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The fourth edition of the NSCS is now available. Edition 4 has been fully revised to meet the requirement of BS EN 13670 Execution of concrete structures use of which is required for execution of BS EN 1992 and other Eurocode designs. For more details go the the National Structural Concrete Specification page.
The new edition was launched at a CONSTRUCT event held on 22nd June at the SCI in London. A keynote speech was given by Gordon Clark of Giffords and Paul Toplis of Price and Myers outlined the main changes to the specification. |
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CONSTRUCT has recently joined the National Specialist Contractors Council. This not only enhances our standing within the industry but will also bring a wide range of additional benefits to our members. After CONSTRUCT's AGM in March, the chief Executive of NSCC, Suzannah Nicol MBE will be giving a presntation on Fair Payment and Retentions. |
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This year CONSTRUCT is making two Awards. The first for Innovation and its Adoption, now in its 14th year, accepts entries from a wide field of activities covering major works, novel techniques, radical design concepts and innovative materials. The second Award is for CONSTRUCT members only and covers Innovation in Health and Safety.
Entry forms for both Awards are available from the Secretary and results will be announced at the CONSTRUCT Day to be held at Lords Cricket Ground on on 1 October. |
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For the second year running the winner of the Concrete Specialists Category in The Construction News Specialist Awards was Stephenson Ltd. Highly Commended was awarded to M J Gallagher. In the Health amd Safety Category the winner was M J Gallagher. |
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The new 2010/2011 Yearbook is in preparation and will be launched at the CONSTRUCT Day on 1st October.
Copies of the 2009/2010 Yearbook are still available from the Secretary. |
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Having reviewed the assessment criteria and standards used in the SpeCC Limited audit, the CHAS national management board have (with the consent of SpeCC) agreed a “deem to satisfy”. SpeCC registered contractors can therefore register with CHAS by paying £50 and sending a copy of the latest SpeCC audit without the need for further assessment. For further information contact CHAS on 0208 545 3838. |
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This year's panel of judges was chaired by Professor Peter Hewlett (John Doyle Group). Other members of the panel were Jenny Buridge (The Concrete Centre), Dr Tony Jones (Arup Research and Development), Paul Lewis (Stanhope), Professor David Nethercott (Imperial College) and Geoff Taylor (Land Securities).
This year's entries spanned construction techniques, design and clever components. This made the judges' task difficult as the entries were all of a high standard. They decided that the FlexiArch which combined the benefits of off site and on site construction and used on Bleach Green Bridge in Newtonabbey, submitted by Queen's University, Belfast was the winner. The panel also awarded Highly Commended to Ramboll (UK)for the use of a cassette raft which saved materials and lowered embedded CO2 at One Southampton Row. In recognition of its continued commitment in the field of health and safety, the judges made a special award to Combisafe Ltd. |
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Provisional figures issued by the HSE indicate a significant drop in fatalities within the construction industry. At 35 for 2009/10, the number of deaths is down from 53 in 2008/9 and 72 in 2007/8. 60% of the deaths were related to falls from height and 5 resulted from victims being struck by vehicles.
CONSTRUCT is currently collecting data from its members to once shew that with no fatalities, our contractors take Health and Safety very seriously. |
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For the third year running, CONSTRUCT members have scooped the prestigious Concrete Society's award for Outstanding New Structures - Building Category. After the success in 2006 for Northfield Construction Ltd with the Collection in Lincoln, in 2007 for MPB Structures Ltd for the Beetham Tower in Manchester, the 2008 award went to Mitchellson Formwork and Civil Enineering Ltd for the Performing Arts Centre at St Marylebone Church of England School in London |
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CONSTRUCT, along with The Concrete Centre and BRE, is sponsoring a series of six best practice guides based on the innovations resulting from the European Concrete Building Project, a whole-building research programme carried out at Cardington, and incorporated into the St. George Wharf development in London. The first three have been published with the remainder due by summer 2005. |
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Additional opportunities present themselves for concrete in the design of tall buildings. The effect of 9/11 has been dramatic, as explained by Stuart Alexander who delivered the 2003 Peter Campbell Biennial Lecture and new designs throughout the world have taken into account the major issues surrounding disproportionate collapse, fire protection, robustness and escape management. Concrete is now regarded as the preferred option for cores, shear walls, escape routes such as wider stairs and lift shafts. The findings on both sides of the Atlantic on any number of other issues are remarkably similar.
For a fuller report, please click on Publications and read Framework 5. |
