Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April 2021

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PROFESSIONAL

HOUSEBUILDER & PROPERTY DEVELOPER

WWW.PHPDONLINE.CO.UK

APRIL 2021

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? Are we experiencing a housing bubble?

HEATING & PLUMBING

GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

As heating moves away from traditional systems, are heat pumps the obvious answer?

Digging trenches and laying pipes – we take a look at the heavier side of things.

LAST WORD: WHY LETTING THE ROBOTS TAKE OVER BRICKLAYING DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

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CONTENTS

PHPD APRIL 2021 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 3

REGULARS 5

First Word

6

News

8

Developments

34 Product Focus: Norbord 35 Last Word On the front cover:

Charlestown, Cornwall is home to a new boutique development from developer Stephens + Stephens. Find out more about this unique project on page 8.

10 |

Heating re-brand

HEATING & PLUMBING 10 Q&A: Ideal Heating PHPD puts the questions to Ideal Heating’s Jo Shepherd on the company’s branding change.

12 In at the Ground Floor Where to start with low carbon heating systems? WMS explains.

14 Product Spotlight: Heat Pumps PHPD looks at what heat pumps can offer your development.

16 Expert Comment: Reducing Emissions Dynamis’ Dr Stephen Finnegan tells us what builders need to do to reduce emissions.

17 NEW PRODUCTS

32 |

Sustainable digging

GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE 22 Clay for Time Hepworth Clay argues the case for clay pipes.

25 Expert Comment: Wayleave Consent Trenches Law’s Georgina Rudak explains wayleave consent.

ASK THE EXPERT

26 Creature Comforts Protect wildlife alongside managing water flow with ACO.

Perega’s Alan Lace-Evans answers your questions on structural engineering.

28 Product Spotlight: Excavators What size excavator is right for you?

Turn to page 20 to find out more.

32 Breaking New Ground Kubota launches the KX042-4α.

33 Going Underground The UK Power Networks’ latest campaign is all about keeping you safe while digging.

22 |

Choosing pipes

30 The Open Code Changes to the sewer code are opening up pipe options. Polypipe explains.

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April 3

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FIRST WORD

Editor Kieran Nee phpd@hamerville.co.uk Group Advertisement Manager Craig Jowsey 07900 248102 craig@hamerville.co.uk Advertisement Manager Samuel Shannon-Tinsley 01923 237799 stinsley@hamerville.co.uk Northern Area Sales Ian Duff 07810 353 525 probuilder@sky.com Digital Group Manager Stuart Duff Digital Assistant David Molloy Design Adeel Qadri Group Production Manager Carol Padgett Production Assistant Kerri Smith Managing Editor Terry Smith Circulation Manager Kirstie Day Publisher Bryan Shannon Printer Wyndeham Group Published by: Hamerville Media Group Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF. Tel: 01923 237799 Email: phpd@hamerville.co.uk Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer is a business magazine for firms and individuals involved in all aspects of the building industry. The publishers and editor do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept responsibility for any errors of translation in the subject matter in this publication. © 2021

Subscriptions to Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer are available at the following rates: UK: 1 year — £30 post paid Europe and Overseas: 1 year — £50 post paid Airmail: 1 year — £65 post paid To be removed from this magazine’s circulation please call 01923 237799 or email circulation@hamerville.co.uk

Stressing the point Recent research has indicated that nearly one in six small business owners are suffering due to stress. This is no real surprise, given the events of the past year. There are many businesses which have folded in recent months, with the strain of lockdown too much to handle. Accompanying the hardship in business is the inevitable struggles with stress, anxiety and worse. Although the property development sector has been able to keep going throughout the lockdown, the statistics are unlikely to paint a different picture in terms of stress – whether you’re running a pub or building houses, the past year has been a period of the utmost uncertainty.

Uncertainty is every business owner’s nightmare. Not being sure whether you are continuing down the right track and whether the actions and investments you are making now are going to pay off down the line or whether you are throwing good money after bad is enough to keep every business owner awake at night. The past year’s jumping from one lockdown to another, with overconfident reassurances that everything was OK thrown in between, coupled with the fact that no one really knew when the end would come, meant that uncertainty reigned supreme.

While SME housebuilders have weathered the storm better than many of their national counterparts, “relative success” will come as little consolation when totting up the real losses at the end of the year. Despite the boom in building post April 2020, the industry has seen a real drop in the amount of houses built last year. Building and selling less houses, will hurt SME housebuilders more. No doubt many small developers have already thrown in the towel.

But now we have the vaccine and the end is surely in sight – we even have a date.

Before getting ahead of ourselves, however, it’s worth looking at the facts. The country as a whole has accrued more debt than at any other period since World War II and has gained very little in the process. Rather, the money spent has been a lifeline extended to those who need it to stay afloat, and, unfortunately, also to those who don’t.

It doesn’t take an economist to see that debts run up today will have to be paid tomorrow. What will ultimately happen once the country eases itself out of pandemic mode is anyone’s guess at the moment. Will the country slide into recession, weighed down by debt and a year’s inactivity? Will there be a boom as all the money saved up over the past year comes flooding out? As always, there will be winners and losers. No doubt the same will be true for housebuilders.

Meanwhile the housing market itself is booming, buoyed along by the stamp duty holiday. To the forward thinking housebuilder this is another cause for concern. The last thing we need is a housing boom.

People will deal with stress in their own way and we all have different tolerance levels. These are indeed stressful times but what the housebuilding industry needs is not a stress ball. The industry needs real solutions that restore confidence and bring about that rarest of things – certainty.

It doesn’t take an “economist to see

that debts run up today will have to be paid tomorrow.

”

For more information from PHPD visit www.phpdonline.co.uk @phpdonline

Total Average Net Distribution 13,310 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April 5

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NEWS In Brief ■ Builders merchant Travis Perkins has launched an app for customers for the first time. Housebuilders will be able to order stock and manage trade accounts from their mobile phone or tablet. Users will be able to pay balances and download invoices on the app.

■ Housebuilder Gleeson has tasked the local primary school to name one of the roads on its new Bilsthorpe development, The Pastures. The shortlist of four names includes the name of the town’s 16th century founder as well as three local miners who died in the Bilsthorpe Mining Disaster.

■ Taggart Homes has launched a new product, outdoor work pods. The pods are designed to accommodate home working and a range of small businesses, including beauty salons and gyms. Existing Taggart home owners are being offered pod-installation in their gardens.

6 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

E-mail your news & views to phpd@hamerville.co.uk or tweet us at @phpdonline

Boost or Bubble?

L

ast month Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled plans to extend the Stamp Duty holiday until the end of June. Prompting praise for the much needed boost along with fears of an impending bubble.

As the Covid-19 pandemic drags on past the 12-month mark and the country only very slowly emerging from its imposed cocoon, Rishi Sunak was forced to dedicate much of his Spring Budget to extending the lifelines held out last year to keep the country from crisis. Of particular importance to the housebuilding industry, which has at least been spared the worst effects of the lockdown, was his announcement that the Stamp Duty holiday would be extended in part until September. The news was enthusiastically greeted by homebuyers and sellers, and the move could result in an extra 300,000 homes being sold.

Housebuilders, however, should exercise caution in their celebration.

Some experts have warned of a potential housing bubble forming, and most are agreed that the inevitable decline has

simply been postponed – “kicking the can down the road” as one analyst had it.

Inland Homes’ chief executive Stephen Wicks summed up the budget neatly: “Both the stamp duty holiday extension and support for 95% mortgages are very welcome short term measures. However, the UK continues to suffer from a chronic undersupply of housing and the unintended consequences of the measures announced today may fuel an artificial buoyancy in the housing market that is not sustainable.”

Planting Growth Perhaps less fraught with danger was the Chancellor’s announcement of a “superdeduction” tax cut of 25p on each pound spent on new equipment. Over the next two years the deduction could be worth up to £25bn to companies. To small housebuilders either looking to invest in their own plant or renew existing machines this will be music to their ears.

Companies who hire in all their equipment will no doubt see a benefit as hirers themselves invest in new gear.

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Fair Enough

A

PPG for Housing Market & Housing Delivery has published a new report, edited

by MP Ben Everitt, which details some of the problems and proposed solutions of the planning system and housing market.

“A Fair Housing Market for All” groups together the opinions of 37 experts within the UK housing industry on how the system could be fairer for all. Findings cover the

“Levelling up” agenda, land supply and the decline of SME developers.

According to the report, “To support the supply of land for housing at reasonable values, the Land Compensation Act 1961 needs to be reformed to remove “hope value” from consideration in respect of compulsory purchase and “Viability Assessments” in the planning system.”

To view the report go to www.rdr.link/dw001

State of Clay

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bstock has received the highest level of accreditation from the Brick Development Association’s new scheme.

The BDA’s Brickmakers Quality Charter has been launched to promote the responsible sourcing of clay bricks, providing the industry with complete assurance that the highest standards have been adhered to during the manufacturing process. Clay brick manufacturers who sign up to the scheme are awarded a one, two or three-star rating, depending on how many of the qualifying criteria they meet.

One of the first brickmakers to join

Facts & Figures…

■ Builders’ merchants’ sales were 8.8% higher in December 2020 compared to 2019, with total Q4 sales also up on 2019. December was down on November, due to seasonal slowdown and the lockdown. The BMBI index for Q4 2020 was 111.1. Timber & Joinery Products (125.4) was the strongest category. www.rdr.link/dw002 ■ In February, construction contract awards increased by 11% compared to January to £4.7 billion, remaining below average levels. The value of residential contracts was £1.9bn, down 12% on 2020 but up 20% on January. Read the latest Barbour ABI review at www.rdr.link/dw003 ■ According to MHCLG, 148,630 new build dwellings were completed in the year to December 2020, a decrease of 17% compared to the year before. There were 127,600 starts (down 16%) in the same period. www.rdr.link/dw004 ■ The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index posted 53.3 in February, up from 49.2 in January, signalling a solid increase in overall output.

Housebuilding remained the strongest area despite slowing down compared to January. www.rdr.link/dw005

the scheme, Ibstock has been awarded a three-star rating.

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DEVELOPMENTS

Cornwall…

The Nest – a collection of 15 boutique homes built by property developer Stephens + Stephens in historic village Charlestown.

8 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

In collaboration with interior design agency Absolute, property developer Stephens + Stephens has built 15 new two, three and four bedroom homes in Charlestown, Cornwall. The village is famous for retaining much of the character and charm of its early days, and today features arresting Tall Ships, brightly coloured fishermen’s cottages and timeworn cobblestones, earning it a regular credit in period dramas such as Poldark.

The village’s port was built to transport copper from nearby mines, and it is this synthesis between the natural world and the industrial which powered Britain in the 19th Century and is now being honoured by the Nest – designed by local architects, Alan Leather Associates.

The development retains many of the historical features of its site, including the key landmark chimney formation which will remain a striking centrepiece for all residents.

The Nest will be accessed by a private road and is surrounded by a traditional stone wall on three sides, with large evergreen and deciduous trees forming a

dense, natural screen between the neighbouring properties. The houses feature an architectural scheme utilising elemental materials including Cornish stone, bound with traditional pointing techniques. These historical flourishes are interspersed with huge sections of contemporary glass windows and glazed links, all merging with dark steels, providing sleek, seamless finishes. The homes are topped with living grass roofs and outside, ‘rubble’ stone walkways lead the way into calming, sustainable gardens.

The play between the elements is evident throughout all of the houses, with powder-coated aluminium windows and patio doors set into the profiled metal-clad sheeting, timber and rubble exterior material mix. A green roof extends the length of the houses, bringing new life to the previously harsh industrial space, all tying in with the ecological, wildflower planting around The Nest’s perimeter.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw006

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Email your latest developments to phpd@hamerville.co.uk

King’s Park – a new “village style” community from E5 Living.

E5 Living’s King’s Park, a £45m residential development in a sought-after suburb of Grimsby, is one of the largest residential sites under construction in North East Lincolnshire.

The first phase includes 78 properties, a mix of threebedroom semi-detached houses and two-bedroom bungalows.

The second phase is to include an additional 19 homes with proposed retail units including a convenience store. Further phases will include housing for over-55s and there are plans for assisted living accommodation.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw007

WILTSHIRE…

GRIMSBY…

Treetops – 46 rental homes delivered by a public-private partnership.

Bournemouth Development Company’s latest scheme, the £12 million Treetops development, was completed in February, offering 46 homes for rent in a town centre location.

The company is a 50:50 partnership between BCP Council and national urban regenerator Muse Developments, a Morgan Sindall Group company. The development will return profits back to BCP Council for investment in future regeneration projects.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw008

BOURNEMOUTH…

Hayfield Wood – 16 acres of luxury homes and new woodland from Hayfield.

Hayfield is creating a new woodland featuring 4,755 native trees and shrubs at its recently launched Hayfield Wood development. The 16-acre scheme also comprises 70 luxury homes, a new community shop, café and wildflower meadow, located in the historic Wiltshire village of Broad Blunsdon. The exclusive scheme has been designed around an array of mature trees that are being retained and incorporated within the expansive development area.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw009

SUFFOLK…

Lyle Place – Keepmoat Homes brings new homes, some affordable, to Bury St. Edmunds.

In partnership with The Newbury Community Association, Suffolk Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Keepmoat Homes’ Lyle Place will consist of 56 properties for the open market along with 23 homes which will be available as affordable housing.

The development will include a number of amenities for both new and existing residents including a brand-new community centre, a large parkland area and additional outdoor spaces.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw010

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April

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HEATING & PLUMBING

PHPD caught up with Ideal Heating’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jo Shepherd to find out more about the company’s recent name change and what the change in focus will mean for developers looking to heat homes.

Name Swapping Ideal Boilers was a very well recognised brand within the heating sector, why do you think now is the right moment to evolve it to Ideal Heating?

For years, we’ve offered so much more than just boilers for the domestic market.

People sometimes forget that we also offer cylinders and smart controls. Outside of the domestic sphere, we are the UK’s market leader of high efficiency commercial heating solutions.

With this in mind, and with achieving net zero more a priority than ever, now is the right time for us to evolve. We’ve designed our new brand in such a way that anyone who was familiar with Ideal Boilers will easily recognise Ideal Heating, but now we can better communicate the completeness of our range, while paving the way for future innovation.

Our ambition is to be the number one choice for installers, consumers and businesses when selecting a heating and hot water system. We believe that having a more holistic, future-focussed brand will help us achieve that.

The company has a broad portfolio of boilers for the domestic market. Will this move see any reduction in your domestic boilers range?

In 2019, one in every four new domestic boilers installed across the country bore the Ideal name. Our range is known and loved by housebuilders and homeowners alike for its quality, reliability and value, and for as long as the demand is out

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there, we’ll be here to meet it.

Of course, the direction of travel towards sustainable alternatives is clear – but we’re talking about a transition, not an overnight change. The development of sustainable heating technologies will continue alongside innovation and sales in the gas-powered central heating market – for us, both are important, and neither comes at the expense of the other.

As part of the brand re-positioning will the company now focus more on low carbon technologies and, if so, what new launches can we expect?

We’re wholeheartedly committed to a more sustainable future, which is reflected in the design of our new logo; there’s a green dot on the ‘i’ of Ideal to symbolise our dedication to a greener future, in place of the previous red one.

Alongside the rebrand, we’ve created an Environmental Division within the business to oversee a programme of investment into research, product development and stakeholder engagement, to support the decarbonisation of domestic and commercial heating. And we plan to launch our first low carbon product early next year.

The UK’s transition towards a net zero future will be a gradual one, which means we must also ensure the continued optimisation of existing technologies, before alternatives become widely available. With this in mind, we’ve recently

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Q&A launched our new Halo range of wireless programmable room thermostats, including a connected version which gives users the option to cleverly and efficiently control their heating on-the-go – and to avoid heating an empty home.

Ideal’s parent company is a leader in heat pumps in the French market. Can we expect to see heat pumps becoming part of your offer to the UK market?

As part of the government’s commitment to ‘build back better’ from the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve seen the announcement of the Green Homes Grant – under which the government will help homeowners with the cost of installing heat pumps (among other solutions) in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.

We are fully supportive of this, and are

uniquely placed to draw on the heating expertise from across our parent company, to help make low carbon heating a reality in the UK. We are working closely with our international colleagues to learn from their experience and combine it with our specific knowledge of this market – and heat pumps will have a role to play.

We’re “wholeheartedly committed to a more sustainable future, which is reflected in the design of our new logo

”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw011

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HEATING & PLUMBING

In at the Ground Floor Housebuilders need to make the shift to low carbon heating systems, but where to start? Laurie Moulding, Key Account Director at WMS Underfloor Heating explores the issue further.

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W

ith the Government’s Future Homes Standard on the horizon, housebuilders need to turn their attention away from gas boiler installations and traditional convection heating systems. Wallmounted radiators will likely become a thing of the past.

Even with the promise of a few years to get our ducks in a row, this is still a significant challenge for all involved, from housebuilders to the HVAC industry, to the end user. As an underfloor heating specialist, we’re receiving an increasing number of calls from housebuilders who want to instruct their technical departments to look at what the Part L changes mean for them, and examine their options for renewable energy alternatives.

On the whole, the focus seems to be on heat pumps, which are a perfect partner for UFH systems, producing the low water temperature (40°C) required and which are more energy-efficient and cost-effective to run compared to

radiators. They’re also space-saving – something which will be a revelation to any housebuilders only used to wallmounted radiators. In fact for radiators to be a viable option, they’ll need to be at least twice their current size to deliver the same amount of heat at a lower temperature, therefore demanding premium wall space and creating a headache for room designers.

But while the technical data adds up and the products are available, it’s no easy process shifting to an entirely new heating system. To help get things started, here are three key areas I’d suggest focussing on for a heat pump/UFH system: 1. Find a trusted UFH supplier For the specification, design and installation you ideally need to find one point of contact who can manage the entire process from start to finish. By this I mean a provider who can, along with their underfloor heating designs, bring together for you the ideal cast of 1) The heat pump

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manufacturer and 2) An F-gas registered heat pump specialist, as this will ensure your heating system is sized correctly for maximum efficiency. Most would remember that 8-10 years ago heat pumps had a very bad name in the industry and the same will happen again if inexperienced teams take hold. With these three all working together, your point of contact should be able to incorporate all works into your build programme, without you having to address the finer details yourself.

2. Train your sales and marketing team Your objective is to sell new homes, but the homes we’re talking about now are using a heating system which is alien to most of us.

So, your sales and marketing teams need to know how to promote the benefits of low temperature systems and be able to

explain how they work. Your provider should also be able to help with this.

3. Educate your homebuyers Your buyers will be the ones living with the new heating system and so need a userfriendly guide to aid their understanding. At WMS we have a homeowner’s strategy which clarifies how our systems work as well as how to operate and maintain them – and on the latter point, I should also say that UFH systems require very little maintenance and you would only need to have your heat pump serviced once a year, in the same way you would for a boiler, but by an F-Gas registered engineer.

Getting organised early is key and I’d suggest engaging in these changes over the next 12 months is essential for any housebuilder who wants to be ready to hit the ground running by 2025.

Your sales and “marketing teams need to know how to promote the benefits of low temperature systems and be able to explain how they work.

”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw012

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HEATING & PLUMBING

Prime Pumps Are heat pumps the panacea to our carbon crisis?

Not in isolation, certainly, but they do offer the energy saving potential that modern designed homes deserve. The Committee on Climate Change has said that 19 million heat pumps will need to have been installed by 2050, meaning housebuilders and property developers will be at the forefront of their roll out.

Here, we take a look at the more common air source heat pumps.

Looking good

Keeping quiet

The external units that are the most conspicuous components of air source heat pumps are mostly associated in the mind of British home buyer with industrial units and Spanish hotels, which might not exactly be the aesthetic you’re trying to create with your development. There is always the option of hiding the unit away unseen, however companies are beginning to beautify the pumps themselves. Take Daikin’s Altherma 3 M for instance, which hides the fan behind a stylish black horizontal grille. With its strong lines and block colouring, the unit goes some way to actually adding to the design of a property rather than being merely tolerated.

For more information go to

The move towards heat pumps is driven exclusively by a desire to reduce fuel consumption, which will lower fuel bills

www.rdr.link/dw013

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS

for homeowners and help save the planet by reducing carbon emissions.

These positives, however, won’t mean much if the negatives infringe upon the comfort of the home owner. Many people will associate heat pumps with noise, and the thought of a constant disturbance could be enough to put some home buyers off. There is a lot of unjust prejudice in this area, of course (not to mention the hundreds of other sources of noise that no one complains about), but some manufacturers are addressing the issue in order to reassure buyers. Grant’s Aerona3 R32 range features Quiet Mark accredited units, with the 13kW unit emitting less than 50dB of noise.

For more information go to

www.rdr.link/dw014 Easy to install

Much the same as a traditional gas boiler, air source heat pumps are highly technical systems which require a great deal of know-how to install.

Furthermore, their efficient use depends on correct installation and setup. One of the barriers the Government

anticipates to the widespread proliferation of heat pumps is a lack of skilled installers. With that in mind, LG Electronics’s Therma V Monobloc can be installed without the need of having any F-Gas qualifications. The firm is offering a training course to potential installers of the unit.

For more information go to

www.rdr.link/dw015 Compact Solution With so many homes expected to be heated by air source heat pumps over the next 30 years, compact and affordable products will play a large role in the market. Blocks of flats and smaller houses naturally have different needs from large properties and space considerations can become highly important. Viessmann’s Vitocal 100-A heat pump is the firm’s most compact and affordable solution to date. The lower cost and tighter footprint coupled with the ongoing reduction in fuel costs mean that heat pumps are now suitable options for affordable housing too.

For more information go to

R32 Each of the heat pumps showcased here run on environmentally-friendly R32 refrigerant. This recent innovation in the world of refrigerants is a more efficient heat carrier than previous examples, and could provide savings of 10% on electricity bills. What’s more, the refrigerant can now be used in Monobloc installations, rather than just split installations. This means that apart from the hot water cylinder, the entire system is contained within the unit outside.

www.rdr.link/dw016

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April 15

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Expert Update

HEATING & PLUMBING

Efficiency Gains PHPD talks to Dr Stephen Finnegan, Director of the Zero Carbon Research Institute (ZCRI) and NonExecutive Director of Dynamis Associates about what the housebuilding sector can do to reduce carbon emissions.

Essentially we “have 10 years for all new buildings to either source its energy requirements on site and/or purchase renewable energy off site.

”

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ast month we featured Dynamis Associates, a company bringing a service approach to energy provision to the property sector, installing Air Source Heat Pumps. Involved with the company is Dr Stephen Finnegan, lecturer in Sustainable Architecture at the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture and Director of the Zero Carbon Research Institute. Here, he explains how the industry needs to change by 2050: “For housebuilding, I (and the vast majority of industry) believe that we must take a “fabric first” approach to house construction. Once the building is constructed in an efficient, sustainable and low carbon manner, we need then to look at how we heat and power our homes.

“There are two areas in the fight against carbon to consider. The first is operational emissions. The UK Government has set the construction industry the target of achieving net zero carbon in operation in all new homes by 2030. Essentially we have 10 years for all new buildings to either source their energy on site and/or purchase renewable energy off site.

“The second area to focus on is the embodied carbon of a building. This includes the carbon emitted in every step of the production and lifecycle of any given home. The materials used in construction, the origins of each product, the transport to site and end of life – the emissions of the entire process will need to be reduced by 40% by 2030, and by 100% by 2050 for all new buildings.

“In short, this is a big ask. However it is possible. Firstly, one of the biggest changes we can make is in the construction process itself. Products and materials must be sourced sustainably and when they arrive

on site they must be installed correctly.

Then they’ll work a lot more efficiently than if they are installed wrongly. Thermal bridging, for instance, is a huge contributor to heat loss in a building. Secondly, an industry-wide push towards heat pumps is needed and will dramatically reduce operational carbon emissions.

“Millions of heat pumps need to be installed over the next thirty years, which is a huge logistical operation. Companies like Dynamis have the potential to completely change the game by providing a third party service, taking the risks and the challenges on-board themselves.

What’s more, because they install the heat pumps themselves and they are experts on the subject, housebuilders and developers can be assured that the installation and ongoing management will be done in the most efficient way.

“Installing heat pumps is only the first step. The next exciting opportunity is from switching energy supplier to consider a time of use tariff, the options for Solar PV and battery storage. I firmly believe that if we get this right, we can take people out of fuel poverty and make our homes power plants of the future, generating an oncome for the occupants.”

The opinions expressed by Dr Stephen Finnegan are provided in a private capacity.

The University of Liverpool cannot accept responsibility for the comments made.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw017

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NEW PRODUCTS

HEATING & PLUMBING

TITON – DMEV FAN The new Titon Ultimate dMEV is a constant flow fan that has been specifically designed to exceed ventilation demands, but meets current and proposed legislation. The ultra-quiet low profile fan, suitable for new build projects and suits bathrooms, kitchens and utility room applications. With adjustable continuous and boost speed settings available, the fan utilises a DC motor and incorporates an impeller/guide vane combination to produce high flow rates and pressure.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw018

NEOPERL – FLOW REGULATORS Flow regulators manufactured by Neoperl control the flow of water through household appliances. The devices can be fitted to showers and taps to reduce the flow to a comfortable level. Plus, even a slight reduction adds up to a substantial water saving over the year. Regardless of the prevalent water pressure, a flow regulator maintains a consistent water stream at the chosen flow rate.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw020

DOMUS VENTILATION – MVHR SYSTEM Domus Ventilation’s next generation HRXE MVHR units combine supply and extract ventilation in one system to suit a wider range of residential properties than ever before. They efficiently recover the heat typically lost in waste, stale air and use it to temper the fresh air drawn into the building via a heat exchanger. The range benefits from a modern, sleek new design in white and grey, with a front facia, providing a more aesthetic look.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw019

UPONOR – PRE-INSULATED PIPES A high-performance pipe designed to make heating systems more sustainable has been launched by Uponor. Ecoflex VIP Thermo represents the next generation of pre-insulated pipes thanks to its ability to significantly minimise heat and energy losses. The product’s efficiency stems from its unique hybrid design which combines technology from bonded and unbonded insulated pipes.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw021

GROHE – SHOWER THERMOSTAT The latest Grohtherm thermostats from Grohe allow developers to offer home buyers a safer and more enjoyable showering experience. Intelligent CoolTouch technology ensures it meets consumers’ specific demands for safety by providing a barrier of cold water between the hot water and the product surface, resulting in a surface which never exceeds the temperature of the shower water.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw022

GRANT UK – SLIMLINE CYLINDERS Five new slimline hot water cylinders ranging in size from 150 litres up to 300 litres are now available from Grant UK. These new models join the MonoWave High Performance cylinder range, providing builders with efficient hot water storage solutions when space is at a premium. The cylinders work with traditional heating appliances as well as renewable technologies, including air source heat pumps.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw023

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ASK THE EXPERTS

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED When should I work with a structural engineer?

Alan Lace-Evans, Technical Director, Perega:

It is more cost “effective to iron out issues at the planning stage, rather than backtracking when issues arise over months of work.

”

20 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

As structural engineers, we offer housebuilders and developers the potential to save significant amounts of time and money, as well as ensuring the final resident is safe and sound. I’m often left scratching my head at the number of projects which go ahead without the consultation of a chartered structural engineer, or only getting one involved when the avoidable damage has already been done.

Partly, I think this situation stems from a lack of awareness around what our profession does, and when we need to be consulted.

Our responsibility is the analysis, design, planning and researching of appropriate structural systems and components to deliver on overall design objectives and cost constraints.

More widely speaking, a structural engineer will be involved in the delivery of a property’s superstructure, foundations and below-ground water drainage systems. However, our overarching concern is to deliver structural integrity, ensuring the safety of the occupant.

What, when, why?

Typically, we would get involved in a development via the project’s architect.

Levels of input vary, but typically on higher-spec, smaller builds, the proposed buildings need to fulfil so many demands it wouldn’t be possible to achieve without our input.

Often, we’ll have to make an ambitious idea a reality within the confines of the possible. This is why it’s so important to work with a trained professional who

understands the potential and limitations of specified products, fixtures and fittings.

It will avoid a major structural and financial headache later on down the line, as it is more cost effective to iron out issues at the planning stage, rather than backtracking when issues arise over months of work.

Digging a little deeper, if you will excuse the pun, we also offer advice on the foundations, particularly the suitability of the proposed design and materials.

This involves looking carefully at the geology of the area and arranging for a geotechnical investigation, which is hugely important to prevent long-term, costly problems such as subsidence and flooding.

This work could be as minimal as ‘trial pitting’, which is digging 1.5m into the ground to find out the lie of the land. For more complex developments, boreholes are undertaken, which go a lot deeper, down to depths of 30m.

This process identifies the first point at which there is a suitable bearing strata in the ground, after all, you do not want the properties to be sitting on loose fill or contaminated material.

Ultimately, a chartered structural engineer exists to not only ensure that any type of building or structure stands up, but that it is robust and safe for those who live in or use it.

For any high-spec development, whatever the scale, I would conclude it is essential to employ a structural engineer to ensure the project’s success.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Perega is an independent civil and structural engineering consultancy.

For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw024

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GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Clay for Time Hepworth Clay’s product manager for clayware, Joana Januseviciute argues for clay drainage on brownfield sites.

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rownfield sites have become an attractive option for residential developers, particularly in the midst of the UK’s housing crisis.

Reclaiming derelict sites, while preserving green belt land, provides significant environmental benefits. The relative affordability of the land is of course also a crucial consideration for developers.

However, with many of the sites previously being used for industrial purposes, there are risks posed by land contamination which need to be mitigated against. For developers, these issues must be taken into account and the correct adjustments put in place as early as possible when it comes to planning.

The early stages of any development are crucial, with below ground drainage being an integral part of this. While the systems may operate out of sight, this is not beneficial if things go wrong. Given the dependency end-users have on the systems, it’s vital that developers get them right in the first instance. Prevention supersedes the cure, and the notion of retroactively resolving below ground issues on a new housing estate is both

expensive and highly disruptive once homeowners or tenants have moved in.

With that in mind, there is a lot to be said for the use of clay drainage systems on brownfield sites in particular.

Why clay?

Soil surveys help contractors assess the land, and whether or not the contaminants can all be removed. If this isn’t possible, some materials used on developments for below ground drainage can be permeable to these contaminants (industrial run off, chemicals from manufacturing sites etc.) deep on brownfield sites. Due to its innate qualities, clay offers a perfect, long-term alternative. The material is completely unaffected by any effluent allowed in an adopted sewer system, virtually eliminating the risk of exfiltration. It’s also important that contractors specify the correct coupling, with nitrile seals, like the ones specified with Hepworth Clay, also capable of resisting the aforementioned contamination. With its natural resistance to most chemicals and compounds that

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might reasonably be found in the ground, clay is the logical and safer choice when specifying drainage for post-industrial sites.

Durability is another key characteristic that makes clay such an attractive choice.

Clay boasts naturally high product strength, enhancing in-use performance and resulting in a lifetime expectancy of over 100 years. This ensures that the required upkeep and maintenance is minimalised, while also offering further benefits, such as greater levels of resistance to high water pressure jetting.

Crucially, in the event of a blockage, more significant obstacles can be cleared on the first attempt, with reduced risk to the system as a whole.

Clay drainage systems have actually been used as a drainage option since Roman times, with their robust properties enabling them to withstand aggressive conditions, and doing so for millennia. Their resistance to damage from effluents and groundwater, as well as to temperatures well above what is typically encountered make clay drainage systems ultra-reliable.

Also, despite their rigidity, modern clay systems offer flexible joints, which can compensate for settlement after laying.

Strong but sustainable With sustainability targets in place across the UK, an eco-friendly approach to all aspects of construction is important, particularly when it comes to new-build developments. The Ofwat-approved Design and Construction Guidance, most recently updated in April 2020, also means that contractors have more freedom when it comes to choosing the materials for below ground drainage systems. The Government’s recently introduced ‘Build Back Better’ campaign aims to align economic recovery with environmental impact. Clay systems can help developers to support these initiatives in a variety of ways.

Firstly, in terms of the resource itself, clay is a future-proof material; 100% natural and 100% recyclable. Furthermore, its inherent natural strength enables recycled aggregate to be repurposed as a bedding material, reducing the environmental impact of any project it is used in, and also the costs, through its reuse. When a full trench depth of granular material can be more expensive than pipe, these savings are particularly noteworthy. The material’s aforementioned longevity also ensures that it is unlikely to need replacing with further resource within 100 years of development.

With its natural “resistance to most chemicals and compounds that might reasonably be found in the ground, clay is the logical and safer choice when specifying drainage for postindustrial sites.

”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw025

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Expert Update

Wayleave Consent

GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Could you explain to readers what ‘Wayleave Consent’ is?

This is written permission granted by landowners for telecoms providers to install equipment on private land such as telegraph poles and cables or ducting and fibre.

Why is it important?

If they are an operator – and have code powers (via The Electronic Communications Code) – there’s a legal requirement for them to obtain a wayleave. Ultimately, this agreement is vital when you think that up to 30% of properties – in an average build project – require this consent.

Does wayleave consent affect every property? How do you know if your land is affected?

PHPD’s Kieran Nee finds out more about Wayleave Consent from Georgina Rudak, Head of Wayleave at Trenches Law.

It concerns privately-owned property, so it doesn’t affect publicly maintainable land and highways. Sellers should declare if an agreement is in place as this also binds successors.

What are the implications for homeowners whose properties are subject to a wayleave agreement?

If a build requires an operator to cross someone else’s land to build, they will get in touch with the landowner or developer to obtain a wayleave so they can progress with the installation.

These agreements tend to be well structured and balanced, but it is a niche area of expertise that many owners might not know about. So, to ensure everything is done legally, it’s best practice to work alongside the operator and get the consent in place as soon as possible.

What should developers be aware of when it comes to wayleave consent?

It comes back to how I would always advise developers to liaise with operators from the very beginning. This is especially important if there’s any underground work that’s required because when everything

is in place, this work can be carried out before roads have been fully resurfaced and homes have been built – meaning properties are connected straight away.

Are there particular areas that are prone to wayleave agreements?

Yes. As rural areas tend to have more private roads and farmland, there is a greater requirement here for wayleave consent to allow operators to reach as many homes and businesses as possible.

So, it’s crucial for the owners to understand how they can help operators access land to build their networks so that they – and their neighbours – can benefit from the best possible broadband speeds.

What can property developers do about any unwanted impositions resulting from a wayleave agreement?

If it comes to a point where a landowner disagrees with clauses within a wayleave agreement, I’d advise that they work in conjunction with operators to come to a mutually agreeable solution. There has been a lot of work carried out across the sector to help bring this partnership together.

The majority of wayleaves are fairly industry-standard now and follow a recognised structure, but there is the option to allow reasonable negotiation to take place.

With the government committing to delivering a minimum of 85% gigabitcapable coverage by 2025, landowners have to give permission in order to successfully roll out these plans.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw026

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GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Creature Comforts Alongside flood prevention and water management, developers and housebuilders need to focus on protecting wildlife and biodiversity. Darren Crane, National Sales Manager – Buying Groups and Independent Merchants at ACO Water Management, details what can be done to satisfy both requirements.

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looding is an issue that housebuilders are increasingly tasked with addressing at the development stage. In part, this is due to more unpredictable weather in the UK, which is resulting in previously 1 in 50year storm-level events occurring more frequently. Equally, urbanisation and a growing population have meant that new homes are often being built on land at the highest risk of flooding.

One in ten of all new houses in England have been built on flood-prone land since 2013. As such, developers must be aware of the role they have to play in meeting this challenge. This is compounded by a renewed focus on addressing biodiversity in projects, as campaigns surrounding the safety of animals, such as hedgehogs, gain traction amongst both government and the public.

Mimicking nature Sustainable drainage systems are a key tool in the housebuilder’s armoury. They help to control the rate and volume of rainwater runoff from site, mimicking natural drainage as closely as possible.

This relieves pressure on sewerage systems, and if used effectively, can help to deliver water management that is built to last.

ACO Water Management has

26 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

developed its own model of SuDS service chain – Collect, Clean, Hold, and Release. This embraces the entire surface water management cycle, from the point where rainwater lands through to where it re-enters the natural water environment. Ultimately, this helps to ensure the provision of cost-effective, sustainable water attenuation for housebuilding projects.

Alongside flood mitigation, there is an onus on developers to minimise their impact on biodiversity. This has been brought into sharper focus following a campaign to get hedgehogs added to Britain’s list of protected animals, in light of their steeply declining numbers.

Legislative changes, such as the upcoming Environment Bill, are also putting pressure on housebuilders.

From a water management perspective, there are a number of core products that can assist in reducing a project’s impact on biodiversity. This could include installing wildlife guidance systems in cases where the migration of small animals is interrupted, or implementing solutions that allow amphibians to follow the recess in the front of the kerb, and not fall through a gully grating.

The ACO Guide Wall, for example, is designed to prevent small animals from reaching roadways or other danger areas,

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Alongside flood mitigation, “there is an onus on developers to minimise their impact on biodiversity.

”

and provides them with a firm, consistent floor area clear of vegetation that they can travel along without restriction.

Sustainable solutions Sustainability is a factor of housebuilding that is only going to increase in importance.

This places emphasis on the whole supply chain to deliver sustainable solutions, and products that are made from recycled material, such as ACO Water Management’s Vienite (a high-strength recycled polymer concrete), will play a critical role.

As urbanisation dictates that homes continue to be built in flood-prone areas, there is a significant amount of work to be done in mitigating that risk. Likewise, there is greater pressure than ever to ensure biodiversity within projects, which is why ACO even has a dedicated area on its website to help housebuilders meet this challenge.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? As part of its 2021 webinar series, ACO Water Management is running a session on Practical and Sustainable Surface Water Management.

For more information and to view this on-demand, go to www.rdr.link/dw027

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GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Ground Investment Investing in plant is a huge outlay for a small building company, but choosing the right machine for your needs can help you maximise productivity and change the way you build. We have rounded up the latest excavators for you to compare the benefits and advantages across the range of sizes and weights.

0-2 tonne At the smallest end of the scale are mini-excavators such as Komatsu’s PC24MR-5. This 2-tonne machine is precisely the kind of machine for you if you need to work alongside existing structures or in a tight urban environment. Tiny in comparison to some of the other excavators out there, machines in this class still pack a punch. Whilst the buckets might not be huge, the digging depth of the Komatsu is an impressive 2360mm and the reach is 4300mm.

Machines of this weight class can be towed safely and legally under a standard driver’s licence, which will be a major benefit to many readers.

The electric option The past two years have seen the introduction to the market for the first time of all-electric excavator options that no longer need to be plugged in while they work or rely on hybrid solutions. JCB led the way with its 19C-1E machine. This is a 1.9 tonne excavator powered solely by four lithium-ion batteries. This amounts to 20kWh of energy storage, or enough for a “full working shift” in JCB’s words and the batteries can be fully charged in as little as 2.5 hours. The

28 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

main advantages of a machine such as this, and other manufacturers have begun to bring out similar models, are the lack of pollution and the lack of noise. Good for the environment certainly, but it is the ability to work freely indoors and to work without causing too much noise disturbance to neighbours that will really be turning people’s heads.

Zero tail swing Another much vaunted feature that has popped up in recent years is “zero tail swing”, meaning that the back end of the excavator doesn’t extend beyond the tracks. This enables the operator to swing around freely in the knowledge that the tail won’t swing out further than the width of the tracks. The feature works best on smaller machines, such as the 5-tonne ViO50-6B, designed by the originators of the feature, Yanmar. On these machines it doesn’t have to compromise too much.

Plus these are the machines more likely to benefit from a reduced footprint, being

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: PLANT

more adapted to smaller sites or sites with a lot of activity and thus a heightened risk of knocking into someone walking behind.

5-10 tonne Moving up the weight scale you obtain more power and roomier cabs, more comfortable machines for more protracted tasks. Takeuchi’s 7 tonne TB370 features a 42.4kW power output and 48.4kN of digging force. Machines this size are a nice balance between size and power for many companies, and can easily turn their hand to a range of tasks. Handily, excavators up to the 10 tonne category feature rubber tracks, meaning they can be driven safely over newly tarmacked roads and other sensitive materials.

Midi-excavators Moving into the midi range and the emphasis starts to shift away from

manoeuvrability and compactness and towards power, dig depth and durability.

Mecalac’s 15MC tracked crawlerexcavator features an eco and a power mode, allowing users to choose the most appropriate setting. Moving up to this weight class, the higher cab and heavier weight result in a more comfortable experience. The machine feels sturdier and movements in the arm don’t affect the cab so much. These are the machines that are suitable for open areas and for digging that is substantial, but might also require some finesse.

Crawler excavators Excavators above 20 tonnes are all about power and digging capacity. A 22 tonne machine such as Doosan’s DX225LC-5, for example, has a digging force of 15.2 tonnes and a digging depth of 6 metres. Machines this size and up are ideal for heavy duty digging and large scale earth moving.

They’re more complicated to transport between sites, they’re heavy drinkers of diesel and they’re not safe to use in close proximity to existing structures or busy worksites. They are true workhorses, however, and can make quick work of immense amounts of earth moving. They handle a range of attachments too, and can lift heavy objects with ease. Of course, their large size means you’re far more likely to hire in a machine like this than buy one.

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GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Recent changes to the Sewers Code will widen the choice of drainage options open to builders. Richard Eddy, Product Manager, Below Ground Drainage, Polypipe Building Products, explains.

30 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

The Open Code I

n April 2020, without much fanfare, there was a significant change in the drainage guidelines. The introduction of a new Sewers Code for Adoption from Water UK provides a great opportunity for builders and developers to operate more flexibly and sustainably.

The Sewers Code for Adoption guidance includes a Design and Construction Guidance document that affects the adoption of sustainable drainage systems and below ground drainage systems on all development sites in England, providing developers and contractors with an updated, standardised set of delivery procedures.

The significant difference from the preceding guidance is that the definition of a sewer is changing from a channel that supplies ‘working outfall’ to one that offers ‘effective outfall’. This means that a lot of SuDS systems which would not have been considered adoptable under the old

regime can now be classified as such, subject to the correct design and specification.

The framework has been put in place for the use of a greater range of below ground and above ground water drainage systems. Importantly, there is an explicit instruction that the use of plastic-based pipes for below ground drainage can be considered on all sites.

This instruction on the use of plastic pipes means that builders – in those areas of England which were restricted in their choice of materials – can improve their efficiency and reassure customers that they are using more sustainable materials.

Plastic pipes typically weigh around 94% less than rigid pipe alternatives such as concrete and clay. This significantly lighter weight makes them easier for contractors to handle on site, reducing the amount of machinery and labourers required to install them.

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This also means that longer lengths and larger, more complex fitting modules can be manufactured remotely and transported to site in one piece without being hampered by weight restrictions, reducing the time that specialist trades are required to spend on site.

Once installed as part of a sewer pipe system, plastic can remain in place for many years. Recent tests by TEPPFA show that buried PVC-U and PE pipes have a service lifetime of more than 100 years with minimal degradation. This reduces the maintenance costs and reduces the system’s whole life cycle costs.

The plastic used in these systems is also recyclable once it reaches the end of its life.

The clarity that the Code for Adoption guidance brings to the industry means that developers no longer have to adhere to different systems and guidelines depending on which sewerage company they are working with.

Instead, they can specify and install plastic systems and can be assured that, not only are the products completely compliant with the standards, but that there will also be no issues when the sewerage companies adopt them.

Working directly with a manufacturer will give you access to the best and latest developments in the industry. Polypipe has developed and is constantly working to add to what is the UK’s widest and most varied range of plastic-based drainage and water management systems.

In the past 18 months Polypipe has introduced the new MCD100 domestic drainage channel range, a sturdy and

The clarity that the “Code brings means that developers no longer have to adhere to different systems and guidelines depending on which sewerage company they are working with.

”

simple to fit system that works with any surface and the IC600 range of inspection chambers as an adoptable alternative to traditional concrete ring manholes.

Under the new Sewer Code for Adoption, the IC600 bases are suitable for connection to smoothwall underground pipes of 160mm, 250mm, or 315mm diameter, or connected with other Polypipe Polysewer pipes of 150mm, 225mm, and 300mm when installed with the appropriate adaptor systems.

Builders and developers now have more options in front of them to install a suitable drainage system, and are able to draw on a greater range of materials and products to develop solutions that meet the standards and the needs of the water company.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The technical team at Polypipe has produced a guide that helps to break down the guidance into practical advice for use by designers, developers and contractors.

To download your free copy, go to www.rdr.link/dw028

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GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Breaking New Ground Kubota launches the KX042-4a, a miniexcavator with sustainability at heart.

The improved DPF “system ensures clean exhaust emissions and reduces maintenance by increasing the service intervals for both the regeneration filter and ash cleaner.

”

32 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

Q

uestions of sustainability don’t end with the materials used in the construction of a development, and they begin well before the homeowner has even switched the heating on for the first time. The plant you use to build homes also has a part to play in reducing pollution and protecting the planet. Luckily, plant manufacturers are now competing against each other to offer builders excavators that leave as light a carbon footprint as possible without sacrificing strength.

Japanese compact excavator experts Kubota have launched what they describe as the most environmentally friendly excavator in its class. The KX042-4a excavator, an update to the existing KX042-4 model, is 4-tonne machine equipped with a fully Stage-V compliant engine.

The machine’s updated Diesel Particulate Filter incorporates both a Particulate Filter and a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst and now enables increased intervals between regeneration and longer service life. The improved DPF system ensures clean exhaust emissions and reduces maintenance by increasing the service intervals for both the regeneration filter and ash cleaner.

Using an auto idling system, the KX042-4a helps save fuel. When the control levers are in neutral for more than 4 seconds, the engine RPM automatically idles. When any control lever is moved, the engine RPM immediately returns. This feature reduces noise and exhaust emissions while reducing operating costs.

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Operator comfort has been seen to, as well. The deluxe suspension seat is designed and engineered to fit better and keep users working for longer comfortably and reducing strain. It also comes with a spacious cab and wide entrance, developed again to optimise operator comfort and give generous legroom to minimise fatigue. Those using the excavator are also able to leave the machine with ease.

Glen Hampson, Business Development Manager for Construction at Kubota UK, said: “Our focus at Kubota is to help our customers overcome many of the barriers they face in today’s complicated industry.

The KX042-4a will do just this, with a powerful and reliable engine and the versatility you need for every job on the worksite. What’s more, the Stage-V compliant engine and improved DPF will reduce emissions and increase the overall sustainability of the machine, which is a key priority across the industry.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw029

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GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

Going Underground Think before you dig is one of the core messages from the UK Power Networks’ Be Bright, Stay Safe campaign. PHPD’s Lee Jones looks at how the organisation can help you steer clear of contact with cables and electrical infrastructure.

Before starting “work you can request cable plans from either UK Power Networks or Line Search Before You Dig.

”

W

hen it comes to a close encounter with the power network there are rarely second chances. The least that could be expected from significant contact with electricity is serious burns, and at worst a fatality. Either outcome will have a devastating effect on a builder’s family, with life-changing injuries seriously impacting on their ability to earn. Moreover, as an employer, if you are deemed to have failed to implement the appropriate mitigation measures amongst your workforce, it is likely you will be deemed legally responsible for any harm to your employees.

The UK Power Network’s Be Bright, Stay Safe Campaign is dedicated to raising the awareness of the dangers of excavation around the underground network, and avoiding contact with overhead cables. It seeks to engage with everyone from developers to utilities providers to get that message across, and is at pains to emphasise the consequences of cable strikes. Thanks to the invaluable information it provides, however, the organisation can help the building industry avoid those tragic consequences, and represents an invaluable resource for identifying the location of electrical services.

So just what procedures should you be putting in place to make sure you don’t become a casualty? Your employees can be at risk not just when digging but when using lifting equipment, ladders, pneumatic drills or hand and power tools. In every

instance the same rules apply – each job should be planned, with extra time allowed to locate and mark out cables.

Before starting work you can request cable plans from either UK Power Networks or Line Search Before You Dig. Time is money but digging without an awareness of what lies beneath can itself be very costly. Locate, identify, and clearly mark where those cables are and make sure everyone working on site is aware and understands. Underground utilities may not run in straight lines and can be routed around obstacles – or change depth – so it’s also important to confirm the location of cables by using a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT). Buried services should be clearly marked before excavating – with trial holes dug if necessary – and, when you’re ready to make the earth move, do not use mechanical excavators or power tools within 0.5m of the suspected route.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw030

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April 33

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PRODUCT FOCUS: NORBORD

CaberAcoustic D Reduce noise transference in buildings with Norbord’s CaberAcoustic.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Samples of Norbord’s panels can be ordered at www.norbord.co.uk. Head to the new housebuilder page on the website to download a selection of tools including a fully-interactive guide to all products and a checklist to make sure you have everything you need for your build.

esigned to reduce both impact and airborne transmitted sounds, Norbord’s CaberAcoustic chipboard flooring panel is a versatile and economic solution to the inherent challenge of noise in residential buildings.

The panel, which can be laid over concrete and timber floors in both new and existing buildings, is specified by some of the UK’s leading housebuilders.

The portfolio comprises 28mm and 32mm variants of tongue-and-grooved particleboard panels with a 10mm sound reducing layer bonded to the underside.

This specially-designed layer, made in the UK from recycled felt, reduces impact noise transmission by up to 19dB and also helps reduce airborne noise when used as part of the appropriate flooring system.

The board’s tongue-and-grooved edge profile gives a tight, easy-fitting joint and maximum strength when fixed using CaberFix D3 adhesive.

CaberAcoustic gives the best sound reducing performance when installed with a perimeter flanking strip (available in 50m rolls) to reduce sound transference around the edge of the floor deck. The boards are 2,400mm long x 600mm wide and are available in 28mm and 32mm

thicknesses with standard TG4 edge profiles. They come in packs of 40 (28mm) or 36 (32mm) sheets.

For use in timber joisted floor applications in new build developments, the panels are best used in conjunction with the Hush MF Ceiling System and Hush 100 Sound Absorber (HD1038).

Use CaberAcoustic 28, with all T&G joints glued using CaberFix D3 adhesive, laid over 18mm/22mm chipboard deck, with all perimeters sealed using a flanking strip. Install the Hush-MF system to the underside of the joists creating a minimum 150mm void from the underside of the joists to the back of the plasterboard lining.

For use with with concrete floor structures of 300-365 kg/m², in conjunction with the Hush MF Ceiling System and Hush 100 Sound Absorber (HD1018), use CaberAcoustic 28 with all T&G joints glued using CaberFix D3 adhesive and all perimeters sealed using a flanking strip, laid over 200mm in situ concrete slab.

Install the Hush MF Ceiling to the underside of the masonry construction, ensuring a 150mm void is created from the underside of the beam and block to the back of the plasterboard lining.

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Barratt Developments PLC ..................................pages 18, 19

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Polypipe ............................................................................page 11

Energy Saving Innovative Controls Ltd ......................page 7

Saniflo Ltd ......................................................inside front cover

Grass Concrete Ltd ........................................................page 27

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34 April Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

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LAST WORD

No match for man

Eve Livett, CEO of The Association of Brickwork Contractors, gives her verdict on the increasing use of robotics in the field of bricklaying.

By taking “bricklayers off the site in Yorkshire, there is a very real risk of seeing the house fall down before it has even been completed.

”

I am delighted to have been asked to provide a “last word” for PHPD on the recent national headline regarding the first ever house to be built by a robot in Yorkshire, UK. The story is certainly a fascinating one, which we can all relate to at its core, as it provokes our own imagination of what life may look like in the future. Within mine, however, a certain fear of mass unemployment and unexciting housing is what resonates. But, as with any innovation that comes to fruition in the world of bricklaying, I have to step away from that instinctive feeling of mine and adopt a more pragmatic approach so that the right decisions and investments are made for the benefit of the sector as a whole. I hope this article sums up why I believe there is currently no value in using robots over skilled tradespeople onsite.

I first heard of the technology that claimed to be able to replace bricklayers 8 years ago, working at the Brick Development Association. At that time, international companies reached out to the UK brick sector to examine the potential for launching their product in the UK market. The technology intrigued me, but I remember acutely that the terminology used to promote it – “replacement of the bricklayer” – did not.

The technology that existed 8 years ago worked in a similar way to that which exists today; a machine on a rail with a robotic hand, relying on people to feed it bricks and mortar. The big difference between the robot technology now is that the machine is able to go around on its rail and construct corners.

Despite these 8 years of progression and refinement of the system, there is still a need for a bricklaying team to be present on site to provide the finer detailing which insures the safety and safeguards the overall quality of the building’s construction. By taking bricklayers off the site in Yorkshire, there is a very real risk of seeing the house fall down before it has even been completed.

Wall ties, DPCs and lintels have all got to

be installed by the bricklayer, along with all the pointing, which by no means eradicates tradespeople working at height, as claimed.

The only thing you are essentially taking away from the bricklayer at this point, apart from pride, is the ability to pick up a brick, use a trowel, and lay it. So, the value of using skilled people onsite is still as critical there as it is on any other site. The only thing that is different on the site in Yorkshire is that they are using an expensive bit of equipment to assist: an expensive bit of equipment developed and produced at great cost to its engineers and four years in the making, let’s not forget.

The ability of a bricklayer far exceeds laying bricks to a line and, as such, we must be careful when claiming to bring technologies up to a standard which threatens to eradicate such knowledge and expertise.

Even though I believe that the technology behind this machine has a very long way to go before it starts becoming productive and cost effective, it is still significant to hear about its development in the UK. The UK brick sector has embraced emerging technologies before and will continue to do so, as they are vital for the growth of any industry, but for now I believe that this robot is not a “one stop shop” for construction with bricks and mortar, as its makers suggest. Instead, it is a supplementary tool for brickwork operatives in the field whose effectiveness and longevity in the trade remain to be seen.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? The Association of Brickwork Contractors is a Trade Body representing the largest Specialist Brickwork Contractors across the UK. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dw031

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer April

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