Lynn Davies supports Eurobonds pledge for Safer Schools

I am delighted at the Government’s recent announcement to increase the continuing investment within UK schools and educational buildings. Having spent the majority of my working life involved in education and sport I realise the substantial impact such a scheme can have on the community and the education of our future generations.

It has become increasingly important to maintain and renew the buildings and infrastructure of schools throughout the UK; children respond well to an attractive, safe learning environment built around their needs. Many educational buildings once considered state of the art throughout the 1960s and 1970s are now in urgent need of repair, unable to comply with stringent UK standards.

Unfortunately recent figures released by the Arson Prevention Bureau have shown a dramatic rise in the number of UK schools encountering arson attacks; for many the damage has been devastating, causing vast disruption to students, teachers and local communities. The increase has identified the need for prevention methods to be factored into building design. As such a number of design guides have been published to enhance property protection and life safety.

Continuous development within product manufacturer and construction regulations ensures that educational builds throughout the UK are designed and built in accordance with these new guidelines. Building Bulleting 100 and Zurich Municipal guides are two of the most influential publications to incorporate design guidance on fire safety with schools. Eurobond Laminates, a South Wales manufacturer produces a range of non combustible stone wool core composite panels that comply with such guidelines.

I am particularly passionate about Eurobond Laminates due to the array of benefits their panel systems offer, aside from the reduction in installation time and secondary steel work; the panel systems also offer an aesthetically pleasing, architecturally flat finish thanks to their stone wool core. The core provides a fire rated solution that bares little impact on the environment and superb acoustic and thermal performance, a distinct consideration in school building design.

The overall success of this Government scheme will depend on harnessing the capacity of major suppliers such as Eurobond, the Prime Ministers acknowledgement of their success and committed to fire protection in major public buildings is recognition of their 25 years of experience with the construction industry and appreciation of the valuable contribution their systems have within schools environments.

Green Dragon Level 3

Eurobond are pleased to announce that Eurobond Laminates along with our sister company Eurobond Doors are now certified to Green Dragon Level 3 Standard. Green Dragon is a multi-step environmental management system to help cut down our impact on the environment.

There are seven elements to this third level of the Green Dragon Standard. These elements build upon the basic steps taken in previous levels to build a more advanced environmental management system. They include:

Register of Environmental Impacts
The Statement of Environmental Impacts prepared in Level 2 is replaced with a more comprehensive analysis of the organisation's impact on the environment.

Evaluation of Significant Impacts
The environmental impacts of the organisation need to be evaluated to determine the significance of impact on the environment.

Pollution Prevention Plan
Potential areas of risk to the environment should be identified and steps taken to minimise those risks.

Objectives & Targets
Objectives & Targets should be set to improve the organisation's impact on the environment.

Monitoring Environmental Progress
Environmental improvements need to be monitored to ensure the organisation remains on target.

Carbon Data Collection
Data on energy use needs to be collected and the quantity of Carbon Dioxide released by the organisation calculated.

Environmental Statement
The organisation may decide to publish a brief statement of their environmental activities and performance.

The Economic Cost of Fire

A recent report published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister contains new estimates surrounding the cost of fire to the economy of both England and Wales.

In summary we have pulled out a few facts and figures for your convenience:

Fire continues to impose significant costs on the economy, in 2004 total costs were estimated at £7.03bn, equivalent to approximately 0.78% of the gross value added of the economy. £2.77bn of the costs were incurred in anticipation of fire.

The cost of the Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) responding to fires was estimated at £1.74bn, with the remaining £2.52bn attributable to the consequences of fire, consisting of property damage, lost business, the economic cost of injuries and fatalities and the criminal justice service costs associated with prosecuting deliberate fire starters.

The total cost of arson in the in 2004 was estimated at £2.44bn, which includes an allocation the total costs incurred in anticipation of fire. Following this the average cost of fire in a commercial building is estimated at £43,800, of which the cost of fire damage to property represents £27,700.

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Climate Change 'Time Bomb'

Sustainablescotland.com recently published information highlighting the concerns surrounding building demolition where foam composite panels have been used.

The article brings to light the true environmental impact of ozone depleting gases CFC and HCFC brought on by the increasing use of foam composite panels in modern buildings.

Described as the ‘ticking time bomb for climate change’, sustainablesctoland.com indicates the headache now faced by government and demolition companies across the UK.

Eurobond composite panels are manufactured from a stone wool core with zero global warming or ozone depleting potential, allowing all Eurobond panel steel and stone wool to be fully recycled and returned to the manufacturing process as undiminished materials, a truly 'Cradle to Cradle' approach

Click here to read the article for yourself

CPD on Tour

The migration of composite panels from the cold store industry into densely populated public buildings such as schools and hospitals has brought about the substantial need to educate the construction industry on their correct design and manufacture.

Our CPD’s provide a valuable and impartial insight into the fire performance and sustainable credentials of composite panels when installed correctly. This year we plan to bring our expertises and knowledge to the masses, detailing not only the manufacture and design of composite panel systems, but highlighting the legislation and industry regulations inline with the construction industries requirements.

In an effort to make our CPD programme more accessible we have partnered with a number of influential CPD service provides to deliver our CPD’s throughout the UK over the course of 2009.

A number of dates have already been booked and spaces are limited, add them to your calendar now to avoid disappointment.

The CPD Certification Service

 October 7th – Fire Performance of Composite Panels – Stage Hotel, Leicester

 October 22nd – Sustainable Panel Design – Crown Plaza Hotel, Chester

Direct Contact Exhibitions

 September 24th – Sustainable Panel Design – David Lloyds, Cardiff

RIBA Roadshow

 November 12th – RIBA Headquarters, London