Citation
Todd, S. (2011), "Internet review", Structural Survey, Vol. 29 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2011.11029bag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Internet review
Article Type: Internet review From: Structural Survey, Volume 29, Issue 2
The web site information included below shows two key and other informative sites. If there are any other interesting sites or sources of information that you have found useful, please e-mail me at s.todd@salford.ac.uk
The Building Research Establishment
The “Spotlight” section of the BRE web site includes information:
- 1.
BREEAM 2011. There is a link to a document which summaries the changes. In summary the changes include:
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Setting new benchmarks and assessment methodology for energy efficiency and operational carbon emissions in advance of the Government “road-map” to energy efficient, zero carbon and “carbon negative” buildings.
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Updated benchmarks for construction waste and water consumption.
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Introduction of new standards on sustainable procurement and post construction operational after-care, including monitoring of building performance.
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Updated approach to assessing and quantifying service life planning, stakeholder participation, life cycle impacts and recycled aggregates.
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New and updated reporting requirements of key performance indicators, including building life cycle CO2 emissions, construction and operational water consumption, construction waste volumes and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emissions.
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Re-classification and consolidation of issues and criteria to make it even easier to deliver BREEAM certified buildings in an efficient, cost effective and value added manner. Ensuring BREEAM continues to provide an easy means of specifying environmental performance targets and quantify key building impacts and opportunities at a local, national and global level.
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The News Headlines section of the site includes information on:
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The Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) Red Book 2011 has become interactive. LPCB has enhanced the use of the Red Book “List of approved products and services” by launching Red Book “Updater” software. This software is available on a Red Book memory stick and CD formats and will also be downloadable from www.redbooklive.com. The latest issue of the preferred sections of the Red Book can now be updated and stored on demand by the end user. Direct links to the Loss Prevention (LPS) Standards, suspensions and withdrawals are also available.
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BRE Ventures Innovation Award. BRE Ventures works with innovators and investors to bring new products and services to market. Its new award is for inventors whose ideas are of particular merit, based on market need, novelty, scientific quality and potential for successful development. The award is intended to help an inventor in the early stages of proving a new idea, by funding initial testing by a BRE Group company. James Popper is an 18-year-old student who set about devising a fire detection system that would be suitable for use in kitchens, after a devastating fire in the kitchen of an elderly family friend. CookerSmart overcomes this fundamental problem with an innovative detection method. Instead of sensing for the presence of smoke, it detects fires in their infancy by identifying the infra-red flicker of their flame and analysing and responding to specific frequency bands of flame flicker. “Its implementation is not limited to the kitchen – and it can potentially be modified for use in other sectors such as marine, garage and leisure.” The award included funding of £5,000 to be spent at BRE Global where tests will be carried out on the prototype device.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
The “Knowledge” section is a central resource for all the technical, practice-support publications that RICS produces for members. It is constantly refreshed and carries the latest RICS practice standards and publications, often before they are available in hardcopy. This is further sub-divided into four main sections:
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RICS homebuyers service.
- 2.
Research.
- 3.
Current standards and consultations.
- 4.
On-line library catalogue.
The “Related News” menu from the “Knowledge” page includes links to:
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RICS FAQs including:
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Which Red Book?
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Do wind farms affect property prices?
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Which building contract?
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How old is my house?
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Current and historical UK house prices?
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What are the RICS New Rules of Measurement?
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A definition of affordable housing?
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The best UK commercial property market reports?
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- 2.
RICS comments on the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) construction survey. Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, comments on the CIPS construction survey. “The latest CIPS survey suggests the more positive mood that drove recovery in construction output through the second and third quarters of last year now appears to be fading. This is broadly consistent with results of the most recent RICS survey of the construction sector where forward looking indicators were generally downbeat and raised the possibility that workloads could drop over the next 12 months, leading to more job losses. While poor weather in the final month of 2010 may have contributed to the negative reading in the CIPS survey, the public sector cuts are now also likely to be influencing sentiment. Significantly, a flatter trend in construction will put pressure on other parts of the private sector to step up to the plate and support the economy in 2011 as the contribution from the state is reined back.”
The recent entries in the “Newsroom” section include:
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RICS Land and Society Commission calls for evidence.
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RICS comments on Bank of England Credit Condition Survey.
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RICS comments on CIPS Construction Survey.
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House prices to fall slightly in 2011 but repossessions to drop off.
The “Practice Areas” section from the “Knowledge” menu also includes links to: Built Environment, Land, Property, Health and Safety, Surveying Safety and Forums.
Built Environment
- 1.
Contracts in use survey.
- 2.
Free Legal Helpline.
- 3.
About Professional Groups.
- 4.
FAQs.
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What is the RICS view on using metric or imperial units?
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What is deemed to be an acceptable margin of error in a valuation?
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Which building contract?
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How can I find out about asbestos?
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How can I keep up-to-date with the Building Regulations?
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What are the RICS New Rules of Measurement?
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Where can I find building costs?
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What is the Standard Method of Measurement?
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What are the best sources of information on Green Buildings?
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Land
- 1.
Geomatics.
- 2.
Environment.
- 3.
Minerals and waste.
- 4.
Rural.
- 5.
Planning and development.
- 6.
Land Journal.
- 7.
Professional groups.
- 8.
Land hot topics.
- 9.
Land markets.
- 10.
FAQs.
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Which Red Book?
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Do wind farms affect property prices?
- •
Which building contract?
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How old is my house?
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Current and historical UK house prices?
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What are the RICS New Rules of Measurement?
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A definition of affordable housing?
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The best UK commercial property market reports?
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Property
- 1.
Arts and Antiques.
- 2.
Dispute resolution.
- 3.
Machinery.
- 4.
Commercial.
- 5.
Facilities management.
- 6.
Residential.
- 7.
Management consultancy.
- 8.
Valuation.
- 9.
Public sector.
- 10.
Professional groups.
- 11.
Property hot topics.
- 12.
Commercial Property Journal.
- 13.
Residential Property Journal.
- 14.
Property in the Economy.
- 15.
Property Public Guide.
Health and Safety
- 1.
Technical Information Papers.
- 2.
Sage Interim report.
- 3.
CSCS Professionally Qualified Person Card.
- 4.
Surveying Safely.
- 5.
RICS has a clear commitment to health and safety and aims to raise its profile by taking proactive steps toward improving standards and preventing injuries within the surveying profession and seeks to encourage continuous improvement throughout the profession by proactively improving guidance and standards to prevent injury and ill health. RICS encourages all members to adopt safe working practices and incorporate the following principles within each organisation to reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses:
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Appoint a member of your leadership team to take responsibility for health and safety.
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Identify and mitigate the specific H&S risks that may adversely affect your staff and others affected by your work activities.
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Identify and comply with relevant local H&S legal duties.
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Implement a system to regularly measure and review performance and gain assurance that H&S is being managed effectively. Similarly, the RICS encourage all surveyors to take a vested interest in their own personal H&S and to:
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Carefully plan and consider work activities to reduce the risk of injury.
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Adopt safe working practices to ensure the personal safety of yourself or others affected by your work activities.
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Use personal protective equipment (e.g. hard hats, safety boots) in the correct manner wherever required.
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Follow specific H&S arrangements wherever you are working.
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Forums
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There are four Forums, open to RICS members and non-members:
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Building conservation.
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Dilapidations.
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Telecoms.
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Insurance.
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The Forums are an opportunity for networking – and for sharing best practice with other like-minded professionals and business operators. Producing technical guidance and information, to annual conferences, summer school, etc. the Forums are invaluable in specialist areas of practice. Professional Groups and Forums work with other global bodies and organisations to represent RICS and, more importantly, member services worldwide.
The Centre for Construction and Innovation
CCI is the flagship centre for Rethinking Construction in the North West and the main hub for innovation and change in the Northwest’s built environment sector. Established in 1999, CCI has an excellent track record in exchanging, demonstrating and implementing best practice; promoting and managing cultural change; and, ultimately, delivering a safe, sustainable and continuously improving built environment sector. Its team of over 30 experienced and accomplished Project Managers, Directors and Administrators works closely with and for public, private and third-sector bodies throughout the Northwest and the United Kingdom, delivering improvements in procurement, collaborative working, leadership and management, construction and the built environment. It offers one-to-one business assists and consultancy, performance measurement and reviews, action learning, training, best practice clubs, networking events, 3-D visualisation, space for events and meetings, and various other services. It also manages and/or delivers major improvement programmes and projects, including:
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NWDA’s Northwest Construction Knowledge Hub – helping small and medium-sized enterprises to be more productive, more efficient and environmentally friendly.
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NWDA’s Sustainable Buildings Northwest.
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ConstructionSkills’ Women and Work: Sector Pathways Initiative.
Kingspan Solar
www.kingspansolar.com/kingspansolar/index.html
The main menu of this web site is structured as:
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Home.
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Products.
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Technical information.
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Sales literature.
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About us.
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Training.
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Accredited installers.
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Contact us.
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Site map.
The Kingspan Solar section gives information on:
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The Ultimate Solar Packages. Solar packages that incorporate either Thermomax Vacuum Tube Solar Collectors or Kingspan Solar Flat Plate Solar Panels. The packages can also include solar cylinders, such as Range Tribune HE and come with all components required for the complete installation. Controls and accessories are supplied as “First” and “Second” Fix Kits to aid installation and reduce on-site time.
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Thermomax Vacuum Tube Collectors. According to the web site Thermomax vacuum tube solar thermal collectors deliver an enhanced transfer of solar energy into heat. Up to 30 per cent more effective than traditional flat plate panels, they allow energy from the sun to be captured efficiently and effectively. The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation and suppresses heat loss by protecting the system from outside influences, such as cold, wet or windy weather, which results in optimum performance levels all year round. Fast and simple to install due to unique “plug and play” design, Thermomax can be installed on sloping and flat roofs or facades.
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Solar Flat Plate Panels. Kingspan Solar panels are suitable for “in-roof” and “on-roof” installation, which make them the perfect choice for both new build and existing properties. Flat plate panels feature a ten-year performance guarantee and offer a straightforward solar thermal solution for the needs of UK homes.
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Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pumps. According to the web site Aeromax Plus air source heat pumps are an efficient and cost-effective way of providing domestic hot water and home heating. They have low running costs and can reduce energy bills and CO2 emissions by as much as 50 percent. Aeromax Plus are highly efficient and specifically designed for use in Northern European climates. They have one of the widest operation capacities of all units on the market today combined with a very small footprint so they can be installed even in properties where the space is limited. They extract heat from the air in temperatures as low as -20°C, making them consistently effective all-year-round. The heat generated can be used to warm water for radiators, underfloor heating systems or to provide domestic hot water. They provide water temperatures of up to 60°C quickly, without fluctuations and eliminate the need for costly back up systems.
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Renewable Input Cylinders. Designed for use with renewable energy technologies, such as solar thermal panels and air source heat pumps, the cylinders feature purpose-designed coils allowing maximum heat transfer of renewable energy into the stored water. They are an efficient and environmentally friendly way of providing domestic hot water and cutting your energy bills. The cylinders are manufacture from either copper – suitable for open vented or unvented systems, or Duplex stainless steel – suitable for unvented systems only. Available in a wide range of models and capacities they are suitable for both domestic and commercial applications. Buffer tanks to provide smother and uninterrupted operation of a heat pump are also available.
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Typical Applications/Case Studies.
Ecobuild
The menu structure of this web site is:
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Home.
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Visit.
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Exhibit.
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Exhibitor list.
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Products.
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Attractions.
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Conference.
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Seminars.
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Fringe.
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Supporters.
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Blog.
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Contact us.
Modern Building Services (MBS)
The main menu of this web site includes links to:
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News.
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Features.
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Subscribe.
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Jobs.
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Contact us.
The “News” section includes information on:
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Mitsubishi supplies Solar PV for church. Taking full advantage of the large south-facing roof on this church in Buckinghamshire is a solar PV installation of 54 panels from Mitsubishi Electric. The £50,000 investment will generate an annual income of about £3,000 from energy sold to the National Grid. The system was installed by Freewatt, a solar PV installer in Lincolnshire. The company has developed a method of attaching PV arrays to church roofs that helps comply with planning permission. At All Saints Church, the panels were installed on the south-facing nave and south aisle roofs and hidden from view behind the parapet.
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Natural-ventilation and lighting upgrade. Replacing the facade of this building for Defence Estates and installing Passivent natural-ventilation and daylight systems was cheaper than retaining the existing facade and replacing mechanical-ventilation plant. The green credentials of a remodelled two-storey building of the Ministry of Defence at Imjin Barracks have been enhanced with the provision of natural ventilation and natural daylight using Passivent systems. Defence Estates, the property and estates-management arm of the MoD worked with Debut Services on the projects, which will centralise the service and veterans agency at the Barracks. A key criterion of the design brief was for the 3,800 m2 1960s building to achieve an “Excellent” DREAM, the defence equivalent of BREEAM. Six RAD Airscoops, ventilation terminals divided into four chambers, on the roof draw fresh air through their windward chambers into the upper storey to displace used air via the leeward chambers. Incoming air can be controlled to avoid draughts. On the ground floor, five Aircool motorised ventilators above the windows draw in fresh air. A roof-mounted Airstract acts as a passive stack to exhaust used internal air. All ventilators are operated by an iC7000 controller, which monitors indoor air temperature and quality (including CO2) and adjusts the ventilation rate in larger office area to maintain a fresh-air supply of 10 l/s per person. Daylight enters the building via 38 Sunscoop tubular rooflights 350 mm in diameter. Each Sunscoop has a Light Sun Deflectors to increase natural lighting inside by up to 20 per cent.
Stephen Todd