Your BESA Issue 17

YOUR

Issue 17

Welcome to our new President

BESA launches online academy Opportunity for members in retrofit market Also in this issue LEV guidance crucial for workplace health P13 Hackitt welcomes fire stopping guidance P15 Redundant workers offered free SKILLcards P23

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BESA chief executive David Frise

Welcome

YOUR BESA - ISSUE 17 In this issue:

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

P04

THE BESA ACADEMY

P06

HEALTH AND SAFETY

P13

LEGAL AND COMMERCIAL

P20

TECHNICAL NEWS

P24

MEMBERSHIP P28 David Frise

THE BESA ACADEMY DIRECTORY

P36

Why it is important to keep Dame Judith happy Welcome to another busy edition of Your BESA, which will give you a flavour of the many projects and initiatives we are undertaking on your behalf.

We are busy, not just trying to cope with the Covid-19 crisis, but because the industry is moving rapidly towards major regulatory changes and new business opportunities.

The launch of our online training Academy (see page 6 and the President’s introduction) is central to our strategy of helping members equip themselves with the necessary qualifications and competencies to prosper as the country looks to rebuild.

Being able to provide evidence of your ability to carry out competent work is not a luxury; it will be a necessity for us all as workloads pick up and the reforms put in place by Dame Judith Hackitt start to bite.

Unfortunately, Dame Judith remains unimpressed with the construction sector’s progress so far. She recently accused many companies of using the Covid-19 crisis as an excuse to return to a culture of ‘corner cutting’ and for further delay in adopting new working practices.

“Our urgent calls for proactive, collaborative leadership do not yet appear to have been heeded,” she said, adding that the thought there was a “moral obligation” on the industry to step up to a different approach.

SANCTIONS She is frustrated because she believes too many people are waiting to see what the new regulatory regime looks like before taking action to update and improve working practices. Old habits die hard, but this is foolhardy. The regulator will have the power to apply sanctions retrospectively if they believe a contractor’s actions have undermined the safety of a building.

BESA and its members do recognise their moral obligation to deliver a safe and high quality built environment and our competent person schemes are being expanded in response. We are also enhancing the Competence Assessment Standard (CAS) used to assess members’ technical and commercial professionalism.

BESA’s technical guidance also plays an important part in supporting industry reform and a good example of this is the updated best practice guide on Fire Stopping of Service Penetrations (see page 15). This guide was developed by industry, for industry in line with the Hackitt philosophy and will be available free of charge.

The guide is an example of the cooperation, collaboration and consensus approach encouraged by Dame Judith. However, this is not just about pleasing Dame Judith; it is also not just about making building occupants safer. It is also good business practice.

There are huge opportunities on the horizon, in fact one of our webinars identified “colossal” opportunities in the

domestic sector as the Chancellor’s home improvement grant scheme takes hold.

The greatest potential threat to this and the many other commercial opportunities that will emerge as the government pushes us to ‘build, build, build’ is poor standard workmanship, incomplete planning and a culture of corner cutting.

BESA members stand for quality. For example, they automatically qualify for Trustmark accreditation (see page 19), which is a requirement of the home grants scheme, because they have already been properly vetted and assessed during the CAS process.

Being competent and being able to prove that competence will be the passport to a better business future – as well as a truly fit for purpose built environment.

Thank you for your powerful support during these difficult times and please enjoy ‘Your BESA’. n

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3

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Embracing a new era believe that out of adversity there can come great opportunities – and the work being undertaken by your trade association is fully focussed on that goal.

BESA staff certainly turned a negative into a positive by keeping up a stream of crucial technical and business information during the height of the pandemic; and our eyes are now fixed on the future with the recent launch of the new online training Academy (read all about that on pages 6-8).

BESA President Neil Brackenridge A spirit of collaboration and a revitalised workforce will be key to the industry’s recovery, says new BESA President Neil Brackenridge*.

Welcome to the latest issue of Your BESA magazine and my first as your President.

These are not exactly ideal times for me to be taking office, but I do

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BESA Group Companies:

The way we approach training will be fundamental to the recovery as we attempt to shape a new type of workforce suited to an industry emerging into a new era that will be far more digital and, I hope, much more collaborative in nature.

There is a determination not to go back to ‘business as usual’, but to harness the unity of purpose displayed by many during the pandemic and use that to build a new business model for our sector.

However, there are already signs of bad habits, like sub-economic tendering and late payment, picking up pace again.

EXCUSE Dame Judith Hackitt was, once again, moved to launch a fierce attack on the construction industry’s “failure of leadership”.

She expressed her frustration that the Covid-19 crisis was being used by some as an excuse to delay making the changes to working practices that are needed to improve our record on building safety and performance (see page 20).

A spirit of co-operation and mutual support did emerge during the crisis and there were many examples of companies looking out for each other. We must take this opportunity to reset our relationships within supply chains and create a model of mutual support that could also be used to inspire a whole new generation of engineers.

We must attract more young people, more women, more from BAME backgrounds and with different disabilities to create the diverse workforce needed to face the new challenges ahead. They should be inspired to join us because building engineering was seen playing a crucial role during the pandemic by keeping essential services operating. However, the best people will only join us if they also see us working together in greater harmony.

Young people, in particular, will be looking for careers where they feel they can make

a positive contribution to their communities – and our role in delivering the new hospitals, schools and care homes of the future is a great advertisement.

for every employer who takes on an apprentice and £1,000 for any willing to employ new trainees.

Firms will also receive £1,500 if they take on an apprentice aged over 25.

It is also significant that the Prime Minister made support for apprenticeships a key part of his strategy for economic recovery. Young people have been disproportionately impacted by the crisis and we are in danger of losing a whole cohort of apprentices.

This is a ‘no brainer’ for engineering employers. We will need this new generation like never before, not least because we have the chance to play a leading role in the long-term programme of energy efficiency retrofits and the deployment of new low carbon technologies.

These are also being pump primed

by Mr Sunak through his home improvement grants and public sector infrastructure incentives.

Many FE colleges have dropped engineering apprenticeships in recent years because they are relatively expensive and complex to deliver. However, by providing more of the course content remotely we can make it more economically viable while also making it easier to access, which is another way to make our industry more attractive to prospective recruits.

The potential of this new venture has already been recognised by members and we are extremely grateful for the enthusiastic support shown by our affiliate members, in particular; many of whom are providing valuable technical training materials.

YOUNG

Employers must reflect on this and recognise that we will need a new generation to help us rebuild – one that is comfortable with digital and remote working; and that “WE MUST ATTRACT MORE wants to work in a PEOPLE, MORE WOMEN, MORE FROM modern industry with a social conscience; BAME BACKGROUNDS AND WITH not one that is riven DIFFERENT DISABILITIES TO CREATE THE by contractual and DIVERSE WORKFORCE NEEDED TO FACE financial conflict.

The Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced £2bn worth of measures aimed at improving employment prospects for the younger generation. These include £2,000

We are entering a new era for our industry so let’s embrace it and grab the recruitment, THE NEW CHALLENGES AHEAD.” training and business opportunities to lay a foundation for a more Our new Academy will be central prosperous and harmonious future. n to this recruitment and reskilling drive, but it will also give more *Neil Brackenridge succeeded experienced workers facing possible John Norfolk of Imtech redundancy the chance to stay Engineering Services as BESA in the industry by updating their President at July’s AGM. qualifications and learning new skills so they can be redeployed where there are vacancies.

We cannot afford to let large numbers of skilled and experienced workers disappear again like we did during the last recession and must also reach out to displaced workers from other sectors who could be helped to make a career move into our building engineering.

FLEXIBLE

Chancellor Rishi Sunak

The Academy’s blended and flexible model of online learning complementing the onsite, physical elements is also an opportunity to reclaim some of our lost courses.

He is MEP Regional Director Midlands & North at Wates Group.

He was chair of the BESA North West region from 2017 to 2019 and has been BESA National Education Committee chair since 2017. He has a long and distinguished career in the sector having also worked for Imtech, Crown House Technologies and Rosser & Russell.

Mr Brackenridge says that joining the industry as a craft apprentice and winning the Alfred Manly Management Award provided excellent foundations for his professional development and career progression.

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THE BESA ACADEMY

NEW ERA IN TRAINING AS BESA LAUNCHES ONLINE ACADEMY BESA’s new online Academy delivering a comprehensive programme of training courses, assessments and CPD for individuals, employers and training providers went live in August.

Individuals are now able to access all of the resources needed to improve their existing skills and learn new ones while also keeping their qualifications and competencies up to date. The Academy will also help employers and managers ensure their workforces are fully qualified and able to comply with legislation and industry standards.

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The Academy will help employers’ efforts to plug skills gaps by making access to the appropriate training easier, more flexible and, therefore, more appealing to a wider section of the population. All training modules are accessible from a smartphone, tablet or laptop whether the user is at home, at work or on the move.

It has already been widely welcomed across the sector as an important resource that can help add impetus to the fast growing demand for remote learning that boomed during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

It is also seen as an important development

BESA Group Companies:

in light of the government’s ambitious plans for apprenticeships and upskilling of existing engineering and construction workers.

The Chancellor has announced a £2bn package of measures aimed at improving employment prospects for the younger generation including the ‘kickstart’ scheme that provides £2,000 for every employer who takes on an apprentice and £1,000 for any willing to take on new trainees.

Firms will also receive £1,500 if they take on an apprentice aged over 25.

MATERIALS The BESA Academy will help to build on this initiative by giving employers access to the learning materials needed by any new recruits as well as helping them improve the skills of their existing employees.

Training providers will also welcome this development as they can outsource the online learning elements of their courses to BESA, freeing them up to focus on the aspects that require physical participation. This development is particularly timely as many colleges are wrestling with social distancing restrictions that limit the amount of time students can spend on sites.

“Online learning really came into its own during the lockdown months,” said BESA President Neil Brackenridge. “It proved the value of being able to access course materials from anywhere and at any time, which is exactly the BESA Academy model.

“Our plans were already well advanced before the crisis hit, but the surge in demand for this kind of ‘blended’ model of online and physical training accelerated our efforts. The industry is moving rapidly into a new era and needs training that can adapt to our changing requirements.”

“A lot of colleges had been forced to discontinue some engineering apprenticeships, for example, because they are more expensive and complex than other types of training,” said BESA’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet.

“This will help engineering employers looking to modernise their approach and appeal to the 18 to 35 group, in particular,” said BESA vice president Claire Curran.

“With the new working from home culture, we must introduce greater flexibility into our employment and INTO training models.”

Employers and “ONLINE LEARNING REALLY CAME workers benefit from the fact that ITS OWN DURING THE LOCKDOWN MONTHS, The Academy will courses can be IT PROVED THE VALUE OF BEING ABLE TO also help with the accessed at any of retime and in any ACCESS COURSE MATERIALS FROM ANYWHERE process deploying workers place so improving AND AT ANY TIME, WHICH IS EXACTLY facing redundancy convenience and in the wake of the limiting disruption THE BESA ACADEMY MODEL.” Covid-19 crisis, who to working time. can quickly pick up All courses are Neil Brackenridge, BESA President additional skills to flexible and can move from one part be completed in of the sector to another – so keeping “Delivering more of the course ‘bite sized chunks’. Each Academy vital expertise within the industry. content remotely will make it more candidate receives an online economically viable.” ‘skills passport’ storing all their “Whole life learning is a crucial part completed training qualifications of the Academy model,” said Ms The Academy also aims to attract and CV in one place for ease of Yeulet. “There will also be demand a new generation of engineers to access. for re-skilling suited to modern the industry with younger people, methods of working, such as the in particular, used to accessing The BESA Academy will also help increased use of digital systems learning materials remotely and at make specific building engineering and off-site manufacture.” >> their own convenience. training more affordable.

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THE BESA ACADEMY

DIVERSITY The industry’s need to improve diversity is also reflected in the promotional material for the Academy, which features figures (‘BESA bods’) representing people from different gender, racial, age and disability backgrounds.

“The courses offered by the Academy demonstrate the wonderful opportunities in building engineering that are open to people from all backgrounds,” said Mr Brackenridge.

“The industry requires a much more diverse workforce than the one we currently have to meet the rapidly expanding range of skills we now need.

“The growth in online learning reflects the evolving way modern engineers work and will help us promote our careers to a much broader audience – many of whom would have previously assumed our industry had nothing to offer them.”

The Academy is launching with the support of several BESA affiliate members who have provided valuable

TACKLING IT POVERTY In support of the surge in demand for online training, BESA is also working hard to ensure all apprentices have access to adequate equipment and IT support.

A survey carried out by the Association revealed worrying levels of ‘IT poverty’, which could contribute to growing regional inequality. Some apprentices were in danger of falling behind their peers during the lockdown and of missing out on valuable exercises and materials because of limited access to the right kind of computer hardware and IT support. The variable quality of rural broadband was also highlighted.

“The lockdown period was an excellent testing ground for the new remote teaching model,” said director of training and skills Helen Yeulet. “In theory, it should have been the perfect time for apprentices to catch up on course work and planning, but in practice it was not quite so easy.”

The BESA survey found considerable differences between regions: Almost 20% of apprentices in Wales and 10% in Scotland did not have the use of their own laptop or iPad compared with a much smaller proportion in England.

Almost half of all Scottish apprentices and more than a third of their Welsh counterparts also had to share a laptop with other household members, while this was only true of around 20% of those based in England. Access to printing facilities was similarly restricted.

BESA is working with its members and industry partners to address the IT poverty issue and ensure all apprentices have access to the software and hardware they need to support remote learning.

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BESA Group Companies:

training resources and more courses will be added in the coming months.

One launch highlight is the BESA Health and Safety Environment course and test in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric. This six module programme covers the latest requirements for keeping workers safe and meeting new site operating procedures.

With many of the industry’s test centres currently struggling to clear their backlogs following the lockdown period, BESA expects rapid take up of this course because it can be accessed, completed and the test assessed online at the candidate’s convenience.

A suite of free CPD courses is also being provided via the Academy supplied by BESA affiliate members Airflow, Altecnic, Flamco, HASL, Kingspan, TATA Steel and Swegon.

“These valuable resources are free for everyone in the industry thanks to the great support and generosity of our affiliates,” said Ms Yeulet. “We look forward to working with other members and training providers to create lots more engaging course content in the coming months.”

Mitsubishi Electric’s marketing manager Rachel Lekman said the company was delighted to be supporting the Academy launch.

“We hope this will be a long-term collaborative relationship that can help to improve technical knowledge, standards and, in particular, develop the next generation of installers. This is an exciting development for us and for the whole sector.” n Visit the Academy now at: www.thebesa.com/academy

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BESA Group Companies:

HEALTH AND SAFETY

LEV guidance crucial for workplace health

Best practice guidance for local exhaust ventilation (LEV) produced by BESA and the Institute of Local Exhaust Ventilation Engineers (ILEVE) will reduce the risk of thousands of workers contracting serious and life limiting health conditions such as industrial asthma and pulmonary disease.

The issue of health and safety in the workplace is under increased scrutiny in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis, which makes the publication of new best practice guidance for the effective design, installation and lifetime maintenance of LEV systems particularly welcome.

BESA and the ILEVE believe the guidance will play a vital part in promoting competence and professionalism across the LEV sector to protect people from exposure to hazardous substances in a wide range of workplaces. Instances of occupational lung diseases, including lung cancer, caused by dust, fumes and other airborne contaminants in the workplace remain unacceptably high, the two bodies said.

HAZARDOUS LEV has long been an area of concern because of its crucial role in protecting workers in particularly hazardous environments. The new guide establishes a quality threshold against which all providers of LEV solutions will be assessed from now on and compliance with TR40 could help the construction industry save thousands of workers every year from succumbing to life limiting respiratory conditions.

The Health and Safety at Work Act TR40: ‘A Guide to Good Practice (HASAWA) enshrines employers’ for Local Exhaust Ventilation’ was statutory obligations and TR40 jointly produced by BESA and should also the ILEVE, be used in which is “LEV HAS LONG BEEN AN conjunction affiliated to CIBSE. AREA OF CONCERN BECAUSE with the HSE’s guidance The guide OF ITS CRUCIAL ROLE IN HSG258 – is available PROTECTING WORKERS IN Controlling free to Airborne BESA PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS Contaminants members ENVIRONMENTS.” at Work. This and is reminds aimed at employers that they have “a legal the full LEV supply chain including responsibility to ensure that owner/operators; designers; employee exposure to dust/fumes suppliers; project managers; etc. is minimised and well controlled. commissioning engineers; and LEV is an excellent way of doing this”. technical trainers.

The HSE also calls for periodic examination and test (at least once every 14 months) of LEV systems and the keeping of inspection records for at least five years.

“In addition, you should have information on the installed LEV system to confirm it provides adequate protection, which should be kept for the life of the equipment,” its guidance says.

TR40 will help employers meet these requirements. It also supports the principles of the government’s ‘Helping Great Britain Work Well’ strategy by providing simple, accessible and relevant advice to back up workplace risk management strategies.

The guide points out that installed systems are often modified and operating conditions can change as a workplace evolves. Employers should, therefore, ensure the LEV is regularly inspected to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose.

TR40 explains how to go about this and common problems engineers may come across. For example, it explains how to use airflow indicators to demonstrate whether the performance of an LEV has deteriorated and needs remedial work.

For end users, the only way to be sure an LEV is fit for purpose is to employ competent contractors, such as BESA members, who employ engineers holding ILEVE competency cards and can supply references or testimonials as evidence of their ability to carry out this vital work. n To access the guide click here

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BESA Group Companies:

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Hackitt welcomes fire stopping guidance Much needed guidance on fire stopping in buildings is now available free of charge thanks to a truly collaborative effort involving BESA, the fit out body FIS, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and BSRIA.

Its publication has been welcomed by the building safety reformer Dame Judith Hackitt. She said it should become “required reading for anyone involved in the fire safety of buildings” as it addresses a regular design weakness that was thrust into the spotlight by the Grenfell Tower tragedy that led to the Hackitt Review of building safety.

The four bodies recognised that fire stopping was an area poorly served by technical guidance, which had led to countless examples of confusion on sites and difficulty in getting designs signed off that would help to keep building occupants safe.

Passive fire protection is the first line of defence in a building; forming the vital compartments that limit the spread of fire. It involves several different trades and, therefore, requires active collaboration and clarity about who takes responsibility for each aspect.

The new guide is designed to illustrate best practice and, if followed, will be the industry standard for fire stopping of service penetrations. A training course will also be developed to complement the guide.

CATASTROPHIC Any breach of a compartment, caused by services penetrating the wall or the floor can result

FIRESTOPPING OF SERVICE PENETRATIONS

FIRESTOPPING OF SERVICE PENETRATIONS

BEST PRACTICE IN DESIGN AND INSTALLATION

BEST PRACTICE IN DESIGN AND INSTALLATION There has been supplementary support for this guide from the following organisations:

FSi develops and manufactures a full range of built-in passive fire protection systems to protect infrastructure and assets for new and existing buildings around the world. The key here is the reference to systems and not individual products. FSi manufactures passive fire protection, air permeability, movement, water permeability and acoustic isolation systems as well as general construction sealants. FSi also offers support and training through its highly experienced technical team and prides itself on the highest level of testing and technical expertise that has been built up over many years. fsiltd.com

Warringtonfire, part of the Element Group, specialises in providing a comprehensive range of independent fire testing, assessment, engineering and certification services to international markets from a network of accredited sites across the globe including Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. They exist to help customers make certain that the materials, products and systems that they make are safe, quality, compliant and ultimately fit for purpose, leveraging 40 years of testing experience and global testing capabilities. warringtonfire.com

Rockwool Limited is part of the Rockwool Group, with one factory based in Bridgend, South Wales offering a full range of high-performing and sustainable insulation products for the construction industry. Their expertise is perfectly suited to tackle many of today’s biggest sustainability and development challenges, from energy consumption to noise pollution and fire resilience. rockwool.co.uk

This guide is the result of a collaboration between these not-forprofit associations:

Copyright © 2020 Finishes and Interiors Sector Limited (FIS)

2

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, chemical or mechanical, including photocopying, any information storage or retrieval system without licence or other permission in writing from the copyright owner.

in catastrophic failings in the building safety system. However, despite its life saving role, the design and installation of this protection is often left until late in the project process with onsite trades given the responsibility of improvising a solution.

This piecemeal approach and a widespread lack of awareness of the fundamentals often results in solutions that are not fit for purpose – and is exactly the kind of systemic failure BESA is seeking to address through the ongoing industry reforms prompted by the Hackitt Review.

This new guidance addresses the issue by leaving nobody in doubt about the necessary technical steps and the hierarchy of responsibility needed to produce a quality passive fire protection solution for any building type.

Also, because it is a collaboration between a number of relevant bodies representing the wider construction and fire safety industries, it is an example of the collaborative working and acceptance of professional responsibility that must become a feature of the industry’s culture from now on.

“Knowledge that is produced through collaboration and shared freely throughout the entire supply chain is the key to the improvements required in building safety and quality,” said Dame Judith. “I, therefore, commend the work of everyone involved in the creation of this guidance and thank them for their diligence.

“It is initiatives like this that give me hope that the culture in construction is changing.” n

While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the details presented in this document, we regret that FIS cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained herein.

To access the guidance go to: www.thebesa.com/firestopping

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HEALTH AND SAFETY

provide maximum levels of outside air and avoid recirculation to protect against the virus.

“There have been ventilation hygiene standards in place for many years; so we are not asking people to do anything new,” he said. “However, it is more important than ever if systems are operating on full fresh air that ductwork is properly clean.”

He also said it was important to carry out a comprehensive survey of the ventilation as some places, such as toilet extracts, were often overlooked.

Ventilation hygiene gets post-crisis boost The re-opening of buildings has pushed the need for ventilation maintenance back up the agenda, according to BESA’s Ventilation Hygiene group.

The importance of complying with industry standards, keeping comprehensive records and using competent companies to carry out ventilation hygiene work has taken on even greater significance in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown.

The Association has responded by making membership of its Ventilation Hygiene Elite (VHE) scheme free to any member involved in the sector.

Go to: www.besca.org.uk for details.

The VHE is a self-certification system allowing firms to demonstrate compliance and competence and is the only way for firms to prove they are carrying out work in line with the industry’s standard TR19®. It is administered by BESA’s accreditation arm BESCA, who will audit firms’ work to ensure standards are maintained and manage a database of post-clean reports.

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BESA Group Companies:

These reports will be used as an auditable trail by the VHE member firm; their clients and insurers.

BESCA will also carry out ongoing surveillance of each registrant to confirm continuing compliance and to ensure that all staff are undertaking recognised training and have reached the right level of competence to meet the TR19® standard.

This will be particularly valuable to end users seeking to manage potential health and safety risks in the wake of the pandemic. Building managers are also being urged to re-assess their ventilation strategies to ensure they remain fit for purpose especially in buildings where the internal layout has been changed to accommodate social distancing requirements.

PROTECT George Friend, chair of BESA’s Ventilation Hygiene group, said there was no direct link established between the spread of the coronavirus and the cleanliness of ventilation, but that should not mean systems are not cleaned. Current guidance from the industry and healthcare experts is to

“There is now much greater focus on the whole area of competence and compliance in light of the changes coming through the Hackitt Review,” said Duncan Sibbald, head of certification at BESA. “Companies will have to provide proper evidence of their competence under the new regulatory regime.

“The VHE scheme was developed by the industry for the industry and allows firms to self-certify and provide reassurance to the client that their system has been cleaned to the right standard.”

Mr Sibbald added that the scheme was recognised by the RISCAuthority, which is backed by insurance companies.

It is also an example of the kind of record keeping required by the Hackitt recommendations for a ‘Golden Thread’ of information to support the safe operation of buildings.

“Ventilation hygiene can often seem like an uphill battle because so many building owners just want a certificate and don’t really care about the levels of competence required, but the greater focus on building safety is changing that now,” he added. “The levels of risk are better understood and this scheme creates a level playing field where everyone must demonstrate they are working to the same robust level of compliance.” n For more information about VHE click here

BESA provides clarity for fire and smoke ductwork BESA has worked with two other key industry bodies to provide much needed clarity to support members who design, specify and install fire resistant and smoke control ventilation systems.

ASFP Technical Guidance Document - TGD 20 BESA VG005 ADCAS TGD 01/20.08

Fire test standards and the Construction Products Regulation in relation to fire resisting ventilation and smoke control ductwork

A number of key standards are yet to be updated that are needed to ensure systems comply with safety regulations. This has led to considerable confusion in the ductwork marketplace.

undermined by ductwork manufacturers, specifiers and contractors applying their own interpretations of what is compliant – many of which vary widely.

BESA, the ductwork trade body ADCAS and the Association of Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) have, therefore, joined forces to produce simplified guidance that can help the industry deliver safe solutions in compliance with the over-arching Construction Products Regulation (CPR) while awaiting the publication of updated standards.

August 2020

With the sector under closer scrutiny than ever in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire and the subsequent Hackitt Review, the Association is concerned that building safety is being

‘Fire test standards and the CPR in relation to fire resisting ventilation and smoke control ductwork’ is a joint publication that explains the problem and provides an industry-wide position on compliance. It lays out how the CPR applies to fire resisting ductwork; explains the relevant standards and the relationship between them as well as the current status of the EN standards and what this means to the industry.

It provides harmonised guidance the market can use while standards are revised and includes a series of FAQ’s. It concludes with a user-friendly reference table setting out the status of all the relevant standards and their implications for current projects. n To access the guidance click here

Changes to Membership Audits – Remote Asessements In order to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our members and audit team, BESCA have been working hard behind the scenes to move their audit processes online in order to be able to conduct assessments remotely.

The new system ensures safety, delivers efficiency and ease of use whilst maintaining competence and compliance against the Competence Assessment Standard.

The system is simple and easy to use with just 3 steps in the process, all conducted online:

1. A Business Management Review 2. Upload video evidence of Technical Activities 3. A web-meeting with your assigned auditor You can read more about the CAS and audit on our website www.thebesa.com/ competence-assessment-standard/.

In order to guide you through the process, we have produced this handy ‘Guide to Remote Assessment’ and a short video.

The BESCA audit team will be contacting members whose audits are due in order to schedule them in and will be able to provide any further guidance needed.

As ever, if you have any questions about membership, please do get in touch via membership@thebesa.com or if you have any audit queries, contact the BESCA team on 0800 652 5533 or info@besca.org.uk. n

17

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18

BESA Group Companies:

MEMBER NEWS

‘Colossal’ opportunity for members in retrofit market The government’s plans for improving residential and small commercial property will create huge demand for the expertise of BESA members.

Companies wanting to carry out work funded by Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £2bn Green Homes Grant scheme need to be accredited by the government’s quality assurance and consumer protection scheme Trustmark.

BESA members automatically qualify for Trustmark accreditation as they meet the professional competence and compliance standards required to reassure consumers because of the Association’s Competence Assessment Standard (CAS).

RECOVERY The Chancellor said household energy efficiency measures, upgraded schools and hospitals, and ‘green jobs’ must be at the heart of the economic recovery.

In his Summer Statement he estimated that the new green grants would make over 650,000 homes more energy efficient saving households up to £300 a year on their bills and support around 140,000 green jobs.

When you chose a TrustMark Registered Business, you know that they have been thoroughly vetted and will carry out work to the required standards with good customer service, technical competence and trading practices.

He admitted that many in the industry still bore “scars from the Green Deal”, but urged them to look to the future and regard this as a great opportunity “to get the country working again” after the Covid-19 crisis.

The BESA Double Guarantee does not cover:

Services Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) - is the trade association for heating, plumbing, air conditioning and solar PV contractors and is a TrustMark Scheme Provider.

Around 24 million homes will have to be upgraded to meet the government’s 2050 net zero carbon target and thousands of small commercial properties likely to be converted into residential buildings as a result of proposed changes to the planning process.

“This does raise concerns about skills and competencies,” he said.

“For the scheme to be a success, we must have people who are fit and able to carry out this work.”

The BESA Double Guarantee applies to domestic heating, plumbing, air conditioning and solar PV installations only with an installed value over £500 up to £50,000. It will be invalidated should any third party carry out work on the installation carried out by the BESA TrustMark registered trader.

Why use TrustMark?

Trustmark chief executive Simon Ayers told a recent BESA webinar that the home improvement grants and the £1bn targeted at improving public buildings was “the best kickstart we could have hoped for” in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown. He said this would create a huge market for retrofits and that the scale of the opportunity for building services contractors was “colossal”.

the government’s overall energy improvement programme, which will include replacing 25 million ageing domestic gas boilers.

Financial Protection When you employ a BESA Trustmark registered member to install, replace, upgrade, extend or repair the heating or air conditioning system in your home, you will automatically be covered by the BESA Double Guarantee at no additional cost. You can even pass the remainder of the guarantee on if you sell your home.

•

Comprehensive two-year guarantee covering workmanship, design, defective materials and deposit protection

•

Further four years’ protection against major damage to your home arising from the work

•

If your BESA contractor fails to fulfil their contractual obligations, the BESA will step in and meet the cost of putting things right

•

If the firm should become insolvent or bankrupt or goes into liquidation during the installation, BESA will arrange for the work to be completed at no additional cost to you.

•

Installed equipment (e.g. central heating boilers) covered by a manufacturer’s guarantee

•

Damage or defects caused by - sonic bangs, war, radiation, accidental, malicious and storm damage, alterations and modifications carried out at a later date to the works, previous defects discoverable by survey on sale or transfer of the property, wear and tear, normal dampness, condensation, mould, shrinkage, contamination, changes in the water table and risks insured by statutory or other insurance or financial protection arrangements

•

Consequential or incidental losses, including professional and legal fees and alternative accommodation

• •

Designs and/or materials provided by the customer

•

Work undertaken under an annual service contract

•

Claim values under £250

The vouchers available through the scheme are worth up to £5,000 to householders looking to install energy saving improvements like heat pumps and improved insulation. The grants will cover at least two thirds of the cost of the total project, but for low income households the government will issue vouchers covering the full cost of up to £10,000.

Mr Ayers said this would help to “pump prime the market”. However, he added that the industry would need another 300,000 skilled tradespeople to deliver

Mr Ayers said Trustmark depended on “framework providers” like BESA to uphold high professional and technical standards in line with the government’s consumer protection agenda.

BESA is also supporting Trustmark’s ‘Work Safe Safe Work’ national media campaign to encourage the general public to let tradespeople back into their homes in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown.

This focuses on the steps both parties should take to ensure work can be carried out safely with resources available free of charge to businesses to use to communicate and reassure their customers. n For more information go to: www.worksafesafework.info

19

LEGAL AND COMMERCIAL

BESA MEMBERS HAVE KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN HACKITT REFORM The building safety and quality reforms championed

by Dame Judith Hackitt will have a profound effect on the markets served by BESA members for years to come.

Executive (HSE). This will be led by the new chief inspector and will have full powers to hold building owners to account. The legislation will also create new regulations for managing the safety of construction materials and products.

The Review identified systemic failings in the way construction projects are designed, delivered and managed – and BESA has already welcomed the draft legislation that has now been put before parliament to turn the Hackitt recommendations into law.

MILESTONE

The draft Building Safety Bill includes a pledge to appoint the UK’s first national chief inspector of buildings before the end of this year and to distribute £1bn in new funding to remove unsafe cladding from at risk buildings. It has been described as the biggest shake up of safety regulations in buildings for 40 years.

BESA contributed to several consultations that helped to shape the Bill, which emerged from the Hackitt review of building safety held in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

It will include tighter regulation of all blocks of flats above 18m in height or over six storeys, which will be overseen by a new regulatory authority inside the Health and Safety

20

BESA Group Companies:

Dame Judith said the Bill was “an important milestone in delivering the fundamental reform this industry needs to make residents and buildings safer”.

“There are no surprises in the draft Bill,” he said. “When she addressed a BESA webinar a few weeks ago, Dame Judith said big changes were coming and that she expected the industry to be getting on with the business of reforming working practices to ensure the safety of building occupants was an absolute priority.

“We now have that ready to be enshrined in government legislation, which is something all competent and professional businesses should welcome wholeheartedly.”

However, she added that the industry should “be in no doubt that it is not enough to wait for the Mr Fox also welcomed Bill to become law before the provision in the bill they implement changes; that obliges clients to we expect them to start set up an online system taking action now”. She Dame Judith Hackitt where workers can said the industry was report any potential “now on notice that the race to the safety issues they see on site that bottom, the fragmentation, the must then be passed on to the passing on of responsibility to others new regulator within three days. has to stop and a new culture must “BESA members often report take over now”. difficulties with being heard when they have raised concerns BESA’s head of technical Graeme about instances of poor quality Fox added that the Association had work they have witnessed on repeatedly pointed out that the site,” he said. “This innovation sector should not be waiting for the should make it easier for end of the formal parliamentary everyone who is determined to process or the appointment of the see high standards upheld.” n new regulator.

Delivering Optimised Indoor Air Quality

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21

Panasonic: 100 Years of Product Innovation, Leading the Way in R32 At Panasonic, we believe in technologies that improve people’s lives. Which is why we have developed a complete range of residential and commercial R32 systems that will offer you the solution that perfectly matches your project requirements. Available in an extensive range of capacities and styles - all complemented by excellent performance, efficiency and lower environmental impact.

R32 – a “small” change that changes everything

NEW 4 WAY 60X60 CASSETTE INVERTER • R32 GAS

R32 NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

NEW 4 WAY 60X60 CASSETTE

R32

A++

A+

R2 ROTARY

22dB(A)

-10°C

-15°C

R410A R22

BMS

R32

NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

6,50 SEER

Our heat pumps containing the refrigerant R32 show a drastic reduction in the value of Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Seasonal efficiency in cooling will bring you saving all year while heating.

Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

4,20 SCOP

Seasonal efficiency in heating will bring you saving all year while heating.

Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

COMPRESSOR

Inverter range provides more precise temperature control and keeps the temperature constant with lower energy consumption and a reduction in noise.

Panasonic R2 Rotary Compressor.

Designed to withstand extreme conditions, it delivers high performance and efficiency.

SUPER QUIET

With Super Quiet technology our devices are much more quiet than a library (30dB(A)).

COOLING MODE

HEATING MODE

R410A/R22 RENEWAL

Down to -10°C in cooling only mode. The air conditioner works in cooling only mode with an outdoor temperature of -10°C.

Down to -15°C in heating mode. The air conditioner works in heat pump mode with an outdoor temperature as low as -15°C.

The Panasonic renewal system allows good quality existing R410A or R22 pipe work to be re-used whilst installing new high efficiency R32 systems.

INTERNET CONTROL

INTEGRATION P-LINE

This unit is Ready to be ready to connect integrated and to internet and be managed by be managed by Panasonic smartphone, centralized with a powerful systems with and user friendly CZ-CAPRA1 App to manage the comfort wherever you are.

CONNECTIVITY

5

NEW FLOOR CONSOLE TYPE INVERTER+ • R32 GAS

www.eggeassociats.net

· Easy to combine with standard 60x60 ceiling grid · New refrigerant R32 · High energy savings A+ · Quiet operation from only 23dB(A) · Drain pump included · Easy to install: Flexible piping length and compact outdoor · Can reuse old piping · Weekly timer wired control · Smartphone control (Optional) · Connectivity by KNX, Modbus and Bacnet (optional)

YEARS

COMPRESSOR WARRANTY

Communication 5 Years port to integrate Warranty. the unit to home We guarantee and building the outdoor unit management compressors in systems most the entire range known for five years. standards.

R32

NEW PACI STANDARD CEILING INVERTER+ • R32 GAS

NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

NEW FLOOR CONSOLE with new nanoe™ X air-purifying system: outstanding efficiency A++ and comfort combined with a breakthrough design

R32 NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

NEW PACI STANDARD CEILING INVERTER+ · Wide air distribution for large rooms · Horizontal air flow reaches max.9.5m. · Fresh air connection available on the unit · Slim design with 235m height fits narrow space · Silent operation · datanavi simple support tool app with remote controller (CZ-RTC5B) · Twin, Triple and Double-twin split options · Easy connection and controlled of external fan or ERV using the connector PAW-FDC on the indoor unit PCB. The external device can be control by the remote control of the Panasonic indoor unit This data refers to specific units in the line-up, see full leaflet for technical details of each model.

R32

A++

A+

6,50 SEER

4,20 SCOP

Seasonal efficiency in cooling will bring you saving all year while heating. Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

Seasonal efficiency in heating will bring you saving all year while heating. Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

-10°C

-15°C

R410A R22

BMS

R32

NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

Our heat pumps containing the refrigerant R32 show a drastic reduction in the value of Global Warming Potential (GWP).

COOLING MODE

Wider operation Hz range of compressor realize more high efficient operation through the year. For Big PACi Series PE2.

The air conditioner works in cooling only mode with an outdoor temperature of -10°C.

HEATING MODE

The air conditioner works in heat pump mode even when outdoor temperatures are as low as -15°C.

R410A/R22 RENEWAL

The Panasonic renewal system allows good quality existing R410A or R22 pipe work to be re-used whilst installing new high efficiency R32 systems.

INTERNET CONTROL

CONNECTIVITY

Next generation system providing a user-friendly remote control of air conditioning or heat pump units from everywhere via internet.

Communication port to integrate the unit to home and building management systems most known standards.

5

YEARS

COMPRESSOR WARRANTY

5 Years Warranty.

We guarantee the outdoor unit compressors in the entire range for five years.

Discover the range now at www.ampair.co.uk or call us on 01707 378 670

22

BESA Group Companies:

SKILLCARD

Redundant workers offered free SKILLcards BESA is supporting redundant workers by allowing them to apply for and renew SKILLcards free of charge.

Anyone who suffered redundancy as a result of the Covid-19 crisis since March 1 will have their fees waived if they apply between August 1 and October 31.

Engineering Services SKILLcard is one of the construction industry’s largest skills certification registers with more than 64,000 card holders across the UK. It is managed by BESA and is used by heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration operatives to provide proof of competence and qualifications. It also covers building engineering services supervisors and managers.

Applicants must still hold the relevant qualifications and certificates, but if they can provide evidence of redundancy they will not be charged the £40 fee when completing their renewal or application process.

sign in ink and then send back to “We are acutely aware that many SKILLcard. Instead, they will receive people in our sector are going a link via email and can complete through a torrid time,” said BESA their endorsement with a digital chief executive David Frise. “Waiving signature in a fraction of the time.

SKILLcard fees may seem a relatively small gesture, but it represents a Rachel significant Davidson, financial director of “WAIVING SKILLCARD FEES investment MAY SEEM A RELATIVELY SMALL certification

by BESA at BESA in the GESTURE, BUT IT REPRESENTS said: “We are future of constantly A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL our people striving to INVESTMENT BY BESA IN THE and our improve the FUTURE OF OUR PEOPLE AND industry. service we

OUR INDUSTRY.”

RETAINING “It is also shows that we are serious about retaining skilled people in our sector and is just one of a number of ways in which the Association is trying to support workers faced with uncertain futures,” he added.

BESA has also further streamlined its service for SKILLcard applications by enabling employer endorsements to be carried out online. Endorsers will no longer have to print off forms,

offer to those working in the building engineering services sector.

Obtaining a valid SKILLcard is essential for them to access sites proving their skills, qualifications and occupation. The quicker we can turn applications around, the better.”

She added that it was important, therefore, that the SKILLcard team had the most up-to-date contact data for all card holders. n www.skillcard.org.uk

23

TECHNICAL NEWS

evidence emerging of airborne transmission of the coronavirus in “crowded, closed, poorly ventilated settings…cannot be ruled out”.

BESA’s Health & Wellbeing in Buildings (HWB) group advised facilities managers to revisit their ventilation strategies to minimise possible transmission risks as more buildings reopened following the Covid-19 lockdown.

For example, many internal spaces have been changed to allow for social distancing. Putting up partitions, for example, will change the pattern of air distribution. The group also said the industry should consider the wider deployment of air purification technologies, which are now being used more regularly in healthcare settings.

TINY PARTICLES

Ventilation in the spotlight after WHO changes stance Ventilation systems are under closer scrutiny following a change of tack by the World Health Organisation (WHO), says Nathan Wood, chair of BESA’s Health & Wellbeing in Buildings group.

The WHO only belatedly acknowledged the threat posed by airborne transmission of the coronavirus. Previously, it had stuck to its diagnosis that the threat was mainly from droplets falling onto surfaces and spreading the

24

BESA Group Companies:

virus through contact – hence the emphasis on hand washing.

WHO officials have now admitted that “evidence was emerging” that Covid-19 can spread through the air in enclosed spaces. A number of scientists have, therefore, pointed out that building ventilation systems will be crucial in limiting the chances of “super spreader” events in enclosed environments that could spark a second wave of the pandemic.

Benedetta Allegranzi, the WHO’s technical lead for infection prevention and control, said that

The WHO’s change of stance was prompted by an open letter written by 239 researchers in the fields of virology, aerosol physics and epidemiology from 32 countries quoting evidence that showed tiny particles containing the virus could remain suspended in the air for several hours.

Schools have become a key area of concern as children return to poorly ventilated classrooms in England this month. A survey of 20 UK classrooms carried out by National Air Quality Testing Services (NAQTS) revealed very low air change rates in many that could increase the risk of virus transmission.

“Our study showed that some classrooms had air change rates below 0.5 per hour and that even small increases in flow rates could significantly reduce the risk of infection,” said NAQTS chief executive Douglas Booker. “Raising airflows from zero to 100 m3/hr cuts the risk by up to 60%.

Speaking on one of BESA’s Covid-19 update webinars, he said it was

important to focus on what was “reasonably achievable”, particularly in an education setting where budgets are constrained, but that low cost adjustments to ventilation were a good investment.

hazards faced by schools. This featured ‘superhead’ Garry Ratcliffe – the CEO of Kent-based Galaxy Trust, which comprises three large primary schools.

He said there was an awareness about the threat posed by “The important thing is having poor air quality among school quality information and we are management and teachers, using the level of CO2 to show but there was no budget to do whether the ventilation is working anything meaningful about as intended,” said Mr Booker. “This it. Also, the Department for crisis is an opportunity to improve Education guidance on rethe IAQ performance of buildings opening schools gives detailed for the long-term, but we need to direction on handwashing, social focus on affordability. There is a distancing, direction of desks etc., lot of money going into shiny new but has only one short paragraph academies, but that risks increasing on ventilation. This simply advises inequality even further by leaving schools to keep systems running as older school buildings behind.” normal and switch He also cautioned any mechanical “ THIS CRISIS IS against the use ventilation from of “increased AN OPPORTUNITY recirculation amounts of harsh to full fresh air TO IMPROVE THE IAQ chemicals” to clean “if possible”.

PERFORMANCE OF indoor spaces as Alternatively, they these could create BUILDINGS FOR THE should simply “another type of open all windows.

LONG-TERM, BUT WE indoor pollution”.

NEED TO FOCUS ON However, Mr This prompted Ratcliffe pointed AFFORDABILITY.” BESA to host out that at least another webinar a quarter of the Douglas Booker, specifically aimed windows in his NAQTS chief executive at the possible schools could not be opened and one approach to improving ventilation in classrooms has involved propping open fire doors.

MONITOR “Opening windows might be OK for September, but not in November,” he told the BESA webinar. “Also, how do we measure air quality? If there is a problem with the lighting or the heating, we notice,

but there is nothing prompting me to put anything into my budget to address air quality even if we know it is bad. We don’t even monitor it.”

Mr Ratcliffe explained that the total annual budget for capital expenditure at one of his schools with more than 700 pupils was just £10,000. Also, the cost of extra measures to handle the Covid-19 crisis across his trust was £140,000 of which just £40,000 can be reclaimed from the government.

“Schools do not have a budget for air,” said BESA ventilation hygiene group chair George Friend. “They budget for their heating and water etc., but not the cost of delivering good air quality. However, the current crisis has brought this to peoples’ attention and we should use educational establishments to educate the next generation about these things.

This will help them make informed choices later in life – even about the kind of vehicle they buy.”

The HWB group also believes Ofsted should have a role in addressing this problem. If they published air quality ratings as part of their inspection process that would provide an incentive for schools and would form part of the decision making process for parents.

We have to work within schools’ very limited budget parameters and understand the reality on the ground for teachers and management. Fancy solutions are not going to be available to many and opening windows might just have to be the short-term answer for those that can.

In the meantime, BESA is looking at sponsoring a range of IAQ monitors for schools so heads like Mr Ratcliffe at least have an idea of the scale of the problem they face when trying to keep children healthy and safe. n For more information about the HWB group email: ewen.rose@ theBESA.com

25

TECHNICAL NEWS

RAC MARKET FACING MORE BIG CHANGES The transformation of the refrigerant market continues at pace this year, explains BESA head of technical Graeme Fox. Every year brings yet more change to the refrigeration and air conditioning sector and 2020 sees the start of another review of the F-Gas Regulations. This will be swiftly followed by another big step down in refrigerant quota allowances – by a further 18% on the baseline figure (29% in real terms).

Just five years ago, the average global warming potential (GWP) of refrigerant gas was 2000, but by next year that will have to fall to just 900. The current average of all the gas placed on the market is 1260 – so there is a lot of work to be done.

26

BESA Group Companies:

The phase down step is achievable if we manage the refrigerants already on the market more responsibly by using more recycling and reclamation. Recycled or reclaimed refrigerant does not use up any of the quota - so the more recycled refrigerant we use in a sustainable manner, the more there is left for other essential uses.

There are also a wide range of f-gas alternatives now available, but all of those are at least mildly flammable so are subject to restrictions on charge limits under the EN378 safety standards. This issue becomes even more pressing with highly flammable, potentially explosive, refrigerant gases provided for use in AC units that are classed as “domestic” and frequently sold to end users for “DIY” installation.

The sale of these substances to non-competent people is the biggest barrier to wider roll out of ultra-low flammable refrigerants like R290 (propane) in nonhermetically sealed systems.

CERTIFIED The way to get round this is to ensure the units are only worked on by certified people, in the same way that units using f-gases should be. This is already under discussion at the European Commission as we head into another review of the F-Gas Regulations.

Huge strides were made in the last review when numerous loopholes were removed and there was a general tightening of the requirements to improve the sector’s environmental performance.

Numerous product and service bans were introduced – many of which brought about rapid change and a plethora of new “alternative” refrigerants, some containing reduced amounts of fluorinated greenhouse gases, but some with none at all.

“ THE REFCOM ELITE SUPPLIERS SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE OF KEEPING HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OUT OF THE HANDS OF NONCERTIFIED OPERATIVES.”

The updating of the safety standard EN378 in 2016 helped to facilitate a safe transition towards flammable refrigerants, which became necessary after the F-Gas review in 2014. The one guarantee we can expect from this review will be a greater emphasis on encouraging more low and ultra-low GWP refrigerants. This means we need to prepare now so we are ready to use these alternatives safely.

Propane is a very efficient refrigerant in small duty applications, in particular, but any use of dangerous substances is covered by safety regulations such as the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulation (DSEAR).

This requires a risk assessment be carried out for any proposed installation using a product classified hazardous, which includes all refrigerants, not just the flammable ones. However, the risks are clearly much greater if the product contains highly flammable gas.

It makes no sense at all to allow non-competent people to handle such products.

The REFCOM Elite Suppliers scheme was launched last year as part of the industry’s response to the challenge of keeping hazardous substances out of the hands of non-certified operatives.

This is a voluntary code of conduct ensures that sales only go to those entitled to buy refrigerant or precharged split systems.

Already signed up to the scheme are Logicool Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps, TF Solutions and Wolseley on the supplier side; and Fujitsu General, Mitsubishi Electric and Daikin on the manufacturer side – with others applying to join the scheme and currently putting the sales processes in place to allow our inspectors to audit them.

It is essential that we prevent illegal sales of gas and equipment because it undermines the whole regulatory framework and, by taking this stand on a voluntary basis, suppliers are freeing up valuable resources for the enforcing bodies who can then concentrate on the non-signed up sector, including the online sellers.

It is great to see suppliers wanting to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Also, it was a great boost that the scheme was voted Initiative of the Year award at this year’s ACR News Awards.

TIP OFF However, we have absolutely no room for complacency – and this was demonstrated recently when, following a tip off, REFCOM alerted local trading standards officers, who along with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), seized and disposed of dangerous gases contained in nonrefillable cylinders being used by a company in Derbyshire.

It later emerged that the gas was counterfeit as the cylinder advertised the contents as R134a, which is not flammable, but the mysterious gas used was seen to catch fire.

As if the actions of this firm were not bad enough, they were also seen to use an illegal cylinder in an ambulance bay. The consequences of using flammable refrigerant in equipment not designed to work with this type of gas in such a critical environment hardly bear thinking about.

The continued use of these illegal imported refrigerants by unscrupulous contractors is a very serious problem.

Not only do they damage the environment and atmosphere, but are an extreme danger to life and property.

Sadly, there are still far too many of these ‘cowboy operators’ out there using illegal products that they buy online. REFCOM members are audited to ensure safety and legal compliance so they are rightly sick of being undercut by uncertified firms using dangerous practices and dodgy products.

BESA and REFCOM will continue to fight this scourge on behalf of our members, the wider industry and, most importantly, the general public – and, as always, our technical helplines are there for any member who wants advice and guidance. n www.refcom.org.uk

27

MEMBERSHIP

Membership Services Active on your behalf The BESA Membership Services Team have had an extremely busy few months working hard on behalf of the industry and more importantly our members. Find out what the teams have been working on and what to expect in the next few months.

TECHNICAL, KNOWLEDGE AND SPECIALIST GROUPS • Produced guidance on practical

measures for COVID19 and air conditioning use. This is constantly evolving as the situation developed

• Lobbying Government on the

confusing removal of the reduced 5% VAT rate in some cases for energy efficient heat pump installations

• Working on improved enforcement of regulations to avoid members being undercut by rogue traders

• Worked with HSE and Trading Standards to get some rogue traders shut down and have dangerous products removed from the market

• Working with Government

departments on developing legislation and trading clarity post Brexit

• Working with European trade

bodies on changes to F-Gas Regulations with the review due to take place throughout the next year

• Published Fire Stopping in Service Penetrations Guidance

• Working on a pipework selection app • Developing guidance on supports & fixings in relation to fire safety

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BESA Group Companies:

• Responded to and monitoring

Government consultations on Building Safety Bill and the new Green Homes Scheme to lobby for better legislation

• Developing a Water Management Plan for construction sites and buildings to manage risks of water damage better.

Members can access free technical help and guidance through our free helpline on 0207 313 4937 or email technical@thebesa.com

EMPLOYMENT AFFAIRS • Dealt with high volumes

of employment enquiries.

Although predominately COVID related employment issues, encouraging signs of BAU activities starting to return

• Guidance documents issued;

updates to Furlough Scheme, Flexible Furlough, NHS Test & Trace, Quarantine rules

• Contributing to the BESA Noon webinars

• As the Coronavirus Job Retention

Scheme (furlough) begins to wind down over the coming months our focus will be on supporting members as they transition their employees out of furlough

• Our comprehensive employment guide on handling redundancy to be updated and will include alternatives to redundancy.

Members can access free help and support from our employment affairs team via the members’ area of the website, telephone 0207 313 4900 or email employment. affairs@thebesa.com

HEALTH AND SAFETY • Expect further health and safety

documents and guidance notes from the BESA/ECA Experts’ Panel.

• CICV H&S subgroup continue to

develop template documents and guidance to enable businesses to address the issues raised regarding COVID-19 and health and safety control.

• BESA health and safety webinars planned to ensure all members get the latest health and safety developments and updates

• Further health and safety updates for the BESA member regional meetings

Members can access free health and safety guidance and support by contacting the team on 01768 860452 or emailing hssuport@thebesa.com

LEGAL • Any business that has faced a

legal issue in the past knows how expensive legal support can be, our legal and commercial team are here to help support our members by offering expert advice without the premium price hourly rate tag.

• The team can assist you with

bespoke advice, guidance and practical support on a broad range of commercial, legal, contractual and payment issues, adding real value to your membership.

• BESA members also have access to a

free wide-ranging suite of contractual precedents, templates, guidance documents within the BESA Members’ Area, designed to specifically de-risk a BESA member business model regardless of size or specialism.

Get in touch by calling 0207 313 4919 or email legal@thebesa.com

Developed for the industry by the industry, the Vent Hygiene Elite Scheme allows businesses to self-certify their specialist hygiene works to the required industry standards.

TR19®, Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems and the new Specification for TR19® Grease, Fire Risk Management of Grease Accumulation within Kitchen Extraction Systems.

THE ROUTE TO COMPLIANCE IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK. SPEAK TO OUR TEAM TO FIND OUT HOW. www.besca.org.uk or call 0800 652 5533

29

SFG20

BESA teams up with TEMA “This is a very exciting moment for both bodies,” said BESA’s membership director Jason Hemingway. “Having a single, focused forum like this will add a further dimension to our already highly experienced specialist group and opens up all sorts of opportunities across the world of FM.

The Technology Enabled Maintenance Association (TEMA) has joined BESA to help accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies by the building maintenance sector.

TEMA will work closely with our Service & Facilities group, which is responsible for the widely used industry best practice facilities management tool SFG20. It will provide a new forum for the dissemination of knowledge and help to improve understanding of the latest technologies available to service and maintenance specialists.

The two bodies see particular opportunities to drive innovation in the fast growing areas of ventilation hygiene and indoor air quality (IAQ) both of which are seen as of significant strategic importance as buildings begin to re-open after the Covid-19 lockdown period.

“It is particularly timely in light of the huge changes in the building engineering sector as we prepare to play our part in the UK economic recovery. The Prime Minister is calling for us to ‘build, build, build’, but it will be equally important to maintain, repair and improve the existing built environment. TEMA will help BESA members bring the latest cutting edge technology and expertise to bear on that task,” added Mr Hemingway.

TEMA’s Mike Green described joining BESA as “the pinnacle of our 55 year history”. n

BESA AIMS TO MAKE BIM ‘STANDARD PRACTICE’ BESA and its widely used facilities management tool SFG20 have become affiliates of the UK BIM Alliance.

The aim is to ensure that building information modelling (BIM) becomes standard practice across the building engineering sector to speed up the digital transformation of the industry and improve its productivity and project delivery processes.

The news comes in the wake of research showing that 66% of firms in

30

BESA Group Companies:

construction related fields accelerated their use of digital working during the Covid-19 lockdown.

A survey of 250 construction managers carried out by the software provider Procore Technologies also revealed that 94% of them reported seeing an improvement in the way their teams were working as a result of the introduction of a new digital innovation.

The majority also believe that using a single digital platform that delivers all project data in one place will play a key role in their futures.

Head of SFG20 Steve Tomkins said: “Since 2016 the government has required all public-sector work to be subject to the Level 2 BIM method of working. BESA and SFG20, as the industry’s premiere tool for building maintenance, welcome this great opportunity to work more closely with the UK BIM Alliance to further accelerate our sector’s adoption of digital systems and processes – and ensure BIM becomes a standard part of how we work today and into the future.

“Input from BESA members should also help the Alliance shape BIM; leading to a longterm improvement in building performance that can provide wider reaching benefits and cost saving opportunities.” n

30 years

of SFG20 Still the definitive standard for planned maintenance.

“

Ever evolving, always outstanding, SFG20 will soon include even more features designed to bring efficiencies to your organisaaon.

As a consultancy, using SFG20 has assisted us in being able to work with clients on their maintenance strategies to ensure they are legally compliant, are adoppng industry best praccce and understand the level of resourcing required to deliver it.

Mark Whiiaker FM Soluuons Consultant, Thomson FM

CONTACT US +44 (0) 1768 860459 sfg20.info@theBESA.com www.sfg20.co.uk

Coming Soon Residennal Dwellings Two sector specific maintenance sets have been produced covering Care Home and Residennal dwellings detailing the specific building maintenance requirements and responsibiliies for landlords, tenants and owners.

Asset Mapping Soluuon For the first me SFG20 will enable clients to import asset lists as well as BIM IFC files and will apply the correct maintenance task directly to the asset. Supported asset files include RICS NRM 3, NBS Uniclass 2015, CIBSE Guide M Life tables and SFG20 schedule codes.

Pandemic Management Guidance on the management of future lockdown events will be incorporated directly into the SFG20 product soluuon flagging key areas of maintenance and management requirements in relaaon to the COVID19 and general influenza pandemics.

31

FEATURED CLIENT

New website launching soon!

Discover more about Topscan

BE FEATURED

Claim your 30 days free promotion

To celebrate the launch of our new website we are offering our members the opportunity to be featured on the homepage for 30 days and have a case study created promoting your organisation in partnership with SFG20.

To claim your 30 days of free promotion visit the site below and complete the short form.

sfg20.co.uk/be-featured

32

BESA Group Companies:

AFFILIATE FOCUS

A big BESA welcome to our newest Affiliates in 2020...

Established in 1989, AMP Air Conditioning, a Panasonic Company, is one of the UK’s longest established distributors of air conditioning products.

Our portfolio includes some of the most advanced systems on the market.

Camfil has for many years been at the forefront of developing market leading air filtration products.

These air filters have been designed and tested to meet the needs of the today’s world. New improved technical standards have been developed to classify and test product solutions. Now Covid19 demands accuracy.

From state-of-the-art split systems through to highly energy-efficient VRF systems and integrated advanced controls, we have the expertise to tailor an optimal solution to virtually any application including residential, commercial and corporate.

Clean indoor air quality as classed by BS EN16798-3:2017 and World Health Organization (WHO) air pollutant maximum personal exposure levels set the framework. Air filter performance test standards for particle filters BS EN ISO16890:2016, for molecular carbon filters BS EN ISO10121-2:2014.

www.ampair.co.uk

www.camfil.com/en-gb

Pier Consulting - as experts with decades of experience behind us, we know that our clients rely on their ability to recruit a reliable and qualified workforce. Because we specialise in construction and electrical recruitment, we are able to identify suitable candidates quickly and easily to help you to avoid any unwanted down-time.

Whether you are looking for specialists to help you with temporary recruitment or you’re keen to build a long-term relationship with experienced candidates to provide mechanical and electrical building services, we can help you.

www.pierconsulting.co.uk

The PRS group of companies specialise in the contingent recruitment of permanent and temporary contract staff within UK infra-structure services including Facilities Services and Building Services Engineering. With 4 strategically located offices in London, Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester we are available at short notice across the UK 24 hours a day to provide a wide-ranging skillset of staff from FM, Security and Logistics to specialist critical engineering within Building Services / HVAC, Power and Distribution and Building Controls, Lifts, Fire and Security sectors. www.prsjobs.com

Interested in becoming a BESA Affiliate? Contact Jenny House on 07970 377815 or email jenny.house@thebesa.com

33

BESA BITESIZE UPDATES SEC Group Mourns the Loss of its President Lord Martin O’Neill Lord Martin O’Neill, long-term president of the Specialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group has died aged 75.

Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan became president of SEC Group on being ennobled in 2005 after having served as a Member of Parliament for over 25 years. He was for a time Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in Neil Kinnock’s Shadow Cabinet.

BESA Virtual Conference

Remember to save the dates 4-5 November in your diary for the first ever BESA Virtua l Conference! Featurin g technical seminars, virtual exhibition and virtua l networking opportu nities!

Find out more here ww w.thebesa.com/ conference

SKILLcard Construction Site Visitor Card – Important update SKILLcard are now in the process of withdrawing the Construction Site Visitor Card.

• From 1 December 2020, any Construction Site Visitor cards will only be valid up to the 30th November 2022.

• From 31 April 2022, SKILLcard will stop issuing the visitor card.

For the avoidance of doubt, visitor cards issued before the 1st December 2020 will remain valid until their expiry date.

To find out more visit: www.skillcard.org.uk/ construction-site-visitor-card-closure/

Free COVID-19 guidan ce BESA is here to provid e support and advice wherever we can to help members deal with the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. We provid e the latest news, governm ent and health advic e plus guidance from own specialist teams.

Visit: ww w.thebesa.co m/covid19

34

BESA Group Companies:

Graeme Fox appointed as new BESA Head of Technical Graeme, who will also continue in his current role as Head of the F-Gas register REFCOM, said he was delighted to taking up his new position “at an exciting time for the industry”. with over Mr Fox is a chartered engineer services ding buil of nce erie exp 30 years’ ertise exp lar engineering. He has particu and ps, pum t in air conditioning, hea He ran small commercial refrigeration. ditioning con air and n atio iger refr his own n 25 tha re contracting business for mo ning ditio con years specialising in air hooting. design, installation and troubles

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35

THE BESA ACADEMY DIRECTORY

The BESA Academy is the online learning solution for the building engineering services industry. We provide a range training courses, assessments and CPD which enables you to develop your career.

Website: www.thebesa.com/ academy

All our courses are flexible, can be completed at your own pace and accessed on the go from your smartphone, tablet or laptop whilst at work, home or on the move.

Email: academy@ thebesa.com

Start your learning journey with us today by registering at besa.academy to complete one of the courses below.

Tel: 0800 917 8419

BESA Health and Safety Environment Course in partnership with Mitsubishi In partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, BESA has developed our first online Health and Safety Environment course and test.

It meets the H&S requirements for all Craft and Operative SKILLcards and is designed for those within the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration occupations.

The full online course enables those working on site a minimum level of health and safety awareness and removes the hassle of booking and travelling to a test centre or taking time out of work, saving you and your employer time and money!

Modules include:

• The principles of risk assessment and maintaining and improving health & safety at work

• The importance of safe manual handling in the workplace

• The importance of working safely at height in the workplace

• Risks to health within a construction environment • The importance of working around plant and equipment safely

• We have also developed an additional module to include the latest Standard Operating Procedures (COVID CLC)

The course and test are 100% online and take approximately 3 hours to complete. The test can be taken as part of the course or as a standalone.

Cost: Course & Test Non BESA Members £95+VAT BESA Members discounted rate £50+VAT Book here Test only £19.50+VAT Book test only here

Standard Operating Procedures – This free online module features the latest COVID CLC

guidance and will enable you to be up to date with the latest operating procedures onsite. Register here

36

Free CPD: A Breath of Fresh Air: Understanding Air Distribution Understanding Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery for Commercial Applications Join this course with Ian Palmer, Head of UK Specification at Airflow to learn about the following;

• Why do we need ventilation?

• Why is ventilation with MVHR an

ideal solution?

• How does MVHR work?

• Key drivers for MVHR • Legislation • Types of Heat Exchangers • Energy saving via different MVHR technologies • Typical MVHR applications Register here

Join Swegon for this CIBSE accredited seminar to understand air distribution.

Monitor, React and Prevent Corrosion Register for this CIBSE approved course, facilitated by Gordon Pringle of HASL on Monitor, React and Prevent Corrosion. Gordon is joined by Paul Ashby of Geberit and Rob Vissers of Resus.

On this course you will learn:

• Why do systems corrode?

• Think again regards to Precision

Join Flamco for this CIBSE accredited course all about Air and Dirt Separation.

On this course you will learn:

• Theory use and application of air and dirt separation equipment,

• the principles of operation • theory behind air release • common symptoms of sealed

system equipment containing too much air and dissolved air.

Register here

underpinning air distribution

• Look at how we can choose the

correct product for the correct application and at the correct size

Register here

Heat Recovery for Water Chillers Join Swegon for this CIBSE accredited seminar to understand the principles of Heat Recovery for Water Chillers.

Learning objectives of this course:

History of Legionella and Legionella Within Hot and Cold Water Systems

Air and Dirt Separation

• Define key terminology and theories

the cause of corrosion problems

Register here

Register here

directly relates to our comfort within a space

• Why poor pressurisation is often

early warning system

On this course you will understand how the systems we use today can be managed to reduce or remove the risk of Legionellosis and associated bacteria.

• Understand how air distribution

Carbon Steel adoption

• The no-brainer benefits of an

Join Altecnic for an insight to the history of Legionella, Legionnaires Disease and managing the risk within water systems.

On this course you will:

• Understand basic chiller operation • Heat recovery concept and types • Applications • Compare heat recovery vs. heat pump • Evaluate payback Ductwork Performance - The Essentials The specification of ductwork may not seem that important however there are limitations and drawbacks to some traditional methods of installing and insulating ducts. This short training session looks at the impact of differing ductwork specifications on air leakage, energy usage, CO2 emissions and cost.

Register here

Reducing Risk When Specifying Building and Industrial Services Pipework Join TATA for this course on reducing risk when specifying building and industrial services pipework.

• Energy usage • CO2 emissions and cost

On this course you will learn, how to correctly specify project pipework, review application and installation case studies to identify best practice and discover more about new innovations such as BIM and the use of VR, which will have a positive impact on the industry.

Register here

Register here

On completion of this course you will learn about:

• The impact of differing ductwork specifications on air leakage

Interested in working with the BESA Academy?

If you have course content you would like to provide or would like to help us develop a course, then get in touch! Email academy@thebesa.com

37

MEMBER NEWS

Two time President Chris Sneath retires Chris Sneath MBE, who served two terms as president of BESA (then the HVCA), has retired after a long and distinguished career.

As well as his many years of service to the Association, he served as chairman of the Water Safe Installers Scheme; remains a trustee of disability charity PHAB; was Master of the Worshipful Company of Plumbers and chair of the Plumbing and Heating Industry Alliance.

Often referred to as a ‘gentleman contractor’, Chris was a highly respected figure across the industry and well known for his attempts

to persuade companies to behave honourably in business. He was extremely concerned by the onerous contract conditions that hit a peak in the 90s.

During his first term as President (1990-90) he watched in horror as main contractors went into liquidation during the recession taking many small specialist contractors with them in a terrifying ‘domino effect’.

Something that remains a crucial

focus for the lobbying work of the modern day Association.

“Onerous conditions, late payment, low profitability and lack of productivity were all problems at that time and the abuse of tendering procedures, in particular Dutch Auctions, made life very difficult,” he said.

However, the upside of the recession meant that HVCA members suddenly had to find whole new types of work and they did in areas such as energy audits, refurbishment projects, energy efficiency, advancement of IT, new Food Hygiene Regulations etc.

“Service and maintenance was a major growth area and membership of our S&M group (now Service and Facilities Group) grew to 423 companies in ten years,” remembered Mr Sneath.

BESA mourns ‘tireless servant’ Norman Mitchell and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB); the HVCA (now BESA) Refrigeration & Air Conditioning group; and the UK’s primary F-Gas register REFCOM.

The Association has paid tribute to one of the air conditioning and refrigeration industry’s leading figures: Norman Mitchell, who died in June.

He was a tireless servant to the sector for more than half a century, giving generously of his time to all of its leading bodies. He was a Fellow of the Institute of Refrigeration and was chair of the Air Conditioning

38

BESA Group Companies:

He was also a long-time President of AREA, the European contractors’ association, which honoured him with an honorary life membership on his retirement in 2000. He also served on various standards committees over the years.

Mitchell’s of Gloucester is well known throughout the South and West of England having been set up by Norman’s grandfather LC Mitchell in 1905. Norman took over as managing director in 1977 on the death of his father and was still serving as chairman. His son Garrion has been managing director since 2000.

Head of REFCOM Graeme Fox – a fellow former President of AREA – was able to represent the wider industry at the funeral despite Covid-19 restrictions and paid fulsome tribute to a man he described as both friend and mentor.

“NORMAN’S DEDICATION TO MAKING SURE ALL WAS DONE CORRECTLY IS WHY WE NOW HAVE A STRONG CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION IN EUROPE AND ROBUST REGISTRATION BODY IN THE UK. THE WHOLE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO BENEFIT FROM THE FOUNDATIONS LAID DOWN BY NORMAN.” GRAEME FOX - HEAD OF REFCOM

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