by Clair Mooney | 31 Aug, 2023 | Market data
The CPA’s latest Construction Trade Survey for 2023 Q2 showed a mixed view on activity across the construction supply chain. Here are some key findings from the latest survey:
Output & Sales: A mixed quarter for product sales, workloads growth for SME contractors and chartered surveyors was split by sector of activity.
Expectations: Manufacturers’ expectations were mixed, new orders increased for civil engineering contractors, SME enquiries increased overall, but growth was driven by a sole sector.
Costs and Constraints: Costs moderated in Q2 but inflation remained broad-based, with issues related to finance and labour availability rising in prominence.
by Clair Mooney | 31 Aug, 2023 | Membership
The FIS Scottish Awards recognise and celebrate the high levels of craftsmanship in the finishes and interiors sector carried out in Scotland. After visiting all projects entered, we are excited to announce that our judges have determined their shortlist.
The standard of entries into this year’s Awards was extremely high, so congratulations to all companies that entered.
Interior Fit Out Shortlist
Scotwood Interiors – Kin & Carta, Edinburgh
Veitchi Interiors – Boclair Academy, Glasgow
Clansman Interiors – Arnold Clark, Glasgow
Specialist Installation shortlist – sponsored by Nevill Long
D V McColl – National Robotarium, Edinburgh
Indeglas – Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow
Veitchi Interiors – Boclair Academy, Glasgow
Allied Interiors Scotland – NMIS, Glasgow
The winners in each category, along with the architect or interior designer of the winning project, will be announced in front of a packed audience at the FIS Scottish Awards Lunch on 15 September at The Voco Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow.
The event will also see the announcement of the Apprentice of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
by Oscar Venus | 30 Aug, 2023 | Health and Safety
Are you interested in the latest developments in the fire testing industry? The IFE Fire Testing webinar may hold the answers to some of the challenges faced in this field. During this webinar, experts will analyse the latest research and suggest how digital innovation could provide solutions. Participants will also learn about fire testing procedures in accordance with key BS and EN standards and discuss the potential impacts of removing BS 476 from Approved Doc B.
If you are a client organisation, housing provider, architect, design/multi-disciplinary firm, fire engineering firm, fire test house, testing, inspection and accreditation body, or a regulator, this webinar is for you. You will gain insights into the latest market research, an overview of current fire test types and relevant standards, and information on future solutions that can enhance capacity, competence, and capability. The event will conclude with a post-event copy of the presentations and a recording of the webinar for future reference. Join us to learn more about the exciting developments in the fire testing industry.
by Clair Mooney | 29 Aug, 2023 | Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act 2022 (applicable to England and Wales) introduces the most significant changes for the construction industry in the past four decades. The CPA has been engaging with government for several years on this legislation. CPA has published two papers to offer a summary and guidance to members around key aspects of the Act:
- The first is a summary and guidance especially as it pertains to duties, obligations and regulations now facing members. Click here to read more.
- The second offers guidance especially as it pertains to liabilities now facing members. Click here to read more.
by Iain McIlwee | 17 Aug, 2023 | Building Safety Act
With the October deadline looming, the much anticipated Secondary Regulations under the Building Safety Act 2022 have been published today by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The five key pieces of regulation laid today are:
- The Building Regulations etc. (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023,
- The Building Regulations (Higher-Risk Building Procedures) (England) 2023
- The Building (Approved Inspectors etc. And Review of Decisions) (England) Regulations 2023
- The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023
- The Building Safety Act 2022 (Consequential Amendments etc.) Regulations 2023
The regulations aim to deliver the recommendations of Dame Judith Hackitt in her report Building A Safer Future and cover the technical detail underpinning the new, more stringent regime for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings, wider changes to the building regulations for all buildings and the details of the new in-occupation safety regime for higher-risk buildings.
The regulations can be found here: The Building Safety Act: secondary legislation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Alongside the regulations, they have published the responses to the consultations on them which were held last summer. The government response to the consultations can be found here:
These Regulations will fundamentally reform the way buildings are designed, built and managed to ensure safety of those who live in them. These Regulations introduce significant reform to building control for all buildings and a new bespoke approach to building control for blocks of flats, hospitals and care homes of 18m or more or seven stories or more under the new Building Safety Regulator.
The Regulations also introduce the new in occupation regime where dutyholders must demonstrate they are proactively engaging with residents on building safety and demonstrate to the building safety regulator that they are managing the building safety risks in their building – fire spread and structural collapse – appropriately.
The next sets of regulations related to the new regime will be laid shortly. The Higher-Risk Buildings (Keeping and Provision of Information etc) (England) Regulations and the Charges Regulations are due to be laid next month. The former regulations will cover the information that accountable persons for occupied higher-risk buildings need to keep as golden thread information and what information they need to share with residents and other people who are involved in ensuring the safety of the building. The latter will set out the approach to charging by the Building Safety Regulator.
FIS will be reviewing in detail and provide summary as soon as practical. In the meantime, you find out more about the Building Safety Act via our Building Safety Act Hub here.
by Oscar Venus | 17 Aug, 2023 | Contractual and Legal, Main News Feed
The last few months have been hectic working for several construction organisations who are members of the various bodies that make up CICV.
I have seen an alarming increase in the number of organisations that are suffering from payment and cash flow issues, and these are probably putting a strain on the finances of the business and more strain on the mental health of those who run the businesses. What appears to be a regular feature is that organisations don’t respond to payment applications, don’t respond to emails requesting information and just put up a wall of silence, and then they start to reduce payment applications with some spurious excuses, and contracting organisations go round and round not knowing where they are going.
By inventing all sorts of excuses one can keep a subcontractor at arm’s length for weeks if not months, providing prevaricating excuses for not paying.
Members can see the full blog by clicking the button below
by Oscar Venus | 17 Aug, 2023 | Health and Safety
The BSR’s recent webinar provides an overview of the new building control process, as well as the new duty holder roles and three Gateways, and members can register to watch it back on demand.
Starting from October 1st, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will officially take on the role of Building Control Body for higher-risk buildings, with plans to provide a transitional period for ongoing projects. For all other buildings, the Building Control Body can be either a department in the Local Authority or a Building Control Approver, a private company that provides Building Inspectors. Building Inspectors will be required to undergo an assessment and certification process in order to register with the BSR between October 2023 and April 2024. The Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and the Building Safety Competence Foundation have been announced as the first independent competence assessors to partner with the BSR.
The BSR recently conducted a webinar that provides an insightful overview of the new building control process, the new duty holder roles, and three Gateways. Members who missed the webinar can register to watch it on demand at their convenience. The BSR’s new role as the Building Control Body for higher-risk buildings is a significant step in ensuring the safety of building occupants and reducing the risk of future disasters.
by Iain McIlwee | 16 Aug, 2023 | Health and Safety
From September – HSE site inspections across Great Britain to focus on moving and handling materials
Starting in early September 2023, HSE will be undertaking construction site inspections, focusing on moving and handling construction materials. The inspections will be checking employers and workers know the risks, plan their work and are using sensible control measures to protect workers from injuries and aches, as well as pain and discomfort in joints, muscles and bones known as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
These injuries can have a serious impact on workers’ ability to perform tasks; their quality of life; and in some cases, their ability to stay in work and earn a living.
This latest health inspection initiative is supported by the ‘Work Right Construction: Your Health Your Future’ campaign to improve the long-term health of those working in construction.
Find out more about the campaign by visiting:
The supporting resources from HSE includes a range of posters and site signage and guidance in the form of:
Commenting on this campaign FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:
“The concept of Occupational Health is an area that there has been growing understanding of in recent times. We have a responsiblity, not just in terms of safety, but looking after the long term health of our workers and limiting the potential damage that can result from lifting heavy items. There is more work to be done here to support a more inclusive workforce too as well as helping to extend careers in the sector and ensure that we optmise productivity and attack the labour shortage from all angles.”
Specialist advice is available from FIS to support activities including a free helpline and Health and Safety Working Group that convenes to review accidents and exchange best practice where necessary, latest guidance includes:
FIS Manual Handling Guide: Safe handling of plasterboard (which is relevant for all moving board type material) and Recommendations for the safe ingress of plasterboard (which looks at how material should be moved through the site). Members also have access to AWCI: Safe Work Practices for Wall and Ceiling Industry Construction Workers, a guide developed for the US market, but has been made available to FIS members through our partnership with AWCI).
The FIS Health and Safety Toolkit is available here
by Clair Mooney | 8 Aug, 2023 | Market data
The Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey for 2023 Q2 showed a continued split in performance in the construction product manufacturing industry. Heavy side manufacturers’ sales decreased for a fourth consecutive quarter whereas sales from light side producers registered another quarterly increase, adding to a run of growth that began in 2020 Q3. Forward-looking sales expectations suggest these varied fortunes will persist over the next 12 months.
Rebecca Larkin, CPA Head of Construction Research said:
“The mixed fortunes for heavy side and light side sales growth perfectly illustrates the areas of strength and weakness that are appearing in construction right now. Heavy side sales have no doubt been hindered by the sharp slowdown in new house building and hold-ups in starting large new build commercial and factories projects.”
