Acrylic sheets can be used for a wide range of applications within a wide range of industries. From aviation and automotive to military and medical, acrylic is the preferred option for thousands of sectors across the globe. With an unparalleled level of quality and performance, read on to find out why you should choose acrylic sheets for your next project.
It is lightweight
Regardless of industry or sector, weightlessness is a key element of most design projects. Acrylic sheets offer the same level of protection as glass without the added weight. This is one of the main reasons why its popularity is steadily overtaking that of glass. Its lightweight quality makes it an ideal material for the application of glazing and roofing. It is also commonly used in DIY projects as a result of its buoyancy and flexibility. If you are new to the world of acrylic sheets, why not try try Clarex. With optimum levels of excellence and supreme functionality, there really is no alternative to products like Clarex.
It is cheap
When it comes to acrylic sheets, the cost is a fundamental consideration. Generally, acrylic sheets tend to be cheaper than glass sheets. They cost less to source and transport and offer a wider range of benefits for a fraction of the price. Industry accredited acrylic sheets, such as clarex, are also relatively cheap to maintain. A wet microfibre cloth should be enough to blot any dirt or smudges and retain its clarity. It is worth comparing costs from a number of different suppliers before you make a final decision.
It is durable
Acrylic sheets can offer greater protection than glass whilst weighing up to 50% less. Acrylic is the preferred choice for a growing number of applications due to its ability to withstand extreme force and temperature. Even in high impact situations, acrylic sheets are unlikely to shatter or break. If pushed to their absolute limits, they are only likely to fracture into large, dull fragments. This is one of the main reasons why acrylic is utilised for a variety of applications and purposes within a wide range of industries and sectors. These include shower doors, aeroplane canopies and even aquarium enclosures.
It is transparent
Acrylic is one of the few transparent materials that retains its translucency over time. It allows sunlight to pass through while filtering out UV light. This prevents it from turning yellow or falling victim to discolouration. The light transmittance level of acrylic stands at 92% while the light transmittance level of glass falls behind at 90%. With maximum sunlight and a lower UV index, there is no better alternative.
It is malleable
As well as being transparent, acrylic is much more malleable and easier to fabricate than glass. By applying heat, acrylic sheets can be sculpted and moulded into virtually any shape or structure. It also retains its shape when cooled which allows it to be altered by tools as easily as timber or wood.
Acrylic is a popular material choice produced by manufacturers on a global scale. There are a variety of benefits associated with using acrylic sheets as opposed to wood or glass. It is important to fully research the pros and cons of any material before you make an informed decision.
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Residential and commercial construction projects have numerous differences in tools, materials, purpose and functionality. The cost of commercial construction in comparison to residential is usually much higher and more likely to be publicly funded. While residential construction is often privately funded through capital investment and bank loans.
Here are the main differences between residential and commercial construction.
Purpose
Residential construction is usually for domestic housing and apartment buildings. Projects range from self-builds to housing estates and apartment complexes. On the other hand, commercial construction is used for building offices, industrial facilities and professional establishments. These sites are often controlled by the commissioning business and the hired commercial building company.
Of course, the purpose of a construction site has a big impact on the materials and equipment used as well as the functionality of the space.
Materials
Residential projects are likely to rely on more cost-effective materials that can be used on a smaller scale. Timber is a popular choice for residential construction projects because of its affordability. Although with a bigger budget, residential projects may have more choice, creativity and flexibility when selecting their materials.
Residential materials are likely to be more focused on aesthetics, whereas commercial builds look for functionality and cost-effectiveness on a larger scale. For example, commercial buildings are more likely to use roofing sheets as opposed to traditional roofing materials that are more common in residential buildings.
Commercial construction sites operate on a larger scale and can afford more investment in materials, like steel. Commercial companies will usually benefit from economies of scale by ordering large quantities of materials.
Project length
Residential projects are much shorter than commercial builds and less complicated. Commercial projects usually need a large workforce to meet deadlines and maximum efficiency to ensure greater profits. Commercial sites will often have tighter deadlines and a more varied skillset on the site at once.
Commercial projects often need high-powered machinery and specialist equipment to perform complex tasks. Workers will need special training to operate some machines, which comes with an added cost. Commercial construction sites can justify added training costs for a specialist workforce and machinery. Larger construction sites may need cranes and earth-moving equipment, which requires specialist health and safety training and experience to operate.
Residential construction is often on a much smaller scale and does not require such heavy-duty equipment. In the case of self-builds, homeowners often choose to DIY parts of their home to save costs on hiring a workforce and machinery. If these DIY projects go wrong, they can be solved fairly easily because of their smaller scale. It’s also important to note that commercial sites are more liable to huge lawsuits if things go drastically wrong.
The Building a Safer Future (BSF) Charter has launched its ‘Charter Champion’ company initiative to help companies drive the systemic culture change required to put building safety first.
Through robust self-assessment, benchmarking and independent verification, the BSF Charter Champion company initiative will help companies identify potential issues and, in turn, develop continuous improvement plans to advance their overall approach and performance on leadership and culture in relation to building safety. Through their participation in this process companies will be able to identify ways in which they can help to reduce their risk profile in terms of building safety.
The first 12 companies, who are demonstrating real sectoral leadership, have signed up to begin the journey and engage in the robust benchmarking and independent assessment process. The organisations include BAM, Galliford Try, Kier, Mace, mhs homes, Persimmon Homes, Places for People, Salix Homes, United Living, Vistry Group, Wates and Willmott Dixon.
Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent inquiry into building regulations and fire safety clearly identified failure of leadership and culture as key underlying causes of the Grenfell Tower disaster. The ‘Building a Safer Future Charter’ was initiated in response by a group of early adopters including contractors, housing associations and local authorities supported by MHCLG with a vision of having an industry committed to putting people’s safety first.
The BSF Charter has been highlighted by Dame Judith Hackitt and the Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) as a key mechanism for leading the culture change required for industry in their report for the Secretary of State and the Minister for Building Safety published in August 2020.
The BSF Charter benchmarking and verification process is now open for participation from across the construction industry. All UK organisations involved in the built environment can proactively participate and demonstrate their commitment to building safety by becoming Registered Signatories to the Charter and, if appropriate, progress to undertaking the ‘Charter Champion’ benchmarking process. This is particularly the case for Duty Holders.
Lord Greenhalgh, Minister for Building Safety said:
“We are taking firm action to ensure that we never repeat the mistakes of the past, with this charter representing a major step forwards in delivering much-needed culture change in the built environment industry.
“I warmly welcome its introduction and commend the twelve organisations already signed up to become ‘Charter Champions’.
“I would strongly encourage more to get involved, especially those who will be playing a key role in the future building safety regulatory regime.”
Peter Baker, Chief Inspector of Buildings at the Health and Safety Executive, said:
“Self-assessment, benchmarking and independent verification are important elements of a robust system to enable businesses to properly lead, manage and control major building safety risks.
“Businesses across the industry need to start preparing now for the new building safety regime. The ‘Charter Champions’ scheme is a valuable contribution to driving the necessary change in culture and performance across the sector to ensure that residents are safe, and feel safe, in their homes.”
Dame Judith HackittDBE, Author, Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety said:
“I am delighted to see the formal launch of the Champions of the Building a Safer Future Charter. My congratulations go to Amanda Long and her team for the way in which they have built upon approaches which have been tried, tested and proved effective in other sectors to create the Charter initiative.
“I have consistently called for the built environment sector to recognise the need for culture change which can only happen when leaders in the sector stand up and are prepared to demonstrate what good looks like and to be held to account for delivery. I look forward to watching the Charter Champions group grow as others see the benefits of becoming part of this important programme which offers a real market differentiation opportunity.”
Andy Mitchell CBE, Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council said:
“The Construction Leadership Council welcomes the launch of the Building a Safer Future Charter and its Charter Champions initiative. This is an important step towards an industry that is committed to putting building safety first.
“The promotion of cultural change and leadership in the sector is vital and those that wish to demonstrate real sectoral leadership in relation to building safety should be engaged with the Building a Safer Future Charter.”
Stephen Elliott, Chair, Building a Safer Future Charter said:
“The BSF Charter provides a robust, independent verification process which will drive continuous improvement in leadership and culture in relation to building safety across the industry.
“We have taken learning and insights from tried and tested approaches and responses to major accident hazard safety in other sectors such as aviation and chemicals – both nationally and internationally – and contextualised these for the UK built environment sector.”
Amanda Long, Chief Executive, Building a Safer Future Charter said:
“In the built environment sector, the Grenfell Tower Disaster has put building safety at the top of everyone’s agenda. From a moral, social and economic perspective it’s now imperative that we embed enduring values, attitudes and ethical behaviours at the heart of all we do.
The launch of the Building a Safer Future Charter’s ‘Charter Champion’ status is an important step in driving forwards the systemic culture change in relation to major hazard safety that is required across the built-environment sector and through the entire value chain. As we progress on this critical journey we should be seeking to raise standards and build public trust.
I am delighted to welcome the first 12 companies on their journey to becoming a Charter Champion.”
The Building a Safer Future Charter is referenced in the publication “A Reformed Building Safety Regulatory System: Government response to the ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation” published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in April 2020. The publication states that “the Government encourages duty-holders to be signatories and commit to the Building [a Safer Future] Charter” as part of a more rigorous approach to accountability.
The Building a Safer Future Charter has been created to promote an urgent and positive culture and behaviour change in the safety of the built environment. There is an urgent need to put people’s safety first in how we plan for, design, build, maintain, and look after the safety of the buildings we live, work or play in and protect those that use them.
The Building a Safer Future Charter consists of five commitments that demonstrate commitment to protecting life by putting safety first, ahead of all other building priorities.
It was initiated by the Early Adopters Group as a first step towards spearheading the cultural and behavioural changes required across the industry to achieve a safer building system and has already gained over 150 registered signatories from across the built environment.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) were appointed as the Charter’s Administrative Partner by the Early Adopters. The CCS has established Building a Safer Future Ltd, a not-for-profit company with its own independent Chair and Board. Building a Safer Future Ltd develops and manages the Building a Safer Future Charter.
The “How Business Owners Can Use Partitioning and Ironmongery to Help Manage Social Distancing” guide, jointly produced by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) and FIS, which represents the Finishes and Interior Sector, has been updated following changes to UK conformity marking.
Developed to help those involved in managing workplaces understand key considerations they need to make when adapting their spaces, it provides guidance on using partitioning and ironmongery to manage social distancing in the workplace.
Originally published in November last year, it has been updated to cover the changes to UK conformity marking post-Brexit. UKCA and UKNI marking have been introduced as CE marking will cease to be used in Great Britain from 1 January 2022.
It also includes a list of the relevant EN Harmonised and UK Designated standards that are relevant to partitioning, doors and architectural ironmongery and a summary of product marking sales territories to show where UKCA, UKNI and CE marking can be used going forward.
Douglas Masterson, technical manager of the GAI, said:
“It is critical that business owners and those responsible for property maintenance are aware of the changes and how this impacts the architectural ironmongery they choose for their workplaces. Businesses will need to continue to be responsive to Government advice but the new information in the guide will help them to identify opportunities for business owners to make sensible product choices now, that will offer them compliant solutions longer term.”
Joe Cilia, technical director of FIS, said:
“Dividing spaces, even on a temporary basis may have implications on escape routes and safety depending on how they are installed and as good ventilation has been shown to help reduce the incidence of Covid 19 infection, the advice in this free guide is important and relevant.”
59% say housing is an issue and undeveloped sites should be committed to modern, efficient housing communities and cultural landmarks.
London, UK | With Britain still in the grip of an on-going housing crisis, property developers Romal Capital sought the views of the British public on regenerating derelict land and brownfield sites. The national survey* found that 59% of Brits are calling for derelict land to be converted into modern, efficient housing and a place for cultural landmarks.
More the three-quarters (77%) feel that when brownfield sites are regenerated, they bring a sense of freshness, art and culture to an area improving the lives of everyone around it. However, as these sites stand, 74% believe that derelict sites are eyesores on the nations landscape.
Romal Capital’s survey reported that over four-fifths (83%) of respondents feel Westminster governments have failed to prioritise regenerating brownfield sites in their area, in recent years. People in the North East of England (90%) felt strongest about this followed by those in the South East (85%). It follows that a lack of commitment from central government will have a regional impact. 79% of people pointed the length of time it takes for decisions to be made as the most significant hurdle to change.
Greg Malouf wants to fast track regeneration of undeveloped sites to tackle UK housing crisis
“It’s great to see that people across the country want see their areas improved and repurposed. However, it is clear that speed is the issue more than ambition says Romal Capital’s CEO Greg Malouf. Regeneration and planning have a lot of due process and extensive local bureaucracy, and it is this that needs to be restructured to get things going. Local authorities need more support and resources to streamline these processes and fast track regeneration of these sites.”
What to do with all this space?
A 2020 report** from the countryside charity CPRE found there was over 25,000 hectares of brownfield land across 21,000 sites in the UK. Enough to fit over 1 million homes.
The survey discovered that almost a third (30%) of people would most like to see cultural landmarks built on this unused, derelict land, while a similar amount (29%) want to see modern, efficient homes and communities built to help solve the nations crippling housing crisis. When it comes to regenerated outdoor space, over a quarter, (26%) are in favour of new recreational facilities.
“Many people are desperate for somewhere permanent to live and keen to see former industrial and undeveloped areas turned into new, progressive housing neighbourhoods and community hubs.” says Malouf “The authorities must become far more proactive and flexible to allow this to happen.”
About Romal Capital
Romal Capital is an international award-winning property developer based in Liverpool. The team brings to the city over 60 years of combined property development experience from across Liverpool, and other major UK and international cities.
London-based construction technology start-up XYZ Reality and UCL, have been awarded a government grant, to develop XYZ Reality’s augmented reality solution into the construction of UK hospitals. The grant has been awarded by UKRI through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
Founded in 2017, XYZ Reality developed Engineering-Grade AR to tackle some of the most pervasive and costly issues facing the construction industry. Its technology uniquely enables users to view hyperscale BIM models on-site in real-time and to millimeter accuracy, making it particularly beneficial for projects with complex MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) services, such as hospitals or data centres.
Significant accuracy and efficacy savings have been strongly evidenced through hyperscale data centre adoption. Overall construction sector benefits through technology enabled transformation are expected to be phenomenal locally, nationally and internationally.
In 2019, the government announced the Hospital Infrastructure Plan, a five-year programme of investment in health infrastructure, including building 40 new hospitals, which will deliver world-class facilities to meet the changing needs and rising demands facing the NHS. This programme will rely on innovation to be successful, in particular the adoption of new technologies both in design and build are crucial, as current approaches are time-consuming, ineffective, costly and out of date.
This KTP will be delivered in partnership with UCL’s world-leading Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction and Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), with support from UCL Innovation & Enterprise. It will examine how Engineering-Grade Augmented Reality (AR) can help to bring infamously complex construction projects in on-time and on-budget, using hospitals as case studies. Case studies will feed into XYZ Reality’s overarching aim to enable transformation in the construction sector through the demonstration of benefits, such as improving productivity and efficiency, reducing waste and developing sustainable approaches.
Dr Grant Mills, Faculty Lead for Health and Associate Professor, said: “Hospitals are complex construction environments because of the sheer range of MEP services involved. This often leads to clashes and errors in the build phase, and the need for expensive and time-consuming re-work.”
Prof Duncan Wilson, Professor of Connected Environments in UCL Bartlett CASA, added: “This KTP grant offers us an important opportunity to understand how AR can help different users interact digitally with the environment in novel ways, and by doing so improve productivity, and deliver time and cost savings.”
XYZ Reality’s founder and CEO David Mitchell said: “We’re thrilled to have been selected for the KTP grant and delighted at partnering with UCL on this project. Our Engineering- Grade AR technology is already being deployed on construction projects with the same levels of complexity as hospital builds, and I’m pleased to say that it is generating significant time and cost savings.”
David continues: I’m passionate about supporting the NHS, so I’m glad that this research will enable us to fully understand the benefits that our technology can offer these specific projects, and help those constructing UK hospitals to build it right, first time.”
For more information, please contact Claire Quinton-Tulloch on claire@transatlanticent.com or +44(0)7989419827.
Quote from Grant Funder:
Mohan Ahad, Knowledge Transfer Advisor, Knowledge Transfer Network, shares: “This is a very exciting project, which will demonstrate how Augmented Reality can reduce waste and increase productivity in the construction sector. I look forward to working with XYZ and UCL on this transformative concept.”
About XYZ Reality
XYZ Reality is the company behind HoloSite, the world’s first Engineering Grade Augmented Reality system. The company is on a mission to eliminate 2D in its entirety, empowering construction teams to Build it Right, First Time.
Purpose built for the construction sector, HoloSite enables site teams to view and position holograms of design models to millimetre accuracy. The AR hardhat solution is making a huge dent on the 77 percent of megaprojects that overrun globally. It has brought efficiency to the building process by eliminating errors, reducing rework and delivering on time.
The product has been deployed across complex mission critical projects in Europe, including data centres, airports and hospitals.
Named the UK’s third hottest startup and one of the Top 3 construction technology firms, XYZ Reality is committed to supporting the construction industry in developing technology to boost productivity and bring efficiency to the sector.
With businesses reopening to the public and employees returning to the office, it’s paramount that facility managers know how to keep all premises safe and secure from any unlawful activity.
Theft and business crimes make up 20% of all crime in the UK1. This causes great distress to business owners and can lead to commercial failure. To help companies prepare for coming out of lockdown, safety and security specialists Reece Enterprise, have shared their top seven tips to preventing theft that all facility managers need to know.
Risk Assessment
To mitigate the risk of being subject to theft crime, the first step businesses need to take is conducting a risk assessment. This will help to identify any potential hazards that may occur within the organisation so the board can identify what to prioritise safety wise. This can involve any security aspect from defective security cameras or blind spots to faulty locks or windows.
Risk assessments should be undertaken regularly, at least once a year. A further review is recommended once any changes have been made to business equipment, materials, processes, or people. This is also advised after accidents occur, to ensure their validity.
Employee Training
As stakeholders, employees are a critical part of any business and play a key role in keeping their workplaces safe and protected. Companies should always carry out full background and employment history checks before hiring people if possible. Once hired, security guidelines and theft policies should be clearly explained during employee inductions.
Managers can help to mitigate the risk of internal theft by encouraging staff accountability. There are several actions that can be taken to enforce this, such as enacting policy that requires employees to keep laptops and equipment locked and password protected, encouraging employees to report suspicious activity, and by giving specific access, (for example to a cupboard of stationary) to named employees.
Keeping Everything Locked, Keys Included
Managers can further minimise risk of theft by ensuring valuable items are locked up, making sure that doors, safes and storage spaces are locked, and by safely storing keys in one secure place, like a reliable key cabinet from Reece Enterprise. From fire-resistant to free-standing, key or wall mounted, with a key or padlock, there are multiple cabinets to choose from that are sure to suit your business needs.
Adding additional locks to doors and shutters or grilles to windows can give further protection.
Surveillance Cameras
Use of security cameras, such as CCTV, is one of the most common practices that businesses use to fight criminal activity in the UK. Although data protection rules apply for the use of cameras, they are an excellent tool for deterring burglars. They are particularly effective as they provide evidence and visibility. When operating with small budgets, consider installing a limited number of surveillance cameras in the most high-risk areas. Security mirrors in blind spots are also another good alternative. This will create a robust security system for the business.
Keeping Records
Another key factor in dealing with theft is identifying the unusual activity in the first place. Being organised and staying on top of stock management within the organisation is essential. Track all your inventory, keep on top of your paperwork, and use tags and labels with serial numbers for all the important pieces of equipment to make sure nothing gets lost.
6. Installing Alarms
Alarms are one of the most traditional and prevalent types of security system. Alarm systems and security lighting are a go-to measure for discouraging intruders and having them in place can also help to lower insurance premium costs. Consider setting up a BS 4737-4.3:1988 intruder alarm system, this is part of the general requirements that companies need to comply with in accordance with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and therefore should be considered. Once set up, managers are advised to arrange for the alarms to be regularly tested and maintained.
