Showing posts with label Buildings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buildings. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Rubber Flooring: The New Trend in Commercial Buildings

Rubber Flooring - An Emerging Trend in Commercial Buildings
When discussing types of flooring options for commercial buildings, one material that has started gaining attention is rubber. This flooring product is not only safe, durable, aesthetically pleasing but also serves a practical purpose.

Knowing the benefits of this product will prepare you for your flooring makeover. To help you make an informed decision, ProjectLink has listed out a few of them:

  1. Strength
  2. Static Resistant and Sound Absorbency
  3. Anti-Slip
  4. Dimensional Stability
  5. Water Resistant
  6. Longer Lasting
  7. Resistant to Impact
  8. Resistant to Burns and Spills
  9. Stain-Resistant
  10. Homogenous

Pertaining to the easy installation, this flooring is high in demand. It finds its use in schools, gym, hospitals and other commercial areas. The properties that rubber flooring tiles and mats have, make it the best choice to be used as a flooring option in such buildings. Rubber flooring is also being used in cafeterias and commercial kitchens as it offers non-absorbent and anti-slip properties. These can also be installed successfully in restrooms, below-grade basements and garages.

Rubber flooring does not encourage the growth of molds and fungi easily. However, in a couple of years, it requires cleaning and maintenance in such areas. As a whole, it proves to be a useful flooring option.

Though all types of flooring share some characteristics, what sets rubber flooring apart is what you really need to know »


Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Kitchen Design Trends Which are Going to Rule the Market in 2018

Latest kitchen design trends which are going to rule the market in 2018Looking for new and unique ideas to design or renovate your kitchen spaces? Have you been going through blogs and magazines looking for ideas? Before you put the shovel to the ground, go through our top trends list.

  1. Smart and Open Kitchen
  2. Quartz Countertops
  3. Storage Solutions
  4. Flooring
  5. New Age Appliances
  6. All-purpose Kitchen Islands
Simple clean designs and open spaces are what homeowners are opting these days. In order to give a large, ventilated space, upper wall cabinets are no longer preferred. Kitchen islands are handling various cooking requirements. Hardwood and metal or both are adding unique design touch to kitchen giving it a rustic as well modern industrial look. Customized tiles, hardwood flooring, dark, grey colors will be popular. Kitchen furniture such as floating shelves, bar stools, wooden ceilings are all in trend. Lighting is a crucial aspect and smart and app oriented lighting are taking place.

These are some of the trends and design concepts which will be trending in the coming year. One can opt for them to add better aesthetics, convenience, and functionality to their kitchen spaces.

Click here to know more about these emerging trends »



Saturday, January 6, 2018

Ideas for Sustainable Home Renovations

What is Sustainable Renovation?

12 sustainable trends for home remodelling and designThere is a lot of buzz these days related to sustainable renovations. Sustainable renovation is the art of planning the dimensions of your house in such a manner so as to maximize the goal of energy savings and utilizing natural energy resources to an optimum level.

Why Sustainable Renovation?

Renovations is one the best opportunities to switch to sustainable and play your part in environment conservation. Opting for a sustainable renovation is one of those major steps that reduces a negative impact on the environment.

There is never a better time to go green. With lots of advanced eco-friendly techniques and consultants well-versed with energy efficient designs you can save big on energy bills.

Want to upgrade your current house with sustainable renovations - without stressing on your pockets? Then, you have landed at the right place. The ideas listed in this infographic will not only lighten your environmental footprint but will help you create a more livable and healthier home.

These eco-friendly techniques will help you have an affordable and hassle-free home remodel that you can be really proud of!

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Understanding Hot Water Technologies for Commercial Buildings

Tips for choosing and installing commercial water heaters in your buildingWhile planning or renovating building services, clean inlets for hot water are now a must. If the building hosts restaurants, dining areas or facilities like hotel rooms, one must keep in mind that hot water is essential.

Of course, when installing hot water systems in commercial buildings, the planning and management will never be as easy as a simple water geyser.

Reliability and regulation play a key factor in commercial setups so it’s important to know what you are getting into.

Commercial water heaters can be a major pain point in your business when equipment malfunctions. Similar to the heating and air-conditioning, water heaters may also become the source of major expenses, with energy consumption increasing your utility bills or equipment needing frequent repairs.

Consider these essential tips for choosing and installing commercial water heaters in your building.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Emerging Design Trends in Healthcare Facilities

Emerging trends in health facility planning, design and constructionHealthcare service delivery is a fascinating and challenging industry. The work is driven by many variables including a growing population, ageing demographic, frequently changing Medicare reimbursement and other co-funding models as well as a fast pace of technological advancements in medicine and medical devices.

Construction of hospitals, medical precincts, and facilities has become extremely challenging in these times. It is important for capital project administrators, architects and construction professionals to recognize changing trends and take the necessary shift in thinking about the healthcare infrastructure and project delivery.

In this blog, we have discussed a few trends in hospital industry and some basic things to keep in mind if you are venturing into design and construction of healthcare facilities.

  1. Microhospitals
  2. Modernization of the ED
  3. Infection Control
  4. The Medical Village
  5. Behavioral Health
Curious to discover more about them in detail? Check out the latest article on ProjectLink.com.au now...

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Tips for Choosing the Right Commercial Roofing

Tips for picking the right roof for your commercial building projectThe roof is the most integral part of any construction project. It is that shelter which protects the building from extreme weather conditions like heat, sunlight, rain etc.

The selection of the right kind of roof ensures that the building stays strong for a longer period of time. If you select the correct commercial roofing for your construction project, you save on a lot of repairs and wear and tear cost in the future.

To understand roofing system, we must first understand the parts of a roofing system. A commercial roofing system can be divided into three parts:
1. The Material
The materials mostly used for roofing are metal, laminated glass, concrete tiles, clay tiles, asphalt, PVC, Teflon fabric, slate, wood etc. The right roofing material for your building is determined on the basis of the kind of building, use, climatic conditions and environmental factors. The choice of material is also made on the basis of the construction material used and aesthetics. The availability of roofing material is another factor that is considered while planning for roof construction.

2. The Construction
The construction of the roof is the next step after roofing material selection. The roof construction is based on two factors, the support system, and the pitch. The support system consists of structures like pillars or other supports that are planned and constructed based on the area of the building and the weight of the roof.

The pitch, on the other hand, is the angle of the roof from the lowest to the highest point. The pitch of a roof differs based on the roof type. For example, a thatched roof will have a steeper pitch to let the water drain down easily while a roof with clay tiles will not have a pitch as steep as the thatched roof. The climatic conditions of the region also play an important role in the calculation of the pitch.

3. The Durability
For any commercial building - Materials, construction and durability of its roof are of utmost importanceFor any construction project, the durability of the building is the most important point to consider. The durability of a building is measured by the durability if its roof.

To make the roof durable the above two factors play a pivotal role. The correct roofing material installed at the right pitch gives you the perfect roof for your building.

The durability of the roofing material is very important because the roof of a building is not accessed often and at times it may get quite delayed before any proper action may be taken for roof damages.
Get a free listing on ProjectLink to promote your business
With so many options of roofing materials and systems available today, it is hard to figure out which would be the most suitable option for your building project. Several factors need to be considered before making the choice.

To help you make an informed decision, ProjectLink has listed out some of the materials, systems and tips to help you choose one that best fits your needs and budget.
Take these tips into consideration and pick the right roof for your building project.

Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Emerging Design Trends that will Shape the Future of Education Facilities

Trends shaping the education, learning and school designEducation plays an integral part in shaping the personality and future of a child. Education is not always in books. A child is influenced equally by his or her surroundings. Children do what they see and if we are exposing our children to the surroundings that are not as creative and such that develop a sense of curiosity, then we cannot expect them to deliver their best effort either.

The education system and institutes these days are laying emphasis on education design trends in order to provide the best learning experiences to children. Schools and other educational institutes follow the latest design trends. These trends are developed based on the requirement of an average present generation child.

These design trends can be seen in the activities that are developed for the children to the products, equipment and school furniture being utilised by the children. Interior design is another aspect that utilises these trends and translates it into the layout of the interior space.

Three Aspects of Design Trends:

Colour’s psychological effects in the education environmentA. Colour
Colour is an important aspect of our perception and behaviour. Different colour brings out different emotions in each one of us. While we can show a resistance to such an expression of moods, children often easily exhibit it openly. In any kind of design, colour plays a major role.

Colour changes the mood of the place. The use of colour also gives an illusion of the space being smaller or larger. In school architecture, the emphasis is laid on the use of the space as per the requirement of the activities. In this space, the use of various colours can enhance the learning experience considerably.

The interior design of the educational buildings makes use of such play of colour in order to influence the mood of the students. For example, the use of yellow colour in schools can trigger the creativity and enthusiasm of the children. It will make them feel positive and happy. The colour blue helps to increase concentration by lowering the heart rate, hence this colour will work wonders in a math or science classroom.
B. Minimalism
On of the most used design trends is minimalism. Minimalist design detailing is not only a safe play but at the same time, it makes space look elegant. The less use of objects will make the place look larger. Though many times functionality of the space requires the use of more and more objects like school furniture etc. The interior design of the schools can be based on minimalism but in certain areas, one needs to add objects that are essential for use in various activities of the children.

Minimalism may give an elegant and graceful look to the school architecture but it is needless to say that this minimalism is very difficult to achieve. However, achieving the correct balance in this form of interior design comes with experience.
C. Eco-Friendly
Eco-friendly schools - A new trendThe eco-friendly schools and the educational institute is a new wave in education design trends. With the rise in awareness about the carbon footprints, people are adopting environment-friendly ways.

The school architecture is integrated with spaces that have plants and trees.

There are spaces that are specifically designed to teach children about growing their own food. The use of recycled material for school furniture is also done.

The overall experience focuses on the social learning skills being inculcated in the children.

Why is School Architecture Important?

A. Space
The first thing that is considered in an educational building is the space. Space needs to be well managed for various activities that take place during the working hours. This lies in the hands of the architecture. School architectures require great planning. The school space has to be divided out for classrooms, playrooms and playgrounds, cafeteria, auditorium, specialised classrooms, gym and sports court, library, restrooms, outdoor space etc. For this segregation of space, one needs to chalk out the action plan for the school first.
B. Facilities for Various Types of Activities
Furniture for various types of activities in schoolsMany types of activities take place in a school or an educational institute. Activities such as games and recreation, vocational training, science experiments, drama etc. are a usual part of the school routine. It becomes essential to have specific education interiors for such places.

Each place where a certain activity is being conducted will require related facilities. For example, a cafeteria will require a space to cook food and clean the utensils. Such facilities need in-depth planning and execution.
C. Recreational Areas
Every educational institute has recreational area. Recreation is a very important part of the physical, emotional and psychological development of a child. This is where the child inculcates within himself the social learning skills. Recreational areas require special forethought. With the emerging design trends, there are many options present to equip these areas with state-of-the-art recreational equipment.
D. Physical Health
The present lifestyle does not allow a child to have much time left for required physical activity. Therefore the new education design trends have introduced outdoor activity sections that provide recreation and physical workout for the children.

ProjectLink has an array of products and equipment that are based on the present education design trends. These products are of good quality and have been developed keeping in mind the end users. Let us take a look at some of the best school furniture and equipment:

1. RE-Fit
Re-fit system for schoolsRE-Fit offers an affordable range of exercise and fitness equipment that are specifically developed for schools. These circuits have six parts that offer about twelve different exercise options.

Every component comes with instructional signage that is easy to understand for the children. Made using recycled plastic, the RE-Fit equipment is an ideal addition to the educational institute.

Click here to know more about Re-Fit »
2. School Kits
These user friendly exercise stations can be a part of a fitness trail or be spaced out as per requirement. The School Kits work best for a school with a large number of students.

The equipment are designed to deliver safe and healthy workout.

Click here to know more about School Kits »

3. Ezy-Drink
A good bubbler is essential for any public place. The Ezy-Drink drinking tapware and bubblers are a perfect solution to drinking water issue for the schools.

The Ezy-Drink bubblers are a 6 star WELS rated product. It comes with a bacteria resistant mouthguard. The self closing valve offers a controlled water flow These bubblers and taps are of three different types: lever action, cam action and push button. It offers many useful features.

Click here to know more about School Kits »

4. King Park Setting
Outdoor furniture for schoolsSports auditorium should be designed with a large seating space. For seating solutions, King Park Setting is what is required. This equipment offers seating for a large number of people. It delivers good performance and is durable.

Its design is robust and it is comfortable to use. It has been designed keeping in mind the safety aspects related to children. It is wheelchair accessible and requires low maintenance.

Click here to know more about King Park Setting here »

5. Yarning Circle
The importance of yarning circleApt for eco-friendly schools, the Yarning Circle provides a great alternative outdoor classroom. The children can not only study out in the open but also learn about their surroundings. It makes learning more fun. The Yarning Circle has been designed in a way that it provides large relaxed spaces.

Listening and talking, team work, bonding, sharing, trust and storytelling are some of the points that this circuit has been designed around. It comes with various parts. Shades and shelters are also given in order to get protection from the sunlight or rain.

Click here to know more about Yarning Circle »

Click here and choose the right school furniture and equipment

Monday, June 12, 2017

Management of Health and Safety in Buildings and Civil Works

Health and safety management at construction sitesWith multiple teams, heavy machinery, castings and concrete works and precarious spaces - Construction sites are busy and fairly dangerous spaces. With proper coordination, consultation and cooperation organisations can ensure the health and safety of all members present on site.

What is Construction Work

Construction work is any work carried out in connection with the construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, maintenance, refurbishment, demolition, decommissioning or dismantling of a structure, or preparation of a building site.

National Approach

Due to the nature of risk to life involved in certain industries, the Australian government has been proactive in creating laws and strategies to enable the safe working conditions. The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 has identified the construction industry as a priority due to the high number and rate of work-related fatalities and serious injuries.
For a number of years, construction has consistently been among the top few industries with the highest number of serious claims. Since 2006-07, it has had the fifth highest incidence rate of serious claims of all industries. The Strategy aims to reduce the incidence of serious injury by at least 30% nationwide by 2022 and reduce the number of work-related fatalities due to injury by at least 20%.

Since the Strategy launched, Safe Work Australia and all jurisdictions have been working collaboratively with the industry, unions, relevant organisations and the community to reduce traumatic injury fatalities and injuries in the transport industry.

Precautionary Measures on Site

The old adage "Prevention is better than cure", cannot be ignored when we consider the safety of staff and works on site.

Personal Safety Equipment

Basic personal protective equipment for construction workersEquipping the staff members with personal safety equipment can save the PCBU (Person conducting business or undertaking) a fair amount of heartache.

Helmets or hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, safety boots and earmuffs are the basic construction wear if provided to the workers can immediately reduce claims and injuries.

Click here to know more about safety wear »

Safety Equipment

Depending on the nature of the construction, equipment like safety harnesses, safe cage lifts, safety eyewash, and fireproofing can ensure the work is carried out with minimum problems.

Click here to know more about safety equipment »

Safety Officer or Consultant

It is also fairly common, and a norm growing in popularity to hire a safety officer or consultant to guide from workers to the management staff the proper guidelines and processes to ensure the injuries and fatalities can be prevented while working on the site. The safety officer also makes rounds of the site to ensure that staff is adhering to the guidelines.

Demarcation of Danger Zones

Safety markings, signages, and barriers are simple and effective ways to ensure safety on site. It is important that these are in bright or reflective colours, and the signs are in bold lettering. As most construction sites are noisy ensuring high visibility of danger zones can be extremely helpful to all on site.

Safety Briefing for Staff Members on Site

Safety briefing for staff members on siteAs per the safety norms in Australia to be able to carry out construction work, a person must complete an introductory safety training course called ‘general construction induction training’. This is also commonly known as ‘white card’ training.

Under the model WHS (Work Health and Safety) Act, a PCBU must make sure every worker has completed white card training, including those who have completed training in the past but have not carried out construction work in the last two years. Once a person has completed that training they may apply to a WHS regulator for a white card.

A white card issued in one state or territory or by the Commonwealth is generally recognised Australia wide.

Regulations and Rules in Australia

The WHS Model Act

In 2011, Safe Work Australia developed a single set of WHS laws to be implemented across Australia. These are known as ‘model’ laws. For the model WHS laws to become legally binding, the Commonwealth, states, and territories must separately implement them as their own laws.

The model WHS Act forms the basis of the WHS Acts that have been implemented in most jurisdictions across Australia.
The main object of the Act is to provide a balanced and nationally consistent framework to secure the health and safety of workers and workplaces. It does this by:

  1. Protecting workers and other persons from harm by requiring duty holders to eliminate or minimise the risk
  2. Providing for fair and effective representation, consultation and cooperation
  3. Encouraging unions and employer organisations to take a constructive role in promoting improvements in WHS practices
  4. Promoting the provision of advice, information, education, and training for WHS
  5. Securing compliance with the Act through effective and appropriate compliance and enforcement measures
  6. Ensuring appropriate scrutiny and review of actions taken by persons with powers or functions under the Act
  7. Providing a framework for continuous improvement
  8. Maintaining and strengthening national harmonisation of WHS laws and facilitating a consistent national approach to WHS

Responsibility and Safety Duties for the Company

Roles and responsibilities for workplace health and safetyIt is important that PCBUs understand their responsibilities and duties towards the staff and workers on the site. As construction is high risk work with injuries and fatalities, the PCBUs must ensure checks and safety. At each step of the process in construction work, PCBUs are subject to certain general and specific duties under the model WHS laws. For example:

  1. The model WHS Regulations require the person that commissions construction work to consult with the designer of a structure about safety matters and to give the designer and the principal contractor for the project information about safety matters
  2. A PCBU that carries out construction work must manage and control WHS risks associated with that work. It must also ensure that a construction site is secured from unauthorised access
  3. The principal contractor for a construction project is also a PCBU and must be aware of the WHS duties that apply to all PCBUs that carry out construction work, as well as the specific duties that are imposed on principal contractors in that industry
  4. Specific duties that apply to principal contractors include, but are not limited to, the duty to be clearly identified by signage posted at the construction site, the duty to prepare, review, keep and inform others about the WHS management plan for the construction project
  5. Under the model WHS Act, the person with management or control of a workplace must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplace, the means of entering and exiting the workplace and anything arising from the workplace are without risk to the health and safety of any person

Training your Management Staff

Once the PCBU has initiated the workers on site on the safety measures, it is also essential that the management staff, and other upper executive level officers understand the importance of safety. Here are a few pointers:
  1. Management must understand that safety cannot be overlooked in order to cut costs or make profits.
  2. Risk assessment should be added to the project management details
  3. Clearly identified responsibility and staff member associated with it should be appointed
  4. Management initiated safety drives and checks to ensure ground staff is adhering to the safety rules
  5. Awareness/Orientation towards of incident management
  6. Cross level committee development initiative to ensure fair representation of all level of staff
Click here and choose the right civil safety products

Friday, May 26, 2017

Latest Trends in High Rise Buildings / Skyscrapers Construction

Tall buildings past and present trends Skyscrapers have been long part of urban cityscapes. They are typically found in busy and dense urban areas and are considered especially convenient for commercial and business areas.

Today, skyscrapers are an increasingly common sight where land is expensive, as in the centers of big cities, because they provide such a high ratio of rentable floor space per unit area of land.

History of High Rise

With our growing technological pace it is hard to imagine that the first skyscrapers were built in the 1880s! Although high rise apartments of over 10 stories have been found in Ancient Roman civilisations. The structural definition of the word skyscraper was refined later by architectural historians, based on engineering developments of the 1880s that had enabled construction of tall multi-story buildings. This definition was based on the steel skeleton as opposed to constructions of load-bearing masonry.

The American technological revolution of 1880 to 1890 saw a burst of creativity in architecture and civil structure technology. It produced a wave of new inventions that helped architects to build higher than ever before: Bessemer steel, formed into I-sections in the new rolling mills which enabled taller and more flexible frame design than the cast iron of the previous era; the newly-patented sprinkler head allowed buildings to escape the strict, 23-metre height limit, which was imposed to control the risk of fire; and the patenting of AC electricity allowed elevators to be electrically powered and rise to ten or more stories.

Need for High Rise

Reasons for taking the trend of constructing high rise buildingsAs urbanisation becomes a key aspect of modern living, the need for space is essential. Cities find it far more convenient to build vertically than to spread horizontally. This is a key factor in managing city infrastructure and makes it easier for the governing bodies to manage the demands of a growing population.

The design and construction of skyscrapers involves creating safe, habitable spaces in very tall buildings. The buildings must support their weight, resist wind and earthquakes, and protect occupants from fire. Yet they must also be conveniently accessible, even on the upper floors, and provide utilities and a comfortable climate for the occupants. The problems posed in skyscraper design are considered among the most complex encountered given the balances required between economics, engineering, and construction management.

Sustainability

In recent years the term Sustainability has turned from a trend to a necessity. Sustainability in the context of high rise buildings includes the built and natural environments, including the performance of structures, types of materials, construction practices, absolute minimal use of materials and natural resources, energy within the structure, and a holistically integrated building systems approach.

Sustainability covers economic benefit, resource efficiency, environmental protection and social development. Well developed building codes are now geared towards sustainability. It is common practice for local and central government to build committees to provide sustainability and environmental codes. These codes must keep in mind both sustenance and business in mind. The LEED certification is an internationally recognised green building standard that has found great acceptance around the globe.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Top 8 Home Building and Construction Blogs

8 building blogs for home construction professionalsWith so many changes coming to the construction industry, it is important for every construction professional to stay up-to-date on the latest advancements, news, trends, technology, and design. If you are working on a new construction project or about to begin a remodelling project, ProjectLink can help you to have a list of excellent resources for finding the information quickly. The list of the top 8 home building and construction blogs on this page can be of great benefit to you.

This handy list of construction blogs covers a broad range of topics. These blogs will give home builders, project managers, architects, and contractors the knowledge they need to be plugged into the right resources. Interior designers and project managers would appreciate the content here as it offers information on the construction strategies and information on the latest developments in the industry.

These blogs are a great source of information for anyone in construction looking to garner an understanding of the latest trends and innovations shaping the Australia’s construction industry.

  1. Cladding Ideas for Australian Houses

    Get 5 gorgeous yet durable cladding ideas for construction of Australian houses, including, stone, vinyl, weatherboards, metal, and fiber cement cladding.
    Read more »

  2. How to Make a Completely Insulated House?

    Weatherproof your house, from heat and cold, with a proper insulation of attic, walls, and basements.
    Read more »

  3. How to Prevent Fire Hazards at Home and Office

    Guide for most basic safety precautions to prevent fire risks at homes and offices. Also, find the top suppliers of fire safety equipment in Australia.
    Read more »

  4. How to Transform Ordinary Homes to Exotic Residences

    Discover top trending styles and ideas that can help you make your homes look like exotic residences.
    Read more »

  5. Home Flooring Ideas that will Add the ‘Wow’ Factor

    Explore top flooring ideas including hardwood, bamboo, cork, vinyl, and laminate flooring with all their advantages and disadvantages.
    Read more »

  6. Indoor and Outdoor Furniture Trends for 2017

    Discover top ideas to transform indoor and outdoor spaces including modern, contemporary, antique furniture etc.
    Read more »

  7. Alternatives to Wood in Construction

    There are 4 light weighted, fire and heat proof long lasting alternative materials to wood including, wood composites, bamboo, hemp, and stones.
    Read more »

  8. Trending Ideas for Fencing and Screening at Home and Office

    Top trending ideas for screening, fencing and partition with glass, plants, and classic divider screens at your home and office.
    Read more »

Top 8 recommended home building blogs

Source: https://www.projectlink.com.au/blog/top-8-construction-and-home-building-blogs/

Thursday, February 9, 2017

Indoor and Outdoor Furniture Trends for 2017

2017 indoor and outdoor furniture trends Furniture is an integral part of our life. These movable objects that are specifically designed to support or enhance our day to day activities. Holding objects at a comfortable height, supporting objects, or storing things are some of the important tasks furniture are designed to do.

Furniture came into existence about 30,000 years ago when humans used boulders, wood or animal bones to create comfortable seating, resting and storage spaces. The evolution of furniture design thus began. As human race advanced, more and more insight was given into constructing furniture that can serve the purpose of need as well as luxury. Traditional furniture design revolved around comfort, strength and luxury. Materials such as wood, metals, stones etc were used for this. Various types of fabrics were used to adorn the surfaces. Then came modern furniture that was made using fancy new materials. Next in line appeared contemporary furniture that blended the details of antique furniture and modern furniture to create something unique yet elegant. By now, there are many types of furniture that are put to view for you to pick from for your home decor.

Types of Furniture

Furniture can be broadly classified into five main types based on uses. Each piece of furniture is designed to fulfil the requirement of any particular task. The modern trends of furniture for households and outdoors have moved towards ergonomically enhanced and environment friendly choices. These fantastic furniture trends are further segregated into classes based on similarity and uses. Some of the common uses are as follows:

1. Comfort
Add comfort in any area of the house or outdoors with our range of modern furnitureAny furniture used for sitting down, lying, sleeping, relaxing etc falls into this category. furniture like various types of chairs, couches, recliners, ottoman,types of stools, benches, divan, canapés, beds, hammocks, infant beds etc fall under this section. These furniture are ergonomically designed to suffice the need of comfort in any area of the house or outdoors. Outdoor furniture also falls under this category as various seating arrangements are a part of outdoor comfort. Nowadays, modern furniture is being designed in such a way that it can serve various purposes. Modular furniture is also being developed.

2. Entertainment units
Every living space has a source of entertainment be it television or indoor or outdoor games. These sources of entertainment require some sort of support or furniture as a part of the set-up. This category includes furniture like billiards table, television cabinets, jukeboxes, video game consoles, chess tables, children games, park and fancy outdoor furniture etc.
Based on the type of entertainment, leisure activity and types of users, these furniture are made. For garden, parks and outdoor furniture materials such as wood, metal, acrylic and concrete might be used. For indoor furniture, wood, bamboo, metal, glass, etc will be used.

3. Sets
Discover top trending sets to suit your taste and budgetA group of furniture used for a specific purpose constitutes a set. Bedroom sets (bed, side tables, dressing table,side stools, rest couches etc.), dining sets (dining table and chairs, peg tables, trolleys, cabinets etc.), patio sets (garden furniture), vanity sets etc fall under this section.

4. Tables
Tables are of various types based on the use and placement. Based on the uses, the structure, design and height changes. Desks, pedestals, dining tables, coffee tables, monk benches, lowboys, folding tables, poker tables, wine tables, workbenches, workshop tables, end tables, peg tables, side tables, corner stools etc fall under this category. Urban furniture design has always made it possible to add in more and more types of specialized furniture based on functionality.

Monday, January 30, 2017

Storage System: How to Avoid Potential Accidents on Construction Sites

Prevent potential on-site accidents with these effective storage solutionsConstruction sites are not only the most busy places of work, but also accident-prone areas. Brimming with hundreds of construction workers, site safety comes into limelight. The safety of the people working at the construction sites becomes a matter of great importance. Amongst many safety issues relating to the construction sites is the issue of storage. For the safety of the construction workers, a good provision of safety storage needs to be given. Storage is not only essential for safety purposes but also to organise the equipment and tools that are used by each worker. Storage spaces are also used to keep the personal belongings safe as well as the tools. There are safety storages that are specially designed to keep important documents and contracts.

Why are storage spaces important in construction areas?

Storage is the capacity of an area to hold material and goods for a certain period of time in a way that it can be retrieved whenever required. A good storage space will not only contain the material but also keep it protected against external contaminating agents, weather, theft and vandalism and breakage. The factors that bring about a requirement of storage space for any construction project can be broadly classified into five sections:

1. Physical Nature of the Material to be Stored

When building projects are undertaken, after the planning stage comes the material sourcing stage. The material that is required for construction differs in size, shape, medium, weight etc. All this material requires a proper storage else it will go bad over a period of time. This is where a well-maintained storage facility comes into play. Space requirements of every material will differ. Bricks and cement bags will require a different type of storage facility in comparison to tool and equipment.

2. Protection of the Material

There are construction material that need to be protected from getting contaminated. There are materials that can contaminate other things around it and require protection. Such materials need to be kept in specially designed storage boxes or containers that are airtight and do not permit any escape of the substance contained within. Flammable goods also need to kept in a well protected space to avoid any sort of accident. Site safety plays a major role in storing such goods.

3. Security of the Goods

Keep your goods safe using security lockers and safety cabinetsBuilding projects always require purchase and storage of large amount of goods. These goods need to be kept safe from harms way.
A secure storage facility will make sure that these materials will stay safe from theft and vandalism. Construction safety is not the only area that is to be looked at here.
There is need for safety of tool and equipment used by the construction workers as well. Security Lockers and storage cabinets can solve this problem.

4. Ownership of the Equipment and Material

Whose equipment is it anyways? This is a very important point of consideration when you are working at a construction site. There are hundreds of people who come to work each day and in such a situation, the security of one’s personal belongings as well as tools comes in one’s own hands. In order to save your things from getting misplaced, tool boxes and personal lockers offer a good storage solution.

5. Organisation of the Tools

Tool boxes and document holders to enjoy an organized storage spaceA construction site is pretty much an organised chaos. In such a chaos it becomes difficult to organise your own equipment. Construction workers put to use tool boxes and document holders to keep their paraphernalia in order. There are many options available for commercial storage that lets the people working at sites enjoy an organised storage space.


ProjectLink suggests ideas for storage at construction sites:

Ideas for storage at construction sitesA lack of proper commercial storage facilities at building sites affects the overall site safety. Storage is indeed a small aspect of the entire project but it plays an integral part in many functions. Without proper storage provisions people will experience lack of organisation, space and security of their personal belongings.
Construction safety lies in the safety of not only the site and materials and goods being used for construction but also for the people working in and around it. To ensure a workplace free of accidents and mishaps, there are many options for storage of goods, equipment, documents and everyday-consumption resources like drinking water. At the same time, these things need to be easily accessible to the workers.

ProjectLink has an array of storage related products that offer a safe and durable storage solutions. Let’s take a look at some of the options:

1. Storage Trolleys:

Trolleys for storing tools and barriersStorage trolleys are always handy at a construction site. From storing tools to storing barriers, these trolleys provide a great space utilization solution.
These storage trolleys are designed to carry both classic as well as retractable barriers.
See options of storage trolleys here »







2. Corrosive Storage Containers

Corrosive storage containers for your building projectsA lot of building projects make use of corrosive substances during the process of construction. At the site, these require proper safety storage facility else it might either act as a contaminating agent or be a cause of some accident.
To keep such substances in a safe and protected environment, corrosive storage containers are used at sites. These cabinets have lockable doors. These come with a vent to enable the airflow to let any trapped gas escape. These cabinets are designed in such a way that their levels can be adjusted according to the surface it has been placed upon. There are many features that these have.
Know more about corrosive storage containers here »

3. Safety Cabinet

Store toxic poisonous liquids in these safety cabinetsThere are cabinets that are specially designed to contain toxic poisonous liquids that pose a threat to the surroundings. Such materials require special care during storage. These cabinets make it easy to lock and isolate such substances from exposure to the workers. These cabinets come with a set of shelves and adjustable feet. It is designed to provide insulation from excessive external heat that may affect these toxic or flammable substance.
Get to know more about safety cabinets here »

4. Lockers

Organise your tools and belongings with these safety lockersSafety lockers are always useful at construction sites. It enables the construction workers to organise their tools and belongings and keep them safe under lock and key. The lockers usually have a keyed lock system but some also come with a padlock locking system along it. These lockers are made of steel hence provide enough strength to withstand an attempt of theft or vandalism. The storage space that these provide are good enough to keep the things one would require at work.
Check out the range of safety lockers here »

5. Document Boxes

Document storage boxes to keep your documents safePapers, important documents and blueprints are always a part of construction work. Many times it becomes difficult to keep these safe from wear and tear. Document storage boxes make it possible for the architects and construction managers to keep these documents safe, dry and clean within a box or container. These boxes are available in various sizes and you can take a pick as per requirement.
Purchase document boxes for your projects here »
List of high quality storage products and services in Australia

Thursday, December 22, 2016

5 CAD Software for Architects in 2017

5 advanced CAD software for modern architecture and designArchitectural designs have evolved over a period of time. A lot of these designs need complex tools and conceptualization abilities. Since a majority of such projects are time-effort- and-capital intensive, tools in the form of architecture-related software come into play. These software ensure the project is well planned right in the initial stages, and well monitored and controlled during the execution stages.

Amongst many other benefits, the accuracy of work that these software provide is noteworthy. Moreover, efficient time management to ensure that the project is completed as planned is another significant area where the software come handy, thereby saving on time and effort cost.

Hence, to assist the construction project managers, architects or other construction workers at various levels, software are created that aid in the process of construction. These construction software are an assimilation of process and information that are required to perform essential construction-related functions, aided by programs that facilitate such processes on your computer system. The use of computer aided design (CAD) software is amongst the top in the architecture trends. These increase productivity by reducing the amount of time spent on construction purposes.

To understand the importance of the application of these software in construction projects, one must first know the benefits of these software:

i) Increased Productivity

Modern architecture requires techniques of conceptualisation and construction. For any construction project, the design team needs to be able to visualise the final outcome. The CAD design makes it possible for the design engineer to conceptualise the design on paper as well as in 3D.

Using the CAD software, you can see a detailed layout plan of the various floors of the building, well-described views of the building and a 3D map of that building. If there are changes to be made then you can make it at this level. CAD Software thus offer a lot of flexibility right at the initial stages of a building project. Architects along with their team are able to complete a comprehensive task in a very short period of time and that too with increased accuracy.

ii) High Quality

CAD software are developed in such a way that a number of tasks can be done using these. There are a number tools that aid in a thorough analysis of the architectural design. There are many other options for inspecting the proposed design.

These software are built to offer maximum accuracy in the development of the design plans. Thus there is an overall reduction in the errors that can spring up at various stages of construction management. Since the CAD design that the software offers is well-detailed, wastage of time, resources and money is also minimised.

iii) Quick Solutions to Tasks

Web based CAD software that allow instant access to the architectural design from anywhere are the new point of interest in the architectural trends. With the WiFi connectivity, the entire team of the architects is able to access the files and work on their relative tasks.

The construction manager along with his team can update the tasks that are to be done at various levels by required professionals using the software. This information is immediately received by the construction team and work begins in the flow that is defined by the construction manager. The professionals can respectively update the progress of work being done at the site. Hence quick solutions to the tasks that have been assigned for the project can be given.

iv) Detailed Documentation

A modern house requires complex details of architectural design and construction. These details have to be clear and easy to understand for the engineers as well as the mason or the plumber. The CAD software provides the facility of creating layout plans with the minutest of the details required for each construction worker.

The software aids in development of architectural design with increased legibility, utmost accuracy and least or no errors. The most important step at the conceptualisation stage is documentation of the design. This will act as the pivot in future construction-related decisions and tasks for that project. These documentation consist of dimensions and geometries of the building. Material requirements, cost calculation and time period required for the completion of the project are some other points that are covered during documentation. The software allows you to make a detailed document of the construction project.

These above are some advantages that are offered by CAD software. These software are designed to facilitate ease of work, accuracy, detailing and minimisation of errors at various stages. ProjectLink offers you a vast range of CAD software used for construction management projects. Let’s take a look at the top 5 software that are trending:

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Trending Applications Of Bollards For Safety Purposes

Trends in bollard installations for safetyBuildings are being created with great details. Parks and public spaces are being given a welcoming feel to attract more and more people. Roads and pathways are being constructed to aim the comfort and accessibility for the people who use these. With all these details being kept in mind during conceptualisation and construction, future safety of the site and people who use it becomes a crucial consideration. Cases of ramming cars and accidents due to stray vehicles are common.

Most of the times, solutions to big issues are simple. The solution to the concern of safety of the building and people can be found in the use of bollards. Bollards are short and strong posts made of metal, wood, concrete or any other strong material. These post are used as obstruction in traffic-prone areas or to protect buildings from threats of ram raiding. Bollards can be used in many areas.

Some of the important applications of bollards are:
  • Easing the traffic
  • Deflecting the tires of vehicles
  • Illuminating darkened spaces
  • Allowing periodical traffic controls measures
  • Enhancing the safety of the driver in racing events
  • Controlling the access
  • Helpful in preservation of historic sites
  • Facilitating parking protection
Comprehensive list of bollards for parks and outdoors
Bollards are of various types. Embedded, collapsible, flexible, removable, bollards with lights, parking bollards and so on, these posts are designed to serve specific purpose. ProjectLink has a big collection of variety of bollards that can help you ensure safety of building, parks and public spaces. Lets lookout the various types of bollards in detail based on its use:

Traffic Bollards

Traffic bollard installation for road safetyThere are bollards that are used to control the movement of traffic. These traffic bollards are placed in such a way that there is enough space between two bollards for special vehicles and cycles to pass through but not enough space for cars to move through. The placement of driveway bollards is such that it limits the traffic movement at required places on the roads or even on highways. It has been recorded that with the use of traffic bollards there is a considerable reduction in the number of road accidents.

Embedded bollards are used for this purpose. These bollards are made of strong material such as steel, concrete or wood. These bollards are placed deep into the ground and fixed in place using concrete. It helps to strengthen the posts even more. However, in crowded city areas, these driveway bollards are retractable or removable in nature. These can be retracted to allow traffic movement. Another version of bollards that are used as traffic bollards are flexible posts. These posts are designed to bend in the event of a vehicle colliding with them , thus causing minimum damage to the vehicle. Some posts are also used as parking bollards. Such bollards are installed in parking lots of public buildings such as museums, shopping areas and outdoor spaces. Parking bollards are coloured bright so that these are easily visible from a distance.
Check out the option on ProjectLink »

Protective Bollards

Outdoor bollards for protectionBuildings and public areas also need protection from ram raiding. There are many buildings that have seating arrangements along the sidewalk, some have cafes and others have small shops. These areas need protection from moving traffic. The outdoor walls of these buildings need to be protected. Bollards installed along the periphery of such places are called protective bollards. Some important government, private buildings and historical sites also keep such arrangements. The purpose of protective bollards is to safeguard the area from accidental collision by vehicles.

Protective bollards not only protect the outdoor wall of the property but also protect the pedestrians. There are instances when the area has to be protected against ram raiding and thefts.  Using bollards in such case is fruitful. With advance in technology, bollards are being developed with materials that can absorb impact energy. Some bollards are made of steel fitted with elastomer while others are made of forgiving plastics. This way the damage caused to the posts by the collision can be reduced considerably.
Some examples of protective bollards are here »

Illuminated Bollards

Bollard lighting for traffic directionBollards that have lights installed in the unit are called illuminated bollards. These bollards find their use in areas where the vehicles require directions or in remote sections that are not very well illuminated. A light unit is attached at the base of the bollard. The entire structure is fitted into the foundation illuminating the post from all the angles. This makes it visible from all sides as well as from a distance. The bollard lights are housed in the foundation of the post, this protects the unit from possible damage due to collision by vehicles.

Bollard lights are mostly used at roundabout intersection. Illuminated bollards are also used as visual warning signs for drivers denoting that an obstacle is present ahead or construction work is going on. Illuminated bollards also find use as path lights in areas that have low visibility. Bollards are placed along walkways and driveways. During snow, fog, haze and other cause of low visibility these act as a guide for the path. Path lights are helpful during night as well.
See options of illuminated bollards here »


Bollards for building safetyBollards find their use in roadways, leisure parks, sport fields, playgrounds, as site perimeters, for pathways, landscapes and so on. Nowadays bollards are being designed to aesthetically serve their purpose. Additions like solar panel enabled lights, lamps and planters are being attached to these. Bollards can be installed in places where a differentiation of traffic is required. As cycling finds its place in the most popular means of transport, separate lanes for cyclists can be formed using bollards. Bollard lights are useful during the foggy days. Driveway bollards on the other hand not only assist in easy movement of traffic but also give way to a protected space of pedestrians. To add to the list, bollards check the “smash and grab” crimes that are caused by ramming of vehicles into the buildings.

During the planning of any construction or infrastructure project give heed to the importance of these posts in parking areas, driveways or perimeter. ProjectLink has a variety of bollards to offer to you for your construction projects. Take a look at it »

Leading suppliers of bollards for traffic control, construction sites, and other safety purposes

Monday, November 7, 2016

Construction Jobs of the Future

Construction Jobs of the Future'Construction' is an industry that has garnered tremendous growth over the last few years. Even in the periods where some of the other industries have faced pressure, there are no signs to suggest any slow down for this industry. The high rate of growth in the industry, in turn requires commensurate manpower to manage and drive this industry growth. This industry is creating more number of jobs than ever before. If you are in any way associated with this field, you are in luck!

Before we talk further about the kind of employment opportunities that construction industry can offer, let’s have a quick look at the sectors that it comprises.

The industry is broadly segregated in three main sectors:

  1. Building Construction
  2. Infrastructure Construction
  3. Industrial Construction
While the basics of the above three remain the same, work requirements, skill specialisations and employment opportunities differ across these sectors.

As the name suggests, Building Construction involves construction of residential or non-residential buildings. Residential construction includes building of houses/buildings from scratch, or carrying out small renovations such as addition of rooms in a house. The non-residential sector includes construction of commercial buildings such as offices, malls and marketplaces and institutional buildings like schools, colleges and other educational or vocational buildings.

The infrastructure construction sector covers the construction of highways, bridges, dams etc. Since the backbone of this sector is engineering, it is also referred to as heavy engineering sector. The infrastructure projects have a larger impact as they become a key impetus to the growth of an economy.

The third sector is the industrial sector. This includes construction of manufacturing plants, mills, chemical and power plants, refineries etc.

Click here to find the comprehensive list of construction and building equipmentThe dynamics of construction change according to the project, and the need for specialisation required for these projects. In the recent times, the requirement for construction workers has been on a rise. The construction industry can offer a wide array of job opportunities. From masons to carpenters, from civil engineers to construction managers, there are quite a few options available depending on your speciality of expertise.

With the increase in awareness about the construction process and the competition in the industry, construction agencies have become all the more important as they save the clients of most of the operational hassle involved in a construction project.

The changing market dynamics have also led to development of new construction methods and technologies. These aim at increasing the efficiency and performance and reduce environmental-damaging waste. These new methods have led to creation of new processes, which in turn has created many new construction jobs.

One such function that has come to the fore as a key one is that of a design team. The design team translates ideas, suggestions, requirements and design into reality. It can consists of architects, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, electrical and structural engineers, planning consultants, architectural consultants etc. Usually the property owners recruit their own design team. However, the incidence of agencies getting their own design teams to work on projects can also be seen quite often.

A construction project also requires people holding important roles such as construction managers, interior designers, accountants, mortgage bankers and cost engineers. Some of these functions are more salient in case of Infrastructure and Industrial construction projects.

There are many important semi-skilled or specialised construction jobs that you can look at. ProjectLink brings to you some of these options and their importance:

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

5 Most Advanced Access Control Systems to Know About

5 most advanced access control systems for a safe and secure workplace
Are you safe from external threats at your workplace? Are you safe at your residence? These are some of the questions that often come to your mind. These questions better not be ignored. These days your security lies in your own hands.

A safe workplace is a productive haven for yourself as well as your employees. Similarly, to ensure the safety of your loved ones, a good security system plays a big role. Security should never be overlooked no matter if it’s a building, house or any other place where people movement needs to be controlled. Access Control Systems can ensure your safety is not compromised in any form.

What is it?

The combination of hardware and software makes an access control system whereby the access can be allowed or restricted based on one’s preferences. Access Control facilitates a selective restriction of admittance to an area or building and/ or websites and similar resources. With the Access Control Systems in place, users would need the due permission to use a resource or access a certain location. This permission is called authorization. Depending on the levels of confidentiality and security, one may grant access.
As you already know, access control is used for physical as well as information security. Where physical security is concerned, access control readers are widely used. These readers are of three types based on their functionality; namely a basic or non-intelligent reader, semi-intelligent reader and the intelligent reader.

A basic or a non-intelligent reader only reads a card number or a PIN. It then passes this information to a control panel and the rest of the process of granting or denying access follows. The semi-intelligent readers are built with all required input and output information to control the door lock. Once the PIN or card number is entered, the information is sent to the main controller, and the reader waits for the response. This reader does not make decisions on its own.

The third reader is an intelligent reader. All the necessary input and output programmes are in-built into this reader. It has a memory and processing power which helps in independent decision making based on the inputs. It is also connected to a control panel which updates the reader and takes the information about the recent events from it.


We have bundled up the top most advanced access control systems for you to keep you ahead of the rest.

Building Integration Systems (BIS)

A lot of hard work goes into undertaking huge construction projects. Many factors are to be looked into while constructing big buildings. Security issues, access to the outsiders, fire threats, and evacuation systems are some of these. A building integration system is an access control system that combines some of the important technical systems into one and brings a complete access control to you.

You need not worry about its compatibility, increased usage and spectrum of scope for future. This system is modular in nature and therefore you can add different high- performance modules to it as per your requirements in future. It proves to be a useful addition to those big ever-providing construction projects that later turn into dream houses.

Consider using Building Integration System for your upcoming construction project. Get more info »
 

Access Professional Systems

Access control system with card reader and keypad to enter the pin

Offices and organizations can range from small to big. Depending on the kind of work and size of the organizations, access controls systems are used. There is always a chance of adding more readers and equipment onto it if required. In order to smoothly run these systems, various software are used. Access Professional Edition is one such software that is not only easy to use but is scalable too.

This system generally works best for a small to a medium-sized organization; but as the needs grow, it has the capacity to capacity to accommodate more. Security functions such as elevator management, intrusion monitoring, CCTV etc can be integrated with this software. It is also compatible with the standard reader and card formats and this allows you to continue working with the existing card readers that you may have deployed at your workplace.


Building Access Control Key Pads

Workplace safety is foremost whether it is a small enterprise or a deep rooted organization. Businesses thrive in a positive and secure environment. With advances in technology, it has become possible to do away with the lock and key mechanism that has been used for doors since ages. You cannot vouch for the security for the lock and key mechanism but the latest introduction is a break-in-free mechanism. The building access control keypad is an electronic mechanism and provides high security and reliability for your workplace in comparison to the lock and key mechanism.

These come with a backup memory chip which records the programmed access codes. The chip can be removed and can be used to program other keypads. These access control keypads can be used on any entrance, be it a main gate or doors to your mansion or workplace. It comes with an anti-hack feature that helps prevent entry through vandalism. It runs perfectly in various climatic conditions. Be it extreme heat or chilling winters, you will find it working smoothly. There are features that are provided for special conditions such as the backlight for visibility in darkness, anti-tamper switch and so on…

Need to know more about Building Access Control Key Pads? Visit here »

Photoelectric Sensors

Wide range of advanced photoelectric sensors for eye or face recognition access control These sensors also known as the photo eye, are used to discover the absence or presence of any object by the use of a transmitter that transmits infrared light/ signal. If there is any obstacle in the light transmission then the alarm goes off.
PE light sensors are of 3 types depending on its use and requirement of the client. These are:
  1. opposed (through beam)
  2. proximity-sensing (diffused)
  3. retro-reflective

The units are of a good quality and last long. These usually come with a long battery life. The entire unit is compact and housed in a durable cover that is waterproof so you can place it wherever you require. These sensors save efforts, time and money and are quite dependable. In construction projects such as museums or high security organizations, the use of PE sensors becomes a must.

Check out the link for more information about Photoelectric Sensors »

Sliding Gate Operators

Sliding gate openers are devices used to open and close a sliding or a swing gate. These are often used in driveways or main entrance to buildings. These operators can be found for domestic uses as well as for larger buildings. These openers are hydraulic and electromechanical, and come with a battery backup option. The limit of weight they can slide is also customizable. These can be controlled using a push button on the device.

The combination of these gate operators along with PE beams can be used to ensure workplace safety as well as safety at your residence during entry or exit. These come with various features to assist you in various situations.

Get more info on the sliding gate operators here >>