Spec Finish

Innovation Awards 2023 26 www.thefis.org Judging panel - Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive, FIS - Chris Grant, Projects & Partnerships Manager, Digital Construction Skills - Mark Norton, Digital Construction Director, ISG - Dr Stephen Hamil, Innovation Director, NBS Winner: Fire DNA Ltd Product: FireDNA - Monitoring Passive Fire Products FireDNA is cloud-based software and a mobile app that has been developed for everyone involved in passive fire product manufacture, installation, inspection, management and maintenance. As well as for those that live and work within environments where passive fire products are installed. Its core objective is to facilitate and deliver structured, unambiguous and accessible data, to the right people at the time they need it. FireDNA improves processes by connecting everyone in the chain of responsibility, creating a ‘live digital conduit’, that gets the right information, to the right people, at the time of need. This in turn helps and supports decision making and improves competencies. Its software catalogues a manufacturers product data, digitally shares it with contractors and installers, who in turn add their installation data, passing that onto building owners, facilities managers and tenant management organisations. The data can then be used by Building Control, maintenance teams, fire inspectors and viewed by tenants and residents alike, with a simple swipe of a smartphone or mobile device. FireDNA delivers time efficiencies and cost savings for all user groups. Architects and designers can specify FireDNA enabled products from accredited manufacturers and suppliers, knowing that all the relevant safety and procedural data and information will be readily available, digitally attached to the product on delivery, and accessible via the cloud. For manufacturers, it streamlines the ‘paper trail’ reducing the need for printed certificates, installation guides and DoPs, saving thousands per annum on printing new and replacement certificates. For contractors and installers, it saves time and money when it comes to providing evidence that installations have been performed in accordance with the required level of competency and standards. This is achieved by cataloguing the installation as it’s undertaken, as it enables the installer to photographically capture key aspects along with supporting notes. This is particularly useful where elements of the installation are no longer visible when completed. Judges’ Comments The judges explained that this product has huge potential to help support information management through the entire supply chain for fire critical products such as Fire Doors. They said: “With Golden Thread at the forefront of our minds it is exciting to be presented with something that has really sought to understand the journey of the product and the needs of people at each stage as it leaves the manufacturer through to when it is inspected in a live building.” To find out more visit: www.fire-dna.com Digital innovation – sponsored by Payapps Shortlisted: Errigal Contracts and Mafic Product: MAFIC FAIRPAY Recognising the challenge of trying to recruit and retain good people, particularly in the current market, Errigal collaborated with Mafic and introduced its innovative technology to transform how the company engages, motivates and rewards its tradespeople. Mafic’s wearable FAIRPAY devices recognise what activities the wearer is performing from the movement of their head to a very high level of accuracy, giving the user a productivity score for the day, and gives them indicators for where they can improve – a bit like a construction version of a Fitbit, but much more accurate. With FAIRPAY, individuals can understand if they’ve had a good or bad day, and why. To complement this Errigal introduced a performance-pay scheme that gives everyone the chance to earn up to 10%more based on a combination of individual and team performance. To find out more visit: www.errigalcontracts.com, www.mafic.ltd FireDNA mobile app in operation Recognising outstanding innovation in the digital landscape that is contributing to demonstrable improvements in efficiency or quality outcomes related to interior systems. Shortlisted: Chalkstring Product: Chalkstring Chalkstring is a cloud-based cost management software platform. The brainchild of Product Director Stuart Friend, who, with a background in construction law, was horrified that multi-million-pound construction contracts are often managed using the ‘back of a fag packet’. Developed entirely for interior fit-out contractors, it improves how complex project financials are managed from initial pricing through to final account. At high level, Chalkstring is an integrated systemthat encapsulates the entire project lifecycle fromestimating and takeoff, through to procurement, valuations, real-time reporting andmuchmore. It is used as a collaboration platformby thewhole project team, typically comprising estimators, buyers, quantity surveyors, commercial managers, directors, admin/accounts teams - and even site staff – streamlining processes and improving efficiency across the entire business. To find out more visit: www.chalkstring.com