by Nicky Smith | 22 Mar, 2018 | Main News Feed
More and more public and private stakeholders are considering indoor air quality (IAQ) as a very relevant building performance characteristic. However, existing schemes at national and EU level are falling short of providing a comprehensive system covering design, construction and product information to guarantee reasonable levels of indoor air quality.
The CPA, in discussion with the Subgroup on Dangerous Substances (SGDS) and other stakeholders, have questioned if the focus on product performance only, without including design of buildings/rooms and the installation, is not falling short of creating an efficient approach to provide a safe indoor air environment. The experts of the SGDS have clearly pointed out that this will require more professional expertise than they could provide – in particular, the input of designers and contractors.
FIS members are invited to provide comment and/or work on a European Commission proposal on a global/holistic approach to indoor air quality. Interested member companies or individual experts should download this document and then contact the UK representative Tim.Yates@bre.co.uk by 6 April 2018, cc’ing joecilia@thefis.org
If enough interest is received, respondents will be invited to a brainstorming meeting in Brussels before the summer.
by Nicky Smith | 21 Mar, 2018 | Main News Feed
Robert Barker, FIS membership manager, will be retiring on Monday 26 March. Robert joined the company in September 2006 when it was known as the Association of Interior Specialists (AIS). Previously, Robert has worked for a number of members including Burgess Architectural Products (now Burgess CEP), SAS International, Nevill Long Contractors, Sabre Contractors, Phoenix Flangeclamp and Roskel Contracts. With over 45 years in commercial interiors, Robert has been both a contractor and product sales manager. In the mid-90s he ran his own company called Associated Louvres and Diffusers (ALD) and over the years has worked in Europe, USA, South Africa, Turkey and the Middle East.
David Frise, CEO said: “Robert has been a great servant of the FIS, he has used his vast knowledge about interiors and finishes to help members through many of the pitfalls of fit-out. He has a wealth of experience about products and good practice and a “rolodex” that meant he always knew who to contact. We are going to miss him very much.”
From all of us at FIS we would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert for his hard work and dedication to the role, and we’re sure that you will join us in wishing Robert and Rita a very happy retirement.
by Nicky Smith | 21 Mar, 2018 | Main News Feed
CITB will launch its new Construction Training Directory, Construction Training Register and Grants Scheme on 3 April 2018.
Collectively known as the Training Model, the three parts cover:
- Construction Training Directory – employers can find the right training, in the right place, at the right time supported by Grant.
- Construction Training Register – employers can see the qualifications each construction worker holds
- New Grants Scheme – more flexible and focused on supporting construction-related training, allowing CITB to support the areas of greatest training need.
To help give some clarity on how the new Training Model will work and interact, CITB has developed an interactive presentation which can be accessed via the CITB website here.
Any queries regarding the new scheme should be sent to: grant.modernisation@citb.co.uk
There is a CITB YouTube Playlist which provides more guidance.
CITB is currently running Employer Advisory Forums at various locations across England, Scotland and Wales. Find out more and book free tickets here.
by Nicky Smith | 20 Mar, 2018 | Main News Feed
All FIS contractor members who completed projects in Scotland during 2017 are eligible to enter the Scottish Awards. Nominations are also sought for apprentices who are training in Scotland. This is your chance to receive recognition and promotion of your work and employees; the closing date for all entries is 31 March 2018.
Entries are visited by two FIS award judges, who will determine the winners in the contract categories of:
- Interior Fit-Out
- Partial Fit-Out
- Drywall Construction
- Plasterwork (general and heritage)
- Suspended Ceilings
- Partitioning
- Judges’ Award (for projects which do not fit into the above categories)
In addition, the awards include a category for Apprentice of the Year; the apprentice must be training in Scotland. The winners of these awards will be announced and presented at our Scottish Awards Lunch in Glasgow on 28 September 2018.
To gain inspiration for your entry, visit our image gallery which lists all of our previous award winners. We hope to see your projects on the 2018 gallery – click here to enter.
by Nicky Smith | 19 Mar, 2018 | Main News Feed
The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) has validated wearable technology for monitoring hand arm vibration (HAV). The device, known as ‘HAVwear’ was developed by Reactec, a specialist provider of HAV monitoring devices.
When an individual uses a power tool and the device is worn on their wrist, it will determine the exposure to vibration in real time; HAVwear is supported by a platform that provides cloud-based reporting, allowing dynamic risk assessment and exposure reduction.
According to Reactec, the IOM study concluded that vibration data gathered by the HAVwear system during everyday tool use provides a useful source of information to inform a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Other findings from the IMO research, Reactec reports, include that the technology:
- helps with the development of risk reduction control measures
- determines vibration magnitude data from the vibration transmitted to the person and not “on the tool”, in accordance with the existing standard BS EN ISO 5349-1: 2001
- provides information comparable to that produced by conventional tool measurement techniques
The Health and Safety Executive states that 300,000 people in the UK suffer from HAVS (hand arm vibration syndrome) with a further two million at risk.
Read our SpecFinish article from November 2016: How to manage hand and arm vibration syndrome in construction
by Nicky Smith | 16 Mar, 2018 | Main News Feed
After seven years in post, David Frise is to leave the FIS to take up a new role as Chief Executive of BESA, the Building Engineering Services Association.
President of the FIS, Andrew Smith says “we will be sorry to see David leave he has developed the FIS into a leading trade body in the industry; growing the membership through the merger of the AIS and FPDC and promoting the sector by helping to improve technical standards and the skills base”
“The FIS board will now start the search for a successor. David will remain at FIS in a part-time role until the new person is selected.”
David Frise says “I have really enjoyed every minute of my time at the FIS, I have met great people, made real friends and I hope helped to make a difference. The organisation is in good hands with a clear strategy from a knowledgeable board and dedicated staff; you will, I’m sure, go from strength to strength.”
From all of us at FIS, we wish David well in his new venture.
