What do you need to know about party wall matters? That depends… how much of a glutton for punishment are you? If you intend to tackle a construction project that involves a party wall matter by yourself, then what you’ll definitely need to know plenty about the complicated world of party wall matters. You can start with a free copy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s handy 22-page Explanatory Booklet that we can provide you with a link to. But even that, as the booklet will tell you, is “not an authoritative interpretation of the law.” You’ll have to keep researching all the myriad details of your particular situation. For most people, this does not strike them as fun at all. And if you’ll likely ever do but one or two projects involving a party wall matter, then the huge investment of your time required to master the various regulations is probably not worth it. In any case, you (as the Building Owner ) cannot act as a Surveyor. You can serve the Notices but if the Adjoinming Owner dissents / disagrees then you will have to appoint a Surveyor in any case. But you can avoid much of the hassle by hiring a professional party wall surveyor at the outset and authorising them to act on your behalf throughout the entire process.
Whilst you can serve Notices, if they are not properly written and served then they could be invalid and all procedures that follow are null & void – you go back to square one.
Party Wall Matters
Anyone who carries out certain work involving a party wall, construction on a boundary or excavation for foundations close to an adjoining building anywhere in England and Wales is likely to need to consider the requirements of the Party Wall Etc Act of 1996. One of the most important requirements of the Party Wall Etc Act 1996 is that you must give notice to all Adjoining Owners, even if your construction work does not extend beyond the centre line of the Party wall. That is very important to note: even if you didn’t think you’re affected by the Act because all your construction appears to take place upon your property… you still possibly are. And once your neighbours are legally informed that you are carrying out work that could potentially affect their structure and property, they’re also going to feel much better about your project (and likely refrain from causing you potential delays) if they see that you have entrusted the Party Wall matters to a professional firm of Party wall surveyors.
The Party Wall Surveyor
London Party Wall Surveyors can assist you with your project from start to finish. We’ll perform the initial research to determine your specific job needs and give you a written estimate of costs. Our professional surveyors can prepare notices, liaise with your Architect, Engineer etc., and obtain the information neccessary to assist in putting an agreement in place in a timely manner. We’ll keep you advised of the progress of the party wall matters, and our experience in dealing with the issues that arise will help . If any issues do arise, you can rest easy that London Party Wall Surveyors will quickly respond to them.
Window Replacement Guide – Learn About Maximum Window Efficiency
Before you can appreciate just how much a window can save you on your utility bills, you must understand the actual working of an energy efficient window. This window replacement guide will attempt to help you in this understanding. The theory is fairly straightforward: windows that are designed to be energy efficient are capable of slowing the heat transfer process between the inside of your house and the outdoors. We all know that heat travels from warm to cold spaces. In this way, the window becomes an agent of energy loss. During the winter, the warmth inside the house tends to dissipate out through the window and during the warmer season, the hot air outside tries to rush into your house via the same window as well.
Windows are central to the heat transfer process because they don’t provide as good insulation as other parts of your wall assembly. For example roofs, floors and walls are better insulated against heat loss. The old single pane windows or inadequately installed double pane windows, or cracks on the window or frames are all prime candidates to facilitate this process. To exacerbate the matter, even the best-sealed windows also allow some form of heat loss through the glass, as the glass is a natural conductor of heat through conduction.
This windows replacement guide will explain the technologies used to lower air flow and subsequently heat transfer. These are the glazing technique, low-U values, low-E coatings, as well as gases like argon or krypton between panes. As a result, these efficient windows will block the cold of winter away, while keeping you cool during the hot season. Additionally, this guide will also deal with how to avoid the condensations formed inside the windows. The performance indicator of an energy-efficient window is down to the construction of the window frame and a spacer material, and the object used to separate the main window glass and the individual frames of glass within the pane.
If you are serious in obtaining a LEED certification for your household, then it is imperative for you to know that correct windows choice can enhance your qualification. LEED accreditation is awarded based on window’s size, solar heating gain, U-factor and a host of other considerations.
Glazing
Glazing is the word used to define the glass in a window. A double-glazed window describes two panes window; triple-glazed contains three. An “energy-glazed” window has a layer of lamination and a gas filled within the panes of glass. The reduction in solar gain goes is proportional to the numberamount[/size] of glazing.
If the solar gain is overly high, carpet, furniture and floors tend to fade easily and you need more energy for cooling to offset the solar gain; still, a decent amount of solar gain is necessary to counter the cold of winter. A double-glazed can trigger a 10 percent reduction in solar gain; triple-glazing by 20 percent. This windows replacement guide urges that households with single-glazed or single-pane windows upgrade to double- or triple-glazed windows. It will make a world of difference for your utility bills.
Low-E
Low-emissivity (low-E) coating also restricts the amount of energy transfer through the window. This coating is a transparent lamination that applies itself onto the window pane directly. It can be coated on either the inside surfaces (surfaces on opposing ends) or the exterior. Low-E coatings facilitates passing through of sun light but can cut down the heat transfer process via the window glass. In addition, businesses have also made available low-E squared and low-E cubed, which are effectively the extensions of low-E coatings and denotes two or three layers of coatings of low-E respectively.
There are two variations of low-E coatings, i.e. soft and hard types. Soft-coat low-E is comparatively not as robust and it can disintegrate under prolonged exposure to moisture and air. Conversely, while hard low-E coatings are able to withstand harsher conditions, their energy efficiencies are not comparable to those of soft coatings. As per guideline provided by U.S. Department of Energy, low-E coated (both soft and hard variations) windows are typically priced around 10% – 15% more than conventional windows, which more than compensate the 30 to 50 percent enhancement in energy loss reduction. Low-E coated windows have come a long way from its early days of make-to-order status to become standard on windows.
U-Value
As pointed out earlier in this windows guide, R-value defines the efficiency of insulation of ceilings, walls, etc.; its reading is in direct relationship with the extent or effectiveness of the insulation. However, it is not practical to use R-value alone to measure windows insulation. They are different in the sense that they are subject to several external factors, such as wind, rain, sunlight, inside and outside air temperatures, just to name some of them. It is only natural that a different measurement system is applied on to windows. This measurement system is called U-value, also known as U-factor. The U-value here is a more useful calculation of heat loss via the window, or heat transfer. (R-values may still be listed on windows on sales, but the values have no real significance as they are just readings on the center portion of the window, thus not an accurate measurement for the entire window.) When one is referring to U-value, the lower the reading, the higher the energy efficiency is. In cold weathers, U-value of .35 or lower is preferred. Windows with multi-glazing and have krypton or argon filled are also effective in reducing heat loss and generally have low U-values.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient(SHGC)
The SHGC is an indicator used to measure how well solar radiation is blocked from the sun. Lower reading of SHGC means less solar heat is transmitted across. The ENERGY STAR program includes guidelines and criteria for doors and windows for three climate zones in the U.S. Manufacturers would be in a better position to tell if the product is ENERGY STAR–certified or not. For ENERGY STAR certification criteria, all products are required to be rated, certified, and labelled for both SHGC as well as U-value according to the procedures of the NFRC (or short for National Fenestration Rating Council) or able to satisfy the ENERGY STAR qualification criteria in at least one of the climate zones.
Gavin Berman is a regular contributor to the website EnergySmartDesign.com. He regularly writes about ways to make your home more energy efficient, through innovative design.
To view the original article with images please visit the Window Replacement Guide at Energy Smart Design.
Casper Hauser is from Headingley, Leeds, in UK. To here more music by him visit Main website at www.casperhauser.co.uk or www.myspace.com/casperhauser www.myspace.com/casperhauser2 www.myspace.com/casperhauser3
Ten little-known facts about mezzanine floors for business owners to consider
It might be more cost-effective to install a mezzanine floor than to acquire new premises. A Mezzanine Floor could add a new dimension to your premises by making use of redundant overhead space – giving your business the additional room it needs at a fraction of the cost of relocation. And if you can outsource not only the build but also the mezzanine floor design, you will reduce your own staff costs to the minimum. Mezzanine floors are useful for more than storage. The additional space created by a Mezzanine Floor can also be used to accommodate offices, or to increase production space. A well-built mezzanine floor can be used for any of the following:
Retail outlets / showrooms
Viewing Galleries
Laboratories
Office Accommodation
Assembly / production
Fitness / Gyms
Canteen / Staff Rooms Mezzanine floors can be designed to your own specification. A good design and install company will create a bespoke design to meet your precise requirements, and will install it having taken into account such things as site conditions, Building Regulations, safety and access. Mezzanine Floors can be Multi-tiered. Where height allows, a two-, three- or four-tier mezzanine floor will give considerable additional floor space, and is particularly effective in ensuring a good return on your investment if and when you come to move on. Planning permission is not usually needed for mezzanine floors if they are going to be used solely for storage space. For many other uses, planning permission and other building regulations must be obtained. A good mezzanine floor design company will obtain permissions on your behalf, having first advised you on the most cost-effective use of materials which will both comply with regulations, and fit in with your requirements. Mezzanine floors can look wonderful. Wide ranges of colours and design options are available so that staircases, gates, walls and other structural elements can be blended with the overall design of your brand and internal decor. This is particularly important if you intend to use the additional space as a showroom. Installing a mezzanine floor can be done quickly and with a minimum of disruption. If you can provide your mezzanine floor designer with detailed plans of the space and your requirements, much of the planning can be done off-site. A good company will provide you with detailed drawings and calculations for your approval, will give you an installation date well in advance, will let you know exactly how long the installation will take, and will keep disruption to the minimum while installation is carried out. Mezzanine floors can be customised for special environments. Provided that your mezzanine floor installer is experienced in more specialist projects, you can use him to include such things as plant support structures, lorry sheeting platforms, plant access walkways or outdoor staircases. And if you want your mezzanine floor to be used outdoors, there are numerous structural and design features that can make this work. Production lines and production centres can benefit from mezzanine floors - for example, a mezzanine floor can be used to provide workers with a higher access point to a particular item. In addition, the installation of a mezzanine floor can minimise the amount of wasted space, while maintaining a safe and secure working environment. A mezzanine floor can be most effective as a storage solution when combined with bespoke racking and shelving. Look for a mezzanine floor designed/installer who can also offer you design, supply and installation of bespoke racking and shelving. This will ensure that your vision for transforming redundant overhead space into useful storage space can be effectively costed, planned, and realised in one undertaking.
If you would like to know more about designing, installing and using mezzanine floors, please contact a mezzanine floor designer, who will be happy to answer your questions. In the meantime, we hope this article has helped you become more informed about mezzanine floors!
Dennis and his wife Janet run Bristol Storage Equipment and love to help companies maximise their space to save money. Whether you have warehouses in Cardiff and Swansea or an office in Bristol or Gloucester, Bristol Storage Equipment supplies Dexion products to businesses throughout Wales and the West. Supplying and installing mezzanine floors, live storage, partitioning or providing racking repairs and maintenance, they offer quick and cost effective storage solutions.
Courier delivery companies boast of offering the most responsive customer-oriented point-to-point delivery service. There are many types of Courier services.
There are many different ways to send or transfer packages, documents and personal parcels. A service provider allows clients to send their packages and documents, whether it is local or international. This business depends on the type of delivery, depending on the client’s choice.
Some of the services that courier delivery companies offer are:
The Courier Delivery Services Ground offers these delivery services throughout the largest international and local areas. The regular territory for Direct, Rush, and Regular Services can even stretch over hundreds of metropolitan areas.
Courier deliveries have some services offered via different companies. Some of the services are listed below.
Nonstop – The Company will provide an estimated time once the client places the order. Within a local area, the on-duty driver that is stationed nearest the area of the client’s pick-up place will immediately provide the needed services. For the security of the person negotiating with the client, an online call on delivery is done. This is in order to let the client know who will sign it and their location for the exact time.
90 minute service – This service is used by people who are extremely busy with their everyday schedule. This is a type of delivery service that entails a 90 minute guarantee. This will start from the client’s call for a courier. However, for delivery distances of over 20 miles, 30 minutes are added to the delivery time. This is applicable for every additional 10 mile or a fraction thereof.
The 5 hour service – This type of service delivers packages and the like only within a range of five hours, which starts upon the client’s call. These messenger orders, when placed, are ready for pickup before 12 noon on weekdays. For courier delivery distances over 20 miles, add 30 minutes delivery time for each additional 10 miles or a fraction thereof.
Courier delivery services provide very efficient ways. This would include legal, medical, financial, environmental, manufacturing and freight forwarding. Success in the medical industry depends on these delivery offices, particularly for their medical and pharmaceutical supplies.
Local couriers provide local courier services either for pick up or for the delivery of your sensitive packages. Nationwide couriers provide a “same day delivery” program across the US. Whether the package is small or large, going 5 miles or 5000 miles, they can handle the client’s transportation needs within the city. The city-to-city services are also available.
Through their dedicated, exclusive and regular services, the courier company has set up a steadfast commitment in providing their clients with the best same-day delivery solution throughout the country.
Under the Courier Delivery Services, a contractor must ensure that any person, who is an employee or a contractor, should receive a remuneration and entitlement. Hence, the NSW industrial relations legislation includes any amending legislation and regulation made under these principal pieces of legislation.
The NSW also provides a uniqueness and excellence amongst other couriers, helping motivate the clients’ satisfaction. Plus, the commitment of the company to quality services was achieved through the dedication of its delivery team.
Moreover, they provide the best possible services while considering the special needs of their own respective clients. For over 20 years, this delivery system has set up a wide range of specialized delivery services. They make client satisfaction as their number one concern, contributing to various outstanding companies.
Amtico flooring is just about the most hardwearing and practical alternative to real wood.
Have a look at the comprehensive selection of Amtico flooring in the latest natural wood designs. These range from the softest colours such as white maple, to the mid toned classic oaks, and on to the darkest colour in our range Wenge Wood. All Amtico woods are genuine British made commercial grade {not the Asian made Spacia} and are available in ‘tick’ finish in the 114mm x 915mm standard size. They are all available from stock for next day delivery so you can avoid the frustrating long delivery times quoted by supposed Amtico stockists. You can even check out our real time stockholding online so that you cab book your installer in advance.
Choosing Amtico flooring means you don’t’ have to worry about long tem maintenance- your floor will never need sanding or re-finishing. The tough abrasion resistant surface will repel stains and moisture making it an ideal choice for wet areas such as bathrooms and shower rooms, and heavy wear areas such as hallways and entrance lobbies.
Amtico wood authentically replicates the natural product and it’s true characteristics. The Stripwood is highly variable in grain, shade and decoration. Please consider this in your product selection, as our online images only display a small section of the material.
Installing Amtico wood flooring can be undertaken by any reasonably competent DIYer with little in the way of equipment. If you are installing onto an existing wood floorboard, chipboard, or MDF sub-floor, it is always good practice to install a new plywood base first. Not only will this ensure long term wear, it will prevent undulations showing through your new flooring. If your sub-floor is reasonably flat, 6mm exterior grade moisture resistant plywood is adequate. This should be fixed at 15-20cm centers with screw nails.
If your sub-floor is old and extremely uneven, a heavier grade plywood 9mm or 12mm should be used. However before installing this, level off any hollows with a latex screed compound. Otherwise the plywood will never be completely flat.
After installing the plywood, spend as much time as possible filling any gaps in the joints, and knocking down nails flat. Then take down any high spots with a medium grade sand paper. Time taken on preparing the sub-floor will produce huge dividends when you have installed you new Amtico, so do not be tempted to cut any corners.
Depending on how flat and smooth you have managed to make the plywood base, it may be necessary to apply a further leveler such as Ardex Feather Finish which can be applied thinly without the risk of delaminating.
If you are installing over a solid floor e.g. concrete, asphalt, quarry tiles, stone flags etc. it is imperative that your do a thorough check of the moisture content of the sub-floor. Even a slight amount of moisture in a sub-floor will cause Amtico flooring to start lifting within a very short period of time. Your investment will then be wasted, as the floor will be beyond repair. Check first for the presence of a dpm, which should be visible on your outside, walls maybe the first or second line of brick or stone. If there is nothing evident, and your house was build before 1960, then it is safe to assume that there is no damp proof membrane in the sub-floor.
Your only option then is to apply a surface dpm to the sub-floor. These are a 2-part epoxy resin coating. These are easy to apply, but can take up to 48 hours to cure. The most widely used product is ES3000 made by Treetabond.
Once you have a dry clean solid sub-floor, a leveling screed should be laid. Always follow the screed manufacturers instructions with regard to the use of priming or bonding agents. Remember that if the screed de-bonds from the sub-floor, your new Amtico floor will also fail. The screed should be rubbed down as smooth as possible before installing your Amtico flooring. Any trowel marks, high or low spots will soon become evident once you have a new shiny floor over the screed. Therefore more time and effort spent on the preparations will be rewarded with a superior final floor finish.
The Amtico flooring in Stripwood should always be installed using the approved Amtico adhesives For wet areas the Amtico ‘Universal’ adhesive should always be used. Amtico flooring can be laid onto underfloor heating, provided that Amtico HT (high temperature) adhesive is used. For all other areas the standard Amtico SF (solvent free) adhesive can be used without problems.
As with all flooring, Amtico flooring will benefit from regular maintenance. The Amtico floor dressing will give enhanced protection from moisture and abrasion. The Amtico Cleaner will effectively clean your floor without stripping off the Dressing. However, when the time comes to renew the dressing, Amtico Dressing Remover is a powerful and aggressive stripper, which makes light work of removing heavy build-ups of old layers of floor dressing. Guidance on maintenance is available from the Amtico flooring web-site
Paul is technical manager at Birbek Wood Flooring which is a UK distributor of amtico.
It’s all about image with promotional clothing and promotional mugs
Whenever your employee (or customer for that matter!) wears a piece of promotional clothing, everyone who sees this individual will see your business name as well. So when you think about how many places an individual can travel in a single day by wearing promotional clothing with your branding on it, your business will have unparalleled advertising potential.
Corporate clothing is also a potential welcome gift for your employees and customers alike. Whether you give promotional shirts, promotional jackets, promotional polo shirts and promotional caps, your employees and customers will feel like they are part of a team, employees will appreciate being recognised for their hard work and will work even harder to be a part of your company. Scientific studies have shown that companies who encourage a team-building atmosphere in their professional environment also have a lower employee turnover rate. And as recruiting new employees can be a costly expense for growing businesses, so establishing a higher level of employee retention can be crucial to the future success of a business. In a similar way, all successful companies know that their foundation is built on a loyal customer base and promotional clothing and promotional apparel from Code Promotional Merchandise can encourage a stronger customer retention rate.
Second only to promotional pens in popularity, promotional mugs and promotional glassware are extremely popularâ¦and with good reason! Just take a look at the average office environment and count up the number of branded promotional mugs you can see. That is the strength of the promotional mug as it is very rarely thrown away.
And from your perspective, you have a great range to choose from. Firstly, take promotional mugs and decide how you want your brand to be perceived. Choose from practical promotional travel mugs or classic promotional ceramic mugs, the cost-effective plastic promotional mug or the fine promotional bone chine mugs.
Or secondly, consider promotional glassware. Does the ability to provide an engraved promotional gift give your business message the opportunity to rise above the others? From promotional pint glasses to corporate gift boxed champagne sets, we have a selection for you at Code Promotional Merchandise.
Code Promotional Merchandise is an online distributor of promotional items for businesses, charities and the education sector. Our website at www.codepromotional.co.uk has access to over 100,000 products from over 2,500 suppliers worldwide.
On a daily basis, we use different types of electronic items such as mobile phones, television, laptops, computers and lots more. These all electronic equipments make the use of PCBs (printed circuit boards). A PCB can be defined as a platform where different electronic components are fixed all together in order to make the device functional. PCB design UK is an essential part of business.
A PCB designer etches, or traces, conductive pathways from copper sheets that have been laminated onto a non-conductive base. There are numerous electronic companies in UK that are involved into electronic components manufacturing make the use of PCBs on a large basis. These companies either make the PCB itself or purchase it from somewhere on bulk. A company involves into PCB design is capable of designing the circuit board for different types and sizes of electronic products. In simle words, the PCB design UK for a laptop is different from a desktop. To cater the needs of different markets, the PCB Design companies UK make the use of latest manufacturing technologies. The wide range of Printed Circuit Board layout services includes Assembly Drawings, BOM Creation, Schematic Capture, PCB Layout, and Library Part Creation etc. There are different types of PCBs such as Single-Sided, Double-sided, SMT, Multi-layer, Blind and buried vias, Flexi-rigid, and Rigidised flexi.
There are numerous softwares available in the market that is specifically developed for PCB design in UK. These softwares include Vutrax, Cadstar, and P-Cad etc. Modern PCB design tools fulfill a number of functions. They must be capable of facing the complex tasks in miniature, whist being quick and accurate in use. Modern PCB design UK systems make the use of latest technology in order to cater the need of different electronic markets.
PCB design services often utilize numerous platforms, so it’s essential the use interface of each is comprehensive and easy to use.
Established in 1987, Blackburn Circuit Design Ltd provides a high quality PCB design, manufacturing and assembly service to the electronics industry. We are a team of professional PCB design UK engineers offering a wealth of layout experience ranging from single-sided boards for the consumer market through to complex multi-layer flexi-rigid PCB’s for the defense industry.
