Category Archives: EC7

MORE COURSES AVAILABLE IN 2018

Through Surepath Training, we run a wide programme of courses for the construction industry. Full details of all courses running up to the end of 2018 can be seen in our latest calendar.  Selected highlights in the next few months include:

  • Pile Foundations – Principles and Practice on 20 September  LAST CALL
  • Introduction to Health and Safety Law – 9 October
  • Mentoring for Engineering Geologists on Geotechnical Engineering on 11 October
  • Slope Stability – Principles and Practice on 18 October
  • Earthworks – Principles and Practice on 25 October

We also have a programme of courses designed to help candidates prepare for their ICE professional review, which includes the following for the Spring 2019 session:

  • The ICE Professional Review – Preparing for the Written Exercise on 22 November
  • The ICE Professional Review – Overview and Preparation on 4 December
  • Mock interview courses in early 2019 (dates TBC) 

All courses are running in Chesterfield unless stated otherwise on the calendar.  Discounts are available for group bookings or delegates attending more than one course. Please call or email us to reserve your place on a course.

Remember too that all courses can be run bespoke for your company if there are sufficient numbers – just call us to see what we could do for you.

MORE CPD IDEAS

We have a regular section on CPD in the newsletters from Surepath Training, with links to follow-up information.  They are useful for anyone but are especially useful for graduates pursuing professional registration with the ICE.   In the latest newsletter (to be issued shortly) two CPD ideas are provided:

NEC4 – The NEC form of contract was born out of the Latham and Egan reports.  It went on to become the form of contract recommended by the ICE, replacing the ICE 7th Conditions of Contract.  It emphasised a collaborative approach and provided a range of forms for different risk sharing approaches.  NEC3 has now been replaced by NEC4 and graduates sitting their review ought to be aware now of the main changes.  A good starting point may be found here.

Sustainable Development – Some time ago, in 2008, Constructing Excellence “recognised the need for a ‘Plain English Guide to Sustainable Construction’ after a large number of comments from their membership about the lack of clear, concise information on the subject.”  They have produced a useful guide that we recommend graduates read as a starter.  There have been developments since of course, as covered in previous newsletters.

If you want to see other CPD ideas, you can look back at previous newsletters by following this link.

 

DEVELOPMENT OVER A FORMER LANDFILL

We are currently assisting a large developer with their planning and design of a housing scheme on a former landfill in the East Midlands.  The work initially involved critically reviewing designs prepared by others for foundations, highways and drainage, to identify issues and constraints that needed further consideration.  Preparation of an earthworks specification for a thick engineered crust to form the development platform is now underway, with others looking at the piling aspects.

 

ISTRUCTE WELL RECEIVED

About 50 people turned out to hear our Dr Andy Goodwin speak about EC7 at the IStructE Regional Group meeting at University of Sheffield on 16 May 2018.  Entitled “EC7 is Just for Geotechnical Engineers – Isn’t It?”, the talk gave an overview of the drivers behind the ‘new’ code and the principal practical changes from a structural engineering perspective.  The talk seemed too go down well, and it attracted a lengthy Q&A session.   

FLOOD RISK SLOPE DESIGN

We have recently been commissioned by a new client to support them on a large residential development in Yorkshire.  The site lies in a floodplain and the associated drainage attenuation scheme presents significant geotechnical issues.  Problems to be addressed include slope stability in rapid drawdown conditions and potentially de-stabilising groundwater flows.  It promises to be an interesting challenge and we are looking forward to working on it.

If you think we could assist you with similar issues you may be having on a site then please contact Dr Andy Goodwin on 01246 807808.