In this four-page supplement, Zinsser discusses the implications of Awaab’s Law and how specialist coatings can help stop mould in social housing
Stonewater talks to LABM about how it’s opening the door to more affordable homeownership in rural communities, sharing the experience of customers Amy and Luke at the housing association’s Sturt Farm development in Haslemere
THE LEADING MAGAZINE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY AND HOUSING ASSOCIATION SPECIFIERS
REGULARS
5 Comment
Did the Budget go to Plan?
6 News
Southern Construction Framework Market Intelligence report – new mapping tool
launched Aico Community Awards
EN:Procure Gen-4 New Build Framework
8 News In-Depth
PfP Thrive launches the Skills Relay
10 Project Update
Cambridge Investment Partnership celebrates reaching the highest point on its East Barnwell development, which will provide 120 new council homes
Project Profile
11 Making Homeownership More
Affordable
Stonewater discusses how it is making homeownership more affordable in rural communities, focusing on its Sturt Farm development
Special Reports
14 Navigating Regulation Change for Social Housing
Dulux Trade considers Awaab’s Law and offers advice on identifying and correctly treating hazards
16 Delivering Sustainable Outcomes
NEC Contracts discusses why contractual mechanisms can have such a significant impact on sustainable outcomes
18 Guest Comment
Caroline Compton-James, Deputy Chief Executive at SCAPE, highlights the importance of social value
19 Rethinking Shower Retrofits in Social Housing
As multigenerational living becomes more popular, Triton Showers, explores how the retrofit process can find the perfect balance
22 Specifying Flooring for Assisted Living Housing
Advice on the specification of flooring for assisted living schemes
24 Round-up
26 Awaab’s Law and Tackling Mould in Social Housing
More detail on the new regulation and a complete, problem-solving solution to prevent mould growth
28 Zinsser’s Step-by-Step Guide to Tackling Mould
Zinsser’s three-step system is specifically designed to treat mould and mildew problems
29 Client Accountability, Competence and Active Management: the Building Safety Act
The far-reaching changes wrought by the Building Safety Act 2022
33 Carbon Monoxide detectors
A guide to the use of CO detectors and where they may be best utilised in fire alarm systems
36 Gateway 2: Finding the Way Forward Together
The Casey Group shares the work it is doing to deliver building safety, including setting up the Casey Building Safety and Skills Academy
38 Round-up
39 Karbon’s Journey to Net Zero
Sarah Robson at Karbon Homes sets out the organisation’s plans for a more sustainable future
42 Key Priorities for Achieving Net Zero in Construction
How tackling funding, education and data priorities can help ensure infrastructure projects drive the transition to net zero
45 Decarbonising Public Buildings with Heat Pumps
A look at the role of heat pumps as part of energy-efficient HVAC systems in cutting emissions in public sector buildings
46 Delivering for Ellon’s New Net Zero Civic Hub
A new multi-purpose council building in the Aberdeenshire town of Ellon showcases successful development guided by circular economy
48 Four Phase Retrofit Project
The Bell Group shares details of the four phase decarbonisation retrofit project it carried out for Hafod
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the oBR leak may have marred Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget announcement and overshadowed its contents somewhat, with the opposition parties ready to pounce given any opportunity However, setting that unfortunate event aside and focusing on the key measures announced and what they mean for social and affordable housing, and the public sector, there were some encouraging signs, as well as causes for concern the focus on tackling the cost of living, the measures announced to boost growth, investment to create hundreds of new planners and the additional funding to tackle fuel poverty for example, are all positive However, delaying the decision on rent convergence to the new Year, the lack of funding for supported housing and cutting the ECo scheme has understandably caused consternation within the sector tackling the cost of living is a “ necessary precursor to improving economic growth”, says Jonathan Layzell, Chief Executive at Stonewater “So often that growth begins at home, and we need to build many more the announcement of £48m for 350 new planners is a welcome step to unblock the system ” However, the Government delaying its decision on rent convergence is disappointing Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the national Housing Federation says: “We had expected the Government to announce how rent convergence, which equalises historical differences in rents over time, will be reintroduced this policy is both fair for tenants and vital in ensuring the social housing sector has enough income to maintain existing homes and build new ones ” in november the Hyde Group published research highlighting the significant benefits to the economy provided by social housing Andy Hulme, Chief Executive of the Hyde Group says: “England’s 4 3 million social homes provided at least £87bn last year of benefits to the economy, including £18 5bn in savings to the nHS Ahead of the decision on rent convergence in January, we will keep making the case for the value that social housing unlocks for society and the economy ”
over the last decade, while successive caps and cuts have resulted in rents for social homes reducing by 15%, investment needs have risen considerably and social housing providers are spending, as Andy points out, “record sums on repairs and maintenance”
Gavin Smart, Chartered institute of Housing Chief Executive, adds: “Clarity early in the new year with a level set that enables meaningful convergence will allow providers to plan confidently and bid into the Social and Affordable Homes Programme, supporting the Government’s wider housebuilding ambitions ” With rising costs and significant work ongoing to improve the efficiencies of existing social homes, the additional £1 5bn funding for the Warm Homes Plan is a welcome financial injection, which, as Paul Dolan, CEo of Riverside says, “will create warmer, energy-efficient homes and improve the health and well-being of residents”
However, the cutting of ECo funding has set some alarm bells ringing, with concerns raised that it risks causing a collapse of the retrofit supply chain and putting hundreds of thousands of low-income households at risk of fuel poverty
From all the team at LABM we wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year We look forward to sharing more of the ambitious projects being delivered across the sector in 2026!
IN BRIEF NEWS
WVHT retains top gradings
Weaver Vale Housing Trust (WVHT) has retained its top regulatory gradings of C1, G1, and V1 as part of an annual stability check by the Regulator of Social Housing
The Trust, which manages around 6,700 homes across Cheshire and Warrington, had previously achieved the highest gradings as part of a planned inspection in August 2024 and was one of the first organisations to achieve a C1 rating under the Regulator’s updated consumer standard framework
The Regulator found evidence of WVHT’s board actively seeking assurance across a range of areas, to drive continuous improvements to its services including its approach to damp and mould and landlord health and safety WVHT had also “established and maintained clear roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities within its leadership and governance ” Additionally, the Regulator found sufficient security in place in the Trust’s financial plans, with forecasts of strong interest cover and capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios
Aico’s Community Awards return Aico is bringing back its biennial Community Awards, set to take place at The International Convention Centre in Birmingham on 16th April 2026 The event celebrates excellence and inspirational achievements from across the UK housing industry, honouring those making a real difference in their communities
Open to all, Aico’s Community Awards provides entrants the opportunity to showcase inspirational colleagues, projects and innovations from the housing sector Entries must be submitted by 20th February 2026 Find out more and access entry forms here www rdr link/lba001
The UK construction sector is showing clear signs of a cooling labour market, according to a report by Southern Construction Framework, leading construction procurement framework delivered by the public sector for the public sector in the South of England.
The report found that in Q3 2025, employment increased by a modest average of 0 1%, compared to 1 5% in Q3 2024 Across the trades, drylining decreased by the largest amount (-4 0%), with concrete frame (+1 0%) and windows (+1 6%) all seeing modest increases This is being driven by multiple forces according to the report, including regulatory burdens, cost pressures, and skills shortages
The survey of over 150 subcontractors found that average tender workload across all regions was +1 5% during Q3 2025, significantly lower than Q3 2021, which saw a quarterly movement of +5 71%
The regulatory landscape continues to be a defining factor in shaping tender activity and project delivery timelines, having a particularly negative effect on the London housing market The implementation of the Building Safety Act (BSA) Gateway 2 has introduced significant delays in high-rise residential developments, contributing to a -1 9% decline in window-related tenders in the capital This bottleneck has created uncertainty for contractors and developers, with many projects stalled awaiting compliance approvals
While a recovery is anticipated, over the next year with the report predicting a 3 7% increase in tender workload; the current environment has forced suppliers to adapt their strategies
Adrienne Turner, Framework Manager, says: “Building resilience means engaging supply chain partners early, leveraging digital tools for compliance, and focusing on high quality subcontractors With labour market cooling and skills shortages persisting, visibility and certainty of project pipelines are essential for effective workforce management ”
Download the Southern Construction Framework’s latest Market Intelligence report here www.rdr.link/lba002
Groundbreaking new mapping tool
OneMap has been launched, marking a major step forward in how social housing providers across the northeast of England collaborate, plan, and deliver services Developed through the SHINE (Social Housing Innovation North East) partnership, OneMap is a shared Geographic Information System (GIS) platform that brings together open-source data, publicly licensed datasets, and partner-owned information to create a powerful, locationbased decision-making tool
It includes property-level data such as EPC ratings, build year, construction year and home type, alongside layers covering anti-social behaviour, demographics, deprivation indices, flood risk, climate hazards, and environment
The project is the result of close collaboration between a number of SHINE members believe housing, Bernicia, Darlington Borough Council, Gentoo Group, Karbon Homes, North Star, Places for People, and Thirteen Group
New build framework powers council housing programme
A new social housing development has kicked off construction in Maltby, Rotherham, supporting the council’s ambitions to deliver 1,000 homes for local people by 2027.
The scheme will provide 45 affordable homes across three sites at Larch road, Addison road and elm Tree road, featuring a mix of specialist bungalows, apartments and two- three- and four-bedroom family homes The properties have been designed to meet the specific needs of the local community and help address the shortage of suitable housing in the area, ensuring that maltby receives one of the largest single investments as part of rotherham metropolitan borough council’s housing commitment
dIArY dATeS
Small Homes in England: Panacea or Problem?
GS Kelsey was appointed as the contractor for the project via efficiency north’s en:Procure Gen-4 new build Framework The framework helps bring together reliable partners and provides a streamlined route to deliver housing efficiently while creating local jobs and supporting community benefits
marina Inkles, commercial and contract Support manager at efficiency north, says: “Seeing construction underway at maltby
is incredibly rewarding it’s the kind of real-world impact our frameworks are designed to make “Through en:Procure, we ’ re able to bring together the right partners who can meet something as fundamental as the housing needs of communities like rotherham Working in close synergy with the local authority, the collaboration is certainly a testament to what can be achieved when the sector pulls together, as we deliver not only high-quality homes, but also lasting social and economic value for the people who need it most ”
Planning application approval for Moss Side development
mSv’s planning application to develop 212 new, high quality homes on the former reno nightclub site on Princess road has been approved by manchester city council’s Planning committee
The scheme will provide 212 new social and affordable homes for people local to the moss Side area mSv, and its partners at manchester city council, have worked hard to genuinely listen to and incorporate feedback from local residents when designing the layout of the scheme and type of homes needed
The buildings will range between three to 10 storeys in height, and include a mix of one-, two-, three-, four- and five-
bedroom homes Wheelchair accessible properties and homes for later life are included in the scheme The development will be highly sustainable and support local employment opportunities, creating jobs during construction and throughout the supply chain, as well as providing long-term benefits to the local economy
The chartered Institute of Housing’s webinar will look at the role of small homes and micro-apartments in tackling the housing crisis in english cities, considering their proliferation in relation to questions of adequacy, affordability and amenity The webinar, which will take place on the 14th January from 1 to 2 30pm, and will draw upon new research lead by King’s college London which explores where, and why, small homes are proliferating in London and beyond
For more information and to book visit www rdr link/lba003
AI-Powered Solutions: Tackling the Damp & Mould Crisis with Machine Learning
The national Housing Federation is running this webinar in conjunction with mobysoft on Thursday 26th march Find out how supervised machine learning is revolutionising how social landlords address critical issues like damp and mould, enabling early intervention and targeted repairs
Uncover how the technology can improve tenant well-being and social housing provider’s operational efficiencies through predicting and preventing problems before they escalate
The session provides an opportunity to discover how social landlords can harness machine learning to deliver smarter, faster and more effective repair services, allevating one of the sector’s most pressing challenges
More details on this event here www rdr link/lba004
The start of construction on site was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony, bringing together key representatives, including Cllr Linda Beresford
P f P T h r i v e
PfP Thrive, part of social enterprise Places for People (PfP), has launched the Skills Relay — a nationwide challenge to tackle the UK’s construction and housing skills crisis.
With demand for qualified workers at an all-time high and a shortfall of 250,000 needed to deliver the government’s housing and construction plans, the skills Relay celebrates anyone with a passion for learning It supports apprentices, trainees, and professionals looking to upskill while inspiring the next generation of skilled workers to address the sector’s growing talent gap a bright pink baton stars as the symbol of the challenge It was officially unveiled at the official opening of pfp thrive’s skills centre in Derby, and will now travel across the country, visiting construction sites, colleges, and skill centres each handover will connect learners, employers, and
training providers, making the skills challenge visible across the industry
tom arey, Director at pfp thrive, explains: "the uk’s skills shortage is a crisis for construction and housing so that's why we have launched the skills Relay as a call to action for every organisation to step up that includes our industry peers, the supply chain, education providers and the government, as we invite more collaboration to combat the biggest threat to our sector
“this baton represents knowledge, progress, and opportunity every apprentice and learner who takes part is helping close the skills gap and secure the future of our sector "
Passing on the baton
the initiative launched with amplius as the first recipient of the skills Relay baton in Derby Zoe
Ferris is head of organisational Development and engagement at amplius, which owns and manages almost 39,500 homes
Zoe says: "collaboration is key to tackling the
skills crisis we are proud to take another step forward in our partnership with pfp thrive and commit to giving more people the chance to learn, upskill, and progress their careers "
officially opening the building and launching the skills Relay, Mp for Derby south, Baggy shanker, commented: “It’s a real privilege to open pfp thrive’s Derby skills hub the skills gap is one of the biggest challenges facing our economy, and this government is determined to work alongside industry to fix it what’s happening here in Derby shows exactly how that can be done employers, educators and local people joining together to equip the next generation with skills, grow talent and build a stronger future for our city and our country ” pfp thrive provides high quality, accredited training programmes to nurture new talent and upskill existing professionals the skills Relay represents a collective industry effort to pass on skills, share knowledge, and engage young people at a time when apprenticeship entries are falling down 4% for 16-yearolds, 2% for 17-year-olds, and 1% for 18-year-olds last year
the skills Relay offers a tangible way for the sector to unite, build capability, and inspire a new generation of construction and housing professionals
Tom Arey presents the baton to Zoe Ferris
Pictured from left to right: CEO at Places for People Greg Reed, Tom Arey from PfP Thrive and Baggy Shanker, MP for Derby South
East Barnwell 120 council-home development reaches its highest point PROJECT UPDATE
A significant milestone has been celebrated in the construction of 120 new council homes at Cambridge Investment Partnership’s (CIP) East Barnwell development in the Abbey ward of Cambridge, with a topping out event marking the highest point of the project build Councillors, representatives from Homes England, One Public Estate, Abbey People and other partners attended an onsite event to celebrate the achievement Delivered by CIP, an equal partnership between Cambridge City Council and The Hill Group, the development will also provide a variety of community facilities, including a community centre, library, a pre-school and commercial units across two phases These facilities are designed to create a thriving and active community hub to support those living and working in the area
The new development replaces 18 ageing flats with 120 new council homes 48 of these will be ‘social rent’, the council rent most people will be familiar with, which is set at around 35 to 40% of the local market rent 72 will be affordable rent, available at around 80% of the local market rent, supporting local workers who may not be eligible for traditional council homes but struggle to pay high rents in the city
Four of the new homes have been specifically designed for people with disabilities The sustainable gas-free properties will include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and threebedroom maisonettes, with a strong focus on reducing carbon emissions, energy bills, and annual maintenance costs
Cllr Gerri Bird, Cabinet Member for Housing at Cambridge City Council and CIP board member, says: “Reaching the
highest point of the East Barnwell development is a fantastic milestone
These new homes will make a real difference for local families, providing safe, sustainable, and affordable places to live ”
The development will also deliver a 20% biodiversity net gain through a carefully considered landscaping design, including tree-lined streets with biodiverse planting, a new public community square, ample open space and the retention of existing trees and hedgerows wherever possible Enhanced pedestrian and cycle routes will encourage sustainable commuting, while all flat roofs will feature green roofs for effective rainwater management
Tom Hill, Managing Director of The Hill Group, adds: “It's exciting to see this project taking shape and the positive impact it will have on the neighbourhood ”
Making homeownership more affordable
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r u ra l h o u s i n g ”
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A n d t h e w i n dow s m ean i t ’ s
so qu i et , w e don’ t h ear m u ch n oi se f r om ou t si de ei t h er, ” expl ai n s A m y “ Th e en er gy ef f i ci en cy of t h i s pr oper t y i s a l ot bet t er t h an ou r l ast pl ace We
u sed t o pay £ 1 4 8 f or ou r gas an d el ect r i ci t y ev er y m on t h N ow w e pay £ 8 8 , despi t e dou bl i n g ou r squ ar e f oot age
“ We l ov e i t h er e We’ v e al l got ou r ow n space an d t h e added ben ef i t of st u n n i n g
v i ew s an d a su ppor t i v e l ocal com m u n i t y, pl u s t h e f act w e ’ v e m an aged t o st ay l i v i n g i n Su r r ey We f eel ex t r em el y l u ck y
t o be l i v i n g h er e at St u r t F ar m ”
A m y an d L u k e ’ s st or y r ef l ect s on e of St on ew at er ’ s cor e v al u es: en abl i n g peopl e t o r em ai n i n t h e com m u n i t i es
t h ey ch er i sh W i t h r i si n g l i v i n g cost s m ak i n g r u r al ar eas i n cr easi n gl y
u n af f or dabl e, dev el opm en t s l i k e St u r t
F ar m ar e v i t al i n en su r i n g f am i l i es ar en ’ t f or ced t o m ov e aw ay f r om t h e pl aces t h ey ’ v e al w ay s k n ow n
B y of f er i n g af f or dabl e opt i on s su ch as Sh ar ed Ow n er sh i p, St on ew at er i s h el pi n g t o pr eser v e t h e soci al f abr i c of r u r al cou n t i es l i k e Su r r ey, al l ow i n g
r esi den t s an d f u t u r e gen er at i on s t o pu t dow n r oot s an d t h r i v e
( En gl an d) Regu l at i on s 2025, al so kn ow n as Aw aab’s Law I t ’ s n am ed af t er Aw aab I sh ak, a t w o-year -ol d boy w h o t r agi cal l y di ed f r om pr ol on ged exposu r e t o m ou l d i n h i s f am i l y ’ s soci al h ou si n g Th e r egu l at i on asks soci al l an dl or ds, i n cl u di n g h ou si n g associ at i on s, t o i n vest i gat e an d r em edy em er gen cy an d pot en t i al si gn i f i can t h azar ds i n a t i m el y m an n er t o en su r e su ch a t r agedy n ever h appen s agai n Aw aab’s Law applies t o t he t ypes of hazar ds pr escr ibed by t he Housing Healt h and Saf et y Rat ing Syst em ( HHSR S) , including dam p and m ould U nder t he new r egulat ions, pot ent ial em er gency hazar ds m ust be invest igat ed w it hin 24 hour s of t he social landlor d becom ing aw ar e of t hem and pot ent ial signif icant hazar ds w it hin 1 0 w or king days A w r it t en sum m ar y of t he invest igat ion f indings should t hen be
pr ovided t o t he t enant w it hin t hr ee w or king days, and r elevant saf et y w or k m ust be under t aken w it hin f ive w or king days of t he invest igat ion concluding ( if a signif icant hazar d is ident if ied)
Th e i m pact of dam p an d m ou l d
Accor ding t o t he Regulat or of Social Housing, f ew er t han 0 2% of social hom es exper ience t he m ost sever e dam p and m ould pr oblem s I t ’ s est im at ed t hat a f ur t her 1 -2% of hom es f ace ser ious issues, w hile anot her 3 -4 % have not able dam p and m ould concer ns Older buildings w it hout adequat e dam p-pr oof ing ar e par t icular ly pr one t o t hese challenges, m aking it cr ucial f or social landlor ds of older pr oper t ies t o be pr epar ed t o t ackle t hem
M ou l d i s a f or m of f u n gu s t h at r el eases t oxi c spor es an d vapou r s i n t o t h e ai r A s su ch , dam p an d m ou l d ar en ’ t j u st cosm et i c i ssu es; t h ey ar e pu bl i c h eal t h r i sks t h at can h ave a ser i ou s i m pact on t h e t en an t ’ s h eal t h an d w el l bei n g W h i l st
m ou l d cau ses r i sk t o ever yon e, i t i s par t i cu l ar l y dan ger ou s f or vu l n er abl e i n di vi du al s l i ke ch i l dr en an d t h ose w i t h w eaken ed i m m u n e syst em s
Mould is a form of fungus that releases toxic spores and vapours into the air
s i g n i fi c a n t l y d a ma g e b u i l d i n g s by we a ke n i n g t h e i r
s t r u c t u r e a n d c a u s i n g ma t e r i a l s l i ke wo o d a n d p l a s t e r t o
ro t a n d d e c a y. ”
I f l ef t u n t r eat ed, dam p an d m ou l d can al so si gn i f i can t l y dam age bu i l di n gs by w eaken i n g t h ei r st r u ct u r e an d cau si n g
m at er i al s l i ke w ood an d pl ast er t o r ot an d
decay Not addr essi n g t h ese i ssu es qu i ckl y can l ead t o expen si ve r epai r s dow n t h e
l i n e, so i t i s essen t i al t o i den t i f y an d addr ess t h em pr om pt l y an d ef f ect i vel y
H ow t o t r eat dam p an d m ou l d
Fi r st , soci al l an dl or ds m u st i den t i f y an d
addr ess t h e r oot cau se of t h e dam p as w i t h ou t doi n g so, m ou l d w i l l r et u r n over
Once the mould has been removed, treated and the surface is dry, the area can then be painted over
t i m e Th ey sh ou l d w or k t oget h er w i t h
con t r act or s t o car r y ou t a t h or ou gh i n vest i gat i on t o det er m i n e t h e cau se, w h i ch cou l d be i ssu es l i ke excess
con den sat i on , w at er i n gr ess or st r u ct u r al f au l t s On l y on ce t h i s i s r esol ved sh ou l d su r f ace t r eat m en t s begi n
On ce t h e sou r ce of t h e dam p an d m ou l d h as been r esol ved, t h e n ext st ep i s
t o r em ove an y exi st i n g m ou l d an d t r eat
t h e su r f ace t o pr even t i t f r om r et u r n i n g
Th i s sh ou l d be don e u si n g a speci al i st w ash su ch as Du l u x Tr ade Weat h er sh i el d
Fu n gi ci dal Wash or P ol ycel l M ou l d
Rem over t h at ar e speci f i cal l y desi gn ed t o
ki l l spor es an d pr epar e su r f aces f or
r epai n t i n g Du r i n g t h i s pr ocess, i t i s i m por t an t f or con t r act or s t o w ear appr opr i at e per son al pr ot ect i ve equ i pm en t ( P P E) t o pr even t con t act w i t h or i n h al at i on of h ar m f u l m ou l d spor es
On ce t h e m ou l d h as been r em ov ed, t r eat ed an d t h e su r f ace i s dr y, t h e ar ea can t h en be pai n t ed ov er A st ai nbl ock i n g pr i m er sh ou l d be appl i ed f i r st , t o pr ev en t m ou l d an d dam p st ai n s f r om
bl eedi n g t h r ou gh t h e n ew pai n t an d i m pact i n g t h e f i n i sh A m u l t i -f u n ct i on al pr odu ct l i k e D u l u x Tr ade A qu a U n i P r i m er
t h at of f er s a pr i m er, seal er, st ai n bl ock an d u n der coat i n on e adv an ced f or m u l a i s i deal , as i t can h el p t o sav e t i m e Th i s pr odu ct i s su i t abl e f or al l m aj or i n t er i or an d ex t er i or su r f aces, an d m ean s t h at on l y on e, qu i ck-dr y i n g pr odu ct i s n eeded bef or e appl y i n g t h e t opcoat
Th e f i n al st ep i s t o appl y a du r abl e
t opcoat t h at act i v el y w or k s t o pr ev en t t h e
r ecu r r en ce of m ou l d F or exam pl e, t h e pai n t s i n t h e Du l u x Tr ade M ou l dsh i el d
F u n gi ci dal r an ge con t ai n a speci al f u n gi ci de i n t h e pai n t f i l m t h at h el ps t o i n h i bi t t h e gr ow t h of m ou l d an d f u n gi ov er t i m e
Th e r an ge i n cl u des bot h Du l u x Tr ade
M ou l dsh i el d Fu n gi ci dal M at t an d Du l u x Tr ade M ou l dsh i el d Fu n gi ci dal Eggsh el l
f i n i sh es t h at ar e avai l abl e i n a w i de var i et y of col ou r s t o su i t di f f er en t i n t er i or en vi r on m en t s For h i gh -m oi st u r e ar eas su ch as ki t ch en s an d bat h r oom s, t h e Eggsh el l var i an t i s r ecom m en ded du e t o
i t s en h an ced m oi st u r e r esi st an ce W i t h Aw aab’s Law n ow i n ef f ect , soci al l an dl or ds sh ou l d en su r e t h ey ar e equ i pped t o m eet t h e n ew r egu l at i on s Taki n g t i m el y act i on t o i den t i f y an d r em edy pot en t i al h azar ds w i l l pr ot ect t en an t s an d m ai n t ai n pr oper t i es t o a h i gh er st an dar d
1 Regulator of Social Housing (2023) Damp and mould in social housing: Initial findings, GOV UK Available at: https://www gov uk/government/ publications/damp-and-mould-in-social-housinginitial-findings
out
about how Dulux Trade
D e l i v e r i n g s u s t a i n a b l
o u t c o m e s
In a recent report from NEC Contracts, 72% of all respondents from the public sector said that more projects should include sustainability focused optional contract clauses Here Rekha Thawrani OBE, Global Director at NEC Contracts, offers further insight and discusses why contractual mechanisms can have such a significant and positive impact on sustainable outcomes
Cl i m at e ch an ge i s t h e def i n i n g ch al l en ge of ou r t i m e an d t h e con st r u ct i on i n du st r y i s a key con t r i bu t or t o t h e cu r r en t cr i si s Appr oxi m at el y 25% of al l U K car bon em i ssi on s can be at t r i bu t ed t o t h e bu i l t en vi r on m en t sect or, an d, accor di n g t o t h e U N En vi r on m en t pr ogr am m e, t h i s f i gu r e r each es a sh ocki n g 7 9% w h en en er gy an d pr ocess-r el at ed CO2 em i ssi on s ar e
con si der ed gl obal l y As a r esu l t of i t s con t r i bu t i on t o gl obal em i ssi on s, t h e i n du st r y h as been i n t h e f or ef r on t of t h ose f i n di n g sol u t i on s t o r edu ce en vi r on m en t al i m pact I n ou r com pr eh en si ve r esear ch i n t o col l abor at i ve con t r act i n g, w e f ou n d t h at 7 6% of al l r espon den t s su r veyed agr eed t h at t h e i n du st r y w as t aki n g su st ai n abi l i t y ser i ou sl y w i t h t h e f i gu r e i n cr easi n g t o 81 % f or t h ose i n t h e pu bl i c sect or
e
Rekha Thawrani OBE, Global Director at NEC Contracts
How ev er, i n t h e sam e su r v ey on l y 52% of pu bl i c sect or pr of essi on al s con si der ed t h em sel v es t o be ‘ v er y aw ar e ’ of su st ai n abi l i t y f ocu sed opt i on al cl au ses i n col l abor at i v e con t r act s Th i s dem on st r at es t h at w h i l st t h e i n du st r y m ay be m ov i n g i n t h e r i gh t di r ect i on , t h er e ar e st i l l key m ech an i sm s t h at can r edu ce en v i r on m en t al i m pact , w h i ch ar e n ot bei n g expl or ed or t aken adv an t age of
F a ci l i t a t i n g ch a n ge
Col l abor at i on i s at t h e h ear t of i m pr ov i n g t h e su st ai n abi l i t y of con st r u ct i on pr oj ect s
an d i t i s a t h em e t h at r u n s t h r ou gh
n at i on al st an dar ds l i ke ( PA S) 208 0: 2023
Car bon M an agem en t i n I n f r ast r u ct u r e
an d B u i l t En v i r on m en t I n t h i s f ou n dat i on al st an dar d, sh ar ed
r espon si bi l i t y am on gst v al u e ch ai n m em ber s i s essen t i al f or t h e m an agem en t of car bon em i ssi on s an d t h e del i v er y of su st ai n abl e sol u t i on s
Col l abor at i v e con t r act i n g pr ov i des a w ay t o m eet t h e dem an ds of ( PA S)
208 0: 2023 by pr ov i di n g an al t er n at i v e t o
t h e adv er sar i al r el at i on sh i ps of t r adi t i on al con t r act s Th i s appr oach al l ow s t h ose i n v ol v ed t o sh ar e r i sk an d w or k t ow ar ds an ou t com e t h at i s best f or t h e pr oj ect Th i s st r at egy al so en cou r ages t h e
adopt i on of n ew an d i n n ov at i v e
t ech n ol ogy an d en abl es a h ol i st i c appr oach t o key i ssu es, su ch as r esou r ce u se an d w ast e r edu ct i on
Ou r r esear ch al so h as r eveal ed t h at
8 0% of r espon den t s w or ki n g i n t h e pu bl i c sect or agr ee or st r on gl y agr ee t h at col l abor at i ve con t r act i n g h as en abl ed t h em t o see bet t er en vi r on m en t al ou t com es Th i s h as been possi bl e despi t e m an y l ocal au t h or i t i es set t i n g n et zer o t ar get s t h at ar e of t en m or e am bi t i ou s t h an t h ose i m pl em en t ed on a n at i on al l evel
B u i l di n g s u s t a i n a bi l i t y i n t o pr oj ect s
W h i l st col l abor at i v e con t r act i n g f or m s an excel l en t f ou n dat i on f or i m pr ov i n g t h e su st ai n abi l i t y of a pr oj ect , i t i s possi bl e t o do ev en m or e A ddi t i on al cl au ses su ch as N EC’s Secon dar y Opt i on X29 go bey on d f aci l i t at i n g su st ai n abi l i t y an d act i v el y bu i l d i t i n t o t h e obl i gat i on s an d ou t com es of t h e pr oj ect
Avai l abl e on al l NEC4 m ai n an d m ai n su bcon t r act f or m s, X29 en abl es cl i en t s t o set ou t a pr oj ect ’ s decar bon i sat i on goal s an d ou t l i n e key st akeh ol der s f or col l abor at i on Con t r act or s can t h en r espon d w i t h an appr opr i at e st r at egy t h at al l par t i es agr ee on Th i s appr oach en su r es t h at al l par t i es sh ar e al i gn ed goal s t h r ou gh ou t t h e pr ocess, an d cr u ci al l y
“9 5 % o f p u b l i c s e c t o r r e s p o n d e n t s r e p o r t e d t h a t
c o l l a b o ra t i ve c o n t ra c t s d e l i ve r i m p rove d c o s t s , h i g h e r
e ffi c i e n cy a n d i m p rove d k n ow l e d g e t ra n s fe r. T h i s i s
e x a c t l y w h a t t h ey we r e i n t e n d e d t o d o w h e n N E C
C o n t ra c t s wa s d eve l o p e d i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 9 0 s ”
h el ps t o est abl i sh bot h an u n der st an di n g an d con f i den ce i n h ow t h ose goal s w i l l be ach i eved f r om t h e ou t set
A per f or m an ce t abl e can al so be i n cl u ded i n t h i s addi t i on al cl au se, en abl i n g cl i en t s t o set f i n an ci al i n cen t i v es f or con t r act or s t h at ach i ev e t h e t ar get s
B y act i v el y i n cen t i v i si n g t h ose i n v ol v ed, opt i on al cl au ses en cou r age pr oact i v i t y f r om con t r act or s an d t h e su ppl y ch ai n an d r ei n f or ce t h e v al u e of col l abor at i n g acr oss t h e con st r u ct i on pr ocess
Opt i on al cl au ses al so h ave t h e f l exi bi l i t y t o ach i eve a w i de r an ge of en vi r on m en t al obj ect i ves Su r veyed pr of essi on al s r eveal ed t h at t h ese cl au ses ar e m ost of t en u sed t o t ar get t h e car bon i m pact du r i n g pr odu ct i on an d t h e
oper at i on al em i ssi on s of t h e f i n i sh ed bu i l di n g How ever, t h ey can al so be u t i l i sed t o r edu ce t h e vol u m es of w at er u sed du r i n g con st r u ct i on an d by t h e f i n i sh ed bu i l di n g, as w el l as t o r edu ce em bodi ed car bon Con sequ en t l y, t h ese f l exi bl e addi t i on al cl au ses en abl e a h ol i st i c appr oach t o be agr eed u pon t h at cover s al l t h e key dr i ver s f or pr oj ect su st ai n abi l i t y
L ook i n g f or w a r d
Ou r r esear ch dem on st r at ed a cl ear l ev el of su ppor t f or col l abor at i v e con t r act i n g an d su st ai n abi l i t y f ocu sed opt i on al cl au ses 67 % of pu bl i c sect or r espon den t s agr eed t h at m or e pr oj ect s sh ou l d u t i l i se cl au ses su ch as X29, w i t h ov er h al f say i n g t h at t h ey w er e v er y aw ar e of t h em f ar h i gh er t h an t h e 1 5% av er age acr oss t h e w i der i n du st r y
W h at ’ s m or e, t h e pu bl i c sect or ’ s u pt ake of col l abor at i v e con t r act i n g i n gen er al al so pr ov i des gr ou n ds f or opt i m i sm 95% of pu bl i c sect or r espon den t s r epor t ed t h at col l abor at i v e
con t r act s del i v er i m pr ov ed cost s, h i gh er ef f i ci en cy an d i m pr ov ed k n ow l edge t r an sf er Th i s i s exact l y w h at t h ey w er e i n t en ded t o do w h en N EC w as dev el oped
i n t h e ear l y 1 990s Ou r con t r act su i t e h as con t i n u ed t o ev ol v e si n ce t h en an d
Secon dar y Opt i on X29 i s a r el at i v el y r ecen t addi t i on r ef l ect i v e of t h e u r gen t n eed t o addr ess i ssu es of su st ai n abi l i t y an d del i v er bet t er pr oj ect ou t com es Today, t h e N EC su i t e of con t r act s i s i n t er n at i on al l y r ecogn i sed an d r ecom m en ded by U K gov er n m en t I n addi t i on , t h ey h av e r ecen t l y been m ade av ai l abl e v i a N EC Di gi t al , an i n t u i t i v e on l i n e con t r act dr af t i n g pl at f or m t h at u n i t es pu bl i c sect or st akeh ol der s t oget h er an d cr eat es com pr eh en si v e di gi t al l i br ar i es of cl au ses an d t er m s f or f u t u r e pr oj ect s U l t i m at el y, i t i s t h er e t o m ake col l abor at i v e con t r act i n g f ast er, si m pl er an d m or e accessi bl e F i n al l y, w i t h con t i n u ed edu cat i on an d k n ow l edge sh ar i n g, w e ar e opt i m i st i c t h at adopt i on w i l l con t i n u e t o gr ow, an d t o t h e poi n t w h er e col l abor at i v e con t r act i n g i n cor por at es su st ai n abi l i t y cl au ses as st an dar d Af t er al l , a r eset i n t h e w ay w e appr oach w or k i n g t oget h er t o ach i ev e ou r su st ai n abi l i t y goal s h as t h e pot en t i al t o ben ef i t ev er y on e
■ To find out about NEC’s suite of contracts and optional clauses such as X29 that can improve the sustainable outcomes of your next project, go to www.rdr.link/lba007
■ To f ind out m ore about NEC Digit al visit w w w .rdr.link/ lba008
S o c i a l l y c o n s c i o u s
r o c u r e m e n t
Caroline Compton-James, Deputy Chief Executive at SCAPE, highlights the importance of homing in on social value through housing delivery
he UK construction sector is at a pivotal moment while it navigates economic headwinds and evolving expectations around housing delivery With ambitious targets under review, the industry is striving to deliver meaningful social value alongside essential infrastructure, even as it contends with skills shortages and the shifting landscape of modern construction practices
Central to this evolution is the role of procurement Under the Procurement Act 2023, public sector commissioning is required to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits Far from being a bureaucratic hurdle, procurement has become a strategic lever for prioritising local and regional priorities, encompassing public benefit and wider social impact, allowing flexibility in social value weighting
SCAPE’s Social Value in Construction Benchmarking Report 2025 highlights this shift In 2024, £1 2bn in social value was generated across 418 projects, representing 27 3% of added value The average project size rose 9% to £10 5m, with social value
spending reaching a record £1 17bn Local job creation and community spending accounted for 27% of contract value
Housing schemes are a key driver of this impact A standout example is Prospecthill Court in Greenock, Scotland Delivered by Kier via the SCAPE Scotland Construction framework for River Clyde Homes, the £6m retrofit of 90 homes in a high-rise block achieved the Association for Environment Conscious Building standard Energy demand per flat dropped by 80%, from 16,750 kWh/year to 2,680 kWh, significantly reducing carbon emissions and heating costs The project won the Net Zero in Housing award at the CIH Housing Awards
Community engagement was a cornerstone of the retrofit project, with residents actively involved through consultations and open days Beyond the build itself, the project team spearheaded a range of local initiatives organising clean-up days, hosting arts sessions for children, furnishing a respite flat and contributing to the Inverclyde Foodbank all aimed at strengthening community ties and promoting well-being
Local spend
This grassroots impact is illustrated in our Social Value Benchmarking Report Last year alone, the report shows that local spend rose by 65% to exceed £1bn Notably, 98p of every £1 invested in social value directly supports local jobs and businesses This figure has remained consistently high, underscoring the tangible benefits of socially conscious procurement
This momentum is driven by stronger collaboration between contractors and local suppliers, alongside a growing emphasis from clients on building resilient, locally rooted supply chains Supporting the local
GUEST COMMENT
economy is no longer a peripheral goal; it is now closely linked with improving procurement tools to identify the right partners and deliver lasting impact
The rise in local and small business spending further underscores the sector’s commitment to community investment With social value increasingly embedded in both legislation and procurement strategy, the construction industry is well positioned for continued growth in delivering meaningful outcomes beyond the build
For local authorities, the opportunity is clear: procurement is a powerful tool not only for delivering housing infrastructure, but also for driving improvements in employment, economic resilience and community well-being By embedding social value into housing projects, councils can ensure that each development contributes meaningfully to the lives of residents As demonstrated by initiatives like Prospecthill Court, socially conscious procurement enables housing schemes to deliver longterm impact extending far beyond the construction site, helping to build more resilient, inclusive communities
Prospecthill Court in Greenock, Scotland
Caroline Compton-James, Deputy Chief Executive at SCAPE
Rethinking shower retrofits in social housing
As local authorities and housing associations face mounting pressure to meet ambitious sustainability targets, retrofitting bathrooms has become a key focus As multigenerational living becomes more popular, however, the drive for enhanced efficiency could risk overlooking the diverse needs of tenants. Karen Wise, Head of Product Management at Triton Showers, explores how the retrofit process can and must find the perfect balance.
It ’ s an u n pr eceden t ed t i m e f or t h e soci al h ou si n g sect or W h i l e t h e Fu t u r e Hom es
St an dar d ( FHS) h as been h an gi n g over h eads f or m or e t h an si x year s n ow, f i n al r egu l at i on s ar e ( f i n al l y) set t o be
an n ou n ced i n ear l y 2026 Yet , a l ack of cl ar i t y ar ou n d speci f i c di r ect i ves u p t o n ow an d possi bl y f or a f ew m or e m on t h s h as l ef t m an y pr ovi der s i n t h e ch al l en gi n g posi t i on of pr epar i n g f or t h e u n kn ow n
On e t h i n g, h ow ever, i s cl ear n ew h om es m u st be bu i l t w i t h a 7 5-8 0% r edu ct i on i n car bon em i ssi on s com par ed t o t h ose con st r u ct ed u n der 201 3 l egi sl at i on 1 A l t h ou gh t h e st an dar d i s pr i m ar i l y cen t r ed ar ou n d n ew -bu i l ds, i t w i l l i n di r ect l y af f ect exi st i n g h ou si n g st ock by cr eat i n g a ben ch m ar k t h at r et r of i t pr oj ect s w i l l be expect ed t o m at ch
I t ’ s t h er ef or e l i kel y t h at en er gy-savi n g m easu r es n o m at t er h ow i n cr em en t al w i l l be pr i or i t i sed by soci al h ou si n g
pr ovi der s u n der pr essu r e t o al i gn w i t h t h e
U K ’ s br oader n et zer o goal s W h i l e t h i s i s a
sen si bl e an d cor r ect appr oach , i t ’ s cr u ci al
t h at con si der at i on s l i ke i n cl u si vi t y ar e n ot
over l ooked i n t h e pr ocess
A n ew n or m
car e
M u l t i gen er at i on al l i v i n g i s on t h e r i se 2
Regar dl ess of dem ogr aph i c, cost s seem
t o be r i si n g f or ev er y body Soar i n g h ou se
pr i ces h av e m ade i t ext r em el y di f f i cu l t f or pr ospect i v e f i r st -t i m e bu y er s t o get on t h e pr oper t y l adder, w h i l e t h e ol der gen er at i on ar e st r u ggl i n g t o af f or d r i si n g
KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS
perf ect st art ing place f or t hose looking t o balance ef f iciency w it h inclusivit y A s t h e l ar gest dom est i c con su m er of w at er an d r espon si bl e f or h al f of h ot w at er dem an d gen er at ed, speci f yi n g t h e r i gh t sh ow er i s an i m por t an t pi ece of t h e pu zzl e, an d t h er e ar e sever al con si der at i on s t h at sh ou l d be m ade w h en doi n g so
Th e gr eat sh ow er debat e Th e f i r st an d m ost obvi ou s poi n t of cal l i s w h et h er t o ch oose an el ect r i c or a m i xer Dr aw i n g f r om bot h h ot an d col d w at er su ppl i es, m i xer s t en d t o of f er a m or e pow er f u l f l ow r at e t h an t h ei r el ect r i c cou n t er par t s On t h e ot h er h an d, t h ey r el y on t h e avai l abi l i t y of st or ed or com bigen er at ed w at er, w h i ch m ay n ot be con si st en t acr oss ol der h ou si n g st ock I n m u l t i gen er at i on al h ou seh ol ds, w h er e si m u l t an eou s w at er u se i s com m on , pr essu r e bal an ci n g m ay al so be an i ssu e
El ect r i c sh ow er s, m ean w h i l e, ar e l au ded f or t h ei r en er gy ef f i ci en cy, del i ver i n g i n st an t h ot w at er w i t h ou t h eat i n g an en t i r e t an k Th i s m akes t h em a par t i cu l ar l y at t r act i ve ch oi ce f or r et r of i t pr oj ect s w h er e decar bon i sat i on i s a pr i or i t y
Their independence f r om a cent r al boiler also m eans t hey of f er gr eat er r eliabilit y, and t hose w it h t her m ost at ic cont r ols add an ext r a layer of saf et y by m aint aining a consist ent t em per at ur e, even w hen dem and f luct uat es elsew her e in t he hom e This is im por t ant f or m ult igener at ional households w her e vulner able r esident s m ay be m or e suscept ible t o sudden t em per at ur e changes
Saf e speci f i cat i on
Car e show er s pr om ot e saf et y, com f or t and independence t hr ough a handf ul of f eat ur es, including easy-t o-use cont r ols, t her m ost at ic t em per at ur e r egulat ion and com pat ibilit y w it h accessor ies like gr ab r ails
An elect r ic car e show er enables r esident s t o show er saf ely, w hile ever ybody benef it s f r om ef f icient w at er use and low er bills
Tr it on ’ s Om nicar e r ange of elect r ic show er s pr ovides households w it h an inclusive solut ion Each m odel is oper at ed w it h a sof t pr ess of t he appliance’s st ar t / st op but t on, f ollow ed by a ‘ pow er on ’ illum inat ion f or f ur t her r eassur ance W it h an ext ended r iser r ail and t w o-m et r e ant i-t w ist
hose, Om nicar e has been m anuf act ur ed t o assist user s w hen st anding or seat ed
A ssu r an ce t h r ou gh accr edi t at i on
W h en sel ect i n g pr odu ct s f or r et r of i t pr oj ect s, t h ose w i t h t h i r d-par t y
accr edi t at i on s of f er an assu r an ce of qu al i t y an d com pl i an ce Th e Om n i car e
r an ge f eat u r es t h er m ost at i c t em per at u r e con t r ol s, accr edi t ed w i t h a B EA B Car e M ar k, t o pr even t su dden dr ops i n w at er
t em per at u r e, r egu l at i n g w i t h i n +/ - 1 °C
t h r ou gh i t s u n i qu e Tr i -Th er m f eat u r e
Th e El i n a bar m i xer sh ow er i s an ot h er i n cl u si vel y desi gn ed sol u t i on , of f er i n g
Type 3 ( TM V ) appr oval an d K I WA U K Reg
4 cer t i f i cat i on f or com pl i an ce w i t h w at er su ppl y r egu l at i on s I t f eat u r es t am perpr oof l ooped l ever con t r ol s t h at ar e easy
t o gr i p an d oper at e, w i t h cl ear f l ow an d t em per at u r e m ar ki n gs t o su ppor t u ser s w i t h var yi n g n eeds an d abi l i t i es
M ean w h i l e al l Om n i car e sh ow er s pr ovi de au di bl e f eedback, w h i ch assi st s vi su al l y i m pai r ed u ser s by si gn al l i n g
w h en t h e sh ow er st ar t s an d f i n i sh es
Th i s i s a con t r i bu t i n g f act or t o t h ei r accr edi t at i on f r om t h e Royal Nat i on al
I n st i t u t e of B l i n d P eopl e ( R NI B )
Show er durat ions can also be set at f ive-, 1 0-, 20- and 30-m inut e int ervals, assist ing people w it h condit ions like dem ent ia or
aut ism This can be set at t he com m issioning st age by inst allers, w it h t he show er ent ering a phased shut dow n once it is eit her m anually or aut om at ically sw it ched of f The Om nicare range is also recognised by t he Dem ent ia Services Developm ent Cent re ( DSDC) f or it s inclusive design, helping t o creat e saf er and m ore int uit ive environm ent s f or people living w it h dem ent ia
Th e per f ect bal an ce
As m ult igenerat ional living becom es m ore com m on and t he need t o reduce w at er and energy consum pt ion grow s, it has never been m ore im port ant t hat social housing is equipped w it h product s t hat of f er t he perf ect balance bet w een inclusivit y and ef f iciency Th e bat h r oom an d sh ow er s i n par t i cu l ar pl ays a key r ol e i n t h i s ef f or t an d opt
r an ge of ef f i ci en t sh ow er i n g sol u t i on s, bu i l t t o m eet al l n eeds, w i l l h el p soci al h ou si n g pr ovi der s go t h e ext r a m i l e
■ For more information about Triton and its Omnicare range of energy-efficient thermostatic electric care showers, please visit www.rdr.link/lba009
The Omnicare range is recognised by the Dementia Services Development Centre for its inclusive design
S p e c i f y i n g f l o o r i n g f o r a s s i s t e d l i v i n g h o u s i n g
Assisted living as a sector covers a broad spectrum of needs but by definition, the accommodation needs be both a home for the people who live there and also be a safe place of work for those providing support. Flooring choices contribute to getting that balance right, says Altro.
Th er e ar e m an y con si der at i on s w h en speci f yi n g f or assi st ed l i vi n g h ou si n g pr oj ect s, al l of w h i ch pl ay a par t i n f i n di n g t h at bal an ce bet w een i n depen den t l i vi n g an d su ppor t , com f or t an d saf et y, l ooki n g t o cr eat e spaces t h at h ave a posi t i ve i m pact on ph ysi cal an d m en t al w el l -bei n g Key t o get t i n g t h i s r i gh t i s ch oosi n g t h e r i gh t pr odu ct f or t h e r i gh t pl ace, an d t h an kf u l l y w h en i t com es t o f l oor i n g, t h er e ar e l ot s of gr eat opt i on s t o ch oose f r om t h at del i ver a h om el y or st yl i sh f eel w i t h ou t com pr om i si n g on per f or m an ce, saf et y or h ygi en e
I n bat h r oom ar eas, sl i p-r esi st an ce i s t h e pr i m ar y con cer n , al on g w i t h h y gi en e of cou r se Th er e ar e sl i p r i sk s f r om com m on con t am i n an t s su ch as sh am poo an d con di t i on er, as w el l as si m pl y w at er I f w et r oom s or l ev el access sh ow er s ar e i n st al l ed, sl i p-r esi st an t f l oor i n g becom es absol u t el y essen t i al I n t h ese ar eas, ch ose a speci al i st saf et y f l oor sol u t i on dev el oped f or com bi n ed w et an d dr y, sh oe an d bar ef oot ar eas, su ch as A l t r o A qu ar i u s or A l t r o P i sces, w i t h l ot s of col ou r ch oi ces av ai l abl e, i n cl u di n g DSDC
dem en t i a desi gn accr edi t ed opt i on s
Saf et y f l oor i n g
Look f or saf et y f l oor i n g t h at del i ver s sl i p-r esi st an ce f or
t h e l i f et i m e of t h e
f l oor M oder n saf et y
f l oor s ar e easy t o keep cl ean , an d w h en com bi n ed
w i t h w al l cl addi n g
f or spl ash backs an d
sh ow er ar eas, h el p avoi d t h e h ygi en e h eadach es cau sed by t i l es an d gr ou t
Saf et y f looring is a m ust in kit chen areas
t oo w here slip-risks com e f rom spills of liquids and oils, as w ell as dry cont am inant s like f lour There are m any opt ions t o choose f rom here, including, f or exam ple, Alt ro I llust ra, a saf et y f loor available in t hree dist inct pat t ern groups w it h visual t ext ures t o bring dept h t o your designs: nat ural st ones, m odern t ext iles and m ut ed m inerals
Th ese desi gn s of f er a h ar m on i ou s
bl en d of st yl e an d f u n ct i on al i t y w i t h
n at u r e-i n spi r ed t ext u r es an d sof t n ess t o h el p cr eat e an d en h an ce f eel i n gs of w el lbei n g w i t h i n spaces, w h i l st al so del i ver i n g
su per i or sl i p-r esi st an ce w i t h A l t r o ’ s ‘On e i n
a M i l l i on ’ sl i p r i sk f or l i f e gu ar an t ee Woodl ook saf et y f l oor s ar e par t i cu l ar l y popu l ar
i n assi st ed l i vi n g ki t ch en ar eas t oo f or t h ei r bi oph i l i c pr oper t i es an d h om el y f eel
Com f or t an d sou n d absor pt i on I n ot h er l i vi n g spaces, saf et y f l oor s can al so be a w i se ch oi ce, agai n w i t h m an y h om el y an d aest h et i cal l y appeal i n g
The bathrooms at the independent living accommodation feature Altro Whiterock Digiclad (Custom) walls with an underwater theme
Altro Pisces safety flooring was specified for the individual toilet
Altro’s Wood Comfort flooring was installed in the bedrooms
w h e n c o m b i n e d w i t h wa l l
s h owe r a r e a s , h e l p a vo i d t h e hy g i e n e h e a d a c h e s
c a u s e d by t i l e s a n d g ro u t . ”
opt i on s t o ch oose f r om How ever, i f f al l pr even t i on i s l ess of a con cer n i n l i vi n g spaces, t h en l ook t o vi n yl f l oor s t h at of f er m or e com f or t u n der f oot , especi al l y
t h ose w h i ch al so of f er sou n d r edu ct i on pr oper t i es, an d a h om el y l ook an d ease of cl ean i n g t oo
For exam pl e, A l t r o Ser en adei s a 1 9dB vi n yl acou st i c f l oor t h at con t r i bu t es t o
t h e i m pact sou n d r edu ct i on of n oi se i n bu i l di n gs by r edu ci n g i m pact sou n d
t r an sm i ssi on , i n cr easi n g sou n d absor pt i on an d r edu ci n g sou n d r ef l ect i on W h er e n oi se r edu ct i on i s n eeded t o r edu ce i n -r oom sou n d an d
t r an sm i ssi on of n oi se you can al so
con si der A l t r o I l l u st r a adh esi ve-f r ee an d
A l t r o Wood Com f or t f l oor s f or exam pl e, w h i ch of f er 1 4 dB A l t r o En sem bl e an d
A l t r o Or ch est r a r an ges of f er 1 5dB
You can al so com bi n e t h e f l oor of you r
ch oi ce w i t h i m pact sou n d r edu ct i on u n der l ays For exam pl e, A l t r o A cou st i c
U n der l ay 1 1 01 an d A l t r o Ever l ay B of f er sou n d r edu ct i on s of 1 7 dB an d 21 dB
r espect i vel y, w h en u sed i n con j u n ct i on w i t h an A l t r o sh eet vi n yl f l oor
Case st u dy M SV H ou si n g,
Ch esh i r e
A u n i qu e h ou si n g con cept w as cr eat ed on t h e Foxcot e h ou si n g devel opm en t i n Heal d Gr een by B l oor Hom es an d
St ockpor t M B C i n par t n er sh i p w i t h M SV
Hou si n g A ssoci at i on an d Li f ew ays car e pr ovi der Th e h ou se w as t o pr ovi de f u l l y-
adapt ed, i n depen den t l i vi n g accom m odat i on f or you n g peopl e w i t h au t i sm , l ear n i n g di f f i cu l t i es an d m en t al h eal t h i ssu es
B u i l t on l an d sol d by t h e Seash el l Tr u st ,
t h e h ou se w as desi gn ed as a si n gl e su ppor t ed dw el l i n g, pr ovi di n g l i vi n g spaces
f or t h r ee you n g adu
l t s w i t h n eu r odi ver se n eeds Th e h om e n eeded t o con vey a bi oph i l i c f eel i n g of space an d l i gh t , w i t h
m u t ed t on es an d ear t h y col ou r s M SV Hou si n g A ssoci at i on , Sar a Dar w i n of P h i A r ch i t ect s an d t h e par en t of on e of t h e you n g adu l t s w or ked h an d-i n -h an d t o
Look for safety flooring that delivers slipresistance for the lifetime of the floor
cr eat e a speci f i cat i on f or t h e bu i l d t h at con si der ed al l r equ i r em en t s Th i s i n cl u ded a con n ect ed, w el com i n g, sh ar ed l i vi n g, di n i n g an d ki t ch en space t h at cou l d be separ at ed as an d w h en n eeded, i n di vi du al h om el y bedr oom s, a cal m an d soot h i n g sen sor y r oom , saf e an d h ygi en i c bat h r oom s an d ki t ch en ar ea al l of w h i ch w er e an t i -pi ck, r edu ced t r an sf er en ce of n oi se an d pr ovi ded ease of cl ean i n g I n t h e di n i n g an d ki t ch en ar ea, A l t r o Wood Com f or t i n col ou r A ged Oak w as speci f i ed br i n gi n g a bi oph i l i c f eel i n t o t h e open ar eas Th e bat h r oom s w er e f u r n i sh ed w i t h A l t r o W h i t er ock Sat i n s i n col ou r Li n en , A l t r o W h i t er ock Di gi cl ad ( Cu st om ) w al l s w i t h an u n der w at er t h em e, an d A l t r o P i sces saf et y f l oor Th e saf et y f l oor i n g w as al so speci f i ed f or t h e i n di vi du al t oi l et A l t r o Wood Com f or t pr ovi ded com f or t an d sou n d r edu ct i on t h r ou gh ou t t h e h ou se i n t h e bedr oom s, sen sor y r oom , an d h al l w ays
“ We ar e del i gh t ed w i t h h ow t h e h ou se h as com e t oget h er Th e par en t s ar e h appy i t i s a saf e r obu st h om e f or t h e you n g adu l t s, ” says Sar a Dar w i n of P h i A r ch i t ect s
Altro’s Wood Comfort provided comfort and sound reduction
KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS ROUND-UP
Inclusive bathroom refurbishment at Spring Grove Care Home
A s p a r t o f t h e r e f
Grant Westfield’s Multipanel has supported a full refurbishment of wet rooms at Spring Grove Care Home in Hampstead, North London, combining a contemporary, hotelinspired finish with inclusive design and long-term practicality
Springdene Group was seeking a modern solution that avoided the clinical or institutional feel often found in care environments With many residents living with dementia or mobility challenges, the specification brief focused on delivering safe, hygienic and visually welcoming bathrooms that felt more like stylish hotel spaces than traditional care interiors
M
s m a d e i n t h e U K ,
i c w h i l e m e e t i n g s t r i c t h y g i e n e a n d s a f e t y r e q u i r e m e n t s
The introduction of Awaab’s Law in October 2025 has marked a pivotal moment for the UK housing and construction sectors The new legislation sets strict timelines for social landlords to investigate and repair damp and mould issues Beyond compliance, it signals a cultural shift: a renewed focus on accountability, preventative design, and healthier living environments
For landlords, facilities managers, and building managers, Awaab’s Law is both a challenge and an opportunity The law requires that health and safety hazards, including mould, are remedied swiftly within 14 days of reporting in most cases That means reactive maintenance is no longer enough; a proactive, specification-led approach is essential Building fabric, ventilation, and moisture control systems must all work together to prevent damp before it develops
Specifiers should look carefully at material quality and certification when designing for high-moisture areas Products should be tested to recognised standards such as BBA certification, demonstrate proven water resistance and mould prevention, and align with building regulations and housing quality standards
When it comes to helping prevent mould, Fibo panels feature a 100% waterproof surface, a sealed tongue-and-groove Aqualock system, and no grout, eliminating the primary source of mould growth Plus, installation is up to five times faster than tiling, reducing downtime in occupied properties and enabling landlords to meet repair deadlines efficiently Fibo panels are low maintenance, and easy to clean, ensuring lasting performance in both new-builds and refurbishments
SOLVING PAINT PROBLEMS — HOW SPECIALIST COATINGS COMBAT MOULD IN SOCIAL HOUSING
PAGE 26 | AWAAB’S LAW AND TACKLING MOULD IN SOCIAL HOUSING
PAGE 28 | ZINSSER’S STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO TACKLING MOULD
AWAAB’S LAW AND TACKLING MOULD IN SOCIAL HOUSING
The Regulator of Social Housing reports that between 120,000 and 160,000 of the four million social homes in England have “notable” amounts of damp and mould. An increasing problem in residential properties across the UK, Zinsser offers a complete, problem-solving system of mouldresistant products to address mould growth quickly and effectively.
De s p i t e b e i n g u n s i g h t l y , m o u l d
c a n c a u s e s e r i o u s h e a l t h
p r o b l e m s s u c h a s r e s p i r a t o r y
i n f e c t i o n s , a s t h m a a t t a c k s ,
a l l e r g i c r e a c t i o n s a n d , i n s e v e r e c a s e s ,
e v e n d e a t h T h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f t h e
i s s u e w a s s o l i d i f i e d t h i s y e a r w i t h t h e
p a s s i n g o f A w a a b ’ s L a w , w h i c h r e q u i r e s
s o c i a l l a n d l o r d s t o i d e n t i f y t h e
u n d e r l y i n g c a u s e s o f m o u l d i n t h e i r
p r o p e r t i e s a n d f i n d l o n g - t e r m s o l u t i o n s
What is Awaab’s Law?
A w a a b ’ s L a w i s t h e f i r s t p h a s e o f t h e
H a z a r d s i n S o c i a l H o u s i n g R e g u l a t i o n s
2 0 2 5 P a s s e d o n t h e 2 7 t h O c t o b e r t h i s
y e a r , t h e l a w r e q u i r e s s o c i a l l a n d l o r d s
t o i d e n t i f y t h e u n d e r l y i n g c a u s e s o f
m o u l d i n t h e i r p r o p e r t i e s a n d f i n d l o n g -
t e r m s o l u t i o n s
A w a a b ’ s L a w i s n a m e d a f t e r A w a a b
I s h a k , a t w o - y e a r - o l d b o y w h o t r a g i c a l l y
d i e d i n D e c e m b e r 2 0 2 0 , a f t e r
d e v e l o p i n g a r e s p i r a t o r y c o n d i t i o n
c a u s e d b y p r o l o n g e d e x p o s u r e t o
m o u l d i n h i s h o m e . T h i s w a s d e s p i t e
A w a a b ’ s f a t h e r r e p e a t e d l y r a i s i n g t h e
i s s u e w i t h R o c h d a l e B o r o u g h w i d e
H o u s i n g ( R B H ) A w a a b ’ s L a w i s t h e
r e s u l t o f a p e t i t i o n b y A w a a b ’ s p a r e n t s ,
t h e M a n c h e s t e r E v e n i n g N e w s a n d
S h e l t e r , d e m a n d i n g t h a t l a n d l o r d s d e a l
w i t h d a n g e r o u s h a z a r d s i n a m o r e
e f f e c t i v e a n d t i m
What does Awaab’s Law mean for landlords?
Awaab’s Law has introduced more responsibilities for social landlords, ensuring that they investigate, remove and prevent hazards Landlords must investigate significant hazards within 10 working days, and emergency hazards within 24 hours, undertaking required safety work as soon as reasonably practicable Significant hazards are defined as those that could or are already causing harm to the health and safety of the tenant, whereas emergency hazards
need to be dealt with urgently, as they pose an immediate risk
Social landlords also need to produce a written summary of their findings and deliver this to the tenant within three days of the investigation ending Required safety work must be carried out within five working days of the investigation ending for significant hazards
It is also the landlord’s responsibility to prevent significant or emergency hazards from recurring within five working days of the investigation concluding Preventative works must be complete within a reasonable amount of time, otherwise landlords may have to secure suitable alternative accommodation at their expense
The introduction of Awaab’s Law has been a pivotal moment in ensuring the health and safety of social housing tenants Landlords now have a responsibility to identify and resolve health hazards within a reasonable timeframe, and tenants are entitled to seek court action if Awaab’s Law has been breached The law will firstly focus on damp and mould, but will cover further
Significant hazards are defined as those that could or are already causing harm to the health and safety of the tenant
Zinsser’s mould-resistant interior paint
PermaWhite contains a biocide that protects the dried coating against fungal degradation
housing hazards in 2026 and 2027, including excess cold and heat, structural collapse, fire, electrical hazards and hygiene There are plans to extend the law to private landlords, as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill, in 2026.
Zinsser’s solutions to damp and mould
L
Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover is a water-based spray, designed to prepare a mould-stained surface before painting for a long-lasting finish
The formula contains a fungicide that effectively removes dark stains caused by mould, fungus and algae, and is ideal for use in bathrooms, kitchens
and other areas of high humidity The Mould Killer & Remover can be used on various internal surfaces such as tiles, wood, plaster and wallpaper
Mould-resistant interior paint
PermaWhite has a unique formulation and contains a biocide that protects the dried coating against fungal degradation The hardwearing paint provides a scrubbable finish that is specifically designed for high-humidity areas that are subject to challenging wear and tear such as bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms The paint film is designed to resist cracking, peeling and blistering for up to seven years before first maintenance
The mould treatment system is used by many housing services as part of their commitment to tackling mould
A representative from South Tyneside
Council Housing Services said:
“Zinsser was the only brand we came across that featured a full system of products to tackle mould. We’ve been using Zinsser’s products now for years By investing in Zinsser’s services, housing associations can create safer, healthier living environments while also saving on the long-term costs of recurring mouldrelated problems ”
Specification service
Zinsser offers a free specification service to ensure that its products are used correctly Members of the experienced Zinsser team will work with a variety of professionals across the industry at every stage of their project. From initial survey through to specification and application of coatings, they provide onsite advice, training and technical assistance They will physically inspect the surface you need to paint and specify the ideal products to suit the project
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Zinsser offers a certified CPD Guide to Specifying Mould-Resistant Paints for Social Housing, specifically for social housing landlords/operators and their property management teams The course explains common causes of mould, associated health risks and how to remove mould safely. The course also details how mould-resistant paints work by inhibiting fungal growth and covers their application in bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens Practical guidance on selecting, specifying and applying these paints ensures landlords can maintain healthier living environments, safeguarding tenants’ well-being and complying with housing standards and their legal obligations
■ For more information on Zinsser and its range of mould-resistant products, visit www.zinsseruk.com.
To request a CPD presentation please email enquiries@tor-coatings.com
Zinsser offers a free specification service to ensure that its products are used correctly
ZINSSER’S STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO TACKLING MOULD
With Awaab’s Law coming into force this year, social housing landlords need efficient and effective solutions for addressing damp and mould in their properties Zinsser’s three-step system is specifically designed to treat mould and mildew problems
STEP 1: PREP
First, thoroughly clean the mould-stained surface with Zinsser Universal Degreaser and Cleaner This water-based degreaser spray is effective at cleaning away any dirt, grease and mould residue from walls, providing a clean surface for treatment
STEP 2: PRIME
and painting After use, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry
Next, apply Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover directly to the surface, as this will prepare a mould-stained area before decorating and provide a longer-lasting paint finish This is a crucial step in our
Mould build-up can often leave unsightly stains that can be difficult to cover Once the surface is suitably prepped, allow to dry before priming with ultimate performance, 4-in-1 B-I-N AQUA.
A Q U A e f f e c t i v e l y b l o c k s s t u b b o r n s t a i n s f r o m m i l d e w , n i c o t i n e , s m o k e ,
w a t e r , g r e a s e , t a n n i n , c r a y o n a n d l i p s t i c k , a
a g a i n s t o d o u r s a n d o f f e r s e x c e p t i o n a l a d
mould treatment system, as the Mould Killer & Remover contains a fungicide that effectively kills and removes mould, fungus and algae It is fast acting and perfect for use in high humidity areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms, which are notorious for mould growth
STEP 3: PROTECT
Finally, after allowing to dry, apply two coats of Zinsser PermaWhite to the surface, leaving two hours drying-time in between coats PermaWhite is our tough and scrubbable mould-resistant paint The tried and trusted solution for resisting mould growth, it contains a biocide to protect the dried coating against fungal degradation and has trace VOCs (<0 1%) PermaWhite addresses mould and mildew in high-humidity environments like bathrooms and kitchens, and is designed to resist cracking, peeling and blistering for up to seven years. It has a Class 1 Scrub Rating for easy cleaning and is touch-dry in just 30 minutes ■ For more information on Zinsser and its range of mould-resistant products, visit www.zinsseruk.com. To request a CPD
Client accountability, competence and active management: the Building Safety Act
Ayo Allu FCIOB, Principal Consultant at AAA Project Services, is the new Chair of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Client Steering Group, which oversees the CIOB Client Strategy established to provide practical resources for construction clients. Here, he emphasises the far-reaching changes wrought by the Building Safety Act 2022 If you thought it only applied to higher-risk buildings, think again.
Local au t h or i t i es an d r egi st er ed
h ou si n g pr ovi der s i n En gl an d ar e
u n der i n t en se pr essu r e You ar e
m an agi n g sh r i n ki n g bu dget s,
r i si n g expect at i on s, n ew con su m er
r egu l at i on du t i es, Aw aab’s Law, an d t h e
l on g m ar ch t ow ar d n et -zer o car bon
At t h e sam e t i m e, t h e r egu l at or y
l an dscape ar ou n d bu i l di n g saf et y h as
ch an ged m or e i n t h e l ast f i ve year s t h an i n t h e pr evi ou s 3 0 Th e r esu l t i s a dau n t i n g
com bi n at i on : m or e r espon si bi l i t y, m or e scr u t i n y, f ew er r esou r ces, an d gr eat er per son al an d or gan i sat i on al exposu r e
A gai n st t h at backdr op, t h e B u i l di n g Saf et y A ct 2022 ( B SA ) an d t h e ch an ges i t br ou gh t t o t h e B u i l di n g Regu l at i on s 201 0 ( B R ) r epr esen t a deci si ve sh i f t For sen i or m an ager s r espon si bl e f or capi t al w or ks, asset m an agem en t
The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) and the changes it brought to the Building Regulations 2010 (BR) represent a decisive shift
s t e p b a ck ’ a r e ove r. T h e B S A
e x p e c t s c l i e n t s t o s t a y
i nvo l ve d t h ro u g h o u t d e s i g n
a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n . ”
n eeds t o t i gh t en u p on acr oss bot h t h e desi gn -an d-bu i l d ph ase ( P ar t 2A du t i es) an d t h e occu pat i on ph ase ( Accou n t abl e P er son du t i es) I t al so dr aw s ou t t h e di f f er en ce bet w een du t i es f or ‘ n or m al ’ bu i l di n g w or k an d t h ose con n ect ed t o h i gh er -r i sk bu i l di n gs ( HR B s)
N ew cl i en t accou n t abi l i t y f or al l bu i l di n g w or k
P ar t 2A of t h e B u i l di n g Regu l at i on s n ow appl i es t o al m ost ever y pr oj ect you com m i ssi on , n o m at t er h ow sm al l For l ocal au t h or i t i es an d h ou si n g associ at i on s, t h i s i s a sh ar p br eak f r om t h e past R at h er t h an bei n g a passi ve byst an der, you ar e n ow r equ i r ed t o t ake act i ve, docu m en t ed st eps t o appoi n t com pet en t an d pr oper l y r esou r ced peopl e, abl e t o m an age com pl i an ce f r om st ar t t o f i n i sh
Th i s i n cl u des appoi n t i n g B R pr i n ci pal du t y -h ol der s an d ch eck i n g t h at each h as t h e r i gh t com pet en ce an d or gan i sat i on al capabi l i t y t o car r y ou t t h ei r r ol es Th e
du t y t o r u n t h ese ch eck s i s y ou r s; i t can n ot be t r an sf er r ed
Th e expect at i on i s cl ear You n eed a gover n an ce st r u ct u r e t h at sh ow s, pot en t i al l y year s l at er, t h at you m ade r at i on al , docu m en t ed deci si on s an d t h at you r over si gh t w as m or e t h an j u st a t i ckbox exer ci se I n asset -r i ch or gan i sat i on s w i t h l ar ge capi t al pr ogr am m es, t h i s m ean s u pdat i n g you r assu r an ce pr ocesses an d r edesi gn i n g t h e w ay you vet , pr ocu r e an d su per vi se pr of essi on al t eam s
t h i s n ow i n cl u des en su r i n g t h ey h ave t h e syst em s, pr ocedu r es, capaci t y an d i n t er n al gover n an ce t o del i ver com pl i an t w or k
Th u s, appoi n t m en t deci si on s ar e bou n d by st at u t e You m u st be abl e t o evi den ce h ow you assessed com pet en ce, w h at you con si der ed, an d h ow you sat i sf i ed you r sel f t h at you r appoi n t ees cou l d del i ver saf e, com pl i an t w or k
M an agem en t ov er si gh t : m ov i n g f r om passi v e t o act i v e
Th e days of ‘ appoi n t an d st ep back’ ar e over Th e B SA expect s cl i en t s t o st ay i n vol ved t h r ou gh ou t desi gn an d con st r u ct i on You m u st en su r e t h at you r B R pr i n ci pal du t yh ol der s pl an , m an age an d m on i t or com pl i an ce, an d t h at t h ey coor di n at e w i t h ever yon e i n vol ved
D u t i es w h en w or k r el at es t o H R B s Wor k con n ect ed t o HR B s com es w i t h a secon d l ayer of obl i gat i on s For w or k r el at ed t o HR B s, t h e r el evan t au t h or i t y i s t h e B u i l di n g Saf et y Regu l at or ( B SR )
Com pet en ce: t h e cen t r epi ece of t h e n ew r egi m e
Th e n ew du t yh ol der r ol es u n der P ar t 2A h i n ge on com pet en ce Th e on u s i s on you t o appoi n t pr of essi on al s su ch as CI OB ch ar t er ed com pan i es w i t h t h e ski l l s, kn ow l edge, exper i en ce an d beh avi ou r s t h at m at ch t h e com pl exi t y of t h e w or k For you r i n t er n al or gan i sat i on al appoi n t ees,
For sen i or m an ager s, t h e i m pl i cat i on i s t h at over si gh t m u st be st r u ct u r ed an d on goi n g You w i l l n eed cl ear er i n t er n al r epor t i n g l i n es, r egu l ar t ech n i cal gat ew ays, escal at i on r ou t es an d docu m en t ed i n t er ven t i on s w h en i ssu es ar i se
The B SA expect s you t o give inf or m ed, act ive over sight f r om concept t o com plet ion a t hem e cent r al t o CI OB’s Client Guide and it s in-dept h f ocus on healt h and saf et y
Th e r egi m e i s m or e t i gh t l y con t r ol l ed, u si n g h ol d poi n t s f or appr oval s t o pr oceed Gat ew ay 2 appr oval i s n eeded bef or e con st r u ct i on st ar t s, an d Gat ew ay 3 appr oval r equ i r ed bef or e occu pat i on You m u st su ppl y det ai l ed i n f or m at i on , cr eat e an d m ai n t ai n an i n f or m at i on m an agem en t syst em , an d keep a cl ear r ecor d of desi gn deci si on s, r i sk assessm en t s, ch an ge con t r ol an d er r or s i den t i f i ed an d r esol ved
I m por t an t l y, t h ese du t i es f al l on you as t h e cl i en t , n ot on l y on you r appoi n t ed
r epr esen t at i ves You m u st en su r e t h e
pr oj ect t eam u n der st an ds t h e HR B
pr ocedu r es, an d you m u st keep f i r m
con t r ol of scope ch an ges, desi gn
var i at i on s an d m at er i al su bst i t u t i on s
D u t i es du r i n g occu pat i on : t h e
A ccou n t abl e P er son r egi m e
For exi st i n g HR B s, t h e occu pat i on -ph ase
r egi m e i s n ow f u l l y i n pl ace I f you r
or gan i sat i on ow n s or i s r espon si bl e f or m ai n t ai n i n g t h e com m on par t s of an HR B , “T h e d a y s o f ‘ a p p o i n t a n d
“ Yo u r d u t i e s d u r i n g o c c u p a t i o n i n c l u d e a s s e s s i n g a n d
ma n a g i n g b u i l d i n g s a fe t y r i s k s , p r e p a r i n g s a fe t y c a s e
r e p o r t s , p u t t i n g e ffe c t i ve r e s i d e n t e n ga g e m e n t s y s t e m s i n
p l a c e , r e c o r d i n g a n d r e p o r t i n g s a fe t y r e l a t e d
o c c u r r e n c e s , a n d ma i n t a i n i n g t h e g o l d e n t h r e a d o f
i n fo r ma t i o n fo r t h e l i fe o f t h e b u i l d i n g . ”
you ar e an Accou n t abl e P er son ( AP ) I f
you ar e t h e on l y AP, or ar e r espon si bl e f or t h e st r u ct u r e an d ext er i or, you ar e t h e
P r i n ci pal Accou n t abl e P er son ( PAP )
You r du t i es du r i n g occu pat i on i n cl u de assessi n g an d m an agi n g bu i l di n g saf et y r i sks, pr epar i n g saf et y case r epor t s, pu t t i n g ef f ect i ve r esi den t en gagem en t syst em s i n pl ace, r ecor di n g an d r epor t i n g saf et y r el at ed occu r r en ces, an d m ai n t ai n i n g t h e gol den t h r ead of i n f or m at i on f or t h e l i f e of t h e bu i l di n g
You m ay del egat e t h ese r espon si bi l i t i es, bu t you r em ai n accou n t abl e f or en su r i n g t h ey ar e execu t ed accor di n g t o t h e
r egu l at or y st an dar ds
Th i s i s a separ at e an d con t i n u i n g set of obl i gat i on s f r om t h e P ar t 2A du t i es
du r i n g desi gn an d con st r u ct i on Toget h er, t h ey f or m a con t i n u ou s r egu l at or y ch ai n f r om desi gn t o decom m i ssi on i n g
Longer liabilities and harsher penalties
Th e B SA h as al so l en gt h en ed t h e t i m e
du r i n g w h i ch cl i en t s can f ace pr osecu t i on
Li abi l i t y f or br each es of t h e B u i l di n g
Regu l at i on s can n ow ext en d f or u p t o 1 0 year s Cr i m i n al pen al t i es i n cl u de u n l i m i t ed f i n es an d, i n t h e m ost egr egi ou s cases, cu st odi al sen t en ces
For sen i or m an ager s w h o si gn of f pr ogr am m es, appr ove bu dget s an d over see del i ver y, t h i s ch an ges t h e r i sk pr of i l e con si der abl y Th e deci si on s m ade t oday m ay be r et r ospect i vel y j u dged u n der a t ou gh er en f or cem en t f r am ew or k
W h at t h i s m ean s f or y ou
Or gan i sat i on s w i t h l ar ge por t f ol i os m u st m or e t h an ever t r eat bu i l di n g saf et y as a st r at egi c r i sk You n eed cl ear er i n t er n al accou n t abi l i t y, st r on ger
assu r an ce pr ocesses, m or e r i gor ou s com pet en ce ch ecks, an d bet t er -def i n ed over si gh t P r ocu r em en t , asset m an agem en t , oper at i on s an d bu i l di n g con t r ol l i ai son m u st w or k t oget h er m or e cl osel y t h an ever
Th e f r am ew or k i s dem an di n g becau se t h e st akes ar e so h i gh Th e B SA w as cr eat ed t o pr even t f u t u r e cat ast r oph es
l i ke t h e Gr en f el l Tow er f i r e, an d t o pl ace r espon si bi l i t y w h er e i t bel on gs: on t h ose w h o com m i ssi on an d over see pr oj ect s an d ar e u l t i m at el y accou n t abl e f or t h e saf et y of t h ei r r esi den t s an d asset s
I n t hat sense, t he Act is not just anot her layer of r egulat ion I t is a call t o t ight en gover nance, shar pen over sight and em bed saf et y as a cor e or ganisat ional pr ior it y The law now expect s not hing less
■ More on the Chartered Institute of Building here www.rdr.link/lba013
■ Find out about AAA Projects Services here www.rdr.link/lba014
&
Matt Parton, Product Development Manager with leading fire and security solutions supplier, ESP, provides detailed information on the use of CO detectors and where they may be best utilised in fire alarm systems. The Espire range of Fire and CO Alarms from ESP are suitable for Grade D1, Grade D2 and Grade F1 installations
Carbon Monoxide detectors
On e t ype of det ect or u sed i n f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em s i s t h e car bon
m on oxi de ( CO) det ect or A s al l sm oke con t ai n s el em en t s of i n com pl et e com bu st i on , car bon m on oxi de w i l l al w ays be pr esen t i n a f i r e Th i s ar t i cl e con si der s t h e u se of CO det ect or s an d w h er e t h ey m ay be best u t i l i sed
Fire det ect ion and f ire alarm syst em s ut ilise a range of det ect ors t o accom m odat e a variet y of f ires How ever, it is im port ant t hat t he m eans of det ect ion is suit able f or t he nat ure of t he f ire and t hat any det ect or conf orm s t o t he appropriat e St andard
M ean s of oper at i on of a CO det ect or Th er e ar e m u l t i pl e w ays i n w h i ch car bon m on oxi de can be det ect ed Th e m ost com m on m et h od i s f or el ect r odes t o be i m m er sed i n a ch em i cal sol u t i on t h at sen ses ch an ge i n cu r r en t f l ow w h en CO i s pr esen t i n dan ger ou s qu an t i t i es
A secon d m et h od i n vol ves m et al -oxi de sem i con du ct or ( M OS) sen sor s w h ose r esi st an ce ch an ges depen di n g on t h e qu an t i t y of CO w i t h i n t h e ch am ber W i t h
su ch det ect i on a si gn al i s gen er at ed an d ei t h er a sou n der oper at es or t h e con t r ol an d i n di cat i n g equ i pm en t ( CI E) i s t r i gger ed t o sou n d an al ar m
A t h i r d m et h od of CO det ect i on u ses a bi om i m et i c sen sor Th e sen sor con t ai n s a gel w h i ch ch an ges col ou r w h en i t absor bs CO A s t h e col ou r ch an ges, so an al ar m i s t r i gger ed
P er m i t t ed u se i n f i r e det ect i on Th e com m en t ar y det ai l ed i n Cl au se 1 0 1 4 of B S 583 9-6 sh ow s t h at car bon m on oxi de f i r e det ect or s ar e poi n t -t ype det ect or s, w h i ch r espon d t o t h e car bon m on oxi de pr esen t du r i n g i n com pl et e com bu st i on Su ch det ect or s ar e n ot equ i val en t t o sm oke det ect or s i n t h ei r r espon se t o f i r e
On e caveat t o t h e u se of CO det ect or s w i t h i n f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em s i s t h at t h ose con f or m i n g t o B S EN 50291 sh ou l d n ot be u sed i n su ch syst em s CO det ect or s con f or m i n g t o B S EN 50291 ar e on l y t o be u sed f or det ect i n g t h e pr esen ce of CO pot en t i al l y f ou n d i n gas boi l er s, f i r es or sol i d f u el syst em s How ever, t h i s does n ot pr ecl u de t h em bei n g i n t er con n ect ed
w i t h t h e f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em i n a dw el l i n g
CO det ect or s con f or m i n g t o B S EN 5426 ar e per m i t t ed f or u se i n Gr ade A syst em s con f or m i n g t o B S 58 3 9-6 an d t o f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em s con f or m i n g t o B S 58 3 9-1 I t i s of t en t h e case t h at CO det ect or s ar e i n cor por at ed w i t h i n m u l t i -sen
FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY
“Maintenance is a key factor
w h e re C O
d e t e c t o r s a re
u s e d A s t h e m o s t c o m m o n
t y p e s u t i l i s e a c h e m i c a l
m e a n s o f d e t e c t i o n , i t i s
i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e s e n s o r o r
d e t e c t o r i s c h a n g e d eve r y
s eve n ye a r s . ”
i m m u n e t o cer t ai n en vi r on m en t al f act or s, w h i ch m ay af f ect sm oke det ect or s, su ch as du st , st eam an d ci gar et t e sm oke
M ai n t en an ce i s a key f act or w h er e CO det ect or s ar e u sed A s t h e m ost com m on t ypes u t i l i se a ch em i cal m ean s of det ect i on , i t i s i m por t an t t h at t h e sen sor or det ect or i s ch an ged ever y seven year s
I n st al l at i on of CO det ect or s I n dom est i c pr em i ses, CO det ect or s/ al ar m s sh ou l d n ot be t h e sol e m ean s of f i r e det ect i on i n Gr ade D1 / D2 f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em s Cl au se 1 0 2e) of B S
58 3 9-6 r ecom m en ds t h at CO det ect or s, an d m u l t i sen sor y det ect or s con t ai n i n g CO det ect i on , ar e on l y u sed f or Gr ade A syst em s w h er e an an n u al m ai n t en an ce r egi m e exi st s, or w h er e a f au l t w ar n i n g i s gi ven t o i n di cat e t h e n eed t o r epl ace t h e el ect r och em i cal cel l
W h er e CO det ect or s ar e u sed w i t h i n a ci r cu l at i on space, t h er e sh ou l d be an equ al or h i gh er n u m ber of sm oke det ect or s w i t h i n t h e ci r cu l at i on space ( Cl au se 1 0 2f ) ) Fu r t h er m or e, CO det ect or s sh ou l d n ot be i n st al l ed i n ki t ch en s
Cl au se 21 of B S 58 3 9-1 det ai l s t h e t ypes of det ect or s r ecogn i sed f or u se w i t h i n n ondom est i c pr em i ses Cl au se 21 2g) det ai l s w h er e CO det ect or s m ay be r eason abl y u sed:
● A n y ar ea i n w h i ch t h e u se of a h eat det ect or w ou l d be accept abl e, ot h er t h an t h ose ar eas w h er e t h e pr i n ci pal f i r e h azar d com pr i ses f l am m abl e l i qu i d
r esu l t i n g i n r api d f l am i n g f i r e
● Room s open i n g on t o escape r ou t es i n
Cat egor y L3 syst em s
● A l l escape r ou t es w i t h i n Cat egor y L3 an d L4 syst em s, pr ovi ded t h e CO
Espire’s Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms utilise electrochemical sensors that detect even small increases in carbon monoxide levels
det ect or s ar e u sed i n con j u n ct i on w i t h sm oke det ect or s
● A n y ot h er ar ea w h er e t h e f i r e h azar d exi st s w h er e t est evi den ce sh ow s t h at CO det ect or s of f er adequ at e f i r e pr ot ect i on
Con cl u si on
Car e sh ou l d be t aken i n t h e sel ect i on an d u se of CO det ect or s w h en u sed w i t h i n f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em s CO
det ect or s m ay be com bi n ed w i t h h eat an d sm oke det ect i on i n m u l t i sen sor y devi ces How ever, even i n n on -dom est i c pr em i ses, t h ei r u se sh ou l d be l i m i t ed t o t h ose f i r es, w h i ch ar e n ot r api dl y f l am i n g as t h ey best oper at e w h er e sm ou l der i n g f i r es exi st W h i l st t h e CO det ect or s u sed f or sen si n g car bon m on oxi de cr eat ed by open f i r es, gas boi l er s an d t h e l i ke m ay be i n t er con n ect ed w i t h a f i r e det ect i on an d f i r e al ar m syst em i n a dw el l i n g ( Gr ade D1 or D2 syst em ) , t h ey ar e n ot t o be u sed as a m ean s of f i r e det ect i on
Saf er h om es w i t h Espi r e’ s Car bon M on oxi de A l ar m s
Lau n ch ed ear l i er t h i s year, t h e Espi r e r an ge of Fi r e an d CO A l ar m s f r om ESP i s a com pr eh en si ve r an ge of h i gh per f or m an ce f i r e an d CO al ar m pr odu ct s
t h at h as at i t s cor e qu al i t y, r el i abi l i t y an d i n n ovat i on Su i t abl e f or Gr ade D1 , Gr ade D2 an d Gr ade F1 i n st al l at i on s, t h e r an ge com pr i ses f i ve al ar m t ypes opt i cal sm oke al ar m s, h eat al ar m s, sm oke an d h eat al ar m s, Car bon M on oxi de ( CO) al ar m s an d CO an d h eat al ar m s Espi r e ’ s Car bon M on oxi de ( CO) al ar m s ar e en gi n eer ed t o pr ovi de ear l y, r el i abl e w ar n i n gs Th ey u t i l i se el ect r och em i cal sen sor s t h at det ect even sm al l i n cr eases i n car bon m on oxi de l evel s an d pr ovi de a pr eal ar m vi su al al er t bef or e t h e f u l l al ar m i s t r i gger ed Th e sen sor s ar e t est ed an d cer t i f i ed t o B S EN 50291 -1 , en su r i n g adh er en ce t o t h e h i gh est saf et y st an dar ds Th e Espi r e CO A l ar m s ar e t o be i n st al l ed i n accor dan ce w i t h B S EN 50292 Tw o pow er opt i on s ar e avai l abl e:
● P ow er ed by m ai n s w i t h a seal ed t am perpr oof 1 0-year l i t h i u m bat t er y
● P ow er ed by a seal ed t am per -pr oof 1 0year l i t h i u m bat t er y
Each al ar m f eat u r es au t o-t est i n g, a 24 -h ou r al ar m m em or y, an d R F-l i n k
su ppor t f or syst em -w i de w ar n i n g capabi l i t i es
G a t e w a y 2 : F i n d i n g t h e
w a y f o r w a r d t o g e t h e r
The Casey Group has successfully achieved seven Gateway 2 approvals and attributes this to early contractor involvement; strong collaboration and championing its value of ‘embrace ownership’. Paul Byrne, COO of The Casey Group, shares with LABM the work the organisation is doing to deliver building safety, which includes setting up the Casey Building Safety and Skills Academy.
At opi c w h i ch h as dom i n at ed con ver sat i on s acr oss t h e con st r u ct i on i n du st r y t h i s year h as been h ow best t o n avi gat e
t h e B u i l di n g Saf et y A ct Th e A ct an d i t s obl i gat i on s h ave r equ i r ed al l par t i es t o m ake t h e n ecessar y oper at i on al an d cu l t u r al ch an ges n eeded t o su ccessf u l l y ach i eve Gat ew ay 2 appr oval s
I t ’ s been j u st ov er t w o y ear s si n ce Gat ew ay 2 cam e i n t o f or ce u n der t h e
B u i l di n g Saf et y A ct I t i s dr i v i n g a sei sm i c sh i f t i n h ow w e bu i l d an d r em edi at e h om es Ev er y on e i n v ol v ed i n cl u di n g t h e r egu l at or, gov er n m en t , dev el oper s an d con t r act or s w an t s t h e sam e t h i n g: saf er bu i l di n gs an d gr eat er pu bl i c con f i den ce I t h as n ot been t h e
sm oot h est of j ou r n ey s so f ar ; t h er e h av e been i n i t i al ch al l en ges, a st eep l ear n i n g cu r v e, an d i t i s u n der st an dabl e t h er e h as been a sen se of f r u st r at i on
We w elcom e t he inquir y led by B ar oness Taylor of B olt on, looking at how im plem ent at ion can be im pr oved How ever, at The Casey Gr oup, w hat w e believe w e need t o do is w or k on collabor at ion, com m unicat ion, and com m it m ent t o cr eat e t he r ight cult ur e in our ow n or ganisat ion
That ’ s w hat w e ’ ve f ocused on, and w e ar e seeing t he benef it s
Th e Gat ew ay t o Su ccess
At Casey, w e ’ v e su ccessf u l l y ach i ev ed sev en Gat ew ay 2 appr ov al s, so w e k n ow i t can be don e We bel i ev e t h at su ccess
com es dow n t o ear l y con t r act or i n v ol v em en t , st r on g col l abor at i on acr oss t h e f u l l pr oj ect t eam , an d ch am pi on i n g ou r v al u e of ‘ em br ace ow n er sh i p ’ , w h er e
w e f ocu s i n w ar dl y r at h er t h an ou t w ar dl y at w h at w e ou r sel v es can do t o i n f l u en ce posi t i v e ou t com es an d con st an t l y i m pr ov e, despi t e w h at ev er ch al l en ges
t h at m ay exi st
We w or k pr edom i n an t l y w i t h soci al l an dl or ds, w h i ch n at u r al l y al i gn s u s ar ou n d a sh ar ed pu r pose i m pr ovi n g l i ves t h r ou gh saf er, bet t er h om es Lon g bef or e t h e Gr en f el l t r agedy an d t h e
Hacki t t Revi ew, w e w er e al r eady em beddi n g saf et y, qu al i t y an d su st ai n abi l i t y at t h e h ear t of ou r w or k Th e r esi den t s h ave al w ays been t h e f ocu s of
The Casey Group was principle contractor on Manchester City Council’s Avro Hollows social housing estate development, which successfully passed through Gateway 2
ou r w or k, en su r i n g t h ey h ave a voi ce t h at i s gen u i n el y h ear d, an d f or m s par t of ou r st akeh ol der en gagem en t gr ou ps
We’ ve al so i n vest ed h eavi l y i n ou r peopl e an d ou r pr ocesses B y f ocu si n g on en gagem en t , t r ai n i n g an d w el l bei n g, w e ’ ve bu i l t a cu l t u r e w h er e ever y em pl oyee u n der st an ds t h ei r r ol e i n keepi n g peopl e saf e Th i s h as h el ped u s ach i eve Gol d I n vest or s i n P eopl e st at u s an d becom e a B u i l di n g a Saf er Fu t u r e ( B SF) Ch am pi on r ecogn i t i on t h at ou r syst em s, l eader sh i p an d cu l t u r e m eet t h e st an dar ds sou gh t by Dam e Ju di t h Hacki t t
B ecom ing a B SF Cham pion w asn’t just about t he recognit ion I t helped us st rengt hen our approach including t he w ay w e evidence every aspect of w hat w e do We have developed robust recording syst em s t hat creat e a f ull audit t rail on every project This paves t he w ay f or success at Gat ew ay 3 and f urnishes our client s w it h t he com prehensive evidence packs, w ho are of t en surprised by t he level of det ail I t helps give everyone conf idence t hat w e ’ ve built w hat w as designed, t o t he highest qualit y, w hich is t hen know ingly lef t in saf e hands
Ear l i er t h i s year, w e w er e pr ou d t o h ost Dam e Ju di t h Hacki t t at ou r Roch dal e h eadqu ar t er s an d at ou r Avr o Hol l ow s si t e i n M an ch est er, w h er e w e ’ r e r em edi at i n g f ou r t ow er bl ocks Sh e saw f i r st -h an d t h e cu l t u r e an d car e ou r t eam s br i n g t o t h ei r w or k an d som e of t h e l egacy i ssu es t h e i n du st r y i s f aci n g
B u i l di n g Saf et y , B u i l di n g P eopl e
A saf e i n du st r y st ar t s w i t h ski l l ed, su ppor t ed peopl e Th at ’ s w h y w e set u p t h e Casey B u i l di n g Saf et y an d Ski l l s
A cadem y, n ow i n i t s t h i r d year I t h as r ai sed aw ar en ess acr oss t h e i n du st r y an d ou r su ppl y ch ai n , h el pi n g u s an d ou r par t n er s l ear n t h e ski l l s t o del i ver saf er, h i gh er -qu al i t y bu i l di n gs
I t ’ s al so w h y w e i n vest h eavi l y i n
l eader sh i p an d w el l bei n g becau se gr eat w or k h appen s w h en peopl e f eel val u ed an d r espon si bl e A l l ou r peopl e ar e en cou r aged t o ‘ do t h e r i gh t t h i n g ’ an d ar e em pow er ed t o do so
I t i s i m por t an t t o u s t h at Casey i s a w or kpl ace t o t h r i ve; w h er e peopl e ar e pr ou d t o w or k an d w h er e cu l t u r e, com m u n i cat i on an d car e si t al on gsi de t ech n i cal excel l en ce
Col l ect i v e P r ogr ess f or t h e I n du st r y
Each Gat ew ay 2 appr oval h as t au gh t u s som et h i n g n ew W h at ’ s m ade t h e di f f er en ce i s cl ear : m u l t i -di sci pl i n ar y t eam w or k, cl ear t ask ow n er sh i p, an d accou n t abi l i t y at ever y st age W h en ever yon e u n der st an ds w h er e r espon si bi l i t y
“To m e e t t h e n e e d s o f t h e
B u i l d i n g S a fe t y A c t , we n e e d s t ro n g e r p a r t n e r s h i p s , h o n e s t c o nve r s a t i o n s , a n d
a s h a r e d d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o
g e t i t r i g h t . ”
si t s an d com m u n i cat i on f l ow s bot h w ays
w e del i ver bet t er ou t com es
W e ’ r e s h a r i n g w h a t w e ’ v e l ea r n ed
w i t h ot h er s , t h r ou g h i n d u s t r y f or u m s ,
t h e d ev el op m en t of ou r ow n B u i l d i n g
S a f et y A ca d em y f or ex t er n a l a n d
i n t er n a l t ea m s , a n d d i r ect en g a g em en t
w i t h t h e r eg u l a t or C h a n g e t a k es t i m e,
b u t i f w e k eep s h a r i n g w h a t w or k s , w e
ca n a l l m ov e f a s t er t o b en ef i t cl i en t s , com m u n i t i es a n d r es i d en t s a l i k e
R ef or m or m i n dset ?
So, does t h e syst em n eed r ef or m? M an y
w i l l say yes I t h i n k w e n eed t o l ook f i r st at ou r m i n dset A s an i n du st r y, w e n eed t o
r i se above f r u st r at i on an d f ocu s on w h y
t h ese r u l es exi st : t o save l i ves an d bu i l d
t r u st Cl ear er gu i dan ce an d m or e
pr oact i ve com m u n i cat i on w i l l h el p, bu t cu l t u r e an d col l abor at i on w i l l m ake t h e r eal di f f er en ce
B u i l di n g on su ccess
Th e Gover n m en t con t i n u es t o cal l f or m or e h om es an d m or e r em edi at i on of u n saf e bu i l di n gs, an d w e ’ r e seei n g r eal f u n di n g com m i t m en t s t o back t h i s To m eet t h e n eeds of t h e B u i l di n g Saf et y A ct , w e n eed st r on ger par t n er sh i ps, h on est con ver sat i on s, an d a sh ar ed det er m i n at i on t o get i t r i gh t
W h en w e do t h at , Gat ew ay 2 st ops bei n g a bar r i er an d becom es w h at i t w as al w ay s m ean t t o be a gat ew ay t o bet t er, saf er bu i l di n gs Th at ’ s t h e appr oach w e ’ v e t aken at Casey, an d w e ’ r e pr ou d of t h e di f f er en ce i t ’ s m ak i n g f or ou r cl i en t s, ou r peopl e an d t h e com m u n i t i es w e ser v e, r eal i si n g ou r pu r pose of I m pr ov i n g L i v es
Grenfell Review Chair Dame Judith Hackitt praised The Casey Group team after visiting their site Avro Hollows, where four 23-storey towers are being remediated to the new Building Safety Act standard for Manchester City Council
FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITy ROUND-UP
New door compliance webinar to educate on emerging legislation
Abloy UK has launched a new door compliance webinar via its Academy to educate security consultants, installers, facilities managers, specifiers and anyone with responsibility for fire safety or access control within buildings on correct door specification and installation
The session has been designed to help attendees to understand compliance by exploring key topics such as NCP 109 Issue 4, the different types of doors and their specific functions and the specification of both wired and wireless access control solutions It addresses important regulatory updates, including changes to approved Document B relating to fire safety, the withdrawal of BS 476 and the transition to BS EN 13501 for fire testing as well as the requirements of Regulation 28
The webinar also looks at new legislation and requirements, which have recently come to light including Martyn’s Law, the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act (PSTI) and the Radio Equipment Directive Delegated Act And provides practical examples of how compliance can be achieved in real-world applications, giving attendees insight into how to implement effective access control and fire safety measures
■ For more information on Abloy UK’s webinar visit www rdr link/lba017
Passive fire solution for new Birmingham student accommodation
Electrical fire in child’s bedroom extinguished by iMist fire suppression system
On 13th August 2025, a call was made to the fire service after an electrical fire broke out in a child’s bedroom in a timberframe home occupied by a lone parent and their dependants The fire was caused by a faulty electric fuel supply, which first ignited the bed and mattress Thanks to the rapid activation of an iMist Fire Suppression System, the blaze was confined to the bedroom, allowing the family to evacuate safely
When the fire brigade arrived on the scene, the fire had already been contained All occupants escaped unharmed, and the rest of the house remained protected, demonstrating how effective early fire suppression can be in safeguarding lives and property in occupied homes
The council initially believed the system had not activated due to the near absence of water damage This highlights one of the iMist system’s key advantages: it uses up to 80% less water than conventional sprinkler systems while still providing rapid and effective fire suppression While a standard 10-minute run time would have allowed safe evacuation, the iMist system’s 30-minute standard run time completely extinguished the fire within these high-risk spaces
Siderise has partnered with Ash & Lacy to provide a tested passive fire protection solution for the NaturAL X Brick Cladding System being installed on Vita Student’s latest accommodation development on the historic Gough Street and Suffolk Street intersection in Birmingham
For the masonry elements, the project team chose to use Ash & Lacy’s NaturAL X Brick Cladding System a lightweight, mechanically-fixed brick cladding system To ensure these façades delivered the necessary passive fire protection, Siderise was approached to submit proposals for a solution that could demonstrably meet the project requirements for a two-hour fire integrity rating
■ More information about the iMist Fire Suppression System here www.rdr.link/lba018
Both Siderise’s RH Horizontal and RV Vertical Cavity Barriers have been reengineered specifically for mechanically fixed ventilated brick slip cladding system configurations To confirm compatibility with the cladding system, Siderise undertook project-specific fire resistance testing at its Innovation Centre in Maesteg to several relevant standards using a representative build-up The Siderise passive fire protection system achieved an E120 and I60 fire resistance rating For the curtain wall elements, Siderise CW-FS120 Firestop was also specified to provide a two-hour fire resistance at the perimeter movement joint and ensure complete compartmentation throughout the building
■ For more information on the passive fire protection solution visit www.rdr.link/lba019
Karbon’s journey to net zero
Karbon Homes’ Executive Director of Development and Asset Management, Sarah Robson, sets out the organisation’s plans for a more sustainable future
Wit h t he least ener gy-ef f icient housing in Eur ope, car bon em issions f r om hom es account f or alm ost 1 7 % of t he U K 's t ot al em issions Ar ound 4 5 m illion
U K hom es ar e ow ned and m anaged by t he social housing sect or, m eaning t he pr essur e is on f or local aut hor it ies and r egist er ed pr ovider s t o decar bonise t heir hom es K ar bon Hom es, a r egi st er ed pr ovi der w i t h over 3 4 ,000 h om es acr oss t h e Nor t h East an d Yor ksh i r e, i s n o except i on , an d w i t h h om es accou n t i n g f or ar ou n d a qu ar t er of al l t h e Nor t h of En gl an d’s car bon em i ssi on s, t h e or gan i sat i on h as am bi t i ou s pl an s w h en i t com es t o i t s r oad m ap t o r each i n g n et zer o
Low er i n g t h e car bon f oot pr i n t of ou r h om es an d oper at i on s, w h i l st al so posi t i vel y i m pact i n g t h e l i ves of cu st om er s Th at ’ s t h e et h os of K ar bon’s ‘ Respon se t o Cl i m at e Ch an ge ’ st r at egy, w h i ch ou t l i n es ou r j ou r n ey t o r each i n g n et zer o an d h ow w e can i m pl em en t posi t i ve ch an ges t o r edu ce em i ssi on s an d becom e m or e en er gy- ef f i ci en t
H ou si n g i n v est m en t
Var yi n g i n si ze, st yl e of con st r u ct i on an d age, an d l ocat ed acr oss a di ver se geogr aph i cal f oot pr i n t , w e ’ r e f aced w i t h a si gn i f i can t ch al l en ge w h en i t com es t o get t i n g ou r exi st i n g h om es t o n et zer o Th e pr edi ct ed i n vest m en t n eeded t o
ach i eve t h i s i s £ 655m , an aver age cost per pr oper t y of £ 24 ,000
At pr esen t , 8 0% of ou r exi st i n g h om es ach i eve an En er gy P er f or m an ce Cer t i f i cat e r at i n g of C or above
For ou r ol der, l ess en er gy-ef f i ci en t h om es an d bu i l di n gs, i n vest m en t s t o get t h em u p t o at l east an EP C C, w h i ch w e ar e r equ i r ed t o do by l aw bef or e 203 0, h ave var i ed f r om sm al l er m easu r es su ch as sw i t ch i n g t o LED l i gh t i n g i n com m u n al ar eas an d f i t t i n g sm ar t m et er s i n h om es, t o m or e m aj or w or ks i n cl u di n g u pgr ades of i n ef f i ci en t h eat i n g syst em s, i n st al l at i on of cavi t y w al l an d
Karbon Homes’ new housing development in the village of Ouston, County Durham
Sarah Robson, Executive Director of Development and Asset Management at Karbon Homes
ROAD TO ZERO CARBON
l of t i n su l at i on , an d t h e i m pl em en t at i on of r en ew abl e en er gy t ech n ol ogi es, i n cl u di n g ai r sou r ce h eat pu m ps an d sol ar pan el s
Th er e ’ s st i l l a si gn i f i can t i n vest m en t of over £ 21 m n eeded t o br i n g t h at r em ai n i n g
20% u p t o t h at EP C t ar get , an aver age of £ 3 ,000+ per h om e
Fu n di n g f r om t h e Gover n m en t ’ s
Depar t m en t f or En er gy Secu r i t y an d Net
Zer o i s vi t al i n u s ach i evi n g t h i s an d w e
began t h i s n ew f i n an ci al year w i t h an ot h er w el com ed gr an t of £ 1 8 m f r om t h e War m
Hom es Soci al Hou si n g Fu n d
St an dar d assessm en t pr ocedu r e ch an ges
P r evi ou sl y w e ’ ve f ocu sed on br i n gi n g ou r h ar dest t o t r eat pr oper t i es u p t o EP C C
f i r st , bu t r ecen t ch an ges t o m et h odol ogi es
ar e h avi n g a cost i m pact
I n t h e s u m m er n ex t y ea r, a m en dm en t s
a r e bei n g m a de t o t h e s t a n da r d a s s es s m en t p r ocedu r e u s ed t o m ea s u r e
t h e en er gy ef f i ci en cy of ou r h om es , a n d
t h es e a m en dm en t s h a v e t h e p ot en t i a l t o
a dd a bou t £ 1 5 m of cos t t o ou r E P C C
w or k bet w een n ow a n d 2 03 0, w h i ch i s a v er y s i gn i f i ca n t i n cr ea s e s o l a t e i n t h e da y S o, w e a r e h a v i n g t o be i n n ov a t i v e
i n h ow w e m a n a ge t h i s a n d w e w i l l a l s o be p r oa ct i v el y s eek i n g ou t a ddi t i on a l
gr a n t f u n di n g
F or t h e n ew h om es w e bu i l d, w e ai m t o ach i ev e EP C A or B as st an dar d an d
accor di n g t o a U K su r v ey on h ou si n g
associ at i on bu i l der s f or t h e 24 / 25
f i n an ci al y ear, w e bu i l t t h e f ou r t h h i gh est
n u m ber of EP C A h om es l ast y ear We’ r e
al so t r y i n g w h er e possi bl e t o bu i l d h om es
t o n et zer o st an dar d
To ach i eve t h i s, w e t ake a ' f abr i c f i r st ' i n vest m en t appr oach t o desi gn , speci f i cat i on an d m et h ods of con st r u ct i on
Th i s en su r es t h e ef f i ci en cy of t h e i n i t i al
f abr i c of each of ou r n ew h om es i s
opt i m i sed an d t h en , depen di n g on t h e
l ocat i on an d t h e speci f i cs of t h e si t e,
The housing association aims to achieve EPC A or B as standard on its new homes
addi t i on al m easu r es an d t ech n ol ogi es ar e i n cor por at ed, t o pr oof t h em f or t h e f u t u r e
H ar n essi n g n at u r al r esou r ces
An exam ple of t his in act ion is an innovat ive pr oject w e ’ r e deliver ing in par t ner ship w it h
Dur ham Count y Council and t he M ining
Rem ediat ion Aut hor it y, at t he new Seaham Gar den Village in Count y Dur ham
We’ r e bu i l di n g 7 50 af f or dabl e h om es at t h e si t e, h al f of t h e vi l l age ’ s t ot al h om es, al l of t h ese h om es w i l l be con n ect ed t o a n ew, u l t r a-l ow car bon di st r i ct h eat n et w or k pow er ed by n at u r al l y occu r r i n g m i n e w at er
Th e syst em w i l l h ar n ess t h e m i n e w at er, w h i ch i s cu r r en t l y ext r act ed f r om t h e f or m er m i n e sh af t s t o pr ot ect t h e gr ou n dw at er aqu i f er w h i ch pr ovi des dr i n ki n g w at er t o l ocal h ou seh ol ds, t r eat ed t o r em ove h eavy m et al s, an d t h en di sch ar ged ou t t o sea
Du e t o i t s geot h er m al en er gy t h e w at er
i n t h e m i n e sh af t s si t s at 1 9-20 degr ees
t h r ou gh ou t t h e year, so r at h er t h an
al l ow i n g t h at h eat t o si m pl y di ssi pat e i n t o
t h e at m osph er e on ext r act i on , t h e syst em w i l l ext r act t h e h eat f r om t h e w at er, pu t i t
t h r ou gh a h eat exch an ge t o i n cr ease t h e w at er t em per at u r e f u r t h er, an d t h en sen d i t
t o t h e h om es t h r ou gh a n ew pi pe n et w or k
Adding an addit ional st ep int o an exist ing syst em t o har ness t his f ant ast ic
“ A d d i n g a n a d d i t i o n a l s t e p i n t o a n e x i s t i n g s y s t e m t o
h a r n e s s t h i s fa n t a s t i c n a t u ra l r e s o u rc e fo r s u s t a i n a b l e
h e a t i n g fe e l s l i ke a n o - b ra i n e r. A n d w h e n p a i r e d w i t h a
ra n g e o f e n e rg y e ffi c i e n cy t e c h n o l o g i e s , l i ke s o l a r P V p a n e l s w i t h b a t t e r y s t o ra g e , t h e s e n ew h o m e s w i l l b e we l l
o n t h e i r wa y t o b e i n g n e t z e ro a n d t h ey w i l l a l s o b e
c h e a p e r t o h e a t fo r c u s t o m e r s . ”
nat ur al r esour ce f or sust ainable heat ing f eels like a no-br ainer And w hen pair ed w it h a r ange of ener gy ef f iciency t echnologies, like solar P V panels w it h bat t er y st or age, t hese new hom es w ill be w ell on t heir w ay t o being net zer o and t hey w ill also be cheaper t o heat f or cust om er s
Yes, t h ese i n vest m en t s ar e cr u ci al t o en su r e w e pl ay ou r r ol e i n l ow er i n g car bon em i ssi on s an d m aki n g en vi r on m en t al i m pr ovem en t s, bu t equ al l y t h ese i n vest m en t s ar e key i n h el pi n g u s ach i eve ou r over al l m i ssi on , t o pr ovi de ou r cu st om er s w i t h ‘st r on g f ou n dat i on s f or l i f e ’ , h el pi n g t h em t o t h r i ve
Cu st om er En v i r on m en t Gr ou p
B y i m pr ovi n g t h e en er gy ef f i ci en cy of ou r h om es w e ’ r e pr ovi di n g w ar m an d af f or dabl e h eat t o r u n h om es, an d
Karbon Homes’ approach to resident engagement scored very highly in the housing association’s latest SHIFT assessment
cu st om er s ar gu abl y h ave t h e gr eat est st ake i n u s get t i n g t h ese deci si on s r i gh t
For t h at r eason , w e ’ r e en su r i n g w e br i n g ou r cu st om er s on t h e j ou r n ey w i t h u s, gi vi n g t h em t h e ch an ce t o h ave t h ei r say on ou r appr oach t o t h e en vi r on m en t an d cl i m at e ch an ge an d en su r e w e ar e f ocu si n g on en vi r on m en t al i ssu es af f ect i n g t h em
One of t he w ays w e ’ re doing t his is t hrough our Cust om er Environm ent Group Cust om ers involved have played an im port ant role in t he developm ent of our st rat egy and helped guide us on our cust om er com m unicat ions around t he t opic Ou r appr oach t o r esi den t en gagem en t scor ed ver y h i gh l y i n ou r l at est SHI FT assessm en t , t h e h ou si n g sect or ’ s l eadi n g su st ai n abi l i t y st an dar d w h i ch ou t l i n es h ow or gan i sat i on s ar e del i ver i n g agai n st ch al l en gi n g en vi r on m en t al t ar get s
Th i s y ear w e w er e aw ar ded t h e Gol d accr edi t at i on , r an k i n g 6t h ou t of 4 0 r ecen t assessm en t s f or com par abl e h ou si n g associ at i on s
This achievem ent af f ir m s t hat t he w or k w e ’ r e put t ing in is m aking an im pact , how ever t her e ’ s st ill a long w ay t o go on our jour ney and w e ’ r e com m it t ed t o m aking f ur t her im pr ovem ent s and changes, bot h f or t he benef it of t he envir onm ent and our cust om er s
A n d n ot j u st on ou r h om es bu t al so on ou r r espon si bl e sou r ci n g of m at er i al s, r edu ct i on i n di esel u se, w ast e m an agem en t pr act i ces an d i m pr ovem en t of bi odi ver si t y i n ou r com m u n i t i es
Over al l , w e ar e f ocu sed on pr ovi di n g h om es t h at ar e ch eaper t o r u n f or cu st om er s an d t h at ar e l ess i m pact f u l on t h e en vi r on m en t
Key priorities for achieving Net Zero in construction
The built environment sector is responsible for circa 37% of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide It is clear the construction industry’s response to Net Zero initiatives is crucial in achieving climate change goals. Dijon Marples-Wall, Senior Carbon Consultant at multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard, says tackling three core priorities funding, education and data can help ensure infrastructure projects drive the transition to Net Zero 2050
It is f air t o say t her e is conf idence in t he const r uct ion indust r y w hen it com es t o achieving Net Zer o At t it udes ar e adjust ing, and behaviour al im pr ovem ent s ar e st ar t ing t o build and cr eat e posit ive change This new conf idence shif t has been r ecognised by t he Gover nm ent ’ s Clim at e Change Com m it t ee, w hich says t he t ar get of achieving Net Zer o car bon em issions by 2050 is w it hin r each How ever, t he Com m it t ee is also clear t hat m or e t han 80% of t he r equir ed em ission savings bet w een now and 203 0 need t o com e f r om sect or s ot her t han ener gy supply, nam ely sur f ace t r anspor t , buildings, and indust r y I t is t im e f or Net Zero buildings t o becom e m ore of a norm alit y t han a novelt y How w e design, build and pow er everyt hing
f r om new af f or dable housing developm ent s t o em ploym ent sit es needs t o be t he r esult of bet t er and m or e f undam ent al choices This boils dow n t o t he consider at ion of t hr ee cor e pr ior it ies: f unding, educat ion and dat a Access t o sm ar t er t echnologies is one t hing, but w it hout f inancial incent ives, of f er ing t r aining on inst allat ion, m aint enance and upgr ades, and t he exchange of know ledge and best pr act ices, w e can’t acceler at e pr ogr ess
L ook i n g at t h e bi gger pi ct u r e f u n di n g
Car bon em i ssi on s ar e m easu r ed acr oss
t h r ee scopes Scope 1 cover s di r ect
em i ssi on s f r om sou r ces of en er gy su ch as f ossi l f u el s; Scope 2 cover s i n di r ect
em i ssi on s f r om t h e en er gy w e sou r ce an d bu y; an d Scope 3 cover s al l pu r ch ased an d pr ocu r ed goods an d ser vi ces bot h u p an d dow n -st r eam of ou r ow n act i vi t i es
A si zeabl e bar r i er t o r edu ci n g
em i ssi on s u n der bot h Scope 1 an d 2 i s l egacy sy st em s: t i r ed boi l er s al on gsi de agei n g i n f r ast r u ct u r e, f or exam pl e, ar e u n v i abl e, cr eat e poor en er gy ef f i ci en cy an d ar e a h u ge m ai n t en an ce bu r den Tech n ol ogy an d au t om at i on ar e i m pr ov i n g ( su ch as apps t h at m an age t em per at u r es, sen sor l i n ked sh u t t er s, am on g ot h er s) an d beh av i ou r al ch an ge exer ci ses can y i el d r esu l t s Ou r soci et al
appet i t e t o m ake f u n dam en t al ch an ge i s i n t i m at el y l i n ked t o av ai l abl e f u n di n g
Image credit: Paul White Photography
F u n di n g r em ai n s t h e key t o u n l ock i n g m axi m i sed w h ol e l i f e v al u e
I nvest ing in m or e ef f icient syst em s t o m axim ise w hole lif e value should be second nat ur e in const r uct ion W het her f unded via savings, pr ivat e invest m ent vehicles, loans or gr ant s, f easibilit y st udies w ill likely show payback per f or m ances W het her savings ar e achieved af t er Year 3 or Year 1 3 w ill depend on t he size and t ype of invest m ent , but t he t ipping point ( w her e syst em s w ill r esult in cost , m aint enance and ener gy savings) m ust be f ir m ly under st ood and agr eed pr ior t o inst allat ion To t hat ext ent , t he f unding issue is one of t he easiest t o solve if w e can clear ly dem onst r at e w hole lif e value t o t hose at Gover nm ent or m ar ket level w it h t he abilit y t o unlock f unds
Overall t hough, t he ‘invest t o save ’ m essaging needs t o hit hom e, and all eyes w ill be on t hose project s t hat have already put t heir f ait h in designs t hat allow everyone t o benef it f rom long-t erm sust ainabilit y
B ow m an Academ y in Leicest ershire is am ong t hose f lagship schem es Designed t o support pupils w it h social, em ot ional and m ent al healt h needs, t he developm ent harnessed m odern m et hods of const ruct ion f or saf et y, ef f iciency, and f ut ure adapt abilit y
Th e appr oach adopt ed si gn i f i can t l y r edu ced m at er i al con su m pt i on , w ast e an d car bon em i ssi on s Of f si t e m an u f act u r i n g m i n i m i sed en vi r on m en t al i m pact , decr easi n g t r an spor t at i on n eeds an d on si t e con st r u ct i on t i m e P r eci si on en gi n eer i n g i m pr oved en er gy ef f i ci en cy, w i t h opt i m i sed i n su l at i on , P V pan el s, an d m ech an i cal ven t i l at i on w i t h h eat r ecover y syst em s, r edu ci n g oper at i on al en er gy u se
B u i l di n g t oget h er f or ch an ge edu cat i on
W i t h em er gi n g t ech n ol ogy an d advan ced syst em s com es a n eed t o edu cat e an d t r ai n m or e i n st al l er s an d en gi n eer s, as w el l as ot h er con st r u ct i on i n du st r y pr act i t i on er s Th e U K con st r u ct i on i n du st r y can posi t i on i t sel f as t h e m ar ket l eader i n advan ced en er gy ef f i ci en cy pr act i ces an d r ai se t h e bar gl obal l y, t h r ou gh f u n ded appr en t i cesh i ps an d degr ees, CP D an d el ear n i n g i n i t i at i ves We n eed t o l ook beyon d si m pl y opt i n g f or t h e ( pu r por t ed) “ l ow car bon” pr odu ct s, an d pu sh f or a deeper an d m or e con si st en t u n der st an di n g of t r u l y su st ai n abl e i n f r ast r u ct u r e t h at i s
t ai l or ed t o t h e si ze, scal e an d n at u r e of con st r u ct i on act i vi t i es How do Net Zer o sol u t i on s al i gn w i t h saf e bu i l di n g pr act i ces? How ar e t ech n ol ogi es best com bi n ed, an d i n w h i ch scen ar i os? A r e syst em s abl e t o f l ex an d cope w i t h f u t u r e cl i m at e an d w eat h er even t s? How w i l l l egi sl at i on ch an ge an d h ow can ou r pl an s t r an si t i on? How w i l l
En er gy P er f or m an ce Cer t i f i cat i on ( EP C) m et h odol ogi es af f or d cat al yt i c ch an ge? A l l t h ese qu est i on s can i n par t be an sw er ed by f u n di n g f or u n i ver si t y pl aces, t r ai n i n g t h e t r ai n er s, i n vest i n g i n r esear ch an d m an dat i n g t h e f r on t l oadi n g of ou r l i f ecycl e deci si on m aki n g
Shaping the speed of progress data
For t he const r uct ion indust r y, t he acquisit ion, int er r ogat ion and celebr at ion of dat a is one of t he f inal signif icant pieces of t he puzzle t o achieving Net Zer o by 2050 The const r uct ion indust r y needs validat ion t hat it s ef f or t s ar e deliver ing im pact s This could be achieved by im plem ent ing a consist ent r equir em ent f or car bon r epor t ing ( e g t hr ough t he highly ant icipat ed ( possibly now in jeopar dy?) Par t Z f or B uilding Regulat ions) , t hr ough t r aceable published EP D dat a, and by m aking Scope 3 easier f or com m unit y and business m em ber s t o r educe Cur r ent ly, t he m ajor it y of pr ogr ess has been acr oss Scope 1 and 2, but Scope 3 r em ains t he ‘elephant in t he r oom ’ by account ing f or t he highest pr opor t ion of em issions We need t o get a handle on how w e t ackle t hese em issions now, and dat a has a m ajor r ole t o play
For exam pl e, di gi t al con st r u ct i on st r at egi es su ch as B u i l di n g I n f or m at i on M odel l i n g ( B I M ) an d Di gi t al Tw i n n i n g h el p u s t o r evi ew an d t ake act i on on h ow w e pl an , desi gn , pr ocu r e, bu i l d, oper at e an d
r eu se st r u ct u r es t o r edu ce l i f et i m e car bon A pu sh on post occu pat i on su r veys w i l l al so h el p u s h ar vest i n val u abl e ‘ u se case dat a ’ We n eed access t o t r u st ed an d accessi bl e i n f or m at i on l i ke t h i s, w h i ch w e can t r ack an d m easu r e acr oss t h e l i f ecycl e of asset s, t h r ou gh ou t t h e val u e ch ai n
Tan gi bl e, t r an spar en t com m i t m en t
Ther e is som e f ant ast ic w or k t aking place in t he const r uct ion sect or f r om ar chit ect s, cont r act or s, t r adespeople, engineer s and pr of essionals all evident in public sect or pr oject s as w ell as pr ivat ely f unded developm ent s A gr eat exam ple is HM P M illsike in Yor k, w hich incor por at es low car bon t echnologies, oper at es on 7 0% less ener gy t han t r adit ional f acilit ies and gener at es over 64 5M W h of r enew able ener gy onsit e per annum I t com bines clever, ef f icient and low m aint enance heat ing and light ing st r at egies I m por t ant ly, t his w as also backed up w it h t r aining t o r aise aw ar eness and get asset user buy-in t o t he benef it s of t he t echnology t o m ake sm all but consist ent behaviour al changes Th e Cl i m at e Ch an ge Com m i t t ee ackn ow l edges t h at Net Zer o by 2050 i s ach i evabl e an d i t i s f easi bl e, bu t on l y i f u r gen t an d m or e si gn i f i can t act i on can be t aken t o keep pl an s on t r ack Hi t t i n g t h e n ext m i l est on e of del i ver y of cl ean pow er by 203 0 w i l l r equ i r e a u n i t ed an d Gover n m en t -backed ef f or t t o m axi m i se f u n di n g oppor t u n i t i es, edu cat e ou r f u t u r e pr act i t i on er s, an d gai n deeper an d m or e con si st en t kn ow l edge t h r ou gh m or e t r an spar en t dat a
HMP Millsike in York operates on 70% less energy than traditional facilities Image credit Paul White Photography
F o r a l l t h e l a t e s t n e w s a n d v i e w s c h e c k o u t l a b m o n l i n e . c o . u k
L O C A L A U T H O R I T Y B U I L D I N G& M A I N T E N A N C E
L A B M ’s w e b s i t e o f f e r s a n e s s e n t i a l i n f o r m a t i o n r e s o u r c e f o r l o c a l a u t h o r i t y a n d h o u s i n g
a s s o c i a t i o n s p e c i f i e r s , a n d a n y o n e i n v o l v e d i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n , r e f u r b i s h m e n t a n d
m a i n t e n a n c e o f s o c i a l a n d a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g , s c h o o l s , h e a l t h c a r e f a c i l i t i e s
a n d p u b l i c s e c t o r b u i l d i n g s
O n t h e w e b s i t e y o u ’ l l f i n d d e t a i l s o n a l l t h e l a t e s t f u n d i n g a n d r e g u l a t o r y u p d a t e s , s e c t o r a n n o u n c e m e n t s , c o n t r a c t a w a r d s a n d i n d u s t r y e v e n t s We s h a r e i n s i g h t a n d o p i n i o n f r o m
c o m m e n t a t o r s a c r o s s t h e s u p p l y c h a i n , f e a t u r e i n - d e p t h p r o j e c t c a s e s t u d i e s a n d i n o u r
P r o d u c t s s e c t i o n , s h o w c a s e n e w p r o d u c t i n n o v a t i o n s , t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n s o l u t i o n s
D o n ’ t f o r g e t t o f o l l o w u s o n Tw i t t e r @ la b mm a g a n d o n L i n k e d I n a t
w w w. li nke d in. c o m/ c o mp a ny / lo c al -a u t ho r it y -b u il di ng - m ai nt e na nce f o r a l l t h e l a t e s t s t o r i e s
Government committed to slash direct emissions from public sector buildings by at least 50% by 2032, and by 75% by 2037, compared to a 2017 baseline
Heat pumps — as part of energy-efficient HVAC systems have emerged as a cornerstone technology in this shift Here, Harry Whitehead, Daikin UK’s Corporate Client’s Manager explains how and why. ROAD
Heating and cooling accounts for a significant proportion of emissions in public buildings
Traditional fossil fuel-based systems, predominantly gas boilers, contribute not only to operational carbon but also pose long-term exposure to fluctuating energy prices In contrast, heat pumps, such as Daikin’s latest high temperature CZ-HT range, offer a low carbon alternative, providing heating and cooling much more efficiently
By replacing conventional systems with high-efficiency heat pumps, building owners can reduce running costs and drastically reduce operational carbon emissions, helping meet both legislative targets and organisational sustainability goals
Selecting the right system requires careful consideration, balancing building design, energy demand profiles, and operational priorities Air-to-water heat pumps, for instance, can integrate with existing systems, enabling a phased transition that minimises disruption while maximising efficiency Similarly, air-to-air heat pumps, including Daikin’s VRV systems, offer flexibility for retrofits in buildings where ductwork or pipework modifications would be prohibitively expensive
The technology itself has matured considerably, delivering higher coefficientof-performance values than ever before, meaning more heat is delivered per unit of electricity consumed, a crucial factor when public sector budgets are under scrutiny
Refrigerant choice
Another key element in the decarbonisation strategy is refrigerant choice The shift from high-global-warming-potential (GWP)
Decarbonising public buildings with heat pumps
refrigerants, such as R-410A, to lower-GWP alternatives like R-32 has a direct impact on both operational and embodied carbon R32 systems are not only compliant with increasingly stringent legislation but also offer practical advantages, including improved energy efficiency and a lower refrigerant charge For public buildings, where lifecycle costs and regulatory compliance are closely monitored, this combination of environmental and operational benefits is especially compelling
Decarbonising public buildings also requires transparency and accountability across the supply chain Facilities managers and procurement teams in both the public and private sectors increasingly rely on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) to understand the full lifecycle carbon impact of HVAC systems These independently verified documents provide standardised data on embodied carbon, from raw material extraction and manufacturing to transportation and installation
Combined with operational carbon metrics, they allow public sector organisations to make informed decisions, optimise total lifecycle performance, and demonstrate compliance with frameworks such as BREEAM, NABERS, and the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard
Monitoring, maintenance and optimisation
Continuous monitoring, maintenance, and optimisation ensure that heat pumps operate at peak efficiency throughout their lifespan Smart controls, integration with building management systems, and predictive analytics allow local authorities to adjust operations across their building stock
in real time, reducing energy consumption and carbon output whilst minimising running costs In this way, decarbonisation is a longterm, data-driven strategy
The benefits of this approach are clear reduced emissions, lower energy costs, compliance with evolving regulations, and improved resilience of public assets As the UK accelerates towards net zero, public buildings can serve as exemplars of sustainable transformation, showing how investment in low carbon technologies delivers measurable environmental and financial returns Heat pumps, supported by the right refrigerants such as Daikin’s R32 and upcoming CO2 options together with cloud solutions such as Daikin Cloud Plus, and supply chain transparency, are central to achieving this vision
Daikin recognises that the transition to net zero is complex and requires more than incremental change It demands a coordinated approach encompassing technology, regulation, and operational insight Through the adoption of energyefficient heat pumps and sustainable refrigerants like R-32, public buildings can reduce their environmental footprint, meet compliance requirements, reduce running costs and provide long-term value The road to net zero is challenging, but with the right tools, expertise, commitment and decarbonisation solutions, public sector organisations can lead the way, turning ambition into action
■ To find out more about how Daikin can help your local authority decarbonise it’s heating and cooling, visit www.rdr.link/lba021
ROAD TO ZERO CARBON
Aberdeenshire Council’s new Formartine House is built to a highly sustainable standard with the aim of achieving ‘net zero’ in operation through the incorporation of renewable energy systems
De l i v e r i n g f o r E l l o n ’s
n e w n e t z e r o c i v i c h u b
As l oca l a u t h or i t i es a cr oss t h e
U K a da pt t h ei r a ppr oa ch t o t h e dev el opm en t of n ew n on -
dom est i c bu i l di n gs i n l i n e w i t h
ca r bon r edu ct i on t a r get s, t h e ci r cu l a r econ om y i s i n cr ea si n gl y dr i v i n g n ew desi gn a n d bu i l d pr ocesses Th i s w a s k ey t o t h e dev el opm en t of a n ew ci v i c h u b i n t h e A ber deen sh i r e t ow n of El l on ,
w h i ch h a s en a bl ed of f i ces a n d com m u n i t y f a ci l i t i es t o be com bi n ed i n t o a si n gl e bu i l di n g
Open ed i n F ebr u ar y 2025 , t h i s f u l l y accessi bl e t w o-st or ey bu i l di n g pr ov i des a f am i l y r esou r ce cen t r e, l i br ar y an d ot h er cou n ci l f aci l i t i es, i n cl u di n g a cer em on y r oom , r egi st r ar ’ s of f i ce, m eet i n g r oom an d an open pl an of f i ce f or 8 0 m em ber s of st af f
Th e bu i l di n g i s desi gn ed t o el evat ed su st ai n abi l i t y st an dar ds w i t h t h e ai m of ach i evi n g n et zer o i n oper at i on Ren ew abl e en er gy syst em s h ave been i n cor por at ed, pr i n ci pal l y ph ot ovol t ai c pan el s ( P V ) , h eat pu m ps an d a h eat r ecover y ven t i l at i on syst em , an d en er gy con su m pt i on f or h eat i n g an d cool i n g i s m i n i m i sed t h an ks t o a h i gh l y i n su l at ed an d ai r t i gh t bu i l di n g en vel ope
Ext ernally, Form art ine House has car parking wit h elect ric vehicle charging point s, plus cycle lockers and st ands t o support sust ainable t ransport The landscaping schem e has preserved a 1 30-year old walnut t ree and f eat ures plant ing t o support pollinat ing insect s, part of a broader st rat egy
t o support biodiversit y which also includes ‘swif t bricks’ and ‘bat bricks’ t o allow f or roost ing wit hin t he building’s const ruct ion
Ci r cu l ar econ om y dr i v en desi gn
Key t o t h e pl an n i n g an d desi gn pr ocess w as t h e appl i cat i on of ci r cu l ar econ om y pr i n ci pl es t o su ppor t t h e cou n ci l ’ s st r at egy t o r edu ce car bon em i ssi on s on i t s pat h t h e n et zer o B y 204 5, A ber deen sh i r e Cou n ci l ’ s t ar get i s t o r edu ce em i ssi on s ( CO2e) l evel s r esu l t i n g f r om i t s n on -r esi den t i al bu i l di n gs by an est i m at ed 53 % f r om 2021 l evel s
The ar chit ect ur al design and pr ocur em ent t eam s collabor at ed w it h ext er nal or ganisat ions Zer o Wast e Scot land and Cir cular Nor t h-East ear ly in t he developm ent pr ocess t o build aw ar eness of t he cir cular econom y and em bed it s pr inciples This r esult ed in t he pr oject
The construction of a new multi-purpose council building in the Aberdeenshire town of Ellon not only showcases successful development guided by circular economy principles, but also how technical collaboration in the supply chain makes an important contribution to achieving enhanced performance targets. Jon Knaggs, Technical Manager for Industrial Light Weight Construction at EJOT UK, explains why
adopt ing t he idea of designing in layer s t o int egr at e a cir cular appr oach w it hin each lif ecycle elem ent of t he building Wor ksh ops w er e al so h el d w i t h t h e su ppl y ch ai n , i n cl u di n g f r am ew or k con t r act or s an d pr odu ct su ppl i er s, w h i ch h el ped t o ar t i cu l at e t h e cou n ci l ’ s
aspi r at i on s an d expl or e t h e possi bi l i t i es t o del i ver t h e devel opm en t i n l i n e w i t h t h e ci r cu l ar econ om y
A ch i ev i n g a h i gh l y i n su l at ed en v el ope
For m ar t i n e Hou se ’ s st r u ct u r e i s f or m ed of m ass t i m ber, pr i n ci pal l y CLT ( cr ossl am i n at ed t i m ber ) pan el s an d gl u l am beam s an d col u m n s Th ese m at er i al s w er e sel ect ed f or a var i et y of r eason s i n cl u di n g t h ei r abi l i t y t o pr ovi de f l exi bi l i t y w i t h i n t er n al space pl an n i n g, en abl i n g t h e pr ef abr i cat i on of com pon en t s an d t h e
Two types of our EJOT fasteners were provided for the installation of the Kalzip standing seam roof system
pot en t i al f or di sassem bl y an d f u t u r e r eu se t h an ks t o t h e u se of bol t ed con n ect i on s
Th e r oof w as f or m ed u si n g a K al zi p st an di n g seam m et al r oof syst em i n cor por at i n g t h i ck i n su l at i on t o m i n i m i se
h eat l oss On e of t h e ch al l en ges associ at ed w i t h t h i s ar ea of t h e
con st r u ct i on w as en su r i n g t h e st an di n g seam syst em cou l d be secu r el y f i xed t o
t h e bu i l di n g ’ s gl u l am st r u ct u r e an d su ppor t i n g secon dar y st eel w or k
And it w as her e t hat EJOT U K ’ s t echnical
t eam w er e able t o cont r ibut e af t er being consult ed by r oof ing and cladding pr oduct s dist r ibut or Tekt um Supplies They had been t asked by building envelope cont r act or Fow l er M cKen zi e t o devel op a r obu st f i xi n g speci f i cat i on
H ow su ppl y ch ai n col l abor at i on pr ov i ded per f or m an ce assu r an ce
A s su st ai n abl e bu i l di n g desi gn s becom e m or e am bi t i ou s an d com bi n e m at er i al s i n n ovel w ays, i t i s cr u ci al f or speci f i er s, con t r act or s an d devel oper s t o h ave assu r an ces t h at t h e pr oposed f ast en er an d f i xi n g appr oach f or t h e bu i l di n g en vel ope w i l l m eet t h e per f or m an ce goal s Th e i n vol vem en t of EJOT U K ’ s t ech n i cal
t eam i n t h e con st r u ct i on of t h e r oof f or
For m ar t i n e Hou se pr ovi ded t h e pr oj ect
t eam , i n cl u di n g m ai n con t r act or M or r i son
Con st r u ct i on , w i t h access t o a w eal t h of f ast en i n g syst em s kn ow l edge an d t est i n g exper i en ce t o ar r i ve at a def i n i t i ve f i xi n g r ecom m en dat i on qu i ckl y an d r el i abl y
Th e pr oj ect i l l u st r at es h ow t h e opt i m u m f ast en er speci f i cat i on can be devel oped t h r ou gh ear l y col l abor at i on am on gst t h e bu i l di n g en vel ope su ppl y ch ai n par t n er s, f r om t h e syst em
m an u f act u r er t o t h e i n st al l er A n d t h e r ecom m en dat i on s w er e al l backed by com pr eh en si ve t est evi den ce of n ot on l y t h e f ast en er bu t al so t h e su bst r at es i t i s bei n g u sed w i t h
Test i n g t h e con cept
Test i n g i s cr i t i cal l y i m por t an t becau se of t h e n u m er ou s var i abl es, w h i ch cou l d af f ect h ow w el l t h e f ast en er s per f or m , par t i cu l ar l y i n r oof an d f açade desi gn s
u t i l i si n g m at er i al s t h at ar e r el at i vel y r ecen t en t r an t s t o m ai n st r eam con st r u ct i on Af t er review ing t he proposed envelope design, as w ell as t he specif icat ion of t he subst rat es and t he building st ruct ure, t he EJOT t eam w ere able t o recom m end t w o t ypes of EJOT JT3 f ast eners One of t hese
FM Approved f ast eners is purpose-designed f or f ixing st anding seam s and bracket s and has been used on num erous project s t hroughout Europe and globally w here Kalzip has been specif ied f or m any years
Con f i r m at i on w as pr ovi ded t h at t h e per f or m an ce of t h ese f ast en er s w ou l d sat i sf y K al zi p ’ s t ech n i cal cr i t er i a u si n g cal cu l at i on s pr ovi ded by Tekt u m , gen er at ed t h r ou gh t h ei r ow n u n i qu e pr ogn osi s sof t w ar e Th e dat a yi el d en abl ed a r an ge of det ai l ed t est s t o be con du ct ed by EJOT, i n cl u di n g by r ecr eat i n g t h e appl i cat i on scen ar i os I n addi t i on t o pu l l ou t t est s, t h e m at er i al ch ar act er i st i cs of t h e pr oposed en v el ope bu i l d-u p w er e car ef u l l y assessed, i n cl u di n g t h r ou gh an an al y si s of t h e st eel sect i on u si n g u sed X-R ay F l u or escen ce ( XR F ) t ech n ol ogy
A s par t of a br oad r an ge of t est s, w i t h dr aw al t est i n g w as al so con du ct ed on t h e gl u l am sect i on s, w h i ch w er e con di t i on ed i n on e of t h e dedi cat ed ch am ber s at EJOT U K ’ s t est i n g an d R &D f aci l i t y, t h e A ppl i t ec Cen t r e, f or on e w eek
I n st al l at i on dept h w as al so car ef u l l y m on i t or ed t o f u r t h er en su r e qu al i t y con t r ol an d con si st en cy
EJOT U K ’ s abi l i t y t o be abl e t o con du ct com pr eh en si v e t est i n g t o i n t er n at i on al l y
r ecogn i sed pr ov i si on s an d pr ov i de t h e w h ol e pr oj ect t eam w i t h r el i abl e t est
ev i den ce, m ean t speci f i cat i on deci si on s
r el at i n g t o t h e r oof cou l d be m ade w i t h con f i den ce at an ear l y st age Th i s h el ped
t o r edu ce t h e pot en t i al f or er r or s l at er i n t h e bu i l d sch edu l e an d opt i m i se l on g t er m per f or m an ce
The two-storey, £11.4m development in Ellon will provide the community with a new family resource centre, library and council offices, and represents an important part of the wider masterplan for the area
Roofing and cladding contractor, Fowler McKenzie, consulted with Tektum Supplies, with whom EJOT UK has a strong working relationship, to achieve an effective fastening solution for the unconventional building design
The Bell Group has carried out a four phase decarbonisation
retrofit project for Hafod in Wales. LABM shares all the details
Fo u r p h a s e r e t r o f i t p r o j e c t
Bel l Gr ou p h as u n der t aken an ext en si ve r et r of i t an d decar bon i sat i on sch em e f or Haf od, a h ou si n g associ at i on i n
Sou t h Wal es A s pr i n ci pal con t r act or, an d w or ki n g col l abor at i vel y w i t h bot h t h e cl i en t an d r esi den t s, B el l h as i n st al l ed
i n su l at i on , sol ar P V pan el s an d var i ou s ot h er en er gy-ef f i ci en t sol u t i on s t o pr oj ect s i n B r i dgen d an d Car di f f Th e r esu l t s h ave m ade a si gn i f i can t an d posi t i ve i m pact ; i m pr ovi n g t h e EP C r at i n gs an d i n door ai r qu al i t y of al l pr oper t i es, as w el l as r edu ci n g r esi den t s ’ en er gy bi l l s Haf od i s on e of t h e l eadi n g pr ov i der s of h ou si n g, car e an d su ppor t i n Sou t h
Wal es Th e m i ssi on -l ed, v al u es-based, n on -pr of i t or gan i sat i on ai m s t o t r an sf or m h ou si n g, h eal t h an d soci al car e, an d u n der t akes w or k s acr oss ei gh t l ocal au t h or i t y ar eas i n Wal es, h el pi n g ov er 1 6,000 peopl e each y ear
Af t er an ext en si ve pr ocu r em en t pr ocess, B el l w as sel ect ed t o u n der t ake con su l t an cy ser vi ces an d t h e i n st al l at i on of en er gy ef f i ci en cy m easu r es acr oss 220 Haf od h om es B el l w as t asked w i t h en su r i n g t h e pr oper t i es m et EP C C/ SA P 7 5 or h i gh er, a t ar get set by t h e n ew Wel sh Hou si n g Qu al i t y St an dar d I n addi t i on , w or k h ad t o t ake pl ace w i t h m i n i m al di sr u pt i on t o t en an t s
As part of the retrofit project, Bell Group installed insulation into the properties in Bridgend and Cardiff
D at a-l ed
W i t h ai m s of en h an ci n g en er gy ef f i ci en cy an d i n door ai r qu al i t y, t h e pr oj ect w as par t -f u n ded by t h e Wel sh Gov er n m en t ’ s
Opt i m i sed Ret r of i t P r ogr am m e ( OR P ) , w h i ch m ean t r eal -t i m e en v i r on m en t al dat a w as r equ i r ed
To en su r e a st r u ct u r ed an d dat a-l ed appr oach , A i co ’ s Hom eLi n k m on i t or i n g syst em s w er e i n st al l ed ah ead of t h e
r et r of i t , w h i ch al l ow ed bot h Haf od an d t h e r esi den t s t o m on i t or t h e t em per at u r e, h u m i di t y an d CO l evel s i n t h e pr oper t y Th i s dat a can t h en be u sed by t h e r esi den t s t o h el p i m pr ove ai r qu al i t y an d ven t i l at i on an d by Haf od t o i den t i f y pr oper t i es i n n eed of r em edi al w or ks or w h er e t h e h ou seh ol der i s st r u ggl i n g t o h eat or cool t h ei r h om e
Th e pr oj ect began at M aes Gw ai r, B r i dgen d Wor k w as or i gi n al l y i n t en ded f or 3 0 h om es, bu t a m easu r e m odel l i n g ser v i ce con f i r m ed t h at pl an n ed ex t er n al w al l i n su l at i on w as n ot r equ i r ed Th i s f r eed u p f u n di n g t o su ppor t 5 9 h om es, at a l ow er cost per pr oper t y B el l i n st al l ed cav i t y w al l i n su l at i on i n ei gh t of t h e
h om es, as w el l as sol ar P V pan el l i n g an d l of t i n su l at i on t op-u ps t o each pr oper t y al on g w i t h v en t i l at i on st r at egi es t o
r edu ce t h e r i sk of m ou l d A s a r esu l t , t h e en er gy ef f i ci en cy of al l h om es w as
i m pr ov ed an d r esi den t s ben ef i t t ed f r om l ow er en er gy bi l l s
Bell
Partnerships, decarbonisation and social value
wo
k i
a n d P ro j e c t S u r veyo r s . ”
Secon d ph ase
Du r i n g t h e secon d ph ase, at A r con Hou se, a r et i r em en t sch em e i n Car di f f, B el l
r et r of i t t ed a bl ock of 1 9 f l at s, i n st al l i n g
sol ar P V pan el l i n g t o t h e pr oper t i es I t w as al so cr u ci al t h at t h e r et i r em en t pr oper t i es r em ai n ed accessi bl e f or al l r esi den t s t h r ou gh ou t t h e r et r of i t A s su ch , B el l w or ked di l i gen t l y t o com pl et e t h e pr oj ect as ef f i ci en t l y as possi bl e, r edu ci n g t h e t i m e spen t on si t e an d t h e vol u m e of scaf f ol di n g on si t e t o m i n i m i se t h e r i sk t o vu l n er abl e r esi den t s I n t er m s of over al l r esu l t s, B el l su ccessf u l l y l ow er ed t h e pr oper t y ’ s en er gy con su m pt i on f r om t h e Nat i on al Gr i d
Furt herm ore, com m unit y engagem ent is a high priorit y f or B ell Theref ore, t he t eam s t ook part in t enant consult at ion days, cof f ee m ornings and sent let t ers t o ensure t hat everyone rem ained w ell inf orm ed and t here w as const ant and clear com m unicat ion
P r oact i v e appr oach
“ We h av e w i t n essed t h e except i on al per f or m an ce of B el l Gr ou p Th ey ar e adapt abl e an d h av e w or ked v er y w el l t o pr ov i de t h e i n st al l at i on of sol ar P V pan el s an d ev en bet t er t o del i v er bot h r et r of i t con su l t an cy an d i n st al l at i on , ” com m en t s Jam es Loy, A sset an d Decar bon i sat i on
M an ager at Haf od “ B el l t akes a pr oact i v e appr oach , dem on st r at ed by bei n g t h e f i r st
t o st ar t , f i r st t o f i n i sh an d h i t t i n g t ar get s speak s v ol u m es A ch i ev i n g t w o sol ar P V i n st al l at i on s per day i s a t est am en t t o t h ei r ef f i ci en cy
“ Su ccessf u l pr oj ect s h i n ge on ear l y adopt i on an d u n der st an di n g, an d B el l excel s h er e especi al l y w h en w or ki n g w i t h ou r Decar bon i sat i on En gagem en t Of f i cer an d P r oj ect Su r veyor s Th ei r r egu l ar u pdat es an d t h e pr oact i ve si t e vi si t s, w i t h door kn ocki n g, an d di r ect t en an t com m u n i cat i on u n der t aken al on gsi de ou r t eam h ave been i n val u abl e ”
Lew i s Fr azer -Hol l an d, B r an ch M an ager at B el l ’ s New por t br an ch , w h i ch pl ayed a cen t r al r ol e i n del i ver i n g su ppor t acr oss al l ph ases of t h e pr oj ect , al so adds: “ Haf od h as been an am azi n g cl i en t t o w or k w i t h
an d w e h ave est abl i sh ed a gr eat col l abor at i ve w or ki n g r el at i on sh i p ”
Jam es con cl u des: “ We com m en d B el l
Gr ou p f or t h ei r ou t st an di n g w or k t o dat e an d l ook f or w ar d t o con t i n u ed su ccess i n ou r decar bon i sat i on j ou r n ey "
F or t h e f i n al ph ases of t h e pr oj ect , B el l
r et r of i t t ed v ar i ou s pr oper t i es i n B r i dgen d
an d Car di f f i n col l abor at i on w i t h H af od, w h i ch w er e com pl et ed on t i m e an d w i t h i n bu dget
Craig Bell, CEO of Bell Group commented: “We’re really proud of our partnership with Hafod and everything we’ve achieved together so far For us, retrofit and energy work isn’t just about technical improvements it’s about making homes warmer, safer and more comfortable, delivered in line with PAS 2034 and best practice
“We also believe decarbonisation and social value go hand in and Supporting communities has always been at the heart of Bell Group, whether that’s helping people into work, inspiring young people, promoting inclusion or playing a part in regenerating neighbourhoods.”
Bell is one of the largest property service contractors in the UK to over 350,000 properties The familyowned company provides a wide range of services and is a trusted name in retrofit and energy
efficiency As a PAS 2030 and Trustmark accredited contractor, all retrofit works meet the highest industry standards and the team works closely with the public sector to deliver decarbonisation measures.
■ For more information about the Bell Group, visit www rdr link/lba022
Gaia Energy joins Procure Plus framework to deliver low carbon retrofit works across the UK Merseyside-based retrofit and renewable energy specialist Gaia energy has secured a place on the new Procure Plus framework for the installation of low and zero carbon technologies in social housing and public sector buildings
The four-year framework, expected to run from November 2025 to November 2029, is designed to help social housing providers and public sector organisations access trusted suppliers for low and zero carbon technologies including:
● Air source heat pumps
● Solar Pv and battery storage
● Insulation and ventilation upgrades
● energy efficient heating and hot water systems
● Whole house retrofit assessment and design services
Liam Gray (pictured), Founder and Managing Director of Gaia energy, says: “Being appointed to the Procure Plus framework recognises our expertise in delivering high quality retrofit and decarbonisation projects We’re excited to work with Procure Plus and its partners to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and create warmer, more sustainable homes ”
Gaia energy is already delivering transformative retrofit programmes that reduce fuel poverty, enhance comfort and cut carbon emissions Partnering with local authorities, housing associations, registered housing providers and public bodies, the company provides energy efficiency upgrades under government backed schemes such as eco4 (energy company obligation), GBIS (Great British Insulation Scheme), SHDF Wave 3 (Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund) and Local Authority Warm Homes
