THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY THROUGH THE CENTURIES
As we face the 4th Industrial Revolution, Howard Insurance take a look back over the centuries, stopping off at some significant dates in construction history along the way.
The Middle Ages – Craft Guilds were formed
To be a member of a guild meant you were skilled in your trade and working to a certain standard as upheld by your contemporaries. It acted as a guarantee for work carried out, much in the same way as accreditations and certifications do today. Anyone found to be cheating members of the public could be fined, made to work for free, or expelled from their guild.
1666 – Great Fire of London
The London Building Act of 1667 allowed surveyors to enforce regulations, which stipulated that all houses were to be built of brick or stone. This is after the great fire wiped out 80% of the city, which comprised of overhanging timber houses.
The 1760s – Canals support industrialisation
Canals allowed for easier transportation of raw materials including coal, iron and limestone. The impact of James Brindley’s Worsley to Manchester canal alone was immense, as the seven-mile stretch halved the price of coal. The Canal Age paved the way for Britain to become the world’s first industrial power.
1818 – The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is formed
Three engineers met in a coffee shop to form the world’s first professional engineering body. Two years later, they appointed Thomas Telford as its first President, who in turn secured ICE’s Royal Charter in 1828.
1906 – The Ritz opens its doors
Designed by Swedish engineer Sven Bylander, the Ritz was the first large steel structure in London. Construction began early the previous year and was completed by October 1905. The project was described in the “Builder’s Journal” and “Architectural Engineer” as “the finest example in England of the use of American Techniques.”
1979 – The beginning of Management contracting
Suited to large-scale construction projects, the role of a management contractor is to take responsibility for the day to day supervision and schedule of a project.
2007 – Wembley stadium completed
The UK’s largest stadium and the 2nd largest in Europe, Wembley was built by Australian firm Multiplex and features 90,000 seats, a partially retractable roof, and its iconic 440ft arch.
2016 – Deadline for government BIM mandate
Building Information Modelling (BIM) reduces the risk of error on a project by allowing collaborators to work from a single source of information.
The Government 2011 Construction Strategy (GCS) stipulated that all centrally procured Government projects were to require 3D BIM by 2016.
Whatever the nature of your construction project, call Howard Insurance Services on 0191 296 1666 to discuss your insurance needs.