News Archive - July 2010
Icat project launched
30 July 2010
A new industry project codenamed ‘iCAT’ is launched – with the aim of creating an everyday design tool to facilitate carbon assessment.
NG Bailey sets target to cut carbon footprint by 20% by 2012
30 July 2010
NG Bailey has made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 20% by the end of 2012.
Travis Perkins bounces back as confidence returns to construction
29 July 2010
In the first six months of 2010 Travis Perkins has experienced a gradual return of confidence in both its performance and prospects, which has led to excellent results, the resumption of dividends and activity to continue the expansion of the group – most notably through the offer, announced shortly after the period end, to acquire The BSS Group plc (“BSS”).
Brookes move to chair at AmbiRad as Yates steps up
29 July 2010
As part of its succession plans, AmbiRad Group, which manufactures and supplies warm air heating and ventilation systems, gas fired radiant tube and environmental systems, has announced management changes following more than three decades of sustained growth.
Construction sector output decline after record start to 2010
29 July 2010
Following the dramatic turnaround the construction industry experienced in Q1 of 2010, the last three months have become more challenging for the sector with productivity falling in Q2, according to the latest Bibby Financial Services Business Factors Index.
H&V industry to lead the way in delivering
28 July 2010
One of the UK’s leading Specialist Engineering experts will present the critical role of the heating and ventilation industry within construction and engineering to deliver ‘more for less’ – as challenged by the coalition government, when the industry gathers at September’s HEVAR event in London.
Kershaw Mechanical Services awarded £3.5m Cambridge contract
28 July 2010
Kershaw Mechanical Services has been awarded £3.5million of university work in its home city of Cambridge.
ADCAS gains strength from new link with NSCC
28 July 2010
The Association of Ductwork Contractors and Allied Services (ADCAS) is to join the National Specialist Contractors Council, giving the UK’s ductwork industry more powerful representation than ever before.
NICEIC announces new series of TechTalks for 2010-11
28 July 2010
NICEIC has announced details of a new series of TechTalks for 2010-11. Starting in September, these TechTalks will be bigger than ever, with new regions, new venues and new topics, enabling NICEIC registered contractors to get face-to-face advice and information on a range of subjects.
Grants for Air Source Heat Pumps announced
28 July 2010
Renewables company Ice Energy and leading energy company EDF Energy have been working hard to replace the discontinued microgeneration grant under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP).
Integral UK win three-year contract with DTZ
28 July 2010
Integral UK has won a new contract with leading real estate specialist DTZ to provide maintenance services at commercial properties in the South West and Wales.
Supermarket sweep lifts retail construction
27 July 2010
More than £500 million worth of supermarket construction projects have started on site so far this year (to June), with supermarket projects accounting for 69%t of this figure according to Glenigan.
Cameron steps up at Kingspan Renewables GB
27 July 2010
Kingspan Renewables GB has appointed Cameron Holroyd as managing director.
Solor puts charity project on the map
27 July 2010
Solar photovoltaics from Becosolar have been used to power a Landcruiser taking part in a 25,000-mile journey from London to Cape Town to raise money for SolarAid.
Four Seasons acquires Lincoln Green BMS
27 July 2010
Four Seasons Group (FSG), a leading heating, ventilation and air conditioning services group, has acquired Lincoln Green BMS (LGBMS).
Mitsubishi Electric recalls Ecodan heat pumps
27 July 2010
Mitsubishi Electric UK has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a product safety recall after a component failure in one of its Ecodan air source heat pumps.
Kinetics Group wins health and safety award for second year
27 July 2010
Asset and facilities management services specialist, Kinetics Group has received the International Safety Award from the British Safety Council for the second successive year.
First all IPAF-trained site in the US
27 July 2010
The Robert A. Young building in St. Louis, MO is the first construction site in the US that has been designated 100% AWPT-trained. AWPT (American Work Platform Training) is the North American subsidiary of IPAF which manages the training program in the North American market.
Martin Burton elected HVCA president for 2010/11
26 July 2010
Martin Burton has been elected president of the HVCA for 2010/11.
McIntosh steps up as CIPHE president
26 July 2010
Each year long standing members are elected to the honorary posts, and for 2010 the CIPHE president is Allan McIntosh from the Scottish branch. Lee Davies from Portsmouth branch is vice president.
Opportunities abound for building services engineering
26 July 2010
The HVCA has a crucial role to play in ensuring that its members gear up for “the most profitable commercial opportunity” building services engineering has ever known, according to Martin Burton, the Association’s newly-elected president.
Vailliant's Moore steps up in change
23 July 2010
Vaillant Group is restructuring its sales and marketing organisation with the creation of three new sales regions - North, Central and East. The new sales region North will comprise the UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark and accounts for 30% of Vaillant Group sales.
Balfour Beatty ES staff raises £12,500 for children's charity
22 July 2010
Employees from Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES), one of the UK’s largest mechanical and electrical building services businesses, took part in the Cumbrae Challenge last month and raised an impressive £12,554 for Yorkhill Children’s Foundation.
Keston Boilers lends support to Plumbing Academy
22 July 2010
Leading boiler manufacturer, Keston Boilers has teamed up with the Plumbing Academy to raise awareness of the need for engineers to have the correct training and qualifications.
New associates appointed at Pick Everard
22 July 2010
Leading architectural and engineering practice Pick Everard has announce the appointment of two new associates and an assistant director, all experts in their field.
Quidos tops the accreditation schemes
21 July 2010
The recent publication by SOCITM reporting on the implementation of the EU Services Directive ranks Quidos top of the energy assessor accreditation schemes, and 8th out of 107 competent authorities within the "Better connected for business" survey.
Trianco Heating Products closes
21 July 2010
Sheffield-based Trianco Heating Products has ceased trading.
Balfour Beatty ES appoints new business development manager
21 July 2010
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES), one of the UK’s largest mechanical and electrical building services businesses, announces a key business development appointment.
Balfour Beatty awarded £6.7m contract
21 July 2010
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES), one of the UK’s largest mechanical and electrical building services businesses, has been awarded a £6.7million contract by Vinci to design and install mechanical and electrical services for a new primary care and treatment centre in Birkenhead on the Wirral for Wirral NHS Trust.
Know your Part L
20 July 2010
Quidos is hosting a number of national half-day seminars covering the Part L 2010 regulations, ensuring its members and the wider industry are aware of the new regulations and how they and their businesses will be affected.
BEST apprenticeships go all the way
20 July 2010
Working with three professional institutions, BEST (Building Engineering Services Training), a leading UK training provider for the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sector, has launched a new development route with professional recognition for apprentices.
Best Practice guide for MEWPS in confined spaces
19 July 2010
The UK-based Strategic Forum for Construction Plant Safety Group, of which IPAF is one of the lead organisations, has released a Best Practice Guidance for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) with the aim of avoiding trapping or crushing incidents when these machines are used in confined overhead spaces.
Gloucestershire MPs push for better deal for electrical apprentices
19 July 2010
Gloucestershire MPs Martin Horwood, Laurence Robertson and Richard Graham have teamed up to press for a better deal for companies in the area who offer electrical apprenticeships.
Slow growth for the pump market
19 July 2010
A new report by AMA Research which looks at the Pump Market - UK 2010 - 2014 expects the market to continue to grow through to 2014, with the value rising to £733million.
Hollett joins Summitskills as new head of environmental technologies
16 July 2010
Nigel Hollett has joined Summitskills, the Sector Skills Council for the Building Services Engineering (BSE) sector, as head of environmental technologies.
Commercial maintenance contract for EIC
16 July 2010
National building services provider EIC has won a comprehensive planned maintenance contract with national commercial property consultancy, Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH).
Underfloor heating market rides the economic storm?
16 July 2010
A new report from AMA Research on the UK Underfloor Heating Market 2010 - 2014 shows a significant decline in 2009 and adds that the sector has further to fall this year. But the report believes there could be an upturn at the end of this year and into 2011 as the economy picks up.
UK firm develops first building control app
16 July 2010
Smart technologies are starting to reshape the way building services control systems are managed following the release of a number of new applications.
Fujitsu sizzling summer sale
16 July 2010
FGE is offering Fujitsu air conditioning systems at ‘truly incredible’ prices in a clearance sale of a range of 410a and 407c products in a never-to-be-repeated summer sale.
MP for Bracknell visits BSRIA
16 July 2010
Dr Phillip Lee, the newly-elected MP for Bracknell, visited BSRIA for a tour of its offices and test laboratories and to hear more about its services in particular on energy efficiency for the construction industry.
Ecodan now Cert funded as renewables hit Westminster
16 July 2010
Mitsubishi Electric has been helping to put the case for renewable technology to the country's leaders as part of its support for the Micropower Council which held a special renewable event at the Houses of Parliament on July 14.
New business development manager for Balfour Beatty ES
15 July 2010
Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES), one of the UK’s largest mechanical and electrical building services businesses, announces a key business development appointment.
Kent heating firm owner wins Worcester Eco prize
15 July 2010
Esas Ali has been chosen as the 2009 Installer Winner at Worcester's Environment 2020 Awards, which took place on July 8 at the Worcester Warriors' Six Ways Stadium.
Work experience for Aaran at Pimlico
14 July 2010
Prince’s Trust Team programme trainee Aaran Davids spent two weeks on work experience with Pimlico Plumbers’ team of experienced technicians – and on his last day took home a cheque for £4,000 for the youth charity.
Ten-day public sector payment not being passed along supply chain, says Forum for Private Business
14 July 2010
A public sector initiative to pay invoices within 10 days is not being passed on by main contractors to smaller suppliers, the Forum of Private Business has discovered.
Gas Safety Trust reaches reporting agreement with OFTEC and HETAS
14 July 2010
The Gas Safety Trust has reached agreement with OFTEC, the oil firing technical association, and HETAS, the solid fuel domestic heating association, to extend the process used to report domestic CO related gas incidents, to cover those resulting from solid fuel and oil installations as well.
SEC welcomes Crossrail procurement strategy
14 July 2010
The Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group has offered an enthusiastic welcome to the procurement strategies being adopted
on what has been described as "the largest construction project since the Channel Tunnel".
Atag Heating's Bell raises £4,000 for British Heart Foundatiuon
14 July 2010
ATAG Heating managing director Phil Bell has successfully completed a demanding unsupported 720-mile bike ride down through France on behalf of the British Heart Foundation and raised more than £4000 for the charity.
Hiltons BS to work on Guide Dogs national breeding centre project
14 July 2010
Nottingham-based building services specialist, Hiltons, in partnership with Imtec G&H, has been appointed to carry out the m&e and public health services work for Guide Dogs National Breeding Centre in Warwickshire.
Tai Ceredigion secures £550k grant for green improvements
14 July 2010
Tai Ceredigion, the new locally-based not-for-profit housing association, has succeeded with its application for £550,000 of funding from the Welsh Assembly Government Arbed programme to help fund its green energy improvement projects in the regeneration area on the association's estates in Aberystwyth.
London HEVAR seminar programme announced
13 July 2010
Welcome to the new-look seminar programme for London HEVAR which takes place on September 22 and September 23 at the Royal Horticultural Halls in Victoria.
HVCA joins UK Contractors' Group
12 July 2010
The HVCA has become a member of the UK Contractors' Group (UKCG), which represents the country's leading construction companies
Bouygues UK announces support for Construction Youth Trust
12 July 2010
Bouygues UK, a subsidiary of one of the world's largest construction groups, has offered Construction Youth Trust (CYT) a three year donation as part of Bouygues UK's Corporate Sponsorship Programme.
Social housing construction down 40% as budget cuts bite
12 July 2010
The value of social housing construction projects starting on site in the second quarter was 40% lower than a year ago, according to the latest Glenigan Index.
FG Eurofred launches new interactive website
12 July 2010
FG Eurofred has launched an easy-to-navigate website offering Fujitsu installers a wealth of useful features including comprehensive technical help and information and access to web-based training techniques.
Worcester Bosch Group extends support to apprentices
12 July 2010
Worcester, Bosch Group has continued its commitment to developing the installers of tomorrow through its sponsorship of a brand new training centre.
Briggs & Forrester supplies m&e services for London office development
12 July 2010
Briggs and Forrester Engineering Services has been responsible for the design, development, installation and commissioning of the m&e services of an office development in the City of London.
Catering fire at Liverpool St Station sparks call for assessment of fire risk.
12 July 2010
Leading provider of specialist ventilation cleaning services, Indepth Hygiene Limited, has urged all catering premises owners and managers to review their assessment of fire risk, to ensure their grease extract systems are adequately cleaned.
Biomass opportunity bypassing installers
12 July 2010
Biomass heating systems could give greater opportunities for the heating installation industry if installers committed time to understanding the market.
Refcom launches Refcom Elite
12 July 2010
Refcom, the register of companies competent to handle refrigerants, has enhancing its long-standing voluntary scheme and re-branding it with the more appropriate name Refcom Elite.
M&E Sustainability welcomes 'valuable resource'
02 July 2010
M&E Sustainability chairman Jim O'Neil joined mayor of London Boris Johnson for the official opening of a major new research facility at London South Bank University.
Dividend returns for Travis Perkins?
02 July 2010
Travis Perkins plc, one of the UK's leading builders' merchant and home improvement retailers,
has issued a trading update for the six months from December 31 2009.
UK construction activity expands again
02 July 2010
UK construction activity continued to increase during June, and at a strong pace. The seasonally-adjusted Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) posted 58.4, which was broadly in line with the previous month's reading of 58.5.
Daikin launches Altherma for flats
02 July 2010
A Version of Daikin's Altherma heat pump has now been developed for use in flats and apartments. Daikin says the new system can supply hot water up to a maximum of 80 deg C. The heat recovery system allows simultaneous heating, cooling, and domestic hot water.
Bill Coates retired from Airedale
02 July 2010
Airedale director of engineering, Bill Coates is retiring after 25 years with the company.
Fujitsu moves recycling facility to state-of-the-art site
02 July 2010
Fujitsu has significantly increased its capacity for product recycling by building a new £20million plant in Japan with the environmentally-friendly new factory capable of recycling 900,000 units a year.
Sales of construction products rise again
02 July 2010
Sales of construction products rose significantly during the second quarter of 2010 and manufacturers are confident they will continue to grow once again in the third quarter, according to the latest Construction Activity Barometer from Ernst & Young and the Construction Products Association.