Thought it might be interesting to show the new FMRI being delivered to James Cook University Hospital. The scanner is a 3T Magnetom Trio A Tim system provided by Siemens and weighs in at 13 tons. It is being provided to the Neurosciences Department by the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust & Durham University, who will be using the facility for research.
Communities and Local Government (CLG) published the November 2010 version of the Code for Sustainable Homes on 11 November. The revised Technical Guidance document and accompanying summary of changes are available to be downloaded. Updated assessment tools and checklists are also available to download for licensed Code for Sustainable Homes assessors via the BREEAM extranet. Follow the link to the BRE http://www.breeam.org/newsdetails.jsp?id=704
Evidence-based best practice guidance on the design and layout of generic clinical and clinical support spaces for use in healthcare settings.
Publish date: Jan 2010
For those of you looking for guidance as designers with regard to safe access for maintenance and repair, I would recommend the latest CIRIA Document C686 “Safe Access for Maintenance & Repair” downloadable from the IHS information service. Chapter 2 is particularly useful, giving indicative guidance in making decisions in respect of working at height.
You should also be aware of other useful CIRIA guidance ( also available through our information service) as follows:
CIRIA C604 CDM Regulations – Work sector guidance for designers
CIRIA C662 – CDM2007 Construction work sector guidance for designers
CIRIA C663 – CDM2007 Workplace in-use guidance for designers
The Workplace in-use guidance is particularly of interest, and reminds us that as designers we need to ensure that hazards & risks are considered for the workplaces included in our designs, also ensuring compliance with the Workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992.
http://www.safetyindesign.org/
Just a reminder of this valuable information site for designers
SiD – Safety in Design Ltd is a not for profit company that exists to support designers in the built environment. It is by industry and for industry.
The following is posted on their web site:
“ FEEDBACK - All the speakers at the recent CIRIA “Designers Dilemmas” workshop on the 8th October spoke against numerical design risk assessments and HSE confirmation of this was also provided. Want to know more? Sign up for the newsletter now! Want to comment? Do so on the Discussion Forum.”
I have signed up for their newsletter and will pass this round to all.
The CIRIA workshop confirms what we have all suspected for some time. I will be suggesting we review our own procedures in order to try to make them simpler, however, risk does need to be assessed & evaluated for hazards identified in order for appropriate responses to be made.
In the meantime, everybody’s views welcome.
The Site Waste Management Regulations 2008 came into effect 6th April 2008 in England and for those who have not yet been requested to provide designers information yet, don’t worry, you will.
Site Waste Management Plans are required for construction projects valued greater than £300k (excl VAT) with more detailed reporting required to Plans developed for projects over £500k (excl VAT).
The Client is responsible for ensuring a Plan is prepared before construction work begins, and I suggest that an advisory note is forwarded (similar to CDM Regs) advising the Client at the time of our appointment. Some Clients may not be aware of their obligations.
As designers, we need to provide information for the plan, advising of decisions taken to minimise waste production.
The principle Contractor develops, updates and implements the Site Waste Management Plan and both the Client and the Principal Contractor are responsible for reviewing, refining and revising the plan as necessary.
Note: Work cannot commence until the Site Waste Management Plan is signed by the Client and Principal Contractor.
Useful Guidance`
Industry Guidance.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20080314_en.pdf
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/topics/construction/pdf/swmp-guidance.pdf
http://www.netregs-swmp.co.uk/simple-guide-20080406.pdf
Information Resources
http://www.breeam.org/ (BRE Environmental Assessment Method)
http://www.wrap.org.uk/construction/
http://www.bre.co.uk ( Green Guide to Specification)
http://www.ciria.org.uk/ (Design for Deconstruction: Principles of Design to Facilitate Reuse & Recycle )
http://www.dh.gov.uk/ ( NHS Environmental Tool)
P+HS designer gets hands on experience of working at height at training day!
The former Part L robust details have now been replaced by Communities and Local Government’s (CLG) Accreditied Construction Details.
The Guide is available at www.thegreenguide.org.uk
Homes will require an EPC on construction or such conversion from 6 April 2008. Some commercial buildings will require an EPC on construction or such conversion from this date. More information on Energy Performance Certificates for the construction of a home and the timetable for phasing in EPC measures is available on the Communities and Local Government (CLG) website.
Had to blog this one, in case anybody was not aware of this product. Until now, it has been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate the type of cold bridge that occurs when you wish to see the steel structure expressed beyond the insulated envelope. I have never yet found an engineer who was willing to introduce even a simple isolating layer at the bolted connection. Reliance had to be placed on the condensation risk being assessed against the building type being considered (not good if it is a swimming pool).
Shock – These guys have come up with a solution, not sure how expensive, but looks like it could be the answer to those cold bridging problems.
The Merton Rule
At a recent meeting with a planner for a small housing site I was asked what renewable we were considering, as this particular authority was proposing to seek 10% on-site renewable. This follows from the London Borough of Merton’s initiative which is being taken up by other authorities and is known as the Merton Rule. I am sure everybody is aware of this but, if not, read on.
The ‘Merton Rule’ is the groundbreaking planning policy, pioneered by the London Borough of Merton, which requires the use of renewable energy onsite to reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the built environment. Hundreds of local authorities look set to follow Merton’s lead, which will impact all new major development projects throughout the UK.
Following the publication of Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22), Planning Guidance on Renewable Energy, issued by the Office of Deputy Prime Minister in 2004, the London Borough of Merton was the first to formalise the governments renewable energy targets in its adopted UDP, setting the target for the use of onsite renewable energy to reduce annual CO 2 emissions for all new major developments* in the borough by 10%.
On the 8th of June 2006 Yvette Cooper, the Minister for Housing and Planning, announced that ‘Government expect all planning authorities to include policies in their development plans that require a percentage of the energy in new developments to come from on-site renewables’ Extract from web site www.themertonrule.org
If you follow the link http://www.themertonrule.org/list-of-boroughs you can view an informal list of local authorities adopting, or considering adopting, prescriptive Merton Rule-like policies.
Although I am sure we are all now familiar with the new ACOP and the CDM 2007 Industry Guide for Designers – CITB referred to previously,
I was pleased to see that the HSE have now introduced the following toolbox talks (ppt) which are quite useful:
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 1 – Overview
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 2 – Clients
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 3 – CDM co-ordinator
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 4 – Designers
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 5 – Principal contractors & contractors
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 6 – Site health and safety
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 7 – Competence & Training
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 8 – Worker engagement & communication
· CDM 2007 Training Package – Session 9 – Summary & Where Next
Web link here
Yet another timber frame goes up during the construction process!
Fire destroys PRP housing scheme
Building Design
13 August, 2007
By Phil Clark
A blaze on Saturday afternoon has destroyed two PRP-designed blocks of flats under construction by contractor Mansell at the Lemsford Road site in the centre of Hatfield.
The fire is likely to renew the debate over the use of timber frames on major housing schemes after a Broadway Malyan-designed development in Colindale, North London, was destroyed by fire last year (News Analysis, September 6 2006).
A spokesperson for Mansell owner Balfour Beatty said the cause of the fire was being investigated and any early reports on the cause of the fire was “pure speculation”.
A spokeswoman for the Hertfordshire Fire Service said that the cause of the fire on the two timber-framed blocks was believed to be accidental but that an investigation had begun. No one was hurt in the blaze.
Colindale fire questions safety of timber-frame sites
Building magazine.
1 December, 2006
By Thomas Lane
London Fire Brigade findings may lead to new procedures for timber-frame projects
A timber-frame housing development under construction in north London burned to the ground in less than nine minutes, a Building investigation has revealed.
The findings of a London Fire Brigade (LFB) inquiry into the fire that ripped through the Beaufort Park development in Colindale on 12 July has raised questions about safety procedures on timber-frame developments.
A meeting in December to discuss the findings could lead the Health and Safety Executive to publish new guidance on how firms should protect construction sites from fire.
I heard about this on Newsnight last night and thought it was a good idea. I am buying an acre for my wifes birthday, won’t she be thrilled.If you are likeminded it could be a good way to offset your carbon footprint.
Visit www.coolearth.org and www.timesonline.co.uk
“Cool Earth puts the rainforest countries into the driving seat. The world desperately needs their help and they now have every right to expect the world to start paying for the destruction it has wrought to the entire planet’s wellbeing.”
MCIAT, RMaPS
