BAR NEWS
ASSOCIATIONS JOIN FORCES
The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) has agreed to join forces and affiliate with the Mineral Products Association (MPA). The decision will help forward the continued evolution of trade representation for the concrete sector.
Vibration issues shakes use of timber-frame construction
VIBRATION ISSUES SHAKES USE OF TIMBER-FRAME CONSTRUCTION
The inappropriateness of using timber frame for multi-storey buildings has been underlined by the need for housebuilder Bellway to call-in an independent structural consultant to assess resident complaints of excessive vibration at one of its major developments.
TIMBER FRAME LOSES MULTI-STOREY MARKET SHARE
TIMBER FRAME LOSES MULTI-STOREY MARKET SHARE
The latest NHBC statistics for multi-storey residential developments suggest that the house builders’ flirtation with timber frame may be over as the material’s market share has shrunk by 9% over the last year.
BAR signs-up to pan-industry sustainability strategy
BAR SIGNS-UP TO PAN-INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) has confirmed its commitment to a sustainable built environment by signing-up to the new Concrete Industry Sustainable Construction Strategy that commits the industry to a programme of improvement and performance targets up to 2020.
New timber fire guidelines could burn a hole in contractors' pockets
BAR5
5th December 2011
NEW TIMBER FIRE GUIDELINES COULD BURN A HOLE IN CONTRACTORS’ POCKETS
Building with timber frame has just got more expensive following the publication of new guidelines by the UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA). The need for the guidelines was forced upon the UKTFA after a spate of high-profile catastrophic fires at city centre timber frame construction sites.
TARMAC knuckles rapped over Topforce advertisements
26th May 2011
TARMAC KNUCKLES RAPPED OVER TOPFORCE ADVERTISEMENTS
TARMAC has had its knuckles rapped by the Advertising Standards Authority over its misleading Topforce advertisement.
The advertisement implied that THE tarmac Topforce micro fibre product can replace steel mesh for all applications including structural reinforcement. The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) complained to the ASA on the grounds that it is simply incorrect that Topforce can be used for all reinforcement applications in which steel mesh reinforcement is currently used.
The ASA has upheld BAR’s complaint, and in order to avoid a formal investigation, TARMAC has agreed to amend the advertisement.
“Topforce is only a replacement for steel wire fabric used for crack control in concrete and TARMAC have agreed that it should not be used as a replacement for structural steel reinforcement”, explained Graham Mackenzie, BAR Chairman. “TARMAC’s advertisement was seriously misleading with the claim that Topforce ‘does away with the need for steel mesh and replaces it with macro-fibres’. This disingenuous claim has now been removed.”
Ends
Latest Fire Questions Timber's Suitability as a Construction Material
LATEST FIRE QUESTIONS TIMBER’S SUITABILITY AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL
Last weekend’s major fire at the construction site of a block of flats in Basingstoke has added further fuel against the use of timber frame for multi-storey buildings. The fire comes after the latest statistics from the Department of Communities and Local Government show that timber frame buildings, whether under construction or completed, suffer from greater fire damage than non-timber construction such as reinforced concrete.
Official Statistics Fuel Fire Concerns over Timber-framed Buildings
OFFICIAL STATISTICS FUEL FIRE CONCERNS OVER TIMBER-FRAMED BUILDINGS
For the first time official statistics covering all the fires that occurred in England include a section concerned with fires in timber-framed buildings. The figures make uncomfortable reading for those living in and those insuring timber-frame believes Graham Mackenzie, chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement.
In a prime example of the type of construction industry dialogue encouraged by the Office of Government Commerce’s Achieving Excellence initiative, Crossrail Limited (CRL) met with members of the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) to improve its understanding of the reinforcing steel market and to ensure that value for money is maximised in the delivery of the project.
London Fire Authority Chairman Criticises Use of Timber Frame Construction
BAR5.10
22nd July 2010
LONDON FIRE AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN CRITICISES USE OF TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION
The chairman of the London Fire Authority has criticised the growing use of timber-frame construction in high rise buildings following an investigation into last year’s major fire in Peckham that destroyed a half-completed 5 storey timber frame building and badly damaged adjacent blocks of flats.
Criminalisation of Illegal Timber Underlines Need for Responsible Sourcing
The announcement by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats that they intend to make the importation or possession of illegal timber a criminal offence will make specifier and designers looks closer to home for a responsibly sourced construction material believes Graham Mackenzie, chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR).
SHELVED PROJECTS REVIVAL GIVES HOPE TO STRUCTURES MARKET
SHELVED PROJECTS REVIVAL GIVES HOPE TO STRUCTURES MARKET
The structural frames market is usually the first hit in a downturn as developments are put on hold. However, the growing demand for new office space in London and revived office, retail and leisure developments outside of the capital are giving rise to optimism that it may be the first to benefit from any upturn.
Early Fabricator Involvement is Still The Way Ahead
EARLY FABRICATOR INVOLVEMENT IS STILL THE WAY AHEAD
Over the last few years early project involvement by members of the supply chain has increased significantly. Despite the challenges of the recession and the pressures on the bottom line, the value that such collaborative working and partnerships provide should continue to be recognised believes Graham Mackenzie, Chairman of the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR).
Raising the Bar on Health and Safety
RAISING THE BAR ON HEALTH AND SAFETY
Although the UK construction industry is said to be one of the safest in Europe, it still accounts for one third of all UK work accidents. This is underlined by the grim statistic that construction workers are six times more likely to be killed at work than any other type of employee. And it is not just the human cost. Studies by The Institution of Engineering and Technology found that the cost of accidents on a construction site amounts to 9.5% of the project’s tender price.
Code of Practice for Safet Off-loading of Cut and Bent Reinforcement Issued
The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) has issued a new code of practice for The Safe Off-loading of Cut and Bent Reinforcement. The code has been drawn up following consultation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the UK Certification Authority for Reinforcing Steels (CARES).
Peckham Fire Highlights Vunerability of Timber Frame
Yesterday’s (26th November) major fire at Peckham underlines the potential fire hazard of timber frame whilst under construction.
REINFORCEMENT SECTOR EYES THE FUTURE
REINFORCEMENT SECTOR EYES THE FUTURE
Despite the depth and ferocity of the recession there are signs that the worse may be over and investment in new products and processes together with a major rationalisation means that the reinforcement sector is well placed to take full advantage of the recovery.
Reinforced concrete offers potential for discreet bomb-blast protection
The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) has welcomed Prime Minister Gordon Brown's proposals for increasing the protection for public buildings.
Reinforcement steel mills welcome further opportunity to recycle
The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) has welcomed research by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) that has found there is a potential 70,000 tonnes of scrap steel from recycled tyres that could be used for the production of rebar.
The British Association of Reinforcement (BAR) is pleased to announced the appointments of Graham Mackenzie as Chairman and Martin Southcott as Technical Director.
Concrete answer to commercial zero carbon challenge
The Government is to launch an urgent drive to reduce the carbon emissions of commercial buildings, in particular the amount of CO2 emissions resulting from their day-to-day use.
The carbon off-setting Confidex Sustain initiative, being introduced by Corus, is being branded by the British Association of Reinforcement as a smokescreen to avoid real measures to tackle the reduction of carbon emissions.
Who pays for proposed Timber Fire Safety Scheme?
A spate of fires on timber building sites has forced the timber industry to develop a third party timber safety management scheme.
Increased global demand and prices for scrap metal have resulted in reinforcement manufacturers having to increase prices by over £100 per tonne.
