Baxi calendar says stay safe in 2017

baxi calendar

UK boiler manufacturer Baxi has launched a charity calendar for 2017 featuring children’s drawings that send a serious message to grown-ups. The calendar features 12 different pictures, drawn by children of Baxi colleagues. Each one offers a safety tip designed to make sure their parents come home safely. The children’s top tips include not using a mobile phone while driving, …

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Travis Perkins named in Britain’s Most Admired Company awards

travis perkins

Travis Perkins, the UK building materials distributor, has been awarded second place in the Building Suppliers category of ‘Britain’s Most Admired Companies’ (BMAC) 2016 awards. Travis Perkins accepted the title, which is awarded based on the largest piece of peer review research of its kind in the UK, at a ceremony attended by some of the county’s top businesses. Commenting …

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Roofing company in court after member of public photographs unsafe practice

Construction boss jailed

A specialist roofing company and its two directors have been sentenced after admitting working unsafely at height on a hotel development in central Manchester during a major refurbishment and extension works. On the 17 March 2015, a member of public witnessed and photographed unsafe work at a construction site and contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Manchester Magistrates Court …

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How to fit door handles easily & accurately with the Jigtech Pro

jigtech Pro review

In this latest video Roger Bisby demonstrates how to fit door handles easily & accurately with the Jigtech Pro Smart Door Handle Fitting System. The device from Dale Hardwear makes the fitting of door latches and door handles a lot quicker, easier and more accurate. The makers of the Jig Tech Pro claim that you can use the device to …

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Fly-tippers could have vans crushed in pre-Christmas crackdown

Fly-tippers

A pre-Christmas zero-tolerance nationwide crackdown on fly-tippers is underway  – as councils up and down the country use new powers to seize and crush vehicles used by the dumpers. Councils are also calling for a legal loophole – which means enforcement officers have to give some fly-tippers seven days written warning before inspecting them and seizing evidence – to be …

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Construction companies fined after failing to carry out basement excavation work safely

Construction boss jailed

Two London based construction companies were prosecuted after a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection identified serious safety breaches on a double basement construction project. Westminster Magistrates Court heard that emergency services had been called to a property at Bathurst Mews, London, where excavation work to form a double basement was being carried out.  They rescued a labourer with a …

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Baxi supports proposed changes to Building Regs and encourages installers to have their say

Changes to Building Regs

Baxi has welcomed and strongly supports the Government’s proposals on changes to Part L1b of the Building Regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power in Existing Dwellings), outlined in a consultation document launched today (8 December 2016). Incremental changes to boiler installations are being proposed to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, which will result in lower household energy bills …

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Fluxaf Green review

fluxaf green

Roger Bisby goes Dutch with some Fluxaf Green. Ever since the completely justified EU ban on using methylene chloride in paint stripper, the trade has struggled to find viable alternatives. Modern strippers just don’t have the instant, crackle and pop of the old stuff. All too often they require re-applying several times in order to penetrate the built up coatings. …

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Construction trio to face prosecution for Crossrail death

Construction boss jailed

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today informed BAM Nuttall Limited, Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Ltd, and Keir Infrastructure and Overseas Ltd that they will be prosecuted in relation to three incidents that took place during the construction of the new Crossrail railway tunnel construction, which runs east to west across London. All three companies will appear at Westminster’s Magistrates …

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Scaffolding alternative helps school slash roof refurbishment time

Scaffolding alternative

For children, the school summer holidays can seem to stretch on forever. However, if you’re a contractor brought in to carry out building work during the summer break, you’re all too aware of just how quickly six weeks can pass. William Cooper was one such contractor, facing a tight window for project delivery when it was hired to refurbish the …

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Band of Builders Christmas auction: Donations wanted

Band of Builders

Anyone who has followed Addam Smith and the Band of Builders story in 2016 will know he doesn’t do things by halves. When at the beginning of this year the landscape gardening business owner found out his employee Keith Ellick had been diagnosed with terminal cancer he recruited a team of volunteers (the Band of Builders) from the Builder’s Talk …

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How to install and set up a Foscam HD CCTV Security System

Foscam HD CCTV Security System

Roger Bisby shows how to install a Foscam HD CCTV Security System following which, Dylan Garton, Skill Builder’s technical expert talks through how to set up the system and breaks down some of the technical jargon associated with the technology. The system has several attractive features such as motion detection which means you can easily identify any incidents the camera …

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Fein SuperCut 18v winner announced

FEIN SuperCut competition

Earlier this month Skill Builder teamed up with FEIN to give you the chance to win a SuperCut 18V with 2 x 5Ah batteries as tested by Roger Bisby. The winner has now been announced in the video above. Don’t forget to like us on facebook to keep up with all our competition news and winner announcements and follow us …

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Shortage of qualified engineers delaying smart meter rollout

smart meter installer

The Government’s pledge to rollout smart meters to 30 million homes by 2020 could be delayed because of a lack of qualified engineers, new research suggests. Nearly one in five Brits, who have arranged for a smart meter to be installed in their homes, have experienced long delays because there are not enough engineers available to carry out the work. …

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Softshell jacket

scruffs softshell jacket

New for this Autumn/Winter 2016, Scruffs has expanded its Expedition range to include the Scruffs Expedition Thermo Softshell Jacket. The new jacket uses a body mapped design which balances insulation to protect against challenging weather conditions and it gives freedom of movement where it’s needed most. The ultra durable outdoor jacket comes with secure zip pockets, zip thru fastening and …

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Removing load bearing walls: Brick Brace review

brick brace review

Makers of the Brick Brace claim it will help you gain  fitting space, reduce repair time and achieve a superior and safer finish when undertaking masonry alterations. Roger Bisby takes a look. Most builders hardly give a second thought to knocking away supporting walls and propping them with a small forest of screw-jacks or Acrows as they are generally called. …

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Eye protection: A site for sore eyes or a vision for safety?

councils to build

Every year, construction workers suffer from eye injuries ranging from temporary sight loss to long-term impaired vision and even blindness. Julien Clair, product manager for eyewear at Honeywell Industrial Safety, outlines the key measures required for effective eye protection.   What are the hazards? Construction sites create a significant risk for eye injuries. Every day, workers face a myriad of …

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Stone wool insulation: Where there’s a wool, there’s a way

Stone wool insulation

As those in the insulation manufacturing process know, not all mineral wool insulation is the same. For builders, however, it’s sometimes difficult to understand where the distinctions lie, what benefits there might be and how the insulation choices they make can impact upon a project or application. Paul Barrett, Product Manager at Rocwool looks at where stone wool insulation began …

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Bosch launches two new 18v rotary hammers

18v rotary hammers

The GBH 18V-26 Professional and GBH 18V-26 F Professional are the latest additions to the Bosch range of 18v rotary hammers with EC motors. Both generate an impact energy of 2.6 joules – 50 percent more than the current strongest 18 volt rotary hammer. This makes them comparable with corded tools such as the GBH 2-26 Professional. This is where …

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All wrapped up: Snickers winter workwear

Snickers winter workwear

Roger Bisby takes a look at some ideas from Snickers to make your winter working happier. Hi Tech fabrics have undeniable advantages and I am very happy to wear them but there is something reassuring about a natural wool sweater. It is probably the only fabric that stays warm even when it is wet which is very handy for all …

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