After a fire gutted the main central hall in 1822, its floors collapsed to leave several wall-mounted stucco statues and fireplaces suspended 15 ft above visitors’ heads. To allow stonemasons access to complete vital repair works, and bring visitors close-up views of the statues for the first time in generations, Tiger Scaffolding Ltd was appointed to install a complex scaffolding and ladder system for a 16 week restoration programme.

Tiger Scaffolding innovatively combined the company’s extensive stock of tubes, fittings and timber boards with Oktolok fast wedge and ring modular system, Aluminium Beams, Universal Stairs and Ladder Replacement Stairs from Combisafe. With a team of 6 scaffolders on site, the company erected 1855m2 of scaffolding in only 450 man hours – with Oktolok helping to cut traditional erection time of in half.

Developed by Combisafe, Oktolok combines the speed and simplicity of system scaffolding with the versatility of traditional tube, fittings and scaffold boards. The unique system allows eight independent connections to each node, with unique spacing between each node that ensures compliant guardrail heights and allows for more headroom in the working platform.

As well as extensive range of safety at height products, Combisafe also offers temporary access solutions including stairways and platforms. For easy and safe access between each of the four levels of scaffolding, Combisafe supplied several sets of Universal Stairs and Ladder Replacement Stairs – which have been utilised by stonemasons and visitors alike to gain unrivalled access to the historical architecture.

The Universal Stair is a self-contained, pre-assembled aluminium stair unit that is flat-packed for ease of transport and storage. Once on site, the Universal Stairs can be easily adjusted to suit a wide range of lift heights. The Ladder Replacement Stair provides compact stairway access within traditional and system scaffold structures, with both systems proving the ideal solution to work with Tiger Scaffolding’s traditional tube and fitting systems.

By integrating Oktolok with traditional scaffolding solutions at Seaton Delaval Hall, Tiger Scaffolding was able to deliver the complex project on time and on budget. The prestigious National Trust project has further enhanced Combisafe’s reputation for providing innovative edge protection, safety and access solutions for the most challenging construction and restoration projects.

The three new Klemm rigs – two KR702-2 and a KR709-2 – have been added to the rental portfolio to meet the needs of piling contractors and more specifically, mini piling contractors. Weighing 4.5 tonne, the Klemm KR702-2 is a small drill rig with telescopic mast and is capable of drilling with 450mm augers. The enhanced hydraulic KR702-2 boasts all the benefits of the KR702-1 but brings with it increased engine power and carrying capacity.

Addressing medium weight drilling requirements, the 13 tonne Klemm KR709-2 is the second of its type to be added to the fleet, with the current KR709-2 already in active demand. This drill rig is capable of 450mm – 600mm holes and has an extendible mast section.

John Mayo, Operations Director, Skelair, comments: “There’s been a distinct shift in the market towards rentals over purchase of equipment, which has undoubtedly been driven by economic conditions. Responding to this change in need, we’re committed to investing in our hire equipment with the objective being to create and maintain the UK’s most versatile and flexible drill rig fleet.”

Skelair has an established rental programme which already provides access to market leading tracked drilling rigs and excavator mounted drill masts from Klemm, McDrill, Marini and T.E.I – all supplied with UK specification drill guards. Underpinning access to this range of equipment is a well-developed service solution, which includes a comprehensive pre and post hire inspection as well as delivery to site should it be required.

In addition to the flagship Klemm rigs, Skelair has also invested in a new Marini CID80 drill mast attachment and hydraulic power pack, both of which are available for immediate hire. 

Following a tender exercise undertaken through APUC, Jewson has been appointed as a supplier on the building materials and timber purchasing framework agreement.

In addition to supplying building materials, Jewson has already extended its offering to include product training sessions, work experience opportunities and branch tours for students taking construction related courses.

APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges) is the procurement centre of expertise for universities and colleges in Scotland and is responsible for establishing collaborative purchasing frameworks for the sixty higher and further education institutions across Scotland. It is a not for profit organisation wholly owned by the institutions.

As the first ranked supplier on both the Building Materials and Timber Materials Framework Agreement, Jewson can offer an immediate source of supply of various building materials from a number of branches across Scotland.  All branches can now supply Chain of Custody certified timber and work to ISO 14001 accreditation.

In addition to the standard supply of products, Jewson has been providing an added value service whereby students from the universities and colleges in Scotland can benefit from product training sessions and branch tours that allows them to gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom.

Since the framework began Jewson, and its sister brand Graham has already welcomed numerous groups of students through its doors in Glasgow.

Mark Kenny, Branch Manager at Jewson David St commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded the framework by the APUC Ltd and we have already welcomed students from City of Glasgow College into the branches. By inviting students into our Jewson branch we aim to ensure they are better-equipped to play an important role in the future of the construction industry."

S Lucas Group has launched a new range of specialist on site services for the construction industry. Lucas Specialist Services will provide efficient solutions to a range of common problems and requirements that arise during construction projects.

The company will provide a full colour and finish replication service for a broad range of pre-finished surfaces that typically become damaged on site during the construction phase and require re-finishing to an exact match. Items such as curtain walling, cladding, lift doors, powder-coated partitions, door sets and balustrades are amongst a long list of components that often suffer damage during the construction and fit out phases of a project.

The company has invested in new laboratory facilities and uses state-of-the-art colour metric and gloss measuring equipment that operate within finite tolerances normally seen in the automotive sector, Lucas Specialist Services analyses materials, replicates both finish and colour, and in its paint formulation mixing shop produces the exact paint required. This is then checked for accuracy and the works carried out on site to produce an invisible repair.

Assessments can also be carried out on site using hand held devices where data is transferred back to the laboratory so that construction materials can be treated off site using the company’s spray booth facility.

Danny Lucas, Chairman and Managing Director of S. Lucas Group, said:  “This service will give our clients complete flexibility as well as peace of mind, knowing that the work has been carried out to an approved quality standard, in accordance with pre-approved safety procedures and by an experienced, ISO 9001 accredited, responsible industry specialist.  This efficient and cost-effective level of quality control and service has never been offered previously in the construction industry.” 

Lucas Specialist Services is also offering a graphics, manifestation, signage and artwork service after investing in a state-of-the-art graphics studio and having completed an extensive two year artwork project for the Olympic Delivery Authority at Stratford known as the Cloud Wall. This new service will include project and corporate branding and signage, manifestation to large glass surfaces including glazed partitions, and will also provide large-scale wrapped branding products used, for example, to create flexible corporate branding on vehicle fleets or specific artwork on site hoardings or the side of a building.

Danny Lucas added: “We have launched Lucas Specialist Services to offer a full range of support services to our clients that will improve their projects and complement our own service offering and expertise. We continue to make substantial investments in new technology that allow us to offer new services that will help advance our industry”.

Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) has completed the delivery of a major mechanical and electrical (M&E) scheme at Crown Woods College, in Greenwich, demonstrating the multitude of advantages that offsite prefabrication can bring to enable a more sustainable, safer and efficient way of delivering building services solutions.

Designed by Nicholas Hare Architects and built by main contractor Balfour Beatty, the new £48 million secondary school, part of the Phase One £100 million Greenwich Council ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) scheme, features nine buildings linked by external covered walkways. The facility has been organised into three colleges or ''schools within a school" with 450 pupils each. In addition there is a post 16 college that will also accommodate 450 students.

At Crown Woods College, BBES’ Modular Systems + division has designed and supplied multi-service 3D corridor modules that incorporate full M&E services as well as operating as air conditioning ducts for the classrooms. Lined with acoustic foam, the air path fulfils the design noise criteria to create an ideal learning environment for this cutting edge new facility.

Using the latest lean construction methods and off-site fabrication techniques, BBES has delivered the completed 3D modules and modular risers installed on site for an efficient and safe installation. Manufactured by BBES at its Modular Systems + facility, this allowed site construction to run concurrently, making significant savings on the project timeframe.

Utilising the innovative methods of the Modular Systems + facility in Wednesbury, BBES is able to maximise project efficiency whilst ensuring quality management is maintained throughout each process. The modular arrangement also eliminates material wastage, helping to maintain projects sustainable targets and provide significant cost and time benefits compared to traditional installations.

“Through a series of workshops we worked with the design team, the architect Nicholas Hare Architects LLP and BBES’ project team to engineer the ideal solution for the services and air circulation components,” commented Mark Hammonds of BBES’s Modular Systems +. “By utilising an offsite prefabrication approach we have been able to deliver components in a much more efficient, sustainable and safer way.”

“We are continuously improving and developing ideas from previous projects and the team is currently discussing further use of modularisation at further Greenwich Building Schools for the Future projects, including Plumstead Manor and Eltham Hill Schools. Despite being a mix of new build and refurbishment, the plan is to maximise modularisation on these schemes to help achieve Zero Harm strategy,” commented BBES’s Project Manager Simon Stothard.

The successful completion of the Crown Woods College project further demonstrates BBES’s ability to deliver complex M&E schemes safely, efficiently and sustainably whilst meeting targeted occupation dates.

Marley Alutec has been awarded the internationally accepted environmental management standard ISO 14001, in a clear demonstration of the company’s commitment to sustainable working practices.

ISO 14001 is a well-respected global standard that defines the requirements for an environmental management system, keeping an eye on maintaining business processes, whilst minimising their environmental impact.  It is the only one in the ISO 14000 series that is regularly externally assessed.

As the UK leader in innovative aluminium rainwater systems, Marley Alutec takes its environmental responsibilities seriously and has a long-standing tradition of sustainable product development.  Aluminium is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon) and is the most plentiful metal in the earth’s crust.  In addition, it is one of the only materials that can be recycled again and again without loss of quality, and using just 5% of the original processing energy – all of which makes it an ideal material for sustainable construction solutions.

With such solid environmental credentials supporting its product line, Marley Alutec is pleased to have achieved the same recognition for its manufacturing processes.  As part of ISO 14001 the company demonstrated that it has a long term commitment to minimising its environmental impact and has put systems in place to monitor all business activities, including recycling rates, pollution prevention and energy usage.

Stephen Jeffries, Product, Marketing and Development Manager at Marley Alutec, commented: “Supplying sustainable products is clearly important but it is also essential that companies are able to demonstrate rigorous environmental working practices in their own right.  Sustainability is a key thread running through every aspect of our business at Marley Alutec – from the raw materials we use, to the way we conduct our day-to-day working lives.

“Individual commitments to improving environmental standards are significant but by putting the right management systems in place, such as ISO 14001, it will help us ensure that we can continue to grow and develop responsibly far into the future.”

Jablite has re-engineered its sales force to deliver the company’s strategy of product innovation, building close relationships with customers, finding new markets and developing contacts with opinion formers, specifiers, architects and surveyors.

Managing Director, Richard Lee explains, “2011 was a good year for Jablite; our success has proved that our business is benefitting from our new ways of thinking and we want to continue building on that.

“Restructuring our sales team was the next logical step and I am very pleased to be announcing that Simon Cox has been promoted to UK Sales Manager and we have taken on Jeff Scudder as our new area sales manager for the Central region.”

Jeff Scudder worked for Springvale EPS and before that Rockfon. Jeff has a strong background in specification sales and, he expects to be running at full speed very soon, he says: “I will be focussing on external wall insulation - a new product for me.

“With the Green Deal imminent, everyone is talking about insulating solid walls and I am already making new contacts in the region amongst housebuilders, architects, housing associations and local councils, as well as looking after our existing customers.”

Simon Cox joined Jablite in October 2009 as an area sales manager; he quickly proved his value to the business, taking over key accounts such as Rackhams Housefloors, B&Q and Travis Perkins.

“This is an exciting time, both for me personally - I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead – and for Jablite. I have a great team of nine people that I am looking forward to working with and, of course, I will be working to develop and support each person in the team.

“I am confident that Jablite is in a great position to do well in 2012 and I am looking forward to playing a big part in our future triumphs,” adds Simon.

The Builder’s Profile, supported by NSCC and The Builders’ Conference, offers the construction industry an online solution to the existing inefficiencies of the pre-qualification process for sub-contractors, consultants and suppliers. A sub-contractor can create a basic Builder’s Profile free of charge, which can be sent to one main contractor, or register for the premium version of the service and send their profile to as many main  contractors as they  wish, reducing the amount of time and money they spend on completing bespoke pre-qualification questionnaires.

Over the coming weeks, Morgan Sindall will contact its supply chain partners to explain what this means to them and how they can best use the service to help reduce their pre-qualification assessment burden.

Paul Long,  Operations Director at the  Builder’s Profile, explains:  “In working with  the Builder’s Profile, Morgan Sindall is ensuring that the benefits will be felt by  all the companies it works with but  is  alsothinking beyond their own supply chain requirements as the service has benefits for the whole industry.”

Martin Pitt, Commercial Director at Morgan Sindall, said: “In today’s challenging market conditions, main contractors and their supply chains are constantly seeking ways to work more efficiently. By adopting the Builder’s Profile, Morgan Sindall is providing our supply chain with the opportunity to have a single prequalification assessment profile that can also  be made available to other main contractors. We are delighted to be partnering with the Builder’s Profile and to be at the forefront of this initiative which we believe will lead to more sustainable practices throughout the industry.”

NSCC is committed to reducing the cost, bureaucracy and waste associated with pre-qualification and works with the Builder’s Profile to offer Specialist Contractors practical ways to exchange pre-qualification information and increase efficiency.

Armstrong Ceilings, has launched a scheme to build an eco-friendly army of approved ceiling and wall system installers with expertise in recycling projects.

The eco warriors, or Green Omegas, are an enhancement to Armstrong’s Omega network of approved installers which was launched almost 20 years ago and now numbers more than 150 companies with turnovers of up to £24 million.

Every Omega installer has the potential to become a Green Omega if they meet a range of criteria including having an environmental policy, completing Armstrong’s environmental survey and training, and enrolling in an environmental management system (EMS) such as ISO 14001.

Green Omegas also need to have worked on a project with Armstrong that involved the manufacturer’s Off-Cut (OCR) or End-Of-Life (EOL) recycling schemes.

The first specialist sub-contractor to quality for Green Omega status was Mansell Finishes, one of the largest dry lining and plastering contractors in the north-west. The Cheshire-based company worked on an Armstrong OCR project at Tameside schools.

This involved installing Armstrong ceiling tiles into six new schools being built by main contractor Carillion within a four-mile radius in Greater Manchester. Armstrong provided the one-tonne recycling bags, Mansell filled them with off-cuts and Armstrong collected them for return to its Gateshead plant to be re-integrated into the manufacturing process.

Mansell Finishes’ operations director Angela Mansell said adopting Green Omega status in theory had merely been a matter of being organised, since the company already had an environmental policy and ISO 14001 in place.

In practice, she thought that finding the right schemes to get recycling experience on was vital, and they had been fortunate to be working on a project with six schools in close proximity to one another.

“Everyone bought in and that makes a difference,” she said. “Contractors like to be able to tick all the boxes so the more badges we have the better. Because we were on site anyway we had buy-in from our workforce and recycling was relatively straightforward.

“I also wanted to become better known as a ceiling installer and this scheme has helped us to do that. I wanted to be ahead of the game and am very proud we are the first of Armstrong’s Green Omegas.”

Two more new Green Omegas are Roskel Contracts whose Cambridge office worked on an Armstrong OCR scheme at Peterborough City Hospital and Cheshire-based Sound Interiors who completed an Armstrong EOL scheme at South Cheshire College.

Armstrong Omega manager Wendy Frampton, who ran a series of forums around the country to launch the Green Omega scheme to Omegas, said: “Armstrong has a strong commitment to environmental issues and desires to help its contractors to improve their own environmental performance as part of its Green Omega scheme.

“The Omega programme is designed to develop the partnership between Armstrong and the specialist ceiling contractor, both parties committed to superior service and performance.”

Armstrong’s Green Omega initiative has now won an ECO Innovation award in the Best Practice Awards run by the AIS (Association of Interior Specialists). The judges said: “A clear winner as it demonstrated an excellent process in support of a good environmental innovation – it was the best all-round entry. Very good life cycle approach across the whole cycle. Education will get more people improving standards intelligently and faster.”

The high number of tradesmen who admit to having missed an income tax return deadline  brings to light the worrying proportion who don’t know how to correctly fill in their self-assessment forms - or do not realise the importance of doing so.

Wickes Board Director, Rob Murray, says: “The repercussions of missing the income tax deadline can have a significant financial impact for tradesmen who work for themselves or own their own companies, as they run the risk of being fined.  In this tough economic climate, it’s more important than ever that those who work in this vital industry are given the help and guidance they need to ensure this doesn’t happen to them.

Wickes Trade Builder has been created to provide self-employed tradesmen with essential information on business topics such as tax and VAT in order to help them avoid making mistakes of this kind.”

The highest proportion of tradesmen who admitted to missing an income tax deadline are based in London, with nearly a third (32%) having been penalised for getting their self-assessment forms in late.

The North East of England saw the second highest number (27%) of tradesmen failing to meet the deadline whilst the lowest figures came from the Midlands and Wales, with just 18% and 20% respectively claiming to have made this mistake.  21% of tradesmen in both North and South West England have also been late in returning their forms, and almost a quarter (24%) of Scots have returned their forms after the deadline.

Of those respondents who said they’d missed a deadline for their income tax forms, 32% said it was because they had forgotten the date, more than one in 10 (11%) said they didn’t know how to complete one and 36% said they had been simply ‘too busy’. In addition, 35% of tradesmen who have never submitted an income tax return online didn’t know that you could do so.

Wickes Trade Builder is an online resource designed in conjunction with Business Link specifically to help tradesmen maintain and protect their businesses. The site is easy to access and simple to use, meaning that tradesmen who are short of time can access the business information they need quickly and efficiently.

The site delivers advice and guidance on a wide range of business topics relevant to tradesmen including information on completing income tax forms. The homepage currently features a ‘live-time’ countdown clock to the final date for online tax submissions in order to flag the impending deadline.

The website also contains information on getting and keeping customers, managing finances, tracking and chasing debt, and negotiating self-employment legalities. The refreshed site now includes more detailed information on VAT and taxes, business licensing, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and disposing of building site waste management. 

Rob Murray summarises: “For those in the construction industry in particular, relevant business information is not readily available. As the trade experts, we are fully aware that tradesmen have little time to search for business advice, which is why Wickes Trade Builder provides the invaluable information and advice needed to run a profitable business in one, easily-accessible place.”

•           Almost a quarter (24%) of UK tradesmen have missed an income tax deadline

•           32% of London tradesmen have been fined for being late

•           One in 10 tradesmen are unsure how to complete the self-assessment income tax form

 *Research conducted amongst 500 British tradesmen by Zebra Square

Conamar will reconfigure the buildings’ internal layouts and undertake a full installation of comfort cooling/heating and electrics. The buildings will also be completely redecorated and all works will be carried out in line with the strict constraints placed on Grade II* listed buildings.

The Holborn Links estate, which owns the properties, is a 4 acre estate with a diverse portfolio including office, retail, residential and educational properties.

Neil Dower, Managing Director of Conamar said: "Once refurbished, 16-19 Southampton Place will become a contemporary educational facility with modern teaching and learning environments. We are pleased to be able to help deliver this project for Holborn Links.”

The refurbishment works will be complete by the end of March 2012, following which the building will be ready for occupation.

Primarily funded and implemented by the congregation, the works involve refurbishing the Church sanctuary and entrance with 2 adjoining halls, as well as installing a lift shaft, creating a new office and relocating the existing kitchen.   The congregation moved out of the building in July 2011 to allow preparatory work to take place. 

Clark Contracts start work on site shortly with completion scheduled by August 2012. 

Commenting on the contract win, Gordon Cunningham, Managing Director, Clark Contracts said: “Over a number of years, we have developed extensive experience working on listed buildings and to be awarded such a unique project is a real pleasure and privilege for us.”  

David Clark, Minister of the Steeple Church, said, "We are extremely pleased to engage in partnership with Clark Contracts in this work of redesigning our building in ways that will enhance our commitment to serve Dundee city centre."

Founded in 1978, Clark Contracts has grown to employ over 200 staff at offices in Paisley, covering the West of Scotland, and Edinburgh, covering the East. Around 80% of the company’s work is repeat business and six out of ten customers have worked with Clark Contracts for five years or more.  

The Hull Tidal Surge Barrier is the second biggest flood barrier in the country after the Thames barrier.

Built in 1980 at the confluence of the River Hull and the Humber Estuary, the 212 tonne, 30 metre-wide gate is supported between two towers that house the operating machinery and with much of Kingston-upon-Hull susceptible to flooding at times of tidal surges, protects nearly 17,000 homes and businesses from inundation from tidal flooding. The barrier is closed about 12 times a year and has protected the city from the effects of more than 30 high tidal surges since it opened in April 1980 including a record high surge in November 2011.

The Environment Agency contracted SEH Commercial’s sister company, Jackson Civils to refurbish the structure. Andrew Newton, Projects Team Manager at the Environment Agency saw the benefits of the partnership during the tender process: “In our business we don’t have a great deal of involvement with windows so for Jacksons to be able to offer their relationship with a venerable window firm like SEH Commercial as part of the Group structure to be involved in the project, was certainly a valuable asset when we were looking at the bids for the contract.”

An iconic structure in the area, the two towers are set either side of the waterway and house the barrier motors in the top of them; the towers are connected by a 25 metre high enclosed walkway which, as part of the refurbishment now has a synchronisation shaft running through it to improve the efficiency of the barrier. The whole structure is regularly pounded by the elements and the saline coastal environment had taken its toll. As part of the Environment Agency’s £10 million refurbishment project, the specification called for the 2 metre long mullions, which hold the barrier’s 550 glazing panels in place, to be replaced to maintain health and safety levels and maintain weather-proofing. SEH Commercial extracted the panels, replaced 10 with new glazing panes and replaced the originals once the mullions were in place.

Working at height and on such a structure required specialist skills, skills which SEH Commercial’s specialist fenestration teams have along with CHAS, Safe Contractor, Constructionline and other accreditations. The project ran from early September until November having been disrupted at numerous times by adverse weather conditions but on completion, Andrew Newton was delighted with the result. “Certainly we are delighted with the work undertaken by SEH Commercial and would consider using the Company on future projects.”

Paul Hickin, site manager for Jackson Civils: “SEH Commercial did what we expected of them and were very accommodating, especially due to the constraints put on the project by the weather. We are now planning further additional works on the barrier with SEH.”

In 2011 SEH Commercial satisfied another Environment Agency project alongside Jackson Civils by upgrading windows and frames at the Welches Dam water pumping station in the Cambridgeshire fens.

A £5 million refurbishment of Durham Castle - home to Durham’s University College - has been completed by Miller Construction.

Works at the 11th Century Castle, which houses 339 Durham University students, commenced in July 2011 and involved the refurbishment of the bedrooms, dining areas and other facilities, whilst retaining many of the original features of the building. 

Ian Jubb, Regional Managing Director – North, Miller Construction said: “We are delighted to have completed the student residencies at Durham Castle on behalf of University College, Durham University.  This was an extremely challenging yet exciting project for the team to work on, in terms of surroundings and historical importance.  The biggest challenge we faced whilst on-site was working to preserve the original, historical features of the building.

“We worked very closely with Durham Council Conservation throughout the duration of the project which enabled us to fully understand the limitations and restrictions of working within a World Heritage Site.  We are confident that the students, who will be living in the College, will benefit from their newly refurbished facilities whilst still being able to enjoy and appreciate the original features of the Castle.”

Works on the Great Hall, which is used for student meals as well as hosting weddings and other functions, involved a full strip-out of the kitchen, servery, screens passage and buttery. The Great Hall was utilised as a venue for students, weddings, banquets and conferences from October 2011.

The final phase of works saw the residential parts of the Castle being reconfigured and upgraded to reflect 21^st Century student accommodation, with the majority of bedrooms now including en-suite.

Michelle Crawford, Bursar, University College, said: “We are delighted with the refurbishment and the Castle’s facilities have been transformed from 1* to anticipated 4* Visit England grading. The Great Hall, servery, kitchen and bedrooms look fantastic, and provide a great community setting for students to live in and a majestic venue for weddings.”

University College is the oldest of Durham’s colleges, centred around Durham Castle on the City’s World Heritage Site. It has 700 students, of which 339 live in College.

Durham University’s collegiate system provides students not just with accommodation, but with a pastoral and social community to support students’ academic studies and to enable them to develop their skills through a variety of extra-curricular events, sports, societies and outreach projects

Jewson has released its new Tool Hire 2012 catalogue, with a refreshed look and packed full of information to make selecting what you need quick and simple. New product lines have been added including power tools, PPE, clothing as well as updated branch listings and prices.

Trade professionals can pick up a copy from any Jewson branch for more information.

The Jewson Tool Hire 2012 catalogue covers the complete tool hire range including: power tools, landscaping tools, demolition equipment as well as plumbing and decorating tools. This year, the catalogue includes the new 18v Li Compact SDS Hammer Drill, the 217 Lithium Cordless Drywall Screwdriver as well as the two man Vacuum Block Paving Slab Lifter.

"The Jewson Tool Hire 2012 catalogue is designed to provide trade professionals with all the information needed to make selecting tools for hire hassle-free," explained Richard Pedersen, Tool Hire Director at Jewson. "We've also made our Tool Hire service even easer with the ability to order online 24 hours a day. Orders processed during office hours are usually delivered within 4 hours, subject to availability.

What's more, we are currently running an online discount of up to 30% - so it's a great time to take a look at what tools are available."

The Jewson Tool Hire service is designed to provide trade professionals with the right equipment, flexible hire periods, fast delivery services and discounts for long term hire.  Tool Hire is available from all Jewson branches, including over 230 specialist branches, which are listed in the new catalogue. Specialist Tool Hire branches will have products available the very same day and in all other branches tools will be available in just 24 hours.

Trade professionals can pick up a copy of the Tool Hire 2012 catalogue at any Jewson branch or visit www.jewson.co.uk/toolhire to reserve your tools 24 hours a day.  

Already equipped with some of the most advanced stone-cutting machinery in the industry, the acquisition of the new state-of-the-art saw technology significantly increases Fairhaven & Woods’ capacity, allowing it to extend the stone cutting service it provides for stone quarries, stonemasons, sub-contractors and builders to include larger projects, more complex/precise mouldings and more cost-effective sawing tasks.

The new Terzago Rapida has been imported from Italy from the long established manufacturer Terzago and is based in Fairhaven & Woods’ Norwich stoneyard. The innovative bridge style saw is suited to all limestone and sandstone sawing, including slate and marble types, and features an air locked table which allows the stone to be cut at any angle without moving it. It is also fully programmable and allows several jobs to be set in advance. Once set, the saw can be left alone until the programme cycle is complete.

As a result, the investment in the Terzago Rapida has increased the turnaround of Fairhaven & Woods’ stone supply by around 20 percent, as well as enhancing the overall precision and finish quality and ensuring prices remain competitive. 

As soon as the new saw was commissioned in 2010, it was pressed into action and has produced ‘sawn-6-sides’ for clients and completed work for Fairhaven & Woods’ projects including Norwich City War Memorial. It is also being used for their latest project; the School of Divinity, St John’s College, Cambridge.

Keith R. Oram, a director at Fairhaven & Woods, commented, “Fairhaven & Woods is well known in East Anglia for restoration and conservation work but many people are unaware that we also offer a stone cutting service. Adding this fourth Terzago machine significantly boosts our capacity for sawing stone for supply-only or supply-and-fix, and extends our overall service offering.”

Speedy has become the first equipment hire and support services company to release an app for iPhone, to help customers access their depots while on the move.

The app has full GPS functionality, allowing users to quickly find the Speedy branches based on their current location through connectivity with Google maps. Customers can also manually search for a branch by specifying the products or services they are looking for.

The UK’s leading supplier of support services and equipment hire developed the app in conjunction with digital marketing agency Tecmark with the aim of giving customers access to information about Speedy’s 325 branches.

Directions to depot from the user’s current location can also be provided via the app.

The app also provides details about each depot, such as opening hours and allows users to ‘favourite’ their most visited Speedy branches.

The App is now available for download from the app store [and there are currently plans to develop an android version].  

Steve McIntyre, Group Marketing Director at Speedy said: “Our customers aren’t glued to a computer all day. Contractors often work at a variety of sites, and the nature of the work they undertake can sometimes be unpredictable, meaning they need to get hold of the right equipment at short notice.

“This app solves this problem by allowing users to have all the latest Speedy depot information at their fingertips.”

The Ubix temporary roof system, from Combisafe International, has kept the Grade A listed High Court of Justiciary building in Edinburgh wind and watertight during the six month project to remove and replace its glazed atrium roof.

Following a history of leaks and breakages, as well as thermal insulation issues and excessive heat gain, a project was put in place to replace the High Court’s atrium roof with a solid insulated roof. Main contractor Robertson Construction and specialist scaffolding and temporay roofing contractor Interserve Industrial Services Ltd had to ensure that any construction works would have a minimal impact on staff, customers and the public.

The Ubix temporary roof system delivers outstanding on-site weather protection and requires no specialist tools or lifting gear. This means it can be managed at height by a relatively small team, as components are light and all parts snap together for a rapid assembly process. At just 8kg per square metre it’s the lightest temporary roofing solution on the market, making it ideal for this project.

As it was the first time Interserve had used the Ubix system, the company’s team of ten operatives attended a Ubix installation training session. Following this training, the Interserve team successfully completed the installation of a 49m x 31m roof in just four working days to ensure the refurbishment programme remained on schedule and on budget.

Protecting an area measuring 1519m2, equal to the full building plan, the Ubix temporary roof was supported from street level by the erection of scaffolding on the building’s east and west elevations, all of which remained in place throughout the six month programme most of which was through the autumn and winter months. There was no rainwater ingress through the roof at any time.

Combisafe’s management team in Scotland and Engineering services on and off site were refreshingly supportive compared to similar companies that we have worked with in the past. These challenging economical times many are being pressured on price which places safety in second place. The Ubix system offered us less components to work with and due to its boltless technology and snap lock process we found the product to be labour and parts less intensive. This naturally lent the project toward a far safer erection environment and at the same time safely brought the project in on a tight  time and budget program. Thanks to all at Combisafe for making this partnership and project a huge success.  

For more than two decades, Combisafe International has set the standard in safety at height technology, delivering preventative and protective systems for the construction industry. With the use of a simple temporary roofing system, Combisafe has enabled the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh to finally put an end to years of roofing problems.

The developer of insulation solutions to protect both the built and natural environment has secured support from Professor Wolfgang Feist, founder of the Passivhaus concept and the Passivhaus Institute in Germany, for the second year running.

Professor Feist will be joined by Green Building Store director Bill Butcher, who developed ‘Denby Dale’, one of the UK’s first Passivhaus developments, Nick Grant, technical director of the Passivhaus Trust, and Gabriel Golumbeanu, international building concept developer for Saint-Gobain Isover, all of whom were also judges at last year’s UK final.

Other industry experts on the panel include Steff Bell from the Scottish Passive House Centre, Professor Julian Marsh, partner at Marsh:Grochowski LLP Architects and Nick Ebbs, director of Igloo Regeneration.  Nick is also chief executive of regeneration specialist Blueprint, which is playing a key part in the real-life development of Nottingham’s Trent Basin site on which students must base their designs.

This year, entrants have been asked to create a sustainable community living plan for approximately 12 to 15 families.  Competing in teams of up to three members, students are asked to produce a design that takes into account social and economic aspects, as well as building considerations. 

The architecture of the development, which can also include urban space solutions for the immediate vicinity, must be sympathetic to the local surroundings and should also help breathe life into the existing neighbourhood. 

Shortlisted UK entries will be announced following the initial stage of judging, which takes place in February.  The chosen teams will be invited to showcase their designs on stand N230 at Ecobuild, which takes place at ExCeL from 20 - 22 March 2012. 

The second stage of judging takes place at Ecobuild, with the winners announced in a live final on 21 March 2012.  The three winning teams will receive cash prizes of up to £1,000 and will go on to compete in the seventh international final, which takes place from 22 – 25 May in Bratislava, Slovakia, featuring a top prize of €1,500.

Helen Tunnicliffe, marketing manager for Saint-Gobain Isover, comments: “We’re really pleased to have such a line-up of experts on our judging panel and are delighted that Professor Feist, Bill Butcher, Nick Grant and Gabriel Golumbeanu have renewed their commitment to the competition following their involvement last year.

“We’ve had an excellent response to the competition, with over 30 teams of up to 3 registered to take part.  Students have until the end of January to submit their entries, and we look forward to revealing the shortlist in February.”

Rapidly becoming the benchmark standard for supplier excellence, Building Confidence provides buyers and suppliers of BAUER’s services a number of benefits, including increased operational efficiencies and reduced costs typically associated with pre-qualification. Regular on-site audits ensure BAUER can constantly measure its performance and with this data shared with its customers, instil confidence and reassurance of the success of their future working partnership.

BAUERS’ success in achieving UVDB Verify accreditation, a service which enables members to pre-qualify and market their business to an entire industry sector, through a single questionnaire, further endorses its commitment to health and safety, the environment and quality standards through the provision of independent assessment and benchmarking, to endorse its credibility in the construction sector.

Commenting on the receiving of these two accreditations BAUER’s Managing Director, Michael Jones said: “These accreditations are excellent news for BAUER, as they independently endorse the very high standards we operate within the company, as well as providing the motivation to ensure these high standards are maintained. The size, nature and often complexity of projects we tender for demand the very best levels of service and business operation and these accreditations provide an excellent reference of our capabilities, which means customers can be confident working with us.”