News
Fire stopping – Compatibility between pipes and fire and acoustic seals
It has come to our attention that there is a potential issue where fire stopping is being installed around cPVC pipes. Some fire stopping mastics have been found to react with the cPVC pipes leading to costly remedial work and disputes. Our recommendation is where two...
Change is coming for non-government apprentice levy paying FIS members
Since the introduction of the Government Apprenticeship Levy in England, FIS has been listening to those affected and measuring the impact on a large part of its membership who are not required to pay the levy. It will come as no surprise to some of you, that access...
Government response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1
The Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 Report sets out the steps it is taking to implement the report’s recommendations as well as the wider work it is doing to make building safer. Key areas covered in this document relevant to FIS Members...
Fire Safety: New and Consolidated Guidance on Fire Doors, Risk Assessments, External Cladding and Smoke
Under the Government’s Building Safety Programme, MHCLG have issued a consolidating note bringing together all previously published Advice Notes No. 1 - 22 issued by The Expert Panel. This note is directed at building owners of multi-storey, multi-occupied residential...
UPDATE: Ceiling collapse at the Piccadilly Theatre
It's easy to make comparisons between a ceiling collapse in a historic building especially when they both occur in a theatre during a performance, but the collapse at the Piccadilly Theatre in November and the Apollo theatre in 2013 are markedly different. The failure...
£1.9 million support package for apprenticeships
A £1.9m support package for apprenticeships has been introduced in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. 186 small businesses have received grants of £3,000 to help create new apprenticeship opportunities via Greater Manchester’s #SeeDifferent Small-to-Medium...
Regulation 38 Fire Safety
Guidance and links that you need to ensure that you are complying with the building regulations. Regulation 38 is a requirement under Building Regulations to provide critical fire safety information to the ‘responsible person’ at the point of first occupation or...
How to improve the quality of internal finishes
To address the largest number of questions we receive about the quality finish of plastering and drylining, we have produced the a technical note titled: How to improve the quality of internal finishes. The key points to remember are Start with the specification...
National Apprenticeship Week – 3-7 February 2020
‘Look Beyond’ has been announced as the theme for the 13th annual National Apprenticeship Week 2020 (the Week, NAW2020), taking place from 3 to 7 February 2020. The week is run by the National Apprenticeship Service. The ‘Look Beyond’ themed week will celebrate the...