There is currently much talk about the need to transform construction, with stated Government objectives to achieve ambitious targets of; 50% saving in time, 33% saving in costs, 50% reduction in the trade gap of construction products and materials. Whilst these round numbers might make one question how much science there is behind them, the directions are clear. There is also talk of public sector contracts favouring off-site construction, which is seen as a way of reaching these targets. All this must be good news for steel. Twenty years ago SCI was a partner in the CIMSteel project, which had four strands that resonate very much with the targets noted above; faster design, manufacture and construction, improved and cheaper structures, unlock potential for growth, improved competitiveness in the world market. CIMSteel outputs transformed the UK steel construction sector, and now we need more of the same.

Steel is already the backbone of solutions that, through offsite construction and modularisation, drastically reduce time (and cost) of on-site activities and improve quality. Light gauge steel modules, primarily used in the residential sector, are perhaps the most obvious example. There are also examples using heavier steel, although at the moment they remain niche. With a little effort, however, solutions for mainstream steel buildings could be developed that are at least as innovative as some much publicised precast concrete solutions. If we look slightly further into the future then one can imagine widespread use of demountable structures - an area perfectly suited to steel and where SCI is currently involved in a number of research projects.

For SCI these are therefore exciting times (a number of us who were around at the time still have fond memories of CIMSteel, and some of its iconic deliverables such as the Green Books). We are actively pursuing research funding from Innovate UK, and you may have seen that we will be focusing our annual event this year on transformational steel solutions.

SCI is pleased to announce the launch of the Energetic Materials Blast Information Group (EMBIG). The group will provide a forum for the exchange of best practice in the storage, transportation and handling of energetic materials and will coordinate the development of new software for the calculation of blast effects on structures for use by the group members. At its launch, the group is supported by 11 member organisations from government, industry and academia. Organisations interested in becoming members of EMBIG should contact Bassam Burgan.

Bassam Burgan has been invited to present at a special session of the "Technological Innovations in Nuclear Civil Engineering (TINCE) - 2018" conference in Paris on Friday 31st August 2018. The presentation will cover advances in Europe in the design and construction of double skin steel/concrete composite structures.

Singapore Structural Steel Society, invitation for David Brown of SCI to present, 11-14 September 2018

Singapore is intending to adopt EN 1090 and CE Mark fabricated steelwork, which will be a major change for the industry, just as it was in the UK. David is discussing the UK experience with Steelwork Contractors, and at the invitation of the Singapore Structural Steel Society is presenting a course on the detailed requirements of EN 1090-1 and -2. He intends to cover the background to some of the requirements - notably welding and tolerances - and to discuss the new obligations on designers such as the selection of Execution Class.

SCI's software components will save time and effort and can be plugged into existing software. The components comprise of Wind360, WindPlus and ZoneViewer. Key features include;

• Support for BS 6399 and BS EN 1993_1_1 & UK
• NA, UK and NI Coverage.
• Fully Customisable with seamless integration with your application.
• Fast Background calculations no 'interface hijacking'
• Full technical Support for software developers.
• Simple licence arrangements.
• Developed, hosted and supported by SCI.

For more information on each component and cost click here

UK Construction Day 2018: Transforming Construction: Using steel to deliver greater productivity. Thursday 8th November 2018, Royal College of Physicians, London

SCI's annual event will showcase how steel is already ideally placed to meet the UK Governments objective to transform construction techniques to dramatically improve efficiency in the future construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure. During this 1 day event recent projects taken from different sectors of the steel construction industry will demonstrate; cost, time and energy savings through innovations in manufacturing and digital technologies.

Speakers include;

Mark Farmer, Cast Real Estate & Construction Consultancy 'Modernise or Die' - Implications for the Steel Industry

Steve Matthews, WSP
The world would be a better place if everyone built bridges instead of putting up walls! Consult, Collaborate, Construct - A Steel Bridge Group review of industry needs.

David Coyle, Voler Ground Engineering
Using steel to deliver greater productivity: Dover Western Dock Revival

Chris George, Trimble
40 years in the steel industry. From drawing boards to BIM!

David Ellison, Sigmat
Smarter, lighter, faster - the offsite revolution with light gauge steel framing

Michael Hough, MJH Structural Engineers
Innovation in modular construction

The following will also have a stand at the event:
ArcelorMittal
SBG - Steel Bridge Group
SPG - Steel Piling Group
Tension Control Bolts

Attendance price:
£50.00 + VAT SCI Members | £100.00 + VAT Non-Members

Register

Fire Design of Steel Structures,
Thursday 27th September 2018, London

Prescriptive rules for fire design typically assume a fully engulfed compartment with a uniform temperature throughout the space, which can be particularly onerous for large compartments. However, based on recent fire tests carried out in Belgium and the UK, as part of a European project in which SCI is a partner, a more comprehensive design model has been developed to determine the temperature rise in a steel column due to a localised fire. The use of this performance-based approach for assessing structural fire resistance will usually lead to a reduction in the cost of fire protection compared to that required by a prescriptive approach, enhancing the competitiveness of steel structures.

We are pleased to offer this one day seminar which will give an introduction to structural engineers on how to design a steel structure to withstand a fire. Both simplified and advanced fire engineering methods will be presented in the context of the Structural Eurocodes, as well as the new model for localised fires.

Case studies showing the application of fire engineering in recent projects will be presented. A new SCI Design Guide 'Design of columns subject to localised fires' which describes this design model will also be launched at the course. The Guide will be presented to all attendees and is supported by freely available software for determining the temperature rise of a steel member in a localised fire.

Speakers for the event include;

Dr David Moore, British Constructional Steelwork Association
Professor Ian Burgess, University of Sheffield
Professor Yong Wang, University of Manchester
Dr Francois Hanus, ArcelorMittal Global R&D
Dr Susan Deeny, Arup Fire
Nancy Baddoo, SCI

Register for this course

BILT - 11-13th October 2018, Slovenia.

Ricardo Pimentel, SCI, will be attending BILT (Building infrastructure lifecycle supported by technology) Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 11-13th October 2018

BILT is the premier BIM (Building Information Model) and AECO (Architectural Engineering Construction and Owners) technology training conference. Run in multiple regions around the globe, it is an annual 3 day event and covers training through the entire building lifecycle - from concept to facility management across a range of industries and sectors.

BILT provides a variety of opportunities to learn and share, to probe and challenge, to listen and to be heard. Sessions focus on the use of best-in-class tools, processes and workflows, behaviours and leadership and is designed to cater to the needs of those who design, build, operate and maintain our built environment. As an event that is run by users for users, it is dedicated to improving the way the industry works together.

See the event program here.

This publication provides design guidance for low to medium rise steel-framed buildings (typically two to five storeys high) to resist explosions caused by industrial accidents where the blast from the explosion impacts the whole (or large part of the elevation of the building facing the blast.

SCI Members: £30.00 + VAT
Non Members: £60.00 + VAT
Visit: SCI BOOKSHOP

The Design of Cast-In Plates (P416) Concrete lift and stair cores are often surrounded by Steel beams and columns. The beams are supported by steel plates cast into the concrete core walls. This guide discusses the technical issues involved in connecting the steel and concrete elements together.

Brittle Fracture Selection of Steel Sub-Grade To BS EN 1993-1-10 (P419) This guide explains how an approach based on fracture mechanics, which is a method permitted in BS EN 1993-1-10, may be used to determine the required steel sub-grade. Application of the procedures in this guide should be limited to quasi-static structures, where fatigue is not a design consideration.

Design of Low to Medium Rise Buildings against External Explosions (P415) SCI's new design guide “Design of Low to Medium Rise Buildings against External Explosions” provides recommendations and advice for structural design against explosions associated with industrial accidents (not terrorist attacks) where the blast impacts the whole (or large areas) of the building's elevation.

Construction site life jackets cause ripples

Construction site operatives from a Poole company working on a project at London's Canary Wharf have an unusual addition to their safety equipment - a life jacket.

The workers from SMD Ltd are working high above water to build a futuristic, aluminium-clad, five-storey private members club on a floating pontoon in the Heron Quays financial district.

And their personal protection equipment includes the life vest just in case of a fall into the water surrounding the Docklands site.

SMD business development director Dan Williams said: “It's certainly highly unusual to have to wear a life jacket on a construction site.

Hollo-Bolts were Specified for Toulouse Airport Office Façade

Lindapter's M12 Hollo-Bolts were specified for attaching the facade's supporting framework to the steel hollow sections of the airport office building.

The cladding contractor, needed a way to secure the steel framework to structural hollow sections in order to support the 500kg glass panels. They sought a strong and reliable connection method that could be quickly and easily repeated on all 8 floors.

After researching several connection products, the engineer specified Hollo-Bolts and brackets with slotted holes to allow the panels to be adjusted during installation, while eliminating the need for welding on site which would have weakened the steel and damaged the protective coatings. He was confident that the Hollo-Bolt was the correct choice for the application because of its high strength capacity, ease of installation and anti-corrosion protection. The Hollo-Bolt has a range of independent technical approvals, such as the CE mark which provided further confidence for the contractor.

Nottingham University Steelwork Design awards sponsored by Caunton Engineering

Caunton Engineering were proud to sponsor the 2018 Engineering and Innovation Award, for the second year Civil Engineering students at the University of Nottingham. The brief for the students was to design a new student accommodation building, considering sustainability, buildability, codified checks, and ultimately provide a well thought out structural steel solution.

The staff of the university's Civil Engineering department stated that the prizes donated by Caunton had proved a big incentive to produce high quality work. The departmental heads also added that contact with experienced Engineers from Industry is always valuable and inspirational to the students, and the input to the judging process and the marking of the presentations by Chartered Engineers Robert Weeden, Caunton Technical Director (extreme left in photo), and Matthew Shimwell, Deputy Managing Director at Caunton (extreme right in photo), was very much appreciated. Caunton's experience and reputation within the steelwork design and build sector were particularly appropriate and extremely useful for the students. Matthew Shimwell was pleased to comment, "Caunton have supported the University of Nottingham for well over ten years. In addition to sponsoring the end of year design projects we are actively engaged in providing student mentoring services, engineering advice to the University and the students, and guest lecturing, all of which has allowed Caunton Engineering to build up a strong collaborative relationship. We look forward to supporting this arrangement in the future and are proud to be playing a part in developing the next generation of engineers."

Jane has been with the SCI since 2008. Part of her role includes looking after SCI's training provision - you will speak to her if you call to register for any of our courses, seminars or webinars (a very popular series which delivers technical overviews and introductions to many subjects). In many cases webinar topics are also supported by full one day courses or in house training. Jane is always happy to answer any questions you may have on your different types of training requirements. Email Jane

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