A £65m construction project for Willmott Dixon Groundbreaking in the UK

Construction has begun on a £65 million housing and commercial space complex in North-minster, UK, on behalf of the Peterborough Investment Partnership (PIP).

The project will consist of 315 apartments consisting of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units in addition to 37 townhouses.

Commercial space will be available for leisure and hospitality on both ground floor units. An estimated £14 million grant from the Cambridge-shire and Peterborough Combined Authority is helping to fund the project, which will be completed in August 2024.

430 apartments have just been built on the Perry Barr Residential Scheme, in Birmingham, along with the Town House at Kingston University. In late October, the company announced that it was partnering with North Tyneside Council to make North Shields, UK, a net-zero transportation hub.

Key Comments on Groundbreaking Ceremony

David McCallion, director of Willmott Dixon, stated that they are pleased to deliver this ten-story flagship development for North-minster in collaboration with PIP. The project provides affordable housing stock and valuable commercial properties to bring investment to the area. North-minster is so in need of this kind of development. Willmot’s delivery partners are excited to work alongside them to revitalize this area for residents and the broader community.

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Published By
Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Strip Foundation- definition, its types, its Preparation

The Strip foundations are by far the most popular type of foundation. A strip foundation is a strip of concrete that runs beneath all load-bearing walls, as the name implies. The strip’s width is determined by the soil’s allowed bearing pressure and the building load. The strip must be long enough to rest on solid ground. Weaker soils and larger loads will necessitate broader foundations to disperse the weight over the necessary ground surface.

The soil’s qualities will also determine the depth. For example, on clay soils, the foundation must be set deep enough to prevent being impacted by volume changes induced by the seasonal movement of trees. It must be deep enough in sands, gravels, and some silts to minimize frost heave movement.

Types of Strip Foundation

Based on their characteristics, there can be two types of Strip foundation; they are as follows:-

Deep Strip Foundation

The most common type of foundation is the deep strip foundation, which is also the cheapest provided the soil conditions are suitable. A reinforced concrete strip supports the walls. The trench can be of any depth, but it should be at least 40 inches deep and 24 inches broad. Concrete should have a minimum depth of 9 inches.

Wide Strip Foundation

Wide Strip Foundation is seen in areas having soils with low load-bearing capacity. The regular strip foundation cannot be implemented in low-quality soils. The excessive widening and deepening of the construction to prevent wall shearing is not economically justified.

The use of reinforced concrete to construct a foundation can be a proper solution. Reinforcing bars give the foundation a tensile property, allowing the entire structure to bear strain and compression.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Not Think It’s So Hard Concrete Topping

Concrete topping is a dense, abrasion-resistant surface made from high-tensile concrete applied over a worn, old concrete surface. The concrete underneath it becomes stronger and deeper.

A concrete topping involves covering a worn-out concrete layer with a stronger concrete layer. The process consists of laying a layer of concrete on top of an existing concrete slab to finish the surface.

Types of Concrete Topping

Bonded Topping Slab

Concrete toppings are adhering to or bonded to the concrete slab underlying them in this type of slab. Traditionally, attached slabs are both structurally and functionally useful. It is possible to use Bonded Concrete Slabs for both lightweight and heavyweight slabs. A bonded concrete slab must be at least 1 to 2 inches thick.

Un-bonded Topping Slab

A Topping Slab of this type is not bonded to the underlying concrete slab. The two slabs do not connect.

There is no mechanical attachment or bonding between the top layer of concrete and the structural floor beneath. When two slab courses are to move independently of each other or when the topping slab is to replace & un-bonded systems are used. Ideally, the construction should be un-bonded and at least 100mm thick. The base slab contains cracks, or the bonding is partially or ineffective.

Working Procedure of Concrete Topping

Requirement of Concrete Base

It is necessary to conduct a preliminary assessment before laying concrete on top of existing concrete. The concrete on top must be firm and stable. As the topping concrete does not cover the cracks in the existing concrete, they will appear in the topping concrete as well over time. The base must be strong to ensure adhesion between the old concrete and the new concrete & Fragile concrete should not use.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

CtrlS breaks ground on a third data centre in Hyderabad

CtrlS, a home-datacentre company, has broken ground of its third data centre in Hyderabad, India, as part of its plans to add five million square feet of datacentre space in phases.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday for CtrlS, which is Asia’s largest rated-4 hyper-scale data centre, and kicked off the building of its third hyperscale data centre in the Gachibowli suburb of Telangana.

The project will be an 18MW facility with about 131,000 square feet (12,170 square meters) of rack space will be available.

While addressing the gathering of people on Monday after the groundbreaking ceremony, The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of CtrlS, Sridhar Pinnapureddy, said that the new facility would attract many global multinationals and Indian businesses to Hyderabad for meeting their colocation and disaster recovery needs.

He also said that the data centre would act in an environmental-friendly way with rainwater harvesting, recycling, water conservation, and e-waste management facilities.

Sridhar Pinnapureddy also said that as the construction of the building commences, the company will try to provide new employment opportunities and the ability to help in the expansion of global multinationals and local and Indian businesses into the city of Hyderabad.

The company is going to set up a 500-acre solar park to power its data centre facilities and demolish its carbon footprint.

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Published By
Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Ensuring the Success of Your Project using Connected Construction

The field of construction and architecture is developing each day at a vast speed; many advancements have been made possible by revolutionary and innovative new ways of managing the construction of a project. With the Building Information Modelling (BIM) program being widely available, project managers and architects now have the perfect tool in their arsenal for optimally managing and finalizing any project, no matter the shape or scope.

Construction projects are inherently complex and involve multiple aspects and moving parts. A small mistake or oversight in one area can considerably affect the overall project.

To ensure efficient collaboration, communication, and data exchange, modern construction professionals need to make use of all available methods. This is the stage where “Connected construction” comes to play.

What Is Connected Construction?

Connected construction has a different meaning to different people, but it always has one common element. Connected construction is a foundation for open communication by using technology to integrate various teams, technologies, and information involved in a construction project.

By integrating connected construction in a project, we can be sure that there is no space for any kind of miscommunication, and thus no data is lost at any given time. When the teams stay updated and have all the necessary information about the project, there will be a very slim chance of any mistakes.

Advantages of Connected Construction

There are a lot of benefits that can be achieved if connected construction is adopted, some of the benefits are listed below:

1. Data-Based Decision Making

Using connected construction gives you easy access to up-to-date information, which helps you make informed decisions regarding the project and minimize risk as a whole. Along with that, connected construction also allows for a better and faster response to unsought changes and situations.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Unsung Hero of Fire Damage Restoration Services

The damage a fire causes to your property or home can be devastating. In any case, fires can lead to significant property damage regardless of their size or scope. The damage can range from direct fire damage to smoke damage and damage caused by extinguishing the flames with water.

Combining these two factors can result in property damage of considerable magnitude. You can also find ruins such as burned furniture, destroyed staircases, or holes caused by a fire. Both homeowners and business owners may be devastated by the mishap.

In most cases, fire damage restoration services tackle all the problems associated with fire damage, sorting through the mess and restoring the property to its original condition on time. Make sure the company is licensed, experienced, and certified.

A professional damage restoration service provider’s contact information should also be kept on hand in case of an emergency. Fire restoration providers should be contacted as soon as possible. You are more likely to get the property back in its pre-damaged condition if you act promptly.

Job Details of Fire Restoration Service Provider

Proper Checking

The spot will be inspected for fire damage after a professional is notified about the situation. In order to assess the damage and formulate an ideal plan of action, they will perform tests and assessments.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Top Tips for Crushing Your Vibration Risks in Construction

There can be significant risks associated with vibrations generated by construction activities. Vibrations at the job site can create health and safety hazards, damage equipment, and affect product quality.

Providing safety training and protective equipment to heavy machinery workers can prevent vibration hazards. Considering these aspects can help workers avoid vibration hazards and injuries.

Types of Vibration Risks

Whole Body Vibration

Humans’ legs and feet can be affected by whole-body exposure. Vibration exposure can also result in a number of symptoms including fatigue, aches, and pains in the muscles and joints, skin rashes and itching, difficulty sleeping, headaches, and irritability due to stress.

The long-term effects of some symptoms can be debilitating, even though they do not appear immediately. Therefore, workers who regularly work in vibrational environments must wear appropriate protection such as anti-vibration boots, impact gloves with thick padding, and ear protection. To prevent further injury, workers should also be aware of the symptoms of vibration exposure.

Hand Arm Vibration

Vibrations caused by power tools can eventually lead to nerve damage in the hands, arms, and shoulders of workers. Hand-arm vibration symptoms and effects include Tingling or numbness, pain in the hands, arms, shoulders, and neck, Discomfort in the hand while working due to vibration transmitted through handles and tools, Loss of grip strength, Reduction in power and control when using hand tools, such as drills, chisels, etc.

Vibration can cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome over a long period of time. A median nerve injury at the wrist can cause numbness, weakness, and clumsiness.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Samsung SDI breaks ground for test line for solid-state batteries

One of South Korea’s major battery makers, Samsung SDI, is set to establish the industry’s first pilot production line of all-solid-state batteries.

Samsung has recently announced the groundbreaking of its all-solid-state battery test line at its research institute in yeongtong Gu, a city in Gyeonggi Province, Suwon. The research institute will be made with a covered area of about 6500 square meters. The company is named “S-line.”

THROUGH TRIAL PRODUCTION, Samsung SDI has stated that it hopes to obtain “market-leading solid-state battery research results and manufacturing technology” but has not provided details such as production capacity.

Solid-state batteries provide faster charging, higher voltage, and a longer life cycle. The solid-state electrolytes are non-igneous and guarantee the safe operation of lithium metal batteries. Despite this, widespread adoption is challenging due to issues such as energy and power density, durability, material costs, sensitivity, and stability.

Currently, the biggest challenge for the company is ensuring faster charging at low temperatures and at room temperature. Due to the lower ionic conductivity of solid electrolytes compared to liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state batteries have a lower charge-discharge rate than conventional batteries.

Samsung SDI said it succeeded in designing and synthesizing solid electrolytes while developing all-solid battery prototypes that are highly safe and have a high energy density.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Best Software for Excel QTO Roofing Quantity Takeoff & Pricing Database

It is likely that you have problems with complex geometry when designing roofs. This Excel QTO Roofing Quantity Takeoff & Pricing Database sheet will help you to design complex roofs with minimal geometry knowledge. Use it now and test it yourself. If you have even the most basic understanding of MS Excel, you can operate this Excel QTO Roofing Quantity Takeoff & Pricing Database.

It is the fourth version of this software, which has been proven to accurately estimate residential composition shingle roofing projects.

The Excel QTO Roof Database consists of about 350 projects which are developed by the county’s topmost manufacturers.

The database is highly flexible and quantifiable as the users can customise the roofing materials as per the demand of their project. There are more than 10,00,000 lines each consisting of the definite number of roofing goods which can be used in each take-off. Furthermore, packing, coverage, the cost of size and setting up can be allotted to each database project.

With the help of the software, we can estimate even the most convoluted roofing without having any knowledge of geometric formulas at all. We just need to be familiar with the use of simple spreadsheets.

Functioning

The Excel QTO Roofing Quantity Takeoff & Pricing Database computes estimates of field measurements and scaled architectural roof plans by using the proven legacy tools of Excel QTO. It relies on the theory that roofs are essentially trapezoids and triangles.

Each roof surface area is broken down into a combination of these shapes, and then the software estimates the quantities taken off for each shape.

The dimensional geometry data is fed into the “Roof Geometry” worksheet in which every manual roof surface area is broken down into combinations of triangles and trapezoids. Only the dimensions of each shape and the slope are entered in the spreadsheet.

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Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co

Heliports and Its Types

The pads may be made from steel, concrete, or aluminum. In places like hospitals, golf courses, skyscrapers, and private buildings, helicopter landing pads are commonly found. The ground or an elevation can be used to build heliports. A rooftop or elevated structure can be used for an elevated heliport.

Features of Heliports

1. Heliports can be split into four basic divisions: Final Approach and Takeoff Areas, Touchdown and Liftoff Areas, safety areas, and wind cones.
2. Final Approach and Takeoff Areas are areas over which a pilot completes the final phase of an approach to land or from which he departs. The Touchdown and Liftoff Area is a load-bearing, paved area usually located within Final Approach and Takeoff Areas, where helicopters perform touchdowns and takeoffs.
3. A helicopter’s type and rotor diameter determine the size of the Touchdown and Liftoff Areas. Square, rectangular, and circular Touchdown and Liftoff Areas are all possible.
4. Heliports will all have a Touchdown and Liftoff Area. Touchdown and Liftoff areas can be located within or outside Final Approach and Takeoff Areas.
5. Heliports on the ground are typically made of cement concrete with a minimum thickness of six inches.
6. Heliports are categorized based on their purpose. Hospitals, for instance, have an H painted in red with a cross outlined in the background. White is painted on all other heliports.
7. The maximum weight that can be handled by each heliport can be seen on it. Additionally, it must specify the maximum dimensions of helicopters permitted to land.
8. Heliports should have a minimum size of 40 x 40 feet. In addition, there should be no obstacles around heliports, and those areas should be at least twice as large as the heliport itself.
9. Pilots are provided with wind speed and direction data by wind cones located near the heliport. There are wind cones positioned on the helicopter approach path 150 meters from the Touchdown and Liftoff Areas so the pilot can see them.
10. The surfaces of heliports are nonslip. For visibility from the air, heliports are typically marked with an ‘H’ or a circle in concrete.

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Published By
Arka Roy
www.constructioncost.co