With just over a week until our 2019 event things are starting to get exciting. The date - 7th November - is the day after an Innovate UK call for proposals for 'demonstration projects' closes, and only one week after some other Innovate calls close. All such calls are related to the Government's desire to focus research spend to create coordinated deliverables that fit a defined set of objectives (the Transforming Construction agenda to reduce cost, increase speed etc), and are intended to be closely aligned to industry. It is therefore appropriate that two of our presenters - Kevin Masters from Bryden Wood and our own David Brown - will talk about projects that are very much linked to this whole initiative.

Whilst there is no direct link to Innovate UK, presentations from Mathew Gilbert (Sheffield University) and Pete Winslow (Expedition) on structural optimisation clearly identify ways in which material use can be reduced, and other efficiencies can be achieved.

One thing that is clear from all four examples presented above is that improvement does not, and to a large extent cannot, come from 'technology' alone. Uptake of the platforms approach being advocated by Bryden Wood, some of the more ambitious solutions identified by ourselves in our Integrated Modules project (with input from the Steering Group and Workshop attendees), and the examples Pete will talk about, require different processes (in the last case particularly client attitudes). Without a disruption to processes, disruptive technologies will generally not progress because they cannot deliver improvement. My fear is that with numerous rather negative metrics currently surrounding the short term future of the UK construction industry (dare I say the UK in general), there will be a reversion to a 'lowest initial cost' mentality, with linear procurement contracts, and all the good words about the benefits of offsite construction etc will be lost. I hope not.

Despite all that let us hope that there will always be room in our world for 'colour'. For me the bridge at Tintagel really does bring some 'colour' to the world of steel construction (as witnessed by its exposure in the mainstream press). We are delighted that Matthieu Mallié will talk to us about it.

And there are some other speakers... It's not too late to register here.

A number of SCI's engineers are actively involved in the development of the next generation of Eurocodes. With only a small level of funding from the European Commission, and no direct support from UK industry, this represents a significant investment from SCI but we feel it is essential to bring our practical knowledge to committees that are mostly dominated by academics.

The Eurocode 4 committee (CEN/TC250/SC4) met on Monday 28th October at BSI. This is a committee Graham Couchman has been chairing for eight years with a clear vision to avoid unnecessary changes, but rather focus on addressing comments that have been fed back from industry. So the focus is on extending the scope to cover practical solutions such as shallow floors and beams with web openings, and addressing identified errors or ambiguities.

One of the most controversial subjects currently being considered is the format for presenting design rules for bridges. All current material Eurocodes present 'general rules and rules for buildings' in a Part 1-1, and rules for bridges in a Part 2. There is a view from the composite world, and the concrete world, that this may not be the most user-friendly way of presenting such rules. An alternative would be to simply include bridge specific rules in Part 1-1. Time will tell.

WELink Homes have joined the growing list of light steel framing companies who have been awarded SCI/NHBC System Certification. The certificate for WElink Homes is applicable to their load-bearing light steel framing system for residential dwellings up to 3 storeys. The SCI has assessed the structural aspects of the system, which uses cold formed galvanised C-sections for wall studs and floor joists, and confirms that it is suitable for use in the construction of dwellings in accordance with NHBC Standards Chapter 6.10 "Light steel framing". The full list of companies that have SCI/NHBC System Certification is available from the SCI website.

Blindbolt goes stateside

After testing and assessment of Blindbolt for use with BS 5950 and the Eurocodes, SCI are helping the company develop the market in the USA. In America, the International Code Council Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) prepares and publishes acceptance criteria for products not covered by published Standards - in a similar way to how a European Assessment Document (EAD) might cover a product for use with the Eurocodes. So far, the scope of AC437 - which covers fixings from one side only - has been extended to cover the gravity-operated Blindbolt. The next part of the process, which is now underway, is to complete the necessary testing and analysis of the test results in accordance with AC437. Once complete, the evaluation acts in a similar way to SCI Assessed in the UK - specifiers will have the reassurance that the design resistances and the product quality have been formally assessed and the fixing may be used with confidence.

Plandescil Ltd - Celebrating 40th year in business

Formed in 1979 Plandescil Ltd - Consulting Engineers based in Norfolk, has reached another milestone.

Plandescil currently employs over 40 staff at its offices in Attleborough, the majority of who have been with the business for many years. The internal culture has created an extended successful family business unit which has thrived and prospered, and celebrating 40 years in business in 2019.

Roderic Riley started the business in 1979 and was joined in due course by sons Simon and Julian Riley with his wife Sara. The family business quickly established the Plandescil brand with a reputation to deliver quality work on time. Managing and exceeding customer expectations has created long term relationships with clients of all sizes, locally and across the UK.

With success has come growth and the company currently employs more than 40 members of staff. In recent years Julian, Simon and Sara made the decision to reward their loyal staff; changing the ownership structure of the business by transferring all shares into a trust for the benefit of the employees. Julian, Simon and Sara Riley continued as Senior Directors of Plandescil while six new Director positions were created with the transition making succession planning seamless whilst safeguarding the business.

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For SCI Sole Trader and Corporate members, SCI offers support through our Advisory Desk Service. For questions asked which we feel are pertinent to the wider member audience we publish anonymously the questions and answers.

This month our published question is about; Vibration of floors and form of bolted joint.

Question: Does the type of bolt (preloaded, fully threaded, partially threaded) used in floor beam connections affect the vibration performance of the floor?

Please see the answer to all Advisory questions on the SCI Information Portal.

SCI Corporate and Sole Trader Members can access the Advisory Desk by email advisory@steel-sci.com or by phone
+44 (0)1344 636 525

UK Construction Day 2019: Innovative Steel Solutions
Thurs 7 Nov 2019, 1 Birdcage Walk, London

This year the theme of our event is 'Innovative steel solutions' during the day we will hear examples of how companies are embracing innovation to improve sector performance, and address Government aims.

Speakers include;

Kevin Masters, Bryden Wood
A platform approach to the built environment

Pete Winslow, Expedition
Performance-based design, optimisation and MaGIC

Prof. Matthew Gilbert, University of Sheffield
Computational layout optimization of building structures

Matthieu Mallié, Ney and Partners
The Tintagel Footbridge

Costis Hatzopoulos,IDEA StatiCA UK
Structural Analysis and Design of Steel Connections Using Component‐Based Finite Element Model (CBFEM)

Full programme
Find out more

SCI members £50.00 + VAT
Non Members £100.00 + VAT

Register for this event
Email: education@steel-sci.com

Essential Steelwork Design 2-day Course.
20 & 21 November 2019, Manchester

This course introduces the concepts and principles of steel building design, before explaining in detail the methods employed by Eurocode 3 for designing members in bending, compression and tension. Load combinations, frame stability, brittle fracture and connection design are also covered.

Book your place on this course.

Next SCI Member webinar

Steel and Composite Beams with Web openings, 12 November 2019.

The webinar will give an overview of the behaviour of steel and composite beams with openings in the web, including the effects of openings on stress distributions, modes of failure, and the general response of members to loading.

Register to view this webinar

High Strength Steels in Construction: research, standards, opportunities and challenges - 7-8 Nov 2019, Sheffield

Nancy Baddoo will present on High Strength Steels in Construction: research, standards, opportunities and challenges, on 7th November at the '50 Years of Steel Alloy Design' conference to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Iron and Steel Institute.

Read more information on the event.

Steel Piling Event 2019: Innovative steel piling solutions - Thursday 7 November 1 Birdcage Walk, London

This year the main theme is 'Innovative steel piling solutions' and mirrors the theme of the parallel UK Steel Construction Day. The seminars will explore how steel solutions can be used to build with improved speed, quality, safety, predictability, and sustainability.

This event will also provide an opportunity to hear the perspective of the Client/Developer as well as from leading industrial professionals and researchers.  Furthermore, there is the opportunity to hear the latest updates in codes and standards from those involved in their development.

Speakers include;

Cécile Prüm, Convenor of Eurocode 3 - Design of steel structures - Part 5: Piling

Brian Rousell, Director of Engineering, Shoreham Port Authority

Myles Bethell, Senior Design Engineer, BAM Nuttall

Jakub Malinowski, Researcher, University of Southampton / Dawson Construction

Register for this event

The XII Conference on Steel and Composite Construction

The XII Conference on Steel and Composite Construction will be held in Coimbra - Portugal, on 21st and 22nd of November 2019, and has as its main objective the dissemination of the innovations and achievements in this type of construction, seeking to contribute decisively to the consolidation and expansion of the sector. For more information on this Conference visit www.cmm.pt/congresso12.

New Civil Engineer Future of Bridges conference
25-26 November 2019, America Square Conference Centre, London

The Steel Bridge Group (SBG) is delighted to announce a partnership with the New Civil Engineer's Future of Bridges conference. As a member of SBG you will receive a 15% discount off the standard price.

To book a place at this event, please visit Future of bridges Conference. SBG members can use the discount code SBG15 to receive a 15% discount on registration fee.

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