolding accessed the roof which was constructed of asbestos cement with intermittent roof lights when he fell through one of the roof lights. He suffered three fractures to his face, breaks in his left arm and wrist and dislocated fingers.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the incident which occurred on 17 July 2014 was due to the work not being properly planned, or appropriately supervised which led to it being unsafe.

Weller Scaffolding Limited of Westway Business Park, Dottery Road, Bridport, Dorset, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and was fined £10,000 with £5,628 costs.

For more information on scaffolding visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/scaffoldinginfo.htm

Product review: Thermal Economics – Isosonic Dekfloor 30

Dylan Garton
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Product review: Thermal Economics – Isosonic Dekfloor 30

Roger Bisby takes a walk across some Isosonic Dekfloor 30 from Thermal Economics as it is being installed in a refurbishment project.

Sound insulation can be a tricky business, things that work well in the laboratory may fair less well on site. There are so many things that can undo all that design work, a nail, a screw or a badly filled service duct. Even a tiny air gap is enough to let the sound through so it is essential that the installer understands what they are trying to achieve and that the devil is always in the detail. Fortunately in the case of Thermal Economics the company has a wealth of experience and a team of good technical sales people who will guide you through the products and process.

I went out to meet one of them on a conversion project in the Midlands to see the installation of  Isosonic Dekfloor 30. The product comprises a 22mm t&g chipboard with a resilient rubber sheet that is bonded to the underside of the board. From the builders point of view the boards are glued and laid like any other chipboard floating floor. It is essential that no fixings are used and that a gap of 20mm  is left around the edge. This must  be filled with acoustic foam before the floor coverings and skirtings are fitted. The skirting boards must be fixed clear of the decking on an Iso edge 6/75 strip to prevent sound transmission into the wall.

Not your typical refurbishment
The job I went to see was perhaps not your typical refurbishment. The building is just over 200 years old and the evidence of countless changes of use was everywhere. It has stood empty for seven years but  is now about to see a new lease of life as luxury flats. In some ways it would have been quicker and easier to remove all those old floor joists and start again but shelling out a 200 year old building can often lead to problems with structural stability so leaving those huge timbers that were built into wall sockets is no bad thing. They have also done all the moving and shrinking they are ever going to do so why go through all that again.

However the problem for the builders was the floor was 70mm higher at one end of the building than the other and it went up and down a bit so they had to find the high spot and work from there using a laser level to mark and scribe the new build up laths on every single joist.  It was a demanding task but they achieved it with considerable speed and success. I am not sure how it would have worked out without a good laser but they deserved a bit of help from modern technology.

It is important that the floor has minimal deflection so getting those joists nice and level was key to success. The rubber back has far more compressive strength than PUR foam backed boards so you wouldn’t expect to see the floor bed in or settle over years. Interestingly that increased resilience doesn’t lead to sound transmission because the make up of the rubber is granular so impact noises are absorbed in a very localised area rather than across the sheet.

Efficient installation
By comparison the laying of the  Isosonic Dekfloor 30 was a piece of cake; the builders said it provided real time and cost savings over some of the multi component systems  they have use where you have to build the layers up. Apart from the fact that the rubber backing blunted the circular saw blades a little more rapidly there was really nothing else to distinguish it from ordinary floor deck. The only thing I noticed is that the rubber backing prevents it from sliding so instead of being able to kick it in as you would normally with chipboard sliding on joists they had to give it a hefty whack. It would have helped to have a couple of knocking blocks to protect the t&g.

The joints are glued in the usual manner to prevent any squeaks and also prevent airborne sound coming through. The fact that they were using existing joists meant that the board ends didn’t land on the joist. In an ordinary floor you might have trimmed them back and butted the board ends but the T&G has to be maintained. The usual practice is to build in a couple of noggings to take the board ends but as this deck was being over laid with some Gypsum board and underfloor heating topped off with some engineered oak there was no chance of those board ends receiving a point load. The very fact that they are using hardwood floors in an apartment is a testimony to the effectiveness of the system. In many flats it is a condition of the lease that you have carpets which is a tacit admission that the sound insulation isn’t that effective.

Another difference with this refurbishment was that the ceilings were very high so there was ample room beneath the first floor for a suspended ceiling, in-filled with Rockwool, In a more typical build you would suspend the ceiling directly below the joist using Isonic cleats. These have resilient rubber pads to reduce sound transmission.

Once the boards were down I had a chance to jump up and down on them and there was absolutely no detectable deflection. The  builder then had to walk some hefty steel beams across the newly laid floor and unbeknown to them I sneaked into the flat below to see what was happening on the underside of the decking. It was proof that even with a 6oo kg  steel being walked across the floor there was no noticeable compression or deflection. I can’t imagine a more extreme test but of course we have to bear in mind that these huge old joists were set at 400 centres. If they had been at 600 it could have been a different story but a 22mm board is always better than an 18mm.

www.thermal-economics.co.uk

acoustic floor 9 acoustic floor 10 acoustic floor 017 acoustic floor 21 acoustic floor 31 acoustic floor 034 acoustic floor 67

Hedgehog Easy Air Wedge review

Dylan Garton
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Hedgehog Easy Air Wedge review

Roger Bisby looks at the benefits of investing in an inflatable wedge which has been designed to make fixing and levelling easier.

We have looked at pump up bags fairly recently but these are called Hedgehog Easy Air Wedge from easy innovations and have a subtle difference that you can’t see from looking at them. The secret feature is a piece of stiff plastic inside the bag. This allows you to slide the bag into a very narrow gap and then, by operating the little hand pump,  you can increase the gap. They were originally a locksmiths (and thieves) tools for forcing a gap in a door. Back in the day when you flicked a button to get into a car you could open a gap in the door and slip in your wire coat hanger. Before you accuse me of corrupting the nation’s youth this is no secret on the streets and a brick through the side window is now the preferred method.

The secret feature is a piece of stiff plastic inside the bag. This allows you to slide the bag into a very narrow gap and then, by operating the little hand pump,  you can increase the gap.

Now the use for Air Wedges is generally more law abiding; window fitters use them for centring a window and they are also useful for carpenters putting in door liners. I used them recently to lift a bi-fold sliding door that had dropped slightly on its hinges. The amount of weight they will lift is remarkable and you can lift or shift by tiny fractions  so you get exactly the right adjustment. We are talking precision here which is unusual in the building industry.

The bags are available in singles as well as sets of four and the price is very competitive even though they are very well made and tough as old boots.  If you have looked at these bags in the past and not been sure if you need them then the lower price may change your mind. Quite honestly once you have them they make so many jobs quicker and easier that they pay  you back almost daily. Gone are the days when you have to stick a pry bar in against that new hardwood frame and risk damaging it.

www.easyinnovations.co.uk/products/easy-air-wedge

panasonic action 050

Construction Company Guilty of Bricklayer’s Death

Dylan Garton
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Construction Company Guilty of Bricklayer’s Death

A Cheshire construction company has been prosecuted following a fatal accident in 2011 at a site in Wimslow.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Edgemere Projects Ltd of Tarporley, Cheshire, was the main contractor at a construction site in Wilmslow.

On the 7th January 2011, Andrew Dytiche aged 23, sustained fatal crush injuries when a pack of bricks fell on him.

An HSE investigation found that the storage of materials was poorly organised and pallets used to store and move bricks around the site were also in poor condition.

Edgemere Projects Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) & 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £97,500 with £300,000 costs.

HSE Principal Inspector Neil Jamieson said: “This was a tragic accident which could have been prevented had the company ensured that materials on the site were stored and stacked safely”.

See more information at the HSE.

See more on safety failings with Skill Builder.

Cuts almost anything

Dylan Garton
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Cuts almost anything

Husqvarna has introduced the  VARI-CUTTM blade, a cost efficient premium diamond blade designed to cut almost anything a general contractor comes across on a workday including pipe, steel rebar, bricks, blocks and concrete slabs.

No need to switch blades

The versatile, fast and durable diamond blade is launched as a universal blade, combining a wide application window with fast cutting speed and good life.

The blade combines different segment types: 10mm Turbo segments for increased cutting speed and 10mm straight segments for increased tool life.

VARI-CUT series

VARI-CUTTM is also designed with safety in mind. The blade complies with the European Safety Standard EN13236. Additionally, VARI-CUTTM is equipped with a perforated core that allows optimal cooling of the blade, and with angled gullets, designed in such a way that they protect the blade against cracks. This makes the blade suitable for both dry and wet cutting applications.

The VARI-CUT series consists of:

• Husqvarna VARI-CUT: For optimal cutting performance in most construction materials.

• Husqvarna VARI-CUT Turbo: For optimal cutting performance in harder construction materials like granite or hard concrete.

• Husqvarna VARI-CUT Plus: For optimal cutting performance in abrasive construction materials like abrasive blocks and asphalt.

Read the Skill Builder review of the Husqvarna VARI-CUTTM blade.

www.husqvarna.com

Dunlop releases rapid-drying filler

Dylan Garton
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Dunlop releases rapid-drying filler

Dunlop has launched a brand new rapid-drying filler as an addition to its Pro Décor range.

Now available at builders and decorators merchants across the country, Rapid Rescue Repair Filler, with Hydroloc is suitable for quick fix or emergency repairs.

Available in 1kg bags, the rapid-drying filler helps decorators sort out the multitude of problems often faced before applying paint or wallpaper without having to wait hour or days to complete a job.

Fully dry and hard in 90 minutes, whatever the temperature or conditions, Rapid Rescue is useful for filling chases, cracks around doors and coving, large cracks and holes. It can be used internally or externally, on the majority of backgrounds from plasterboard to concrete steps, to reliably fill and repair damage up to 50mm deep.

Hydroloc technology

Rapid Rescue contains Hydroloc technology which works by using the mix water as part of a chemical reaction to dry the filler instead of relying on water evaporation. This means that the product dries quickly and evenly regardless of thickness. After 20 minutes the product starts to begin its hardening process and can be easily cut or carved – useful for repairing a missing piece of skirting board.

Once dry and hard, the rapid-drying filler can be sanded down, but you can also simply smooth it over with a damp sponge to achieve a perfect finish due to its super-fine formulation.

www.dunloptrade.com

Quickslide launches 70mm casement window system

Dylan Garton
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Quickslide launches 70mm casement window system

Quickslide has been celebrating the kick off of 2016 by introducing a new 70mm casement window system. To coincide with the launch of the new system, we’ve also introduced a range of new wood-grain finishes as standard across both the casement and vertical slider range.

www.quickslide.co.uk/

Yale partners with O2 and AT&T to create new smart home offering

Dylan Garton
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Yale partners with O2 and AT&T to create new smart home offering

Yale has announced a partnership with O2 and AT&T to bring a new smart home platform to the UK this summer.

The platform will be introduced in selected areas north of London, before having a wider rollout later in the year.

Speaking at the AT&T Developer Conference in Las Vegas, O2 said it will be the first to offer services based on the AT&T Digital Life smart home platform in Europe.

The operator is positioning O2 Home as the ‘complete smart home experience’ and is also partnering with thermostat company, Tado, as well as Samsung and Serco for cameras and Yale for locks.

Yale’s Keyfree and Keyless connected smart locks provide users with the ability to remotely unlock their home from anywhere in the world, so guests, cleaners, carers or anyone who’s forgotten or lost a key or PIN code can be granted quick access.

The Yale smart locks can also keep track of who’s coming and going through the door and at what time, ideal for parents keeping an eye on teenage children or anyone paying for home services by the hour.

www.yale.co.uk

Asbestos Awareness Course

Roger Bisby
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Asbestos Awareness Course

National risk management expert Lucion Services is offering a free online training course aimed at helping busy construction industry workers refresh their knowledge of the hazards and risks posed by asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).

The online course takes just 45-60 minutes to complete and provides a quick and efficient refresher for those who need to be compliant with regulation 10 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).

Topics such as the properties of asbestos, health effects of asbestos, asbestos materials in buildings, asbestos legislation, and emergency procedures are covered in the course which has been designed for anyone who has taken part in a classroom-based UKATA Awareness Course in the previous 18 months. Upon successful completion, certificates are awarded which are valid for 12 months.

Since launching the online training in November 2014, over 400 individuals from companies and organisations across the UK such as Carillion, British Gas, Northumbrian Water, Sir Robert McAlpine and Sodexo as well as staff from local authorities and universities have completed the course.

Ross Boulton, sustainability director at Lucion Training Services, said: “Raising awareness of the risks of exposure to asbestos and on how people can protect themselves and others plays a key role in helping to reduce the incidence of asbestos-related diseases.

“We recognise that not everyone can down tools to attend courses so we designed a short e-learning course that’s free and certified to make it as easy as possible for busy workers to keep their asbestos training current and in-line with industry regulations.”

Lucion Training courses are delivered across the country and bespoke courses can also be developed to meet the individual needs of companies and organisations. Sign up to free e-learning at luciontraining.com

Dewalt adds visibility and power to self-levelling laser line-up

Roger Bisby
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Dewalt adds visibility and power to self-levelling laser line-up

Dewalt has combined its power tool battery and laser technology know-how and added a 10.8V red and green beam self-levelling cross-line and 360° line lasers to its portfolio. The DCE088D1G and DCE089D1G are the first models in the DEWALT range to feature a green diode.

Industry trends have shown that green lasers are the future for applications in construction, specifically for indoor tasks, as the beam is four times brighter to the naked eye than red.

Industry trends have shown that green lasers are the future for applications in construction, specifically for indoor tasks, as the beam is four times brighter to the naked eye than red. They provide greater visibility, especially in very bright, light conditions, and over longer distances. They are also ideal for the precise installation of drywall, drop ceilings and ventilation systems, amongst other applications.

The 10.8V XR Lithium-Ion platform is said to offer extended laser runtime compared to regular AA batteries as well as added versatility. The 10.8V battery pack can be easily removed and transferred between the new lasers, or to another compatible DEWALT power tool, and vice versa.

The green beam self-levelling cross-line and 360° line lasers provide a working range of 30m with an accuracy of +/-3mm at 10m. Additional useful features include a pendulum lock for safe transportation. Furthermore, the durable over-moulded casing has been designed to maintain calibration of the tool, and to protect components in extreme construction environments. Drop-tested to 2m, and IP65 certified, it has been engineered for sustained resistance to solvents, water entry and debris.

Featuring the same technical product specification as the green diode lasers (enhanced visibility rating excluded), the latest extension to the DEWALT portfolio also includes red beam self-levelling cross-line (DCE088NR) and 360° line lasers (DCE089NR) with a range of 15m and an accuracy of +/-3mm at 10m.

*DCE088D1G and DCE089D1G models only

Key features:

  • 10.8V XR Lithium-Ion battery pack for extended laser runtime and fast charging
  • Locking pendulum to prevent internal component damage during transportation
  • Wear-resistant IP65 rated over-mould to withstand harsh jobsite environments
  • Integrated magnetic pivoting base with ¼” thread
  • Full-time pulse mode allows use with a detector (increasing working range to 60m)

www.dewalt.co.uk

 

Mumford & Wood product library

Roger Bisby
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Mumford & Wood product library

Mumford & Wood, the manufacturer of timber windows and doors, has announced compliance with NBS National Building Information Modelling (BIM) Library Data for core Conservation entrance, balcony, bi-folding, single and French doorsets as well as Conservation casement windows, box sash and spring sash windows.

This is in accordance with the Government’s mandate on all publically-funded new-build projects by spring 2016. Architects, specifiers and contractors can now visit the company’s technical page at www.mumfordwood.com and download the full Mumford & Wood NBS BIM Library Data.

In this 3D modelling of the company’s core and standard Conservation products detailed specification parameters are shared in relation to thermal performance and U-values, acoustic specifications, PAS24 compliance, product design details, paint, glass and warranties.  Non-standard products can be analysed on request using the same criteria.

“Now all parties, manufacturers, architects and contractors will pool this design information to create the footprint of a building,” says Owen Dare, technical director, Mumford & Wood. “This will effectively lock the specification which will remain unchanged for the life of the building.  It is quite a complex and very sophisticated platform but the benefits are huge.  Once approved, the specification will be carried through to manufacturing making the whole process easier for everyone.”

BIM Level 2 approval

Mumford & Wood has achieved BIM Level 2 approval. At this level the product data using 3D CAD models enables contractors and architects to combine and share their own 3D models, for a specific project, to a minimum Industry Foundation Classification (IFC) or COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) standard. It is available in a common file format, either an IFC or more probably a Revit plug-in. The core of Level 2 BIM is to provide accessible, up to date, accurate, verified information for use and re-use for all projects.

Asset management and asset construction both need an information management system and process, support by a number of tools to manage data. The data can then be used through many activates to realise and add value.

Level 2 BIM components are information management, classification, digital planning of work and information exchange method COBie. There are many other benefits that will make designing a project with reduced risk and cost which allows management of the building to be controlled through the life cycle of the building.

www.mumfordwood.com

“Don’t underestimate role of PVC-U in flood resilience”

Dylan Garton
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“Don’t underestimate role of PVC-U in flood resilience”

“The extreme winter weather, having ruined Christmas for tens of thousands and likely to cost the country up to £1.5bn, serves to remind those concerned with building design, construction and management of the important role PVC-U building products can play in adding flood resistant and resilience to homes actually and potentially threatened with disaster”, says Chris Coxon, Head of Marketing at Eurocell.

EP1601FR Eurocell Flood Resilience January 2016 #2

Not only has the insurance industry estimated the cost of flood damage as being between £900m and as high as £1.5bn; it is also being said that it will strip 0.2% from UK Gross Domestic Product this year.

Flood resistance refers to buildings constructed so that water cannot get into it; while flood resilience means building houses such that while water may enter, the impact is reduced, structural strength is maintained and property recovery is easier and quicker.

These are respectively referred to as ‘water exclusion’ and ‘water entry’ strategies by the Government in its guidance Improving the Flood Performance of New Buildings – Flood Resilient Construction.

“While it would be a significant overclaim to say that PVC-U windows and composite doors would play a major part in a ‘water exclusion strategy’, there is no denying that their inherent weather tightness would at least slow the ingress of water to a degree – and keeping low water thresholds at bay for even short periods buying a little extra time for sandbagging, or a chance to move furniture, valuables and appliances out of the way”, continues Coxon.

“However, PVC-U products – including fittings such as plastic skirtings – have an unequivocal and obvious contribution to make to flood resilience: being resistant to twisting, swelling, shrinking, rotting or warping – unlike the many porous timber windows and doors undoubtedly wrecked in the recent deluges”.

“Not only is this of benefit to the poor homeowner – who is saved the hassle of replacing ruined joinery items; and is able to maintain the security of the home in the face of looters, like we shockingly witnessed in York recently – but also to the insurance sector, reducing the cost of claims by thousands of pounds”.

“While no-one wishes to profit from the misfortune from others, our sector’s products meets a very specific – and increasing – need for resilience in the face of severe weather conditions”.

The Government implicitly agrees, with Improving the Flood Performance of New Buildings stating under General Advice for Resilient Design saying: “The main principle is to use durable fittings that are not significantly affected by water and can be easily cleaned (e.g. use of plastic materials; or stainless steel for kitchen units)”. It then goes on to use an illustration of PVC-U skirting – like Eurocell’s Roomline – as an example of resilient fittings.

www.eurocell.co.uk

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