by Clair Mooney | 31 Oct, 2023 | Building Safety Act
In a written statement to Parliament this week, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove confirmed the transitional arrangements for second staircases in new residential buildings in England above 18 metres. From the date when the Government formally publishes the changes to Approved Document B, there will be a period of 30 months during which new Building Regulations applications can meet either the existing or the updated requirements. At the end of that period, all applications will be required to meet the updated requirements.
We understand that approved applications that have chosen to follow the existing guidance will have a further 18 months for construction to ‘sufficiently progress’. There will be no requirement to add a second staircase at a later stage provided they are built in accordance with the existing standards, well‐maintained and properly managed.
The Government has also published additional guidance on determining whether a building is a Higher‐Risk Building (HRB) as the definition varies for new buildings, existing buildings, and those ‘in occupation’. It confirms that military accommodation which is over 18 metres or at least 7 storeys and has two or more residential units will be brought into scope of the HRB regime.
by Clair Mooney | 30 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed, Skills
This year’s SkillBuild event is taking place from 21 -23 November 2023. You can watch the national finalists battle it out during the competition, attend a Continual Professional Development session, hosted by an expert panel of judges, in one of the 10 competition trades, and have go at a range of inspiring activities that highlight construction trades at the designated careers experience hub, the Construction Showcase
SkillBuild is the largest multi-trade competition in the UK for construction trainees and apprentices, and as competitors progress through each stage, they are tested on their technical abilities, time management, character, and commitment. The competition is viewed by many as an opportunity to develop confidence, self-esteem, and life skills. The winners of the SkillBuild UK National Final are classed as the best in the UK.
Book your ticket here
Featured this year is the Construction Showcase, an interactive event on 22 November designed to encourage young people to consider a career in construction and to have some fun with the construction have-a-go activities!
The event will include construction-based activities suited to all age ranges, skills games, quizzes and videos showcasing the variety of construction occupations available. Also featured is a series of curriculum-related resources, from Key Stage 2 through to Key Stage 5, as well as STEM Ambassadors from the industry, to support and answer questions from those curious about construction.
Not only will groups take part in the Construction Showcase, but they will also be able to have a guided tour of the competitions by a SkillBuild expert, and take home some goodies too! If you know a youth group who would be interested in attending, they can claim their free tickets to attend here.
by Clair Mooney | 24 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed
The FIS Partitions and Pods working group is made up of members who manufacture supply and install glazed, and industrial partitions, and meeting pods. The group meet to discuss issues and develop initiatives such as the acoustic verification scheme, the classification of pods and produce guidance for specifiers and installers.
We are now looking for a new chair, to help lead this group, provide guidance on direction and ensure that the meetings run efficiently and are in accordance with the competition act and our code of conduct.
To be FIS Working groups are chaired by members and are re-elected every two years.
The role is open to FIS members only. If you would like to nominate yourself for the position of Chair please send a brief application telling us why you would be an ideal chair to JoeCilia@theFis.org no latter than 31 November.
by Clair Mooney | 23 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed
According to the latest CPA Construction Industry Forecasts, construction output is expected to fall by 6.8% in 2023, similar to the 7.0% contraction forecast three months ago, before a further marginal fall of 0.3% in 2024, a revision down from the 0.7% growth forecast in the Summer. Both private housing and private housing rm&i are forecast to be the worst affected by the prevailing economic conditions of flatlining growth, stubborn inflation and interest rates remaining at peak throughout 2024. Infrastructure activity remains strong down on the ground due to work continuing on major projects but there are signs that more roads projects are being pushed back or cancelled than anticipated previously, limiting the sector’s growth over the next 12 months.
“With only a couple of months left in a difficult year for construction and looking forward to 2024, the evidence suggests it will still be a while before the clouds begin to lift. Both new build housing and rm&i have taken a significant hit from rising interest rates, falling real wages and weak economic growth and demand is expected to remain subdued for house purchases and improvements.”
CPA Head of Construction Research, Rebecca Larkin
FIS members can download their copy of the Forecast here.
by Clair Mooney | 19 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed
The Home Office has increased the fees for most types of visas, including the ‘Skilled Worker’ visa used by most workers from outside the UK in construction.
- For those applying for a visa from outside the UK, the fee is £719 for up to three years and £1,420 for more than three years.
- For those already in the UK extending, switching or updating their visa, the fee is £827 for up to three years and £1,500 for more than three years.
- For occupations on the Shortage Occupations List, the fee is £551 for up to three years and £1,084 for more than three years, regardless of whether applying from in or outside the UK.
From early 2024, the fine for employing illegal workers will increase from £15,000 to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first offence and from £20,000 to £60,000 for repeated offences. Depending on the individual, employers have the following options for ensuring they have right to work in the UK: a digital check via a certified Identity Service Provider, an online check via the Home Office online service, or an in‐person manual document‐based check.
by Clair Mooney | 18 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed
The FIS team have been hard at work and achieved some brilliant results across our Technical, Business Development, Sustainability. Skills and Training, and Lobbying efforts. Here’s a short look back at Q3 of 2023
Key technical work
- Reviewed raft of newly published secondary regulations and launched the FIS simple overview of theBuilding Safety Act and Wider Building Regulation Reform
- Ran fire walls and penetrations webinar co-ordinated with the Passive Fire Knowledge Group
- Ran promotional campaign on fire walls and fire labels to Tier 1 Contractors
- Key technical guidance issued covering: Reporting non-confirming installations; Top 10 risks to avoid when procuring and installing fire resistant drylining and Plastering to floor level with applied skirting
Business support and guidance
- FIS community strengthened by record number of applications
- Launched new new risk management offering via a webinar
Lobbying and representation
- FIS responds on behalf of its members to:
the Morrell and Day Report (recommendations to improve and strengthen the testing regime forconstruction products),
the Industry Training Board Review
the proposed changes to taxation of umbrella workers
the Government consultation on addressing carbon leakage risk to support decarbonisation.
the Procurement Bill
- FIS declares support for the new Quality Charter in Scotland calling for better procurement andcontinues to support the Conflict Avoidance Coalition across the UK.
- FIS CEO Iain McIlwee invited to join expert panel of the Home Builders Skills Partnership looking atsupply chain relationships.
- FIS lobbying success on Late Payment with new measures on value, disputed invoices and retention tobe included in the Duty to Report
Skills and training
- Collaboration with Skills Development Scotland, CITB and Scottish members on the review anddevelopment of existing apprenticeships in ceilings and partitions, providing a structure for any futurereview and development of apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.
- FIS supported the launch of the new Rockfon Training facility.
- Finalised the Drylining Competency Plan and started work on developing SKEB statements for all coretrades and supporting roles.
- Collaboration with DWP to develop material which aims to upskill DWP staff and showcase theopportunities available in our sector.
- Exploratory work with Prisons and DWP (Dept for Work and Pensions) in preparation for a pilot withBuild UK Open Doors programme in 2024.
Key Events
- Scottish Awards Lunch – celebrating the scottish sector
- Hosted working groups for steel framed systems and partitions
- FIS Birmingham event featuring expert speakers from the Deeley Group, the world of Risk Managementand Insurance as well as a lived experience mental health presentation that silenced the room
- Delivered webinars covering risk when selecting fire walls and penetrations, flexi-job apprenticeshipsand managing organisational risk
Sustainability
- FIS published a new pre fit-out audit standard to support a common approach to managing strip-outto deliver optimum net zero results.
- FIS Schools Research conducted with Class of Your Own fed into the City of London Skills for aSustainable Skyline Taskgroup work. FIS continues to support this ongoing project looking at theneed to upgrade offices across the City.
Download this document here
by Clair Mooney | 17 Oct, 2023 | Building Safety Act
FIS has today launched new guidance – Introduction to the Golden Thread and Digital Information Plans – to help businesses in the finishes and interiors sector get to grips with all the jargon and new regulations associated with the golden thread and digitalisation of construction.
A recent FIS Digitalisation Survey found that 60% of contractors and 44% of product manufacturers and suppliers do not understand what is needed to meet Digital/Golden Thread Requirements in the Building Regulations. In light of these findings, this new FIS guide has been designed to help product suppliers and contractors operating in the finishes and interiors sector cut through the complex terminology and begin to form their own digital plan of work. It draws on published information and principles set down in a myriad of technical and information standards and aligns this to the requirements set down in the Building Safety Act and wider reform of Construction Regulations.
The new guidance provides an overview of the Building Safety Act 2022, the golden thread of information and the new regulatory framework. There is an emphasis on Stage 4 (Technical Design) and Stage 5 (Construction Information) of the RIBA Plan of Work. The guide brings clarity to digitalisation, the new common data environment (CDE) responsibilities and explains how to manage product data and what is needed in order to create a digital information plan. It also explores BIM, digital twins and the role of artificial intelligence.
Commenting on the guide, Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of the FIS said:
“At the heart of this document is the principle that no one company and no one solution will or should deliver the golden thread alone. It is inherently a collaborative process that should ensure essential information is shared effectively and understood thoroughly. This is the responsibility of all in the supply chain.”
We hope that this new FIS guidance brings clarity and provides an understanding of what is required for companies to form their own digital plan of work.”
You can download the Introduction to the Golden Thread and Digital Information Plans at https://www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/digital-toolkit/
by Clair Mooney | 16 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed
The Scottish Government has published the Scottish Social Housing Tender Price Index (SSHTPI) quarterly report. The report measures the movement in construction costs of social housing in Scotland and is based on analysing the construction costs in accepted tenders for affordable housing. Having fallen over the previous two quarters, tender prices for social housing in Scotland in April to June 2023-24, as measured by the SSHTPI, rose 1.3% compared with the previous quarter and 6.9% compared with the same quarter in 2022-23. Underlying construction costs of labour, materials, and plant rose 0.7% quarter-on-quarter in the same period and by 2.8% compared with the same quarter a year earlier. The latest data for housing starts in Scotland are nearly 40% down on the same period a year earlier, when 647 social houses were started, and private sector starts were down 23%. Alongside the SSHTPI, a general description of the index has been published.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Oct, 2023 | Main News Feed
The New Hospital Programme is holding an Autumn Market Update on Thursday 9 November from 11:00am to 5:00pm in London and online.
The market briefing will be a chance for Industry to hear about Programme developments and its approach to delivery with further details to be shared around key strategic areas of the Hospital 2.0 standardised design approach, the Programme Digital Strategy, and the overarching Commercial approach.
You can register your interest here, with in‐person places limited to one per organisation.
