More Focus – Page 269
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FeaturesConstruction’s allies with the CBI - industrial strength lobbying
It’s a truism of construction that its political power doesn’t reflect its size. Now its leaders are trying to change that by consolidating, unifying and forming an alliance with the CBI. Sarah Richardson reports
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FeaturesMeet the boss of Bouygues UK – Madani Sow
As the new boss of Bouygues UK, Madani Sow is in charge of feeding the company’s voracious appetite for acquisitions. But, as he tells Tom Bill, it demands an awful lot from those it buys
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FeaturesHigh-speed core construction: Core blimey!
Speed is everything in construction today, so concrete specialist John Doyle has devised a system that means the building core can be built at the rate of a floor a day. Thomas Lane found out more
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The tracker: Going down
Materials prices are rising and enquiries and orders are dropping. Experian Business Strategies predicts that this is just the beginning of a further decline in the construction industry
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FeaturesSprinklers: In the line of fire
Regulations - The government wants all new and refurbished schools to include sprinkler systems. But is this enough to combat the widespread problem of school arson? Stephen Kennett reports
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FeaturesThe alternatives: Fire prevention
Ways to make schools safer from the risk of fire using security measures and sprinkler systems
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FeaturesEmergency lighting
Spel Lighting and Fire Detection has introduced the Geneva recessed fluorescent and LED luminaire.
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Thermal breaks for balconies
As balconies are protrusions from the thermal barrier of a building, they can create cold bridging
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Solar heating
Baxi has worked with Bellway Homes to comply with a late amendment to planning permission for a site of 286 apartments in Fenney Stratford, Buckinghamshire
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Mixed-mode cooling
Passivent has developed a mixed-mode cooling system to help reduce energy use
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Fire-resistant insulation boards
Celotex has launched two polyisocyanurate insulation boards that achieve complete Class 0 fire performance compliance
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Vehicle bollards
Following the publication of the government’s first national security strategy earlier this year, Corus Bi-Steel has launched an anti-attack vehicle bollard system, designed to protect against terrorist attack
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Sound insulation
The acoustically engineered roof of the O2 arena has been insulated using Rockwool 4 in 1 mineral wool insulation
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What it costs: Thermal insulation
Insulation is an effective way to help meet Building Regulations targets on carbon emission reduction. Peter Mayer of Building LifePlans examines the effectiveness of different materials
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Features
Lead times May-July 2008
Four packages have gone down this week and four have gone up, as the downturn pushes from one end and the steel shortage from the other. Brian Moone of Mace reports the numbers
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FeaturesSpotlight on steel
Rocketing steel prices have affected a wide range of industries – not least construction, says Brian Moone. How far are availability problems implicated in the price rises, and will contractors’ lead times be affected?
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FeaturesSmoke on the water
Forty industry teams dodged the showers to compete in the 2008 Dragon Boat Challenge last week – raising more than £25,000 for charity.
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FeaturesSpecialist cost update: Services
Luxury residential and public sector projects are keeping the M&E, ICT, lifts and escalators markets buoyant but the rising costs of materials are starting to have an effect.
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FeaturesThe line of duty – Tim Laurence, Defence Estates
Tim Laurence has commanded warships, sailed the world and held top positions in the government. But taking the helm at Defence Estates is perhaps his greatest challenge.