CONTRACT AWARDS RETURN TO ABOVE HISTORICAL AVERAGE
LEVELS In March 2021, contract awards increased by 22% compared with February to £5.8bn. The main change in activity was a very large increase in the hotel and leisure sector.
The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, highlights levels of construction contract values awarded across Great Britain.
Sector analysis shows that Residential contract awards remained stable in March at historical average levels, after picking up in February. Activity was £2.0bn in the month, compared to £1.9bn in February and £1.6bn in January. Over 2020, residential contract awards averaged £1.7bn.
The hotel and leisure sector contract awards value reached £1bn in March as the planning approvals activity Barbour ABI reported in December and January converted to contract awards.
Commenting on the figures, Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI and AMA Research said: “After a weak recovery over the second half of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, March saw a definite improvement across the planning environment. Importantly increases were seen in the commercially sensitive sectors of hotel and leisure in contract awards, and residential and commercial in planning approvals.
https://www.barbour-abi.com/
https://www.amaresearch.co.uk/
However, this is only one month of improvement and the planning environment is notoriously volatile. The catch-up of ‘lost’ contract awards since the start of the pandemic amounts to some £15bn of projects, or around 20-25% of the annual contract award value. We would therefore expect a significant amount of catch up over the next couple of months as the economy reopens to strengthen a currently weak construction pipeline.
All things equal this is some much-needed positive news for the sector after an exceptionally challenging 12 months.”
https://www.barbour-abi.com/zones/2103032-Snap-Analysis-April-Output-File-v4.pdf Download the full report here. 06 | WHAT'S NEW
COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE ARE MEASURES OF COMMERCIAL FLOORING QUALITY
Insulation within a flooring build- up doesn’t generally gain the same significance as it does in a wall or roof application, but its contribution remains crucial to sealing a building’s thermal envelope.
Flooring insulation in a busy commercial setting should have dual purpose. It needs to be strong enough to withstand regular pounding from large footfall or heavy machinery, whilst possessing the thermal properties to help uphold a building’s overall energy performance.
Specification consideration The insulation’s specification will depend on a building’s use. In a warehouse or industrial environment where motorised machinery is prevalent, priority will be given to the insulation’s load-bearing capacity when it comes to its selection. This will generally be determined by a structural engineer checking a specified product’s declared load- bearing ability against the weight it will be required to withstand. When it comes to where insulation fits within a commercial flooring build-up, this very much depends on the composition of the floor itself. On a standard sand/ cement screed, the insulation will be installed between a damp-proof and a radon membrane.
PIR benefits PIR panels are one of the better- performing insulants for commercial applications. It’s a solution that offers the best of both worlds, as it provides good compressive strength and a high thermal performance. Its use is ideal in a domestic or light commercial setting. Easy to handle and install, PIR panels reduce the risk of cold bridging by offering improved performance at floor junction details and perimeter upstands.
Alternative choice As for alternative solutions, polystyrene-based insulation provides much higher load-bearing capacity, making it more suitable for use in a heavy industrialised setting. However, its compressive strength isn’t married to a strong thermal performance; hence PIR is the better all-round performer. PIR’s dual qualities also make for a more rapid, cost-effective installation. Its excellent thermal conductivity reduces the thickness and depth of a floor’s build-up, which in-turn decreases the amount of preparatory soil and rubble removal involved in new-build and refurbishment flooring applications.
Eurothane GP Recticel’s Eurothane GP insulation board is a high-performance solution for a range of commercial and domestic projects involving floors, pitched roofs or framed walls. Lightweight and easy to cut, the board has an excellent thermal conductivity of 0.022W/mK, whilst its consistent tolerances, straight edges and flatness enhance its usability without compromise to durability.
As far as flooring insulation is concerned, Eurothane GP board meets the demand for longevity and good energy flow within a build-up. Specifiers shouldn’t stand for anything less.
www.recticel.com
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