Let’s here it for collaborative working in 2010
2nd February 2010
Now is the time to champion best practice and collaborative working; it is the only way Welsh construction can work towards Government zero carbon and waste targets and deliver successful projects.
No one can pretend that 2010 is going to be an easy year. But it can be a positive one depending on the decisions we make and if we stick to our resolutions. In the CEW column in the Western Mail in early January, we said that the current economic conditions give us two choices.
Either we allow the situation to force the sector deeper into recession; or we grit our teeth and restate our commitment to the concept of best value, quality-driven procurement methods as championed by Egan and Latham. Our industry has the potential to build Wales out of the current slump, but must be united – both at client and supply level – in commitment and approach. We must hold our nerve.
In this, our first e-newsletter (they are going to be monthly) it is great to see evidence of the industry pulling together. The SWW Club event will help SMEs appreciate the importance of collaborative working; the demonstration projects highlight the benefits of teamwork and it is clear to everyone that we cannot deliver on our targets without an integrated approach – up and down the supply chain. Our industry can build Wales out of recession, that was certainly the mood at our -40C question time session held on 26 January, but only if we work together.
We must still work hard to educate clients about the benefits of collaborative working. Clients need to champion best practice to allow the supply chain to deliver commercially robust best value outcomes. The procurement task force will help achieve some of this in the public sector and hopefully private sector clients will watch and learn. It is vital that as we start to talk about a possible recovery beginning, we do not revert to the good old bad old days of lowest price tendering.
In 2010, construction has to resolve to hold its nerve, focus on sustainability and energy efficient building systems and simply, keep calm and carry on. Watch out for our monthly newsletters from now on as we help the industry to achieve its goals via a collaborative approach. If you want to contribute an article or have some news to share then do get in touch via the website or at info@cewales.org.uk
Dear Sir,
As a sustainable wall building manufacturer we were very interested to read your article re Welsh construction can work towards Government zero carbon. As can be seen below we are already involved in supplying Durisol for school builds due to its excellent thermal, acoustic, eco-sustainable properties.
Durisol gets top marks for green school building
Durisol ‘s eco-friendly wall forming system is helping to cut the lifetime carbon footprint of a new building at a Devon school. External and internal walls of a single-storey extension at Caen Community Primary School in the village of Braunton are being constructed using fully recyclable Durisol modular units – a cement-bonded building product manufactured from 80% recycled wood fibre. In addition to the units’ own low carbon footprint and low embedded energy, Durisol units can be specified with Rockwool mineral fibre insulation – a green insulation material – that allows U-values as low as 0.19, without additional insulation, thereby enhancing a building’s overall energy efficiency rating.
Devon County Council works with property services partner NPS South West Ltd in Exeter – a subsidiary of NPS Property Consultants Ltd. Nicholas Johnson, Lead Architect at NPS South West is managing the design and construction of the 300m2 extension at Caen Community Primary School, which will provide pupils with three extra classrooms and a new toilet block. Durisol wall units were selected to complement the project’s sustainable specification, he says: “We first read about Durisol in a trade magazine and logged on to their website to find out more. The product’s green credentials are very impressive and the wall unit’s innovative tongue and grooved locating profile assists alignment and enables quick and easy wall forming on site – saving both build time and costs.” Durisol modular units are simply dry-stacked without mortar, and then filled with concrete to create solid walls with excellent thermal and sound insulation. In addition, the building’s square, single storey design is ensuring high tensile strength which has eliminated the need for reinforcing bars – further reducing construction time and costs. The project’s main contractor, Morgan Ashurst, is equally pleased with the Durisol product. Site Manager, Jack Cook, says: “Durisol wall units are really light to handle and the speed of build is a major benefit.”
NPS South West has specified 365mm wide Durisol units with Rockwool mineral fibre insulation for the extension’s external load bearing walls. At 365mm wide, these are the largest units in the Durisol range and have a sound reduction capability of 57dB. Durisol ‘s 170mm units, without Rockwool insulation, are being used for internal walls with an acoustic rating of 55dB. All units have a structural core thickness of 120mm.
As Caen Community Primary School is located on a flood plain, materials used to build the extension must be able to withstand potential exposure to water. “Durisol units met this requirement as well,” says Nicholas Johnson, “as they don’t rot or decay and won’t support fungal or bacterial growth – making them a really durable, green building solution.”
The sound insulation is fabulous! There is a noticeable positive
difference
when you walk through to the new part of the school. The sound
insulation
adds to a feeling of calm and there is no echo even in such a lofty
open
space. This is particularly good for classrooms for young children as it
adds to the comfort of the space and allows for calm and quiet as well
as
discussion and play.
Thank you
Karen Crutchfield
Head teacher
Durisol Walling System
Durisol UK offers a sustainable walling system made from recycled timber that is mineralised to make it inert then mixed with cement to form Durisol woodcrete. The Durisol product does not burn or rot & is unattractive to rodents insects etc. It is used for building insulated concrete walls in less time and with significant cost savings compared to other methods. I’m aware you are probably looking at alternative methods of construction that meet the stringent requirements of local authorities whilst caring for the environment. Durisol has a 50 year plus, successful history, in Europe & N America as a main stream building product.
Durisol reduces the time required to construct the walls as well as the skilled labour needed to erect them, saving up to 30% in cost, using more than 80% recycled materials & providing excellent thermal properties, latest tests carried out shows our 365 unit achieves a U Value of 0.19 excluding any external or internal finishes. Our Acoustic properties has a wall sound transmission coefficient (STC) rating ranging between 54 & 72 The noise reduction coefficients (NRC) ratings are as high as 0.95 meaning 95% of the sound that reaches the Durisol material is absorbed. This backs up our claim that we achieve a very high degree of sustainability for a very low cost.
For further information please feel free to contact me.
Kind regards
Moira… 01495 234 081