Throughout 2011 STMC has developed a successful working relationship delivering its Building Control service to Bryden Wood Ltd, which produces the EcoCanopy build system. The EcoCanopy system offers a solution to a dilemma that has, historically, faced the client who is considering small to medium sized ‘low cost’ building solutions, costly conventional methods of construction, or low quality pre-fabricated temporary structures. Click here to see the full article in our December 2011 newsletter.

STMC is delighted to announce that Team Honda Racing driver, Matt Neal, who we have sponsored this year, is the 2011 British Touring Car Championship Drivers Champion. Through the spectacular efforts of Matt and his team mate, Gordon Shedden, Team Honda Racing has also secured the Teams Championship and the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship. Click here to see the Matt Neal’s “View from the Grid” in our December 2011 newsletter.

STMC is delighted to confirm that one of its surveyors from the Manchester team, Carolyn Baskerville, has recently successfully passed her Assessment of Professional Competence with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. On hearing of her success Carolyn commented, “It gave me immense satisfaction when I received my result of the APC interview. The level of commitment required to become a Chartered Surveyor cannot be underestimated, and having the full support of STMC helped me realise my goal. I particularly want the thank STMC’s Managing Surveyor, Philip Wright, who was my APC Supervisor, and STMC Director, Paul Heap, who was my APC Councillor, for their dedication and commitment to assisting me through the process.” Click here to read the full article in our August 2011 newsletter.

Following the introduction of the four latest revised Part L Approved Documents in October 2010 we wish to remind all our clients that the only remaining part of the transitional arrangements is shortly to elapse. The remaining option, to undertaking the proposed works to comply with the 2006 edition of the Part L Approved Documents, expires soon. Where an application was received before the 1st October 2010, the work must start by the 1st October 2011. Although a number of projects were forwarded to STMC in light of this window of opportunity in the month immediately preceding October 2010, we ask you to be aware that you may have some longer standing projects submitted in the two years prior to October 2010 which will also be subject to the 2011 Approved Documents supporting Part L if work has not commenced, even where a Plans Certificate has been issued. This may have, in some cases, considerable cost implications. Click here to read the full article in our August 2011 newsletter

STMC have been working alongside the design teams in delivering two new major education projects within the North West. The first being a £90M joint venture between Bolton Community College and Bolton Sixth Form College to create three new state of the art college buildings. The Sixth Form building incorporates a ground source heat pump and, whilst not being completely new technology in itself, it has been installed within the building’s foundations.

The second major scheme is Alder Grange Sixth Form College in Rawtenstall which will cater for over 300 students and includes science laboratories, media studio, performance space, an industry standard catering kitchen, nursery and crèche facilities for child development students plus IT and library facilities. This project has had a fire engineered approach to Building Regulation compliance and of particular interest with this scheme was the time equivalence analysis.

Click here to read the full article in our April 2011 newsletter.

Matt Neal’s latest report - At the half way point of the season it was fabulous feeling to be going into the summer break leading the Drivers Championship and, as a team, Flash and I ensured we are the leading team and have a massive 100 point lead in the Teams Championship and 73 points in the Constructors Championship. However, the team never slows and will be putting in plenty of hours over the coming weeks so we can try and start the second half of the season at Snetterton keeping a grip on all our title hopes. Click here to read the full article in our August 2011 newsletter and to see Matt’s “View from the Grid. for more photos of Team Honda and other BTCC teams visit www.jakobebrey.com

November 2010 has seen the successful completion and occupation of Oxford High School’s new Arts and Dining development, a project for which STMC was appointed to provide Building Control Services. The scheme included a Refectory, Assembly Hall, Language Suite, and alterations to the existing building to provide a new Library, Drama Studio and Lecture Theatre.

STMC worked closely with the design team including the Girls Day School Trust’s in house team of architects and the appointed contractors, Kingerlee of Woodstock, Oxfordshire, to deliver the Trust’s ambitions for the project.

Click here to read the full article in our latest newsletter.

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.

Click here to read the full article in our April 2011 newsletter.

Please contact our Manageing Surveyor, Philip Wright through our Head office on 0161 877 8660, for further details.

STMC is delighted to confirm that Team Pyro are the 2011 Air Asia Renault Clio Cup UK Teams Champions. After the summer break Team Pyro’s drivers returned to action racing at Snetterton, Rockingham and Brands Hatch. Their leading drivers, Aron Smith and Jack Goff, played significant parts in ensuring the team’s success. Click here to read the full story of the exciting conclusion to the season in our December 2011 newsletter.

At the end of March 2010 a series of new Approved Documents were published which are to come into effect on 1st October 2010. The August 2010 newsletter contains a review of some of the key changes which will impact on design and compliance. Click here to view the latest newsletter or contact one our Managing Surveyors, Chris Peoples on 01604 879595 or Scott Smith on 01924 366296.

STMC is pleased to confirm that, following our commitment to upgrade our Quality Assurance accreditation, and the recent external Surveillance Audit, we have been awarded ISO 9001:2008 accreditation. MD, Colin Millward, who is also the Quality Manager, expressed his delight at the news adding “…together with the latest developments in our computer infrastructure and individual surveyor technology, the latest accreditation further underpins the quality of the service we deliver. In the current economic climate it is important that, in a tangible way, we demonstrate our commitment to our clients”. Click here to view the latest newsletter.

STMC (Building Control) Ltd was appointed by Globe Management Services from Warrington, Cheshire in October 2008 to provide a Building Control service for an energy efficient residential development on the old K Shoes site in Kendal. The scheme, which provided 40 sheltered accommodation dwellings, including two bungalows, was to be undertaken for Kendal Riverside Ltd.

For further information about the development click here to read the full newsletter article or contact STMC,s surveyor for the project, Derrick Coley, on 0161 877 8660.

Five years ago STMC developed its own completely integrated Building Control Management system. A bespoke software package was produced and has, since its launch, created many areas of saving, particularly on operational aspects.

Building on this highly efficient network STMC has introduced a major upgrade to the hardware supporting the system to deliver further efficiencies. Additionally, there is a substantial saving on hardware whilst, concurrently, increasing user capacity upto 500 with the potential for further expandability. An added benefit is the substantial cost saving on energy to both drive the hardware and maintain the air conditioning in the server room.

For the full article click here or if you have any queries about the technology behind STMC,s network system and would like to discuss how we can help your organisation make similar savings please contact our IT Manager, Tim Golds, on 0161 877 8660.

As technological support has developed, leading to improved delivery of our Building Control service, so too has the need to reduce the impact of heat created by a large server system. Initially, STMC had to design their latest computer infrastructure to support upto 100 users but, with the recent upgrade can now support upto 500 users.

Conscious of its remit of providing guidance on Building Regulations compliance, and in particular Approved Document L, Conservation of fuel and power, STMC has installed a heat recovery system in its server room. Recovered heat is used to reduce the need to heat the office area, reducing overall heating costs whilst ensuring the effective cooling of the server room.

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

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.

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.

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

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 or to be placed on the mailing list to receive an electronic copy of our newsletter contact manchester@stmc.co.uk

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