Category: Technical
-
Digitising rebar’s chain of custody
On the Euston HS2 project, the Mace Dragados JV has used cloud technology to track rebar compliance – and deliver higher quality and safety standards. CM reports. “On HS2, there are stringent standards for material procurement and supply, which include product conformity, responsible sourcing certification and BREEAM criteria, necessitating a robust chain of custody,” says…
-
Could graphene be the future of concrete?
Graphene was discovered by researchers at the University of Manchester in 2004, a super-strong material that is just one atom thick. Its strength and thermal conductivity mean that its potential applications seem almost endless, with applications in electronics, composites and coatings, biomedicine, energy and sensors to name but a few. But there are many versions…
-
Three concrete technologies to watch
Construction wants to improve its productivity and sustainability – and these emerging concrete technologies could be central to that. Self-stressing concrete Arriving in the UK from Latvia is a chemically self-stressing concrete, which contains a patented combination of three admixtures and steel fibres. Called PrīmX, the concrete has been developed by Primekss to be both…
-
What’s in the new RAAC Playbook?
RAAC is the reinforced version of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC). The lightweight cementitious material is ‘bubbly’ in appearance and typically reinforced by steel bars or mesh to enhance its structural strength. RAAC planks were widely used in construction across the UK from the 1950s until the mid-1990s in roofs, floors and walls of buildings such…
-
Tackling Germany’s crumbling infrastructure – Construction Management
But then, on 6 November, something else collapsed: Germany’s coalition government. Tensions bubbling among the ruling Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) boiled over when SPD chancellor Olaf Scholz sacked his FDP finance minister, Christian Lindner, leading to mass resignations of FDP ministers. View the original article and our Inspiration here
-
On site with the UK’s first remote controlled tower crane
Contractor: WinvicCost: £80m+Form of contract: JCT Design and Build with amendmentsClient: Crown Student LivingArchitect: ECE WestworksEngineer: MeinhardtProgramme: 153 weeksCompletion: November 2025 (targeted) SubcontractorsConcrete frame and groundworks: MidwestFacade: HansenMEP: HighadmitPods: Offsite SolutionsPiling: VolkerFF&E: DeanestorRoofing: Advanced Roofing View the original article and our Inspiration here
-
Elevators in skyscrapers: key design and installation considerations
As buildings get taller, what does that mean for elevator design and installation? KONE’s Sascha Brozek looks at the construction challenges of fitting elevators in tall buildings. Ultra-high-rise buildings can contain thousands of people, all of whom will need vertical transportation. The expectation is that this will be rapid, smooth and quiet, but we also…
-
Heat networks: a fast-advancing low-carbon technology
Heat networks provide only a small proportion of the UK’s current heating needs, but have huge potential to deliver much more, says Jonathan Monkcom. By overcoming this cultural norm of considering buildings in silo, multiple building owners could use heat networks to make schemes more viable and gain greater carbon savings as a collective. When…
-
Chartered member to upgrade Dorchester Corn Exchange
Chartered company Greendale Construction has started a 34-week project at Dorchester Corn Exchange in Dorset, which will see the historic Victorian building benefit from improvement and remodelling works. The renovation will restore the original layout and create a new community meeting area, transforming the foyer into a welcoming, bright space for visitors, with a new accessible…