ICE NI G&S Newsletter Winter
Institution of Civil Engineers
ICE NI G&S Newsletter
Winter Edition 2016
Photo: G&S President’s Visit (Stephen Heaney, Dr Grainne McQuaid, Prof Tim Broyd)
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ICE NI G&S Newsletter Winter
Institution of Civil Engineers
Introduction
1
Events
2
G&S Emerging Engineers Award (Brennan Cup)
G&S Communications Competition
G&S Northern Ireland News
3
ICE President visits NI Graduates & Students
Graduates & Students quiz raises £425 for charity
Local Engineering News
4
The Practical Application of CDM (NI) 2016 seminar
Congratulations to the ICE Northern Ireland’s newest members
QUB students learn from engineering disasters
The Spotlight
6
Jack Gault, McAdam Design
Ruth Harley, Queen’s University
Ryan McCoy, University of Ulster
Look & Learn
8
NEC Contracts - Programming
Health & Safety CDM (NI) 2016
Welcome to the second edition of the ICE Northern Ireland Graduates & Students Newsletter for
2016/17. In this edition we will recap on some recent G&S NI events including the ICE President’s
visit to Belfast, as well as detailing what is coming up in the ICE calendar in the new year.
We look forward to seeing you all at our events and hope you enjoy catching up on all the news. In
the meantime, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
As always, we welcome articles on any aspect of civil engineering and would love to see some
photos included. Please submit by 27th March 2017 to [email protected].
Thanks,
The Editors
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ICE NI G&S Newsletter Winter
Institution of Civil Engineers
Events
Upcoming ICE events
9th Jan
Winter Flooding 2015/16
Ulster Museum, Belfast
David Porter (Rivers Agency) & Alan Strong MBE (University of Ulster)
20th Jan 3D Modelling using Non-Contact Close Range Photogrammetry
Webinar
Dr Grainne McQuaid (RPS)
23rd Jan G&S Emerging Engineers Award (Brennan Cup)
The MAC, Belfast
6th Feb
Ulster Museum, Belfast
Crossrail Tunnelling
Alison Norrish (Arup)
13th Feb London Luton Airport Landside Civil Engineering Works
The MAC, Belfast
G&S Training Event 3. Gareth McNern & John Hasson (Whitemountain)
24th Feb Redesigning the Gobbins Path Bridges
Webinar
David Whiteside (Doran Consulting)
6th Mar
Macrete Precast: Solving the Challenges of Sea Defence
Ulster Museum, Belfast
Abhey Gupta & Andrew Doherty (Macrete)
13th Mar Temporary Works: Design & Construction Case Studies
The MAC, Belfast
G&S Training Event 4. Simon Lamont (Design ID) & Mark Cassidy (Cassidy Geotechnical)
20th Mar G&S Communications Competition
The MAC, Belfast
For further information & details visit the ICE website:
www.ice.org.uk/near-you/uk/northern-ireland
Are you ready for chartership?
If you’re thinking about ICE Chartership, it is highly recommended that you attend the G&S
Written Exercise Groups held on 16th January, 30th January and 27th February at QUB David Keir
Building, Belfast. Three industry experts/current reviewers will take you through example written
exercises and provide invaluable information to prepare you for the day itself.
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ICE NI G&S Newsletter Winter
Institution of Civil Engineers
G&S Northern Ireland News
ICE President visits NI Graduates & Students
On the 8th December the ICE Northern Ireland
Graduate & Students branch held their annual
President’s Visit in Arup’s impressive new offices
on Bedford Street, Belfast.
The event provided junior engineers with an
opportunity to engage with the current ICE
President, Professor Tim Broyd, learn his views,
ask questions and voice their opinions on
matters facing young civil engineers.
The president spoke about his work with leading individuals in industry and government to understand and prepare for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This includes leading the
strategic planning of the UK’s development and implementation of BIM with over a decade of
experience in the development and deployment of BIM techniques. His personal interests included digital engineering and infrastructure resilience.
Following Professor Broyd’s address and Q&A session there was a stimulating and inspiring
presentation by Marcus Orlovsky entitled ‘Mind the Gap’, which continued the theme of innovation and technology, and their place within the civil engineering profession.
ICE Graduates & Students quiz raises £425 for charity
The annual ICE Northern Ireland Graduates & Students quiz was held on
the 2nd November in the Pavilion Bar, Belfast. 18 teams battled it out
across 10 rounds over the course of the evening, with Amey eventually
coming out on top. The ICE G&S committee would like to thank Farrans
and the IStructE for sponsoring the event, plus all who attended for helping
to raise £425 for Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat for Humanity NI helps to build strong, vibrant communities at
home while raising funds to support partner programmes around the
world. www.habitatni.co.uk/opendoors
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ICE NI G&S Newsletter Winter
Institution of Civil Engineers
Local Civil Engineering News
The Practical Application of CDM (NI) 2016 seminar
Following on from their successful “Guilty or Not Guilty? – Judgement Day” seminar in June, the
ICE (NI) H&S Group held a seminar on the practical application of the CDM (NI) 2016 Regulations
on 12th October. The event, held at the NI Water training centre in Antrim, was attended by 100
participants. The seminar provided an overview of the new regulations which came into force in
Northern Ireland in August 2016 and practical examples of
how they should be applied to projects.
Representatives of the HSENI were on hand to provide a
practical overview of the regulations and how they will be
enforcing these regulations. Using fictitious project examples
the remaining speakers outlined the practicalities of making
duty holder appointments, decision making processes needed and actions which should be taken to ensure successful
implementation of the regulations on projects.
The speakers also participated in several Q&A panel sessions
throughout the course of the day. This allowed members of
the audience to challenge and comment on information
which was provided.
Congratulations to ICE Northern Ireland’s newest members
Congratulations to all those who successfully undertook their professional review in Autumn 2016.
A total of 14 Graduate Members were granted full membership to the Institute at either Incorporated or Chartered Membership. Their achievements will be celebrated in ceremonies held in One
Great George Street in February 2017.
The ICE NI G&S is holding 3 written exercise groups in the new year to aid those interested in
becoming chartered. Look out for a flyer currently being circulated for more details.
The ICE has recently announced that from January, all Graduate Members will be able to
use the post nominals GMICE. GMICE will denote commitment to professional development and involvement in the profession.
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Local Civil Engineering News
QUB students learn from engineering disasters
1st and 2nd Year Civil Engineering students in the School of Natural and Built Environment at
Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB) participated in a Disasters and Hazards Exercise on 13-15th
December, sponsored by Henry Brothers
(Magherafelt) Ltd. The event, which has
been running for over 22 years, is used to
examine engineering disasters; identify
hazards; and determine technical and
human causes. Impacts on civil engineering practice are also examined, so that
students learn to appreciate the responsibilities of engineers.
Over 3 days the students were placed into groups and investigated 3 disasters and their associated
hazards. During the first and second day, student groups were advised during consultation sessions with engineering faculty, external practising engineers, health and safety professionals in the
engineering and construction industry, and a representative from the Health and Safety Executive
Northern Ireland (HSENI) who all brought a wealth of experience to the exercise. These meetings
ensured that the students understood the importance of their findings and helped them focus on
the activity.
External professionals and engineers
helping with the exercise this year
were Eddie McVeigh (professional
engineering associate), Ken Logan
(HSENI), David Sloan (retired QUB Civil
Engineering lecturer), David Logan
(Belfast City Council), Simon Wells
(AECOM), and Samuel Donaldson
(AECOM).
On the last day, the students gave group presentations and prizes were awarded to the best
groups and best individual speakers. The coordination of the event was led by Dr Debra Phillips.
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ICE NI G&S Newsletter Winter
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The Spotlight
This is where we shine the spotlight on the local apprentices, technicians, students and graduates
who all play a role in Northern Ireland’s civil engineering industry.
If you or someone you know, would like to feature in future editions of the newsletter, please
contact Peter Knox at [email protected].
Jack Gault, McAdam Design
What did you do before you
became a Work+ apprentice?
I studied Maths, Physics,
Technology & Design and
Leisure Studies for my A-Levels
at Campbell College.
How did you find out about
the scheme?
Initially, I planned to go to
university to study engineering. It was only when discussing this with a customer in my
part-time job, that I became
aware of Work+.
I mentioned it to my careers
advisor in school and she
recommended that I sign up
immediately.
Why did you apply for the
Work+ scheme?
Apprentice
I was eager to apply myself in
the working world, gaining as
much experience as possible,
whilst still having the potential
to further my education
Is it difficult to balance work
and study?
At times, it can be difficult to
juggle work at McAdam Design
and my part-time study at
Belfast Met (Millfield Campus),
but I find that it keeps things
interesting and that each helps
the other in different ways.
Things I learn at college can be
applied in many areas of work,
and new things I do in work, I
can bring into my studies or
coursework. It’s great to be
able to continue my education
whilst developing my workplace skills and making contacts in the industry.
Would you recommend the
Work+ scheme to others?
Absolutely, it is an excellent
alternative to university and
the opportunities that come
with a Work+ apprenticeship
are fantastic.
Whilst university provides
intense, in-depth study and a
qualification in a shorter
period of time. The experience
and knowledge gained in the
workplace
is
completely
unique and cannot be found
during full-time study. Having
a salary and my course fees
paid for also helps.
If you, or someone you know would like to know more about the ICE Work+ apprenticeship scheme, please visit www.ice.org.uk/near-you/uk/northern-ireland. Recruitment and
selection for September 2017 apprenticeships will commence in early 2017.
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The Spotlight
Ruth Harley, Queen’s University
Why did you choose to study
Civil Engineering at QUB?
As a civil engineer in either
industry or academia, you’ll
play an instrumental role in
planning, designing, constructing, maintaining and
managing the physical environment around us.
Why did you do a PhD?
I was offered a PhD scholarship funded by Transport NI &
Translink, to research why and
how soil creeps. It was a nice
well-rounded project which
included field work, lab testing
and numerical modelling.
Getting paid to publish papers
present research to peers,
travel all over, gain teaching
experience etc. - why wouldn’t
you do it?
What do you now do as a
researcher at QUB?
Ryan McCoy, University of Ulster
How did you come to work for
GRAHAM Construction?
After meeting members of
GRAHAMs at a careers day in
Jordanstown, I applied for a
placement with the company
and was invited for interview.
What experience did you gain
during your placement?
During my year out I worked
mainly onsite on the Tennison
Road Bridge Replacement
Project in South London.
As an undergraduate engineer
I completed the necessary
office work, including issuing
site work permits, controlling
the on and off hire of site plant
and attending site meetings.
What are the good and bad
points of working for a large
contractor?
Working for a major contractor has many positives. There
is plenty of opportunity to gain
experience in different areas
Research Fellow
I’m employed as a numerical
modeller on the ‘iSMART’
project, modelling diagnostic
cuttings and embankments
under both current and future
climate scenarios.
What’s next?
It’s looking like a busy year
ahead. As well as getting
married, my baby turning 1,
and finally graduating, I hope
to go into industry in 2017.
Student
i.e. highways, water, nuclear.
You also get to take responsibility for your own work.
Long hours and working away
from home can be a drawback,
but that’s the nature of the
work.
Did university prepare you
well for the real world.
It gave a good insight into
what to expect. However the
skills gained during my placement were invaluable.
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Look & Learn
NEC Contracts - Programming
The Accepted Programme is often described as the ‘beating heart’ of the NEC3. The use of the
programme is much more heavily emphasised in the NEC3 than it is in other standard forms of
contract such as the JCT or FIDIC etc.
The NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract requires:

The Contractor to produce and maintain a programme. Cl. 31.2 contains the details to be
included – take a look at this list, its onerous to say the least;

The Project Manager (PM) to accept, or reject it. Cl. 31.3 lists reasons for rejecting;

The Contractor to revise the programme when required. Cl. 32 includes what is to be shown
on the revised programme, and when to submit it.
The above paragraph is pretty much the contractual provisions relating to programming in a
nutshell. So why is it so important to get an accurate Accepted Programme in place?
First of all, it forms the backbone of the NEC3’s philosophy i.e. that it is a stimulus to good management. If a project can be managed properly, all parties will benefit. The Employer will get a
high quality project, on time and within budget; and the PM and Contractor will make their profit.
To use the carrot and the stick analogy, the above is the carrot – it is an incentive for all parties to
work together to get the programme accepted. However the NEC3 ECC also has a stick. Cl. 50.3
requires the PM to withhold 25% of the Price for Work Done to date if the Contractor does not
submit a programme showing the information that the contract requires.
Benefits of managing the project aside, the Accepted Programme is also used in the assessment of
‘compensation events’ i.e. events for which the Contractor is due additional time and/or money
Compensation Events (CEs) will form the focus of the next article. You can see why it is in the
interest of both the PM and Contractor to have an Accepted Programme in place – to ensure that
these events are accurately assessed so that no unfair advantage is given to either party.
In summary, the NEC3 places massive emphasis on programme. My advice would be to keep on
top of the programme, make it realistic, and work together to get it accepted for the benefit of all
involved.
by William Brown
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Look & Learn
Health & Safety - CDM (NI) 2016
CDM (NI) 2016 regulations apply to all those involved in Construction work – this includes all those
processes from commissioning the work, to planning the construction, designing and actual construction/delivery.
It therefore makes sense, that often the first party to be affected by the regulations is the Client –
both Domestic and Commercial. A Domestic client is defined as ‘those having work carried out
which is not connected with running a business’. A Commercial client is ‘an organisation or individual for whom a construction project is carried out in connection with a business…’
The Client is responsible for the overall successful management of the project. This may come as
quite a surprise for those who only occasionally commission construction work. The CDM (NI)
2016 regulations recognise this, and are therefore quite clear that the Client is not required to
take an active role in managing the work but rather will retain responsibility for appointing a
Principal Designer and Principal Contractor who are competent to manage Health & Safety
throughout the various stages.
The Client responsibility can therefore be summarised as to ‘…ensure that the construction project
is set up so that it is carried out from start to finish in a way that adequately controls the risks to
the health and safety of those who may be affected.’
A clear and concise Client Brief is often the first step undertaken by a competent Client. This
document explains what is required, outlines the vision of the project and communicates any aims
and objectives. Key persons, timescales, budgets and H&S expectations should also be included.
Following the development of a Client Brief, the Client will often move to formally appoint a
Principal Designer and a Principal Contractor, who will often lead throughout the final stages of
the Pre-Construction Phase and during the Construction Phase. This must be completed formally
i.e. in writing, otherwise the roles and associated legal duties will remain with the Client.
On project completion, a Health and Safety File should be presented to the Client. It is the responsibility of the Client to ensure that this final stage is completed and to ensure that the H&S file is
maintained, updated where appropriate and made available to anyone who may need it to comply
with H&S Law.
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