by Clair Mooney | 6 Jun, 2022 | Building Safety Act
There have been further changes to fire safety requirements in the Building Regulations and the use of non-combustible materials in and on the external walls of new flats, hospitals, student, school accommodation and dormitory buildings (originally introduced in 2018).
The announced changes take into account responses to the consultation process in 2020 and extend the scope of the requirements for non-combustible materials to cover hotels, hostels and boarding houses. Other updates to the regulations include the following recommendations:
- include elements of solar shading devices within the scope of the ban
- amend the list of materials exempt from the ban to include fibre optic cables and insulation materials 300mm from ground level
- update the requirement of the ban to refer to the latest version of the British Standard classification for materials used on high-rise residential buildings
- temporarily exempt cavity trays
- amend the requirements for material change of use in buildings
The cavity tray exemption is significant in the SFS sector as the exemption previously applied to:
(a) cavity trays when used between two leaves of masonry;
Whilst this statement remains unamended in the Approved Documents the changes announced in June 2022 include the following recommendation:
Exemptions – The legislation will amend the list of materials exempted from the combustible materials ban to include fibre optic cables and insulation up to 300mm from ground level. We will also provide an 18-month temporary relaxation for cavity trays in all forms of construction.
To support this Government has issued a dispensation notice that allows use of cavity trays that do not achieve the strict performance requirements of the ban – this exemption therefore comes into effect from the 1st June 2022. FIS continues to work with officials and colleagues at the Construction Products Association to try to understand the rationale behind the temporary relaxation and what this means longer term.
The announcement also carries a number of recommended changes including allowing for new statutory guidance to restrict the combustibility of materials used in and on the external walls of residential buildings, between 11-18m in height. This will mean that lower risk developments between 11-18m “must meet necessary safety standards – while allowing designers and developers flexibility to use environmentally friendly materials.” Further consultation is anticipated on this aspect in the coming months.
A complete ban is to be introduced on the use of metal composite material with un-modified polyethylene core in all buildings of any height.
Unless specified, changes to the Building Regulations will come into force on 1 December 2022 (in line with the full publication of the revised Approved Document B).
We will continue to keep you updated, but if you have any comments you would like to feed in at this stage to our ongoing discussions with officials at DCHLUC, please don’t hesitate to play them in via joecilia@thefis.org
Full details available here.
Note this move will (for the period of the exemption) align more closely with the Scottish Building Standards that were extended on the 1 June to cover Buildings 11-18m. These also exempt Cavity Trays from the combustible material list: Changing legislation in Scotland – FIS (thefis.org)
This announcement coincides with the publication of a booklet containing ammendments to Approved Document B that will come into force from the 1st December 2022.
Cavity Tray Exemption – Further Details
Extract from the consultation response related to the Temporary Exemption of Cavity Trays:
In our consultation we proposed several changes to the list of exemptions in Regulation 7(3) including the temporary exemption of cavity trays in all forms of construction and the extension of the exemption of waterproofing and insulation materials.
Cavity trays are an essential wall component, installed in wall cavities to capture moisture that penetrates the outer face of the wall, preventing damp. Cavity trays are currently exempt only when used between walls constructed of two leaves of masonry. This type of construction is not common in modern high-rise buildings and industry has adapted by using stainless steel to produce cavity trays. However, industry has highlighted that this incurs excessive cost and there are issues with supply, installation and durability. Stainless steel is considered less durable than a plastic cavity tray and does not effectively prevent damp. There is increased potential for health and safety issues to arise if these products fail to adequately prevent moisture ingress and damp in buildings.
We are aware of some compliant non-combustible product on the market, however some industry stakeholders have expressed concerns over the installation of this product that may result in poor performance and issues of damp in buildings. We are aware that some developers have been unable to get a new homes warranty, making the homes unsaleable, due to concerns over the performance of non-combustible cavity trays.
The consultation proposed a temporary 18-month relaxation of the ban as it relates to cavity trays pursuant to Section 11 of the Building Act 1984. This would enable this matter to be resolved temporarily while maintaining industry momentum to develop adequate non-combustible alternatives. 68% of consultation respondents agreed with the proposal.
In the interest of health and safety, we will issue a type relaxation to allow industry to use cavity trays that do not achieve the strict performance requirements of the ban. We do not believe it is appropriate to permanently exempt cavity trays as it would hinder innovation in development of additional compliant products. It remains the clear intention of this government to ensure that non-combustible cavity trays are used in the external walls of building where they are already readily available and after the temporary exemption lapses.
by Clair Mooney | 31 May, 2022 | Main News Feed
The construction supply chain extended its run of strong growth into 2022, in spite of existing price and supply issues being exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In Q1, construction product manufacturers reported an increase in sales, and SME builders, chartered surveyors and civil engineering contractors all reported further growth in workloads during the quarter. Continuing the trend since lockdowns were eased in 2020, private housing and RM&I remained the main drivers of growth, confirmed by official ONS data which showed output from the latter sector well above its pre-pandemic level in 2022 Q1.
Encouragingly, expectations for activity and workloads over the next 12 months remained upbeat throughout the supply chain. This optimism comes despite further pressure on prices during the quarter, the wider impact on demand and the economy resulting from the rising cost of living, and renewed uncertainty and volatility in energy and commodities linked to the situation in Ukraine
The CPA’s Construction Trade Survey brings together results from surveys of building contractors, specialist contractors, civil contractors and product manufacturers. It provides a pan-industry assessment of current and expected conditions.
by Clair Mooney | 31 May, 2022 | Skills
A number of improvements and simplifications to apprenticeships will come into force from August 2022.
Over the past five years apprenticeships have been transformed into a high-quality skills programme for learners and employers. Employers have created more than 640 standards to meet their skills needs, training is delivered by registered providers which are regularly inspected, and apprentices complete rigorous end-point assessment, so employers know that they are fully competent in their role.
Having reformed the apprenticeships programme, the Department for Education now want to make it simpler to use for employers, training providers and apprentices themselves. To this end, apprenticeships will be further improved from August 2022.
Minister for Skills Alex Burghart said: “We have transformed apprenticeships so they offer a high-quality route into professions as diverse as engineering, healthcare, and digital for young people starting their careers, or adults hoping to retrain and upskill. We now want to focus on making the system as simple and user-friendly as possible, reducing bureaucratic burdens on employers and providers and giving apprentices the best possible experience.”
These improvements include:
- Making it simpler for individuals to accelerate their apprenticeship by placing a greater focus on provider assessment of prior learning and experience. By improving how providers take account of this at the start of their apprenticeship and funding them to do a robust upfront assessment, apprentices will be able to cut out training they do not require and complete their apprenticeship more quickly. This means that they can spend more time in the workplace and will become fully competent sooner, boosting employer productivity and their own earnings potential.
- Introduce a consistent baseline for off-the-job training, specifying the minimum number of hours that a full-time apprentice must spend in training. This will simplify the reporting for providers and create a level-playing field among apprentices who are on the same standard but working different hours. This means that apprentices who work more than 30 hours a week will be able to spend more time on the job delivering for employers, while still getting the vital training they need to complete their apprenticeships.
- Changing English and maths requirements for those Level 2 apprentices who start with the lowest level of prior attainment in English and maths. People who start a L2 apprenticeship without L1 English and maths will no longer need to automatically attempt L2 English and Maths tests to complete their apprenticeship. It will mean that thousands of L2 apprentices can focus on securing a L1 English and Maths qualification with only those who are really ready to take the Level 2 tests attempting them.
- Provide a more efficient payment service for providers by reducing the data needed to make payments and improving Apprenticeship Service financial reports, helping providers understand what they are being paid for each apprenticeship and why. DfE will start testing these improvements towards the end of the year. They will also do more to ensure that all employers promptly receive their £1,000 additional support payment if they take on an eligible young apprentice. Having engaged employers and providers on changing payment profiles, DfE received a clear message that system simplicity is the priority for them, so they are not making changes to our payment profiles.
More details on forthcoming changes
The changes to recognition of prior learning, off-the-job training and English and maths are due to come into effect in August 2022 and are outlined in the draft apprenticeship funding rules for main providers (August 2022 to July 2023), the draft Apprenticeship funding rules for employer-providers (August 2022 to July 2023) and the draft Apprenticeship funding rules and guidance for employers (August 2022 to July 2023) All three documents are available on GOV.UK.
The rules are issued in draft to give providers and employers an opportunity to provide feedback on how we can make them clearer or better understood. Please email any suggestions to fundingrules.comments@education.gov.uk by 24 June 2022. Following a review of feedback, we will then issue a final version of the rules in July.
George Swann FIS Skills and Training Lead says, “Any improvement to simplify the system of qualifying people through apprenticeships is most welcome. FIS are here to help employer members navigate the process from recruiting apprentices to celebrating achievement. Take a look at the FIS Apprentice – Guidance for Employers. Most employers will be eligible for financial support including an extra £2000 grant from CITB. If you would like to chat through the various options give us a call on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org”.
by Clair Mooney | 27 May, 2022 | Technical
Recent changes to Part L Conservation of fuel and power come into effect on 15 June 2022 where you are working in residential buildings.
From Wednesday 15 June a requirement to provide photographic evidence of junction of internal walls to external envelope of a building come into force. FIS has produced a technical note to provide members with information and advice on how to meet this requirement.
by Clair Mooney | 27 May, 2022 | Technical, Transformation
The conclusion of LEXiCON’s first phase is a major step toward creating trustworthy and reliable, digital structured product information in a standardised way across the industry.
Developed by the Construction Innovation Hub (the Hub), in partnership with the Construction Products Association (CPA), the LEXiCON project is seeking to standardise construction product information and support manufacturers in sharing product information freely across the industry.
Detailed in a report published today, the first phase of LEXiCON sets out a methodology for the creation and ongoing management of ‘Product Data Templates’. By creating a consistent approach across the building industry, LEXiCON will make it easier for people to upload, categorise and compare data between products. You can find out more information about this latest step from LEXiCON here.
by Clair Mooney | 27 May, 2022 | Health and Safety
Every week, workers in the construction industry develop serious lung diseases that can have a devastating impact on them and their families. During June, HSE will be carrying out a health inspection initiative focusing on the respiratory risks to construction workers from exposure to dust. The initiative aims to support industry by
raising awareness of health issues in relation to dust exposure to improve the long-term health of those working in construction. It is part of HSE’s wider-phased, strategic plan developed to improve health within the construction industry.
Rights and responsibilities when working on a construction site
Employers: Regardless of the size of your business, you have a legal responsibility to protect workers’ health.
Plan jobs to eliminate the risks from dust where you can. Otherwise, use measures to control dust and minimise the risk.
Construction workers: Don’t gamble with your future health by taking unnecessary risks today. Talk to your employer about the risks from dust and how to avoid them.
by Clair Mooney | 26 May, 2022 | Skills
The Levy Order 2022 has now been approved by Government, which means the CITB Levy returns to its pre‐pandemic rates of 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for Net CIS. CITB has confirmed it will be issuing Levy Assessment Notices in June and the last date for employers to submit their completed 2021 Levy Return is Sunday 22 May.
by Clair Mooney | 26 May, 2022 | Skills
CITB has published its Business Plan 2022/23 setting out how it will invest over £233 million to support the industry to address its skills challenges. The plan is focussed on three key areas: responding to the skills demand, developing the capacity and capability of training provision, and addressing future skills needs.
This comes at the same time as the CITB Levy rates are announced to be returning to pre-pandemic levels. The Levy Order 2022 has been approved by Government, which means the CITB Levy rates will revert to 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for Net CIS.
FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee said:
“Whilst the FIS membership voted against concensus, the wider vote didn’t follow and the organisation now has the statutory support it needs to continue to collect the levy. It is important from here that we work with CITB to ensure, not that we all get our money back, but that our investment in levy is returned in spades to help us to address the profound skills and labour shortages that we have and that we address the challenges that are making recruitment a struggle. The three core pillars in here around attracting and retaining people, focussing on the capacity and capability of training provision and looking at the wider areas of construction management are all fundamental to success for the sector and so FIS will be working with CITB to translate these for our sector and ensure our members are aware of and able to access all the support available in an efficient and that it is better targeted to support the needs of the flexible workforce that is construction. One thing we learned from our recent recruitment interventions is that there is a lot of support out there, some of it excellent, but that we are not consistently using it as a community.”
This plan heralds a new era for CITB, not only through its simplified look and feel, but for how they will approach their role in supporting the construction industry to address the skills challenges it faces. First it addresses the skills demand at a local level by putting training infrastructure in place to meet the changing needs of industry. Second, it explores where the greatest value for the Construction Industry Levy will be placed. And third, it examines where CITB can pull the levers to transformation, so that training is directed at meeting short and long-term industry challenges.
by Clair Mooney | 26 May, 2022 | Main News Feed
ISG is the latest FIS member to adopt the Common Assessment Standard for its pre‐qualification (PQ) requirements.
ISG’s Head of Supply Chain Rob Scriven commented that “removing the burden of administration and eliminating inefficient practices is a win for us all”. ISG joins a growing list of organisations using the Common Assessment Standard, and members of the supply chain can now obtain just one certification from any of the four Recognised Assessment Bodies ‐ Achilles, CHAS, Constructionline and CQMS ‐ in order to tender for work with them.
The Common Assessment Standard has two levels of certification ‐ desktop and site‐based ‐ and companies should apply for the appropriate level depending on their trade, size and the requirements of their clients.
FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated: “It is encouraging to see members getting behind the CAS. We talk about waste in construction all the time, but at the heart of our industry there is a pointless duplication of effort built around competing PQQ processes. Pre-qualification in principle should save us time and efforts to standardise and adopt a common approach are to be applauded”.
What this means for FIS Specialist Sub contractors:
When working for ISG they will not be specifying a specific PQQ process you will be able to use any of the four recognised CAS assessment tools in order to qualify for work.
FIS ran a webinar on the benefits of the Common Assessment Standard in February 2022
Linked news: May 2022
Common Assessment Standard updated to reflect UK sanctions list
by Clair Mooney | 25 May, 2022 | Main News Feed
The CICV is calling on the Scottish Government to intervene and help address concerns raised by Scottish construction businesses over the introduction of the new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) mark.
The unique alliance’s Post-Brexit and Trade Group has written to Business Minister Ivan McKee (pictured above) requesting assistance as CICV businesses grapple with new UKCA conformity assessment and certification arrangements that replace CE Marking after 31 December this year.
The UK Government is introducing a new “UK Conformity Assessed” mark for goods placed on the market in Great Britain from 1 January 2023. Ministers seek new powers to end the recognition of CE Marking in favour of UKCA Marking in the recently passed Building Safety Act.
CICV has highlighted the deep frustration among manufacturers and importers that there is at present no route to accept historic test data and reports from EU Notified Bodies for use in complying with UKCA Marking.
This poses a particular problem, it says, for goods in relation to the Assessment and Verification of Performance (AVCP) System 3. If manufacturers and distributors want to continue selling their goods in Great Britain, they have to be re-tested and certified by an accredited UK Approved Body.
The CICV is concerned at the lack of progress between the UK Government and individual companies, trade associations and certification and testing bodies to prepare properly.
It argues that there is insufficient testing capacity and capability for manufacturers to have their goods assessed and certified for the British market, using UK-based Approved Bodies, by the end of this calendar year.
The letter says: “There are simply not enough approved companies or qualified people to conduct the huge number of assessments and certifications required to gain UKCA Marking in time.
“For example: there are no UK Approved Bodies able to test:
- insulation: most types of pipe insulation and duct insulation;
- trench heating: most types for residential, commercial & municipal buildings;
- renders: several types of synthetic renders and render-based brick slips;
- glass: several types of coated and laminated glass inc. mirrors;
- plastic pipes: several types of thermoplastic pipes for underground drainage.
“For other goods, there are scant few UK Approved Bodies available:
- radiators: only one approved company whose entire annual capacity is fully booked;
- fire doors: only two approved companies for smoke leakage tests;
- sealants: only one approved company – most tests take up to 3 months to allow for curing.”
The CICV says that with continued uncertainty about as-yet-unknown future regulations, large capital costs for SMEs to invest in more or new equipment and facilities and next-to-no time available to find and train specialist staff, there is little appetite for businesses to take the plunge.
The letter says: “Whitehall has told businesses to prepare for the end of CE Marking on 31 December 2022. Legislation is required but the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) cannot give a firm date for this.
“The risk is that faced with ongoing difficulties – like higher raw material, energy, labour and transport costs and other inflationary pressures – businesses do not bother, hoping somebody will come up with answers in time.”
It continues: “CICV says the situation is fast becoming serious for British manufacturers who are already spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on testing to both UK and EU standards. With eight months to go, there are too many unresolved questions about post-2023 arrangements.
“The preferred solution is for ministers to pause now that the Building Safety Act is on the statute book and take heed of what industry is telling them. The CICV view is that deferring the 31 December 2022 date is obvious and necessary and UK ministers should move quickly to say so and dispel uncertainty.
“Drafting the statutory instruments to bring in new provisions is critical and must be done correctly to avoid unintended consequences that harm British businesses. It is sensible and pragmatic to delay the secondary legislation to allow business to prepare properly.
“If the situation described is not resolved (and soon), the logical conclusion is that goods cannot be sold after 1 January – and construction, housebuilding and property RMI will slow down or stop.”
The letter concludes with the CICV asking the Scottish Government to recognise the concerns expressed and to see if there is scope within devolved powers to assist. “Any representations you can make to the UK Government on our behalf would be gratefully appreciated”, it adds.
Alan Wilson, MD of SELECT, the representative trade body of Scotland’s electro-mechanical sector, and who chairs the CICV, said: “With this submission to Mr McKee we are hopeful that that the Scottish Government can bring its influence to bear on this matter and allay the well-founded fears of CICV members.”
by Clair Mooney | 23 May, 2022 | Main News Feed
In this landmark marketing report, NBS and Glenigan deliver the results of their first joint marketing survey, the ‘Construction Manufacturers’ Marketing Index’.
The report covers:
- Trends for using particular channels or tools
- Differences in approach within the industry and how it compares with other industries
- Experiences and methods used by different companies
- Marketing budgets – and how they are being applied across marketing channels
It also contains people’s perceptions of marketing in construction, and what the future marketing landscape could look like for the industry.
FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee said:
“It is ever more interesting to compare how communication is developing. Design and specification continues to evolve almost as fast as the channels and methods open to reach them – it isn’t getting any easier to target information in the right format in order to win and protect specifications. It is great to be collaborating with Glennigans, NBS and other leading trade bodies to deepen our understanding and help better target resources of our members”.
This report is incredibly valuable to those supplying products to the construction industry: a way of benchmarking your marketing against others and, perhaps, learning something new that you can apply in the year ahead.
by Clair Mooney | 20 May, 2022 | Membership
FIS has a suite of Specifiers Guide, and earlier this month we published the fourth in our series focussing on Partitioning. You can access this guide, along with others covering Ceilings and Absorbers, Drylining and SFS here. Two of these guides have now gained RIBA CPD accreditation, and we will be putting the others forward for accreditation in the coming months.
These guides work well when they are included in proposals and project plans to demonstrate how to best approach a project. They are also good differentiators when in competition with a non-member, and are an excellent introduction to new members of the team and any trainees and apprentices.
But our offering doesn’t stop there. We also have a dedicated Knowledge Hub packed full of resources for our sector. Our easy-to-use online library contains a wide variety of material, covering contractual and legal, technical guidance and quality standards, drawn from a broad range of sources. The Knowledge Hub is constantly expanding, with up-to-date and topical material added on a regular basis.
In addition a member of our in-house technical team is only a phone call away to offer support to help you navigate the complexity of contracting and supplying products to the sector.
by Clair Mooney | 20 May, 2022 | Building Safety Act
The Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the Phase 1 report noted that “Fire doors play an essential role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and in preserving the effective compartmentation of buildings.” The Inquiry noted that the fire doors in Grenfell Tower did not, through damage and/or disrepair, act in the way that they should so that they prevent smoke and gases from spreading. The Inquiry recommended (Recommendations 33.29 (a) and (b)) that the owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings carry out an urgent inspection of all fire doors to ensure compliance with current legislative standards and that regular (no less than every three months) checks be carried out to ensure all fire doors are fitted with an effective self-closing device which is in working order. In addition, the Inquiry recommended (Recommendation 33.30) that all those who have responsibility for the condition of the entrance doors to individual flats in high-rise residential buildings (with unsafe cladding) be required by law to ensure these doors comply with current standards.
Prior to the Fire Safety Act 2021, flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings may not have been routinely considered as part of the fire risk assessment process. The Fire Safety Act 2021 has removed the legal ambiguity and confirms that flat entrance doors are in scope of the Fire Safety Order.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will make it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for responsible persons for all multi-occupied residential buildings in England with storeys over 11 metres in height to:
- Undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts; and,
- Undertake – on a best endeavour basis – annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead onto a building’s common parts.
The regulations will also require responsible persons to provide to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (that have common parts) information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.
by Clair Mooney | 19 May, 2022 | Skills
The recent FIS regional events identified the challenge of retaining people in apprenticeships and training to the point of successful completion, it is estimated approximately 30% of those who start construction apprenticeships do not complete. There are a number of reasons for this, but key is ensuring that we have the management processes and support mechanisms in place to support young people in our businesses. It is widely acknowledged that organisations that have dedicated coaches and mentors experience higher retention rates across all levels of the workforce, but this isn’t easy to implement and there hasn’t been enough support and training to help.
The Strategic Development Network (SDN), a team of leading specialists in apprenticeships, technical education and workforce development has been working with Government and Industry Bodies to address this concern. SDN are hosting a one hour webinar on the role of the line manager and mentor on the 31 May. The focus will be on hosting young people in the workplace who are engaged on government backed schemes that prepare them for work, T-Levels and Traineeships, potentially the finishes and interiors sectors future workforce.
Here are the details:
The role of the line manager and mentor – hosting young people in the workplace – 31 May 2022, 2-3pm
In this 1-hour webinar, SDN will cover:
- The role of line managers throughout the placement
- Creating a mentoring culture and identifying suitable mentors
- Setting up an effective mentoring scheme – supporting young people to succeed in the workplace
- Staff development – mentoring, coaching and interpersonal skills
- Case study insights from those already offering industry placements
- The government support available to help you
There is no charge for this session. You can register your place here
FIS look forward to seeing you online.
by Clair Mooney | 19 May, 2022 | Building Safety Act
Building Safety – First stage complete in journey towards fully competent installer workforce
The construction and built environment sector must maintain momentum to ensure the competence of installation organisations and employees as a key report highlights ‘red flags’ amid wider progress on Building Safety.
A report has been published setting out the current state of competence arrangements for those installing products and systems in buildings. Prepared by members of Working Group 2, which was set up as part of the post-Grenfell Competence Steering Group, volunteers from Working Group 2 have worked with six pilot installer sectors – Dry Lining, Domestic Plumbing and Heating, Fire Detection and Alarms, Fire Stopping Specialist, Rainscreen Cladding, and Roofing – to benchmark existing competence arrangements.
This Pilot – Phase One stage sets a baseline to identify shortfalls and considers the changes needed to create competence frameworks that comply with the recommendations of Setting the Bar. In 2020, Setting the Bar outlined how industry must improve the competence of those procuring, designing, constructing, inspecting, assessing, managing, installing and maintaining higher risk residential buildings.
The report recognises that good practice exists in each of the six sectors that allows them to demonstrate elements of competence. Yet there are elements of each sectors’ arrangements that the working group has red rated, showing that significant work is required to meet the requirements of Setting the Bar.
Each sector will now move to develop sector-specific competence frameworks that play to existing strengths and close off any red flag issues raised in the report. This process – which will also develop a timeline and implementation plan for each sector – is expected to take six to nine months.
The report also calls on other installer sectors to begin their own competence journey now, offering guidance to help them do so which Working Group 2 has developed during the pilots.
Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive who was a participant in the Dry Lining pilot, said:
“FIS has taken an active role in this work and will continue to work with our members and the wider sector to ensure that competency is understood, the support mechanisms needed to deliver a competent workforce are in place and that we are able to track, manage and reward competence effectively. We have championed and led the Dry Lining work because it is an important part of most building operations, it is a labour intensive process and frankly has been hugely undervalued in the construction process. This work is the building block, a fresh start not only to delivering a better competency framework, but helping to raise the profile and change expectations about the vital work that dry liners do. We do not underestimate the enormity of this task given the current socioeconomic backdrop, but do recognise that it is essential work that we must take on together.”
Mark Reynolds, Sponsor for the CLC’s People and Skills Network, said:
“Publication of Working Group 2’s latest report marks an important milestone in progress towards improved standards of installer competence in the built environment. The CLC will continue to do all we can to assist with the pilots and I would urge other installer sectors now to embark on their own competence journeys, drawing on the resources which Working Group 2 has provided.”
Nick Jarman, Chair of Working Group 2, said:
“There has been much collaboration since the formation of Working Group 2, focussed on how we can learn from the lessons of the past and forge a new pathway of improvement for the future with the objective of providing a safer built environment overall. I would like to thank sector representatives and my Working Group 2 colleagues for getting the pilot process to the point this report can be published. Working Group 2 looks forward to further engagement and collaboration with the wider installer sector to continue progress on this crucial workstream.”
by Clair Mooney | 16 May, 2022 | Building Safety Act
After receiving Royal Assent on 28 April 2022 the Building Safety Bill is now available for scrutiny.
FIS will continue to look at how the Bill will impact our community and will keep members up-to-date with developments. We have prepared an initial summary of the key implications that you can access here.
FIS is committed to supporting our members with compliance and ensuring the Bill supports a better safety and a more collaborative approach to procurement.
by Clair Mooney | 13 May, 2022 | Sustainability
Net Zero is rapidly becoming a high priority and therefore the FIS Sustainability Group has put together a series of papers to help FIS members understand more about the net zero agenda and its relevance to the finishes and interior sector. These papers provide members with an overview of:
- How to measure the whole life carbon impacts of products and projects using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach
- What net zero means at project and organisational levels and approaches to measuring the carbon footprint of an organisation
- An action plan for the sector to start getting a better understanding of the performances of FIS members
These papers provide an overview of the most commonly used jargon in relation to the topic, how to measure, what the drivers are and references to other relevant information.
They are freely available to FIS members at https://www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/sustainablility/sustainability-related-to-your-activities/net-zero/
by Clair Mooney | 13 May, 2022 | Main News Feed
The FIS Contractors Awards showcase the very best of our industry and after months of project visits, we are excited to announce that our judges have determined their shortlist.
To see who made the shortlist click here
The FIS Contractors Awards aim to promote and encourage high levels of craftsmanship in the finishes and interiors sector. The standard of entries into this year’s Contractors Awards was extremely high, so congratulations to all companies that entered.
The winners in each category, along with the the architect or interior designer of the winning project, will be announced in front of a packed audience at the FIS Awards Lunch on 9 June at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. The event is now sold-out, so if you would like to attend but haven’t yet booked, get in touch with clairmooney@thefis.org and we will add you to the waiting list.
by Clair Mooney | 12 May, 2022 | Building Safety Act, Technical
Developers in Scotland will be banned from using combustible cladding on high‐rise buildings from 1 June, following the introduction of new building standards legislation. Since 2005, new cladding systems on high‐rise blocks of flats have either had to use non‐combustible materials or pass a large‐scale fire test. However, the new legislation removes the option of the fire test, prohibiting such materials from being used on domestic and other high‐risk buildings above 11 metres. The highest risk metal composite cladding material will be banned from all new buildings whatever their height, with replacement cladding also required to meet the new standards.
FIS has reviewed the proposals and note that Cavity Trays that caused some disruption in England and Wales are in the list of exemptions and consistent with the work we did with Scottish Government on buildings greater than 18 m.
Scottish Procurement Policy Note (SPPN) 02/2022 will also be introduced from 1 June, which sets out how public sector bodies are to embed prompt payment performance in the supply chain through procurement processes. Suppliers will have to pay 95% of valid invoices on time, or provide an improvement plan, otherwise they will not be selected to bid.
by Clair Mooney | 12 May, 2022 | Main News Feed
Due to the unprecedented situation in Ukraine, which has led to a growing list of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, Build UK will be adding a new question to the Common Assessment Standard to enable the construction supply chain to demonstrate that it is not dealing with any companies or individuals subject to the UK Sanctions List. Version 3.1 will be published on 1 July and suppliers will be required to answer the new question when they next go through the certification process for the Common Assessment Standard.
We are continuing to roll out the Common Assessment Standard across the industry and our new infographic shows how it is improving efficiency and reducing cost in the pre‐qualification (PQ) process.
