Sorry for the delay, but following on from my earlier blog…

As you will all now be aware, the CDM Regulations 2007 came into force on the 6 April 2007.
The key aims of CDM 2007 are to integrate health and safety into the management of a project and encourage everyone involved to work together to:

• Improve the planning and management of projects from the very start;
• Identify hazards early on, so they can be eliminated or reduced at the design or planning stage and ensure the remaining risks can be properly managed;
• Target effort where it can do the most good in terms of health and safety:
• Discourage unnecessary bureaucracy

The CDM Regulations 2007 apply to all construction work from the 6 April 2007.  There are some exceptions, as defined in the regulations; these include maintenance of fixed plant, erection and taking down of tents and various others, but exclude off-site manufacture of items to be used later in construction work.
There are transitional arrangements for projects which commenced prior to the 6 April 07, but these generally concern arrangements and competence in respect of Clients Agent, Planning Supervisor, CDM Co-ordinator and Principal Contractor.
The CDM Regulations 2007 applies to all construction projects and there will be the following duty holders; client, designers and contractors. It is only when a project is notifiable to the HSE that there will be a CDM Co-ordinator and Principal Contractor required.

Notifiable projects are those where construction work is expected to;

• Last more than 30 working days; or
• Involve more than 500 person days, i.e. 50 people working for over 10 days

Although there is no requirement for a CDM Co-ordinator, Principal Contractor or Construction phase plan for a non-notifiable project, the regulations do require co-operation and co-ordination between all members of the project team.  In notifiable projects the CDM Co-ordinator will ensure this takes place as part of the requirements of their role.
I attach below an extract from the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) which sets out the duties of the various duty holders below, and have highlighted some of the important points to note as designers. I have left out the CDM Coordinator role, but think in terms of a key project health & safety advisor with a far more pro-active role:

• The Client is an organisation or individual for whom a construction project is carried out.  Clients only have duties when the project is associated with a business or other undertaking (whether for profit or not).  Non-Domestic clients eg. people having work done on their own home have no client duties under CDM 2007.
• The Client has one of the biggest influences over the way a project is run, and this is reflected in the more onerous  requirements on clients in CDM 2007 – See summary of duties below.
  Example – if a client fails to arrange for a CDM Co-ordinator or Principal Contractor on a notifiable project then these roles default to the client.
• Designers need to make sure they are competent and adequately resourced to address health & safety issues likely to be involved in their design.
• Designers to check Client aware of duties (no change here), except that for notifiable projects designers are to:

a) ensure that the client has appointed a CDM Coordinator,
b) ensure thet they do not start design work other than initial design(up to stage C has been suggested) until a CDM Coordinator is appointed,
c) cooperate with CDM Coordinator, principal contractor & other designers & contractors as necessary to enable them to comply with their duties.

• Designers on all projects are required to avoid forseeable risks and to eliminate hazards and reduce risks during design.

It is not always reasonably practical to eliminate hazards and where this is the case, consideration is to be given to design solutions reducing risk to an acceptable level. The amount of effort put into eliminating hazards and reducing risks should depend on the degree of risk. There is little point in spending a lot of time, money and trouble on low risk issues eg those risks that a competent contractor would be expected to manage.

The focus should be on issues that are known to have the potential to cause significant harm, and where there are known solutions that reduce the risks to everyone exposed.

The greater the risk, the greater the weight that must be given to eliminating or reducing that risk.
This was the message from previous HSE guidance, now it is clear.

• Designers on all projects should provide adequate information about any significant risks associated with the design.
• Designers to coordinate their work with others to improve the way risks are managed & controlled.
• Ensure that any design for use as a workplace takes account of the proviaions of the Workplace (Health,Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992.

What designers don’t have to do:

a) take into account or provide information about unforseeable hazards and risks,
b) design for possible future uses of structures that cannot reasonably be anticipated from the design brief,
c) specify construction methods, except where a design assumes or requires a particular construction/erection sequence.
d) exercise any health & safety management functions
e) worry about trivial risks.

The new ACOP and CDM Policy & Procedures resides in our Quality Assurance folder filed in the shared drive, and should be referred to by all.
Our existing procedures are being reviewed at present awaiting a document from the APS available in June. Please continue to follow our existing arrangements until such time as the new arrangements are in place, but keeping in mind the points made above.

Follow this link for a summary of duties under the CDM regulations under CDM 2007.

Verical Gardens - Patrick Blanc :   Musée du Quai Branly  in Paris

Something a little different thats been around for a few years, but I’ve only just found myself. These Vertical landscapes for internal and external use,  are both stable and weatherproof. Two layers of felt are attached to plastic sheeting (which also acts as a root barrier), which is in turn attached to a metal framework providing an airspace between the wall and the plant layer. The felt layer retains water fed from a drip irrigation system and provides a good micro-environment for plants. A gutter at the bottom collects any runoff.

HKS has increased its shareholding to 66%, with the firm’s English arm, Newcastle- and Glasgow-based Ryder, dropping back to 33%.

Ryder executive director Mark Thompson said the London operation, which now employs over 60 staff, was a natural hub from which HKS would expand its international work in areas, including India and the Middle East.

The two northern offices will continue to collaborate with London, he added, but will revert to trading as Ryder Architecture, dropping the HKS name.

 BD Online

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled major reforms of the country’s planning system to make it fit to tackle new challenges in the 21st century - speeding up the system alongside improved community consultation.

The wide-ranging White Paper has four key pillars:

• A better, quicker system to decide major infrastructure projects with enhanced community engagement and an improved level of expertise.
• Simplifying the local planning system for householders to make it far easier to make home improvements like extensions and conservatories, where there is little or no impact on neighbours.
• Planning playing a bigger role in tackling climate change.
• Ensuring the planning system continues to support vibrant town centres.

The Government also pledged a new commitment to protect the green belt. The White Paper makes clear previously developed brown field land must remain the clear priority for housing development with our parks and green spaces protected.

The simplifying of the local planning system for householders will allow councils to focus on strategic priorities such as more homes for future generations and tackling climate change.

For more detail see the Department of CLG news

Notes to Editors

1. The ‘Planning for a Sustainable Future’ White Paper can be found here, the accompanying consultation document can be found here.

2. The White Paper sets out our detailed proposals for reform of the planning system, building on Kate Barker’s recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning, and taking forward Kate Barker’s and Rod Eddington’s proposals for reform of major infrastructure planning. Further information can be found here and here  [External link].

3. The allocations for the first tranche of PDG for 07/08 together with  accompanying documentation can be found at here.

P+HS were in attendance at the LABC Northern Region ‘Built in quality’ awards held at Slaley Hall on Friday evening.

The practice was shorlisted in four categories with the following results:

Jaime collected the award for ‘Best Structural Innovation’ with respect to OCHRE YARDS [Finalist]

Helen collected the award for ‘Best Housing Award or Residential Project’ with respect to OCHRE YARDS [Highly Commended]

Eamon collected the award for ‘Best Partnership with designer/Architect’ with respect to LAWSON STREET HEALTH CENTRE [Finalist], and

Adrian Evans collected the award for ‘Best Public Community Project’ with respect to GRINDON LANE PRIMARY CARE CENTRE [Highly Commended]

Gareth Hoskins Architects has walked away with the top prize at this year’s Scottish Design Awards.
The Glasgow-based firm scooped the Architecture Grand Prix for its Easterhouse public building, the Bridge (pictured here), which also won Best Public Building at the awards ceremony on Friday night. The practice’s Sarah Murphy was awarded Emerging Architect of the Year.

Nord Architecture also enjoyed a successful evening. The firm – also based in Glasgow – was named Architect of the Year and bagged the Best Commercial Building prize for its East End Sawmills project, as well as Best Exhibition for Architecture.

Edinburgh’s Reiach and Hall Architects also picked up three awards, with its St Andrews University New Faculty building wining Best Public Building, and its Tower and Terrace Housing scheme in Edinburgh being awarded Best Residential Project. The firm also won the Chairman’s Award.

Zaha Hadid also snatched an award for her first permanent building in the UK, the Maggie’s Centre in Kirkcaldy.

Other practices to receive awards were: BDP, Cadell Wiszniewski Thomson Architects, City Design Co-operative, Gordon Murray + Alan Dunlop Architects, Malcolm Fraser Architects and Page\Park Architects.

by Richard Vaughan AJ News 21 May 2007

And a very nice building it is too…

Announced at an RIBA seminar yesterday…

Dance City Malcolm Fraser Architects

MIMA Erick van Egeraat Associated Architects

Rivergreen Centre - Jane Darbyshire + David Kendall

Some Fact + Figures

• Approximately 2million people in the UK are blind or partially sighted
• Approximately 9million people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, but only an approximate 50-70,000 use British Sign Language. Around 123,000 have lost their hearing after learning the spoken language. Approximately 23,000 people are deaf-blind
• Only an estimated 18% of blind people are totally blind
• Assisting Dogs work by avoiding obstacles, moving in the straightest line possible
• Long Cane users use their cane to detect obstacles, often using a building line to detect changes in condition - door openings, corner, kerb etc.
• An estimated 8million people in the UK have arthritis. Approximately 1million are under 50years of age, and approximately 15,000 are children
• There are approximately 750,000 wheelchair users in the UK
• The Point? Accessibility is for ALL - from a blind person to a wheelchair user, to a fully able bodied person carrying a full load of shopping.
• Accessibility for disabled people is in part about empowerment - we all act differently when we have confidence.
• Simple and common measures can empower visually disabled people:
• clear signage - few people enjoy asking for help!
• signage should have image and text, as visual imparements vary
• strong icons help orientation and wayfinding
• tactile maps can be child-friendly too
• audible way finding
• consistent good quality light levels
• Central sight loss reduces clarity of fine detail + colour - strong light can be unbearable
• Peripheral vision reduces depth perception although limited areas of clear vision occur. Strong light is preferred to increase contrast and depth of field.
• In design, used diffused and even light levels, using spots if required to emphasise design features, but keeping directed light away from direct vision.
• Sporadic loss of sight causes problems particularly with glazed areas. Small scale, subtle manifestation can be confused or misinterpreted by the brain, and therefore easily missed. In design, use angular manifestations with good colour contrast levels.
• Ramps should be designed to current standards, but attention to paving detail is required:
• Single, anti-slip surface will reduce the perception of a stepped surface. Ensure access to ramp is legible by those who use long canes - they should ideally meet the building external wall.
• Simple design measures can also empower hearing impared people:
• Provide clear lighting to allow easy lip-reading
• Provide space for a BSL interpreter in presentation spaces
• Reduce distractions around reception desks, etc, where lip-reading may be used
• Provide quiet areas where discreet communication is required
• Clear signage
• If an induction loop is to be installed, make sure its in the correct location
• BS8300 is undergoing its 5year review
• Part M requries 30pt contrast, BS8300 currently requires 20pt
• Project Rainbow gives many more options for colour contrasts, and suggests key locations where contrast is required.
• New Dulux CD has been produced (and ordered) - new colour fan required for input colour refs.

Useful links

RNIB:

RNID:

National Register of Access Consultants:

The new wing will centralise and expand a number of key cancer services for Leeds and the wider region. The new wing will provide all non-surgical oncology services (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, clinical haematology and palliative care) and a small number of specialist surgical services. The majority of cancer surgery will, however continue to be provided in existing locations. The aim is to create a world class facility which achieves the highest standards of design and quality of environment.

The proposed site for the new wing is between Beckett and Chancellor Wings on the Beckett Street frontage. The scheme will result in the closure of Cookridge Hospital and relevant services from LGI and SJUH will transfer into the new building along with thoracic surgical services from Bradford .

The wing will have a floor space of about 67,000m². It will in part be up to 11 storeys in height including a number of lower level floors. A multi-storey car park providing over 1200 spaces is to be built to the rear of the new wing as part of the overall scheme. In addition a new signal controlled junction is to be constructed at the Alma Street/Beckett Street junction. These road improvements will create a new main entrance to the Hospital. Construction of the New Oncology Wing on the St James’s site is due to start summer 2004 with a completion date of autumn 2007

Source: Leeds Cancer Services Website

 Case Study – Urban Splash @ New Islington
  

• 12 Hectare Site 
• Part of Millenium Housing Sites 
• 1970’s Housing Estate dubbed the Worst Estate in Manchester 
• Assests retatined – 
• Canal Network 
• Community Spirit 
• Collaborative Workshops offered re-housing options to residents 
• Rebranding of estate 
• Will Alsop Masterplan, including “the Chips” 
• Mixed Use, including 
• 1700 new homes 
• Variety of Parks – Community Park, Wildlife Island, Orchard, Boardwalk, Beach 
• Revival of Waterway 
• Primary School 
• Primary Care Centre 
• Small Scale Retail 
• 180units/hectare 
• All dwellings to achieve Eco-Homes Excellent 
• Maximise use of natural sunlight 
• Use of low embodied energy materials throughout 
• Combined Heat and Power, future-proofed for bio-fuels 
• Jobs created for local people within the construction phase
    

Things you might forget, or things you might not know… 

• Integrate design at an early stage – ideally stage A/B, rather than at Stage C/D – consulting Energy Engineers / assessors. Check for Policy changes if the project has been on hold for a while.
    
• Recent UK Policy changes include PPS1 Addendum –
              Demonstrate how building regulations to be met at planning stage
    
• Passive Design – 
• Use the sun’s energy to reduce winter heating requirement 
• Orientate main façade within 30degrees of south 
• Avoid overshadowing 
• Utilise thermal mass to store heat 
• Minimise glazing to north façade 
• Add a glazed winter garden to south façade 
• Incorporating 2-3% Carbon Dioxide emission savings may reduce the “renewables” target – spray taps, smaller baths, energy efficient applicances + lights
• Remember to design in CHP Spaces into 1st phase of phased construction
  Use Thermal Analysis at scheme design stage to highlight potential overheating + design out prior to planning consent
    
• Check Planning Policy for correct wording –
  If 10% CO2 saving is required, target electrical – 3.5m2 Solar Thermal panels should achieve target saving
  If 10% Energy saving is required, target Gas – 2.2m2 Solar Thermal panels should achieve target saving
    
• Code for Sustainable Homes – Water
  Average UK use – 150 litres/person/day
  Typical Spec – 190 l/p/d
              6l Standard WC
              full flow taps
              standard bath – 200l
              shower – 15 l/minute flow
  Level 3 – 105 l/p/d
              Dual Flush 6/4 l WC
              Aerated taps
              Small bath – 150l
              6 litre shower 

Level 5 – 80 l/p/d 

Dual Flush 4/2 l WC 

Aerated taps 

Small bath 

Less than 6litre shower

Rainwater / Greywater harvesting for WC Flush 

 Products
   

• Pilkington “Optitherm” glazing controls heat loss and solar gain  
• “Ecoplay” grey water systems will treat + recycle grey water for use in WCs  
• “Dupont Energain” is a gypsum/paraffin Wax sealed board, which absorbs heat in lightweight construction by altering its state (effectively melts and solidifies) in hot temperatures. More info    
• Wind Turbines –  
• Swift (1.5kW, 2.1m diameter), £5250, provides approx 50% electricity needs of a 3bed house  
• Proven (15kW, 9m diameter), £40,000, provides all electricity needs of 7.5no. 3bed houses      

Steve Elwen has finally cracked the problem of blank areas when PDFing A1 drawings: do not use the polygonal viewports that are standard in our templates! Create a rectangular viewport instead, and your problems will be sorted. No more blank areas.

But if you don’t know what I’m talking about and you’ve never had the problem, don’t worry. It doesn’t apply to all computers, and we’re still not quite sure why…

Piers Gough’s practice CZWG has just received outline planning permission for this dramatic £10 million library – the centrepiece for London’s Canada Water masterplan.
The library takes the form of a huge trapezoid, and is the cornerstone of the east London area’s regeneration, which is being driven by British Land and Canada Quays Limited.

In addition to state-of-the-art computer, internet and lending facilities, the library – which is clad in light bronze anodized aluminium – will include a café and a ‘performance space’.

In a statement, CZWG said the ‘overall dramatic image of the building suggests the excitement and grandeur of the learning available to an individual within.’

Construction is expected to complete in 2009.

by Max Thompson AJonline Published 08 May 2007 at 16:07, updated 16:09