On behalf of Winvic, one of the UK’s leading ‘shed specialists’, Aarsleff Ground Engineering have completed the sheet piling for Bell Farm, part of the construction for a new 40-acre logistics park in Bedford. The greenfield site is approximately 4.5km southwest of Bedford Town with a farmhouse and associated outbuildings located to the north west of the site. The southern east of the site is bordered by A4280.
Having commenced on the 19th of October, the piling work followed a 6-week programme whereby Aarsleff installed 329.4 l/m of driven steel sheet piles: a key geotechnical feature for the Bedford Link Logistics Park. The steel sheet sections were installed along the western boundary of the site, complemented with pre-boring and folded steel capping beam to assist a max RH of <3.6m.
Aarsleff Ground Engineering carried out a detailed assessment with care, skill, and diligence to ensure that a final workable product was fabricated that considered the varying ground stratigraphy. Aarsleff’s design strategically produced 5 sections which accompanied and suited the true ground conditions by defining each section with its own personalised steel section size and length. Aarsleff employed pre-boring of the pile positions to loosen the surrounding ground to ensure the design toe depth was achieved and to gather observations pertaining to ground conditions.
Aarsleff deployed 5 machines to ensure the piling programme was met without any delays using a Hitachi excavator to offload the steel sheet sections, a Soiltek drilling rig to conduct pre-boring, a Sennebogen crane to handle and pitch the piles and a leader rig to install and back install the steel sheet sections using driving vibratory hammer.
Aarsleff’s work is a fundamental component of commercial building projects, having provided the foundations and geotechnical solutions for many schemes including mega-retail sheds, distribution warehouses, University accommodation and major supermarket and household name units.
Notes to Editors:
Aarsleff Ground Engineering Ltd, is the UK trading arm of Danish contracting giant Per Aarsleff A/S, and is one of the UK’s leading piling and geotechnical design and installation specialist contactor; actively promoting early consultation to ensure each scheme can be Value Engineered to give clients the best service, quality design, safety and value. Visit www.aarsleff.co.uk for more information.
Aarsleff’s strategy and philosophy of investment into the future has resulted in its wholly owned subsidiary Centrum Pile Ltd having the most advanced precast pile production facilities in the UK, producing segmentally jointed precast concrete piles to BS En12794 to Class 1A.
Workplace safety is essential, especially in the construction industry. Every year, thousands of employees are injured on the job. In 2019, 1,066 workers in construction and extraction occupations were fatally wounded, making it the sector’s highest figure since 2007. Recognizing and understanding common construction equipment safety hazards is the first step in reducing the casualties each year.
Here are eight dangers you’ll want to watch out for in the workplace.
1. Struck by Objects
The struck-by category includes a broad range of potentially hazardous scenarios. In essence, it covers injuries produced from forcible contact or impact from equipment or falling objects. These situations represent some of the most prevalent construction safety risks for workers. In 2017, these scenarios led to 503 fatal injuries across all industries, with approximately 15% occurring in the construction field.
The most common types of struck-by hazards in construction include:
Struck-by falling object
Struck-by flying object
Struck-by rolling object
Struck-by swinging object
These hazards may occur if the equipment is left unsecured or if employees are not visible to operators. Falling bricks that strike a worker’s head leading to a concussion and death describe a struck-by incident. When the impact alone causes the injury, it’s labeled as a struck-by incident. If the wounds occur from being crushed between objects, then the damage is considered a caught-in and -between event.
2. Caught-in and -Between
Caught-in and -between describes any situation where an employee is injured through compression or crushing. This would include cave-ins or scenarios where clothing is caught inside of a piece of equipment. This category is a part of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) fatal four because it is one of four situations that lead to the greatest number of occupational deaths each year.
The most common types of caught-in or -between hazards include:
Machinery with unguarded moving parts: An example would be when clothing is caught in moving parts, causing a person to fall and become entangled and crushed by the machinery.
Pinned between: An example would include workers who become pinned between the equipment and the ground or a wall. These scenarios can cause broken bones and asphyxiation — some are even fatal.
Buried in or by: Examples include cave-ins and trenches with hazardous environments, leading to suffocation, drowning and compression.
Workers should receive adequate training to protect against these types of hazards. It’s also important that equipment remains guarded, adequately supported and secured. It’s your responsibility as an employee to stay vigilant and protect yourself on excavation sites. You should follow your gut instincts and err on the side of caution rather than risk anyone’s health.
3. Burns
Employees in the construction industry are at risk of getting burned while on the job, especially when working with power lines and hazardous chemicals. Workers can treat most minor burns without leaving the job site, but severe ones usually require medical attention and can be deadly. Equipment becomes overheated when not correctly maintained, which can lead to dangerous situations. This type of thermal contact burn occurs from touching extremely hot objects.
Other typical burn causes include:
Chemical burns: Construction workers are also at risk of injury from contact with hazardous materials.
Arc and flash burns: These burns are caused during welding.
Electrical burns: These types of injuries can occur from contact with power lines.
Construction burns can lead to involuntary muscle contractions and internal damage, so it’s always best to consult a medical professional after this type of injury. Blistering, swelling, pain and peeling are common symptoms that occur from a burn, so workers must get treated before their injuries become infected.
4. Electrocution
OSHA also includes electrocution as part of its fatal four-category due to the high number of injuries and deaths caused by this hazard each year. Electrocutions can occur while handling power lines, but they can also happen when working inside a building or utilizing faulty equipment.
Contractors must use the equipment as described and follow all safety protocols to reduce the risk of electrocution. More specifically, you should only use indoor products inside and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for extension cords. Overloading these items or using them in ways other than recommended will increase a person’s risk of getting shocked.
5. Falls
Falls are incredibly prevalent in the workplace, and most could be avoided if proper precautions were taken. Many falls occur because the equipment is unsecured or employees are not wearing protective clothing. Misuse of ladders is especially common and accounts for thousands of injuries each year.
To protect yourself against falls, you should prioritize maintaining your safety gear and using the most effective products. You can’t put a price on safety. It might seem like a hassle, but fall protection gear can save your life and prevent serious injuries from occurring. The buddy system can also reduce falling hazards because you have someone else watching your back and able to lend a hand should the situation call for it.
6. Airborne Material Exposure
Airborne chemicals and materials are expected at a job site. These respiratory hazards can lead to workers developing severe — and sometimes fatal — health conditions. Asbestos is prevalent in older homes, and workers can encounter it when installing certain types of fire-resistant drywall, floor tiles and pipes. If inhaled without personal protection equipment (PPE), you can develop lung cancer, mesothelioma and gastrointestinal cancer.
Other airborne materials common in construction occupations include:
Lead: Exposure can lead to irreversible organ damage.
Cadmium: Exposure at high levels over a short period can lead to chills, fever and muscle pain and cause lung damage. Extended exposure at low levels can cause lung, bone and kidney disease.
Chromium: Exposure can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation, kidney and liver damage, and lung cancer.
To protect against these airborne materials, employees must always use PPE. They should also undergo specialized training to know how to handle these substances safely.
7. Vibration-Related Injury
Heavy construction equipment vibrates during use. Depending on the terrain and service regularity, workers may experience whole-body vibration transmitted through the machine’s cab and frame. Regular exposure to intense vibration can cause lower back pain, internal organ damage and spine irritation.
To reduce the adverse side effects, workers should take regular breaks and limit the number of hours they operate each piece of equipment.
8. Excessive Noise
Construction machines and job sites can be extremely noisy. Prolonged exposure to excessive noise can lead to irreversible hearing loss. Research shows 51% of all construction workers experience hazardous noise, and 31% report not wearing hearing protection. Approximately 14% of all construction workers have hearing difficulty, and 25% of those exposed to noise in the workplace have a hearing impairment.
Hearing protection will reduce the damage caused by noise, but workers must use the protective gear correctly to maximize the benefits.
Always Prioritize Safety
These eight construction equipment safety hazards are a reminder of why safety should always be a priority. Many of the side effects of these dangers are irreversible and can be deadly. Wearing safety gear and personal protection can save your life and might be the only thing standing between you and a severe injury. Remember, you can report severe workplace violations and dangers to OSHA.
Rose Morrison is a construction industry writer and the managing editor of Renovated. You can check out her Twitter to see more of her work.
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Why are expansion joints so crucial to the building industry? You’ll read all you need to know in our guide to expansion joints in buildings.
Most people think of buildings and other civic structures as static things that do not move, but this is incorrect. Many forces affect the dynamic movement of structures, such as thermal energy, wind, concrete expansion and contraction and seismic events. Expansion joints are a deliberate separation designed to mitigate against such movement and are a very important structural feature that makes it possible to protect the building from variations in temperature and hygrometry sustainably.
A guide to expansion joints in buildings: What exactly are they?
Also known as movement joints, expansion joints are also placed when constructing adjoining buildings: the masonry of the new construction, under the action of the expansion, would risk pushing the old construction. Therefore, to avoid this, construction workers leave a space of variable thickness depending on the considered seismic zone (2 to 4 cm) between the two structures: this is the exact definition of an expansion joint.
When are expansion joints in buildings used?
Expansion joints in buildings are used constantly. Roofs require expansion joints, as do all types of paving. Facades, walls, and ceilings all require expansion joints to allow for movement. There is a solution for each configuration from completely metal floor expansion joints suitable for a car park to lightweight’s floor expansion joints with flexible inserts.
Expansion joints are also important when concrete is used outside, especially when there are multiple applications. Concrete, in common with most materials, reacts to changes in temperature and humidity by expanding or contracting. After drying, all concrete shrinks and, afterwards, will continue to expand or contract according to the surrounding temperature. Although this movement is only minor, it will lead to unsightly and potentially dangerous cracks in the concrete. It is, therefore, imperative to compensate this movement if we want to preserve the integrity of the building.
Using the correct products
You should not underestimate the risk and the potential cost of claims being brought against a property developer for liabilities caused by faults in the movement joint design and/or sealing systems. It is always essential to avoid expansion joint problems, such as those caused by poor joint design, low-quality joint sealing system installations, or the use of inferior joint sealing materials with limited durability. The costs of not doing so can be enormous for all involved in the project if the joints are incorrectly designed and securely sealed with an adequate joint sealing system solution.
Veda France offers an extensive range of expansion joints for vertical and horizontal use. Their products can be used in all buildings.
Veda France’s range of expansion joints includes floor joints with inserts, all-metal floor joints, ceiling, wall and facade joints and much more.
In Australia, we love our windows for bringing natural light into our homes – the bigger and more of them, the better. But when it comes to insulation – keeping heat either in or out, many of these windows are not as energy efficient as they could be. Sophi MacMillan, Chief Executive of the Vinyl Council of Australia, explains how higher-performance uPVC windows can help to deliver that1 Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
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Outdoor Flooring Comprehensive Study by Type (Tile, Decking, Others (Rugs, Carpet, and Stones)), Application (Residential, Commercial, Public Infrastructure, Others), Material (Wood, Ceramic, Concrete, Others) Players and Region – North America Market Outlook to 2025 Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
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The UK’s real estate market, although suffering due to the complete lockdown from last year and the current lockdown which is set to ease up from March, is showing positive signs.
How?
Well, the UK government took all the necessary steps to shut down certain sections of the market all the while ensuring that the housing market gets a proper restart.This was essential as people need homes as it not only shields them from uncertainties but also allows an individual to make ends meet through side incomes emanating from rental properties.
The effects of the pandemic as well as the lockdowns will continue to show in the UK’s economy for years. However, according to the opinion of a renowned agent associated with real estate transactions surrounding Wirral homes, this pandemic proved to be a boon for people who want to invest in the nation’s real estate sector.
So, what are the factors that are proving to be positive for a real estate investor or for an individual who wants to buy a home in the UK right now?
Well, there are many.
Some of them are as follows –
Property prices are predicted to grow
As per the forecasts from revered real estate agencies in the UK, the prices for homes in the UK are set to rise by more than 15 per cent by 2024. Hence, this is the right time to buy a home or invest in a rental property in promising regions in the UK such as the Wirral peninsula or London.
Properties in the near future will be out of reach for many hence interested individuals should hurry.
Rents are set to increase
Okay, since the prices of properties are set to rise, it is also evident that the rents for properties on rent will also increase. As per experts, promising areas in the UK that tenants prefer such as the Wirral and the West Midlands should witness an increase in rent from rental property owners within the 11.5% to 12.5% range by 2023.
This is great news especially for people who want to own a property that they can put up for rent in a bid to have some cash flowing from the sides as rental income.
Interest rates are low – for the time being!
The lenders of the UK had made two consecutive cuts in the interest rates on mortgage way back in March 2020.For instance, the base interest rate offered by the Bank of England remains at 0.1% – which is historic.
The reason for this generous step from lenders is simple – they are offering competitive interest rates on their mortgage schemes along with a plethora of other similar products in a bid to attract new clients who have had plans to purchase a home.
This situation is not here to stay hence, interested parties should get in touch with renowned real estate agents and procure their dream home right now before mortgage rates go up again – which will happen soon!
Apart from the appealing reasons mentioned above, in case you are an international investor interested in purchasing a property in the UK, you should go right ahead. The reason is simple – the weakened pound. This will allow you to save a lot of money in a real estate transaction. For more details, feel free to get in touch with a renowned real estate agent associated with the UK real estate sector.
The research emphasizes elaboration of the Global Smart Construction market strategy of the industry players in the precision of import/export consumption, supply and demand (2021-2026). Posted via Industry Today. Follow us on Twitter @IndustryToday
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With the fire cladding crisis making headline news, industry experts are looking at the role of technology to improve fire safety standards today, and in the future.
In response to evidence heard at the Grenfell Inquiry, the Government’s White Paper¹ on social housing and the draft Building Safety Bill, there has never been more intense focus on improving fire prevention and response infrastructure for social housing.
The Government’s White Paper on social housing sets out how it will deliver fundamental change, to ensure people feel safe and secure in their homes. Two key steps are to legislate to strengthen the objective of the Regulator of Social Housing so that it will explicitly include fire safety, and to require social landlords to be regulated and remain transparent. Furthermore, the Government will launch a consultation on requiring smoke alarms in social housing. Also, the Government has set out that it will expect the Regulator of Social Housing to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding with the Health and Safety Executive, to ensure effective sharing of information with the Building Safety Regulator.
It’s becoming increasingly clear that success will require new approaches to how social housing providers monitor and manage fire risk in their buildings. James King, Connected Homes Director of fire safety technology experts FireAngel, says: “We welcome the Government’s White Paper on social housing and its new Charter for social housing residents, which aims to ensure greater landlord accountability and transparent communication with tenants. This and the draft Building Safety Bill point to a lot of work around fire prevention.
‘We’re at a stage where technology can shoulder some of the responsibility of fire safety, and housing providers, fire services and regulators can use it to protect tenants and homes more effectively.
‘Since the Grenfell tragedy, the relationship between the Fire Rescue Service and social landlords has strengthened and there is huge interest on both sides in how connected technology can provide real-time information, assess risk and engage with tenants to ensure they are and feel safe. With the right technologies, fire prevention and response can become easier, more effective and more proactive.
‘By introducing connected technologies such as IoT and AI, social landlords can create serious efficiencies and relieve some of the burden of fire prevention, and can also make life safer and easier for their tenants. Post-Grenfell, more than 400 ‘waking watches’ were established around the country to monitor buildings. However, they’re expensive and only designed to work as an interim measure; relying on humans for fire prevention shouldn’t be the only intervention and it certainly isn’t sustainable long term”, adds James King. “With remote monitoring and cloud connectivity of smoke detectors, social landlords can streamline fire prevention, as it creates an opportunity for centralised, off-site monitoring so that multiple sites can be managed from a single place.
‘Connected technology can be installed within the parameters of an existing budget, and potentially provide more protection.
‘This combination of IOT and AI technologies provides 24/7 oversight of buildings and their changing fire risks, collecting data that can be analysed for trends and patterns. AI can even offer predictive analysis based on these trends, which gets more accurate the more data it processes. With the right technologies, today we can automate these processes, highlighting who needs more support to help housing providers engage directly with at-risk tenants, encouraging independent living and proactive intervention.
‘From the fire services’ perspective, connected technology and remote monitoring enable them to assess data relating to, not only the condition of the building materials, but also vulnerable tenants, managing and preventing risks. From a tenant’s perspective, digitisation means they can be informed on the state of the safety system within their own homes and they can report concerns and engage with social landlords easily. For the fire service, connected technology can enable them not only to monitor but to prevent risk, before it becomes a 999 call,” adds James King.
Actively involved in the key working parties that review legislation, safety technology experts FireAngel provides adaptable and future-proofed solutions powered by unique technology transforming the future of fire safety and offering the most reliable and efficient protection for all. FireAngel’s patented product, FireAngel Predict, features AI to analyse the data recorded in alarms and constantly refines its ability to identify patterns of high risk behaviour.
Since 2001 FireAngel has deployed 50 million devices and protected over 15 million homes and is committed to delivering a safer society through the utilisation of data-driven approaches, connected technology and trusted partnerships.
