Samuel Orme

Upon commencing the lift works an invasive survey took place, which revealed unexpected structural issues that were incompatible with the proposed lift design. Learn more ... Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/gHJsvbdj #FireFighting #LiverpoolCityCentre #NorthHouse #CasserlyPropertyManagement #residentialpropertymanagement

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Mental Health Top Tip 1 – Anxiety, its symptoms, causes and how to manage (thanks to our previous colleague Tony Hedges who shared this with us) All of us may experience anxiety at some point in our lives. We may have an interview, a presentation or a big family occasion coming up and this may cause us to feel more anxious than usual. These feelings, while being a little uncomfortable, may feel almost normal because they are aligned with a cause. In simple terms we almost expect them so we can deal with them, particularly as we feel it is going to be a temporary effect. However, when these feelings are out of sync and become persistent and pervasive then we may be experiencing an anxiety disorder. Things can become so problematic that they may cause people to avoid certain situations, prevent enjoyment and even stop people being able to work. What does anxiety look and feel like? Symptoms of anxiety include changes in thoughts and behaviour such as: Restlessness A feeling of dread A feeling of being “on-edge.” Difficulty concentrating Difficulty sleeping Irritability It can also involve physical feelings such as dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations (a noticeably strong, fast heartbeat), sweating, shortness of breath, headache, or dry mouth. Causes These can vary greatly and to fully establish may need professional input, as a guide however, common causes include. Illness or injury Work environment Family situations Employment status Financial problems Biological factors Trauma The good news: Firstly, if you are suffering with anxiety, you aren’t alone, anxiety disorders are common. Secondly, it’s a widely researched area and a range of options exist to help recovery such as. Talking and sharing: for low level cases of anxiety simply sharing how you feel with a trusted friend, colleague or family member can be enough to help manage and reduce the feelings. Talking therapies: This can involve working through thoughts, feelings and behaviours with a clinical psychologist or other mental health professional in regular sessions over a set period of time.   Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): which helps to teach strategies for recognising and overcoming distressing or anxious thoughts, is one of the most common therapies for treatment and management of anxiety disorders. Note: If symptoms are severe then always seek professional help! Top Tip shared by my previous colleague Tony Hedges: Look out for change in yourself or your friends and colleagues. Have you or they started to avoid certain events or places, is that anxious feeling now persistent and starting to affect your work or family life? If so then it may be time to seek help, talking to someone about how you feel is a great start. If things start to deteriorate or you don’t see improvement through talking then always seek professional help. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #wellbeing #arcadis #improvingqualityoflife

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We've created a load bank to discharge our battery system using a simple and effective method, especially useful when resistor banks aren't available. Here's how we did it: 1. Clean an empty drum (plastic or tin). 2. Fill the drum more than halfway with water. 3. Prepare two electrodes (we used GI flat 50x6). 4. Add 500 grams of table salt (NaCl) and stir well. 5. Connect the load from the charger side to drain the batteries. This method is a testament to our resourcefulness and ability to innovate with limited resources. #Innovation #Resourcefulness #BatteryDischarge #LoadBank #Engineering #DIY #ElectricalEngineering #SustainableEngineering #MadeInIndia #ProblemSolving ---

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Whatever stage your project is at, let us help you take it to the next level. #loveconstruction #problemsolving

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A powerful example of how integrating the project schedule (4D) into construction BIM processes can revolutionize project planning, aid execution of operations and… help projects to actually finish on time! Are we really okay with accepting the “norm” of over budget and past schedule projects? No! This explains why MANY products are being created to address the major pain points of our industry: cost, scheduling and sustainability. But this methodology isn’t something new, just something not wildly adopted in the US. Our lack of standards hoped for an opportunity of organic growth with our BIM practices, but it’s clear we need to catch up to the global construction market. In the states, our levels of development in BIM have remained relatively stagnant with 2D and 3D models as standard practice to serve for clash detection, often times only including MEP. What would our construction projects in the US look like if we tied our schedule and cost to the BIM model? -Accountability -Collaboration -Sustainable Value Utilizing 4D/5D practices has the potential to bring immense value to the built asset even after turnover (predictive facilities maintenance and building control & automation systems tied to a digital twin). Value added doesn’t have to stop after we hand over the keys. #construction #AEC #BIM #4D #scheduleintergration #5D #costmanagment #constructabilityreview #sequencing #BIMstandards #organicgrowth #LODs #digitaltwins #ownervalue #facilitesmanagment #proactive #notreactive

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🌟 Big news for Quantity Surveyors in Scotland! 🌟 As Scotland amps up its investment in power transmission, a surge of opportunities is sparking up for Quantity Surveyors. We're talking about a robust grid that's not just about keeping the lights on; it's about powering our future with sustainable energy. 🛠️ Here's the scoop: With this green energy push, projects are multiplying. And with each new project, there's a need for savvy QS professionals who can manage costs and contracts efficiently. It's not just a job; it's a chance to be part of something monumental - shaping Scotland's energy landscape. I've been in recruitment for 3 years, and I've seen the industry evolve, but this is different. It's not every day you get to work on projects that are literally powering progress. So, if you're a Quantity Surveyor looking to plug into this electrifying sector, let's chat. Whether you're looking to make a switch or just curious about what's out there, drop me a line at kirstin.marshall@contractscotland.co.uk. #recruitment #recruitmentredefined #quantitysurveyor

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Particulate Matter PM2.5, is well worth knowing about if you don't already. PM2.5 is fine particulate matter thirty times smaller than a human hair. When airborne they can be breathed in and are small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream. With the drive to make our buildings increasingly more airtight to improve thermal performance, PM2.5 levels are worth being aware of. If airflow in homes is reduced without a correctly functioning ventilation system the quantity of particles can accumulate, increasing the risk.

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NG Bailey attributes its return to profitability to a robust performance from its Services arm following an impressive showing in the #constructionsector. Key Takeaways from Construction Wave: - Turnover for the year ending 1 March 2024 reached £600m, a significant increase from the previous year's £532m, accompanied by an underlying operating profit of £11.2m, marking a notable turnaround from the £17.3 million loss in FY2023. - The group's order book strengthened, rising to £1.4bn from £1.3bn in 2023. - The balance sheet reflected net assets valued at £129m, up from £121m in the prior year, with cash investments totaling £370m (compared to £83m in FY2023) and no external debt as of March 2023. The Engineering business also returned to profitability during the financial period, with a strategic focus on risk management, quality margins, and enhanced governance. Looking ahead, key markets for the Engineering division will encompass #Nuclear, #Aviation, #Education, #Defence, #Healthcare, #Custodial, #Rail, and #OffsiteConstruction, driving continued growth and success.

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3D modelling has many uses in property projects, from helping a property team visualise a project at design stage, to assist with the design process and to gain buy in and approval from colleagues. In restricted buildings a 3D model can help manage the installation of services and avoid clashes. Non-technical colleagues engage effectively with 3D models and they can also be used with other stakeholders, for example for prospective parents to view a nursery, or for heritage properties to share areas that are closed to the public. If 3D modelling would be valuable for your project, get in touch! #BuildingConsultancy #3Dmodel #RetailProperty

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There's a few things that keep running around in my head at the minute that I can't seem to shake. Predominantly it's whether the Structural Engineering sector will change with the #BuildingSafetyAct? but also... - Cost v Competency. - Safety v Sustainability. - DSL2 checking (Design Supervision Level) - DSL3 checking. Just where this industry is going to land in the next 12-18 months. And then there's this one interview I read a few years ago. It was by a director a medium sized SE firm in London. They were probably 5/6 strong at the time, but have probably doubled that by now. Decent rep. But in their interview they said the best advice they received was 'not to be a perfectionist, if enough is good enough, then just do enough'. And its always stayed with me. I always thought about it from the perfectionist end of the argument, not spending too much time on drawings and spending ages getting each line, each layer, block etc bang on and precise for example. Now though, I'm asking what is enough? - ties in with DSL2. I've used the example lately that if 10 is what is required and a 4 will do, then why are we still aiming for a 10? That got me thinking about contractors and the different Tiers that they operate at, then I'm back to responsibility and technicality, and the difference between jobs (responsibility remains but technicality of the project may change) - and thus where DSL3 comes into all this. Some little eejit who I used to work with asked me recently where we fit within the industry. A small firm with big clients so to speak and I didn't know how to answer really. Duty of care - another big question running around in my head. And that gets me thinking about meetings and light touch and the typical 'not my job / problem' response within the industry. Its that duty of care which means we typically can't keep our mouths closed in meetings, because weirdly enough trying to make buildings stand up still scares the bejesus out of me. But then you're back to the 4 and 10 argument, the perfectionist and enough argument and I know I can't sit on the enough side of that argument because that approach gave us Grenfell (pure coincidence I'm writing about that today, not looking to piggy back at all) and the book 'Show me the Bodies' still rings in my ears to tell me enough isn't good enough because look where that got us. So where does our sector go from here, and what does that look like? Because I'm not seeing too much to suggest its going to change at all right now. . . . . #refurbishment #design #london #structures #structuralengineering #construction #building #structuraldesign #structure

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Works on converter station for £2.4bn Germany-UK ‘invisible energy highway’ begin A £2.4bn (€2.8bn) “invisible #energy #highway” interconnector to link the UK’s grid with #Germany is moving into the next stage of #construction with #foundation works now underway on a new #UK converter station. Led by global investors Meridiam, ACP | Allianz Capital Partners, Kansai Electric Power and Tepco. the NeuConnect project will become one of the world’s largest interconnectors containing 725km of land and #subseacables. New converter stations will be built on the Isle of Grain in Kent and the Wilhelmshaven region in northern Germany. The new link will allow 1.4GW of #electricity to flow in either direction, helping to boost #energy security and resilience while also helping to integrate #renewableenergy sources in the UK and Germany. Major #construction in the UK started in summer last year with #cabling contractor Prysmian carrying out horizontal directional drilling (HDD) works to allow the subsea cables to be brought on-land. This first phase of works was completed on schedule by the end of 2023. Alongside this, NeuConnect’s other main contractor Siemens Energy also recently completed enabling works for the UK converter station allowing the project to now move into its next phase of construction that includes the start of test piling works to form the foundations of the new UK converter station. Where this is concerned, work is now underway to install the first of 10 test piles at the site of the UK converter station on the Isle of Grain to help gather information for the main foundation works. Main foundation works will begin this summer once analysis of the test piling has been completed. The main programme of foundation works for the converter station will begin in June with additional drilling rigs brought onto site which are expected to install more than 1,400 piles up to 28m deep in total. Preparatory works are also now underway on a National Grid #substation which are being carried out alongside NeuConnect’s converter station works. National Grid’s substation will connect NeuConnect to the UK’s electricity grid. Alongside UK construction activities, work at NeuConnect’s site in Wilhelmshaven, Germany is also making good progress with major #construction on track to start this month. Neuconnect is currently estimating that by 2028 the project will be completed and begin operation. NeuConnect chief executive Arnaud Grévoz said: “The start of early works on the UK converter station is another important step forwards for NeuConnect, and continues the good progress and strong momentum behind the project. With major construction also starting soon in Germany, the delivery of the first UK-German energy link remains firmly on track.” https://lnkd.in/ejuW_k-P

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The construction division of SEDDON GROUP LIMITED edged back into profit following a £15m loss in 2022 which was a said to be a result of construction inflation and subcontractor failure. Chief Exec. Jonathan Seddon highlighted #construction arm maintaining a conscious limit on large contract whilst growing specialist workstreams with shorter project times. Seddon also touched on further progress within other areas of the business such as #HousingPartnerships, #PropertyServices, #EngineeringServices and #Paintingand #Maintenance. The reason for focusing on these units is because the contracts are typically shorter than new build schemes, therefore not being impacted as much during inflation pressures seen in other areas of the business. Last year, the construction arm raised revenue by 4% to £155m generating small pre-tax profit of £200,000. So far in 2024, they have 80% of their order book secured with project in which are already secured. In addition, as a group, they continue to invest in #SocialHousing as several senior appointments have been across the operations and deliver, commercial and business. Construction Enquirer

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Have you read our Built Environment Technology Ecosystem report?🏗 With the support of Procore Technologies, Build UK, RICS and Sektor.build, we have created four distinct papers focusing on different areas of the RIBA asset cycle. Find out more about how technology can support each stage of your construction project: https://bit.ly/3S6VXnj #contech #innovation #constructiontechnology

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Champion sustainability with our cutting-edge design solutions. Maximise energy efficiency across your projects and minimise the environmental impact for a greener future. Discover how cutting-edge BIM technology can help achieve: 1. Reduced Carbon Footprint: Identifying and mitigating sources of emissions throughout the project lifecycle. 2. Resource Efficiency: Maximising the use of sustainable materials and reducing waste. 3. Energy Optimization: Designing buildings that harness renewable energy and operate efficiently. 4. Life-cycle Assessment: Evaluating the environmental impact from construction to operation and beyond. #MorphRE #DesignTech #SustainableArchitecture #BIM

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The Digital Construction Awards celebrate best practice and reward innovation in the application of information management and digital technology in the built environment sector. Here are the shortlisted entries for the Best Use of Data On A Project award: AtkinsRéalis | Sizewell C AtkinsRéalis is using automation and digitalisation in the design delivery phase of Sizewell C, the new 3.2GW nuclear plant planned for Suffolk, generating valuable data for driving design efficiency. This is a huge project with tens of thousands of different modelled objects across multiple different disciplines, so having a coherent data strategy is critical for delivery. AtkinsRéalis is driving the implementation of a model object data dictionary (MODD) to deliver a data-enabled Sizewell C. The MODD was developed based on industry standards and plays a crucial role in detailed design delivery. It defines every attribute required for all elements within AtkinsRealis’s design scope, providing the design teams with a standardised approach to data across all disciplines. To date, more than 100,000 elements have been modelled. Automated tools were developed to allow teams to append data quickly and accurately. Working within Civil3D, the tools extract data to populate all MODD requirements for that object – a combination of calculated values from Civil3D properties, entry fields for the user via input or Excel, and directly reading data from the project CDE. One area of particular benefit from improved data handling is the ‘mass balances’. This concept, borrowed from process engineering, is used on Sizewell C to describe demand and supply profiles across technical disciplines. These include the number of workers on site, earthwork volumes and HGV deliveries. For these demand calculations, unpivoted datasets, which are not typically used in technical delivery, have been implemented, enhancing data granularity and enabling better decisions. For example, by analysing the granular workforce data, AtkinsRéalis identified an overprovision of desks for office staff, but a shortfall of lockers for site workers, and site welfare was improved in response. AtkinsRéalis says the project’s successes demonstrate the potential for combined model and data-driven solutions, and how the adoption of MODD can improve the overall efficiency and productivity of projects. The awards are run by Digital Construction Week, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), and Construction Managementand BIMplus. Awards sponsors include Bluebeam, Procore, Revizto and the CIOB. [Construction Management] #digitalconstructionawards #AtkinsRéalis #automation #digitalisation Image: EDF

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A snapshot here of some of the information supplied to our engineers when they conduct PPM visits. Our team build up a profile of a site over their visits, ensuring our engineers know about access codes, asset locations etc. Most importantly is to ensure they know which areas they are testing/are not to test so we can ensure we are fulfilling our contracted obligations. On top of the information shown here our engineers will be sent a full job spec and have access to asset list data & technical data and access codes for the system they are working on. The data we have available to us is highly important to allowing us to complete servicing visits successfully. #PPM #Servicing #FireandSecurity

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So this happened today.... I became a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) - 😬 For those that don't know what it is, and in their own words; "ICE Fellowship, the highest grade of membership, recognises the significant contribution you’ve made to society. It shines a light on you as a civil engineer and your achievements as a leader in the profession, no matter where you are in the world". ...and I can breath now. To support your application you need 2 supporters who are already Fellows, and I won't name names in case they don't want to be mentioned (they can comment if they want), but I friggin love my 2 supporters. One of them I've been in trenches with and know we each have each others back and the other is a person I've always looked up to and admired from afar from the work they were doing in the industry, and the phrase, 'don't meet your heroes' doesn't apply here, the nicest most genuine person I've met in the industry (also super smart). Being in and around these 2 people has really upped my competency and taken me to a new level to work at which is awesome to be honest. Me being awarded Fellowship is a reflection on them more than myself, thanks for all the support and guidance, means a lot. Finally just a nod to the ICE as well. Their application process was really open, clear and supportive. I got a lot of help from Katherine Etheridge initially when I was pulling together my documents for submission and we ironed out a lot of do's and don'ts before submitting - that helped a lot too, thanks Katherine. . . . . #refurbishment #design #london #structures #structuralengineering #construction #building #structuraldesign #structure

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Question for my network.... Contractor RAMS (Risk Assessments & Method Statements). Is there anything specific out there that stipulates who checks what? Don't get me wrong, we (Structural Engineers) do check various RAMS elements, Demo, Temp Works etc. where applicable. But the question was raised as we were filling out a bit on our competency document and we didn't know the answer - where this specific requirement comes from, where its stated etc. Best I've found so far are the responsibilities of the Principal Designer in the CDM Regs, ensuring that a competent Contractor is being appointed. Gone through the H&S website, nothing there, checked various Responsibility Matrices from old jobs which state RAMS should be done, but assigns no checking responsibility, the IStructE say reviewing contractor RAMS is a core task in work stage 4.5 - but that's it. Nothing specific. If anyone could point me in the right direction, or shed any light on it, it would be much appreciated. . . . . #refurbishment #design #london #structures #structuralengineering #construction #building #structuraldesign #structure

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Bit of a manic one today, 4 out of 5 on the first visit fix, the one that couldn't be done will be on Friday once we have the specialist part. You know where we are for all your door, loading system, gates, barriers and access needs #proudlysecuringyourbusiness #engineerlife #firstvisitfix

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