A NEW Manx Government building – Thie Slieau Whallian, the St John’s headquarters of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture – is featured as the cover story of the December issue of Site Recorder.
The feature in the journal of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate, describes the building as ‘unique and prestigious’ and looks at a day in the life of clerk of works Albert Denham, of Port Erin business Erin Building Services Ltd, clerk of works for the construction.
‘It is a real coup for the Isle of Man,’ said Mr Denham. ‘The article mentions the building is accredited “excellent” by BREAM [BRE Environmental Assessment Method, setting out the best practice in environmental design], it is the first building in the island to get “excellent” and one of a few in the UK.
‘It’s a one-off building. It’s as sustainable as possible, it’s timber-framed and uses recycled newspaper for insulation, it has a hemp feature wall. It is quite an innovative building. It was superb to be involved.’
The magazine goes to industry members around the world, so puts the island on the map for sustainable development, he said.
The story followed an unusual route to be featured in the magazine.
‘Part of the magazine covers defects,’ he said. ‘Someone in the Isle of Man sent a photo of a little section of the St John’s building. It annoyed me because it was not finished. This is not a defect, it’s ongoing work.
‘I think somebody was being mischievous. I contacted the magazine and said this was a one-off building and we were proud of it. The editor called and said we would like to feature the building, it is nice looking. To be featured is good for the Isle of Man.’
The feature mentions Erin Building Services, which is also working on projects including Douglas Corporation public sector housing, the demolition and rebuild of three local authority properties in Port Erin, and re-roofing Isle of Man Post Sorting Office.
He said that limited time constraints on some projects didn’t always allow for the level of inspection they’d like.
He said: ‘For example, brick workers can do a lot of bad brick work and the faults can be missed purely because we are not on site. Our job is to make sure they (clients) are getting value for money, that workers are doing the job right. There is a place in Douglas that had no clerk of works, the problems are coming home to roost now. We do feel we are under used. Having us makes everybody’s life easier, we are another pair of eyes on site. People spend thousands of pounds on an extension, we make sure it is done right for a couple of extra hundred pounds, or it goes wrong and they spend thousands on lawyers’ fees.’
- IOMtoday
The feature in the journal of the Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate, describes the building as ‘unique and prestigious’ and looks at a day in the life of clerk of works Albert Denham, of Port Erin business Erin Building Services Ltd, clerk of works for the construction.
‘It is a real coup for the Isle of Man,’ said Mr Denham. ‘The article mentions the building is accredited “excellent” by BREAM [BRE Environmental Assessment Method, setting out the best practice in environmental design], it is the first building in the island to get “excellent” and one of a few in the UK.
‘It’s a one-off building. It’s as sustainable as possible, it’s timber-framed and uses recycled newspaper for insulation, it has a hemp feature wall. It is quite an innovative building. It was superb to be involved.’
The magazine goes to industry members around the world, so puts the island on the map for sustainable development, he said.
The story followed an unusual route to be featured in the magazine.
‘Part of the magazine covers defects,’ he said. ‘Someone in the Isle of Man sent a photo of a little section of the St John’s building. It annoyed me because it was not finished. This is not a defect, it’s ongoing work.
‘I think somebody was being mischievous. I contacted the magazine and said this was a one-off building and we were proud of it. The editor called and said we would like to feature the building, it is nice looking. To be featured is good for the Isle of Man.’
The feature mentions Erin Building Services, which is also working on projects including Douglas Corporation public sector housing, the demolition and rebuild of three local authority properties in Port Erin, and re-roofing Isle of Man Post Sorting Office.
He said that limited time constraints on some projects didn’t always allow for the level of inspection they’d like.
He said: ‘For example, brick workers can do a lot of bad brick work and the faults can be missed purely because we are not on site. Our job is to make sure they (clients) are getting value for money, that workers are doing the job right. There is a place in Douglas that had no clerk of works, the problems are coming home to roost now. We do feel we are under used. Having us makes everybody’s life easier, we are another pair of eyes on site. People spend thousands of pounds on an extension, we make sure it is done right for a couple of extra hundred pounds, or it goes wrong and they spend thousands on lawyers’ fees.’
- IOMtoday
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