SPACES – e-news May 2020

Hello

This newsletter gives a summary of what has happened or is going to happen at SPACES in the last month. If you want up to date information, please follow us on our LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

SPACES is a network here to help our members, if you think we can help or you need advice from any of the large range of individuals /organisations we have then please get in touch!

We are pleased to share information on our LinkedIn page from Professional Societies (eg CIBSE, CIOB, RIBA, RICS, CIC, CLC), the Government and our member organisations. If you have any information please send the link to me, Fiona (please allow 2 working days).

Regards Fiona

NB To help our members during the current time, e-newsletters may be published more frequently due to increases in information available.

Yearbook and Award Submissions

Yearbook and Awards 2020 – Shortlists announced

Thank you to all those that entered projects for the Yearbook and Awards. Following receipt of over 100 submissions earlier this year, we are pleased to announce 26 projects that are shortlisted for the SPACES Awards, incorporating Civic Building of the Year (CBOY), and a further 34 which will be included in the yearbook. For a list of the projects, and information on the teams, please see our website.

After discussion it has been agreed by the board that there will be a joint 2020 and 2021 Yearbook and Awards Evening next year.

Technical Enquiries for members

SPACES has set up a Closed LinkedIn Group for members for technical enquiries. This will only be open to registered members, who have agreed to our By-Laws (for multiple member memberships the member will have had to completed the signing in process). The groups rules are:

  1. Do not post anything that you wouldn’t want your Chief Exec or your Mother to see.
  2. Respect other members of the Group
  3. What happens in the Group conversation stays in the group conversation.
  4. This group if for those signed up for SPACES membership only as per our records

If you would like to be a member of this group, please follow Fiona as administrator, send her a message and she will send you an invite.

Other Societies’ Webinars and Online Trainings

RICS

RICS have announced to members of the profession that they will be making a range of digital resources & services available without charge.

Grow Your Knowledge

A new webinar series from CIBSE

Taking place every Thursday, at 11:00 (BST), this free webinar series is designed to support the CIBSE community in maintaining their CPD remotely.

#Build2Perform Wednesday Webinars

Taking place every Wednesday, at 11:00 (BST), this free webinar series, supported by the CIBSE Education Training and Membership Committee, showcases some of the most popular sessions from the 2019 Build2Perform Live event. Each webinar will feature a 60-minute CPD accredited presentation recorded from last year’s event.

  • 6th May – Effective Operations
  • 13th May – Total Building Performance
  • 20th May – Are We in Control?
  • 27th May – Electric Vehicles
  • 3rd June – Delivery Models
  • 10th June – The Latest UK Climate Projections, UKCP18
  • 17th June – Resilience of Schools to Climate Change
  • 24th June – Urban Design

Useful Member information – COVID-19

A summary of information related to COVID-19 can be found on our website. Recent additions include:

Department for Education – managing school premises

The DfE have published guidance on managing school premises, which are partially open, during the coronavirus outbreak. Educational settings should review their arrangements for all building-related systems but in particular: hot and cold water systems, gas safety, fire safety, kitchen equipment, security including access control and intruder alarm systems, and ventilation.

LGA – COVID-19 – Remote Council Meetings
During the coronavirus pandemic, local authorities are unable to conduct public meetings in person. Holding council meetings virtually requires a different approach to communication and technology. Our new online hub hosts a range of guidance, peer to peer support, and case studies to assist councils with this significant change to working.

Construction Leadership Council – Site operating Procedures – 15th April

Site Operating Procedures Version 3 Published

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government – Application of the Building Regulations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Guidance for Building Control Bodies operating in England.

Useful Member information

CROSS Report 908 Failure of RAAC planks in schools

Further issues with defective RAAC planks in flat roofs are highlighted in this report.

CROSS Newsletter 58

CROSS Newsletter 58 has been published and contains expert comment from the CROSS Panel on

  • 908 Failure of RAAC planks in schools
  • 904 Structural issues with cladding
  • 882 Post-tensioned slab failure
  • 886 Unconservative design of flat slab
  • 906 Missing punching shear reinforcement
  • 873 Propping of post-tensioned slabs
  • 911 Suspended ceiling replacement in high rise block
  • 915 Crane outrigger loads underestimated due to misuse of software
  • 889 Dangerous substitution of lintels on domestic projects

The Newsletter also contains information on risks from COVID-19 in the construction and building management sectors, for which they would welcome your views.

Government confirms the biggest changes to building safety in a generation

New measures announced include mandatory sprinkler systems and consistent wayfinding signage in all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall.

Study Day 2020

Study Day 2020 – Save the date

Due to COVID-19, the board have agreed that the Study Day will not be held in 2020, but moved to June 2021. We thank the support of our sponsors and speakers. 

Next year the theme will still be Zero Carbon and the Climate Emergency and we are in discussions with De Montfort University, Leicester about holding the event there.