Premier Construction

Ecobuild 2017

Ecobuild 2017
Written by Roma Publications

Ecobuild 2017

  Ecobuild 2017

Green construction at Ecobuild

 Visitors to Ecobuild were able to find out more about a pioneering Austrian summer university programme, which provides world-leading insight into sustainable architecture and the built environment.

Green.Building.Solutions. (GBS) takes place in Vienna, the capital of energy efficient construction in the summer. Representatives from the OeAD-Housing Office were on hand at Ecobuild to discuss the course, from their base located within the Advantage Austria pavilion, on stand number A189.

The programme provided a unique opportunity for professionals and students in the fields of architecture and construction to strengthen their knowledge and gain a career advantage in the field of sustainability – an area of increasing global significance.

Organised by the OeAD-Housing Office, which offers passive house accommodation for students across Austria, together with the BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, the course advocates the use of natural resources by connecting natural, engineering and economic sciences.

The three-week programme’s lectures and all associated social activities are carried out in English and the course is of appeal to –but not limited to – those working in and studying architecture, construction management, project management, building and energy engineering and surveying.

It concludes with a collaborative project, where participants work together to bring their learning and experiences from the course to design a ‘green’ building. Student participants are entitled to seven ECTS points after successful completion.

The GBS summer university takes place from July 22 to August 13, 2017.

GĂŒnther Jedliczka, CEO of the OeAD-Housing Office, said: “Austria is world-renowned as a pioneer in sustainable construction and GBS offers professionals and students from the UK and Ireland the opportunity to broaden their perspective and build a network of useful contacts across Europe and beyond.

“We offer a truly international atmosphere, with 38 participants from 20 nations successfully completing the programme last year covering topics including Sustainability in Building and Urban Planning, Principles of Passive House Planning and Renewable Energies and Business Concepts.

“Everyone wanting to find out more was warmly welcomed to our stand at Ecobuild, where we were able to provide more details.”

The OeAD-Housing Office – which won the Austrian Climate Protection Award in 2013 and the Environmental Award of the City of Vienna in March 2015 – operates the Green Building Solutions course under a not-for-profit arrangement.

As well as GBS, OeAD also runs the Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems programme (AEMS), which analyses how economic, political, monetary and environmental factors need to change to be more sustainable – from the 26 July until 11 August, 2017.

More details about GBS and AEMS can be found at www.summer-university.net

 Ecobuild 2017

Offsite explored

A ground-breaking exhibition of offsite construction solutions, the largest of its kind ever seen in the UK, was a key component of Ecobuild 2017. Forward-thinking companies that make the most of the opportunities provided by offsite construction relished the chance to demonstrate their technology within Explore Offsite at Ecobuild.

Taking place alongside the exhibition, Explore Offsite at Ecobuild masterclasses provided a platform to learn about the latest in offsite technology developments with expert information and seminars on solving the housing shortage, using offsite technology to construct a more sustainable environment, and how the industry is responding to unprecedented demand through greater investment in lean manufacturing systems.

Free CPD accredited Offsite Technology Masterclasses ran daily throughout the show to offer an independent perspective of the offsite construction sector. Intensive training sessions addressed the drivers and benefits of using offsite construction technology, and provided visitors with the knowledge to successfully apply these techniques. The Offsite Technology Masterclasses hosted 48 speakers over 18 hours of presentations across 14 sessions.

The masterclasses covered six topics including: Modular Volumetric Technology, MEP & Pod Technology, Structural Timber Technology, Roofing Technology, Concrete Technology and Light Steel Frame Technology.

Speakers included the likes of Stephen Wightman, Caledonian Modular Ltd; Darren Richards, Managing Director, Cogent Consulting; David Harris, Divisional Director, Premier Modular; and Julia Evans, Chief Executive, BSRIA, amongst others.

Ecobuild was held on the 7-9 March at the ExCel London.

For more information about Explore Off Site, please visit: www. ecobuild.co.uk/exploreoffsite

 

25-year sandcast lead guarantee

Leading British lead sheet manufacturer Midland Lead announced a newly awarded 25-year guarantee on its sandcast lead from the Lead Contractors Association (LCA), at this year’s Ecobuild.

Thanks to the new guarantee, Midland Lead – the UK’s only lead manufacturer to offer a complete range of lead sheet options, including sandcast, machine cast and rolled lead – is now able to offer a guarantee across all three of its lead sheet types.

The guarantee is part of the LCA Members’ 25-Year Guarantee Scheme, which was launched in 1999 and saw the LCA become the first in the construction industry to offer such a long-term commitment to quality standards.

Under the scheme, LCA members that have completed two years of membership are required to offer the 25-year guarantee of workmanship and material for leadwork projects over a value of ÂŁ2,500, and today, covers projects cumulatively worth more than ÂŁ4.5M.

Midland Lead managing director Boudewijn Tuinenburg says: “The LCA stamp of approval is fantastic news and now means that every registered project using our sandcast lead will be vetted on completion. Our machine cast lead is BBA approved, so comes with a 60-year guarantee, and our rolled lead is BS accredited, so comes with a 50-year guarantee, and now our sandcast lead customers can have complete peace of mind for 25 years.”

With this year’s Ecobuild themes being around regeneration and sustainability, Boudewijn adds that the event offered a great platform for Midland Lead to discuss both the new guarantee and the green credentials of its products.

“We looked forward to chatting to specifiers, architects and contractors about what the LCA approval means for them, as well as explaining more our sandcast lead. It’s a traditionally made product using 100% recycled lead, which often comes from the existing build, but is produced in our modern, purpose-built facilities. This ensures the best possible quality control, historical continuity of the building and is also great from an environmental perspective,” he explained.

The company’s traditional sandcast lead has been used to successfully weatherproof and provide an authentic look to English Heritage and National Trust buildings across the UK, as well as private homes, almshouses, castles, cathedrals and priories.

 

EnviroVent’s new innovation

Leading ventilation manufacturer EnviroVent launched a new product innovation at Ecobuild 2017. The product will make commissioning simpler for the installer and will offer greater control and flexibility for the end user.

The new technology, which has been a closely guarded secret for over two years, has been designed and tested for performance and quality within the R&D centre at EnviroVent and complements the extensive range of MVHR units which were showcased at the event in March.

Rory Percival, Technical and R&D Manager at EnviroVent, said: “Ecobuild always attracts a large number of visitors from across a wide range of sectors and it made sense for us when we first started planning the new product to launch it at Ecobuild in 2017. The team have worked hard to design and develop this new technology and we couldn’t wait to be able to showcase it at the event. We are experiencing strong demand for our MVHR units at the moment and this product is the first of many new innovations to come from EnviroVent over the next 12 months.”

For more information from EnviroVent, visit: www.envirovent.com.

 

 

 

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