Construction News In Brief May 2016

Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Report April 2016

The latest Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Report has been released this week.  While there has been a decline in the pace of growth from the high figures in February, new orders and employment are still rising but at a slower rate.

Commenting on the survey, Simon Barry, Chief Economist Republic of Ireland at Ulster Bank, noted that: “Irish construction activity continues to grow at a solid, albeit slower, pace according to the latest results.  Sentiment in April rose to its second-highest level in the survey’s history as more than two-thirds of respondents anticipates further gains in activity in the coming twelve months.”

Three categories of construction are included in the survey. These are housing, commercial and civil engineering.   Of the three, civil engineering performed the worst, with activity rising at the slowest pace.  Housing activity continued to grow at the sharpest pace.

In the categories which had a growth in activities, this growth was linked to the signing of new contracts and the subsequent hiring of new staff for these contracts.

There was a noted reduction in the use of sub-contractors In the Irish Construction Industry this month and a decline in the availability of sub-contractors.

Image by Markit

American Safety Stand Down Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction

The United States Department of Labour are running their construction safety campaign this week.  Its called Stand Down and it aims to prevent construction fatalities and falls. Construction firms are encouraged to “stand down” for a few minutes during the working day to have an informal chat or safety demonstration with workers.

Apps for the Construction Industry

Heres a great App we found, which calculates how much concrete and rebar are needed for a job. Called Fast Concrete Pad Calculator and available on ITunes, this handy App calculates amount concrete and rebar needed and the costs as well as waste and additional costs.  You can then email the information to yourself or to a contractor.