NIBuilder 32-5 Oct-Nov

NIBuilder 32-5 Oct-Nov

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

Vol 32 No 5 2021

And thewinners are…

Celebrating the achievements of the construction industry inNorthern Ireland

NI BUILDER

Inside this issue...

Issue 32-5 - Oct-Nov 2021

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85

76

66 83 NI BUILDER IS THE OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER FOR - CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION FOR THEIR LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES - SEE PAGES 19-33

News &Views 6 Gilbert-Ash up for Stirling Prize Europe’s first ‘eco-mosque’, built by Belfast-based construction firm Gilbert-Ash, has been nominated for the 2021 RIBA Stirling Prize Award. 10 Construction sector activity slows The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland posts a five-month low. 14 Work starts on NRC college campus Main contractor Heron Bros begins construction on the £40m Northern Regional College campus building. THE TEAM: Managing Director Karen McAvoy Editor Heather Campbell Sales Manager Karen Jess Advertising Julie Patterson Production Manager Julie Anne Guiney Digital Creative Manager Jo Hendron Digital Content Editor Cathal Delea Digital Communications Rachel Freeman Accounts Andrea Simpson Photography Gordon McAvoy Printed by W&G Baird

Products 41 CLC

In Focus 19 Celebrating excellence in construction Meet the winners of the

Hulfators Group Ireland (Snickers Workwear) introduces American brand CLC Work Gear to the Irish market.

Construction Employers Federation’s Construction Excellence Awards 2021.

60 Doorways

43 Take it to the bank Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd and specialist contractors deliver Grade A office fit- out to AIB’s NI Head Office. 76 Brickwork that builds a connection IG Masonry Support creates an impressive brickwork design for The Junction community hub.

Doorways launches fresh new range of primed doors for 2022.

81 Kingspan Klargester

Just-launched Klargester Biotec® uses unique aerobic biological trickling filter process technology for efficient treatment of sewage.

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With reference to the Misdescriptions Act, please note that the measurements and artist’s impressions within are for illustrative purposes only and may not be accurate. Reproduction of whole or in part of this publication, without prior permission from Karen McAvoy Publishing Ltd, is strictly prohibited.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

GORDON BEST, REGIONAL DIRECTOR MPA NI, ON THE RISE OF RAWMATERIALS COST AND SHORTAGES… Unprecedented increase in material costs and shortages

T he recent Ulster Bank PMI survey revealed again an all too familiar story of inflationary pressures and lengthening supplier delivery times. Within the UK, Northern Ireland continues to report the steepest rises in input costs, with local firms raising the prices of their goods and services at faster rates than any other region. Price pressures linked to raw materials, fuel, freight, wages and Brexit continued to be cited by survey respondents. So why is this unprecedented increase in material costs and shortages happening and when is it likely to end? GLOBAL CONTEXT In January 2021, the Carbon price sat at around £35 per tonne; at the end of September it’s sitting at £65. Expectation is that it could rise to £100 per tonne by June 2022. The cost of shipping a container from China to Europe have risen from £1,500 to almost £14,000 since January 2021. Wholesale prices for gas has risen 250% since January, and 70% since the start of August. 60% of UK Natural Gas is imported. Oil - up from $40/barrel this time last year to $74/barrel, + 85%, and set to remain at $70+ to year end. Gas Oil - linked to oil, up over 40% since same time last year. Furthermore, impact of red diesel changes from April 2022 will see doubling in price. All of the above feed into the construction supply chain and will continue to make the cost of supply of cement, bitumen, aggregates, admixtures, pigments and transport extremely volatile. UK IMPACT The construction materials shortage can, in part, be traced back to increased building and home improvement activity in 2020, particularly during the first lockdown. This led to a slowdown in the production of materials from some factories in the EU, and supply chains have remained stretched ever since. But while construction output reached a

24-year high in June, demand is not being met by supply, and suppliers’ delivery times have lengthened. WHICH MATERIALS ARE AFFECTED? There has been a nationwide timber shortage since the first lockdown in March 2020, and imports remain an issue, against a backdrop of high demand for wood and wood products. Steel is in high demand globally, and shortages could persist until the end of the year. British Steel recently stopped taking orders on structural steel sections due to “extreme demand”. Roughly half of National Federation of Roofing Contractors members reported a shortage of concrete roof tiles earlier this year. Lead times for concrete tiles are between 20-36 weeks, on average, while lead times for clay are between 4-8 weeks. Supplies of bagged cement have been strained since late last year, and Pal Chana, Executive Director of the Mineral Products Association, warned in July that supplies will not return to normal until the end of the year. Certain electronic components, caused by a shortage of raw materials, could extend into next year and supplies of paints and sealants to the UK are restricted due to a global shortage and cost of shipping containers. There was a severe plaster shortage earlier

this year, and while supplies improved earlier this year, plasterboard has been subject to extended lead times, the CLC said in June. LOCAL >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100

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