Leeds Beckett teams up with ARC on ‘digital golden thread’
Digital construction experts at the university and the Leeds-based ARC Building Solutions are collaborating on a product that will monitor the installation quality of fire prevention products on building sites.
The product will use AI predictive models and data monitoring to check both the quality of the building product installation, and automatically identify incorrect or faulty installations.
The aim is to ensure safe installation of said products by sub-contractors on site.
ARC is a manufacturer of cavity fire barriers and cavity closers.
The 33-month project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership, part funded by the UK Research and Innovation, through Innovate UK.
The KTP is being led by Saheed Ajayi, professor of digital construction and project management in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at LBU.
He said: “Using the unique expertise of our Construction Informatics and Digital Enterprise Laboratory at LBU, we will support ARC in creating the ARC Remote Quality Monitoring, which will provide an interactive two-way feedback loop and build a database of key information about building products and installation.
“This KTP supports a significant step towards addressing the need in the construction sector for a digital golden thread, whilst enabling ARC to position themselves ahead in the sector.”
George Danzey-Smith, director of commercial and technical at ARC, said: “We have identified that monitoring installation with certifiable compliance is likely to become a ‘must’ in the construction sector.
“Building the ARQM supports our strategic ambition to be the first in our sector to proactively address and meet key recommendations within the Hackitt Report – the independent review of building regulations, particularly their impact on fire safety following the Grenfell tragedy.
“The innovative new solution will support our ambition to achieve more regulated assurance that our fire prevention products are correctly installed by sub-contractors and developers.”