‘Unused’ asbestos type found at 3 locations

The Yomiuri Shimbun

A form of asbestos known as tremolite, thought never to have been used in this country, has been detected at three more Tokyo facilities, including a private nursery school, it has been learned.

Along with anthophyllite and actinolite, tremolite is one of three highly carcinogenic forms of asbestos that were thought to have been absent from Japan.

The discovery raises the possibility that tremolite has been widely used in Japan as a building material. Earlier this month, it was learned that surveys by municipal governments had found the three types at eight public facilities in Tokyo, Chiba and Niigata.

When repairing or demolishing a building, it is a legal requirement to check whether the building contains asbestos. However, many inspection companies have excluded tremolite from the checks, believing that there was no need to look for it.

It is likely that the existence of tremolite has thus been missed in many inspections, with such buildings continuing in use or being demolished without necessary safety precautions being taken–a likelihood that demonstrates the necessity of upgrading inspections.

The tremolite was detected on the ceiling of a boiler room at a private nursery school in December 2006, the ceiling of a pump room at a condominium in May 2007, and in the wall and beams of an office building in August 2007.

In all three cases, the tremolite had been contained in spray-on wall coatings. Concentrations of tremolite in the sprays used hit 60 percent at the nursery, 20 percent at the condominium and 7 to 10 percent at the office building. In all three cases, the tremolite was found during inspections conducted before demolition or alteration work.

Many inspection companies do not cover tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite in inspections conducted ahead of demolition works.

This time, tremolite was found at the three facilities after two foreign-affiliated companies conducted inspections based on the U.S. standard, which covers all six asbestos varieties.

If the inspections had not been done to the U.S. standard, it is likely that the tremolite would have remained undetected, with no prevention measures taken, as no other asbestos had been used at the facilities.

The carcinogenicity of tremolite is said to be the same as blue asbestos (crocidolite)–the most carcinogenic of all asbestos.

If buildings containing tremolite are demolished without taking measures to prevent the dispersal of asbestos dust, it is likely that construction workers and neighborhood residents will face grave health dangers.

According to the ministry, the aging of buildings that contain asbestos means that more and more such buildings are facing demolition or repair each year.

The ministry estimates that the period from 2020 to 2040 will see such work peak.

(Jan. 31, 2008)

The Daily Yomiuri

Alternative Building Methods in Spain

Insulated Concrete Forms are the fastest growing segment of new home construction, and for good reason

This building method offers:

Up to 70% energy savings over conventional built homes
Eco-Friendly Materials
Tornado, Hurricane and Fire Resistant
A Virtually Soundproof and Healthy Environment
Flexible Designs

With ICF both internal and external walls are insulated with polystyrene panels. Walls do not heat up during daytime and therefore cannot give back the heat during the night.

With ICF it is not necessary to install expensive central heating, a simple under floor or low watt density electrical heater will be more than sufficient to give you a very comfortable and economical heating source, by the same token in summer you will only need to run your air conditioning minimalistically - if at all.

Although ICF is a high performance product, it is not a high cost product. The speed of build produces cost savings throughout the construction phase - and beyond!

Cost savings of construction include:-

• Lightweight materials reduce the need for heavy lifting equipment
• Reduction in skilled labour requirements
• Speed of construction means less time lost to weather conditions
• Cost effective basement construction
• Roof is in place at a much earlier phase
• Reduced requirement for scaffolding
• No special lintels, cavity closers, or wallties are required
• Special shapes are easily formed from standard parts
• Smaller heating systems can be specified
• Service chases are easily formed using a small router
• Rails allow easy fastening of exterior finishes
• Rails allow quick fixing of plasterboard linings
• Most internal fixtures can attach to the horizontal rails
• Lower occurrence of shrinkage cracks to remedy

Possibly the greatest saving will be found by the early occupation and the consequent reduced cost of capital!

Cost savings once the property is occupied include:-

• Solid construction
• Reduced heating costs - for ever!
• Reduced air conditioning costs
• Lower maintenance
• Noise reduction

This very interesting short article was found on the website “citrus iberia”, and looks a very interesting company to deal with.

Oh well, back to work now i guess!

It’s been a good christmas, nice bit of time off, but I am pleasantly surprised at the continuance of customer enquiries from across Europe over the xmas period. Indeed, it was reported in the news that seasonal shopping has now become the norm, and why not!? Although I agree xmas must be kept special, its good to at least have the choice, and arranging people like us to come and see you for a quote must be more constructive than watching the TV over xmas and also dealing with indigestion!!!!!!!!

more…………………………….

(more…)

Well, what I am doing on my office computer in the xmas holidays i dont know, i reckon i work too much!!!!!!!!

I just wanted to say a happy (belated christmas) and a great new year to all of our customers. A special thank you to all our valued dealers and agents around Europe. Keep up the good work and lets hope 2008 will be an even better year than 2007.

Enjoy 2008.

From G Bell

www.neverpaintagain.co.uk

more news from south africa……………….

TILETORIA, founded as recently as 1995 and based in Paarden Eiland, has grown niftily to become the biggest player in the Western Cape’s keenly contested tile market.

Under the leadership of managing director Patrick Thonissen the company has an annual turnover of well over R100 million, which represents close 20% of the Western Cape market. Still better things are to come. Financial director Allan Duckworth tells Cape Business News the company currently holds less than 1% of the national market, estimated to be worth around R50 billion a year. But it is now aiming to grow this share of the market to in excess of 5% in the next five years as the company spreads its footprint nationally (see separate article).

He points out that the demand for tiles has grown from R25 billion five years ago to the current level of R50 billion and this figure is expected to be doubled again in the next five years.

From its single 1 500 sq m store in Paarden Eiland Tiletoria currently supplies all comers, including the man in the street, builders and lately, increasingly, corporate clients as well.

Acting as a wholesaler Tiletoria also supplies a number of smaller retailing outlets.

In all, the company has warehousing facilities totalling 5 000 sq m where tiles and a limited range of sanitary ware products to the value of R32 million are stocked.

Duckworth says 65% of Tiletoria’s tiles are imported. Lately good quality tiles have been imported from China as well.

“We expect the building in this country to continue growing strongly in the medium to long term and we will take advantage of growth opportunities to become a leading national importer and distributor of a comprehensive range of floor and wall tiles”, Duckworth says.

The product portfolio includes ceramic and porcelain tiles, as well as quarry and natural stone tiles.

“Our policy is to source only quality branded products. These have earned an excellent reputation in the Western Cape.”

“They conform to stringent international standards”, says Duckworth.

WHAT is bigger than the pyramids, more lavish than the finest palace and epitomises cutting edge environmental technology?

San Stefano, Alexandria, Egypt.

This complex comprises of hotels, apartments, offices, shopping malls, and an entertainment centre including several cinemas and carefully planned parking facilities.

Murray & Roberts was chosen as the building contractor for this ambitious complex with Marmoran being selected as the wall cladding specialist.

With the emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability, San Stefano architects and specifiers from all disciplines were in a position to select only materials and products that have been subjected to rigorous testing and comply with stringent international standards. Only proven solutions with a reputation for consistent results both locally and internationally were considered.

The final choice was based on proven products, solid financial backing and meaningful guarantees, as well as versatility in terms of sophisticated aesthetic appeal and vibrant contemporary design.

The products used were a specially modified Skimcoat and custom-designed Permaplast, finished with M180 pure acrylic paint. Part of the attraction of Marmoran products is that they can be customised for individual requirements, ensuring performance that generally outlasts their guarantees, provided they are applied by a trained, licensed applicator.

The final extent of the project involved the cladding of some 150 000 sq m of walls, for which an astonishing amount of product was supplied - 150 000 kg of Skimcoat, 300 000 kg of Permaplast and 100 000 litres of M180 acrylic paint.

Ian Matthews, Marmoran’s project manager, was on site to ensure the smooth running of this three year project.

Using its award-winning blending technology and franchising concept, the products were blended in South Africa, shipped to Alexandria in Egypt in their dry state and manufactured into wall coatings there. This manufacturing concept, together with experience, reliable delivery, flexibility, quality of application and a reputation for excellent after-sales service were fundamental factors in the decision to appoint Marmoran for this massive, high-profile project.

Almost a half century of investment in research has resulted in the creation of innovative technologies that provide results, making Marmoran a professional product of choice for commercial and residential structures.

From Cape Business news, south africa

Akzo Nobel is to sell Crown paints as part of its deal with the European Commission to secure clearance of its acquisition of ICI, which owns Dulux. It is selling manufacturing sites and warehouses in Darwen near Blackburn, Hull, Warrington, Belfast and Dublin.

Its network of Crown Decorator Centres and brands such as Crown, Permoglaze and Sandtex will also be sold.

The Commission was concerned that without the sales, Akzo would get too dominant a position in UK paints.

“We will be making every effort to ensure that these excellent businesses are transferred to the most appropriate new owners who will build on the successes that these activities have already achieved, said Hans Wijers, chief executive of Akzo Nobel.

The European Commission has now cleared the merger, as have the US Federal Trade Commission and the Canadian Competition Bureau.

I was looking forward to a break soon when i remembered……er……….we are open all through xmas!!!!!!!!

Anyway, just to let all our customers, we are open and able to respond VIA EMAIL across the holiday period, but the main switchboard (0044 121 286 8558) will close on Friday December 21st 2007 and will re-open the first working day in January.

All messages left on our voicemail answerphone  will be dealt with, don’t worry, you can still leave a message although it would be a few days until we get back to you, hope that’s cool………………

We also work across the xmas time in Spain painting the “casas”, as you do, , as of course, unlike the UK, the work we do isn’t so Dependant on good weather…….plus some of our customers in the UK visit their holiday homes in Spain at Christmas time, so don’t worry, if you need us, you can still get a message to us, and your local agent who will made contact with you if you are an existing customer, will also be available, but of course, not on Xmas day Dec 25th!……..and we can arrange with you any decorating requirements you have, which incidentally, can be booked up to 6 months in advance, provided you place a deposit with us, as of course, we are ………..er……rather busy in the summer time!

So, in summary (!) if you are perhaps off work and on holiday over xmas time and you want to arrange to get your house exterior repainted in the near future, don’t worry, send us an email, and we’ll get back to you. Please leave a phone number obviously, which as per our privacy policy, stays with us, and does not go any mailing or telemarketing lists

I would like to say also a big thank you to all of our dedicated contractors and agents in Spain, and in England. Well done and you’ve helped make 2007 a fantastic year for the NPA brand!

Have a great Christmas holiday period anyway, although I will post some more of my messages and thoughts on this blog soon enough, so catch you later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kindest regards from

Guy Alexander Bell

Editor

NPA

www.neverpaintagain.co.uk

and in spain………….

www.nomorepaintingforlife.com

Listen out for our ads on the radio.