RHEAD GROUP: A PERFECT FIT FOR COSTAIN’S VISION
30/06/16 16:32:16
The acquisition of the Rhead Group is a significant step for Costain in realising the Company’s strategic goals and underlining further its leading status as an engineering solutions provider.
Established in 1985, Rhead is a professional services consultancy focused on programme and commercial management. It provides a range of solutions for the life-cycle of infrastructure, construction and asset management programmes, primarily in the UK, for a number of blue-chip customers including National Grid, Wales & West Utilities and BAE Systems.
Costain already has a strong reputation for delivering innovative engineering solutions but the acquisition of Rhead, which was announced in August 2015, will further enhance the Company’s programme management and advisory capability. The acquisition also strengthens Costain’s integrated service offering across the business, allowing each sector to draw on the depth of knowledge and experience that exists within the Group.
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Government scraps zero carbon homes
10/08/15 10:03:42
As the dust starts to settle on the Government’s dramatic announcement in the Treasury productivity plan ‘Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation’ on the decision to scrap the requirement for zero carbon homes and non-dwellings.
Together with no requirement next year for zero carbon homes compliance, the carbon off setting allowable solutions promoted by the Government has also been scrapped resulting in the overall zero carbon requirement for all new homes next year being removed completely.
The scrapping of the zero carbon target will also impact on non-dwelling developments next year resulting in possibly no further move to make these buildings more energy efficient resulting in scrapping the new Part L document due out next year.
The green deal initiative has also been scrapped by the Government in recent days.
What does this mean to you and future projects being worked on at the present time, quite simply status quo in terms of design compliance with the present Part L as it is presumed that the Part L compliance standards will not be increased next year and for the foreseeable future until the Government feels that house building primarily has started to increase and the existing measures to increase energy efficiency of new buildings has had time to become established.
Notwithstanding the above Government stance there will still be outside influences including BREEAM standards and the Merton Rule to contend with under Planning Conditions for which could still drive up thermal performance, energy use and overall carbon emissions reduction.
The only policy driver for low carbon design on the horizon is now the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which will require the UK to deliver ‘nearly zero energy buildings’ by 31 December 2020 for all new buildings and after 31 December 2018 for new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities.
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The Government has recently announced further changes to the Building Regulations and the guidance Approved Documents taking effect on the 1st October
28/07/15 15:44:48
The Approved Documents updated are Parts E, G, H, and M (volume M1 and volume M2), with a new Part Q.
Part E – Changes are limited to an update of the referencing to school standards involving BB93 2015.
Part G – Provides guidance on the new water efficiency calculator methodology. It also introduces a fittings approach as an alternative to the calculator. Higher 'optional' requirements to calculated usage and fittings criteria may be used as a condition of planning consent where the local authority has a policy with supporting plans in place involving reducing water usage down to 110 l/p/d in certain areas of the country.
Part H – Updates the storage and handling of solid waste covering capacity, siting and design. There are minor changes to H3 as a result of changes to Part M with regard to the draining of paved areas.
Part M – The Approved documents are now in two volumes (M1 and M2). Volume one covers dwellings and volume two covers buildings which are not dwellings. Volume two is generally the previous single volume part with sections 6 to10 inclusive taken out. These are now covered in the new volume one.
The new Part M and G guidance documents introduce the choice of 'optional' requirement, where a local planning authority has suitable housing policy and local plans in place. The baseline requirements are from the previous Part M. They form Category 1 Visitable dwellings and are mandatory in the regulations. Optional Category 2 covers Accessible and Adaptable dwellings and Category 3 deals with Wheelchair user dwellings.
Part Q Security - Dwellings references BS PAS 24 as its baseline standard. Dwellings must be able to resist unauthorised access from outside and in the case of flats also from within via common and other areas. Reference to door locks, letter plates and glazing security standard
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