Sunday, August 31, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 99

Turn Your Ideas into Reality Urges Gripfit Fixings Founder

Dylan Garton
-
0
Turn Your Ideas into Reality Urges Gripfit Fixings Founder

Jordan Daykin, the owner of GripIt fixings and the greatest success on Dragons’ Den to date, is urging fellow inventors and entrepreneurs who work in trade professions to turn their great ideas into reality by entering the Travis Perkins Innovation Awards (TPIA) before the 30th June deadline.

Now a £14 million business, Jordan and his GripIt fixings are a testament to the importance of innovation and making the most of any opportunity to turn an idea into reality. Travis Perkins plc, the distributor of building materials, launched TPIA to discover and nurture ideas similar to GripIt fixings, with a focus on moving the industry forward and solving the everyday frustrations of trade professionals.

Jordan commented: “My only choice was to go on television to secure investment, develop my product, and get a foot in the door with national stockists; I would have loved an audience with TP and would have jumped at the chance to enter these awards if they were around when I first started!

“Travis Perkins is offering the chance for anyone with a great idea to go straight to them – this is really a great opportunity that could change someone’s life.”

Jordan started GripIt fixings from his garden shed when he was only 13. His universal plasterboard fitting secured investment from Deborah Meaden on Dragons’ Den in 2014 and has since become a business worth £14 million. His product is even stocked in companies within Travis Perkins plc, including Travis Perkins and Wickes.

The closing date for entries to the first ever TPIA is 30th June 2016. Open to anyone in the construction industry, as well as inventors, universities, students, and colleagues from across Travis Perkins plc, entries can be simple sketches to detailed proposals.

Prizes may include financial investment and business support for product and idea development, an opportunity to trial products in selected Travis Perkins plc locations around the UK, or business mentoring and support from Travis Perkins plc’s senior team.

Organised by the Innovate team at Travis Perkins plc, the main sponsor is Marshalls.

The Cladman One Man Cladding Device

Roger Bisby
-
0
The Cladman One Man Cladding Device

Roger Bisby meets James Gibbons, from Sitebuddyz, suppliers of a device called the Cladman which turns the job of putting up sidings or claddings from a two man job into a one man job.

With one person cutting and one person fixing, Sitbuddyz estimates you can complete jobs at three times the speed it normally takes.

Acting as a second pair of hands the Cladman supports the boards leaving the hands free for fixing, while maintaining consistent overlapping accuracy, right up to the soffit.

The sprung loaded rubber roller offers easy manipulation of the boards into position, preventing slipping thereby avoiding possible damage.

The Cladman accommodates board widths of 125-225mm, and a thickness range of 8-38mm. The overlap required can be set anywhere between 5 – 85mm, ideal for aligning board edges with window and door reveals. Setting the board overlap requirement is quick and simple and once set will not vary during use.

With lightweight construction, steel reinforced joints, each Cladman weighs just 0.9kg yet will support heavier cladding with ease. The incorporated spirit level adds an easy visual check on board alignment during installation.

Kingspan Tribune Xe Indirect Cylinder Installation

Roger Bisby
-
0
Kingspan Tribune Xe Indirect Cylinder Installation

Pre-plumbed cylinders are usually the choice for new build where they have plenty of people to move the units into the airing cupboards before fitting the doors but I like the look of them and I  had already decided that on my next cylinder installation, I was going to try a pre-plumbed unit. It isn’t that I find it difficult to plumb up an unvented cylinder but when you start adding up the cost of all the controls and zone valves the material costs are surprisingly similar between the package deal and the plumb-it-yourself option. The thing that really persuaded me was that we had one week to install a new boiler and cylinder, take out the old ones, strip out all the rads and put underfloor heating in the entire ground floor. The considerate customers had gone skiing giving us an empty house but it was made clear to me that if it wasn’t all up and running by the time they got back on Saturday I would be putting them up in a local hotel and there was no way I was going to do that because there ain’t no cheap hotels in London.

I took delivery of the Kingspan Tribune Xe Direct Cylinder and Worcester CDi Classic system boiler the week before we started. I had measured the loft hatch and knew we would have to remove the loft ladder and take out the stop beads to get the cylinder up through the hatch. It went, just, and there were no scratches on that lovely white casing.

A full up 210-litre cylinder weighs something like 230 kilos so we had to make sure it was positioned over an internal wall. We built a stud wall next to it for the boiler so we had a nice short run for the flow and return.

The architect specified a Vailant but I changed it to a Worcester CDi Classic system boiler because I believe it is the most reliable boiler out there. You can argue with me if you want.  It was only when I came to do the installation that I realised that there was a circulating pump and expansion vessel supplied with the cylinder that would not now be required. I could either have ordered the cylinder without the pump and expansion vessel or gone for a heat only boiler. As it was we had an extra pump and expansion vessel. I was happy enough about the extra expansion capacity because the underfloor heating circuits pushed the water content up to the limit of the boiler expansion.

The great thing for me and my mate Steve was that the zone valves were pre-wired and ready to hook up to the ground floor and first floor. Kingspan also supplied a programmable stat. for one floor and a programmer with a heat sensor for the other floor. This would allow us to control the DHW from the programmer. All we had to do was connect the primaries, the cold supply and the hot water outlet and the pressure relief pipe to the tundish.

Heat losses
There is always a trade-off between the amount of insulation you put around a cylinder and the size. If you go too far you won’t be able to fit it in an airing cupboard. The architect had specified a 210 cylinder but if we had gone for a slightly smaller capacity we could have had an A-rated cylinder and relied on the 30kw boiler to provide a rapid recovery. That would have been my preference because you can even order a CDI with an internal diverter valve to prioritise the DHW.  That said, Kingspan has managed to reduce the heat loss of the cylinder by an impressive degree by using a side tapping for the hot water outlet and incorporating an internal air bubble for expansion plus a whole load of other little tweaks. The lack of a top tapping means that the top of the cylinder is fully encapsulated and there is no convection up through the outlet.

Every plumber knows that not everything goes well but on this job, we were blessed and it went like a dream. We started on Monday morning and did civilised days and by Thursday afternoon we were filling up. There were no leaks or dramas which was amazing because I had somehow managed to leave out one olive on the underfloor manifold. It didn’t leak and it only came to light the next day because we had one olive left over in the fittings bag.

So the customers came home to a warm house and hot water pressure that more than matched that in their ski chalet. Given the fact that we removed a 30-year-old floor standing conventionally flued boiler that was working on gravity primaries to an unlagged copper cylinder we were fairly confident that their gas bills were going to be halved. To help things even more we had installed 80 mm of Kingspan insulation in between the ground floor joist and laid the underfloor heating which was set to run at 50 centigrade to give a nice low temperature even heat.  That said I still have some reservations about putting cylinders in ventilated roof spaces even if they are very well insulated cylinders and so I have recommended that they build an enclosure from insulation board to reduce the heat losses even further.  All those little improvements add up to a lot and that really is the  philosophy behind the development of the Kingspan Tribune Xe Direct Cylinder.

Kingspan Tribune Xe Direct Cylinder

  • Up to 45% extra insulation for reduced heat loss Built-in thermal expansion spaces eliminating the need for an expansion vessel
  • Designed for use with 3kW immersion heater – can be used alongside ‘low tariff electricity’
  • Suitable for all-electric buildings off mains gas supply
  • Duplex stainless steel for ultimate peace of mind
  • Suitable for fully pumped circulation and sealed primary systems. Not suitable for gravity circulation
  • Wide range of capacities – from 120 to 300 litres
  • Low running costs
  • 25-year guarantee on basic vessel and 2-years on components, subject to T&C’s

*T&Cs apply 25-year guarantee on basic vessel and 2-years

Retecflex Re 14-5-115 review

Roger Bisby
-
0
Retecflex Re 14-5-115 review

Roger Bisby grinds it out with the Retecflex from Flex.

In essence this Retecflex grinder and sander is an angle grinder with a fancy dust extractor attachment permanently attached to its side but it is no ordinary angle grinder. It is a 1400 watt German built angle grinder with electronic speed control, soft start and restart protection so it doesn’t start up after a power interruption. It also has high torque in low speed settings so you can really engage it in the job of grinding off concrete and other hard surfaces without fear of it stalling. There are a number of other features such as dust sealing on the switch which puts it in a different league to your bog standard angle grinder but the angle grinder is not really the story here. It is what this grinder does that makes it worth its un-angle grinder price tag. By that I mean it isn’t cheap but it is a tool that will earn its keep over and over if you are engaged in refurbishment and you can also hire it from selected hire outlets.

What does it do?
It  removes  concrete, granite, render, adhesives, paint, various residues and even, because of its stepless depth adjustment, it will tickle hard to remove wallpaper from a wall while hardly touching the plaster with speed and ease and most importantly with very little dust escaping from the dust guard. The fact is that this machine can do so much  that it  took me a fair while to get my head around the variety of attachments they sent along and I am still not completely sure what they all do but I got the general idea.

I have seen the guys who fit granite worktops using them to grind and polish the worktop to a mirror like finish. You can of course do that with a wet polisher but the reason this Flex machine has become the industry standard is because it is a dry machine with excellent dust extraction that allows you to work in an occupied building. This machine is also very popular with floor layers for removing adhesives and even taking the humps out of screeds.  It turns, what could be a long and arduous job into something that can often be achieved in half an hour or so.

Less is more
The spindle is M14 so in theory you could use third party attachments on the grinder but even though the maximum disc size  is 115mm the maximum milling head is 85 mm. That simply means that when you are removing a lot of stock you don’t want the whole of the head circumference employed. For one thing it would strain the motor but it would also run the risk of clogging  up whereas the way it is designed means there is plenty of space under the hood for a good flow of air to take the dust away into the extractor.

The dust hood has one flat edge, rather like the Flex Giraffe sander that I tested last year and the idea is that you can grind right up to the internal corners of a wall or floor.  If you don’t need the flat edge you can spin a section of  guard around to complete the circle. Also, like the Giraffe sander,  this machine uses the click hose system so you aren’t frigging around with adaptors or worrying about the hose falling off and the dust escaping into the room.

I can think of many jobs in the past such as tanking a cellar where this would have turned days of chipping off paint from brickwork with a needle gun into a few hours work. I can also recall attacking a recreation centre floor with scrapers and even a blow torch at one point trying to remove the old adhesive it took three of us four days to clean that subfloor and  from my small test jobs I think a  machine such as this would have done it in a day and it wouldn’t be a hard day at that.

[foogallery id=”2106″]

Most considerate construction companies named

Dylan Garton
-
0
Most considerate construction companies named

Costain, Gentoo Construction, Robert Woodhead Ltd and Walter Thompson (Contractors) have each been awarded the  title of Most Considerate Site at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s 2016 National Site Awards.

It is the first time that four sites have won the accolade, following the introduction of ‘value bands’ which means sites are assessed against projects of similar value including: Under £500k; £500k to <£5m; £5m to <£10m and £10m and over.

Over 3000 guests attended award ceremonies held in Edinburgh, London and Manchester in April.

Projects registered with the Scheme must demonstrate an appreciation of the impact of their work on the community, the environment and their workforce.

A total of 932 National Site Awards were presented including 430 Bronze awards, 293 Silver awards and 173 Gold awards and 32 Most Considerate Site Runners-Up.

Edward Hardy, Chief Executive of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, said: “Congratulations to each and every site receiving a 2016 National Site Award. Every year, the Scheme is taken aback by the many different ways contractors demonstrate their considerate credentials. This year has been no exception, with project teams across the UK serving as beacons of best practice.

“Special congratulations go to each of the 2016 Most Considerate Sites. These sites have shown truly exceptional performance, making tremendous efforts in going way above and beyond compliance with the Scheme – taking considerate construction to a new level.

“They have worked with enthusiasm and dedication to ensure that they showcase the very best of the construction industry, helping to make construction a more attractive career choice.”

Scaffold company fined for safety failings

Dylan Garton
-
0
Scaffold company fined for safety failings

A Scaffold company in Bridgend has been fined for safety failings following a routine inspection.

Llanelli Magistrates’ Court heard how OW Scaffolding was working at Heol y Parc, Cefneithin when they had a routine inspection which highlighted several safety failings.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 30 September 2015 found that there was poor planning, inadequate risk assessments, inadequate site supervision and inadequate and insufficient equipment.

OW Scaffolding Limited, of Village Farm Industrial Estate, Pyle, Bridgend, pleaded not guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulation 2005 but was tried in its absence and found guilty and fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,700.

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

Balfour Beatty fined £2.6 million after worker killed in trench

Dylan Garton
-
0
Balfour Beatty fined £2.6 million after worker killed in trench

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions has been fined £2.6 million after an employee was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed on him in Lancashire.

On the 14 April 2010, James Sim, a 32-year-old  sub-contractor working on behalf of Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, was working in a trench, laying ducting for new cable for an offshore windfarm that was being built off the coast by Heysham, Lancashire. The trench was dug to a depth of 2.4 metres, without any shoring. Mr Sim was killed when he became trapped in the trench after it collapsed on him.

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Limited pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court today after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The Court heard that Balfour Beatty failed to adequately risk assess the works or control the way in which the excavation took place.

HSE inspector Chris Hatton said after the hearing: “The level of this fine should serve as a warning to industry not to ignore health and safety matters.

“Balfour Beatty failed to adequately assess, plan and supervise the work being undertaken. Trench collapses are easy to prevent, and it is disappointing that James’ life was lost in such a tragic way.

“The family has shown great patience and support throughout this investigation which is a credit to both them and James’ memory.”

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Limited, of Park Square Newton, Chambers Road, Chapeltown, Sheffield were found guilty of breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Regulation 31(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and Regulation 3(1)(a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and was fined £2.6million with £54,000 costs.

Worker loses life after roof fall

Dylan Garton
-
0
Worker loses life after roof fall

A Birmingham maintenance company has been fined after a worker died after falling 14 foot from the roof of a five-storey building.

Birmingham Crown Court heard how H20 Plumbing Services Limited were contracted to carry out repairs to two motor rooms situated on the roof of a building on Hagley Road, Birmingham.

Two workers set up a station immediately outside of a protected area in which to mix some mortar due to lack of space. The mixing station consisted of a tarpaulin sheet placed on top of the roof with a plasterer’s bath placed on top. The corners of the tarpaulin sheet were weighted down with bags of rubble.

At the end of the working day, the employees were cleaning up and as they moved the mixing bath, the sheet of tarpaulin blew open due to the wind and landed over the edge of the building. As one of the workers attempted to retrieve the sheet he stepped off the side of the building, falling 14 metres, suffering fatal injuries.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 10 October 2014 found that H20 Plumbing Services Limited failed to ensure the safety of its employees during the external repair work.

After the incident, HSE Inspector Amy Kalay commented: “This incident was obviously foreseeable. The employees of H20 working at the site were effectively left to their own devices with equipment and a system that was not wholly suited for the task at hand.

“A suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk, suitable planning, implementation of suitable control measures and adequate and effective site supervision would have prevented this incident from occurring.”

H20 Plumbing Services Limited, of Lee Trading Estate, College Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay costs of £25,000.

For further information on working at height visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/workingatheight.htm

Klober Permo Air Open Underlay Used on Loseley Park Manor

Roger Bisby
-
0
Klober Permo Air Open Underlay Used on Loseley Park Manor

Klober Permo Air underlay has been installed on Loseley Park a Grade 1 listed manor house as part of a full roof refurbishment.

The underlay was specified for a design specification to re-roof the entire property.

In a property of this age tile vents would have been out of place but the architects were mindful that there is considerable loss of ventilation when adding a membrane and this could pose a risk of condensation within the roof space.

Klober Permo Air
Klober Permo Air

Klober Permo Air

Klober’s Permo air was chosen because, unlike many other so-called  ‘breather membranes’, Permo air has a very low water vapour resistance of 0.03MN/sg to ensure that the entire roof can breathe effectively but still remain wind-resistant and waterproof under storm and snow conditions.

Permo air is one of the few membranes approved by the NHBC for use without supporting high-level ventilation. For more details visit

www.klober.co.uk

Loseley Park Footnote

If you think Losely Park looks familiar it may be because you have subliminally taken it in while spooning out one of their renowned tubs of very tasty Losely ice cream. We would like to point out that we have not been paid by Losely to endorse their product. It is a heartfelt appreciation of a good product. However, we are not above a few free samples.

See more on Klober with Skill Builder.

Brickies Most in Demand of Construction Workers

Dylan Garton
-
0
Brickies Most in Demand of Construction Workers

Salaries for small building firms are soaring as a result of the growing skills shortage with brickies able to demand the highest wages, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

Brickies wages reach £60,000 in London

Commenting on the results of the FMB’s State of Trade Survey for Q1 2016, Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “More than half of small construction firms are predicting that wages and salaries will increase over the coming six months. Given that brickies are already able to command wages of up to £60,000 per year in London and around £45,000 a year in the North of England, it’s clear that the skills squeeze is starting to push up costs for construction SMEs.

“A whopping 55% of small building firms are currently reporting difficulties hiring bricklayers, which makes these tradespeople the most in-demand of all construction workers. This particular skills shortage is of course linked to the steady growth in private house building.”

Berry continued: “The results for the first three months of this year show consistent growth among small construction firms in almost all parts of the UK. What’s more, despite evidence of the EU referendum causing some uncertainty within the business community, more than two-thirds of firms expect their workloads to increase over the coming three months. These results are heartening but skills shortages and the knock-on effect on wages and salaries remain a major cause for concern.”

Tens of thousands more construction workers needed

Berry concluded: “We need tens of thousands of new and returning construction workers to pick up the slack, or this growth among construction SMEs could so easily unravel. The Government is hoping to address the skills shortages through the new Apprenticeship Levy, which is due to come into force in exactly one year. However, I have spoken to many small construction bosses who have major concerns about the impact that the new funding arrangements, which will come into effect alongside the levy, will have on their ability to hire an apprentice.

“The Government must work closely with the construction industry to ensure its new system is as easy to use as possible, or else we could see apprenticeship training by small firms nose dive at exactly the wrong time.”

Demolition company fined for unsafe work at height

Dylan Garton
-
0
Demolition company fined for unsafe work at height

A demolition company from Nottinghamshire has been fined for safety failings following a report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Leicester Magistrates’ Court heard how Prodem Demolition and Asbestos Limited were removing tiles from a domestic property when they were reported to the HSE for unsafe work at height activity.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident, which occurred on 16 July 2015 discovered that workers had been found on a steep roof removing tiles without any form of equipment or protection to prevent them falling off the roof.

The risks from such work are well known and should be controlled using simple but effective measures. They had planned to work from a basket of a mobile elevated work platform or cherry picker. However, the company did not follow their plan, putting the workers at significant risk of falling and risk of serious injury.

Prodem Demolition and Asbestos Limited, of Western Boulevard, Aspley, Nottinghamshire pleaded guilty to Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £765.

For further information on working at height visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/demolition.htm

Bostik launches All Weather Wide Jointing Compound

Dylan Garton
-
0
Bostik launches All Weather Wide Jointing Compound

Bostik has launched a new All Weather Wide Jointing Compound for paths and patios, specially formulated for use in wet and dry weather conditions.

Suitable for joints from 5mm to 30mm in width, the new jointing compound requires no mixing or special tools during installation; it can simply be brushed and compacted into the joints. Once cured, it forms a solid joint that resists weed growth and enables power washing or mechanical cleaning.

Supplied in a 20kg tub containing two 10kg foil packs, Bostik All Weather Wide Jointing Compound is designed for use with most paving types and is said to be unaffected by salt or freezing conditions. Applied wet, the new compound is also said to eliminate the staining associated with traditional cement methods. Its fast drying properties allow surfaces to hold foot traffic in as little as ten hours.

Andrew Hamman, Category Manager at Bostik, says: “We developed our newest jointing compound in response to demand from builders for a fast drying, all-weather compound that can be applied in virtually any weather conditions. The unpredictable British climate can often put a halt to outdoor work, but now patio and paving installations can be completed whatever the weather and still produce the same high quality results.”

Bostik Wide Jointing Compound is available in natural or grey colour. Each 20kg tub provides coverage of up to 13m2.

Volkswagen Amarok Gets Facelift and V6 Engine

Dylan Garton
-
0
Volkswagen Amarok Gets Facelift and V6 Engine

The new Volkswagen Amarok is set to feature the latest generation of Volkswagen V6 engines meaning drivers can look forward to an additional litre of displacement offered by the 3.0-litre engine. The new engine will deliver 550 Nm of torque and has an output of 224 PS.

Offering high torque at low engine speeds, the six-cylinder engine is said to produce its maximum torque at only 1,500 rpm. At 550 Nm, this maximum torque is also 130 Nm higher than in the previous model.

The highest gear’s long gear ratio in the manual or 8-speed automatic gearbox reduces revs and fuel consumption during consistently fast driving and thus helps ensure low noise levels and CO2 emissions.

The combined NEDC fuel consumption of the new Amarok with 224 PS and 8-speed automatic gearbox is expected to be 7.6 litres/100 km (around 37 mpg)*. This corresponds to a new top level of 199 grams CO2/km *.

Volkswagen Amarok Power

The model’s engine is designed to be robust and long-lasting. The 3.0-litre TDI engine (2,967 cc) in the new Amarok will be available in three output levels: 120 kW / 163 PS, 150 kW / 204 PS or a top-performing 165 kW / 224 PS. All engines comply with the Euro 6 emissions standard.

The most powerful engine variant will be offered first. As early as the end of September 2016, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles customers will thus be able to begin exploring the world of six-cylinder engines. (The new model is expected to go on sale in the UK before the end of 2016.)

Three different drive-system versions will be offered in line with the respective engine variants: a traditional rear-wheel drive, and a 4MOTION version with either rear-wheel drive and an engageable front axle in combination with a manual gearbox, or with a permanent all-wheel-drive system and a Torsen differential with the 8-speed automatic gearbox.

The Servotronic steering system is new in the Amarok and will be available as standard equipment in Europe. This system is one of the reasons why the Amarok can be driven very precisely.

New 17-inch brake discs on the front axle of the 165-kW Amarok and 16-inch discs at the rear ensure that the pickup always comes to a stop quickly and safely. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System is also included as standard.

The new Amarok features a more athletic-looking front end and an all-new dashboard and new ergonomic seats. It is 5.25 metres long and 2.23 metres wide (mirrors included).

The new body-coloured sports bar in the launch model (which will be marketed in Europe as the Amarok Aventura) visually shifts the double cab rearwards and also extends over a small part of the 2.52 m2 load platform inside the cargo compartment. Various additional styling bars, covers, cargo area coatings and hardtops are also available for the Amarok cargo compartment.

In addition, the load platform in the four-door Amarok can accommodate a Euro-pallet loaded sideways. A payload capacity of more than one tonne is possible, depending on the equipment features selected. In future, some variants of the new Amarok will also boast a towing capacity of up to 3.5 tonnes.

* provisional figures, depending on the equipment features selected

How to: Lay Knauf Brio dry screed boards

Roger Bisby
-
0
How to: Lay Knauf Brio dry screed boards

Roger Bisby lays some Knauf Brio dry screed flooring.

Although it is perfectly possible to use warm water underfloor heating with timber and floating floors it is generally acknowledged that there is a loss of  thermal transmission compared to  pipe buried in sand and cement screeds. Knauf Brio dry screed board bring thermal transmission comparable with wet screed system in a convenient dry laid board made of fibres and gypsum. There is also a saving on floor height compared with wet screeds.

Unlike chipboard and other timber based boards Brio is said to be ‘thermally transparent’ which means it doesn’t resist heat to anything like the degree of timber. The warm up time of Brio is therefore a lot faster than other boards and because it is only 23mm thick it is even faster than pipe in screed. This allows you to easily achieve the designed watts per metre from underfloor heating without resorting to closer pipe spacings. I laid Brio on a NuHeat pipe in panel system. The last job I did with NuHeat panels was covered with chipboard and, though it works,  it is slow to warm up and I only wish that this material had been around then.

If you have laid any kind of tongued and grooved boards there is nothing very different about Brio except that it uses a ‘Smart Tier Edge rather than a groove .

If you have laid any kind of tongued and grooved boards there is nothing very different about Brio except that it uses a ‘Smart Tier Edge rather than a groove . This is actually a lot easier the running glue into grooves and, because the glue isn’t trapped in the joints, they go together without resorting to a mallet. Stagger the joints and glue the host edge in the usual way.

Brio WF is an acoustic variation with a wood fibre underlay to protect against impact noises but in the case of my test installation the impact noise protection is provided by the NuHeat insulation.  This gives it a winning combination of thermal transmission and sound proofing properties. Like any sound insulation it has to stop both air borne noise and impact noises. The impact resistance is achieved by density but airborne noises are largely blocked by closing up all the gaps.

The Rockwool perimeter batts provide thermal insulation, expansion and sound insulation. It is necessary to take the tongue off  the first laid row in order to provide a solid edge right up to the Rockwool. If you leave the tongue on then it forms a void under the board through which sound can travel. My mistake was not being accurate with the rip to the wall on the second panel. I was thinking that the skirting would cover a couple of millimetres but for acoustic deadening you don’t really want any gaps. That said is can be filled with sand and cement. If ever acoustic flooring fails the sound test it is likely to be because of these small gaps and lack of attention to detail.

The only other potential problem with the Knauf Brio dry screed boards system is driving those screws into the boards with heating pipes underneath. If you adjust the torque setting on your drill accurately then Knauf says that you won’t over-drive the screws because the threads don’t pull the screws in on their own. Personally I don’t trust anyone (not even me) to set torques on drills and I don’t like critical processes on building sites. If a process is that critical then to my mind it needs to be redesigned. A building site is a war zone and you want things to be fail safe and idiot proof. I would not even be happy about driving any screw into a screed, wet or dry if there are heating pipes underneath. My solution is to mark the line of every pipe with an X  so I can  be sure that I am well away from the pipes when I put the screws in.  It takes a few minutes but it means I can walk away with no nagging worries about a stray screw sitting in the edge of a pipe just waiting for a bit of expansion and contraction to make a hole. This is not paranoia I have seen it.

 

[foogallery id=”2034″]

Note on acoustic flooring.
Knauf Brio dry screed boards also comes with a wood fibre underlay to form an acoustic floor. Putting it down is the same as laying any acoustic board. It must float with no fixings penetrating it or connecting to the structure.

www.knauf.co.uk/product-range-overview/flooring/knauf-brio

Stylish safety boots

Dylan Garton
-
0
Stylish safety boots

Three new models have been added to Italian premium safety footwear brand Aimont’s  Trucker range of stylish safety boots.

The combination of safety, strength and reliability and a deep tread pattern that allows optimum grip on all types of surface is said to distinguish the fashionable Trucker Iceland and Scotland boots and Galles shoes.

They also feature composite, rather than metal, toe-caps, making them extremely lightweight.

All models in the range are classified SRC, meaning they have been slip-resistance tested on both ceramics with water and detergent and on steel with glycerine.

The Trucker range also features anatomically shaped antistatic ComfortPlus footbed, smooth, breathable lining, shock-absorbing gel and a ventilation system.

www.aimont.com

Daylight Robbery – How Many Windows Can You Have?

Roger Bisby
-
0
Daylight Robbery – How Many Windows Can You Have?

Roger Bisby discusses the history of the window in building design and considers how modern property developers and homeowners can satisfy their lust for light.

The window tax was the not so bright idea of  William III aka William of Orange. It was introduced in 1696 and, despite being a very unpopular tax, remained in force until 1851.  Those who could not afford to pay it bricked up windows depriving themselves of much-needed light and air. Many of these windows still remain bricked up today but a growing trend among new house builders is to build in bricked up panels where there were never intended to be any windows.

A growing trend among new house builders is to build in bricked up panels where there were never intended to be any windows

Not only does this help new houses blend in with their surroundings it also has the effect of visually breaking up an otherwise boring brick elevation. Boundary walls in particular, where window areas are restricted to prevent fire spread, can benefit from a couple of dummy window panels, complete with sills and stone lintels or soldier courses.

But if the deceit is to be effective care needs to be taken not to over-egg the pudding. Placing bricked-up windows in a house style obviously later than 1851 will give the game away. It also helps if you put the bricked up panel where a window might have been. The picture above shows a window panel placed in the middle of a wall. It straddles the two floors.

The only window which does that is one on a staircase or a grand hall and there would not have been either in that position. Maybe I need to get a life and stop worrying about such things but for better or worse architecture is in the public arena even when it is on private property.  The punitive window tax also had the effect of allowing the very rich to flaunt their wealth by bathing in the luxury of light.

Stately homes, such as Hardwick Hall, which looks very traditional now, were in fact the decadent architecture of their age full of swank. It may well have been that the owners trimmed a few pounds off their tax bill by bricking up some windows around the back, possibly in the servants quarters, but from the front, they gave the impression of business as usual. ‘Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall’ was a popular couplet at the time.

The punitive window tax also had the effect of allowing the very rich to flaunt their wealth by bathing in the luxury of light

Happily, the window tax is long gone and modern housebuilders are in the business of incorporating as much glass as possible into their design because it sells. These days no self-respecting new-build above a certain price would omit bi-fold doors but there are still dark forces at work that seek to deprive us of daylight. This time it is not a tax but Building Regulations Part L which limits the amount of glass a building may have on the grounds of energy conservation. If you use the simplest method of calculating heat losses you are restricted to the area of window you can have and this is expressed as 25% of the floor area. It is meagre by modern standards but you can often increase the area of glass by going for a higher spec Grade A window.

Happily the window tax is long gone and modern house builders are in the business of incorporating as much glass as possible into their design because it sells.

If this still doesn’t get you into the house of glass you desire there is another way of increasing the daylight by calculating the total heat loss from the home or an even more complicated way which involves calculating how much carbon emission will be created to heat it. This is called SAPs and is usually used in new build. The overall performance of a house is based on airtightness which is often impossible on anything but new build.

How many windows can you have in my extension?

The good news is that if you are extending or altering your home there is some room for manoeuvre and you can often negotiate your way around the problem. The application of the regs. is surprisingly flexible. If you increase the insulation elsewhere in the home, and improve your heating system, possibly incorporating some solar panels, you can then remove that wall facing the garden and put in glazed doors that stretch from wall to wall. It gets even better if the window is A-rated and incorporates the highest spec triple glazed Low E with argon-filled sealed units. In fact, if you are careful in selecting your windows you can achieve nearly the same ‘U’ value as a cavity wall and if the glazed area is south-facing you may even end up with a net heat gain. Of course, anyone reading this in a hot country, where the big energy input is spent keeping cool,  may be bemused by our lust for light.

Crafted Group reviews Fein AFMT 12 Cordless MultiTalent

Dylan Garton
-
0
Crafted Group reviews Fein AFMT 12 Cordless MultiTalent

Powertool manufacturer Fein has released its latest “Feeling FEIN’ video tool review.

The ‘Feeling FEIN’ reviews focus on getting FEIN’s products into the hands of professional tradesmen. Each tradesman has been using a specific FEIN power tool and has given their honest feedback on camera.

In this review Dale Cromwell, owner of Crafted Group (Bathrooms, Kitchens, Electrical & Landscaping) has been testing the FEIN AFMM18 Cordless MultiMaster.

You can keep up to date with the ‘Feeling FEIN’ Fein power tools reviews on twitter using #FeelingFein

Or if you’ve got a question about the Angle Grinder tweet @Fein_UK

Exeter roofing company fined after roof light fall

Dylan Garton
-
0
Exeter roofing company fined after roof light fall

A roofing company based in Exeter has been fined after an employee fell through a roof light.

North and East Devon Magistrates’ Court heard how an employee of Haran Limited fell approximately three metres to the ground below. He suffered injuries to his head, wrist and hip.

He and two colleagues had been working on an asbestos cement roof in order to undertake the re-roof of an adjoining industrial unit , formerly an agricultural unit that was being used as a gym.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident which occurred on 18 November 2014 found that the work had not been properly planned or adequately supervised.

Haran Limited, of Clyst Road, Exeter, Devon, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,070.

For further information work at height visit: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/safetytopics/fragile.htm

Isuzu launches truck for all terrain

Dylan Garton
-
0
Isuzu launches truck for all terrain

Isuzu has bolstered the D-Max line-up with the launch of an extreme version. The new Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is engineered to take on the most arduous terrain, according to the manufacturer. Available in either double-cab or extended-cab configurations, Isuzu says the AT35 is the most capable pick-up it has ever put on sale. It is priced from £30,995.

In addition to the high levels of standard equipment, a comprehensive accessories list allows customers to spec their Isuzu AT35 according to their unique requirements.

Arctic Trucks is a vehicle engineering specialist, developing and building 4×4 vehicles able to conquer the most challenging conditions for over 25 years. The Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 will be the first Arctic Trucks pick-up in the UK that can be ordered directly from a vehicle manufacturer’s dealer network.

The Isuzu AT35 retains the one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing (braked) capacities that have helped keep the Isuzu D-Max one of the most popular pick-ups for those seeking a good workhorse with low running costs.

Enhanced running gear

Suspension is re-engineered with Fox Performance Series shocks, which help deliver increased mobility over even the most rutted tracks and brutal boulders.

Special all-terrain Nokian Rotiiva AT tyres improve all-round grip. The combined effect of Arctic Trucks specialised suspension and larger tyres is a ride height 125mm higher than the equivalent standard 4×4 Isuzu D-Max. With the increased ground clearance comes greater approach, departure and break-over angles, capable of tackling the harsh Icelandic terrain or the steep slate slopes of Wales. In addition, drivers and passengers will benefit from improved all-round visibility.

Two body configurations

The Isuzu AT35 is available in double-cab and extended-cab configurations.

The extended-cab body was designed as an ‘open-cab’ pick-up. To create this space-making design, Isuzu’s engineers developed a second-row, rear-hinged door, also known as the side-access panel (SAP) on each side of the vehicle. To ensure maximum strength, and safety in the event of a collision, the engineers incorporated a one-piece B-pillar into the leading edge of the side access panels.

The result is uninterrupted access to the side of the cabin, useful for loading large items behind the front seats. The side access panels can be opened from both inside and outside the vehicle. The rear seat cushions fold down from the back panel, creating additional seating, with fold-out thigh supports offering occupants even greater levels of comfort.

Comprehensive standard equipment

While the Isuzu AT35 can haul more than a tonne of on-board cargo and up to 3.5 tonnes in a braked trailer (where the terrain allows) – just as its D-Max stablemates can – as well as traverse more extreme topography than ever before, passengers remain as well catered for as ever in the refined and well-appointed premium D-Max interior.

Just as the interior shields occupants from potentially harsh and hazardous conditions outside, it provides entertainment with a six-speaker audio package with an ‘Exciter’ speaker in the roof lining, plus iPod/USB/Bluetooth connectivity to provide high-quality sound. Comfort is assured thanks to heated and folding door mirrors (including side indicator repeaters) and a leather steering wheel with audio and cruise controls provides additional safety and convenience.

The double-cab model also includes full leather upholstery for an even more luxurious interior, as well as automatic climate control air-conditioning. This is controlled by a large, circular Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) selector located on the cabin’s centre console, which allows occupants to control temperature and fan settings with a single dial. The system automatically maintains the set temperature for optimal passenger comfort.

Exterior standard features include projector headlamps, body-coloured front bumper, chrome door handles and chrome grille and chrome rear bumper, LED rear lights and a rear load liner. The double-cab model also adds roof bars and rear parking sensors for further increased practicality.

Optional accessories

Styling upgrades include an Arctic Trucks Truxedo that provides added security for cargo in the load bed, as well as the Arctic Trucks Sports Bar for improved styling.

Furthermore, off-road extras such as a 27-LED square work light can provide widespread illumination under the darkest skies, skid plates provide enhanced under-body protection, and an ARB tyre inflator with inline gauge help the most adventurous continue on their way.

Customers opting for the double cab AT35 can also upgrade their infotainment system with the Pioneer AVIC-F860BT audio set-up, DVD and European navigational system with 6.1-inch touch screen, reversing camera and Parrot Bluetooth kit for wireless telephony and music streaming.

Strong chassis, powerful engine, manual and auto transmissions

The Isuzu AT35 is made of high tensile strength steel with cross-member braces to ensure exceptional torsional rigidity and large cross-sectional dimensions for a strong and stable structure. Additional cross braces aid torsional rigidity and also spread the weight of payloads evenly, enhancing the vehicle’s laden handling balance, both on- and off-road.

Under the bonnet of the D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 is the efficient 2.5-litre twin-turbo diesel engine that delivers 163 PS and 400 Nm torque for all models in the D-Max line-up.

Low running costs

The model has a 42E insurance rating, low-cost finance packages and a comprehensive three-year / 60,000 mile warranty package and is offered with a 12,000-mile or 24-month service intervals, three years recovery and assistance cover, a three-year paint warranty, and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty.

Pricing (CVOTR)

Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Extended-cab (six-speed manual) £30,995
Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Double-cab (six-speed manual) £33,495
Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 Double-cab (five-speed auto) £34,495

isuzu.co.uk

Roofing firm fined after worker fractures skull

Dylan Garton
-
0
Roofing firm fined after worker fractures skull

A roofing firm from Malton has been fined for safety breaches after a worker fractured his skull following a fall from height.

Mitchell Roofing Ltd, was contracted to replace existing rooflights at Monk Bridge Construction Co Ltd, Elvington, York. The injured worker slipped and fell some seven metres through the inner roof sheet sustaining severe injuries.

During its investigation, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) learned that there was no risk assessment in place for the job, and no precautions had been taken to prevent a fall from height from the edge of the roof or through various fragile elements.

The defendant had previously clad a new building on the site without incident, using appropriate precautions, but the minor work of replacing the panels in an existing roof was not planned, and no precautions were followed.

Mitchell Roofing Ltd of Derwent Road, Malton was found guilty to breaching Sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £10,000 with £1,355 costs by York Magistrates Court.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Julian Franklin commented: “Basic precautions for roof work and better planning of the job should have been applied. Even short duration work on fragile roofs should be properly assessed and managed.”

www.hse.gov.uk

1...9899100...108Page 99 of 108
Skill Builder Amazon Shop

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© SkillBuilder