In pursuit of the first, the Zethus team has already led DTI expert missions to Japan and Canada to bring new structural framing ideas to the UK. Such missions, which usually include senior figures in housebuilding, are designed to provide shortcuts in introducing technologies, ideas and alternative processes to developers and contractors. Further missions to Japan, Canada and the US this month and in February 2002 will research alternative cladding systems to the currently dominant masonry.
The key thrust of the research in Egan compliance is cost reduction techniques. While much has been done via the Housing Forum demonstration projects (of which the Zethus Centre is a non-typical example) to trial alternative construction approaches, little of this has led to clear cost advantages. Housing in the US is often quoted as being 30-40% cheaper than the UK yet little is done to identify why. "Our work overseas has highlighted the importance of lightweight construction technologies and more appropriate heat and vent systems," says Simon Palmer of The Palmer Partnership.
Similarly, associated benchmarking to monitor change programmes is deemed essential by the centre. Its first project is a £545 000 EPSRC project to develop robust, simple metrics and data collection tools focused on the social housing sector and their contracting partners. This project has the support of the 22 registered social landlords in the Amphion Consortium and the partner Beazer Partnerships.
Partnering is a key message from government for the construction sector. Zethus has already formed the Amphion Consortium to bring together like-minded firms to explore advanced timber frame construction and supply chain issues. Further clubs are planned to explore other forms of construction associated with the Global Village. In addition, a housing systems club is to be launched shortly to bring together the various types of technology on offer from the manufacturing sector and present these to the market in a more coherent way.
Palmer explains: "We hope to provide a vehicle for all the manufacturers working in timber, steel, concrete and composites to understand client needs and work directly with client partners to assist the development of their technologies to suit the future needs of the UK consumer."
A full research programme is also planned on the consumer focus. Low running costs, good acoustic performance and a pleasant internal air quality are demanded from new homes yet these are all areas where much work is needed.
Work has already been done on developing better acoustics in compartment floors via the use of a single panelised cassette. This will now focus on affordable solutions that can meet and beat future Building Regulation standards.
The reverse wall concept on the centre building has improved thermal performance with the additional benefit to consumers of internal robustness, making hanging pictures and cupboards simpler.
The increasing use of prefabrication also means greater airtightness of the building envelope. While this is good in terms of acoustics and thermal performance, attention is required to the ventilation to ensure the quality of the interior environment. Much work has already been conducted in this area in Canada and Japan and the expert missions will explore these issues carefully.
Education emphasis
The Zethus Centre already has a range of educational grant aided packages available. These include:
- A DETR grant to provide seminars on Egan compliance techniques. This includes in-the-workplace training and a series of visits to manufacturing plants to assist network development between clients, contractors and the manufacturing sector.
- A Housing Corporation grant to provide seminars to RSLs on best-practice use of prefabrication. These workshops introduce clients and their contractors to a range of timber, concrete, steel and composite construction technologies available and help them understand which may be appropriate for their scheme needs. Those interested can contact the centre on 01622 817107.
However, the most significant grant addresses a vital area of concern for clients moving into prefabrication – training of erectors and first line site supervisors. Most clients appreciate that factory controlled conditions should generate a high quality product but have concerns about the erection and monitoring of the construction once it reaches site. This £626 000 grant, sponsored by DETR and the Construction Industry Training Board, will produce the UK's first pilot training centre in housing systems offering training courses for site supervisors, top-up skills courses to existing trades, certified erector courses, and NVQ qualification modules on housing system erection.
The project has a number of influential partners including the Timber Frame Industry Association, the Timber and Brick Consortium, Steel Construction Institute, H&H Celcon, Willmott Dixon and Zurich Building Guarantees. The initiative is chaired by Sir Michael Latham who has a keen expert interest in the training agenda for the construction sector. It is hoped that more than 1000 construction personnel will attend the pilot courses which will be jointly hosted by the centre and at CITB headquarters in Bircham Newton. If successful, the concept will be rolled out across the country.
Source
Building Homes
