Small Builders And Small Sites Will Build Homes Faster

The best way to speed up housing delivery is to get more small builders back into the market and focus more attention on the potential of smaller sites, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

In response to the Prime Minister’s speech, Building a Britain fit for future, Brian Berry Chief Executive of the FMB said yesterday: “Small sites tend to deliver more quickly and smaller builders, for whom short term financing is more of a concern, have every incentive to build and sell quickly. More opportunities for these smaller developments will diversify the market, boost capacity and speed up delivery. The Government has clearly recognised this, and is today setting out a raft of changes to national planning policy that will encourage more small sites to come forward. We particularly welcome the move to ensure that at least 20% of the sites identified for housing in local authority’s plans are smaller sites.”

Berry continued: “However, we also need to be aware that the pace of building homes cannot be simply dictated. Those whose business is building houses have very few incentives to just sit on land. SME builders in particular have every incentive to build and sell as quickly as they can, so that they can recoup their investment and move on to the next project – nothing else would make financial sense. But developments can be stalled and slowed down for perfectly good reasons – from the financing difficulties which can often affect smaller builders, to downturns in market conditions. Building a house is a very significant investment, and house builders who build without being sure they can sell, don’t stay in business very long.”

Berry concluded: “There is reason to push back against developers who have a particularly poor track record of delivery, and those who seek planning permissions purely for speculative purposes, but the Government needs to make sure that rhetoric doesn’t get ahead of reality. It should recognise that attempts to force building at a rate which makes poor commercial sense could end up slowing down delivery. This could end up discouraging rather than incentivising the SME builders and new market entrants we need to diversify the market.”

www.fmb.org.uk

Glass Technology Services Ltd (GTS) will be bringing its expertise in glass research and development, analysis, testing and consultancy support to the 2018 Materials Research Exchange & Investor Showcase (MRE2018). GTS is attending the conference and will be exhibiting throughout the event, which takes place at London’s Business Design Centre on March 12 and 13.

GTS’ advanced materials-based research projects have attracted more than £4 million in grant-funding – for developments spanning glass, medical, defence, energy, laser, photonics and waste sectors. This makes the event the natural place for GTS to showcase their extensive capabilities in this field, discuss their innovations in glass and further engage and network with peers, project partners, funding bodies and potential clients.

GTS will present the latest glass technologies that it is currently working on, which include biomedical glass materials, ‘laser’ glass systems, 3D printing of glass components, glasses for the nuclear sector and novel ‘dissolvable’ glasses – designed for controlled release of ions and currently under development for use in the biomedical, oil and gas sectors.

Dr Nick Kirk, Technical Director of Glass Technology Services Ltd said:

“Glass is an advanced material with untapped potential to revolutionise our daily lives – from medicine, packaging and architecture to renewable energy, electronics, and aerospace. We are delighted to be exhibiting at the 2018 Materials Research and Investor Showcase to highlight the excellent research capabilities that we hold in this field. Our team will be providing examples and discussing the variety of applications in which glass is being used in the technologies of today and tomorrow.”

“If you are attending the event and would like to schedule some time with GTS to discuss a new project idea or any glass related research, analysis or support, please don’t hesitate to contact the team today – or visit the GTS stand at any point during MRE2018.”

Organised by Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network and supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (dstl), the conference will showcase a wide range of materials research and investment opportunities and provides visitors an ideal opportunity to hear about the latest trends and take a glimpse of future innovations.

The event organisers expect over 1,400 delegates to attend and conference sessions include key influencers from Ford Motor Company Limited, TATA Steel, NSG Global R&D, the Knowledge Transfer Network, SPECIFIC IKC, Henry Royce Institute, 7TH Design and Invention, Faraday Institution, BP International Centre for Advanced Materials and many more.

Glass Technology Services Ltd provides analysis, consultancy, testing and research and development support to all parts of the glass supply chain – from raw materials to the end consumer. GTS prides itself on its confidentiality and independence and is accredited to ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 standards. For more information please visit www.glass-ts.com  email enquiries@glass-ts.com telephone +44 (0) 114 290 1801 or subscribe to the GTS newsletter.

Leading European systems company Aluprof have been awarded further prestigious Q-Mark Product Certifications by Exova BM Trada, for several of their window and door systems.  The Q-Mark scheme offers independent and impartial third party assessment of manufacturers claims as to product performance and quality.

Specifiers are beginning to place more emphasis on the Q-Mark scheme as it not only confirms the products claims, but also can be followed through to site installation by using the ‘Q-Mark window and door-set survey and installation scheme’ for installers.  Whist initial audits are carried out when certificates are successfully awarded to systems suppliers and installers, retaining certification requires passing future company audits.  Both schemes ensure that specifiers obtain the expected quality of the finished installed product.

Fabricators and installers who are Secured by Design members can use the Aluprof Q-Mark approved systems to offer fully compliant Secure by Design installations which combine the principles of ‘designing out crime’ with physical security.

Aluprof currently have their MB-70 open in and open out window certified, their MB-86 open in window certified and their MB-70 & MB-86 doors certified by Exova BM Trada.   MD of Aluprof UK, Wojciech Brozyna explains, “We have long recognised that ‘installed quality’ is the basis of why construction professionals continue to specify both systems, and sub-contract companies, for fenestration products on their projects.  The Exova BM Trada scheme is becoming well recognised as the independent and impartial third party assessment scheme of choice.  At Aluprof, we continue to pride ourselves on systems design, quality and service, this scheme recognises our efforts in all these areas.”

To complement the existing certified systems from Aluprof, the company has a further twelve products which are currently under audit, pending certification.

Aluprof’s extensive range of systems extend to unitised curtain walling, sliding folding doors, commercial doors systems and a wide range of window systems, all of which are increasingly being specified on a variety of residential and commercial projects across the UK and overseas.  All systems are designed and installed by selected, specially trained companies to ensure each product meets Aluprof’s exacting standards.  Further information is available on the company website at www.aluprof.co.uk

Powder Coating technology continues to advance, and whilst not a new concept, textured coatings are becoming recognised by specifiers as an alternative to choosing a high gloss, gloss or matt powder coat finish.

Textured finishes offer both a textured feel on close inspection, and introduce a deep matt appearance from a distance.  On average textured finishes offer a very low gloss level of just a 5%.  Textured finishes can also be very hardwearing and are offered in a wide range of colours, all of which are supplied under the current QUALICOAT specification from licensed applicators across the UK & Ireland. Currently the finishes are growing in popularity rapidly across Europe and the trend is set here to follow with increased specification.

Textured finishes can be supplied in a single opaque colour or be suppled as a metallic finish further enhancing the unique nature of the coating.  The textured finish is especially useful if the substrate has slight imperfections that need to be hidden, or there is a need for the coating to have an anti-slip characteristic which may be required for hardware or anti-slip areas.

Together with outstanding durability characteristics, systems can be coated at lower temperatures, typically 170ºC helping to reduce energy consumption.   As these powder coat systems offer a particularly deep mat finish, coverage is improved and colour is more consistent across various thicknesses of coating. Some systems can also incorporate anti-graffiti characteristics making them suitable for heavy commercial use.

For further information on the availability of various colours and finishes contact any QUALICOAT UK & Ireland member for more information.  For updated information about the use and specification of QUALICOAT in the UK and Ireland, please visit the UK & Ireland associations’ website at www.qualicoatuki.org

AluK has announced the first ever winner of its brand new Installation of the Month competition. SG Installations’ stunning install of AluK windows, doors and curtain walling in a contemporary property in Northforeland, Broadstairs edged out the other shortlisted projects from Nottingham Window Company and Bedford Bi-Folds in an on-line poll.

SG Installations now has the honour of being the first company to feature in the AluK ‘Hall of Frame’, newly created on the dedicated competition website at http://iotm.aluk.com/uk. The specialist glazing contractor, based in Broadstairs, Kent, also gets exclusive access to an Installation of the Month digital badge to use across its website and social media channels, a £100 Screwfix voucher and an invitation to the winners’ event taking place at the end of the year.

AluK’s Installation of the Month competition is designed to give the company’s very own ‘Experts in Aluminium’ the recognition they deserve. It is open to all customers, who just need to tag the very best installation photos they post on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #MyExpertInstall to enter. They don’t need to register or fill in any forms, and they can enter as many times as they like.

AluK says that the competition is all about showcasing the huge variety of projects where AluK’s aluminium windows, doors and veranda systems are installed, and above all to recognise and reward the quality and innovation being demonstrated by its customers every day; and that was certainly the case in the first month.

With SG Installations deservedly taking the prize for February, entries are now open for the March competition. AluK will be drawing up a shortlist of finalists towards the end of the month and then it will be up to AluK’s 17,000 Twitter followers to choose their favourite once again.

Further details are at:

http://iotm.aluk.com/uk

Finance experts to the glass and glazing industry, Improveasy, will be unveiling new plans around support for fabricators and manufacturers at an upcoming industry event.

Improveasy is a gold sponsor at the Glazing Summit taking place on May 22^nd at the St Johns Hotel & Conference Centre in Birmingham.

At the event, representatives from Improveasy will be on hand to talk about its latest initiative that will see them rolling out bespoke finance initiatives for manufacturers.

Austin Barclay – Improveasy Managing Director – explains: “The glass and glazing industry has responded positively to our finance packages and more and more installers are becoming appointed representatives with us; and winning extra business as they are able to offer finance to customers.

“We are also building strong relationships with manufacturers and fabricators in the industry and offering them bespoke packages, whereby they can offer finance options to their networks. It’s something we’ve been working on for the last few months and we will be promoting it at the upcoming Glazing Summit.”

Improveasy provide installers with finance solutions that they can offer to homeowners.

Companies that partner with them can also access sales training seminars, alongside a host of innovative finance options.

Furthermore, before signing up with Improveasy, companies or installers do not need to be FCA regulated. Once registered with Improveasy, installers become an Appointed Representative (AR) and can then begin offering finance options under either the Improveasy brand or their own company’s brand.

The Glazing Summit will bring together directors, founders and senior management from the industry’s biggest and best system houses, fabricators, installers and suppliers.

The event which is hosted by industry data specialists Insight Data and sister company Purplex Marketing, features a full day of talks and debates on the hot topics of the industry, as well as an exclusive Leaders Dinner in the evening.

Austin comments on their support for the event: “This is a £4bn industry and there is so much opportunity within it. We’re keen to continue the momentum we’re gathering and ensure as many businesses as possible are benefitting from using our finance options – and winning profitable new business.”

To find out more or to book tickets visit www.glazingsummit.co.uk

Standards and legislation surrounding windows and doors are constantly evolving, and Yale understands the importance of complying with the very latest developments. As a result, the team is on hand to offer their expert advice to ensure you are manufacturing and installing compliant products.

One such standard that has recently been revised is PAS24:2016. The updated door standard now stipulates that any external doors to be fitted with a letterplate must meet the new criteria set out in TS008. In order to meet the TS008 testing requirements, the letterplate must eliminate the risk of a potential burglar gaining access by means of physical force or through ‘fishing’ and unlocking of the door through the letterplate aperture.

Notably, this is being enforced by Police approved scheme, Secured by Design, who are making it compulsory for all OEM license holders to meet the revised PAS24:2016 standard. This will drive demand for high end letterplate solutions and create an increased awareness of the TS008 standard across the industry.

PAS 24 is a primary reference in the Building Regulation’s Approved Document Q, which relates to security in residential properties. Changes to the latest specification include more robust, stringent requirements for letterplates and a wider scope that increases the range of security doorsets.

Paul Atkinson, Sales and Commercial Director for Yale Door and Window Solutions, said, “Security standards are continually revisited and rewritten to keep up with the new and sophisticated ways burglars are employing to break into our homes. We understand that this can be confusing for our customers, so we’re on hand to offer insight and advice to ensure they’re providing compliant products to homeowners.

“Not only can we help bring you up to speed with the latest revisions for TS008, we can also provide information and advice on a range of other industry standards and schemes including Approved Document Q, TS007 and Secured by Design.”

Yale offers expert advice on safeguarding residents and properties with its updated RIBA accredited CPD seminar – ‘Specifying Windows and Doors Safety, Security, Means of Escape and Best Value’ .

For further information about the latest standards or compliant products available, please call 01902 366800 or visit www.yaledws.co.uk. Here you will also find a dedicated ‘specification’ section that details each of the CPD seminars on offer from Yale. You can also submit an enquiry to arrange your free CPD presentation.

Picture above: Carl F Groupco’s Technical Manager John Mitchell presents samples of colours and finishes for the Glazpart Link Vent range of trickle ventilators.

The high performance Glazpart Link Vent range of plastic injection moulded trickle ventilators has been added to Carl F Groupco’s hardware catalogue. Designed to meet the stringent requirements of today’s building standards, the Link Vent MK 2 is available in two variants – the 2500EQA and 5000EQA.

Drawing on over 30 years’ experience in the design and manufacture of plastic glazing accessories for the fenestration industry, and specialised knowledge of ventilation products, the Glazpart Link Vent range offers a number of key features including one of the highest decibel ratings for non-acoustic vents. The ventilators can also achieve higher performance and improved EQA on smaller vents.

The 2500EQA can be installed to replace both 2000 and most 4000 vents: it is the same size as typical 2000 vents and has the optimum EQA to replace most 4000 vents. The 5000EQA can be used to replace two 4000 ventilators, meaning fewer vents to fit and rout. Supplied with fixing clips already fitted, and without end caps, ensures easy push fitting in seconds. Accurate, level fitting is also achieved as clips automatically centre the vent in the rout and for screw fixing, the fitted screw caps are easily removed and replaced.

The Link Vent is available in a large range of solid colour or wood grain finishes. For maximum colour flexibility, internal and external parts can be purchased separately.

Carl F Groupco also features Glazpart packers including flat packers, flexible corner wedges and klip frame packers in the tools and consumables section of its catalogue.

Carl F Groupco Limited Tel: 01733 393330   www.carlfgroupco.co.uk  

Follow Carl F Groupco on Twitter using the handles @Carl_F_Groupco and @_SmartSecure

GB Joinery provides a wide range of professional joinery and carpentry services, to Stockport and the Greater Manchester area and throughout the UK.  Established in 2014, the team has joinery experience that spans over 35 years.  Offering an end to end service from the design, to manufacture and installation, they pride themselves on providing quality products at a reasonable price, with the personal touch. Karl Garforth, General Manager at GB Joinery, explains: “We offer our customers our best products, as standard.  We’re obviously delighted to be the holder of the only official A rating on Accoya products in the UK, as quality is everything to us. It is a prerequisite in everything we do and our customers have come to expect that.  As specialists, we’ve got industry experience that spans over four decades and that really shows in our finished products.

“When it comes to certification, you need someone you can rely on and trust, who has the experience and knowledge required to guide you through the process and you definitely get that with CENSolutions.  There are a lot of similarities in our companies’ approach – we are both very focussed on delivering quality and ensuring our customers get great service, all at the best available price.  As well as our Window Energy Rating, we also hold PAS24: 2016 on our stormproof and flush fitting casements in Accoya and hardwood as well as weather performance testing BS 6375 and CMS Certification on a range of window and door products to cover CE Marking and EN 14351.  CENSolutions makes the process easy.  We see them twice a year for auditing purposes but they are always on hand in the meantime should we need any assistance.  It’s great to know that all of our certification requirements are in safe hands.”

Wayne Rogerson, Joint Managing Director of CENSolutions adds: “GB Joinery is a well invested, extremely experienced joinery company making some truly fantastic products.   The fact they are the only timber manufacturer in Manchester to have Window Energy Ratings says a lot about the type of company they are and to have the only official A rating in the UK on Accoya products is fantastic.  We have been their certification partner for just over a year now and have to say their commitment to quality and customer service is commendable.  We look forward to working with them for many more years to come.”

www.gbjoinery.net