RIBA Plan of Work 2020

RISE-Design-Studio-Burrows-Road-Glazed-Envelope Architects like most professions welcome industry led guidelines and approaches to inform and improve their work both for their clients, collaborators, and their own progression. The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 is a guidance document set out by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and is seen as the definitive design and process management tool for the UK construction industry. First established in 1963 to provide a framework for architects to use on client projects to bring greater clarity to each stage of the process, it has evolved over the years to become an industry wide tool. To reflect the changing approaches to building design, construction and use, and the associated advances in digital technology, increased ethics awareness, and the prioritisation of sustainable outcomes in line with the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, it received its biggest overhaul in 2020. In this article we examine the eight stages of the RIBA Plan of Work 2020. We look at how this formal roadmap, whilst not a contractual document provides vital guidance and helps to deliver successful outcomes for stakeholders by informing the briefing, design, construction, handover, and use of a building. Each of the eight key stages has an expected outcome; core tasks; core statutory processes in relation to planning and building processes; and crucial information exchanges, all of which impact the success of the next stage. RIBA-plan-of-work-2020-RISE-Design-Studio Stage Zero – Strategic Definition ‘What do you want to achieve from your building project, and what are your best options?’ This stage is not about design or practical details, but rather a chance for us to get to know the client, developing their requirements and helping shape the business case to achieve them. At this stage all those involved in the client team, alongside ourselves and any other professional advisors must consider that the proposed building project is the appropriate means to meet the client’s stated objectives, and then determine the best way forward. For example, perhaps a new building is not the answer, and the solution could be refurbishment or an extension. To come to a decision, information is gathered for each option. This involves examining previous similar projects, the current building if applicable, analysis of project risk (where appropriate site appraisals and surveys carried out), and consideration of project budgets. We will look at the size, location, scope, and special considerations around the clients’ needs to further refine the vision. From this exercise a recommendation is made on the best option, and a business case is completed. RISE-Design-Studio-Cecilia-Road Stage One – Preparation and Briefing ‘Developing the initial project brief and setting out the timescales – the official start of the project’ Once it has been determined that the chosen project and site is the best way forward, stage one, is the process of preparing a comprehensive project brief and choosing the collaborative project team, allocating specific roles and responsibilities. The project team will include:

Design team – headed up by Lead Designer and overseeing the design programme – Client team – headed up by Project Manager and overseeing the project programme – Construction team – headed up by Project Director and overseeing the construction programme

Feasibility studies and site surveys may be required at this stage to test the brief against the chosen site and budget i.e. are there any access issues? Is it a sloping site? What is the spatial overview and relationships with neighbouring buildings? This is often the time for us to discuss options regarding the site with the local planning authority and make sure there are no constraints. We like to establish clear and positive communication with these departments from the outset. Discussions around building regulations and other legal requirements should happen at this stage including whether the site is within a listed buildings or conservation area It is at this point that objectives are finalised and recorded under:

– Project Outcomes – Sustainability Outcomes – Quality Aspirations – Spatial Requirements

Working with the client, we will at the end of this stage, produce a timescale for the project as well as a project execution plan setting out delivery. RISE-Design-Studio-Casa-Plywood Stage Two – Concept Design ‘The design stages begin and the architectural concept is defined ‘ Stage two begins the core design process which culminates at stage four. We work closely at this stage with the client to produce visualisations, 3D models, and drawings of the architectural concept, ensuring it meets their needs and is aligned to the project brief and cost plan. As well as a visual representation of the building with sections and elevations and how it sits within the surrounding environment, these will often include:

– Interior and exterior renders – Landscaping – Specific requests – Strategic engineering requirements

There is as the RIBA states ‘no right or wrong approach’ at this point, it is our initial design response to the brief and will involve regular meetings, discussions and reviews with the client and specialist stakeholders including planners and those across structural and civil engineering, to shape and define it. The robust architectural concept along with the project brief and cost plan are signed off at the end of this stage. RISE-Design-Studio-Douglas-House Stage Three – Spatial Co-ordination ‘The co-ordinated design takes form.’ Formerly the developed design stage, here our team draw up the client approved design in CAD or ever increasingly with BIM, and develop and test it alongside detailed structural design, outline specifications, building services and cost analysis to ensure its viability. Our design will incorporate the practical elements relating to:

– Window, door, stairway, and fire exit locations – Fixtures, fittings – Proposed materials – Load bearing mechanical information – Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical considerations – Tech and security – Green, eco and solar

During this stage, or certainly at the end the design is finalised into a single model, not prone to change, and planning applications are ready for submission incorporating all our detailed drawings and reports. RIBA Plan of Work RISE Design Studio Stage Four – Technical Design ‘Final design stage before construction begins’ We make further refinements of the existing design at this stage, incorporating where relevant detail from specialist sub-contractors such as lighting specialists, kitchen designers or glazing companies. From this our Lead Architect prepares comprehensive drawings, specifications, and documents for tender. The level of detail will depend on the size and scope of the project but by the end of this stage all elements will be prescriptive rather than descriptive for the project to be manufactured and built, i.e., they set out detailed descriptions around the following:

– Requirements relating to regulations and standards – The specific types of products and materials required – The methods of delivery and installation – The building systems in place i.e., flooring, partitions, mechanical and structural

At the end of this stage all information required to construct the project is completed and we send out the tender to 3-4 contractors we have worked with before. Of course, should the client want to add to the list we will do so. RISE-Design-Studio-Doulgas-House2 (1) Stage Five – Manufacturing and Construction ‘All systems go…construction begins’ The design process is now complete and the appointed contractor takes possession of the site to carry out works as per the schedule of works and building contract. This includes manufacturing off-site and construction on-site. Stage four and stage five can overlap or run concurrently dependent on the size and scope of the project, or when the contractor was appointed. The client can choose to appoint us as the contract administrator at this point should they wish. In this role we act as the middle ground between the client and the contractor to ensure that all works are being done in accordance with finalised drawings and specifications. This can entail:

– Chairing construction progress meetings – Preparing and issuing construction progress reports – Co-ordinating site inspections – Dealing with site queries – Agree reporting procedures for defects – Issuing project documentation to the client – Issuing certificates of completion

If appointed, we like to meet weekly with the client and the relevant parties to ensure that everything is running smoothly. The appointment of Building control by the client should take place, to oversee the project and ensure that all is in order in relation to the necessary construction standards. Health and Safety inspectors will review and observe the site at this stage, so it is worth considering an independent consultant to ensure that all the correct procedures are followed. RISE-Design-Studio-The-Bunker Stage Six – Handover ‘The completed building is finished and handed over’ After practical completion, the building is ready for hand over to the client, and the building contract concludes. Feedback and building aftercare exercises take place during this stage to act as future learnings for ourselves, the client, contractor, and consultants, and to address any issues relating to the integrity of the building. These involve light touch post occupancy evaluation and snagging processes, whereby the client compiles a list of defects or incomplete works, overseen by us as the contracts administrator and presented to the contractor to rectify. They then have an agreed Defect Liability Period, usually six to twelve months to address these, after which if all has been made good, building control will sign off the construction and we will sign off the project as a whole. We then issue a final certificate, and this stage is complete. RISE-Design-Studio-Burrows-Road-Glazed-Envelope2 Stage Seven – Use ‘The vision for the building is realised and it is now in use’ This stage starts concurrently with stage six. The building is now occupied and in use. On most projects, our design team will have no duties to fulfil here. However, the incorporation of this stage into the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 gives the client the opportunity to get in touch with us if they require general advice relating to maintenance, energy consumption or management of the facilities. We welcome this communication as we love to hear how the client is finding their new building, and it also allows for effective aftercare, valuable feedback, and building monitoring especially around energy consumption, and is therefore key to the sustainability strategy. The addition of this feedback stage has made the Plan of Work cyclical as it unites the entire process into one, allowing for proper use of the building and then when demands change, and the building reaches an end of life where refurbishment or a new building may be needed, stage zero starts again. Embarking on a design and build project can often be a complex one for all involved, for a client it can be daunting. The RIBA Plan of Work 2020 offers all stakeholders a clear approach to map out the journey collaboratively from vision, through to design, construction and eventual use. At RISE Design Studios, we find that this straightforward process with realistic and measurable targets, the ability to review progress and a provision for valuable learnings allows for enhanced clarity, greater realisation of vision, and successful outcomes no matter the diversity of projects. For more information on the RIBA Plan of Work 2020 visit RIBA Plan of Work (architecture.com) If you would like to talk through your project with the team, please do get in touch at mail@risedesignstudio.co.uk or give us a call on 020 3290 1003.

RISE Design Studio Architects company reg no: 08129708 VAT no: GB158316403 © RISE Design Studio. Trading since 2011.

What can be done about the global sand shortage?

 

It may come as a surprise to learn that sand is the most exploited resource after water. Globally, we extract around 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel every year and the United Nations is calling for increased monitoring of extraction and supply chains. We use sand in a very wide range of products, from toothpaste to paint, cosmetics to ceramics. Even in the glass in the screen you reading this on. In particular, huge quantities of sand are used in the construction industry, most commonly in the production of concrete.

Global sand crisis RISE Design Studio

Powering our infrastructure

Sand extraction is predominantly driven by demand for building and infrastructure projects. The industry generally requires river sand, which retains its sharper edges – beach and desert sand is of no use as it has been worn by the sea or wind, which makes it too smooth to function as an aggregate.

Building a single home can require around 200 tonnes of sand to manufacture the required concrete. With increasing global demand for housing, it is therefore unsurprising that several countries have significantly reduced the available supply of river sand. This has sparked a concerning new geopolitical situation, whereby there is substantial illegal trade of river sand. This is underpinned by dredging or mining for sand from poorer countries and then illegally selling this to countries with a shortage of supply.

What can be done?

A recent United Nations report calls for an international standard on extraction. With the global population predicted to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, and 70% of people expected to live in urban areas, the demand for sand is not likely to slow down. Countries need to wake up to the negative impacts sand extraction has on biodiversity, which means a fundamental shift in how we think about and value sand.

Making changes will be particularly challenging in the context of construction-led post-Covid recovery, which is a driving rhetoric in many countries. There are calls to implement wide-reaching standards that are enforced by agencies. These will require supply chain monitoring and scrutiny of links between governments, industry and other interests. Countries can also try to avoid surplus construction projects, plan more compact urban growth, employ green infrastructure, and design policy to make it easier for buildings to be retrofitted.

What role do architects have to play?

Making these wide-reaching changes will not be easy but architects have a role to play in helping to raise awareness and shift the mindset. First and foremost, they can demand that building materials can either be replaced or reused. In practice, this might mean greater use of materials such as wood, or exploring options like recycled steel or other elements that make up the circular economy. A focus on retrofitting existing buildings, rather than demolishing and rebuilding, would also have a significant impact on the amount of sand required in the overall material input.

 

What is the difference between Passivhaus and BREEAM?

 

At a time when energy prices are rising, it is helpful to know about options in the home for reducing energy consumption. From an architectural and design point of view, this equates to much more than having a shorter shower or reducing the time the heating is turned on. Today, there are several ways to deliver a high standard in energy-efficient construction, using well-developed design principles and sustainability assessment methods. We work with two approaches in particular – Passive House and BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method).

RISE Design Studio Passive House London

Passive House – Energy savings of up to 90%

In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the benefits of a Passive House (or Passivhaus). This is a construction concept that dramatically reduces the need for space heating/cooling and primary energy consumption, while at the same time creating good, healthy indoor air quality. In Europe, a Passive House generally uses as little as 10% of the energy used by a typical building, or 25% when compared with the average new build designed for low energy consumption.

A Passive House relies on energy sources from inside the building, such as body heat, light bulbs, heat from the sun, or heat from indoor appliances to create a comfortable and healthy living environment. A mechanical heat recovery ventilation system is used to enable fresh air to enter the building without letting heat out, and allows heat contained in exhaust air to be reused.

For a building to achieve the Passive House standard, there is strong focus on energy conservation, particularly via insulation, air tightness and optimal glazing.  It is quite a simple approach and checking the design and build against the standard is straightforward.

BREEAM – thinking about carbon emissions

Although more complex to apply in practice, the BREEAM standard is concerned with more than energy conservation. The standard takes into account carbon emissions as well as energy consumption, and is more holistic than the Passive House approach. BREEAM considers the environment/infrastructure surrounding the house – good management, water consumption, biodiversity, transport, pollution, waste management, etc.

This broad-reaching approach allows careful master planning of projects, infrastructure and buildings, which is increasingly important in areas where pressure for housing development is high. BREEAM ratings focus particularly on the reduction of carbon emissions, low impact design, biodiversity protection and climate change adaptation, allowing the client or other stakeholders to compare building performance. To date, an ‘Outstanding’ BREEAM rating has been awarded to less than 1% of new non-domestic buildings in the UK and serves to inspire developers and others to improve, innovate and make effective use of resources.

Sustainability assessment at RISE Design Studio

We regularly work with both the Passive House and BREEAM standards, on both new build and retrofit projects. Our recent work that follows Passive House principles of sustainable design has incorporated the use of air source heat pumps, solar panels, airtightness, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, and additional insulation.

The focus on sustainable value and efficiency makes Passive House and BREEAM certified projects a worthwhile investment, not least for creating a healthy home or work environment with reduced operational costs, and contributing to sustainability both within and outside the home.

Working towards a Net Zero London

 

Earlier this month, New London Architecture (NLA) published a report on ‘Zero Carbon London‘. Part of NLA’s Net Zero programme (#NLANetZero), the report provides new insight into progress in the built environment profession in the fight against climate change. It is based on results of a survey of over 100 London-based companies in the sector and points out some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for the city to get to Net Zero. In this post, we pull out some of the key points that ring particularly true for our firm.

Net Zero London RISE Design Studio

What is Net Zero London?

‘Net zero carbon’ is often used as a proxy for the six greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide is the most common of these. ‘Net’ refers to the sum of carbon emissions and carbon offsetting/sequestration (e.g. via absorption of carbon dioxide because of new woodland creation) being equal to zero. It is now widely-proven that climate change is caused by the increased concentration of greenhouse gases emitted in the atmosphere from human activities. This leads to an increase in global temperatures (global warming). Reducing the emissions of man-made greenhouse gases is therefore vital for tackling the climate emergency, and this is why ‘net zero carbon’ is so important.

For cities, which account for over 70% of global emissions and consume over two thirds of the world’s energy, reaching net zero is urgent. London has been one of the first global cities to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 – the Greater London Authority has a plan to achieve this ambitious aim. 27 of the 32 London Boroughs and City of London have so far declared a climate emergency. London is also one of the major global cities that has signed the C40 Net Zero Carbon Buildings Declaration, committing to ensure that all new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030 (and all existing buildings at net zero carbon by 2050).

Achieving net zero in construction

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) explains net zero in construction as ‘when the amount of carbon emissions associated with a building’s product and construction stages up to practical completion is zero or negative, through the use of offsets or the net export of on-site renewable energy’. A net zero carbon building tends to be highly energy efficient and powered from on- or off-site renewable sources, with any remaining carbon balance offset.

There are plenty of exciting initiatives and projects being undertaken by public authorities and the private sector: from a citizens’ assembly facilitated by Camden Council to come up with recommendations for zero carbon homes, to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge that sets out the actions that chartered practice like RISE Design Studio will need to take.

More to be done

The NLA survey highlighted good progress in the sector. First, the vast majority of those who took part have signed up to one of the industry pledges such as Architects Declare (we have signed up). Second, those in the industry generally feel that they have the skills to address climate issues.

However, those who completed the survey feel that the biggest barriers to positive change are regulation and finance. The lack of green finance is a critical barrier for the London Boroughs to implement and achieve their targets. For organisations like ours, the current policy frameworks are not effective and act as a barrier for implementing measures that will get us to net zero. For example, a recent government consultation on banning the use of combustible materials in buildings suggests that a lack of joined-up thinking remains an issue – timber plays a very important role in decarbonsing construction.

The Covid-19 lockdown between March and May 2020 demonstrated that it is possible to reduce emissions and address behaviour change in a short time – carbon emissions in London dropped by 60%. But, the challenge is to achieve this reduction at the same time as people living their lives freely.

There is strong optimism in the sector that there is now an opportunity to transform our way of life and act in a more environmentally-conscious way. The upcoming inauguration of a US President who ran on a manifesto of clean energy and net zero no later than 2050 is also encouraging, particularly if he manages to rally the rest of the world (and our Prime Minister) to take the same steps.

Exploring Chailey Brick Factory

 

We recently attended a CPD tour organised by RIBA to the Ibstock brick factory in Chailey, near Lewes in Sussex. It was fascinating to see process of traditional stock brick manufacturing in one of the last remaining clamp-firing factories in Europe. We highly recommend a trip to the factory if you’re looking to source traditional stock bricks. This short post tells you a bit more about what we learned on our visit.

chailey-bricks

History

Clay products have been manufactured in Chailey for over 300 years, making it one of the oldest factories still in production in the UK. Its product range has changed over time and it now produces high quality, clamp-fired stock bricks and pavers with a range of colours and textures which give a unique charm. Bricks are known for being made in Chailey since the early 17th century. The current factory was built in 1946 in order to take advantage of modern production processes and the post-war building boom. The current owner, Ibstock Brick, acquired the site in 1996.

Making the bricks

At Chailey, weald clay is extracted from an onsite quarry behind the factory during the summer months. There are three different seams of clay in the quarry, all with different drying and firing characteristics. Clay is dug from a stockpile each day and fed into the factory, delivering a set amount of clay each hour. Clay is mixed with sand and pulverised fly ash, which help with the drying process, and with a blend of coke breezes, which is the fuel that fires the bricks. All the material is fed into a wet pan, where it is mixed and ground together and water is added. The material is forced through grids in the floor of the wet pan and onto a conveyor, after which it falls between two counter-rotating drums, with a gap of only 3mm between them. This is so that a small but consistent grade size is achieved.

The material is then mixed in a double-shafted mixer where two shafts churn the mix to ensure and smooth and workable consistency. The mix is then taken to a kettle where it is stored before being turned into bricks in a molding machine which is capable of making 12,000 bricks per hour. The excess clay is struck off before a palette is dropped onto the bottom of the bricks. Bricks are piled in stillages which are then put into the driers, where the bricks are dried over a 23 hour period. There are five dryers and each one holds 24,192 bricks. The temperature in the driers is slowly increased up to 110 degrees and approximately 17 tonnes of water is removed from the bricks.

The clamp

A clamp is ‘a carefully constructed stack of bricks’ in a large shed similar to a cowshed. Before going to the clamp, the dried bricks are inspected for defects and stacked into piles of 780 bricks (weighing 1.8 tonnes). These bricks are then laid on the floor of the clamp by hand by a setting team. Fire holes are built into the clamp before all the bricks are laid on top and the clamp is then covered in refractory insulation bricks and casing bricks which help to insulate the clamp during the firing process. Each clamp holds between 750,000 and 800,000 bricks and takes three weeks to build.

brick-clamp

Gas burners are used to ignite the fuel which was mixed into the body of the bricks during the clay preparation process. The bricks fire at over 1000 degrees centigrade and only start to cool down when all of the fuel has burnt out. The entire firing cycle takes three weeks. When the bricks have cooled sufficiently, the bricks are packed up by hand onto pallets by an eight man team. There is a strict sorting code and the bricks are sorted according to their quality and colour and then hand sorted into packs of 370 bricks. It takes approximately two weeks for the team to pack up a clamp.

clamp-full

The bricks

Chailey manufactures its range of distinctive bricks in both 65mm and 50 mm sizes and any of the bricks can be blended to create products to match up to existing brick work. Or, bespoke blends of bricks can be created. You can read more about the bricks made at Chailey on the Ibstock Brick website.