by Clair Mooney | 31 Aug, 2018 | Main News Feed
Following the Grenfell fire tragedy, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) began investigating the fire door industry, specifically regarding composite doors. They identified a number of composite doors that failed to meet the 30-minute fire door requirement, outlined in Approved Document B. All doors identified have been withdrawn from the market. The MHCLG has written to building control bodies highlighting the need for fire doors to be tested from both sides, in both configurations (i.e both directions of opening), in order to comply with Approved Document B. To this end the MHCLG has produced Advice Note 16 stating that:
“Flat entrance fire doors should have test evidence demonstrating they meet the performance requirement in the Building Regulations guidance for fire resistance and smoke control from both sides.” Advice Note 16 can be found here.
However, the production of this advice has led to some confusion within the industry, leading to delay in delivery or return of deliveries as contractors are asking them to comply with this new testing regime. The MHCLG published Advice Note 17 on 28 August, updating its initial advice in Advice Note 16, clarifying that the advice given relates to composite doors only.
We are taking steps to clarify this note given systemic issues have so far been identified in the composite door industry only. This advice note, therefore, provides further detail to Building Control Bodies, test laboratories and suppliers of the particular importance of testing composite doors on both sides and confirms that this advice applies to composite doors only.”
Advice Note 17 can be found here.
by Clair Mooney | 2 Aug, 2018 | Main News Feed
Our flagship #iBuiltThis2018 campaign will be back by popular industry demand later this September. You have the summer holiday period to get your entries ready for when the submissions open on 3 September.
The competition is image led and run completely on social media for a period of three weeks. Entry will open on 3 September and the closing date is 23 September. WInners will be revealed at the #iBuiltThis2018 awards ceremony at the UK Construction Week Exhibition on 9 October 2018.
The format will stay the same as last year where the submission categories were divided into three age groups – 13 and under; 14 to 18; and 19 and over.
The winners of last year’s competition were announced by Channel 4 TV presenter George Clarke at UK Construction Week (UKCW) in October 2017:
- 13 and under: Kendrick Long – New three little pigs, a mix of gardening materials, chopsticks and Lego bricks. He won a family package to Legoland, and Brendan Williams, CEO of category sponsor Building Heroes collected the award on his behalf at UKCW
- 14-18: Emily Ash, representing Brooklands College, Surrey – wall and cavity synoptic testing. She won an iPhone 8, and Jenny Herdman from sponsor Home Builders Federation accepted the award
- 19 and over: Carwyn Jones – Dragon’s Eye cabin. He won an overnight stay at the iconic London St.Pancras hotel, plus a trip on the London Eye (Colin Teagle from sponsor Silver Trowel co-presented the award to Carwyn)
- Judges award for excellence: Frankie Bicker – Lime and fibrous plastering restoration at the Royal Academy of Arts. He won a GoPro camera, and Lydia Sharples from category sponsor Nevill Long collected the award.
Entrants must share a selfie of themselves with the image of the completed project they have built, or helped to build, using the hashtag #iBuiltThis2018 on the FIS social media platforms of Instagram and Twitter or alternatively they will be able to enter by visiting our website.
We expect the competition to be bigger and better than last year, we had phenomenal participation and support by industry with 22 partners, 8 sponsors, 11.7M social media reach and other channels, 34,000 engagement at UK Construction Week and 3,000 members of the public voted outside of the construction sector.
We have a great line-up of very high-profile judges for the competition along with some brilliant prizes. So get your entries ready now!
Detailed information will be available on our website in the coming weeks. www.thefis.org/skills-hub/i-built-this-2018/
by Clair Mooney | 2 Aug, 2018 | Main News Feed
FIS technical director Joe Cilia considers the key points from the review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety commissioned by government following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower last year.
Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety and PPP
Since the fire at Grenfell Tower and the interim report, FIS has been working with its members to address the issues of providing clear digital evidence of compliance and competence through an initiative called Product Process People (PPP). This is a process to evidence compliance by saving copies of test reports, product delivery notes and site images to show correct installation. Together with copies of the operatives’ CSCS cards with relevant training recorded in the same file, this will provide current evidence of competency.
by Clair Mooney | 2 Aug, 2018 | CSCS, Drylining, Main News Feed
FIS has introduced two offers to help drylining operatives upgrade to the Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card, an essential replacement for the expired CRO cards which cannot be renewed.
20% discount
The first offer is a 20% discount off the full price of upgrading their current CRO card in the drylining trade to a Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card for £995 + VAT. The old CRO cards are expiring and will not be renewed which means operatives need to upgrade to a Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card in drylining. This will include registration, paperwork, onsite assessment and NVQ level 2 completion which will enable them to become qualified in drylining and invest in their future. The Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card is valid for five years.
Updgrade in two days for £300 + VAT
The second offer is a fast track route for experienced drylining finishers to upgrade from their current CRO card to a Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card in two days for £300 + VAT. Operatives only spend one day away from site to gain their qualification and get the Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card. This an opportunity for operatives to turn their experience into a qualification so they can work on site.
This is a part of the Fit-out Futures programme which aims to get a carded workforce, this a brilliant opportunity for FIS members to get their operatives upgraded to the Blue Skilled Workers CSCS card and get them qualified and on site.
For more information click here or email CSCScards@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | 1 Aug, 2018 | Main News Feed
James Brokenshire (Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) provides an update on the work the Government is undertaking in response to the Grenfell tragedy and broader building safety work.
Grenfell Update:Written statement – HCWS890
by Clair Mooney | 30 Jul, 2018 | Main News Feed
FIS has published a statement regarding what constitutes performance compliancy in drywall systems.
Click here to read the statement – Ensuring system compliancy in drywall systems
