National Resources Wales has now accepted SEPA guidance on the production of fully recovered asphalt road planings.

The Quarry Products Association and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) developed a guidance document to promote the sustainable reuse of asphalt road planings. The methodology demonstrates when aggregate produced from source segregated asphalt road planings has been fully recovered, meaning it has ceased to be waste. After a request made by the Enabling Zero Waste Team at Constructing Excellence in Wales, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has now accepted this guidance.

This will ease the reuse of source segregated asphalt road planings material across Wales and boost the available secondary aggregates in Wales.

Source segregated asphalt road material meeting the guidance requirements may be used in several different civil engineering applications, such as: capping, sub base, basic running surfaces and use as a feedstock in the manufacture of new road surfacing materials.

Producers and users of such materials who comply with the NRW accepted SEPA guidance will likely be considered by NRW to have produced a product rather than a waste. The guidance applies solely to source segregated asphalt road planings covered by European waste Catalogue Code 17 03 02. It does not cover:

• Tar bound aggregates. Tar pitches are derived from coal and are classed as hazardous waste, European Waste Catalogue Code 17 03 03. Where a road has a tar content it is the responsibility of the road owner/operator to identify and quantify this and decide for its treatment/disposal at a suitably licensed facility.
• Asphalt and asphalt road planings contaminated with any other substances including, though not restricted to, plastics, glass, metals, and spilled liquids.
• Asphalt removed/processed by any other method other than by a road planer e.g. via pneumatic or hydraulic breakers.

If the material has been fully recovered, there is certainty of use and thus no longer is waste its subsequent movement and use will not be subject to the requirements of the waste regulatory control. As such, the material would not have to be transported by a registered waste carrier.

https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/154246/road_planings_guidance.pdf

There are many courses around in construction about energy efficiency and retrofit, but not many that address traditional pre-1919 buildings – something there is a lot of in Wales. Here is one we recommend. 

The Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) funds courses for the Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings and they are well worth the time.

The Retrofit Academy also covers traditional buildings in their course, but the CWIC courses appear to look closer at the building physics and the unintended consequences of the traditional pre-1919 buildings. The training course provides individuals with a better knowledge and understanding surrounding energy efficiency works and the installation of energy efficiency measures to older traditional buildings. It aims to ensure that such measures do not compromise the aesthetics of such buildings, or lead to the development of unintended consequences.

The qualification is via Scottish Qualification Authority and the September courses run in Lampeter – details are – UWTSD, St David’s College, Lampeter, SA48 7ED and the dates are 5th & 6th September 2017 and both run from 9.00am - 5.00 pm

This course is suitable for those working in construction and architectural technicians and specifiers. On successful completion of the course you will have an appreciation of energy efficiency measures relevant to pre-1919 buildings.

The course training objectives are linked directly to the three units that make up the SQA Level 3 Level for Energy Efficiency Measure for Older and Traditional Buildings (QCF) Award and are listed below:

• SQA unit – Older and Traditional Buildings: Age, Nature and Characteristics
• SQA unit – Older and Traditional Buildings: Assessing Options for the Introduction of Energy Efficiency Measures 
• SQA unit – Older and Traditional Buildings: Making Recommendations and Giving Advice on the Introduction of Energy Efficiency Measures.

In addition, supplementary information to support learners understanding of the broader issues affecting the energy efficiency and retrofit of pre-1919 traditional buildings is provided in the form of three course handbooks covering the subject areas below:

• Understanding the chronology, building styles, age and characteristics of traditional (pre-1919) buildings and understanding how the thermal performance and energy and efficiency of traditional (pre-1919) buildings are assessed 
• Understanding the impact of the installation of retrofit of energy efficiency measures to traditional (pre-1919) buildings and installation of energy efficiency measures in relationship to craft occupations 
• Understanding the range of available energy efficiency systems and measures available.

 This course is free for eligible individuals and companies working in construction and its supply network.

Menai Science Park Exemplar takes shape for 2018 opening. Check out the story as reported in the Daily Post

The £20m Menai Science Park that is tipped to create up to 700 jobs is taking shape and office space is already in demand. Located close to Gaerwen on Anglesey, the main building is being erected for what will be a cutting-edge business facility. Supported by nearby Bangor University, its aim is to help home-grown firms to start and expand and attract businesses to relocate to the area.

Talking about the science park, Project Manager, Pryderi ap Rhisiart, said: “The demand is there, there are businesses that we hope will be here from day one, which we are pleased with because no one involved in this wants this to become a ‘white elephant’. The interest has come from the local area and people looking to relocate their business from England. Often, they have a connection here already, either they were raised here and want to come back or they went to Bangor University. There are various businesses from app developers, to medical sciences. That university connection is important, both for businesses being set up and future recruitment.”

There will be 70% office space and 30% lab space although this will be flexible with the building able to change to meet the needs of businesses. Pryderi added: “We see this as a place that offers lifestyle and facilities, the views from the offices here are incredible. This is a fantastic place to live and now we have this ‘Google’ type office where people can work and build businesses.”

Supporting the offices and labs is a public space at the entrance where people can work informally and there is also a cafe. On the next floor, the boardroom is taking shape which will feature all the latest technologies and has some of the best views in Wales, looking across Snowdonia.

Pryderi said: “We have called this ‘Wales’s best boardroom’, what is good is that even a small one/two-person business will have this facility. “When they are meeting clients, they will be able to impress them with these facilities.”

There will also be informal and formal meeting rooms. The informal room will have sofas and coffee machines, it is the sort of thing you see at a Google office, very laid back.

“But there will also be formal rooms because some people will still like this approach.”

For businesses moving in there will be support on offer. He said: “Unlike other business parks we will have a business development officer based on site, they can help the businesses, from things like networking to recruiting. We don’t just hand them the key, it is in our interest to see them grow. We are showing people around all the time and the demand is here, people interested in space should get in touch.”

Following a meeting with Transport for Wales, we have been invited to comment on their IDP Procurement strategy.

Please follow the link to the document which will be discussed at this Breakfast workshop.

An early indication would be appreciated in order to arrange the food and we would be grateful if you could please advise of any dietary requirements. There are limited spaces available and places will be reserved on a first come first served basis.

Please note the day and time of the Breakfast Workshop, 8am – Thursday 27th July 2017.

This is an opportunity to be ‘fed and watered’, receive CPD and take part in stimulating debate on a current topic.

To book a place please contact keith.jones@ice.org.uk.

Let’s talk about disability - the benefits of creating an open and accessible workplace, Cardiff  18 July 2017  17:30 - 20:00

Disabled people are more than twice as likely to be unemployed as non-disabled people. There are currently 1.3 million disabled people in the UK who are available for and want to work – a source of skills and expertise which is being overlooked.

ICE Wales Cymru's Fairness, Inclusion and Respect Sub-Group are excited to host this engaging debate looking at what the civil engineering industry can do to tap into this pool of talent to meet the future needs of our industry. The lecture will look at the barriers faced by disabled people in accessing employment and hear practical tips to make civil engineering more welcoming and accessible.

Two speakers, Dan Biddle and Helen Kane, will look at the different challenges facing people with both visible and invisible disabilities from answering a job advert to building a long-term career. They'll consider the barriers, both physical and personal, to getting a foot in the door and overcoming unconscious bias towards different types of disabilities.

The event will take place on 18^th July 2017 from 5.30pm until 8pm. Refreshments will be available before the event for ‘live attendees’.

The event is kindly being sponsored by PHG Consulting Engineers Ltd.

We would be delighted if you are able to attend the event ‘live’ at their Cardiff Office, please register here.

However, if you are not able to attend live, there are other ways to participate over the web, see below for details:

Joining / participating details:

Joining from a VC device/application

 Arup callers dial 14050899 or meet.amie.cowle@vmr.arup.com

External callers dial meet.amie.cowle@vmr.arup.com

Joining from Skype For Business

  Click or search for meet.amie.cowle@vmr.arup.com and press the video icon to make the call

  NB: Non-Arup Skype For Business/Lync attendees must be federated with Arup

Joining online (Chrome or Firefox only)

    https://web-vmr.arup.com/amie.cowle

Joining by phone

    Arup desk/conference room callers dial 14050899

    External callers dial one of the following numbers and input the Meeting ID as 14050899