Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

Wokingham Council trials recycled road kerbs made from plastic

2020-10-16T08:57:04Z

Obaker90: Created page with "Wokingham Borough Council is striving for a more sustainable future by ditching traditional concrete road kerbs and trialing units made from recycled plastic. The plastic..."

Wokingham Borough Council is striving for a more sustainable future by ditching traditional concrete road kerbs and trialing units made from recycled plastic.

 
The plastic kerbstones, made by green innovators Dura Products, have been installed as part of the new cycle route into Wokingham and are being trialled on London Road where the cycle path runs from the Coppid Beech roundabout into the centre of town. The council has been working with its contractor VolkerHighways to install the eco-friendly alternatives, known as Durakerb, and plans for more units to be implemented on the route travelling out of Wokingham next month.

 
Wokingham is the most recent council to begin installing Durakerbs as an efficient way to increase the sustainability of its roads, with each unit being made from 88% recycled polymer and comprised of the equivalent of 182 plastic bottles. The kerbs will also help the council towards achieving its goal of being carbon neutral by 2030, as they deliver a reduction in carbon emissions when compared to concrete kerbs. Less CO2 is released during production, and fewer articulated vehicles are needed for transportation due the product’s lightweight nature.

 
A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said: “Using plastic kerbs reduces the amount of carbon produced in manufacturing, transport and construction by about 40%.” 
“These plastic kerb trials are another example of a greener solution by effectively using recycled materials,” Cllr Jorgensen added.

 
Being made from plastic allows fast and easy one-operative installation as the product is designed to be light and easy to cut. This improves the safety conditions for construction workers as it can be installed within the social distancing guidelines, but it also removes the lifting of heavy loads and operating of machinery. Both of which can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders and Hand Arm Vibration syndrome (HAVS).

 
Steve Bennett, Managing Director at Dura Products commented: “The trial in Wokingham is an excellent step towards making the borough’s highway maintenance more environmentally friendly. Thebenefits of Durakerb go beyond its sustainability advantages and we hope Wokingham council will continue their use for the foreseeable future.”

Successful road kerb trial

2020-08-03T12:46:49Z

Obaker90: Created page with "Doncaster Council has improved the safety of its highway maintenance by swapping traditional concrete road kerbs and drains for recycled plastic units designed by Durakerb, accor..."

Doncaster Council has improved the safety of its highway maintenance by swapping traditional concrete road kerbs and drains for recycled plastic units designed by Durakerb, according to a report jointly produced by Doncaster Council’s Highway Operations and Highway Asset Maintenance.

Made by green construction innovators, the eco-friendly construction products made from recycled plastic waste brought significant safety benefits to the workforce and are easily installed manually in accordance with social distancing guidelines.

Initial trial installation of new kerbing took place in February at sites including the North Bridge and Marsh Gate junction in Doncaster – a high stress area with typically high levels of HGV use and ‘override’ - after previous concrete units and restoration attempts had failed.

Following a full assessment over time, the highways team was so impressed by Durakerb’s benefits that they decided to accelerate their use in both safety works and in smaller construction projects across the local area. The report recommended that council ‘extends the use of the plastic kerbs to other suitable projects across the borough with a view to them becoming the norm rather than the exception’. The council is also now using Duradrains for road water management.

Concerns over health & safety in the construction industry have increased in recent years as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is continuously raising awareness of the dangers posed to workers. Recent data released by the HSE revealed that in the last financial year the number of deaths in the construction industry has increased by a third making it higher than any other sector1.

The lifting of heavy loads and use of machinery can also lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders and Hand Arm Vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as exposure to carcinogenic airborne silica released when concrete is cut. Durakerb minimises these hazards as being made from plastic, it is lightweight and can be cut with a hand saw allowing one-operative installation within the HSE guidelines and has a very low risk of silica exposure.

Phil Sutton, Managing Director at Econpro, the parent company of Durakerb, commented: “The trial in Doncaster is an excellent case study for Durakerb as it highlights the many benefits of the product, beyond its environmental advantages.”

“The council’s decision to continue installing the kerbs was primarily based on safety, something which is particularly important with the easing of lockdown and the maintenance of social distancing on site. We’re hoping more councils will realise Durakerb’s potential and adopt a similar approach in the near future.”

[[Category:Projects_and_case_studies]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Green construction innovators support London’s new pop up cycling lanes

2020-08-03T12:38:44Z

Obaker90: Created page with "New pop up cycling lanes are being introduced across London, in a bid to discourage the use of public transport following the coronavirus outbreak. To support Transport for Londo..."

New pop up cycling lanes are being introduced across London, in a bid to discourage the use of public transport following the coronavirus outbreak. To support Transport for London’s (TfL) plan to transform the capital’s roads, environmental innovators at Durakerb have developed a new ‘bolt down’ kerb - made entirely from recycled plastic - that will be installed from 29 June.

Stepping up to the challenge 
Earlier this year, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps pledged to invest £250m in new pop-up cycle lanes, wider pavements, safer junctions and bus-only corridors in England. With a population of 8.9m to protect as businesses begin to reopen, TfL has begun adapting road layouts to keep commuters moving.

However, regular TfL construction suppliers have been unable to deliver against a new kerbing brief. Durakerb was approached to solve the problem having manufactured kerbs, kerbside and surface drainage from 88% recycled polymer for over 10 years.

Its innovative new bolt-on kerb design allows for easy installation and removal, meaning that lanes can be swiftly introduced and altered as measures to attack the pandemic change. From initial approach to supply of units, the process took just 10 days, with Durakerb’s inventor, Phil Sutton, developing a prototype in line with the specification. The kerbs are now at a depot in Beckton, ready to be deployed by London councils as required.

Keeping commuters and workers safe 
Beyond supporting the capital’s bid to encourage social distancing and greener travel, the lightweight nature of the Durakerb units means that installation requires fewer construction workers and therefore reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19. It also means fewer trucks on the roads, reducing CO2 emissions.

 
The company hopes to supply the products to the 60 councils in England, Scotland and Wales that have pledged to reconfigure pavements following a campaign spearheaded by Cycling UK.

 
Phil Sutton, Managing Director at Econpro, the parent company of Durakerb commented: “We’re delighted to be supporting London’s efforts to become a greener city. Dangerous emissions at some of the capital’s busiest roads fell by almost 50% during lockdown according to the Mayor of London, and it is fantastic that we are able to contribute to cleaner air and safer streets.

 
“As other parts of the country modify their roads to encourage more pedestrians and cyclists, we hope that councils consider using our ‘bolt on’ kerb units to further improve their environmental credentials and ensure social distancing remains possible.” 

[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Products_/_components]]

File:IMG 0760.JPG

2019-09-30T16:20:44Z

Obaker90:

Innovative construction material protects workers’ health and safety

2019-09-30T16:20:08Z

Obaker90: Created page with "Durakerb – part of the Econpro Group that transform waste and by-product into sustainable products and solutions – says that alternatives to traditional concrete road kerbs a..."

Durakerb – part of the Econpro Group that transform waste and by-product into sustainable products and solutions – says that alternatives to traditional concrete road kerbs are essential for highway and construction companies looking to reduce the number of accidents at work.

Regular lifting and carrying of considerable loads are a common cause of musculoskeletal problems in construction workers; the HSE reported an average of 2,310 workers per 100,000 in the UK building industry suffering work-related musculoskeletal disorders between 2015-20181. Concrete blocks can be difficult to carry manually, so Durakerb has developed an alternative, composed of 88% recycled polymer, which is far lighter.

Each Durakerb unit is made of the equivalent of 182 recycled plastic bottles and weighs only 6kgs allowing it to be cut with a hand saw and installed manually. In contrast, a traditional concrete kerb unit can be more than 90% heavier and requires strict assessment during installation as well-maintained lifting equipment is necessary. Additionally, further supervision is also needed as the use of power tools are needed to cut the concrete to the correct size and when manually handling the heavy components.

The installation of concrete kerbs, which usually require the use of heavy cutting tools, generates a high level of risk to airborne silica. The HSE’s cancer burden study estimates that 600 people die a year from lung cancer associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), with 450 of these occurring from exposures in the construction sector2. Recycled plastic kerbs, on the other hand, contains no carcinogenic RCS, meaning workers are safe from lung conditions.

Durakerb products can be manually installed in line with the HSE guidelines benefiting the workforce and project managers by reducing working time on live networks by up to 75%, as well as the number of injuries and lost working days.

Phil Sutton, Managing Director at Econpro, commented: “The installation of Durakerb is safe and easy for workers as the product’s lightweight nature and absence of carcinogenic silica mean installation is less risky than traditional concrete, preventing costly and dangerous accidents at work. Since its inception, Durakerb has long been recognised for its safety benefits having been awarded the Institution of Highways & Transportation Health & Safety at Work Award back in 2008.”

1 [http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/msd.pdf http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causdis/msd.pdf]

2 [http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/occupational-disease/cancer/silica.htm http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/occupational-disease/cancer/silica.htm]

To find out more about Durakerb go to: [http://www.durakerb.co.uk/about-durakerb/ http://www.durakerb.co.uk/about-durakerb/]

[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Sustainability]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]