It’s time for some training and updating of my qualifications, so this week I completed a 3 day First Aid at Work (FAW) course and next week I have booked myself on a 5 day Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) course. Add to this my recently updated CSCS managers card and my Health & Safety credentials are fully compliant with the health and safety laws.
There is not one type of resin floor that suits every project.
Client’s need to be careful of the sales people who offer the same solution for every floor.
We offer independent advice, free of influence from manufacturers, contractors or hammers.
A Merry Christmas to all of my friends, colleagues and partners.
This year I have decided not to send Christmas cards and instead I am making a donation to The Butterfly Group which is a charity dedicated to those with autoimmune disease and immune disorders.
If you would like to find out more about the organisation their website is here.
I expect that I will quite often be asked to help clients and colleagues when their projects or resin floors are experiencing difficulties. That certainly has been the way things have transpired throughout my working life.
As an external consultant it is during these difficult times that people look for support and I’m always glad to be able to help out, in fact it is in my DNA.
The name McIntyre comes from the Irish (or Scottish) Mac An T-Saoir, which means the son of a craftsman or freeman. The Scottish branch of the family even have their own tartan and also their own family motto, which is ‘Per Ardua’, which translates from Latin to ‘through difficulties’.
So if you need any help to get you through difficulties, who better to ask than the McIntyre Consultancy.
McIntyre Clan Crest
At a time of decreasing margins it is necessary for specialist flooring contractors to maximise the revenue from their resin flooring projects.
Just about every construction project has variations and it is imperative on specialist flooring contractors to ensure that they get paid their full entitlement.
A contract should have a mechanism for pricing variations, normally it will direct specialist flooring contractors to price the variations at the rates in the Bills of Quantities, where appropriate.
It is the “where appropriate” which is important. The contract is the starting point in deciding if the Bills of Quantities are appropriate for pricing purposes. The JCT contracts state that the contract rates should only be applied, when the work described in the variation when compared with the work described in the contract, is of a similar character, the conditions under which the work is carried out are the same, and there are no significant change in quantities.
This is not a black and white situation, for example a resin floor installed on an open floor space is not the same as a resin floor installed in a staircase area or a confined space.
Undertaking work in an environment with heat, light and controlled conditions cannot be regarded as the same conditions as working in an area with no temperature control or permanent lighting.
Also a significant change in quantities can affect the unit price.
If the variation causes delay, then the delay costs are also recoverable.
However, it is important that specialist flooring contractors are prompt in
Variations are often not valued until long after the issue, this has the effect of delays in payment or even worse the avoidance of payment for the work. When the valuation of variations is left until the end of a contract it inevitably results in claims, counterclaims and protracted arguments.
No one likes surprises at the end of the contract so, prompt and accurate information from specialist flooring contractors is essential. This is why good records and close monitoring of a project is not a luxury, but should be an essential part of every specialist flooring contractors’ operations.
My membership has been approved and I am now an Associate Consultant member of FeRFA (the Resin Flooring Association), which represents the leading manufacturers, contractors and associated companies involved in the resin flooring industry.
I will be at their AGM this Friday and I’m looking forward to meeting with some old and new colleagues.
A selection of photos taken from the installation of a conductive resin floor in Norway.
More photos of the installation of the conductive resin floor can be seen by following this link
I am currently managing a project in the beautiful surroundings of Bergen, Norway, and we have to install 1,500m2 of a self levelling resin flooring system. A relatively straightforward installation except this is not just any resin floor it is an ESD / conductive resin floor. Which got me thinking…
Why do clients install ESD / conductive resin floor systems ?
First some basics…
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is defined as the transfer of electrostatic charge between objects at different electrostatic potentials caused by direct contact or induced by an electrostatic field. Electrostatic discharge is most commonly created by the contact and separation, or friction, of two similar or dissimilar materials. Basically it is all about the balance, or imbalance, of electrons on the surface of each material. The electrons will try and reach equilibrium by transferring from one surface to the other creating an electrostatic discharge.
Insulators are materials with high resistance that restrict or prevent the flow of electrons across or through itself.
Conductors are materials with low resistance that easily allow the flow of electrons across it or through it’s material.
Concrete itself is a natural conductor and will dissipate any electrostatic charges (ESD) on the surface. However, once a resin flooring system is applied to the surface it will act as an insulator. So to get the many benefits of resin flooring, but maintain or improve the conductivity of the wearing surface calls for specialist conductive resin floor systems. OR in layman terms we have to make a flooring system that is essentially an insulator, conductive.
So going back to my original question, why do client’s install conductive resin floor systems ?
So it is an issue that can have an adverse affect on productivity, quality control, profitability and safety.
What are the different types of conductive resin floor systems ?
Static dissipative resin floor
Static dissipative resin flooring generally is defined as having a resistance of 10 6 – 10 9 ohms. They can drain off a 5,000 volt charge to zero in less than 0.2 seconds.
Static dissipative resin floor systems have greater resistance to electric current flow than conductive resin floor systems. At facilities where electronic components are manufactured or assembled, a static dissipative resin floor can be installed so that a static charge can be gradually transferred to ground. This will protect operatives from an electric shock while at the same time protecting sensitive electronic equipment.
Conductive resin floor
Conductive resin flooring generally is defined as having and electrical resistance of less than 1.0 x 106 Ω (I million ohms). They can drain a 5,000 volt charge to zero in 0.05 seconds.
A conductive resin floor system has a much lower electrical resistance than a static dissipative resin floor. It will carry a static charge to a grounding point quickly and efficiently and prevent the risk of accidental discharge and ignition. If the floor is too conductive, an operative on the floor could suffer electrical shock.
Conductive resin floor (Spark Proof)
The same qualities as above, but with the added benefit of being completely spark proof. So if tools or equipment are dropped on to the floor they will not cause a spark which could lead to ignition.
The floor in Norway is a static dissipative resin floor for an electronics manufacturing facility and regardless of all the usual issues that we face on resin flooring installations, the most important factor will be ensuring we fulfil the ESD performance requirements.
I’ll post some photos as we make progress with the project.
I am undertaking my first independent project management assignment in Norway this week. An ESD / Conductive resin floor, I will post some information about it later, but for now enjoy the photo… it is proper cold out here !
Frozen Lake