Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

ACO welcomes UK BIM Alliance

2016-10-19T10:30:08Z

ACO: Created page with "ACO Water Management has pledged its support to the UK BIM Alliance, but has challenged the construction industry to ‘think beyond the walls’. The UK BIM Alliance will be of..."

ACO Water Management has pledged its support to the UK BIM Alliance, but has challenged the construction industry to ‘think beyond the walls’.

The UK BIM Alliance will be officially launched in October this year at the ICE BIM Conference and at Digital Construction week, both of which will be attended by ACO, and will provide a common and clear point of reference for companies working in the built environment, with the overall aim of helping companies of all sizes begin their BIM journeys.

The purpose of the Alliance is to lead the industry-wide drive for awareness, education and adoption of BIM Level 2 and to promote its benefits to the construction sector. However, ACO has concerns that the construction industry’s BIM thinking stops with the building fabric.

“Water management external drainage products, in particular, suffer from BIM usage stopping at the building’s walls,” says Gary Morton, Head of Business Development at ACO. “If we are to develop a digital system that allows an efficient interaction with the lifecycle of the infrastructure, after it is installed, which is a vital component of BIM, then we need to extend our thinking beyond the building fabric and introduce BIM into all aspects of construction, including the surrounding landscape.”

He continued: “BIM Level 2 is hugely important and, as the first drainage company in the UK to provide BIM data, we recognise that it is vital to be part of the digitisation of the industry and to support its implementation throughout the entire supply chain. Drainage plays a vital role as the bridge between the built and the natural environment.”

Mr Morton also believes that more must be done to help smaller manufacturers lower down the construction supply chain. “The higher reaches of the construction supply chain have a good idea of what being a government client entails, but this is not the case further down. Tiers one and two understand what is required, but this is not the case across the entire supply chain. Smaller subcontractors are really struggling to get access to the levels of information required and remain concerned at the cost of getting up-to-speed with BIM.

Official statistics support Mr Morton’s concerns with figures from the National BIM Report 2016 demonstrating that a minority (37%) use models from the start of a project to the very end, which suggests that, for most, BIM is restricted to the design stages. The report also identifies that only 30% produce a model that is software independent and just 16% pass on a model to those responsible for the management of a building.

Mr Morton concluded: “ACO welcomes the UK BIM Alliance initiative. We pledge our full support to, and will be in attendance at the launch at Digital Construction Week, as well as the ICE BIM conference before, to discuss the important issues in the Construction Industry.”

[[Category:Education]] [[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:Planning_permission]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Design]]

ACO welcomes parliamentary report calling for greater action on tackling flood risk

2016-08-15T09:58:48Z

ACO:

= [[File:Dr David Smoker, Business Development Director at ACO Technologies.jpg]]Call for collegiate approach with focus on surface drainage =

ACO, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of surface water management solutions, has broadly welcomed a Parliamentary report stating that more needs to be done to protect communities across the UK at risk from floods – and called for all interested parties to work together to deliver holistic solutions.

The report by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, which comprises a cross-section of MPs from different parties, calls for a greater emphasis on long-term flood defence planning alongside heightened investment in both new and existing defences.

One key area identified by the Report was the broader use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) on new developments – a solution which can play a significant role in reducing the risk of flooding and therefore insurance premiums and clean-up costs.

ACO’s Business Development Director, David Smoker, explained: “Flooding can occur at any time of the year and a long-term strategic approach needs to be taken to counter that risk. The Government previously recognised the importance of this issue and this latest Report reaffirms the requirement for continued action to build upon what has already been achieved.

“The focus of flood defence is so often on the more visible, large-scale systems such as sea walls and defences around rivers, which, while playing a vital role in immediate protection, may often do little more than move the problem somewhere else. However, our view is that, wherever possible, the emphasis needs to be on finding the best way to deal with surface water as close to the source as possible, rather than moving it elsewhere for someone else to deal with – and that means a co-ordinated approach.

“While the Government must continue to lead the process, there are many other parties involved – the Environment Agency, the Highway Agency, planning officers, lead local flood authorities, utility companies, housebuilders and so on. All have much to offer and a vital part to play in creating and implementing a unified, all-encompassing approach to minimising flood risk. This approach is already meeting with success in Wales where there is close collaboration between Dr Cymru Welsh Water and local authorities in the area of catchment management and urban surface water drainage. A similar scheme in Oxfordshire has also been established under the umbrella of the Oxford Area Flood Partnership, which brought together several local authorities, Network Rail and Thames Water to tackle flooding in the city’s Kennington Road area.”

He continued: “The use of SUDS has been accepted for many years as an effective means to deal with the issue of surface water. For our part, we are working closely with many housebuilders and developers, supplying tailored, engineered solutions and best practice advice to deliver the required water management performance at reasonable cost and with minimal maintenance.

“SUDS on its own is not the answer to the flooding issue and how we live with water. Consideration has to be given to protecting any buildings and infrastructure subject to the presence of consistently large volumes or sudden increases in surface water - and that generally entails the deployment of a variety of measures working in combination. Where SUDS comes into its own is in ensuring effective and rapid surface drainage in built-up areas alongside other measures such as surface storage and ‘blue pathways’ which can convey excess water without damaging key buildings and infrastructure. Continued investment in research and development of sustainable drainage systems is creating a broader range of solutions better able to withstand the higher volumes of water now more prevalent as a result of extreme weather variations and building in areas more subject to flood risk.”

For further information visit [http://www.aco.co.uk www.aco.co.uk].

[[Category:Education]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

File:Dr David Smoker, Business Development Director at ACO Technologies.jpg

2016-08-15T09:57:58Z

ACO:

ACO welcomes parliamentary report calling for greater action on tackling flood risk

2016-08-15T09:55:31Z

ACO:

= Call for collegiate approach with focus on surface drainage =

ACO, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of surface water management solutions, has broadly welcomed a Parliamentary report stating that more needs to be done to protect communities across the UK at risk from floods – and called for all interested parties to work together to deliver holistic solutions.

The report by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, which comprises a cross-section of MPs from different parties, calls for a greater emphasis on long-term flood defence planning alongside heightened investment in both new and existing defences.

One key area identified by the Report was the broader use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) on new developments – a solution which can play a significant role in reducing the risk of flooding and therefore insurance premiums and clean-up costs.

ACO’s Business Development Director, David Smoker, explained: “Flooding can occur at any time of the year and a long-term strategic approach needs to be taken to counter that risk. The Government previously recognised the importance of this issue and this latest Report reaffirms the requirement for continued action to build upon what has already been achieved.

“The focus of flood defence is so often on the more visible, large-scale systems such as sea walls and defences around rivers, which, while playing a vital role in immediate protection, may often do little more than move the problem somewhere else. However, our view is that, wherever possible, the emphasis needs to be on finding the best way to deal with surface water as close to the source as possible, rather than moving it elsewhere for someone else to deal with – and that means a co-ordinated approach.

“While the Government must continue to lead the process, there are many other parties involved – the Environment Agency, the Highway Agency, planning officers, lead local flood authorities, utility companies, housebuilders and so on. All have much to offer and a vital part to play in creating and implementing a unified, all-encompassing approach to minimising flood risk. This approach is already meeting with success in Wales where there is close collaboration between Dr Cymru Welsh Water and local authorities in the area of catchment management and urban surface water drainage. A similar scheme in Oxfordshire has also been established under the umbrella of the Oxford Area Flood Partnership, which brought together several local authorities, Network Rail and Thames Water to tackle flooding in the city’s Kennington Road area.”

He continued: “The use of SUDS has been accepted for many years as an effective means to deal with the issue of surface water. For our part, we are working closely with many housebuilders and developers, supplying tailored, engineered solutions and best practice advice to deliver the required water management performance at reasonable cost and with minimal maintenance.

“SUDS on its own is not the answer to the flooding issue and how we live with water. Consideration has to be given to protecting any buildings and infrastructure subject to the presence of consistently large volumes or sudden increases in surface water - and that generally entails the deployment of a variety of measures working in combination. Where SUDS comes into its own is in ensuring effective and rapid surface drainage in built-up areas alongside other measures such as surface storage and ‘blue pathways’ which can convey excess water without damaging key buildings and infrastructure. Continued investment in research and development of sustainable drainage systems is creating a broader range of solutions better able to withstand the higher volumes of water now more prevalent as a result of extreme weather variations and building in areas more subject to flood risk.”

For further information visit [http://www.aco.co.uk www.aco.co.uk].

[[Category:Education]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

ACO welcomes parliamentary report calling for greater action on tackling flood risk

2016-08-15T09:54:49Z

ACO: Created page with "ACO WELCOMES PARLIAMENTARY REPORT CALLING FOR GREATER ACTION ON TACKLING FLOOD RISK Call for collegiate approach with focus on surface drainage ACO, one of the UK’s leading m..."

ACO WELCOMES PARLIAMENTARY REPORT CALLING FOR GREATER ACTION ON TACKLING FLOOD RISK

Call for collegiate approach with focus on surface drainage

ACO, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of surface water management solutions, has broadly welcomed a Parliamentary report stating that more needs to be done to protect communities across the UK at risk from floods – and called for all interested parties to work together to deliver holistic solutions.

The report by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, which comprises a cross-section of MPs from different parties, calls for a greater emphasis on long-term flood defence planning alongside heightened investment in both new and existing defences.

One key area identified by the Report was the broader use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) on new developments – a solution which can play a significant role in reducing the risk of flooding and therefore insurance premiums and clean-up costs.

ACO’s Business Development Director, David Smoker, explained: “Flooding can occur at any time of the year and a long-term strategic approach needs to be taken to counter that risk. The Government previously recognised the importance of this issue and this latest Report reaffirms the requirement for continued action to build upon what has already been achieved.

“The focus of flood defence is so often on the more visible, large-scale systems such as sea walls and defences around rivers, which, while playing a vital role in immediate protection, may often do little more than move the problem somewhere else. However, our view is that, wherever possible, the emphasis needs to be on finding the best way to deal with surface water as close to the source as possible, rather than moving it elsewhere for someone else to deal with – and that means a co-ordinated approach.

“While the Government must continue to lead the process, there are many other parties involved – the Environment Agency, the Highway Agency, planning officers, lead local flood authorities, utility companies, housebuilders and so on. All have much to offer and a vital part to play in creating and implementing a unified, all-encompassing approach to minimising flood risk. This approach is already meeting with success in Wales where there is close collaboration between Dr Cymru Welsh Water and local authorities in the area of catchment management and urban surface water drainage. A similar scheme in Oxfordshire has also been established under the umbrella of the Oxford Area Flood Partnership, which brought together several local authorities, Network Rail and Thames Water to tackle flooding in the city’s Kennington Road area.”

He continued: “The use of SUDS has been accepted for many years as an effective means to deal with the issue of surface water. For our part, we are working closely with many housebuilders and developers, supplying tailored, engineered solutions and best practice advice to deliver the required water management performance at reasonable cost and with minimal maintenance.

“SUDS on its own is not the answer to the flooding issue and how we live with water. Consideration has to be given to protecting any buildings and infrastructure subject to the presence of consistently large volumes or sudden increases in surface water - and that generally entails the deployment of a variety of measures working in combination. Where SUDS comes into its own is in ensuring effective and rapid surface drainage in built-up areas alongside other measures such as surface storage and ‘blue pathways’ which can convey excess water without damaging key buildings and infrastructure. Continued investment in research and development of sustainable drainage systems is creating a broader range of solutions better able to withstand the higher volumes of water now more prevalent as a result of extreme weather variations and building in areas more subject to flood risk.”

For further information visit [http://www.aco.co.uk www.aco.co.uk].

[[Category:Education]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]]