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Changes to draft regulations concerning the Building Safety Bill

Changes to draft regulations concerning the Building Safety Bill

by | 15 Oct, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical

Gov.UK have published the following updates of draft regulation concerning the Building Safety Bill which is currently going through Parliament. These are:

The Construction Products Regulations 2022

  • These regulate the safety of construction products being placed on the UK market.
  • Part 2 sets out a general safety requirement which all construction products must meet
  • Part 3 sets out provisions with respect to safety-critical products, how safety-critical standards may be developed and by whom (BSI) as well as giving the obligations for economic operators
  • Part 4 requires economic operators not to make false or misleading claims about construction products
  • Part 5 covers enforcement
  • Part 6 makes clear that nothing in the regulation will prevent lawfully CE marked construction products from being placed on the NI market
  • Part 7 extends to GB only and makes provision for qualifying NI goods to be placed on the GB market.

The Higher-Risk Buildings (Prescribed Principles for Management of Building Safety Risks) Regulations 2022
These regulations set out the principles an accountable person must follow in taking all reasonable steps to prevent a building safety risk materialising or reducing the severity of any incident resulting from  a risk materialising.

Other updates can be found in the following documents:

  • The Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2021
  • The Buildings (Appointment of Persons, Industry Competence and Duty holders) (England) Regulations 2021
  • The Building (Higher-Risk Buildings) (England) Regulations 2022
  • The Building (Restricted Activities and Functions)(Engalnd0 Regulations 2022

All these documents are available here.

If you have any feedback, please email iainmcilwee@thefis.org

CPA publishes Code for Construction Product Information

CPA publishes Code for Construction Product Information

by | 24 Sep, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical

The Construction Products Association (CPA) has published the Code for Construction Product Information to ensure that reliable and consistent product information is provided by manufacturers.

Developed in response to the recommendations made in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future report, the code sets the industry benchmark for how product information is presented and marketed so that it is clear, accurate, up‐to‐date, accessible and unambiguous. It contains 11 clauses including transparency of information on performance and proof of stated claims, and manufacturers can now register their interest in being verified against the code later this year. Guidance has been published to assist with the verification process.

Code for Construction Product Information

Access our webinar here
Changes to draft regulations concerning the Building Safety Bill

Building Safety Bill progress

by | 24 Sep, 2021 | Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Bill is being debated in Parliament after MPs tabled dozens of amendments, including one which would ensure that all owners of residential units in higher‐risk buildings are classed as ‘relevant persons’ and therefore required to be supported by the regulator. The original definition of ‘relevant persons’ proposed in Part 4 of the Bill included only residents, building safety managers and duty holders. Other amendments would allow the recovery of VAT on building safety remedial works paid since 14 June 2017 and extend the period for claims under both the Defective Premises Act and the Building Act from 15 to 25 years.

FIS has prepared a summary of the Building Safety Bill here.

The Government has published a series of factsheets to help stakeholders understand the new requirements set out in the Bill. Of particular interest to members will be those covering Dutyholders and Industry Competence which outline the responsibilities of dutyholders under the new regime.

Proposed revision of BS8000-8 Workmanship on construction sites

Proposed revision of BS8000-8 Workmanship on construction sites

by | 7 Sep, 2021 | Building Safety Act

Proposed revision of BS8000-8 Workmanship on construction sites – Part 8: Design and installation of dry lining systems – Code of Practice

You are invited to comment on the proposed changes to this British Standard which was last published in 1994, which along with BS8212:1995 Code of practice for dry lining and partitioning using gypsum plasterboard they provide guidance and tolerance used in the specification and inspection of drylining.

The purpose of BS 8000-8 is to encourage good design and workmanship by providing:

  • guidance for designers on the selection of systems;
  • guidance for installers on the correct sequence and method of installation; and
  • updated tolerances reflecting use and material installation and methods of measurement.

This is a full revision of the standard, and introduces the following principal changes:

  • clarification of tolerances;
  • advice when installing dry lining to SFS frames;
  • testing of dry lining systems; and
  • expansion of relevant performance requirements.

You are welcome to review the draft and to comment upon it if you wish. The draft can be accessed at  https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/projects/2018-01823#/section

The document is available for review until 27 October.

FIS held an online meeting on 7 September to discuss the proposed changes – a recording is available here.

Cracking noises from residential timber floor structures constructed with engineered ‘I’ joists

Cracking noises from residential timber floor structures constructed with engineered ‘I’ joists

by | 24 Aug, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical

The Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) has been investigating the noise phenomena of cracking noises from residential timber floor structures constructed with engineered ‘I’ joists spanning between solid masonry walls lined with plasterboard on gypsum adhesive.

Guidance has now been updated with this version. GPDA-Guidance-cracking-noises-from-residential-timber-floor-structures.pdf

Government launches consultation on Building Safety Levy

Government launches consultation on Building Safety Levy

by | 13 Aug, 2021 | Building Safety Act

The Government has launched a consultation on proposals for the new Building Safety Levy, which is expected to come into force in 2023. The levy will apply to new high‐rise residential buildings, care homes, and hospitals which are 18 metres or more in height or at least seven storeys, where building control approval is sought. It will sit alongside the Residential Property Developer Tax meaning some developers will pay both the levy on specific developments and the tax on their profits from these developments. The consultation closes on 15 October.

The BSI has published a consultation on the draft of PAS 8673 which sets out a framework for the competence of Building Safety Managers. It describes different levels of competence based on knowledge, experience and responsibility and provides guidance on how to assess the competency of individuals. The consultation closes on 15 September and responses can be submitted by logging into the BSI Standards Development website.