CBI TAF Awards 2010- British Precast and the MPA Win Environmental Initiative Award

2nd July 2010

The BPCF sustainability team (l-r) Dr Hafiz Elhag, Martin Clarke and Norman Richards

Last night saw the Trade Association Forum Awards take place at Hotel Russell on Russell Square, London.

British Precast and the MPA entered the category for Environmental Initiative and have won 1st place for their work on forming the Concrete Industry Sustainability Construction Strategy which is being implemented through the Sustainable Concrete Forum and its group groups.

Martin Clarke, British Precast said "We are delighted British Precast and MPA has won this award. We are very pleased that the collaboration between these different trade bodies and their members within the concrete industry has been recognised".

The Sustainable Concrete Forum Vision
By 2012, the UK concrete industry will be recognised as the leader in sustainable construction, by taking a dynamic role in delivering a sustainable built environment in a manner that is profitable, socially responsible and functions within environmental limits.

Cornish Concrete Products speed up Penzance Campus

Working with many of the same team that delivered the Fal and Lynher project, British Precast Member Cornish Concrete Products (CCP) have supplied Thermowall insulated sandwich panels to a refurbished campus building in Penzance. Using a steel frame structure, after in-situ concrete was dismissed as too slow, CCP have supplied walls which achieve a ‘u’ value of 0.25 w/m2K

Both buildings in phase 1 of this project, Zennor and Porthcurno, were architecturally challenging with different angles, shapes and sizes including the architects trademark ‘porthole’ windows which CCP then form the precast window surround at the works.

CCP designed, manufactured and installed the Thermowall panels for this project. Utilizing the latest CAD software systems, CCP’s design department were able to ‘trace’ the panel elevations from the architect’s true elevations. Through careful co-ordination between all members of the design team joint sizes, fixing positions to the structural frame and openings can be dealt with to reduce the on-site discrepancies and help maintain the contract programme.

CCP thermowall panels whilst providing a very fast efficient building system to seal the building envelope, is also BREEAM excellent with the inherent thermal mass, and provides modern clean lines which are aesthetically pleasing and versatile.

Further details can be found here.

It’s Winners all round in Stanton Bonna Health and Safety Alert Campaign

Paul Moore, centre, accepts his winner’s certificate from Barry Cooper, Chief Executive of Stanton Bonna, left, and Thierry Coudurier, Chief Operating Officer of parent company Consolis

Precast concrete drainage products manufacturer Stanton Bonna's health and safety campaign produced winners all round – a reduction in accidents to workers, employees who won prizes and a local hospice which gained a cheque donation.

Under the scheme, the 140 employees are encouraged to write on cards details of any near misses – incidents that had the potential to result in injury although had not done so – or hazard alerts – unsafe equipment, substances, or procedures – so that management can take appropriate action.

In the last year workers at the premises in Littlewell Lane have filled in 398 alert cards. Over the same period the number of accidents involving employees having time off work dropped from six to one.
The company matched the efforts by giving £1 to charity for each card submitted and a cheque for £398 was presented to Treetops Hospice at Risley.

Aircrete is the Choice for Cost-effective Building

10th June 2010

H+H is using two detailed cost-comparison exercises to prove that price need never be a barrier to specifying aircrete for house building.

In a recent public sector housing development Wates Living Space wanted to use aircrete, but was concerned expenditure could rise as a result. A detailed cost comparison showed that, contrary to expectations, a £20,000 saving could be made using aircrete with the H+H Rå Build method of construction, compared with an equivalent timber frame approach.

Wates undertook this comparison having seen results from research carried out by construction and property consultants calfordseaden. This demonstrated that anywhere up to an 8% saving is achievable when using aircrete, compared with comparable designs built with timber frame or SIPS. They calculated the 8% saving by using four different design methods, all with 0.25W/m2K U-values for external walls, on a 20-unit site of three bedroom semi-detached houses.

The 8% saving, equivalent to an extra house on a 20-unit site, is gained by using the H+H Rå Build method of construction with large format aircrete and Thin-Joint mortar. H+H UK managing director Mark Oliver commented, “The savings that can be made using aircrete with our Rå Build method of construction should make this way of house-building attractive to developers. It gives the possibility of shaving the value of an entire house off a scheme’s cost while also offering excellent speed of build, robust structures and green credentials.”

Captive Market for PCE

4th June 2010

The first precast panels for a new Category ‘B’ prison complex at Featherstone near Wolverhampton have been cast on behalf of PCE Design & Build.

The panels, the first of around 1,250 high quality architectural precast panels, have been produced at the Brigg facility of Techrete UK. PCE has been selected to design, procure and erect the precast components of the prison with a 53-week construction programme on site beginning towards the end of April.

PCE will be responsible for the project delivery of all the major structures, working in partnership with main contractor Kier Build, the major projects arm of Kier Group plc, which has been awarded the £150 million plus contract by the Ministry of Justice. PCE will construct a total of 10 structures, principally three 480-place house blocks and including all associated entry and facilities buildings that make up the complete scheme.

In total some 12,000 precast concrete elements will be managed by PCE's experienced design, procurement and construction teams. The structural solution will be based on PCE's fast track formula for precast concrete crosswall construction. Fully integrated shower solutions and the development of off-site fully glazed window systems are just two of the key innovations developed by PCE and the supply chain for this project. Techrete is one of four main supply chain partners selected for the project by PCE.

New Member Installs First UK Precast Motorway Barrier

4th June 2010

We have got used to the sight of new permanent concrete barriers being installed in the central reservation of our motorways, replacing old and discredited steel barriers. To date the barriers have been of in-situ concrete placed by slipforming machines – now the next logical development is a reality with the introduction of off-site fabricated precast barriers erected with minimum disruption at night.

A two row 4.4km length of Delta Bloc in the central reserve has been installed near Newport by Alun Griffiths. A separate section of the project also involved Balfour Beatty installing new gantry signage at the verge involving the installation of Delta Bloc safety barriers for protection of the signs.
Future phases are planned as part of an ongoing commitment to upgrade safety of the road restraint systems.

Delta Block UK is a new and very welcome member of the Federation, based at Marshalls Elland offices.

Also seen more and more is Milton Precast’s temporary interlocking precast barrier system, past winner of the innovation award

British Precast Outstanding Contribution to Health and Safety Award

28th May 2010

The 2010 British Precast Awards saw two individuals received outstanding achievement awards.

Jorge Dorrego Ortiz (left) and Roy Broster (right) receiving their awards from Steve Parker, President of BPCF and Robin Dahlberg, HSE Board Member

ROY BROSTER, Milton Pipes Ltd.

Roy has been both a Shop Steward, and a Health and Safety representative for “Unite the Union” at Milton Pipes for many years and has completed 29 years service.
Safety improvement was added in addition to Roy’s normal duties and, both seeing the same goals, Milton and Roy formed a partnership. Roy was up for the challenge to improve the availability of risk assessment and Safe Working and Operating Procedures (or ‘SWOPS’) across the site and improve training.

It is safe to say that Milton Pipes could not have achieved as big a change in H&S culture within the organisation without Roy, and it is a valuable lesson that co-operation between workforce, company and unions can make a huge difference. Roy is a man from the shop floor who has made a huge impact in Health and Safety.

JORGE DORREGO ORTIZ, Brett Landscaping Ltd.

Jorge has been with Brett Landscaping since July 2007 and is the Production Manager at their Poole plant. Under Jorge, not only has Poole site had had zero RIDDORs or LTI’s since late in 2007 (last one November) he has also reduced minor accidents, from 14 to 2 last year, and he continues to promote accident reduction.

In 2009, Jorge completed the most number of Alive and Well behaviour safety talks in the business; this is Brett’s behavioural safety system, He has helped Poole gain the Brett Landscaping Managing Director’s award for best SHE performance for 2008.

Jorge has done this, through coaching, toolbox talks, developing in depth training tools and through feedback, engaging his colleagues to produce a positive result admired by many.

More information on both winners can be found here.

British Precast Best Practice Awards 2010 - Winners

21st May 2010

Five Full Members of British Precast have won Best Practice 2010 Awards after submitting outstanding entries into our annual competition, which comprises the categories health and safety, innovation, sustainability and best project.

Marshalls Plc had two winning entries, with Hanson UK, Tarmac Building Products and Trent Concrete all scooping first prizes at a ceremony at British Precast’s Annual Conference in Leicester on 11th May. In addition, several member companies were awarded Commendations and a Special Communications Award was presented to J&P Building Systems.

British Precast holds the annual award scheme to recognise the excellent work carried out by its members and provides another way of sharing best practice within the membership.

Martin Clarke, Chief Executive of British Precast, said: “I am delighted with, no only the number of entries received this year, but also the high standards in all categories. I congratulate all the winners and entrants. Competition between members to win our awards is intense and makes a major contribution to our improvement agenda.”

Award winners can be seen on our Awards Page. There are also seperate pages for our Innovation Award and Project Award. Don't forget to visit our online gallery for images of the winners as well as the rest of Concrete2010.

Update from David Higgins at the Olympic Delivery Authority: Milestones

8th April 2010

Four years ago today the Olympic and Paralympic Act came into force and the ODA became a statutory body. Click here for a short document that updates on our ‘Big Build Structures’ milestones with latest pictures of the venues and infrastructure. As the National Audit Office reported last month the project remains on time and on budget. There are still many challenges ahead as this is our toughest year on site with the workforce peaking at over 10,000. I hope you agree the pictures show we are now entering an exciting phase of the project as the Park really starts to take shape.

Success to date has been the product of partnership working by countless organisations.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards

David Higgins
Chief Executive, Olympic Delivery Authority

New dates for Certificate in Sustainable Concrete 4 day courses are now available in June/July and October

1st April 2010

Following the sell-out of places on the first 4-day course we are pleased to announce new dates for the Certificate in Sustainable Concrete courses. The CSC is part of the Sustainable Concrete Forum programme and the course has been developed with the National Construction College supported by Proskills.

First set of new dates all in Leicester
29 June - Sustainability for Managers (full day)
30 June - Waste/Water Management (half days)
14 July - Social Issues Management/Energy Management (half days)
20 July - Environmental Management Systems/Responsible Sourcing (half days)

Second set of new dates all in Leicester
13 Oct - Sustainability for Managers (full day)
14 Oct - Waste/Water Management (half days)
22 Oct - Social Issues Management/Energy Management (half days)
27 Oct - Environmental Management Systems/Responsible Sourcing (half days)

Course modules are priced at £75 plus vat for the half day and £130 plus vat for the full day.

Please click here for further details or visit our events page.

Protect your company from bad debtors

British Precast has launched a scheme to help protect Members from bad debtors. Creditlook is a web-based service that allows members of a federation or association to collaboratively share information about customers that are trading outside of agreed credit terms. This shared information helps limit the risk to members of bad debtors, by enabling them to identify high risk customers before any goods are supplied.

How it works

If a customer trades outside of agreed credit terms with any member, that member can instantly register the customer and incident details on Creditlook. For each customer listed, Creditlook records how many members have been affected, whether correspondence has been sent in relation to late payment and any legal proceedings that have taken place in order to recover such payment.

Creditlook brings members together to protect their individual and collective financial position.

For more information about the scheme and to register, please call Russell Lawley Gibbs on 01628 581058. Once registered, you just have to click on the Creditlook logo above to enter your login details and you can start tapping into this invaluable resource.