STMC has worked alongside the design team for the Knowsley Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme to deliver seven new learning centres, each with student capacities of up to 1400. The designs of the centres have many innovative features from the external cladding types through to large atria spaces.

The main challenge for STMC was the fire safety strategy of the centres and, in particular, the atria in the buildings. With the potential for such large student numbers in the atria, and the floor plate being largely open plan, smoke logging was a distinct possibility.

This fire engineered approach to the fire safety design has ensured the learning centres are safe, user friendly and functional whilst aspiring to the highest design standards.

For the full feature article click here

Our regular newsletters are one of the main

ways in which we keep in touch with our

clients. The inclusion of a Christmas greeting

in the newsletter is an effective way of getting

our message across. This tradition, which

began in 2003, also has the advantage of

saving considerable expense of the separate

production and distribution of Christmas

cards.

This year the Directors are, individually,

making personal donations to the charities

highlighted below. The Directors and staff of

STMC wish all their clients and partner

companies a very Happy Christmas and a

prosperous 2010.

In April 2010 Building Regulation Part G and an associated approved Document will come into force to replace the longest unchanged Approved Document which was introduced in 1992. The new Part G addresses more recent acknowledgement of the need to consider the sustainability of one of our most important natural resources. Hence, the scope of the new requirement has been extended.

For more information click here to view our September 2009 Newsletter and contact one of our surveyors, Imran Aziz on 01924366296

Although Approved Document B remains as the leading guidance, with effect from 6th April 2009, all but Part 1 (Residential Buildings) of the BS5588 series has been withdrawn, to be replaced with BS9999: 2008.

This new British Standard gives guidance and recommendations on the design, management and use of buildings in relation to fire safety. This includes new buildings, alterations and extensions, in addition to changes of use of existing buildings. The code is applicable to all buildings except individual homes and some specialist buildings and also provides guidance on the ongoing fire safety management for a building throughout its entire life cycle.

We are delighted to confirm that, following a thorough review of our technical and administrative processes, STMC has secured renewal of its ISO9001:2000 accreditation.

STMC was first accredited in June 2000 and has, over the ensuing years, built on that foundation to develop a Quality Assurance system that underpins and enhances its clients focused service.

Upon receiving renewed accreditation STMC’s Managing Director, Colin Millward, commented, ‘For the largest independent Building Control company in the UK our QA accreditation is the key to providing a high quality, consistent service across all our offices. In conjunction with our Management System our surveyors are able to work with maximum flexibility knowing they have up to the minute information at their fingertips’.

Our target for the next 12 months will be to upgrade our accreditation to conform with ISO9001:2008

STMC was delighted to have been chosen by Essex based developer, Hanningfield Estates, to provide Approved Inspector services for an ambitious project aimed at breathing new life into a disused reservoir and associated buildings at Great Warley, Brentwood.

STMC,s close liason with Winchester Architects practice, Design Engine, enabled innovative design to be included, ensuring cost effective solutions which will provide the completed development with economical running costs whilst, concurrently, having regard for its impact on the environment.

See our December 2008 newsletter for the full story.

The two final race meetings of the 2009 BTCC at Rockingham and Brands Hatch proved to be as equally challenging for Team Dynamics as the rest of the season had been.

Team Dynamics have finished the year just off the Independent Teams champion poduim, in fourth place, well ahead of other contenders. In the Constructors championship they achieved a credible second place.

You can see more details and photographs at www.btcc.net and www.rimstock.com

As the Clio Cup arrived at Rockingham for the penultimate race meeting of the season Philip Glew only had to secure 25 points from the two races to take the 2009 championship. Having qualified on Pole for both races he convincingly attained two lights-to-flag victories and also the fastest lap in race 2. With an unassailable points lead Philip was crowned the 2009 Champion with two races to go at Brands Hatch at the beginning of October.

Philip’s breathtaking performance this year has resulted in what must be a record with the statistics illustrating his dominance of the series. The full statistics are; 20 races, 18 front row starts including 11 Pole positions, 18 Podium finishes including 11 victories, and 9 fastest laps.

In 2010 Philip is hoping to secure a drive with one of the top British Touring Car Championship teams. STMC are proud to have sponsored Philip over the last six racing seasons and will be continuing our support into next year.

You can see more details and photographs at www.philipglew.com and www.renaultsport.co.uk

We are pleased to announce that, in July 2008, two of our Assistant Building Control Surveyors, Leanne Elkin and Carolyn Baskerville, successfully completed their BSc (Hons) Degree in Building Surveying at the University of Salford.

Leanne & Carolyn embarked on the degree course when they joined STMC approximately three years ago. It was also the beginning of their careers in the Building Control proffesion.

Having acheived a major milestone in their careers they are keen to become Corporate Members of the RICS. Leanne and Carolyn agreed that their degree success was attributed to many hours of self-study, a strong sense of determination and maintaining a thirst for the goal to have a successful and long standing Building Control career.

STMC has received approval of its latest (2006) version of the RICS Structured Training Agreement for the Assessment of Professional Competence. Our training surveyors will, therefore, be assured of the company's commitment to them acheiving success in their proffessional qualifications.

STMC has highlighted a precedent established by a high court in 2003 which requires STMC to submit Initial Notices and have them accepted by the Local Authority prior to work commencing on site.

In recent months there have been a number of cases where work has started prior to STMC being provided with any instruction or detail. The result has been that we have been unable to provide Approved Inspector services on those projects, much to the disappointment of our clients.

Another important point in the administration process is at the completion stage. The Approved Inspector Regulations require us to issue all Final Certificates within four weeks of a project being completed or if partially completed projects are occupied.

It is, therefore, important that good liason with our clients confirms confirms completion dates in order that, where necessary, we can extend the life of the Initial Notice.

Please contact one of our Building Control Managers for further details.

As part of the drive to raise awareness of the need to conserve energy it was generally known that there would be a requirement to provide certification for commercial buildings which identified the energy conservation credentials.

Requirements for Energy Performance Certificates to be issued was to be staged with the larger buildings required to be assessed and certificates issued by 6th April 2008.

At the eleventh hour the Government has changed its mind and it is now anticipated that all non-residential buildings will have certification in place by 1st October 2008.

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a requirement if you are to sell or rent your property. The requirements are supposed to be fully implemented by October 2008.

For more information please download a copy of our April 2008 Newsletter here

Published at the beginning of 2007 and coming into effect on the 6th April 2007 the guidance for the compliance with Part B of the regulations includes some significant changes. The first change you will notice is that the guidance is seperated into two volumes with Volume 1 dealing with dwellinghouses and Volume 2 dealing with all other buildings apart from dwellinghouses.

For a more detailed analysis request a copy of our April 2007 newsletter

STMC's Directors are pleased to confirm that Building Control Surveyor, Imran Aziz, has successfully completed the Association of Building Engineers' (ABE) Level 4 NVQ in Building Control.

Commenting that "...everyday at STMC is different", Imran deals with many different aspects and a variety of projects, ranging from small domestic extensions to multi-million pound mixed-use buildings.

For more detailed information on any of the above articles please see our latest newsletter. Please let us know if you would like to receive an email version of our newsletter by contacting carmen.davies@stmc.co.uk