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Emissions Log
Wooldridge Demolition are continuously looking to develop new ways in which we can monitor and reduce our impact on the environment. Now run on every one of our sites, we initially introduced an emissions log and lanyard card to one of our sites in Farnham. Data is recorded and logged by Traffic Marshals when anyone arrives on site. This information...
Belu Water Social Enterprise
The project team at Mace’s 25 Grosvenor Street made the decision to procure their site water from ‘Belu’, a registered social enterprise. Whilst several water providers donate some of their profits to charity, Belu donate 100% of their profits to the international development charity Water Aid. This supports their work in making clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal...
Source Containment of Dust and Debris
As part of the Fosse Park enabling works, there is a requirement to break out the existing concrete slab which is being undertaken by McDermott Building and Civil Engineering Ltd on behalf of Bowmer and Kirkland. To ensure that the activities minimise dust and debris nuisance, a containment shroud has been fitted to the arm of the excavator around the...
Hybrid Excavators
J. Murphy and Sons Ltd has developed Hybrid 360 Degree Excavators. The excavators use an all electric swing motor generator system to capture and regenerate energy as the machine is operated, the energy is then converted and stored. Stored energy can be used for the machine swing or to assist the acceleration of the engine. This decreases diesel usage and...
Aerosol Can Piercing Tool
The site is registered with a T15 exemption, which allows us to pierce any aerosol cans on site. The cans must be pierced with an acceptable piercer that meets the air pollution guidelines for gas emissions. The piercer is roughly £900 to purchase, but if a site plans to use over 600 cans over its duration you can make a...
Self-Climbing Facade
Ardmore are working on site at Commercial Road, Aldgate East to erect a 21 storey apart-hotel to include a two floor basement in within close proximity of London’s vibrant Shoreditch. Ardmore have worked closely with ISHBECK TITAN to create a new self-climbing façade to protect their workforce, environment and the general public. It has taken the company 18 months alongside...
PM10 Real Time Dust Monitors
In order to set the highest standards in environmental monitoring, the E03 project has bought and installed two Aeroqual dust sentry monitors. They offer continuous monitoring in all conditions with notification emails being sent automatically should the set limits be exceeded at any point (200μg/m3 as a 15 minute mean). The limits have been set after an independent specialist consultant...
Start-Stop Technology
According to the London Atmospheric Inventory, construction sites are responsible for approximately 7.5% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 8% of large particle emissions, and 14.5% of fine particle emissions. The majority of these emissions derive from machinery, vehicles, and construction transport, all of which are a significant contributor to air pollution. Considering how the construction industry is reliant on machinery and...
A Constructor’s Collaboration: Freight Delivery by Cargo Bike
The Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy, published in 2018, sets out a vision for a healthier, greener and more prosperous city. The strategy makes clear that a new type of thinking is required to increase active, efficient and sustainable travel to help achieve this vision for London. The Mayor, through TfL, will work with the boroughs, businesses and the freight...
Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Toolbox Talks
The Supply Chain Sustainability School is an online resource available for all individuals working in the construction industry. The School addresses a range of topics from Waste and Carbon, Fairness, Inclusion and Respect, Modern Slavery and many more sustainability issues. To help the construction sector tackle these industry-wide issues, the School has developed a number of Toolbox Talks for a...
Battery Powered Cut-Off Saw
We are currently using battery powered cut-off saws, rather than petrol cut-off saws. The benefit to the site is that the saw can be used indoors as well as outdoors, due to the lack of emissions. There is no need to store petrol onsite, and the decibels rating is slightly lower than a petrol saw. It is also very lightweight...
Site Dust Hotspotting
After the One Body dust awareness campaign, the project identified that more quantified evidence was required to understand the dust levels that operatives were being exposed to. The evidence could then be used to help combat the health implications of exposure to dust. The project worked with the client’s on-site health provider, Park Health, to undertake personal noise and dust...
CO2 Neutralising Felt Roof
During the procurement process for the project, we challenged ourselves to procure materials that provided an environmental benefit to the project. Through our supply chain partnerships, we were able to source a product which bettered the original roofing specification and would have a positive impact on the environment. Our client was fully supportive of this and approved our proposed change...
Minimising Carbon Footprint
Following the CCS ‘Spotlight on…air pollution’ campaign, our site completed the e-learning module and undertook further reading around the issue. We then found an article published on the BBC website which included a postcode checker for air pollution levels. We entered our site information and realised that we were in an area of low air pollution. This was a great...
Clean Air Routes for Walking Meetings 
After a recent staff wellbeing survey, the team at Greenwich Peninsula Upper Riverside realised that meetings in the site should be managed better. Part of this was to increase time efficiency and reduce pressure on schedules by limiting a meeting’s run time. We saw that this could be addressed in part by creating ‘walking meeting’ routes of varying length, this...
UK’s Largest Hybrid Generator
The construction of new passenger tunnels between existing platforms at Kennington Station had to be completed within a 16-week window and works were required 24/7. There was insufficient power supply available from the station and therefore a large external diesel generator was required. The generator had to be located very near to residential properties and there was concern over the...
New kit for dust mitigation
Air pollution is a big concern for all of us and the construction industry is a significant contributor to air pollution through dust, plant and transport. At Mace’s UCLH P5 site, there is a committed approach to managing dust and new pieces of kit have been brought to site to reduce dust. 1. Hilti Concrete Cutter with dust extraction Dust...
Temporary ‘Breath’ Panels Used to Improve Air Quality
At Morley House, Regent Street, we have installed temporary ‘Breath Panels’ to our scaffold. The Breath is a multi-layered fabric with an activated charcoal core designed to improve local air quality by absorbing common urban pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The primary source of NOx in urban areas is the combustion of fossil fuels in road vehicles or heating...
Greening the Grey
Multiplex has partnered with researchers at the University of Glasgow to conduct a trial of Green Screens at the construction site for the new Learning and Teaching Hub. This trial will evaluate how green screens compare to traditional construction hoarding to trap air pollutants and slow down rainfall runoff. Green screens are made from a steel grid and densely woven...
Maxvac Core Drill
On the Royal Albert Dock for Multiplex, we have introduced the Maxvac Drilling Shrouds which captures nearly all dust generated whilst Core Drilling. Using the vacuum suction, the dust and debris are caught within the shroud, giving operatives a truly dustless working environment which saves our workers from breathing harmful silica dust whilst keeping the area dust free and saving...
BIOAIR – Living breathing wall
On site, a green wall was created that would benefit biodiversity as much as possible. Working with the supplier, Kier reviewed the local biodiversity action plan and existing biodiversity in the area to select plants to use in the green wall. The plants were chosen to attract pollinators and the wall was placed on the hoarding in the church yard....
Using ‘AdBlue’ on plant machinery
Construction is a key contributor to air pollution and contractors should seek ways to minimise emissions from their activities. See the examples below for how one site achieved this: The project team are piloting a scheme whereby only forklifts using AdBlue can be used on site. AdBlue reduces the harmful nitrogen oxide emissions of diesel engines, converting harmful mono-nitrogen oxide...
Improving Air Quality
Following discussions between the site team, we agreed to get behind and support Clean Air Day on 21st June 2018. Lots of members of the team got involved including the clients Clerk of works; making pledges to turn engines off whenever possible; cycle to work and leave the car at home. Our Site Manager Rob Heaton and Site Labourer Stuart...
‘Spotlight on… air pollution’ follow-up article
In February 2018, the Scheme launched ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’ to raise awareness of the impact of air pollution and provide the industry with advice on tackling the issue. ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’ provides a central resource for everyone in the industry to improve their knowledge of air pollution, including statistics, examples of best practice, useful resources and practical guidance....
Combined noise and dust control
At their project for University College London Hospital, Mace have implemented the use of combined acoustically rated and dust control enclosures. The project consists of providing a new build facility to allow the client to relocate a number of related medical treatment streams into a single new building. The site is located adjacent to the existing hospital and due to...
Air Quality Monitoring
Volatile organic compounds are common chemical contaminants found in offices and workplaces and are one reason for odours. A number of these compounds can be a health hazard for workers. Reducing exposure to these chemicals can lead to better health for workers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention VOCs found in the workplaces can include: Paints, varnishes...
Clean Air Kits to measure NO2 levels on site and tackle air pollution
Our site, Wyndham Park in Grantham, is a locally renowned green area for local residents. Due to the earth works we were introducing plant and machinery to the area, so as a considerate constructor we wanted to monitor and reduce the impact these machines would have on the ecosystem. To help site combat air pollution, Robert Woodhead Ltd ordered a...
Managing indoor air quality
External air quality caused by dust nuisance is actively managed whereas indoor air quality management can be overlooked. At our Greenwich site we have a committed approach to limiting dust and VOC exposure to our operatives and have undertaken the following steps; Air quality specialist reviewed working practices on site focusing on Drylining, Joinery and Drilling operations where a series...
Considerate Constructors Scheme ‘Construction Dust and Air Quality’ Guidance Note
As part of the scoring process, the Considerate Constructors Scheme issues guidance notes to our Monitors on key issues to advise them on best practices to look out for when visiting sites, companies and suppliers. Following the launch of ‘Spotlight on… air pollution’, the Scheme redoubled its efforts to encourage registered sites, companies and suppliers to minimise air pollution from...
Using exhaust filters to reduce air pollution
We wanted to introduce a clean air initiative on a student accommodation project due to the amount of plant that would be operating on site as we are situated in a fairly busy residential area. We contacted a supplier who manufactures heavy duty exhaust filters that can be fitted externally to items of plant, this filter kit removes 95% of...
