Non-stop action at PRECAST2014

Action-packed seminar, exhibition and awards event demonstrates vibrancy of precast concrete sector

PRECAST2014, Britain’s biggest all-day precast concrete event, took place last week, providing more than 440 delegates with an opportunity to get up to speed on key seminar topics, view the latest products and services, meet new customers and network with others in the industry. Organized by British Precast, the event also marked the 50th anniversary of the association and was followed by a special awards dinner.

Andrew Dix, president of British Precast, said: ‘This packed event features some of the best initiatives that British Precast is involved with: ‘Raising the Bar’, concerned with implementing best practice and encompassing the sustainability charter scheme, the health and safety and product-specific charters; Environmental Product Declarations; Building Information Modelling; sharing of technical expertise among producers and suppliers; as well as highlighting our members’ outstanding projects in our annual Best Practice Awards.

‘Through their commitment to these mandatory charters and compliance with our codes, British Precast members can differentiate their offering to the market place as the economy continues to recover. British Precast members can also have confidence now that, as part of a wider MPA family, we speak with one voice to industry and government.’

PRECAST2014 included the launch of British Precast guidelines on two important areas of health and safety. First, the pre-stressing code of practice, developed over the last 12 months, was formally presented to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for endorsement. Secondly, British Precast launched best-practice guidance on safe factory finishing of precast concrete stairs, developed in consultation with members, stakeholders and the HSE. Both these guidelines support the industry goal of Zero Harm.

PRECAST2014’s seminar sessions were themed around Health & Safety, Sustainability, Technical, Training, and Building Design. Each session featured presentations from expert speakers and subjects covered included: Designing with Building Information Modelling (BIM); the Precast Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Calculator Project; ‘Safer by Competence’ for Precasters; Raising the Bar in Health & Safety; and the World’s First Carbon Negative Aggregate.

Industry leaders from the precast sector in Germany were also guest speakers following the British Precast AGM. In the evening after PRECAST2014, the British Precast Best Practice Award winners were announced and recognized at the 50th Anniversary Awards Dinner. The winners were:

• Health & Safety Award: Brett Landscaping & Building Products – for an improved traffic-management system which delivers a safer site and reduces the environmental footprint.
• Innovation Award: J&P Building Systems – for a new design methodology for precast stairs.
• Project Award: Decomo UK – for The Forum, Elmer Square, Southend-on-Sea (pictured).
• Sustainability Award (Full member): Forticrete – for their energy-efficient lighting project.
• Sustainability Award (Associate member): Carbon8 Aggregates – for the manufacture of carbon-negative, lightweight aggregates.

In addition, two ‘Outstanding Contribution to Health & Safety Awards’ were presented to: Cliffe management team (Brett Landscaping & Building Products); and Chris Taylor (Stanton Bonna).

Commenting on the awards, Andrew Dix said: ‘We had more than 30 entries this year from a wide range of member companies, both large and small. These Awards demonstrate the best of ingenuity and forward-thinking within the precast concrete industry. Our winning members deserve recognition for their achievements in each category.’

The 50th Anniversary Award Dinner also saw the launch of a commemorative 164-page book celebrating 50 years of British Precast.

Andrew Minson, executive director of British Precast, said: ‘The Best Practice Awards have celebrated some of the best initiatives and projects our sector has produced; and we are also very pleased to be celebrating British Precast’s 50th Anniversary.

‘I am proud to be leading British Precast, which champions the benefits of local, long-lasting and low-carbon precast concrete products to industry and government. Precast concrete products are ideal for building the sustainable communities and infrastructure required in the UK.

‘As an industry, we can look forward with confidence to the next 50 years because our material is ideal for delivering a sustainable built environment.’