All posts by MartinDomm

Security is essential on construction sites, protecting the safety of workers, guarding against criminal activity, and ensuring that you meet all relevant health and safety regulations.

Construction site owners/managers have both a legal and moral responsibility to protect the safety of all workers whilst on the premise and having an effective security system in place is vital to achieving this.

Whilst the safety of employees should be the priority of any construction site manager, there are several other reasons why it is important to have a tight, comprehensive security system in place.

Prevent Criminal Activity

Theft and vandalism are a major problem for the construction site industry, with over 20% of UK sites reporting that they are affected by theft on a weekly basis.

Without a powerful intruder prevention system in place, the high value apparatus on your site may be targeted, costing thousands of pounds in replacement and repair costs.

Just some of the attractions of an open construction site to thieves include:

• Materials – Building materials such as copper can be extremely lucrative.
• Equipment – Tools, machinery, vehicles, etc.
• Fuel – Vehicles left on site overnight filled with expensive fuel are a common target of criminal activity.

Being the victim of theft, especially on a semi-regular basis, will not only cost you directly in dealing with the issue but will also have a damaging effect on your reputation, affecting the chance of securing future contracts and shaking stakeholder confidence.

Liability

Since the introduction of the 1984 Occupiers Liability Act, Landowners are not only responsible for the safety of workers on their premises, but also a duty of care for trespassers.

For this reason, it is vital your site has safety precautions in place, and it is impossible for unauthorised individuals to gain access, as any potential injury could come with a substantial cost attached.

Increase Productivity

If workers are content that the risk of being put in danger on your site is low, either from an intruder or as a result of a lack of PPE/faulty equipment, they will be able to concentrate solely on their work without being distracted.

A safe site is a happy site and having a relaxed workforce who are confident that they are protected whilst working on your construction project will help to increase productivity and ensure a high standard of work.

Security methods

What are the most effective security measures that you can put in place to protect a construction site?

CCTV

CCTV is universally used to protect premises from criminal activity and does so extremely effectively.

Installing a CCTV system on your construction site will allow you and your security team to keep an eye on activity across the entire site 24/7.

Mobile CCTV camera acts as a deterrent to many potential intruders who wish to avoid attention, and anyone foolish enough to attempt to access your site will be quickly identified and intercepted using live video surveillance.

CCTV footage can also provide evidence post-incident, helping the police to identify and find the culprit if they escaped undetected and acting as powerful evidence should the case go to court.

Access Control

By having a single point of access to your construction site, manned by trained security guards and fitted with biometric scanners, an ID card-based control system, or similar access control technology, you will be able to keep track of exactly who is on your site at any time, and prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the premises.

Security Guards

Security guards are not only a powerful security measure in their own right, patrolling the site and using their trained eye to spot any signs of suspicious activity, but they will also know exactly how to operate technologies such as CCTV and access control gates.

For major construction projects, SIA accredited security officers really are a must have, and can be combined with canine units to create an even more powerful deterrent to criminals.

Lighting

Ensuring that your construction site is well lit during the night will reduce the number of hiding spots available to intruders, makes your CCTV system much more effective, and assists your security guards when carrying out their duties.

Storage Units

One of the major attractions of construction sites to thieves,is the large quantities of expensive materials left out in the open overnight.

Whilst practicality dictates that all valuable equipment cannot be removed from the site at the end of every working day, having secure storage on the premises can significantly reduce the attractiveness to intruders and reduce the chances of losing expensive assets to vandalism and theft.

Shipping containers are an excellent cost-effective storage method that can easily be removed from the site after the project is complete and will keep valuables out of sight under lock and key when not in use.

Hot tubs are becoming more and more popular in Scotland, and to meet this demand there are now many different impressive home spa options on the market.

Knowing where to start can be daunting, especially for a first-time buyer, so we have put together this useful hot tub buying guide to give you all the information you need to help select the best possible home spa for your relaxation needs.

What to look for in a hot tub

When beginning your hot tub search there are several factors that should be considered to help you narrow down your search.

These include:

• The size of the tub you require
• The depth
• What additional extras you would like – Bluetooth speakers, lighting, massage nozzles, etc.
• The filtration system

By having a better idea of exactly what features you would like in your home spa, and some general practical requirements, you will be able to eliminate many possible hot tub models from your search.

However, there will still be plenty of options for you to choose from with many different Hot Tubs for Sale Scotland available that will be suitable for your bespoke requirements.

Types of hot tub

In order to give you a better idea of which hot tub would be most suitable for you, we’ve created a guide to some of the most common home spa types.

Inflatable Hot Tubs

Inflatable hot tubs are the most affordable hot tub option on the market starting at just £300 and typically seat around 2-4 people.

The main attraction of inflatable tubs, besides the price tag, is the convenience they offer, as unlike more sturdy tubs they can be blown up, taken down, and moved from place to place throughout the year to suit your requirements.

This also means that you don’t have to give up a section of your outdoor space to a hot tub on a permanent basis.

However, this flexibility and affordability does not come without limitations.

Inflatable hot tubs have extremely limited insulation compared to more sturdy options, meaning they lose heat at a rapid rate and are generally much more expensive to run as a result.

They also tend to be much less durable and whilst you may initially save money on your purchase you will have to replace an inflatable hot tub much sooner than other home spa options.

Hard-shell Hot Tubs

Hard-shell hot tubs are a more traditional hut tub option with a hard base made of plastic, acrylic, or wood; an internal heating system; and in-built massage jets.

These tubs tend to be highly customisable with a range of additional extras available such as WiFi and sound systems, allowing you to design the perfect tub for your needs.

Hard-Shell hot tubs offer excellent comfort, with some models seating as many as 8 people, are well-insulated, and can be fitted with energy saving covers to maximise energy efficiency.

They also tend to last much longer than portable tubs and thanks to advancements in technology require very little ongoing maintenance with self-cleaning clean water filtration built in.

The main drawback to hard shell hot tubs is that they can be quite expensive, depending on the additional features you are looking for with models ranging from around £3000-£15000.

In-Ground Hot Tubs

More commonly referred to as a spa, in-ground hot tubs are custom designs created to suit for the needs of each buyer and will be built specifically to your design specifications.

One of the great things about in-ground hot tubs is that they are much more low-profile and less extrusive than free standing options.

The bespoke nature of in-ground hot tubs means that they tend to be the most expensive home spa option with models starting at £6000.

Hot Tub Features

Deciding which of the many special hot tub accessories that you would like included in your tub is important to consider before deciding which hot tub to go for.

Some of the most popular features to have on a home hot tub are:

Bluetooth Audio

Many hot tubs have in-built Bluetooth audio system that can be linked to your mobile device to create the perfect mood when taking a soak.

LED Lights

LED lighting allows you to customise the look of your spa to suit the occasion, creating the ideal ambience for the occasion, whether you are hosting a garden party or planning a romantic night in.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a more premium hot tub feature that introduces aromas into the hot tub water through the air massage circuit.

Massage Jets

The vast majority of hot tubs will come equipped with water jets as standard but if you are looking to maximise the muscle recovery and relaxation effects of your tub it may be worth opting for a model with a relax impact system built in.

These systems will include an additional massage pump that produces a relaxing and stimulating effect by driving air bubbles into the leg area.

Deciding between gas and electric heating can be a difficult decision with the ever increasing quality of electric radiators convincing many UK homeowners to make the switch from a traditional boiler.

Some people dismiss the idea of electric heating because of a negative perception of portable electric heaters and storage heaters which have traditionally been significantly outperformed by more efficient boilers.

However, advances in technology in recent years and the soaring price of gas in the UK has made modern electric radiators appear a much more attractive option and more and more people are making the switch as a result.

At Greener Energy Group, our market leading electric radiators are incredibly energy efficient, outperforming even the most efficient of gas boilers, are designed in a stylish and modern way, and can be installed in an instant by our expert technicians.

Deciding upon the most suitable heating system for your home is a big decision and you will have to deal with whatever choice you make for many years to come so it is vital that you are in possession of all the facts before committing.

For that reason, we have put together this guide to the top benefits of choosing electric radiators over a traditional gas boiler.

4 Advantages of Electric Radiators over Gas Central Heating

1. Energy Efficiency

The energy efficiency of electric heating is perhaps the main advantage that is turning so many people away from traditional gas boilers.

For every single unit of electric energy that is consumed by your electric radiator, one unit of heat energy will be produced, meaning that they can achieve an impressive 100% efficiency rate.

Even a brand new top-of-the-range combi gas boiler will only be able to achieve around 94% efficiency.

Gas heating systems lose additional heat energy in a number of ways besides the generation process itself, including heat leaking out into cavity space within walls at the hot water is transported through your home’s pipe system.

With an electric system, all your radiators will be able to operate on their own so only the energy that needs to be used will be consumed, maximising your value for money.

2. Lower Carbon Footprint

Gas home heating is a major contributing factor to the UK’s total carbon emissions output.

In fact, estimates suggest that as much as 35% of the total emissions produced in the country are as a result of home and industrial heating.

Electric heating systems themselves produce absolutely 0 emissions, contributing significantly to reducing your own personal carbon footprint and assisting with the global effort to tackle the current climate emergency.

Electricity itself does produce some emissions to generate so is not completely clean, as is the case with some renewable energy sources such as solar panels, but nowhere near as much as gas.

Overall electricity is MUCH more sustainable than gas, with over 40% of mains electricity produced being from renewable sources.

This means that when you install an electric heating system you will not only be helping to save your wallet but also the planet.

3. Ongoing Costs

Increased energy efficiency is only one area in which electric heating systems can save you money.

Installing a boiler is hugely expensive when compared to electric radiators, especially if all the internal piping systems and radiators need to be put in place.

Installing a gas boiler in a home that has never had one before can cost anywhere between £3000-5000 plus an insurance cost of around £100 per year.

4. Easy Installation

Electric heating Glasgow can be installed in no time at all, and require very little expertise to put in place, with many radiators coming with their own DIY installation guide.

There are no pipes to connect to a central boiler, no structural changes or planning required, simply install the wall attachment bracket, pug into the wall socket, and away you go.

If you do choose to have a professional put your radiators in place, they will have the job done in a matter of moments, a far less intrusive job than the several weeks it can take to put brand new gas central heating in place.

Contact Greener Energy Group

At Greener Energy Group we offer industry leading German Electric Heating systems to customers across Scotland.

All our installations are conducted with no fuss by our 1^st class installers with smart technology allowing for ultimate customisation and control.

Our 10 year warranty means that any repairs or ongoing maintenance will not cost you a penny and our sales team will be on hand all the way for any questions that you may have.

For more information or to arrange a free survey, call us today on 03335 77 66 99.