by Clair Mooney | 31 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
The Grenfell Inquiry this week saw more employees from Rydon on the dock. If you don’t already subscribe I thoroughly recommend that you follow the podcasts on BBC Sounds as they come out (weekly). This week we heard from David Hughes (Site Manager), Stephen Blake (Refurbishment Director), Gary Martin (Site Manager) and Daniel Osgood (Site Manager).
The testimonies all make for uncomfortable listening and highlight real gaps in the construction process. In giving evidence Mr Osgood was asked whether he believed that his job was to ensure that work being completed by subcontractors was “compliant” – he replied he “didn’t have the training to do so”. He went on to say that he believed that “anything going on any building is fireproof” and that “all insulation was fireproof as a standard”.
The Project Manager, Gary Martin also got a grilling about foam. He was questioned around the foam selected to seal the windows – he had “assumed” that the insulation was fire resistant. Sadly it seems this assumption was incorrect and that it was wholly inappropriate waterproof seal was used to plug the gap left by the smaller windows – the product didn’t even claim fire resistance. This selection of seals and use of foams remains a real challenge throughout construction – the days of going at a gap with a heart full of hope and a can of “fireproof foam” are surely behind us.
Mr Osgood’s misconception is multi-tiered, but at its core is a concept that I have been raising in talks for the past 5 years. If I google fireproof foam, I get a myriad of results and claims, but the fact is that there is no such thing – a product can be tested for resistance to fire, but no foam is fire proof! Even when a foam is tested to be fire resistant, very close attention should be paid to the scope of use. How often have you removed a ceiling tile to find a large gap oozing orange foam (looking something like an explosion in crunchie factory!) – if you interrogate the test evidence of the foam it is likely that it has only been tested in gaps approximately 10-30mm wide.
SoundProof is another inaccurate claim, products should refer to the levels of sound absorption to reduce reverberation in a space and the sound insulation between spaces which is measured using airborne or impact sound reduction laboratory tests. Sound proofing is often used in claims where hard, dense and imperforate products are used for sound insulation, either airbourne or impact. Products used to improve the quality of sound in a space are absorbent and although they can contribute to reducing sound transmission they have different properties and are generally soft.
We are working with the Construction Products Association, as part of the Grenfell Response, to look at Marketing Integrity. An underlying principle is that performance claims should reflect the test that was carried out, i.e Sound Insulation, Sound Absorption, Fire Resistance or Reaction to Fire.
We must always remember that performance tests are very specific and not interchangeable, for example a product test evidence for reaction to fire can not be used to demonstrate compliance where fire resistance for compartmentation between dwellings is required.
The Inquiry this week is a timely reminder that the ultimate performance of an installed construction product is reliant on a number of things.
- Its intended purpose and appropriate selection and specification
- Test evidence and/or third-party certification for the product for its use
- The installation being done fully in accordance with instructions
and that any interface should be with materials that are equal to or greater than the performance of the products themselves.
Under scrutiny also, particularly in the evidence given by Stephen Blake, was the level of value engineering and impact cost led procurement had on the Grenfell project. Rydon’s bid (£9.2m) was some £700,000 lower than the nearest rival and a staggering £2.1 m less than the original choice contractor. It was within this process that Rydon and façade specialist Harley proposed aluminium composite material (ACM) in either riveted-on or cassette form as a cheaper alternatives to the zinc cladding that was originally specified for the tower (in which Rydon managed to extract greater savings than had been passed on to the client, seemingly to offset in part an error in their bid of £212k).
This substitution and the process was the subject of Mr Hughes cross examining. Mr Hughes admitted that he had approved the decision to switch to the ACM cladding system used, but despite a clause in Rydon’s contract with the Council that said: “The contractor shall not make any substitution for any materials, goods or workmanship… without the prior consent… in writing of the employer.” he did not directly consult building control, the client or the architect about the swap.
The Grenfell Inquiry Hearings will resume in September.
Details of the FIS PPP (Product Process People) Quality Framework are available here
Article by Joe Cilia, Technical Director, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)
joecilia@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | 30 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
Ambassadors are an important link between employers and schools. There are approximately 1400 Ambassadors currently engaged with the programme, representing over 600 employers. Sharing their knowledge of working in the construction industry, Ambassadors ensure young people are inspired and informed on their choice of career opportunities.
The service has been transferred from CITB to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Learning, as the UK’s largest provider of education and careers support in STEM. With over 30,000 Ambassadors and 19 STEM Hubs across the UK, this move will enable the programme to benefit from a wide range of opportunities and support.
This collaboration means the programme for construction can be further developed using STEM’s digital platform as the one-stop shop for all events, feedback and resources. Not only will CITB be able to gain access to events held across all UK secondary schools, but this will enable CITB to better equip Ambassadors with the right resources, making sure the industry is promoted fully and consistently.
To become a STEM Ambassador, you need to register here and select to participate in the ‘Construction and the built environment’ scheme. For guidance on how to register or manage your STEM profile, please visit Go Construct.
To commit to the scheme as an employer, please register here.
FIS would really like to see Ambassadors dedicated to the finishes and interiors sector join the STEM offer, so we have wide approach that our educational partners can easily access encouraging young people into the sector. Being a STEM Ambassador is about engaging and enthusing young people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Ambassadors will help encourage students to consider progression into related careers, inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.
It offers the chance to give something back to education and the wider community, whilst giving individuals the chance to develop their own skills and improve themselves.
“Being a STEM Ambassador is probably the most satisfying aspect of my career. Inspiring kids for the future is the pinnacle of what’s possible and it’s tremendous fun too!” – Derek Langley, Product Manager at Thales.
by Clair Mooney | 30 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
The new scheme, designed to match job opportunities to individuals seeking employment and run by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), went live last Friday (24 July). It’s already off to a very promising start with 482 employers currently signed up to use the scheme, and over 240 vacancies posted, with more being added every day.
If you are a business or individual looking to find out more, please visit the Talent Retention Scheme portal here.
A Covid-19 Displaced Apprentice Project team has been established by CITB; this team will be reaching out to apprentices impacted by the pandemic. They will work with Apprentices to find alternative employment where possible, or signpost them to other support services, including the Talent Retention Scheme.
Apprentices will also be supported by CITB with more practical elements, such as developing CVs and interview preparation, to provide the best possible chance at securing further employment. If you are an employer willing to take on an Apprentice that has been made redundant, register with the Talent Retention Scheme or contact CITB it’s vital the finishes and interiors sector don’t lose these people.
by Clair Mooney | 30 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard that in the summer of 2015, to support the construction of the A556 bypass in Cheshire, work had started to build a pier designed to eventually support a bridge. This involved erecting a steel cage. On 3 August, two workers on a MEWP were working on the structure, when it collapsed. The cage crashed into the MEWP, causing it to fall on its side.
The first employee sustained life changing head injuries and the second a leg fracture. A third worker nearby escaped injury by moving away just in time.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found there was no temporary support for the reinforcement cage during construction of the central pier. Costain Limited was principal contractor and Brenbuild Limited was appointed by Costain to construct seven bridges and an underpass.
Costain Limited and Brenbuild Limited were both aware the cage was visibly leaning and that workers on site had raised concerns. Neither company recognised the inherent instability of the reinforcement cage or took measures to ensure the work could be carried out safely. Brenbuild Limited failed to stop work to prevent injuries from the risk of collapse and to implement control measures to prevent instability. Costain Limited failed to plan, manage and monitor construction of the central pier.
Brenbuild Limited of Parkway Business Park, Scunthorpe pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £80,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,730.11.
Costain Limited of Vanwall Business Park, Maidenhead, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £1.2million and ordered to pay costs of £21,644.51.
Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Deborah Walker said: “This incident could have been easily prevented and the risk of collapse should have been identified by both companies.
“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place, this incident would not have occurred, and the two workers would not have suffered these injuries.”
by Iain McIlwee | 30 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
Thousands of smaller businesses in England are set to benefit from £20 million of new government funding to help them recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government has today (30 July 2020) announced.
Small and medium sized businesses will have access to grants of between £1,000 – £5,000 to help them access new technology and other equipment as well as professional, legal, financial or other advice to help them get back on track.
It comes on top of an unprecedented package of Government support to help businesses to recover, including the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country, as well as £1.6 billion invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job.
Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, Simon Clarke MP said:
We have always said that we would stand behind our businesses and communities as we rebuild following the coronavirus pandemic. This new funding does exactly that.
Businesses will be able to use these new grants to pay for the expertise, equipment and technology they need to adapt, recover and rebuild.
Small and medium sized businesses are the beating heart of communities; they provide employment and contribute significantly to local economies and we are determined to give them the support they need to continue to thrive.
Today’s announcement builds on a £10 million package announced by the Minister earlier this month to help to kickstart the tourism industry and support the visitor economy.
The support will be fully funded by the government from the England European Regional Development Fund and distributed through Growth Hubs, embedded in local areas across England.
- The support will be fully funded by the Government with no obligation for businesses to contribute financially.
- The funding being provided to businesses is supported by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund in England. For more information visit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-2014-to-2020-european-structural-and-investment-funds)
- The funding has been allocated to Growth Hubs within each LEP area in line with the current ERDF Programme.
View Growth Hub funding: allocations for each LEP area (PDF, 202KB, 4 pages)
- To establish a viable grant programme, Government have set a minimum of £250,000 for all LEP areas. The allocation of resources will be reviewed as the grant fund is delivered.
- Growth Hubs work across the country with local and national, public and private sector partners – such as Chambers of Commerce, FSB, universities, Enterprise Zones and banks, co-ordinating local business support and connecting businesses to the right help for their needs. They are locally driven, locally owned and at the heart of the government’s plan to ensure business support is simpler, more joined up and easier to access.
- Activities supported through the £20 million can include:
- One-to-many events providing guidance to respond to coronavirus,
- Grants (£1,000 – £5,000) to help businesses access specialist professional advice such as HR, accountants, legal, financial, IT and digital, and to purchase minor equipment to adapt or adopt new technology in order to continue to deliver business activity or diversify.
by Iain McIlwee | 30 Jul, 2020 | Main News Feed
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced a number of new policies, which should help to support construction activity, and further detail has been published including:
- Changes to Use Classes Order ‐ From 1 September 2020, a number of existing uses will be condensed into a single commercial, business and service use, which means that planning permission will not be required for changing use going forward. There are a list of exemptions, including pubs, bars, nightclubs and take‐away food establishments, which will continue to require planning permission.
- A new permitted development right ‐ From 31 August 2020, commercial buildings will be able to be replaced with residential buildings using a streamlined prior approval process, rather than a full planning application. There will be a number of qualifications, including a vacancy test of six months, a size limitation of 1,000 square metres, and a height limit of 18 metres.
- Affordable Homes Guarantee Scheme ‐ A new £3 billion scheme will increase investment in providers of affordable housing and support the delivery of a significant number of new affordable homes. The contract for a delivery partner to operate the scheme should be awarded over the coming weeks and the scheme will be open for business by the end of the year.
The Government has also published guidance on extending construction working hours introduced in the Business and Planning Act. Companies are now able to request extended and flexible site working hours through a fast‐track application process, with Local Authorities having 14 calendar days to make a decision otherwise the revised working hours will be deemed to have been consented to.
The Chancellor has launched this week the 2020 Comprehensive Spending Review, which will set out the Government’s spending plans for the current parliament when it is published in the autumn. Due to the current uncertainty, the Chancellor has not fixed a set spending amount but confirmed that departmental spending will grow in real terms across the period.
Responding to the changes, FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated “these are all logical steps that should help to unlock a bit more work and right now it is all about marginal gain. I hope that this philosophy is taken into the Spending Review, it is easy to look for headlines in “big ticket items” and landmark announcements, but the devil is always in the detail. The Construction Leadership Council recognises this and is looking at the key markets and what can be done, we are glad to be supporting this work. Accelerating Government Spending, clearing the bottle-necks and removing red tape, looking at tax incentives (such as the Structural Building Allowance and Annual Investment Allowance) and availability of credit are all critical, but to protect jobs, drive productivity and encourage innovation it is not just about volume and investment, it is about sensible investment and supporting the supply chain. Earlier engagement is key to this, for years we have banged on about pipeline, but the benefit of this never cascades into the supply chain enabling the myriad of SME’s, that actually do the work to plan workforces, raise credit and invest in innovation against a predictable order book. The market is always driven by confidence and to protect jobs, encourage innovation and improve the skills and productivity of our workforce, we need any certainty to cascade rapidly through the supply chain.”
