News in Brief – June 2009

To coincide with its 75 year anniversary, Lindapter has launched a new Design Guide which is a  comprehensive resource for specifying connections. To request a free copy Tel. 01274 521444.

SCI has awarded its quality assurance SCI Assessed mark to Fusion Building Systems for its thermal modelling work showing that heat losses through its light steel framing system’s junction details are significantly lower than generic thermal bridging data suggests. Andrew Way, Manager of Light Gauge Construction, SCI says: “SCI Assessed gives manu-facturers a cost effective way to differentiate their product in a highly competitive market.”

Talks on the EU Working Time Directive have broken down without an agreement being reached. The collapse sees the end of the European Parliament’s proposal to phase out the opt-out in three years. A conciliation meeting in Brussels was unable to resolve the long standing differences. Commenting on the issue, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson added: “Millions of people are better off because of the opt-out and I am relieved we have been able to resist its removal.”

Mace has confirmed that Severfield-Reeve Structures will design, fabricate and deliver the steel frame from the ground level upwards for London’s Shard project. Meanwhile Cleveland Bridge will work on the project’s plunge columns and other steelwork for the basement and ground floor. Currently piling is still on going and lower steelwork is expected to begin within the next few months.