Sunday, August 3, 2025
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Chisel Sharpening Tools & NEW Oire Nomi Japanese Set

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Chisel sharpening is something Robin enjoys and now he has a beautiful Japanese Oire Nomi Chisel Set for his ever-growing collection.

EZARC 6pc Wood Chisel Set
EZARC 6pc Wood Chisel Set for Woodworking - CRV Steel with Ash Wood Handle in Wooden Presentation Box
Oire Nomi 5pc Chisel Set
ICEbear Japanese Oire Nomi Special Alloy 5pc Wood Chisel Set (9mm, 15mm, 24mm, 30mm, 36mm) - Bevel Edge, High Carbon Alloy Steel Blades
Irwin Marples 6pc Chisel Set
Marples Ms500 S/Touch B/E Chisel set(6) 10503430
£42.98
Price not available
£49.99
EZARC 6pc Wood Chisel Set
EZARC 6pc Wood Chisel Set for Woodworking - CRV Steel with Ash Wood Handle in Wooden Presentation Box
£42.98
Oire Nomi 5pc Chisel Set
ICEbear Japanese Oire Nomi Special Alloy 5pc Wood Chisel Set (9mm, 15mm, 24mm, 30mm, 36mm) - Bevel Edge, High Carbon Alloy Steel Blades
Price not available
Irwin Marples 6pc Chisel Set
Marples Ms500 S/Touch B/E Chisel set(6) 10503430
£49.99

VIDEO LINKS

🎦 How to Make a Tusk Tenon Joint Like a Pro: https://youtu.be/osoItQj_blw

🎦 How to Create a Scarf Joint like a Pro: https://youtu.be/-SUtoKKNKHQ

SHOPPING WITH AXMINSTER TOOLS

⏩ Japanese Oire Nomi Chisel Set: axminstertools.com/japanese-oire-nomi-chisel-set-610376

⏩ Japanese Hakkaku Genno Hammer: axminstertools.com/japanese-hakkaku-genno-hammer-ax20287

⏩ Axminster Rider Sharpening Station Kit: axminstertools.com/axminster-rider-sharpening-station-kit-717767

Makita XGT – Power Up with the New 40V Max Range

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Makita XGT 40V Max is the new stand-alone cordless battery platform from Makita…

Here we are introducing Makita’s range of highest power cordless solutions yet: XGT 40V Max. The XGT range of machines – including combi drills, grinders, rotary hammers, impact drivers, circular saws and reciprocating saws – offers high output, durability and fast charge times, keeping you working for longer without disruption.

An introduction to Makita XGT

XGT 40V Max is the new stand-alone cordless battery platform from Makita – with its own range of tools, lithium-ion batteries and chargers. The new 40V Max system will stand side-by-side with Makita’s industry-leading LXT platform to offer a battery solution for all applications. XGT has been built around three concepts:

High power

With 40V Max power, Makita XGT is the most powerful battery platform in the Makita range. The increased output is ideal for industrial, higher demand applications. In fact, XGT, cordless machines offer output that can genuinely rival the high power of corded tools and even some petrol engine machines.

The Makita XGT range benefits from a completely new design – across the machines, the batteries and charging system. Instead of going for a higher voltage battery, the Makita R&D Team has developed a system with improved construction and advanced technologies to achieve optimum power and performance. When going for a higher voltage battery there is a trade-off between power and run-time. However, XGT delivers balanced run-time delivered from the new 40V Max motor and battery platform, with all the power that is required for heavier duty applications.

Tough design

The new Makita XGT batteries have been engineered with durable design features to minimise damage and withstand tough environments. The heavy-duty outer casing and cell holder and shock-absorbing housing protect the battery if dropped. Each battery also has an IPX4 rating, which means that it is splash and showerproof, and water ingress is limited – ideal for those working with pipework or outside in unpredictable weather. Their design also prevents damage from dust.

Makita XGT batteries also include high rigidity rails, that firmly hold the battery to the tool – making them suitable for use with high power products and heavy-duty applications.

Smart technology

To optimise battery performance and charge times, XGT features Makita’s unique smart system technology. This in-built programme allows digital communication between the battery and the charger, as well as the battery and the tool, to provide protection against issues such over-discharge and overheating. For example, if the battery has overheated, the charger will cool it down before charging begins. This significantly speeds up the charging process and minimises downtime.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “This an exciting time for existing Makita users and new users alike. Makita’s new XGT platform is the next generation in cordless technology, leading the way in both performance and intelligence. With XGT, you can experience the same high power associated with corded and petrol machines, but with the increased flexibility of cordless – making Makita XGT the ideal solution for high demand, industrial applications.

“The complete solution of our existing LXT 18V system and the new XGT 40V platform offers even more battery-powered solutions for a truly cordless job site.”

Makita XGT 40v batteries

What’s in the range

Makita has launched a number of new products for the 40V XGT platform, each suited to high demand applications – including cutting, grinding, drilling and fixing. To maximise on site efficiency, the tools are designed to offer outstanding performance, ease of use and operator safety. The new 40V Makita XGT line-up includes:

  • TD001G Impact Driver – delivering 220Nm of max torque and ten tightening modes.
  • HP001G Combi-Hammer Drill – providing 140Nm of max torque and 41 electronic clutch settings.
  • GA004G, GA005G, GA012G and GA013G Angle Grinders – offering the same power as 1,100W corded grinders.
  • HR003G and HR004G SDS-Plus Combination Hammers – which include anti-vibration technology and benefit from a HEPA filter dust collection system.
  • HS004G Circular Saw – with a no. load speed of 6,000RPM, 480 bevel capacity and AWS wireless connection facility for use with compatible dust extractors.
  • JR001G Reciprocating Saw – achieving 255mm capacity in wood and Ø130mm capacity in pipe.
  • All models are available as body only machines, or complete models with battery, charger and ADP10 Adaptor for charging LXT 18V batteries via the XGT 40V charger.

To improve durability, the new XGT tools also benefit from Makita’s Brushless motor. As there are no moving parts within the motor causing friction, wear and tear and ongoing maintenance costs are minimised. No friction also means that no energy is lost through heat production, which increases run times and keeps you working for longer – as you do not have to regularly stop to replace or recharge the batteries.

Makita XGT 40V charger

To support the new product range, Makita has also launched a selection of accessories. The 40V batteries can be purchased individually and are available in 2.5Ah and 4.0Ah versions. To minimise operator fatigue – and maximise on-site productivity – the batteries are lightweight. For example, the 2.5Ah XGT batteries weigh just 100g more than 18V LXT alternatives.

To charge the batteries, Makita has launched the DC40RA 40V Max fast charger. Due to the smart system, the DC40RA offers optimised charging. For example, a 2.5Ah XGT battery can be charged in just 28 minutes and a 4.0Ah battery in 45 minutes.

For those that are currently using Makita’s LXT products, Makita has developed an adaptor that allows you to charge your LXT batteries using the XGT charger. This makes changing between tools effortless. With the adaptor, LXT batteries charge in just 22 minutes (for 3.0Ah LXT batteries) up to 40 minutes (for 6.0Ah LXT batteries).

To launch the new XGT range, Makita UK will also be offering a new redemption deal on selected models, so contractors can claim an extra 40V battery completely FREE of charge!

To find out more about Makita and the new range of 40V XGT products, please visit www.makitauk.com

More From Skillbuilder – Makita Battery Power Cutter Saw

Install a NEW Baxi Boiler with Google Nest Thermostat E

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https://www.mrcentralheating.co.uk/save-time-and-energy

Phil and Roger install the third in our series of Baxi boiler installations along with the Google Nest Thermostat E control system.

==================================
Products featured in this episode

Baxi Platinum 40 (ErP) Combi Boiler
mrcentralheating.co.uk/boilers/boilers-by-brand/baxi

HydroGuard 0.16L Stainless Steel Shock Arrestor
mrcentralheating.co.uk/hydroguard-stainless-steel-shock-arrestor

Fernox TF1 Omega Filter 22mm
mrcentralheating.co.uk/fernox-tf1-omega-filter-22mm-no-valves

Fernox F1 Protector
mrcentralheating.co.uk/fernox-f1-protector-500ml

 

EasyBuild UK supports County Contractors with their innovative software

County Contractors is a leading refurbishment specialist, specialising in large scale, high
profile projects for over 40 years.

The Somerset-based commercial refurbishment company had an ageing, existing finance
system that was already painfully unstable and unreliable. In order for Country
Contractors to continue running a profitable business and meet new visions the company
knew they needed new efficient tools.

Once County Contractors became aware that the current finance system was no longer fit
for purpose, they went out to market.

County Contractors chose the award-winning EasyBuild ERP software as an all-in-one
solution because it is designed for the construction sector, with an easy-to-use, intuitive
interface.

EasyBuild’s ERP Contractors Software helps companies manage and control their
contracting projects by giving complete and instant access to their progress – taking real
time snapshots of how profitable your construction projects are with full analysis of costs,
revenues, liabilities, and surveyor adjustments.

One of the biggest attractions for County Contractors was EasyBuild’s constant focus on
enhancements and developments to the system. If a client suggests a development that
will be helpful to the rest of the EasyBuild community, this can often be added at no
further cost. However, EasyBuild’s talented development team can also create bespoke
functionality for specific clients, which County Contractors have been able to benefit from.

Ian Cook from County Contractors said “EasyBuild is a great company to work with. They
are genuinely interested in how they can help your business and that is rare. As our business
develops, so does the EasyBuild system.”

EasyBuild has been delighted to welcome Ian Cook and his team at County Contractors.
They are a business who know exactly what they were looking for in a fully integrated
ERP solution, and during the sales engagement they were able to articulate their business
processes and how EasyBuild would address the “weaknesses” in their current system.

The relationship between EasyBuild and Country Contractors is a “partnership”, says CEO
Carol Massay. “Ian and his team know what is good for their business and there is no
hesitation in picking up the phone to the EasyBuild team to discuss their requirements”.

Over the last few months, EasyBuild has been looking at further enhancements to their
portfolio of solutions, and Ian has been willing to provide his input and sector knowledge
to the development team as part of this process.

EasyBuild are looking forward to building on the relationship with County Contractors for
many years to come.

“When a customer is happy to provide a review and insight into their experiences, this
means a lot and is a true testimonial for other customers to hear”

A Builder’s View of Venice

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Roger digs out some old photos and takes a look at a builder’s view of Venice and the challenges that face the trades in this historic City.

Team SB were booked up to visit Venice in March to research rising damp before COVID-19 came along and changed the plans.

#Venezia #VeniceItaly #VeniceCanals

How to Make Fibrous Plaster Mouldings – KB#10

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James shows us his fibrous cornice plastering technique in King Build #10.

Contact fibrous plasterer James Foster: 07900 915194

Our thanks go to James King for letting Roger film this extension project series. The Supreme Finishing Company can be contacted by following the link below.

https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk

#KingBuild #ExtensionBuilding #FibrousPlastering

The Completed Project – Garden Room #8

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Robin gives us a tour of the completed garden room.

Planning Permission vs Permitted Development: https://youtu.be/l97KezwLWIM

TapcoSlate Classic BBA approved synthetic slate: https://www.tapcoroofingproducts.com/product/tapcoslate-classic

Follow Robin:
https://www.youtube.com/ukconstruction
https://www.instagram.com/robinclevett

This type of garden room is ideal for use as an office, photographic studio, workshop, man cave or playroom.

#SBGardenRoom #MilwaukeeTools #TapcoSlate

CHAS and Checkatrade Announce New Partnership

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CHAS, the Health & Safety accreditation specialist, has signed an agreement with Checkatrade that will see the two organisations work together to help their trade members boost their accredited status and availability for work…

Checkatrade is one of the UK’s leading directories of recommended, vetted and monitored trade experts, while CHAS helps construction clients to find certified contractors.

The joint venture will enable Checkatrade members to secure discounted accreditation status through CHAS, helping them to compete for work that requires Health & Safety certification. In turn, CHAS members who pass Checkatrade’s robust 12-stage vetting process will be offered an introductory discount on membership.

Commenting on the announcement, Ian McKinnon, Managing Director, CHAS, says: “It has been a challenging period for the construction sector but this new partnership underlines our commitment to providing new opportunities for our members and helping them to recover and strengthen their businesses during this difficult time”.

Mike Fairman, CEO of Checkatrade, said “our business is committed to making it easier for trades to find work and grow their business. One aspect of that is easy and affordable access to work tenders where Health & Safety accreditation is a pre-condition. All members that gain accredited status will be able to carry the CHAS logo on their profile pages. They will also benefit from the support of Checkatrade’s reviews and vetting team, creating a portfolio of verified customer feedback that demonstrates the quality of their work.

More From Skillbuilder – CHAS Launches Verification Service

Checkatrade Associations

Green Oak Feather Edge Cladding – Garden Room #7

Robin is cladding again with feather edge green oak and our Garden Room project is almost complete.

Follow Robin:
https://www.youtube.com/ukconstruction
https://www.instagram.com/robinclevett

This type of garden room is ideal for use as an office, photographic studio, workshop, man cave or playroom.

Timber Treatment with Roxil Wood Protection Cream

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https://www.safeguardeurope.com/products/roxil/roxil-wood-protection-cream

A unique timber treatment, Roxil Wood Protection Cream is a silicone cream emulsion offering protection for 10+ years with a single coat. It protects wood from moisture, preventing degraded appearance, warping and moss or algae growth.

#Roxil #TimberTreatment #WoodProtection

Karndean Van Gogh Flooring – Capel #23

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Robin talks about working with Cutwrights and what he needs to do once the materials turn up on-site at The Capel Build.

Berwicks of Horsham are also in the house laying his Karndean Van Gogh Luxury Vinyl Flooring.

Here are the products mentioned in this episode.

MDF Cut to Size – Cutwrights Bespoke board cutting

Karndean, Amtico, Wood & Laminate flooring – Berwick of Horsham

Van Gogh rustic wood plank look from Karndean

Quality Materials For Furniture and Construction from EGGER

Capel Build Playlist

 

UVC Lighting That Actively Reduces the Bacterial and Viral Charge

Humanlumen, the lighting brand with a uniquely human-centric approach, introduces the Clean Air Series, a range of UVC Air Sterilisation Units, providing a safe, reliable and sustainable solution for a safe ‘Return to Work’ for many employers and employees.

The Clean Air Series is a range of efficient UVC lighting devices that actively reduce the bacterial and viral charge of the air in closed environments.

This truly innovative design can provide fast sterilisation for offices, classrooms, hotel rooms and healthcare environments.

The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) believes that UV disinfection technologies can play a role in a multiple barrier approach to reducing the transmission of the virus causing COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2, based on current disinfection data and empirical evidence.

UVC Air Purification Unit

The powerful UVC radiation is totally isolated inside the Air Filtration System (AFS) as exposure of UV light, of any type, in high dosage to the naked eye will cause potential long-term health issues.

The system draws in contaminated air and removes all bacteria through a series of integral filters and then delivers clean air back into the space. Each unit cleanses up to 3000 cubic square metres of open office space and is a simple plug and play system with no integration into the existing mechanical systems.

The clean air units work like an air purifier, but instead of filters it uses the UVC technology to eliminate the viruses. The fan located in the bottom of the fitting sucks in the air of the room and channels it through a series of UVC light canals that have the UVC lights. The UVC kills the viruses and the clean air is released in the room through a carbon filter.

The carbon filter’s main purpose is to clean the odours from the air, with an additional dust filter at the entrance of the fan, neither is essential to kill bacteria, this is the role of the UVC light.

Pebble Dashing Rendered Walls – KB#9

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James shows us how he likes to pebble dash rendered walls in King Build Part 9.

Our thanks go to James King for letting Roger film this extension project series. The Supreme Finishing Company can be contacted by following the link below.

https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk

#KingBuild #ExtensionBuilding #PebbleDash

Do You Need Planning Permission or Are Your Permitted Development Rights Enough?

We’re looking at planning permission for extensions. Maybe you’re building a conservatory or converting your garage or in my case, building an extension that’s so small I thought I’d be able to build it without that planning permission UK application under what they call ‘permitted development rights’ but I was wrong.

Permitted Development Rights were introduced to make it easier to extend your home, cut red tape, empower you and spread peace and harmony throughout the land.

Parliament granted this right rather than your local authority and you’d think that parliament trumps all, but that’s not always the case because your council can issue an Article 4 direction which takes away your automatic right to develop.

Location

If you’re surrounded by character and charm, they don’t want you spoiling it. So, Conservation Areas, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, World Heritage Sites, basically anywhere where posh people live are off-limits, so you’d think that puts me in the clear?

I built my extension 20 years ago, which means I can’t now build an extension on my extension without applying for planning permission. I’m keeping my fingers crossed because I’ve already started digging.

So the good thing about living in a charmless area that nobody cares about is that you can get away with more. If you’re eligible, and I urge you to check before you start, you can extend your house with a single storey up to 50% of your curtilage which usually means your garden, unless your garden looks like Buckingham Palace.

Loft Extensions

You can also build a loft extension with a dormer provided you hide it around the back. You can also build at the back of your house up to 8 metres on a single storey if your house is detached or 6 metres if you are in a semi-detached or terrace. There is also a restriction on height, and this is usually 4 metres from ground level.

Now some years ago I did some work for a multi-millionaire and we built an extension that exceeded the 4-metre height. The neighbour complained, the man from the Town Hall came round with his tape measure and the millionaire was ordered to reduce the height.

Planning Permission or Permitted Development Rights

But he was not a millionaire by accident. He told us to get a JCB in and build up the ground around the extension by half a metre. The man from Town Hall came back to check the measurement and there was nothing the council or the neighbour could do about it.

Now we want to get on with our neighbours and avoid disputes and Permitted Development can be subject to neighbour consultation, so have a chat with them and make sure they’d be happy. Let’s suppose you want to build two floors and do something that falls outside of the Permitted Development. You then need to apply for planning permission.

Planning Permission Process

This is a strange process because the people who green-light building your dream home are councillors who form the planning committee. And what qualifies them for this job? Nothing at all.

I knew some of the councillors on my local planning committee, they were nice well-intentioned people but they knew nothing about building or architecture and their decisions were as much governed by what side they got out of bed as anything else.

Democratic rights allow you to attend the planning meeting but you can’t try and influence the deliberation with well-timed coughing and if it goes against you don’t storm the chamber or let off a stink bomb, this isn’t France!

Good Design

They say a good design gets your planning application through, but what is good design? Bear in mind the buildings we consider the finest in the land were all built before the Town and Country Planning Act came into force.

I’m not suggesting that we remove all restrictions but what we have now is vague, subjective and inconsistent. It involves concepts such as ‘in keeping’ and tasteful which changes all the time.

The extension I built years ago had to be set back from the frontage and lowered so it was subordinate. Two years later the person down the road has built an extension which sits in line with the front of an identical house and the roofline continues through at the same height. What happened was a local election and a change of personnel on the planning committee.

Rejection

If you’re unlucky enough to have your application turned down, take heart because you can appeal and, in my experience, appeals have a good chance of succeeding. So take heart and soldier on but be prepared to compromise.

Do not, under any circumstances build first and ask later because, although in theory, you can get retrospective permission there are many cases of people having to demolish, or stand clear and watch somebody else demolish, their home.

Up next in this series, we’re taking a look at the minefield which is the Building Regulations and how you might navigate them or get blown up in the process.

Please give us a thumbs-up or down, let us know if you like these videos and follow us on Facebook for extra little bits you won’t get on YouTube.

USEFUL LINKS

UK Planning Permission and Building Regulations

Guidance on householder Permitted Development Rights

Planning Portal – Do you need permission?

Planning Permission: When Do You Need It and How Do You Get It?

Complete Guide to Planning Permission (England and Wales)

How different is building a home in the USA versus in the UK?

23 Projects You Can Start Now (2020 Edition)

Has Building Control Lost Control?

Tradespeople ready to fix lockdown DIY disasters

According to a survey by global workwear brand Dickies, over the coming months, nearly three-quarters of tradespeople expect to be fixing botched DIY jobs carried out by people at home during the lockdown imposed in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The poll, carried out through Dickies Workwear’s Twitter feed, revealed that 72.9% of respondents anticipated spending some of their time fixing DIY disasters over the next few months.

“If the queues outside B&Qs recently reopened stores were anything to go by, many people will have been using their time during the lockdown to attempt home improvements – including the kind of jobs they’d usually rely on a tradesperson to complete for them,” said James Whitaker, Marketing Director for Dickies.

“It’s very likely that tradespeople will be busy over the coming months putting right the efforts of those who haven’t been able to match the skill that’s often required to do those jobs well. While our poll has been a fun way of looking at this, it does serve as a reminder of how much we rely on the expertise of trained and experienced tradespeople in our day to day lives.”

Are you a tradesperson who is spending some of your time fixing DIY disasters? Tell us about it on social media, using the hashtag #DickiesDIYfix and tagging Dickies using the following details:

On Twitter: @DickiesEurope

On Instagram: @dickiesworkwearofficial

On Facebook: @DickiesWorkwear

www.dickiesworkwear.com

Flooring & Skirting Boards – Garden Room #6

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How to build a garden room episode 6 sees Robin installing the shower tray, flooring and skirting.

Follow Robin Clevett
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/robinclevett
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/ukconstruction

This type of garden room is perfect for use as an office, photographic studio, workshop, man cave or playroom.

#SBGardenRoom #MilwaukeeTools #Skirting

Fitting the Perfect Lock Every Time – Capel #22

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Robin is fitting the locks on his walnut doors from XL Joinery.

🔽 MORE 🔽

Capel Build Playlist – http://tiny.cc/av05nz

The DBB Morticer by Souber Tools. The perfect lock recess every time.
http://www.morticer.com

XL Joinery Walnut door – http://tiny.cc/ew05nz

#XLJoinery #CapelBuild #RobinClevett

Rendering on Breeze Blocks – KB#8

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How to render over breeze blocks with James King. He tells us all about his mix, tips and the materials used in Part 8 of King Build.

Our thanks go to James King for letting Roger film this extension project series. The Supreme Finishing Company can be contacted by following the link below.

https://thesupremefinishingcompany.co.uk

#KingBuild #ExtensionBuilding #Rendering

MSA Reveals Industry Insights from Hard Hat Survey

A forward-thinking industry survey has revealed a lack of comfort as the main obstacle putting workers off wearing their safety helmets more regularly, and, somewhat worryingly, almost half of those surveyed said that they never or rarely wear a hard hat.

Run by MSA Safety in conjunction with Skill Builder (a resource for the building industry promoting knowledge, news, and expertise), the extensive survey explored what puts workers off wearing safety helmets and what people consider to be the most important features of hard hat design.

The survey, which focused on the wearing of hard hats in general rather than any individual brand, received hundreds of responses from workers in the UK, including carpenters, builders, electricians, roofers, civil engineers, and tree surgeons – working on projects covering residential housing, infrastructure, heavy construction, and specialised industrial (amongst others).

When asked what puts them off wearing a hard hat, 26% of respondents cited comfort as the main reason, while 18% went as far as to say that hard hats stopped them from doing their job properly. 10% said that hard hats made them feel too hot, and 6% said they felt hard hats generally didn’t fit properly.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that the number of workers that don’t ever (19%) or rarely (27%) wear hard hats was high. Only 17% said that they wear hard hats most of the time; 10% said that they wear them often.

 

MSA reveals industry insights from hard hat survey (3)

Roger Bisby, well known and respected throughout the UK building and construction industry for his expertise and work on his Skill Builder channel, commented: “I’ve been in the building trade for a long time and heard these reasons for not wearing a hard hat – comfort, poor fit etc. – many, many times. Yes, all workers have a responsibility to look after themselves, but hard hat manufacturers also owe it to workers to provide a hard hat that they’ll be happy to wear for up to eight hours a day, five days a week. It’s heartening to see MSA not only manufacture more functional, comfortable hard hats, but encouraging others to follow suit.”

Mackenzie Peters, MSA Safety’s Global Product Manager, HEFH, continued: “To a large extent, unfortunately, these figures aren’t surprising. It’s a sad fact that many workers are not wearing essential hard hats because they’re uncomfortable, bulky and ill-fitting. All of which hinders a worker’s ability to do their job properly and contributes to them spending more time worrying about their hard hat than the job at hand, which is dangerous in its own right.

“It’s our responsibility, as an industry, to buck this trend. Yes, of course, hard hats need to be safe, but the safest hard hat is one a worker will actually want to wear. That’s why comfort and a good fit should be integral to any quality hard hat.”

Anecdotal feedback from respondents was insightful and broadly backed up the statistics outlined above. A selection of some of the feedback below:

“People need a hat to be proud of”

“They could be made to be more fitting, more comfortable, lighter, better ventilated”

“They could be more stylish!”

“Better fitting so that they don’t fall off your head when bending over or looking up”

MSA reveals industry insights from hard hat survey (2)

 

Mackenzie addressed this feedback: “Providing workers with helmets they can be proud of is so important. When management provides its workforce with high quality, comfortable hard hats with a low-profile, modern design it represents a certain level of investment into them and their wellbeing. Customising hard hats with company logos can also help to foster a sense of pride and togetherness. And crucially, the better the hard hat is and the prouder a worker is to wear it, the more likely they are to not only wear it in the first place, but to also take good care of it.

“Heads come in all shapes and sizes,” concluded Mackenzie. “Workers need the ability to easily re-size hard hats to a secure fit that remains comfortable. Comfortable, well-fitted and well-ventilated (where compliant) safety helmets aren’t optional, they’re essential.”

Waterproof Brick Wall ✔ Stormdry Masonry Protection

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Waterproof your brick walls with Stormdry, a colourless, breathable, water-repellent treatment for brick, concrete and stone walls. It’s a deep penetrating cream that is applied to the wall surface using a roller or brush. Once Stormdry has been applied to the wall surface in a single coat and will permeate deeply before curing to form a water-repellent barrier for a BBA approved 25 years.

Typical applications for Stormdry include:

Protecting against penetrating damp (rain penetration)
Improving the thermal resistance of masonry by keeping it dry – verified by the Energy Saving Trust
Improving the performance of cavity wall insulation by protecting it from moisture
Improving flood resistance of masonry

Breathable and Long Lasting

Stormdry is based on carefully selected silanes and siloxanes which line the pores of the masonry to form a water-repellent silicone matrix. Because it works by lining the pores rather than blocking them the masonry is allowed to breathe and does not suffer from increased frost damage (spalling). Due to its novel formulation and deep penetration, Stormdry is resistant to UV light and other forms of degradation, resulting in a life expectancy of 20 – 30 years.

Deeply Penetrating

Stormdry is able to penetrate more deeply into masonry than traditional liquid-applied masonry water repellents. As well as increasing life expectancy this also improves Stormdry’s crack-bridging ability. As the diagram to the right shows, Stormdry is able to provide water-repellency beyond the depth of small cracks.

It should be noted that larger cracks will still need to be filled as part of the Stormdry treatment. Mortar lines may need to be repointed with a sand/cement or sand/lime mix incorporating Stormdry Repointing Additive.

Effective
Stormdry has been tested to BS EN ISO 15148:2002 (E), demonstrating its effectiveness on concrete, mortar, brick, and sandstone. The graph below shows that the water uptake for Stormdry treated samples was considerably lower than for untreated samples:

As Stormdry is formulated to penetrate deeply into masonry it can take up to two months after application for a noticeable “beading effect” to appear when rainfall strikes the wall. However, Stormdry is resistant to rain after just 12 hours.

#Safeguard