Government to establish a new regulator to oversee construction
A new regulator is to be set up by the Government that will oversee the construction of buildings. The Buildings Standards Regulatory Authority will have powers of inspection, enforcement and will have a range of sanctions available to it. It will also have oversight of the marketing and use of construction products. The aim of the new regulator is to reduce the risk of building failures, recurring defects and increase public confidence in construction.
First 3D printed homes being built in Dundalk
Three social housing units in Grange Close, Dundalk are being constructed by a 3D concrete printing machine, the first of their kind in Ireland. The 3D is set on a gantry which is programmed to pipe concrete out following a digital plan. Construction tech company HTL say the houses will be built three times faster than they would using traditional concrete blocks.
Sisk moves to energy-efficient HQ
John Sisk & Son has made the move to a new energy-efficient HQ. Sisk has moved 200 staff to a new retrofitted building at Citywest Business Campus in Dublin. The new building used a ‘circular economy’ approach to reusing materials, saving over €132,000. It also has 18 EV charging stations, solar panels, external air source heat pump, VVF air-con and a gym.
