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New and Improved technologies in support of key industry themes
Research on new and improved technologies to underpin the Department’s Construction and Innovation Programme will be need to be undertaken. The following generic projects provide a guide to the types of activities which are likely to sommand support – although the list is not intended to be exhaustive.
1. Identifying market needs for technology via. scoping studies and
market research. For example:
Feasibility studies on the pre-fabrication of those aspects of construction that have traditionally been built insitu at site in order to determine the implications on competitiveness, buildability, and sustainability.
2. Development of technology via. physical research, analysis and innovative IT. For example:
Re-engineering of structural components and materials to accommodate predicted changes in the supply chain.
3. Development of Codes of Practice (including Eurocodes), Standards and appropriate guidance material to absorb the technology (if sufficiently mature). For example:
Calibration studies on Eurocodes to ensure that the emerging rules will not be detrimental to the UK with regard to safety and economy.
4. Dissemination of technology through publications (other than Codes), seminars and demonstration projects to encourage take up. For example:
Exploitation of former research findings to facilitate innovation through the development of user friendly guidance material.
5. Monitoring existing technology and the identification of weaknesses and the need to adopt changes in response to market, climate or other such influences. For example:
Investigation surveys of existing construction following reports of an apparent acceleration in the degradation of certain structural components believed to be attributed to changes in regulatory changes relating to thermal insulation of buildings.
The Departments’s perception of the needs of industry for technical research in the programme.
The following key areas have been identified:
In support of the government’s housing programme.
To meet the anticipated increase in the number of new dwellings constructed in the next 20 years, the competitiveness of the housing industry will need to be strengthened by ensuring that alternative forms of safe, economic and sustainable construction are readily available for low rise houses and medium rise flats. Innovative technologies will need to be devised and developed into practical specifications. This will not only relate to the recent introduction of light steel framed models or the planned innovations for precast concrete housing, but will also involve continuing development and improvement in timber framed housing as well as traditional masonry house construction. Foundation design will also need to feature in this programme, bearing in mind the government’s aim to accommodate 60% of proposed new dwellings on brownfield sites.
Much of this work has already started but there are some serious gaps in the technology some of which are mentioned below.
Simple, prescriptive rules are needed to support the design of 2 or 3 storey timber framedhouses.
Simple, prescriptive rules are also required for the design of low rise light steel framed houses similar to that available in America (Ref: Residential steel framing manual: For architects, engineers and builders, Washington DC, American Iron and Steel Institute.)
Authoritative guidance on novel solutions for building on brownfield sites. Much of the research has already been completed but needs to be disseminated to engineers and builders.
Fire safety of innovative housing
. Current research on fire safety of medium rise timber framed construction needs to be concluded and recommendations reached to support harmonisation of Building Regulations and to facilitate practical guidance for architects and engineers. A study into the implications that the latter findings may have on the fire safety of light steel framed residential buildings, is also needed.
An investigation into the alternative innovative forms of masonry construction to determine the measures needed to improve the sustainable use of the material. This will involve studies of the projected availability of skilled craftsmen and realistic assessment of the benefits of prefabrication.
The development of practical guidance on the design and construction of safe and economical prefabricated concrete dwellings, subject to the findings of cost benefit and sustainability assessments.
Re-engineering of the UK home Grown Timber Resource.
The volume of UK home grown structural grade timber being harvested over the next 4 to 5 years is set to rise considerably. Unless a means of expanding the uses of UK grown timber for structural applications can be devised, a large proportion of this valuable resource will be wastefully used for secondary products. Whilst much of the UK sourced timber cannot be directly substituted for imported sawn timber, new applications and re engineered techniques need to be urgently developed to ensure that the timber is utilised efficiently.
Calibration of the European Timber Grading Rules.
The CEN Standard on timber grading will have a major impact on the quantity of structural grade timber that sawmillers currently achieve from harvested timber. Small adjustments in the grading rules can have a significant effect on timber yields. In order to ensure that the UK is not disadvantaged by such changes, calibration studies of the CEN rules need to be undertaken.
Cladding
Masonry cladding (principally brickwork cladding) is favoured by the public for housing estates and many other buildings. Despite the aesthetic quality of masonry and it proven performance in providing a protective enclosure against the weather, its construction takes an inordinate amount of time compared with the remainder of the building. For example, the structure of a steel framed house may be erected on a prepared base within 2 or 3 days, whereas the brickwork cladding will take considerably longer. There is also a growing shortage of skilled craftsmen available to serve the predicted housing programme. Alterrnative cost effective and attractive cladding systems need to be developed to facilitate greater choice and provide the opportunity to reduce construction periods.
Guidance on Foundation Technology.
Considerable research has been undertaken over recent years on the means of founding buildings on brownfield sites. Whilst the results of this research has been published in specialist’s journals etc., the findings have not necessarily reached practising engineers. Practical guidance needs to be developed accordingly.
In addition, with regard to greenfield sites, there is a need to develop a simpler means of undertaking site investigation, especially methods that facilitate a reduction in time between site investigation and commencement of construction.
Structural Eurocodes
Monitoring of the emerging EN versions of the Structural Eurocodes is essential in order to safeguard UK construction in future years. The introduction of new design rules developed by European committees rather than our national committees will necessitate a number of calibration studies, both with respect to action (loading) Eurocodes and the material Eurocodes (steel , concrete , masonry etc).
