Your BESA Issue 27

Issue The magazine of the Building Engineering Services Association

Raising the bar with VHR

www.theBESA.com

Also in this issue:

Grease hygiene training courses updated Reach out to your BESA Member Services Team BESA’s Future Leaders group rebooted

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June 2023

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Contents 05 President’s Perspective BESA President Rab Fletcher 06 BESA Awards Refreshed Industry Awards open for entries 07 BESA Annual Conference Building businesses, building the future 08 Vent Hygiene Register Raising the bar with VHR 11 Grease hygiene training updated 12 Indoor air quality Mould moves up the IAQ agenda

Our future in their hands

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here are many exciting developments and positive stories in this issue of Your BESA magazine, but page 19 is a personal highlight.

The rejuvenation of our Future Leaders group is hugely welcome and has important implications for the direction of our Association and the wider industry.

The voices of our younger members must be heard during the discussions that will shape the direction of building engineering because it is their generation who have most to gain, and most to lose if we get it wrong.

The older generation needs to give young engineers the space and time to think, innovate and share their ideas to help the industry solve its biggest problems including the skills gap, poor productivity, and lack of diversity.

BESA wants its Future Leaders to have a greater say in how we operate and what we focus our efforts on which is why we have asked them to advise us about key elements of this year’s National Conference (page 7).

Industry bodies have always struggled to attract a younger audience to their events – often because we think we know what they want to hear and what they want to do.

This year we are letting them decide and I urge you to keep an eye out for updates on their activities and their ideas for the Conference in the build up to the event on October 12.

Young minds and talent will be increasingly important as we grapple with the challenging social context of our work – improving health and well-being, climate change, diversity and

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13 Ventilation group Ventilation engineers are making a difference 15 Building Safety Act Clearing up confusion

inclusivity etc. – and the rapid evolution of engineering technologies. Encouraging young people to contribute more to the decision-making process of our industry will be vital if we are to improve the flow of young talent into the sector.

On page 20 you can also hear from our new membership director Rebecca Fox who brings huge experience to the role but is new to our sector. This means she starts with lots of ideas and brings a fresh perspective to what BESA does, what it offers, and importantly what we do not offer but should.

Like our Future Leaders, she can ask the all-important question: What does a BESA member look like and what might they look like in the future? That is not just a personal question but one that also goes to the heart of what BESA members might be doing in the decades to come and, therefore, what support they will be looking for from their Association.

Our President touches on what that future BESA engineer might be doing when he reflects on the government’s low carbon building challenge on page 5.

As every issue of Your BESA shows, this industry has the technologies and the engineering know-how to deliver some extraordinary projects, but as Rebecca points out, we don’t always get the recognition we deserve.

We all – young and old – need to be proud about what we do, embrace the technologies that help us do it better and then boast about our achievements to improve our image and attract more of the ‘best and brightest’ future talent. n

BESA Group

16 BESA Pipe Plus Pipework app praised by industry specifiers 17 Offsite group calls for more space 18 F-Gas update UK government should make up its own mind 19 Future Leaders rebooted 20 Welcome Rebecca Fox BESA appoints new membership director 21 Welcome to BESA! Our newest members 22 Member services If in doubt, reach out to your BESA Member Services team 24 BESA bitesize updates 25 SKILLcard changes reflect tightening focus on qualifications 27 Upcoming events Dates for your diaries in 2023 28 BESA Academy Directory The learning solution for building services engineers 32 Heat pumps Powering up the market Advertising & production Open Box M&C T: +44 (0)121 200 7820 E: inside@ob-mc.co.uk Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information given, the publisher - the BESA Group; or Open Box Media and Communications Ltd - the production managers; cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from the information supplied.

The inclusion of adverts and information herein does not in any way imply or include endorsement or the approval of, or from, the BESA Group.

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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GEYSER SKY Reversible heat pump with natural refrigerant • Ideal for boiler replacement • High comfort thanks to the variable speed technology • Propane (R290), future proof refrigerant • No Ozone layer impact & close to zero global warming potential • Meets the highest seasonal efficiency standard

Visit: www.swegon.com/uk to find out more

BESA Group Companies

Rab Fletcher

President’s perspective

Also, you can’t just switch from working with high temperature heating to fitting low temperature heat pumps – it’s a different challenge and installers need to be trained on the design and commissioning elements with which they are not familiar.

Retrofit

Here comes the new low carbon profession

“I

fell off my chair when I heard the government had called for 600,000 heat pumps to be installed every year by 2028.”

These are the words of Mark Wilkins, technologies and training director at the heating manufacturer Vaillant, during the launch of his company’s Aspire heat pump training initiative at the House of Lords.

Mark was not alone in his astonishment at a target that called for a 20-fold increase in the heat pump market. The scale of what our industry is being asked to do is the perfect example of a laudable goal that has been launched with no coherent plan for how to deliver it.

Various industry surveys have since worked out that the government’s ambition would require a qualified workforce of 100,000 installers.

Currently, there are around 130,000 Gas Safe registered engineers fitting boilers and doing other gas work, but only 1,500 firms are MCS-accredited and able to fit heat pumps.

Vaillant also found that 82% of the 1,300 installers registered on its loyalty programme Advance are not currently working with heat pumps. Most are keen to upskill, but they would not switch 100% to heat pumps because the boiler replacement market will continue to grow for a good few years yet.

The development of low carbon energy apprenticeships and short courses for upskilling existing engineers means we are heading towards a new hybrid low carbon ‘profession’ of all-rounders equipped to take on the challenge of making whole buildings energy efficient.

The heat pump is at the heart of this as it combines elements of air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating along with wider expertise in improving building fabric, therefore, it can be the catalyst for creating a new generation of low carbon building services engineer.

BESA has also launched a new round of its free heat pump installation training having been one of the organisations to benefit from the £9.2m of funding provided by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (formerly part of BEIS) to support heat pump and energy efficiency training across England.

The Association’s share will allow it to deliver free training for qualified plumbing, heating and refrigeration and air conditioning engineers looking to upskill with a view to becoming MCS-accredited heat pump installers – and be part of this exciting new low carbon profession. n

BESA Rotherwick House, 3 Thomas More Street, St Katharine’s & Wapping London E1W 1YZ T: +44 (0)345 646 1044 E: enquiries@theBESA.com www.theBESA.com

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However, politicians are lining up to back heat pumps. At the Vaillant event, Alan Whitehead, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, reiterated Labour’s support for making them “the norm” for UK homes. However, he also pointed out that they would only succeed as part of “a whole home retrofit programme” that would include the necessary insulation improvements and other tweaks to ensure overall energy efficiency.

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Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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besa AWARDS

INDUSTRY AWARDS 2023

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ESA has revamped and expanded its Industry Awards scheme for 2023 introducing a new qualifying format and extending the categories.

The awards are all free to enter and are designed to reward individuals, teams, and companies responsible for delivering projects, products, innovations, and initiatives that demonstrate excellence in building services engineering.

Although some awards are exclusively for BESA members, many are now open to the whole sector and entries are encouraged from across the whole industry supply chain to ensure the programme reflects the full breadth of building services expertise.

The Association launched several new awards last year including Net Zero Initiative and Product Innovation and has now expanded even further so more categories are open to entries from across the sector.

Mitsubishi Electric has agreed to sponsor the Awards for the fourth year in a row and said it had “not hesitated” when given the opportunity to support this year’s expanded programme.

Celebrity

The Awards Finals will take place in London on October 12 following the Association’s 2023 Annual Conference.

This gala dinner event will feature a celebrity host and live band – last year’s event was attended by more than 450 people. It will be the culmination of a series of regional dinners and awards running from May to July across all of BESA’s regions in England and the devolved nations.

Shortlisted regional entrants will then go forward to the national final, but some categories will only be held at a national level without regional heats.

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Refreshed Industry Awards open for entries The BESA Industry Awards 2023 continues the Association’s long-standing tradition of celebrating and rewarding apprentices and other emerging building services talent, but also reflects the industry’s efforts to get to grips with today’s big issues like building safety, indoor air quality, and diversity.

There are awards for outstanding projects and firms as well as individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty for the greater good of the industry.

Categories cover the full supply chain from manufacturers and distributors though contractors, engineers, and clients. The awards also honour the next generation of engineers with the popular apprentice categories.

A full list of categories and the dates of the regional events can be found here.

An expert panel of judges chaired by BESA technical director Graeme Fox has been assembled from across the sector and includes both the current President Rab Fletcher and presidentelect Claire Curran. Young engineers are also well represented on the panel which includes current CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year Sana Hafsa. n For a full list of categories and how to enter BESA’s Industry Awards 2023 click here There are also several sponsorship opportunities still available.

For more details please email: awards@theBESA.com

“

The BESA Industry Awards 2023 continues the Association’s long-standing tradition of celebrating and rewarding apprentices and other emerging building services talent, but also reflects the industry’s efforts to get to grips with today’s big issues like building safety, indoor air quality, and diversity.

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BESA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2023

Building businesses, building the future

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he 2023 BESA Annual Conference will be the most varied and wide ranging the Association has ever organised.

The one-day event, is once again sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric, and takes place at the Novotel London West on October 12th. It will feature three strands of content including a full menu of technical sessions, business focused workshops to help firms navigate the current difficult economic conditions, and activities aimed directly at younger engineers.

BESA’s Future Leaders group has been reformed (see page 19) and has taken on the task of creating a series of talks and sessions that will appeal to young engineers from a diverse background – as well as giving them the opportunity to meet and network with colleagues from across the supply chain.

The technical strand will be heavily influenced by the Association’s specialist groups and will include CPD sessions covering the delivery of safe, healthy, and energy efficient building services – including the complete

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lifecycle of a building with facilities management a key focus.

The overarching themes are: building safety, health and wellbeing, net zero and sustainability, skills and competence, and legislation and compliance.

There will be technical CPD sessions on indoor air quality, ventilation; fire safety; energy efficiency and carbon counting; the digital Golden Thread; heat pumps, the latest on the F-Gas phase down, heat interface units/heat networks, service and maintenance, and solutions for overheating in homes and commercial buildings among others.

Advice and counselling

The business sessions will feature advice and ‘counselling’ on everything from tackling the skills gap to ESG reporting, insurance and legal advice, finance for contractors, diversity, collaboration, and the increasingly significant impact of the Building Safety Act – and how BESA can help businesses and technicians achieve compliance.

BESA will invite a group of experts with specific advice for SMEs on the big challenges facing them including

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attracting new talent, managing costs at a time when budgets are under intense pressure, and investing for future growth. There will be a series of workshops and networking sessions aimed specifically at business issues.

The Association will also be carrying out a pre-conference survey around the business challenges faced by its members and the wider industry which will be available to conference attendees as well as being used to publicise the event.

The Conference advisory board, chaired by technical director Graeme Fox, held a series of meetings to discuss and fine tune ideas for the format and to agree on specific content. They concluded that people attending the conference would be keen to see a series of outcomes and actions from the conference.

They felt this would add value to the event and demonstrate the value of the Conference so would make it easier to grow the event even further in future years. n For more information about sponsorship and exhibition opportunities and to book your tickets click here.

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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vent hygiene register

Raising the bar with VHR

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he BESA Vent Hygiene Register (VHR), formerly known as BESCA Vent Hygiene Elite, recently unveiled a new name, a new look and a new website to reflect the growing profile of the vent hygiene profession and to help prepare for government regulation.

After four years, we decided it was time to have a refresh and as we have always been the ONLY vent hygiene register for vent hygiene contractors, it made sense for our new name to reflect this.

down to our VHR members, who want to do ‘the right thing’ for their industry and help protect people, property and their client’s reputation from the risk of fires in commercial properties.

Vent hygiene is more than just cleaning, it’s fire prevention, and our priority is to educate clients and the wider industry about why this is important.

Demand for cleaning and maintenance of kitchen extract ventilation systems has soared dramatically in the past year. We’ve seen a 78% increase in the number of cleans notified on the VHR system since last March, with the annual total passing 23,000 for the first time ever.

There is at least one serious fire in a UK commercial kitchen every day, but owners are becoming increasingly aware that by improving the maintenance of their grease extraction systems, ventilation, and ductwork they can minimise the risk of a fire spreading. As a result, thousands more systems are now being cleaned in compliance with the industry’s TR19® Grease Specification and TR19® Guide to Good Practice - Internal Cleanliness of Ventilation Systems.

The dramatic increase has been attributed to more clients, insurers and fire officers recognising the importance of these systems to the fire integrity of buildings but also

“Despite its central role in building safety, this remains an unregulated sector,” said BESA’s head of certification Duncan Sibbald.

“The 150 plus members of the Vent

BESA Group Companies

Hygiene Register are the professional pioneers pushing the industry towards higher standards and regulatory compliance, which is very much in tune with the culture change being driven by the Building Safety Act. “These companies recognise the importance of being able to provide third party audited evidence to their clients that their kitchen extract systems have been cleaned in compliance with the industry TR19® specification.”

“We want VHR to become the ventilation hygiene equivalent of mandatory registers such as (F-Gas) REFCOM and Gas Safe, which is why joining forces with BESA will help us have a louder voice with government to argue for positive change and create a level playing field for all. The register is already recognised by the insurance fire risk body RISCAuthority, and by the London Fire Brigade which recently updated its guidance for catering premises to include new measures from TR19® Grease but we want it to be specified more widely. ”

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We want VHR to become the ventilation hygiene equivalent of mandatory registers such as (F-Gas) REFCOM and Gas Safe, which is why joining forces with BESA will help us have a louder voice with government to argue for positive change and create a fair level playing field for all.

”

Duncan Sibbald, BESA’s head of certification

Voluntary withdrawal: The contractor has decided to leave the Vent Hygiene Register and is no longer in VHR membership.

Removed from register: The Contractor is no longer compliant with VHR requirements so we have removed them from VHR membership.

“What people probably don’t realise is that BESA has over 30 years of vent hygiene history. It all started back in 1991, when the HVCA, now BESA, published DW/TM2 - Guide to Good Practice - Internal Cleanliness of New Ductwork Installations. Throughout the years vent hygiene has evolved and so has the register, which is why we know now is the right time for mandatory regulation, especially with the enactment of the Building Safety Act.” The Vent Hygiene Register is leading the way with its new and improved Find a VHR Contractor tool, which has introduced new statuses to make it easier for the client to find an approved VHR member.

“Introducing the new Find a VHR Contractor statuses are a huge benefit for our approved VHR members. It gives them the recognition they deserve for their continued commitment to compliance.

We also wanted to be completely transparent as to why contractors were no longer with us, rather than a simple ‘left scheme’. This should also help clients make an informed decision when choosing their next vent hygiene contractor. They should want to choose an approved member who they can trust with their people, property and reputation,” said Sibbald.

As well as a new name and rebrand, VHR is now award winning. Earlier this year the register won the Best Use of Technology Award at the prestigious

Trade Association Awards 2023 for its success in creating and then rapidly expanding its database for notifying compliant cleans. It has also been shortlisted for the Fire Safety Campaign of the Year at the Fire and Security Matters Awards taking place on 15 June.

“Digital technology has helped us make rapid progress in providing a much-needed way for responsible firms to demonstrate to clients, insurers and the general public that they are working hard to keep people safe in buildings,” said Sibbald.

“However, while we are delighted to have passed the 23,000 compliant cleans milestone, we recognise we still have a very long way to go because there are still tens of thousands of systems out there waiting to be brought up to standard – and many are putting building occupants at considerable risk.” n Find out more at: www.venthygieneregister.com

The new statuses include: Approved: The Contractor is a member of VHR and can demonstrate compliance with TR19®.

Awaiting approval: The Contractor has applied to join VHR and is awaiting audit.

Suspended: The Contractor is currently unable to demonstrate compliance with VHR requirements and we are working with them to rectify this.

Membership expired: The contractor has not renewed their VHR membership.

www.theBESA.com

Earlier this year, the VHR won the ‘Best Use of Technology’ Award at the Trade Association Awards

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Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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Helping you to achieveHelping compliance you to achieve compliance

Air

Ventilation cleaning and testing to TR19® and BS EN 15780 & fire damper testing

Water

L8 Legionella control (ACOP) & water tank cleaning

Fire

Kitchen extract cleaning to TR19® Grease & grease trap cleaning

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• A BESA-audited leading edge production facility, fabricating plastic ductwork to DW154 using PVC, PVC/GRP, PPs and FBPP/GRP • A nationwide distribution service and extensive stocks of vent pipe and fittings, sheet and rod

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grease hygiene training

Grease hygiene training updated

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ESA has updated its suite of ventilation hygiene training courses with a specific focus on kitchen grease extract cleaning.

The revised training courses will be delivered through BESA approved training centres across the UK. They are designed to help contractors comply with the industry’s specification for kitchen extract systems TR19® Grease.

The new courses meet a growing and widely recognised need to have training and testing focused specifically on grease hygiene operatives (GHO3) who carry out the cleaning of kitchen extract systems. They also provide training for higherlevel grease hygiene technicians (GHT3) who create risk assessments/ method statements; carry out cleanliness testing/ reporting and mark out/install extra access panels where required.

The revamped training also covers elements of the specifications DW172 (Kitchen Ventilation Systems) and DW144 (Sheet Metal Ductwork) along with key standards such as BSEN 12236:2002 for building ventilation, and the relevant National Occupational Standard (NOS).

The Association said there had been a surge in demand for specialised hygiene services in recent years reflecting the rise in knowledge and awareness of the poor air quality and fire risk posed by badly maintained ventilation systems. This has also led to the rebranding of BESA’s Ventilation Hygiene Register (VHR) to reflect the higher profile of the sector.

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@BESAGroup

Grease is a priority for those enforcing the legislation and for the insurance industry, so having fully trained operatives is crucial for contractors working in this area.”

“With building owners, operators and insurers becoming more aware of the fire risks posed by poorly cleaned and maintained ventilation systems, there is a clear need for training that covers the very latest technical information and skills so ventilation hygiene specialists can provide evidence of meeting all the key standards,” said BESA’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet.

Compliance

“Ventilation hygiene is a critical part of any air quality and fire risk assessment process and all duty holders under the Act must be able to provide evidence that they have used compliant people to carry out any safety related activity.

Compliance with TR19 and TR19®

BESA Group

All trainees must already hold an accredited health and safety certificate such as BESA’s Online Health and Safety Environment test or equivalent, so they already have good underpinning health and safety knowledge to keep themselves and colleagues safe.

On completion of the technician course, they will be able to recognise and complete method statements and risk assessments and learn how to communicate effectively with clients, work colleagues and supervisors. They will also develop better awareness of how to coordinate their work so that it minimises the impact on the day-to-day operation of the building and how to behave in a professional manner. n For more information about the new training courses, visit the website.

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY

support of Ella’s Law – the proposed new Clean Air Act – which is named after the daughter of the group’s Honorary President Rosamund Adoo Kissi-Debrah. However, BESA is also working on a ‘Plan B’ scenario where the legislation does not pass first time and will continue to lobby for meaningful IAQ measures based on latest World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

Mould moves up the IAQ agenda

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he importance of improving ventilation to tackle mould and damp in homes and commercial buildings will be the subject of technical guidance produced by BESA’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) group this year.

Landlords are under increasing pressure to meet their responsibilities to improve living conditions as the impact of damp homes on health and well-being continues to hit the national headlines. BESA believes there is a need for practical guidance because many building managers are being advised to either clean or cover up the mould rather than address the root causes.

Initially members considered commissioning a detailed piece of guidance but after some discussions it was agreed that it would look to produce a series of shorter guides that would explain the causes and potential solutions – particularly around the

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need for better ventilation. These will be free to use and landlords, homeowners, and building operators will be invited to refer to them in conjunction with ventilation and IAQ specialists. Social landlords were identified as a key audience for this work.

Awaab’s Law – named after the toddler who died in a mould ridden Rochdale flat – is now part of the new Social Housing Bill and is an important development that should give focus to the group’s work.

Clean Air Act

The group will also continue to campaign in

“

The draft British Standard for Indoor Environments BS40102 is expected to be published soon and includes expert input from the group. It is seen as an important milestone for the sector but may require future updates as IAQ targets are raised. IAQ Group member company EFT has led this work and the group will continue to provide support.

The group is also working with the BESA Academy which is developing a ‘basic awareness’ course for IAQ. This will be launched in early July, and will provide a useful introduction to the topic for both technical and non-technical people.

The course will provide an understanding of the importance of IAQ, the main airborne contaminants that affect buildings, their sources, and the impact on the indoor environment caused by outdoor pollution. It will give students a basic grounding in air quality solutions and explain how poor IAQ affects human health and well-being and the costs of not addressing it properly. n

Register your interest for the new IAQ course to be the first to know when the course goes live.

Awaab’s Law – named after the toddler who died in a mould ridden Rochdale flat – is now part of the new Social Housing Bill and is an important development that should give focus to the group’s work.

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VENTILATION GROUP

George Friend

Ventilation engineers are making a difference

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or anyone working in ventilation, the last few years have been extraordinary. What we do has been thrust into the limelight like never before and more people are aware of what we do and why we do it, writes BESA Ventilation Group chair George Friend.

It is often easy to forget that what we do is important and has a direct impact on people’s health and well-being. We can easily get bogged down in the technicalities and miss the bigger picture – particularly if we are working as part of a supply chain and so feel remote from the eventual building occupier.

Building services in general can feel a bit undervalued because most of our work is out of sight out of mind and we only hear about it if something goes wrong. But in the case of ventilation and filtration (or lack of it), things have been going wrong on a huge scale and now, with all the political and public attention, there is massive momentum for change.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that polluted air causes 8.7 million premature deaths every year – 3.8 million of which can be attributed to poor air quality inside buildings.

The issue is now highly politicised following the ruling from Rochdale Coroner’s Court last year that the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak was directly linked to his exposure to damp and mould caused by poor ventilation in the flat where he lived.

Lack of adequate ventilation in indoor spaces significantly increases the risk of infection transmission – and good

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ventilation and air filtration enhance health and well-being (including mental health), improve sleep quality, and boost productivity.

Resilience

We were already losing 5.3 million working days every year due to respiratory infections before COVID-19 struck, according to the Office for National Statistics, but since the pandemic our understanding of the way ventilation improves a building’s infection resilience has improved.

The work of the ventilation industry is, therefore, in the spotlight, yet we still struggle to attract and retain skilled staff. That will be a priority of the BESA Ventilation Group.

Members have discussed ways to make us more attractive to a wider demographic – including increasing pay rates and introducing more flexible working patterns but promoting our sector has always been a challenge as we lose out to more glamorous professions – even within engineering and construction.

This makes it so important that we use this time – when the role of ventilation is being highlighted – to raise our profile and demonstrate why being a ventilation engineer can be rewarding; both morally and financially.

We must also be mindful that there is a key safety element to our work, which will also receive greater profile because of the Building Safety Act that is now a growing part of our working lives.

That is why training for competence and compliance is a top priority for our group and the wider BESA membership.

Air quality campaigners are making the invisible visible and that means more people will be looking to our industry for the answers. As chair of BESA’s Ventilation Group, I look forward to working hard on making sure we are ready to deliver. n For more information about the Ventilation Group email: mark.oakes@theBESA.com

“

It is often easy to forget that what we do is important and has a direct impact on people’s health and well-being.

We can easily get bogged down in the technicalities and miss the bigger picture – particularly if we are working as part of a supply chain and so feel remote from the eventual building occupier.

George Friend, BESA Ventilation Group chair

BESA Group

”

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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BUILDING SAFETY ACT

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here are a lot of slogans being used to communicate the new building safety regime.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will provide information by its: “Be ready, step up and act” campaigns. This new office, which started work on April 1 and is part of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), also likes to remind everyone that the regime applies to ALL buildings and includes additional requirements for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs) “from shed to Shard”.

The Act came into force last April and is now in its ‘delivery year’ when the legislation is to be rolled out and put into practice. However, there is considerable confusion about what it actually means in practice to BESA members.

Association staff have been tracking developments since the start and working through the detail to pick out what is of direct relevance to its members. We are also making sure our products and services are aligned to help members achieve compliance.

Many of BESA’s services can play a critical part in ensuring members have the tools they need to cope with the new building safety regime, including our technical and legal and commercial departments, the BESA Academy, SKILLcard, and several of our competence and compliance schemes, and the continually updated SFG20 which keeps building maintainers on top of the latest legislative requirements.

We are also able to act as a guide for members to the key requirements and actions – and will shortly be launching a dedicated area on our website for that purpose.

The implications are different for Tier Ones from the rest of the sector, but the main point is that there are implications for all of us. For smaller contractors, the focus is much more around specific areas of competence, fire safety and building regulation compliance, and being able to provide evidence of what work was done, by who and why certain decisions were made. You do not need to have a grasp of the full legislation.

However, BESA is also lobbying on behalf of the industry and asking for more clarity and consistency of interpretation as well as more information on ‘transitional arrangements’.

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Clearing up confusion around the Building Safety Act Key dates this year

All occupied higher-risk buildings (HRBs) are now required to have at least one clearly identifiable Accountable Person, who will be responsible for ensuring that fire and structural safety is being properly managed for the whole building.

That individual has until October to register their building with the Regulator. They must also prepare a safety case report and apply for a Building Assessment Certificate. BESA members may be required to help some of their clients with that process.

October is also when the new Gateway Regime will be fully introduced, which creates considerable new responsibilities at key planning stages.

What should you be doing now?

• Keep your eye on our members area for a ‘roadmap’ to compliance.

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BESA Group

• Sign up for the BSR’s e-bulletins and follow them on social media as these channels regularly publish updates and links to further information.

• Look out for regular updates from BESA as we will act as a signposting service to keep members up-to-speed with the latest developments.

• Don’t be intimidated. Most BESA members are already doing many of the right things, but we all need to embrace a new way of providing evidence, from individual competence to a digital ‘Golden Thread’ and by reporting key decisions, particularly around changes to the original design. n

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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BESA PIPE PLUS

Pipework app praised by industry specifiers

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he BESA Pipe Plus specification tool has enjoyed notable success since it was launched a year ago.

The result of a collaborative project involving BESA’s Pipework Group and the British Metal Tubes and Fittings Association (BMTFA), the free to use app is now being widely used by designers, contractors, consultants, and specifiers to access technical guidance that helps them select the most appropriate metal pipework solution for their projects.

“It is straightforward and quick to use, so from the initial entry of application details and operating parameters the user is presented with a material selection and specification sheet that can be used for technical submission and procurement purposes,” he added.

“This helps to combat the issues associated with legacy standards and outdated project specifications that cause confusion and may leave projects exposed to the wrong products being used, or performance and compliance risks,” said Owen.

The two organisations joined forces so they could bring together manufacturers’ technical expertise with distributors’ understanding of poor specifications and address installers’ concerns about reducing the risks of poor or incorrect product selection.

The app, therefore, covers all aspects of pipework specification for construction and building engineering projects including guidance on materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and copper, and the appropriate jointing options as a function of temperature and pressure.

Versatile

Kevin Morrissey (right), engineering manager at HE Simm Group, said the app had turned out to be “a very useful and versatile tool”.

BESA Group Companies

“We still see too many third-party specifications that refer to legacy standards for metal tube and fittings, or incorrect materials for the application. Dealing with these issues has historically been quite challenging, but the app has provided a reliable common point of reference that can be used to resolve these conflicts,” he said, adding that this made it very important that the app continued to be promoted widely.

Dr Chris Owen, chair of the BMTFA technical committee, also believes the sector has seen considerable benefits from the app because it promotes relevant and up-to-date product standards.

It is helping to improve the quality of pipework specifications across the construction and building services sectors by ensuring they are referring to the latest industry standards and best practice.

Both BESA and the BMTFA had repeatedly warned about the risks of people making poorly informed product choices, which can have an impact on the pressure integrity, temperature suitability, service life and performance of an installation, resulting in increased risks, extra maintenance, compliance and sign off challenges, as well as reduced system lifetime.

He said the app had been particularly welcomed by contractors who often have the tough job of trying to resolve specification problems at the installation stage. However, he warned that problematic specifications had not disappeared.

The Group is now planning to include plastic products as part of an update to the app and would also be adding compliance and sustainability information for metal pipework products. Members are also working with the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) so that pipework insulation could be covered in the future making it possible for the app to provide a total ‘systems approach’. n The BESA Pipe Plus App is available from all regular app stores.

“

The app is straightforward and quick to use, so from the initial entry of application details and operating parameters the user is presented with a material selection and specification sheet used for technical submission and procurement purposes.

Kevin Morrissey, engineering manager, HE Simm Group

”

OFFSITE GROUP

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TB56/1.1 Building Services Spatial Fit and MMC/DfMA NEW TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Offsite group calls for more space

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ew technical guidance published by BESA’s Offsite Group emphasises the importance of allowing adequate spacing between building services in projects using traditional approaches, modern methods of construction (MMC) and design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA).

BESA Technical Bulletin (TB56/1.1) is the first in a series planned by the Association’s specialist Offsite Group and provides a snapshot of guidelines, principles, and rules of thumb to be considered as early as possible in the design process for the spatial fit of services.

It illustrates the importance of making sure the spatial provision of services, particularly key elements like ceiling void depths, distribution routes, access and maintenance zones are validated and accurate by the end of RIBA Stage 3 as the building form and fabric will be largely set by that point.

The free guidance, which was downloaded widely in the first few days after it was published, explains how designers and engineers should ensure that pinch points and spatial

www.theBESA.com

It is encouraging that all the parties were keen to share their combined knowledge and experience with the wider industry,” said BESA Offsite Group chair Mark Snell.

consideration are a consideration for all “rooms, routes and risers” (the three R’s).

It also gives project teams valuable rules of thumb for ensuring proper separation of services, spare capacity, and future service zones to allow for any potential changes during the lifetime of the building.

Encouraging

“This technical bulletin is a great example of the collaboration between BESA, the industry’s leading MMC and DfMA manufacturers, and delivery companies.

“

This technical bulletin is a great example of the collaboration between BESA, the industry’s leading MMC and DfMA manufacturers, and delivery companies.

Mark Snell, BESA Offsite Group chair

@BESAGroup

BESA Group

“Spatial fit has long been an area of concern that, unless considered at the earliest stages, can lead to multiple problems down the line and restrict our ability to achieve co-ordination of works at RIBA stage 4 and beyond. It can also leave end clients with a potentially expensive problem if they want to make changes to the building in the future.”

The technical bulletin is free to download and refers to relevant industry guidance including BESA publications DW144 and TR19. It focuses heavily on best practice for managing service distribution using a roof, floor plate, corridor, floor void or through service tunnels to ensure efficient and safe access that also supports future service and maintenance.

It has sections on the separation of services within voids, compartmentation, fire stopping and the location of life safety services among others.

”

“An understanding of the client’s spare/ future capacity requirements is key to providing the right level of flexibility without overestimating or making generic allowances,” said Snell. “Void modelling should also take into account any likely future service requirements.” n For more information on this and other BESA technical guides, visit the website.

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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F-GAS UPDATE

UK government should make up its own mind about F-Gas

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ESA has urged the UK government to follow its own path when it comes to phasing down global warming gases used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.

Despite concerted pressure from industry groups, the European Parliament voted to speed up the timetable for eliminating the use of fluorinated gases (f-gases) from use in stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems from the start of 2026.

BESA warned that this could have potentially lethal consequences, particularly in the developing world. It also said that if the UK decided to adopt the new restrictions it could undermine its programme for wider adoption of heat pumps and so compromise its decarbonisation targets.

“The proposed new timetable would require a dramatic acceleration in the adoption of alternative refrigerants,” said the Association’s technical director Graeme Fox (right).

“This will increase the amount of flammable gas in use which would create serious safety concerns.”

He urged the UK government to take a pragmatic approach pointing out that the industry’s workforce is not yet fully trained in the use of flammable refrigerants and that removing the option to service and maintain installed equipment with existing HFC gases would be counterproductive.

Restrictions

“Many installed systems still have a useful operating life of at least 15 years, and it would be putting the industry

BESA Group Companies

and its clients in an extremely difficult and, potentially, impossible position if some of the proposed restrictions on the availability of refrigerants used for servicing these systems were adopted,” said Fox. The UK has continued to mirror the F-Gas Regulation despite its departure from the European Union and Fox explained that decisions made in Europe were significant for the rest of the world as manufacturers would have to adjust their global strategies to reflect any major changes in one of its largest markets.

“There have already been deaths in Africa linked to mishandling of flammable gases and a worldwide programme for safe refrigerant handling developed by the United Nations Environment Programme is only just getting up and running,” he added.

The proposals include a ban on single split systems using less than 3kg of HFCs with a GWP of 750 or more from 1 January 2025. Any stationary selfcontained refrigeration equipment that contains F-gases with a GWP of 150 or more will also be banned from that date.

From the start of 2027, it proposes a ban on plug-in room and other

self-contained air-conditioning and heat pumps (including monobloc systems) with capacities up to 50kW containing F-gases as well as a ban on air-to-water split systems with a rated capacity of up to and including 12 kW – if they are using HFCs with a GWP of 150 and above.

It then envisages removing all plug-in AC and heat pump equipment operating on F-gas with a GWP greater than 150 from 1 January 2030.

A ban on air-to-air split systems with a capacity of up to and including 12kW and operating on HFCs with GWP of 150 or more would come into force from 1 January 2029 along with the removal of split systems with capacities of more than 12kW, operating on HFCs with GWP over 750.

Then from the start of 2033, there would be a ban on split systems over 12kW operating on HFCs with a GWP over 150. n Visit: www.refcom.org.uk for more information.

If you or your engineers are interested in flammable refrigerant training, BESA Academy offer a short online course.

FUTURE LEADERS

Future Leaders rebooted “What is a leader? This should not just be about senior people – you can lead at all levels.”

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ESA’s Future Leaders group has reformed and has held its first meeting since the pandemic.

Ryan Walton of Panasonic has taken on the role of chair and the Association’s Customer Services Executive Danielle Norfolk is providing administrative support.

The group first formed in 2017 when it was chaired by Reanna Taylor, now senior project engineer at NG Bailey. She told the meeting that the group had originally focused on addressing the industry’s skills gap and on acting as STEM ambassadors to encourage school leavers to consider building services as a possible career.

“BESA identified us as a big part of the skills solution as we had recent experience of being attracted to the sector, for whatever reason, and had been picked out by our employers as leaders.”

Reanna added that the group had good support from BESA, particularly with funding for leadership and management training courses – and that it would be good to see that starting up again.

www.theBESA.com

The group agreed that tackling the skills gap should remain a priority and identified mentoring as another key area as young engineers need support from more experienced colleagues, particularly when they first come into the industry. Members also suggested ‘shadowing’ a senior engineer to see how they work or even someone in a different role to get broader experience of the industry.

Reverse mentoring

However, they also agreed that there was an important place for ‘reverse mentoring’ where younger members of staff provide advice and guidance to management. This can be particularly useful around emerging technologies and new ideas for projects. The group felt there was a pressing need for “a younger perspective” in the industry.

BESA has also asked the group to look at the content and format of its Annual Conference (see page 7) with a view to there being specific activities aimed at younger engineers at the event on October 12. This prompted a discussion

@BESAGroup

BESA Group

around the whole concept of networking and how a young person can find it intimidating to meet more senior members of the industry.

The group agreed to work on a plan for the Conference which would encourage a younger and generally more diverse audience and create opportunities for young people to meet before, during and after the event.

They also agreed that the Conference should not just be technical but should also focus on issues like diversity and mental health.

There will be a strong social element to the group’s activities as the new members felt this was the best way to encourage membership and foster good networking across the industry. The example of CIBSE’s Young Engineers’ Network (YEN) was cited and praised for its mixture of events and technical content.

However, the group agreed that it should also encourage young people who are not engineers but work in the industry to join.

“Networking should not just be at the senior level – we need to make it easier for young engineers to meet and connect,” said Ryan. “We must be inclusive, collaborative, and push mentoring.”

They plan to make wide use of social networks with a particular emphasis on Instagram, which is more widely used by younger people than some of the business platforms. n For more iabout the group and how to get involved, visit the website.

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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WELCOME REBECCA FOX

BESA appoints new membership director Rebecca Fox has joined BESA as its new director of membership.

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ormerly director of membership and business development at the Association for Project Management, Fox brings a wealth of experience to the role.

She was also previously group head of membership at the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply having progressed from general manager for the Middle East and North Africa and before that had a series of international roles at the logistics company DHL. Fox said she was delighted to be joining an organisation “with an exciting future” representing a sector that is central to so many of the biggest social and economic challenges facing society, such as climate change and levelling up.

“I thrive on having an impact and making a difference, so this seemed

the ideal new challenge,” she said.

“BESA is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage, and it is my vision to strengthen and grow the BESA membership brand and base.

“We should not be afraid to challenge and evolve our value proposition to ensure it is relevant and compelling,” she added. “Our members’ businesses are changing; their marketplace is evolving, and we are on the cusp of regulatory and technological transformation that will have a major impact on the sector. Our membership offer must keep pace.”

The Association represents a broad range of companies and Fox said it was vital that membership reflected their needs.

Representation

“The larger firms will make less use of our in-house services, but they are looking for representation and

“

I thrive on having an impact and making a difference, so this seemed the ideal new challenge. BESA is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage, and it is my vision to strengthen and grow the BESA membership brand and base.

”

Rebecca Fox, BESA’s new director of membership

BESA Group Companies

influence, a sense of belonging – so could we be doing more for our senior leaders? The smaller members have different needs, and we must be flexible enough to adapt and remain close to them,” she said.

BESA is expanding its membership team and Fox said this would help to improve engagement and communication with members.

“We need to understand what they are doing, who are their customers and what they worry about so we can provide them with the right products and services. We have a fantastic offer, and we need to spread the word,” she added.

She sees great opportunities around skills, the adoption of new technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and BIM and believes new legislation will have a major impact.

“The Building Safety Act should help to restore some of the trust that has been lost since the Grenfell disaster and the collapse of Carillion – and we are starting to address the race to the bottom on procurement that has caused so many problems,” said Fox. “COVID also shone a light on indoor air quality and the role of buildings in protecting health and well-being, so that is another key area where we can promote the work of BESA members and their supply chains.” n

WELCOME TO BESA!

Congratulations to our newest members

Barden FM Ltd As a Travel hub specialist, Barden FM Ltd pride themselves on working closely with businesses to achieve their goals, mitigate the loss of business and respond quickly to safety and security issues.

Through planned and reactive maintenance, regular assessment-managed project installation work and facilities management, they offer crucial support in installing sites and in day-to-day operations.

A&C UK Group Ltd A&C UK Group Ltd is a unique company that combines Construction and Fit out capabilities with highly technical in-house Mechanical and Electrical Design Services.

A&C UK Group Ltd specialise in commercial interior shop fitting in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. www.aandcgroup.co.uk

bardenfm.co.uk

Ideal M&E Services Ltd Ideal M&E Services Ltd specialise in the proactive maintenance of commercial properties ensuring that all your assets are recognised, managed and maintained.

Gibair Ltd Gibair Heating and Cooling Solutions Ltd are experienced with ever-changing Building Regulations including BREEAM, British Council of Offices (BCO) specification for Commercial Office Refurbishments and we work with specialists to produce SBEM and Thermal Modelling of buildings to aid the production of Energy Performance Rating certificates. www.gibair.uk

Morley Ventilation Ltd www.morley-ventilation.co.uk

Pinnacle Mechanical Services Ltd Pinnacle Mechanical Services Ltd specialise in mechanical building services for design and build projects, providing air conditioning, ventilation, plumbing, electrical and heating. Their aim is to provide all their clients with a wide range of services to cover all your needs. No matter what your project might be, their team of professionals are ready to deliver excellence when it counts. www.pinnaclemechservices.co.uk

www.theBESA.com

@BESAGroup

From the production of bespoke planned maintenance regimes to statutory inspecting,testing and certification our experienced multi skilled engineers aim to improve our client’s built environment with efficient, 24 hour service, 365 days a year. www.idealmes.co.uk

Novus Air Conditioning Ltd With years of experience, Novus Air Conditioning is able to offer your company many different solutions for your business requirements. From design to installation of your air conditioning systems, they are on hand to provide the optimum conditions for your business to thrive. www.novus-airconditioning.co.uk

Sonnic Support Solutions Ltd Sonnic Support Solutions have come to represent the absolute vanguard of commercial cleaning companies in London and the Channel Islands.

Boasting twenty years of experience and longstanding successful corporate relationships, they aim not just to deliver for your business but for your peace of mind too. www.sonnic.com

BESA Group

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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MEMBER SERVICES

If in doubt, reach out to your BESA Member Services team

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ne unique benefit of being part of the BESA community is the unlimited access you and your colleagues get to our in-house team of experts.

For a trade body it is extremely rare to have support services provided in house rather than by third parties.

Here at BESA, you are a more than a number, you are part of the BESA family, which is why our Member Services Team are here to support you through thick and thin.

business model regardless of size or specialism - all at no extra cost.

Have you taken advantage of the wide range of contractual precedents, guidance and documents in your BESA Members’ Resource area yet?

• Compliance • Contract Management • Mediation • Debts and Disputes • Business Protection • Payment

Look no further for legal support

• Regular employment updates and employer insight

Credit checking can be expensive, so most companies will only carry out checks on larger customers, where they stand to lose far more if payment isn’t forthcoming. As a BESA member there is no limit to the number of reports that you can request, simply email membership@thebesa.com who will complete this for you.

£390k

Any business that has faced a legal issue in saved on the past knows how contract expensive legal support reviews can be, our legal and commercial team are here to help support our members by offering expert advice without the premium hourly price tag.

The BESA Legal and Commercial 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 wide range of contractual precedents, templates and guidance documents within the BESA Members’ Area, designed to specifically de-risk a BESA member

BESA Group Companies

• Guidance on formal processes such as disciplinaries, grievances, sickness, performance and probation

Eliminate Risk with our free credit check facility

legal fees saved by members

Our service includes: • Unlimited access to the BESA Employment Affairs Helpline

They cover:

£758k

by keeping on top of employment issues and legislation by accessing our extensive range of guidance, templates and supporting documents in the BESA Members’ Resource Area.

• Employment contract and staff handbook development • Policies and procedure reviews

Get in touch with your Legal and Commercial Team on legal@thebesa.com

National Agreements BESA also negotiate and maintain collective agreements and are advocates for industry competitiveness and profitability. In its role as an employers’ organisation, the BESA is responsible for ensuring the relevance to members’ needs of collective agreements with the sector’s recognised trade union. These agreements are with the trade A helping hand witH member queries union Unite (in respect of hourly your HR matters resolved paid Operatives) and its whiteYou may not have the collar section EESA (in respect of resources to employ a Human staff employees). We have three Resources (HR) specialist and agreements which include Operative that’s what our service offers you, National Agreement, Environmental professional employment advice and Engineering Industry (EEI) Staff Salary help when you need it and on-going Agreement and Wages and Salary support. Manage your workforce Standards and Operative Holidays.

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• Specific health and safety templates

The key benefits of the National Agreements include:

organisations in our Technical Committee and Specialist Groups, which allows knowledge to be shared freely and openly across the Association.

• Assistance with the SSIP process

• Level playing field

• Progressive employment package • Up to date legislation

• Guidance through the health and safety section of your BESA CAS audit

BESA technical bulletins cover:

• Common standards

Get in touch with your BESA H&S Team on hssupport@thebesa.com.

• HMRC agreement

Tap into technical excellence

You can contact your BESA Employment Affairs Team are always on employment.affairs@thebesa.com.

BESA has been providing first-class technical guidance and standards to the building engineering services sector for over 115 years. The BESA Technical Team is on hand to Technical focus areas give expert advice, guidance and practical support. They also provide Key focus areas for developing technical publications, new technical guidance bulletins and guides to and support include the good practice which BESA Pipe Plus App – the help set the standards UK’s first free pipework across the industry. hours solving selection tool app. BESA member formed an Indoor Air Our fully trained team queries Quality (IAQ) Specialist offers expert advice Group, which has already on technical problems produced three award that are encountered by winning IAQ guides. We’ve members on a daily basis. published the UK’s first and Whether it is clarification only test standard for Heat on regulations, or specific Interface Units (HIUs). Fire design advice, the BESA publications Damper Inspection is a Technical Team is on hand and bulletins ‘hot topic’ on everyone’s to help throughout the launched agenda, which is why we entire life cycle of your are currently reviewing project. From design to DW145 – Guide to Good installation and commissioning Practice for the Installation of to maintenance.

Fire and Smoke Dampers.

BESA members also have access to a complimentary library of guidance Get involved documents within the BESA Members’ BESA members can get involved with Area, plus 50% off all BESA Publications. shaping their industry and driving technical standards by joining the BESA Technical Committee or one of the BESA Specialist Groups.

• Harmonious industrial relations • Securing skills

£100s

200

saved by BESA members

We make health and safety hassle free BESA’s Health and Safety Service provides reliable, responsive and practical health and safety support on safety standards and compliance. Free to members, this service will not only save you hundreds of pounds each year, it will remove the stress related woes of dealing with H&S issues and provide you with peace of mind.

How we help you and your business...

The BESA in house team of health and safety experts offer advice and support via the BESA Members’ Resource Area, where free templates and guidance documents are available to download for free.

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Get in touch with the BESA Technical Team on technical@thebesa.com

These include a number of • Risk Assessments • Policy and Procedures • H&S Bulletins

Free one to one Health and Safety Session BESA members can book a private one-to-one session with BESA’s Head of Health and Safety, Rebecca Crosland, to discuss any related health and safety support or guidance you may need which could include: • Health and safety questions which impact you, your business or staff

www.theBESA.com

• Building regulations • Fire protection/fire prevention • Heating and Plumbing Services • Offsite • RACHP • Service and Facilities • Ventilation

@BESAGroup

Technical bulletins Technical bulletins provide the most up-to-date, relevant industry information and technical advice, ensuring that our members remain compliant and continue to operate as leaders within the industry.

Content for the BESA technical bulletins comes from our experienced technical team and contributing BESA members’

BESA Group

For any business, no matter how big or small, it’s reassuring to know you have unlimited access to the BESA Member Services Team.

Think of us as the extra safe pair of hands in the office, who you can rely on and trust to provide you with advice and support when you need it the most. A quick telephone call or email could result in saving you and your business thousands so don’t wait until its too late, if in doubt, reach out, that’s what BESA is here for. n Find out more in and login to your BESA Members’ Resource Area now.

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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BESA Bitesize Updates Fair payment practice

If you’re an SME, read our latest blog to find out how our members’ response to a recent government consultation could help change how SME’s are paid in the future allowing better transparency, help avoid the worst payers, reward the better payers and drive out poor payment practices.

• NEC and CLC Guidance for Dealing with Retention Payments Under NEC3 and NEC4 Contracts

• RICS Construction Journal - Guidance aims to reduce need for retentions

• BESA Members’ Resource Area - Payment Guidance

New H&S Policy and Procedures - exclusively for BESA members

Now available to download for free in your BESA Members’ Resource Area, the BESA H&S Team have created a range of new policy and procedures to keep you H&S compliant.

Have you booked your FREE H&S support session?

For those of you haven’t already, you can now book a private one to one session with BESA’s Head of Health and Safety, Rebecca Crosland.

You can discuss any related health and safety issues, support or guidance you may need which could include: • Health and safety questions which impact you, your business or staff • Specific health and safety templates • Assistance with the SSIP process • Guidance through the health and safety section of your BESA CAS audit

COMING SOON!

Book your free session

‘Over the moon’ about BESA Scotland golf day Measure, monitor, mitigate Our Indoor Air Quality Group in conjunction with BESA Academy are currently working on a new short online Indoor Air Quality Awareness Course which will be available in early July.

The course will help you to measure, monitor and mitigate indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and is suitable to all within building engineering services and the wider construction industry.

Take the course to: • Become more aware of the threats to health, well-being and productivity posed by poor air quality • Make better informed decisions • Establish the kind of technical intervention required

Register your interest for this course and be the first to know when the course is live!

BESA Group Companies

BESA Scotland’s latest annual Golf Day in Peebles was hailed a huge success with more than 60 members taking part.

Competition was fierce but Fife-based ventilation contractors Pro-Duct Group came out on top winning the Top Team award followed closely by Glasgow firms Protech Heating Ltd in second place and Kooltech third.

The event, held at the luxurious Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa, was hosted by BESA President Rab Fletcher from Fife Council, and organised by the Association’s Head of Devolved Nations Iain McCaskey who also provided prizes for the longest drive, and the two balls that landed closest to the pin.

Pro-Duct Group director Craig Condie congratulated the BESA team on “another fantastic day” adding that the company was “over the moon” about the result.

Plans are already well advanced for next year’s event, which is expected to take place on April 26th. Anyone interested in sponsoring or entering a team should email iain.mccaskey@theBESA.com BESA hosts a wide range of social events across the UK and is always looking for new ideas. If you have an idea for an event, please email: martina.stocker@thebesa.com

SKILLCARD

SKILLcard changes reflect tightening focus on qualifications

T

he way building services SKILLcards are awarded to experienced workers is set to change at the end of 2024 when cards currently secured under ‘industry accreditation’ (IA) or employer endorsement will no longer be accepted as proof of competence.

competence requirements, which are also in line with the new building safety legislation.

This follows the requirement set out by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) that only workers with nationally recognised qualifications (usually SVQs or NVQs) will be eligible for cards – and is in line with broader government policy on how skilled workers must prove their competence in the future.

Engineering Services SKILLcard was launched by BESA in 2001 and now provides more than 57,000 heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration engineers with the evidence of competence they need for their specific technical roles on site.

The scheme plays a central role in the government’s 2025 Construction Industry Strategy by helping clients check whether workers have the right qualifications for the job in hand as well

www.theBESA.com

@BESAGroup

as suitable health and safety training.

It also plays a huge role in the Building Safety Act as a way to evidence personal competence.

SKILLcard also covers those with supervisory and managerial responsibilities in the building engineering services industry and is also widely used by self-employed and agency workers and those seeking employment in the sector. The online application and renewal system has been regularly updated and improved so that it is a more straightforward and user-friendly process.

Rules

As part of the CSCS Alliance, SKILLcard is working with the industry to further strengthen the rules around

BESA Group

“SKILLcard is a member of the CSCS Alliance so we are committed, like all other members, to support the CLC’s People and Skills strategy and as a result, card schemes carrying the CSCS logo including SKILLcard, will only issue cards to individuals holding nationally recognised qualifications,” said BESA’s head of certification Duncan Sibbald.

Sibbald was quick to reassure card holders that those already holding an appropriate qualification could apply here, and those seeking further information relevant to their specific occupation will find it set out on the SKILLcard website.

If you would prefer to talk your options through with someone on the phone, please contact the BESA Skills Advisory Service on 0800 917 8419. n

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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www.SFG20.co.uk

01768 860459

RE

Best Practice

Up

REGULATION

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GUIDANCE Updates

LEGISLATION info@SFG20.co.uk

es LATIO t t s a U d G e e

SFG20

Bractic P

_SFG20

upcoming events

Dates for your diaries SAVE THE DATE!

Specialist group dates Ventilation Group Tuesday 12 September Service and Facilities Group Wednesday 4 October Heating and Plumbing Services Group Thursday 19 October

Thursday 12 October

2023 BESA Industry Awards Region Date North East Awards Friday 16 June North West Awards Saturday 24 June London, South East and Midlands Awards Thursday 13 July Yorkshire Awards Thursday 20 July BESA Industry Awards Final Thursday 12 October Scotland Dinner and Awards Date TBC

Joint BESA/CIBSE Wales Clay Pigeon Event Friday 6 October South Wales

2023 Member meeting dates Our member meetings will take place in November - dates to be confirmed soon.

Find out more and enter

To book your place at a member or specialist group event, or to reserve your team for the clay pigeon day, please contact: martina.stocker@theBESA.com

www.theBESA.com

@BESAGroup

BESA Group

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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BESA ACADEMY training directory

BESA Academy The learning solution for building services engineers Measure, monitor, mitigate

We provide a specialist range of training courses, assessments and CPD enabling you and your engineers to develop your careers.

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

Start your learning journey today by registering with besa.academy.

BESA Health and Safety Environment Online Course and Test COMING SOON!

Everyone in building engineering services should have a basic understanding of the importance of good indoor air quality (IAQ).

Take our new IAQ Awareness Course and learn how to: • Outline the threats to health and well-being and productivity posed by poor air quality • Make better informed decisions • Establish the kind of technical intervention required This short online course is suitable for everyone in our industry ensure you and your employees understand the importance of good indoor air quality!

Register your interest for this course and be the first to know when this course is live!

BESA Group Companies

This test 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 test is 100% online and takes less than two hours to complete.

Save time and money spent on resits by booking the course and test.

Book now

BESA F-Gas Awareness Course This short online course will provide you with fundamental awareness of some of the F-Gas terms and regulatory requirements which must be adhered to, by those working in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.

This course will give you the confidence to communicate with customers and your staff alike, ensuring a professional and efficient service.

Book now

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BESA Heat Pump Installer Course

BESA F-Gas Renewal Course Cat 1 & 2 This course is the only online F-Gas Renewal course on the market and is aimed at refrigeration engineers who are either approaching the end of their five-year certification period for Cat 1 and Cat 2 F-Gas or want to ensure they are up to date with the latest mandatory F-Gas requirements.

In partnership with Worcester Bosch and the Home Builders Federation, we have developed a Heat Pump Installer course for plumbing, heating and F-Gas engineers looking to upskill.

Renew your F-Gas qualification in less than 6 hours, with immediate assessment results and a downloadable certificate if passed.

Renew now

Learn how to correctly specify, install and maintain domestic heat pumps.

Visit the website to find out more.

Working with Flammable Refrigerants

Energy saving course, presented by EnCO

As environmental legislation drives the sector towards lower global warming potential refrigerants, our technicians are increasingly having to deal with and handle flammable refrigerants.

This course will upskill qualified F-Gas engineers to ensure they are aware of the specific requirements which must be applied when handling these refrigerants.

This BEIS endorsed online course is for energy professionals working within energy-using organisations, consultants advising clients, or anyone interested in effecting behaviour change in organisations to enable significant energy savings through people.

Book now

Find out more or register your interest

Free online accredited CPD

Chemical-Free Water Treatment for Closed Loop Networks

Energy Efficient Underfloor Heating (UFH)

Chemical-free water treatment offers a host of advantages over traditional regimes but is still relatively new to the UK. This short CIBSE accredited online course aims to introduce chemical-free water treatment its component parts, its operation and maintenance.

Register now

Ventilation - Improving Indoor Air Quality Register now

Optimising Design and Performance of Air Conditioning Systems Register now

The Circular Economy Register now

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BESA Group

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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BESA ACADEMY training directory

Free online accredited CPD

HVAC System Air Filtration for Clean Healthy Indoor Air Quality Register now

Don’t take a chance on corrosion. Change!

Monitor, React and Prevent Corrosion

Register now

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Understanding Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery for Commercial Applications

Firestopping of Service Penetrations Register now

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Understanding UK Building Regulations relating to MVHR

Air and Dirt Separation

Compensation for Thermal Expansion

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History of Legionella and Legionella Within Hot and Cold Water Systems

Needlepoint Bipolar Ionisation

Register now

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Thermostatic Mixing Valves

Variable Volume Pressure Systems

Water Systems for Modern Buildings

Register now

Register now

Register now

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Free online accredited CPD

Euroclass A2 Vertical Façade Membranes

Managing people CPD

Register now

Metal Air Bricks for Building Applications into External Walls Register now

New Boilers on Old Systems – Hydraulic Separation Register now

SCA Guide to Common Escape Routes

Reducing Risk When Specifying Building and Industrial Services Pipework

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Promoting a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect (FIR) brings many business benefits to the companies that work to achieve it.

As a sector, we need to embrace FIR in order to attract, recruit, train and retain the skills in order to address the industry-wide skills shortage.

Clients and large contractors are increasingly expecting their supply chain partners to work with them to achieve this.

We provide a range of free CPD which addresses how leaders and managers can increase the effectiveness of their team and their organisation by considering fairness, inclusion and respect.

Find out more or register now

Register now

Looking for skills or training advice?

Our Skills Advisory Service is here to support you and your employees and is free of charge to all.

Browse our full range of courses today!

Visit the website or call 0800 917 8419.

Interested in working with BESA Academy?

If you have course content you would like to provide or if you are interested in developing a course with us, then get in touch!

Email academy@theBESA.com

www.theBESA.com

@BESAGroup

BESA Group

Your BESA Issue 27 | June 2023

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HEAT PUMPS

A

s part of its efforts to meet an ambitious plan for the UK to be one of the largest markets for heat pumps in Europe, the government is looking at all its options to incentivise heat pump installations.

To achieve this, the government has consulted on a new market-based mechanism that would place an obligation on boiler manufacturers to meet a heat pump sales target relative to their boiler sales or buy credits from other manufacturers.

Announced by Energy Secretary Grant Shapps as part of the “Powering Up Britain” energy plan, the Clean Heat Market Mechanism is expected to come into effect in 2024 and is a key pillar of the government’s plan to reduce energy demand and gas use in buildings. To ensure the scheme realises its potential, the government actively sought views from across the industry.

As a leading industry voice for heat pump installers, BESA has shared its feedback with officials designing the scheme. We have made clear we strongly support the scheme and its ambitions to boost the supply and uptake of heat pumps. However, we have set out how we think it could be further improved, such as including air to air source heat pumps on the list of technologies that would count toward the targets. Financial penalties for manufacturers that fail to meet their

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Powering up the heat pump market obligations – either through heat pump sales or purchasing credits – are being considered.

We know that supporting the growth of the heat pump market and taking advantage of economies of scale will ultimately reduce the costs of these technologies and make them a much more attractive proposition for consumers. As it stands, approximately 25% of emissions are attributable to heating buildings.

A key piece of the puzzle, as ever with domestic heating, is consumers. If we are to reach net zero, it is essential that we support more households in swapping fossil fuel boilers and taking up low carbon technologies like heat pumps. As part of this push toward improved energy efficiency, it’s critical that homeowners are equipped with the information they need to make informed decisions about their heating solutions.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently released a report that examined the experiences of households when purchasing heat pumps and other low carbon technologies. It found that, in

many cases, households had positive experiences with installing heat pumps.

However, the report also highlighted how challenging it can be for households to find – and then understand – the information they need about heating solutions.

This, of course, isn’t helped by some unscrupulous installers who make misleading claims about products and don’t install them properly – and the shortage of trained installers which makes it hard for consumers to find reliable and fully competent firms in their local area.

BESA is growing its programme of free heat pump training through its Academy and approved centres, which includes equipping installers with the knowledge they need to advise consumers properly.

It is one of the organisations to have received targeted government funding to expand the pool of competent firms that will ultimately make it possible to deliver low carbon heating solutions at the scale needed to meet the country’s ambitions. n

BESA Webinars 2023

The must-see webinar for the building services sector

All webinars take place on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 – 1:00pm GMT

WHY ATTEND? Our free webinars offer practical tips and tricks, you can apply directly within your business They take a deep dive into the technical side of building engineering services Update your knowledge to meet industry standards and be competent and compliant

KEY TOPICS: Building safety Net zero Skills Energy efficiency Financial and technical updates

View the upcoming webinar series now