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March 2002 |
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Contract killer
In the first of a new bi-monthly series, revisits the commercial basics of running a construction project.
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Working together towards the future of the industry
At the ECA annual dinner, president Ian Crosby championed the Association's work and called for a continued effort to work together for the good of the industry.
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Cracking the code
In an industry thick with regulations do we really need another set of guidelines? Yes says the Society of Light and Lighting, and it may well be right.
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GE interested in Legrand
GE is set to continue on the acquisition trail, despite a sharp drop in its share price.
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HVCA joins up to new industry alliance
The HVCA has committed itself to membership of the Plumbing and Heating Industry Alliance (PHIA).
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Work begun on Hull's SuperStadium
Hilton Building Services Engineers has begun work at Hull's new £43.5 million Community SuperStadium complex. The company won a £6 million m&e contract for the stadium, which will become the home of Hull City Football Club, Hull FC Rugby League and other sporting organisations.Hilton's involvement follows a string of similar contracts at West Ham, Oxford United, Derby County, Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest football grounds. Work is due for completion in December 2002.
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In for the skill
Moves are afoot to formulate a successor to NET, the electrical industry's standard bearer for training. Simon Bartley brings us up-to-date on what's happening.
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…as specialists attack online bidding process
Contractor groups have spoken out against reverse auction bidding – a process where firms are invited to undercut lowest price tenders online.
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ABB losses up, but cash flow at a high
At the announcement of its annual results in Zurich on 13 February, the ABB Group announced losses of US$691 million for 2001.
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Balfour streamlines supply
Construction firm Balfour Beatty plans to streamline its supply chain by processing invoices for 10 000 of its regular clients with an electronic trading system.
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Industry showing positive signs
The events of 11 September shook the world but didn't manage to rock the construction industry for long.
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Skills shortage predicted for hvac sector
Investment is needed now if a skills shortage catastrophe is to be averted in the air conditioning sector.
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Not such a bleak outlook
Partnering produces the goods for pupils at the new Bleak Hill Primary School.
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Shoppers paradise
Hills Electrical & Mechanical has completed the electrical installation to Sainsbury's new business centre in London in a 26 week fast track programme. The £4 million electrical contract was awarded by Bovis Lend Lease and managed from Hills' Walsall regional centre. With six weeks needed for stripping out, only 20 weeks were left to complete the installation to the nine-storey building.
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Visiting time is over and out
If you've ever watched an episode of Casualty or ER on the television you'll appreciate the pressure that hospital accident and emergency staff work under and the array of people who pass through the doors.Well Bradford Royal Infirmary, the third busiest a&e department in the country, has protected its staff and patients from unauthorised entry and attack with a door entry system from BPT Security Systems UK.
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High lights, low costs
The maintenance of lighting in any high space is a headache and the gymnasium at the Seven Kings School in Ilford was no exception.
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High tech heating for Milton Park
HVAC balancing valves specialist Taconova (UK) and services contractor Interserve Engineering Services have provided a high-tech heating solution for buildings at Milton Park, Oxfordshire's science business park. An accurate balanced flow was required to each floor of three new three-storey buildings as every floor has over 20 fan coil units installed. Taconova supplied over 800 of its Tacosetter AV23 in-line balancing valves.
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A chilling future
Are you missing out on lucrative air conditioning work? In the first of a new q&a series, we explain the packaged systems marketplace and gives some pointers to the future.
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Security specifications
The potential for installation and maintenance work in the security industry is growing rapidly and opportunities are opening for electrical contractors. But are you ready? The ECA aims to help.
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Working to rule
Sex discrimination laws have been updated. We look at the new requirements and two recent tribunals.
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Be heard now
Important moves are being made in the construction industry, but are specialist contractors taking part? We question their apparent absence.
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Glisten with mother
A new lighting scheme and a flexible power system play key roles in the latest look for children's retailer Mothercare, which began rolling out the format last month. We report on the pilot project in Rotherham.
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Domestic L?
The new Part L of the Building Regulations comes into force on 1 April 2002. With dwellings and retail units now included, will we soon be seeing things differently?
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Working in the zone
How and when should intrinsically safe fire detection products be used? We explain some of the key issues.
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Overseas investments
Invest in your apprentices and reap the rewards, states the ECA. But these are not just hollow words, as three participants in the European apprentice exchange programme report from Switzerland.
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Smooth operation
"It's good to talk" – BT's famous catchphrase has been put into action at Scotland's largest construction project, the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
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Wilson: hard option of best value is way forward…
Construction minister Brian Wilson addressed a packed audience at the ECA's annual dinner, calling for a break from adversarial attitudes, improved site safety and an end to lowest price culture.
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