by Clair Mooney | 6 Feb, 2023 | Building Safety Act, Main News Feed
The Health and Safety (HSE) and Building Safety Regulator (BSR) have recently launched several consultations and research in connection with building safety.
Professional Conduct Rules for Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCAs)
The BSR will be operating as part of the HSE from April 2023. Building control professionals will have to register with the BSR to perform building control work in England. The professional conduct rules sets out standards of professional conduct and practice that registered building control approvers are expected to meet.
The professional conduct rules are mandatory principles of conduct and standards applying to all who wish to register with the BSR as Registered Building Control Approvers (RBCA) in the private sector.
The HSE are seeking views on the proposals and the consultation closes on 17 February 2023.
Draft Code of Conduct for Registered Building Inspectors
Building control professionals will have to register with the BSR to perform building control work in England. The code of conduct sets out standards of professional conduct and practice that registered building inspectors (RBIs) are expected to meet.
The code of conduct are mandatory principles of conduct and standards of behaviour for RBIs, whether they work in the private or public sector.
HSE are seeking views on the proposed code of conduct and the consultation closes on 17 February 2023.
Managing Building Safety
The BSR is inviting views on their information document that highlights the necessary competency for those managing high risk buildings (HRBs), including a summary of the recent British Standard, publicly available specification (PAS):
- PAS 8673:2022 Built environment – Competence requirements for the management of safety in residential buildings – Specification
The consultation will close on 24 April 2023 and can be found here.
Building Safety Competence Information for Principal Contractors and Principal Designers
The BSR is inviting views on their information document that highlights the necessary competency for the new principal designer and principal contractor roles, including a summary of the recent British Standards, publicly available specifications (PAS):
- PAS 8671:2022 Built environment – Framework for competence of individual Principal Designers – Specification
- PAS 8672 Built environment – Framework for competence of individual Principal Contractors – Specification
The consultation will close on 24 April 2023 and can be found here.
HSE Research Project – Accountable Person and Principal Accountable Person
The HSE has commissioned an independent research agency, Kantar Public, to interview people working in private and public sector housing organisations who will be an Accountable Person or Principal Accountable Person; will make decisions about the role; are knowledgeable about the role; and/or who will work on important aspects of the role (such as building registration, resident engagement and complaints handling).
All interviews will be conducted by independent, experienced researchers at Kantar Public. For further information or to register your interest to participate in this research, please email marios.zampetis@kantar.com
by Clair Mooney | 6 Feb, 2023 | Main News Feed
FIS has announced the shortlist for its inaugural Innovation Awards. The awards aim to shine a light on innovation, debunking the myth that our sector is not innovative.
The Awards comprise four categories, Digital, Sustainability, Product-Fit Out and Product – FF&E. A judging panel was set up for each category, who indpenedetly assesed all entries.
Digital
- FireDNA – Monitoring Passive Fire Products
- Chalkstring
- Performance Based Pay
Sustainability
- Breathaboard
- Awallsz Prefabricated Solutions
- DESSO Origin
Product – Fit Out
- eekowall
- Siderise MC Mullion Overclad
- Drywall Pro-Cut
Product – FF&E
- Rockfon
- Wiesner-Hager
- Yo-Yo DESK Ltd
Congratulations to those who made the shortlist, and thank you to everyone who entered. We will be announcing the winners at the FIS Awards Ceremony on 27 February in London. Reserve your place here.
by Iain McIlwee | 18 Jan, 2023 | Labour, Main News Feed
FIS is working with No Going Back (NGB), an innovative programme of training, support, employment, and housing funded and driven by 35 Livery Companies working collaboratively to reduce re-offending.
With Employment being such a major part of changing people’s lives when people leave prison, helping to dramatically reduce the likelihood of reoffending, between 23 January – 3 of February 2023, New Futures Network are hosting ‘Unlocking Construction’ employment events in prisons across England & Wales. and NGB are delighted to be a part of this in HMP Onley, Brixton, Wandsworth, and Thamesmead.
HMP Wandsworth and HMP Onley would like to invite Employers from the Construction Industry inside to be part of a special employment event on Wed 25 January (Wandsworth) and Wed 1 February (Onley) to support men into sustainable jobs in the construction sector upon release. This could be men with experience or those who are looking to pursue a new career in the sector. As more than 80% of men released from HMP Onley return to London and the Home Counties, many fantastic potential candidates are keen to find out about jobs on release.
For those attending, the events will follow the format:
HMP Wandsworth – Wednesday 25th January at 1:30 pm (likely finish time 4pm)
An interactive session in the Bounce Back Dry Lining workshop for serving prisoners who are interested in working in Dry Lining – some are currently doing the dry lining training course, and others have completed it.
This event is to improve their awareness of, and access to information on further training and employment opportunities available by introducing them directly to specialists and employers in the sector. It would give the men a chance to raise any questions to address challenges or concerns relating to employment or training within the sector. The prison will also pre-select a couple of men who are work-ready and approaching release for employers to speak with individually.
HMP Onley – Wednesday 1st February at 8:30 am (likely finish time is 4pm) POSTPONED DUE TO RAIL STRIKE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO BE KEPT UP-TO-DATE ON THE REVISED DATE, USE THE CONTACT LINKS BELOW
HMP Onley are hosting a Construction Fair on the day, with a cross-section of employers from the industry to support men into sustainable employment upon release. This could be men with experience or those who are new and looking to pursue a career in construction.
They are running a morning and afternoon session to allow more prisoners to take part and fit around the prison regime. More than 80% of men released from HMP Onley return to London and the Home Counties, there are many fantastic potential candidates who are keen to find out about jobs on release. For employers attending, there would also be an opportunity to have a prison tour to visit the Industry Workshops and recently launched Employment Hub. Training programmes running in this facility include Dry Lining, Carpentry and Joinery and Flooring.
NGB are also happy to facilitate visits in other prisons.
If you are interested in attendng one of these prison visits or finding out more about opportunities to engage in a programme in your local area (or arranging a seperate arrangement for these two facilities), please email jokeane@bouncebackproject.com asap (copy beenanana@thefis.org) or call the FIS on 0121 707 0077.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Jan, 2023 | Contractual and Legal, Lens Blog, Main News Feed
FIS Consultant Len Bunton looks at the Contractors Right of Suspension and the process that should be followed.
These monthly Blogs are designed to help FIS Members avoid common traps and build on our focus on collective experience. They share ideas about improving the commercial management of your contracts. In other words, instilling best practice into the way FIS members run and manage their business. What I have endeavored to suggest is ways to ensure you get paid on time, and what you are due.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Jan, 2023 | Main News Feed
The The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) has published the Holiday Entitlement 2023 with guidance on annual and public/bank holidays that apply under the CIJC Working Rule Agreement. There will be an additional bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023 to mark the King’s coronation.
by Clair Mooney | 5 Jan, 2023 | Main News Feed
FIS has met with the New Hospital Programme to understand how its members can support this ambitious programme effectively. The commitment to build new hospitals forms part of the Government’s wider Health Infrastructure Plan, a long term, rolling programme of strategic investment in health and care buildings, estates, and equipment. The Government has committed to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 and together with eight previously announced schemes, this will mean 48 hospitals delivered by the end of the decade. The new hospitals will result in outdated infrastructure being replaced by facilities for both staff and patients that are on the cutting edge of modern technology, innovation and sustainability. Further details on the NHP can be found here.
Jonathan Hall from the Supply Markets Management Team stated:
“This is an ambitious programme and we are keen to work more closely with the supply chain and through organisations such as FIS to ensure that we are delivering value in all ways in a more collaborative and open way”.
As part of this new approach, the NHP inviting FIS members to respond to a Market Sounding Briefing and Questionnaire regarding the NHP’s ambition to deliver programmatic benefits through the standardisation of components that are common across hospitals.
We are seeking market feedback exploring potential opportunities, understanding existing challenges and ‘blockers’ to enable efficiencies and standardisation of components in a healthcare setting for second fix items including;
- Internal doors
- Wall partitions
- Ceiling tiles
- Lighting units
- Air handling units
- Flooring
Further components are being considered as part of an iterative approach to standardisation and we anticipate seeking further market feedback in due course.
The information the NHP’s receives during this market sounding exercise will be used to inform NHP’s strategy and further development of our plans for delivery. Feedback will also be used to inform, validate, and refine our emerging approach to modern methods of construction across the programme.
The link to the market sounding briefing and questionnaire can be found here. To encourage further responses to this Market Sounding Questionnaire, the NHP has extended the deadline for responses until 5pm on 20 January 2023. The NHP thanks all those who have reviewed and responded to the Market Sounding to date.
Please do also feel free to contact the team directly at nhp.suppliers@nhs.net should you have further questions or queries in relation to the Programme.
