The briefi ng

The Welsh Government has published updated editions of Approved Document B (Fire safety) volumes 1 and 2, including changes to Appendix A (Assessment in lieu of tests) and an updated edition of Regulation 7 (Materials and Workmanship).

The Approved Document has been amended to strengthen the requirements when providing assessments in lieu of fi re tests. The amendment specifi es three routes to demonstrate compliance. The previous provision listed a number of ways to demonstrate performance; the revised provision has generalised the test methodologies, and the specifi c routes that were previously mentioned all fall within the three revised routes for compliance. The amendments to the Approved Documents ensure that assessments should not be regarded as a way to avoid a test where one is necessary.

In addition, the Minister for Housing and Local Government has announced the launch of Safer Buildings in Wales: A Consultation. The minister is keen to hear all views on the issues explored in the White Paper, and, as such, the closing date for responses is 12 April 2021.

In January 2021, the Grenfell inquiry was suspended because of rising Covid-19 infections in

London. It had been operating in person, but with minimal att endance. The three-strong inquiry panel, witnesses and lawyers for the inquiry were the only people at the premises, along with a support team.

The planned restart this month, with remote hearings using computer links, was originally opposed by the bereaved and survivors panel, because of concern that witnesses giving evidence via computer link could be coached in their answers. However, the panel decided “it is bett er to have remote hearings than no hearings at all while the current restrictions are in place”. The inquiry is due to start again this month

Action to confront the climate emergency is at the forefront of the Society for the Environment’s (SocEnv) work, and, with the eyes of the world on the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November, SocEnv is committ ed to helping individuals and organisations make 2021 a year of substantive change.

Firstly, it licenses the awarding of environmental professional registrations, including chartered environmentalist (CEnv)to those with the highest level of expertise. CEnv registration helps professionals to develop and showcase their skills and equips them to lead the response to the climate emergency. That’s why SocEnv is committ ed to growing the number of chartered environmentalists, already over 7,500 strong.

Secondly, as an umbrella body, it works in partnership with many organisations, including CABE. This means it is well equipped to facilitate change at an organisational level. A prime example of this is Pledge to Net-Zero, of which SocEnv is a founding signatory. More than 65 organisations have now made the pledge and committ ed to sett ing science-based targets for tackling their greenhouse gas emissions.

So, if you haven’t already, make sure to set CEnv registration and/ or encouraging your organisation to make the Pledge to Net-Zero as clear objectives for 2021, and increase your impact in tackling the climate emergency.

Prefabricated homes have been long-heralded as the future of house building; but if the arguments for homes to be manufactured like cars are so compelling, why is factory-built housing not more common?

That’s the question that NHBC

Foundation’s report Modern methods of construction: building on experience examines. It scrutinises notable periods of transformation in the industry and explores the elements of design, as well as the social and economic infl uences, that fuel change.

The report notes that we are at a critical time in the development of Modern

Methods of Construction (MMC). The potential benefi ts are compelling, yet conventional construction remains dominant in the UK

The report also looks at the history of non-traditional housing through a range of diff erent technologies and advancements since the 19th century and how builders and developers can harness technological advances to respond to the increasing demand for new homes.

NHBC’s Head of Standards, Innovation and Research, Richard Smith FCABE, said: “This report looks at the best features of homes from the past to inform the homes of the future.”

Acuity Brands’ second annual State of Energy Management report gave an interesting insight into building management considerations for business premises that remain empty during Covid-19 lockdowns. In connection with this reduced occupancy, respondents anticipated an increased need for higher-effi ciency heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and the ability to remotely manage energy programmes to address occupancy reductions and other challenges as they adapt system-wide performance.

“This past year has shown many industries that it is no longer enough to focus on set-it-and-forget-it energy effi ciency tasks,” said Sarah Diegnan, Vice President of Customer Success and Operations, Atrius Enterprise Solutions. “An energy management information system (EMIS) [provides] the framework critical for designing processes to maximise building performance, the ability to track and report out on programme success and continuously optimise building systems.” Among those surveyed, 91% said reducing energy, water, and waste consumption remains a top priority for 2021. The top three requirements for managing building performance and protecting occupant health are higher effi ciency HVAC (87%), bett er lighting (79%) and improved access to analytics derived from actionable data (77%). The most signifi cant barriers to successfully implementing an EMIS solution include the lack of time to review fi ndings (19%) and the costs of upgrading or adding new meters (17%). Respondents also noted how limited internal support for an EMIS complicates funding (18%).

To aid with the smart meter roll-out in domestic new build properties, the Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP) has published new guidance.

The guidance supports developers, architects and all those involved in the specifi cation of metering locations in new build premises – especially multiple dwelling units – to bett er understand the relative positioning of electricity and gas smart meters in consumer premises, the housing of gas smart meters, and the relevant existing guidance.

How much is social value worth to a business, asks Be Ethical Training? Businesses today have to be clear about what they do as part of their social responsibility, the reason they do it, and the impact they have on their stakeholders and the planet.

These elements play a large part when tendering for new contracts; for example, the majority of public sector contracts have 25% of their tenders weighted towards social value. In addition, the benefi ts of being responsible can include the retention of clients and employees, att racting new business, and achieving a wider reach through contributing to and supporting communities in which they operate.

Be Ethical Training helps businesses defi ne their responsible activities. It believes that when a business defi nes and takes ownership of its ethical activities, it can begin to see sustainability and growth.

The British Board of Agrément (BBA), the UK’s building product certifi cation organisation, and Barbour Product Search, the online product directory for building product manufacturers, are uniting to assist companies wishing to develop sustainable, innovative product development practices.

A key focus of the partnership is a dedicated Testing & Certifi cation Knowledge Hub, accessible to all users of Barbour Product Search throughout the construction supply chain. Both organisations believe the collaboration will support the drive to improve quality and safety by embedding product testing and certifi cation information into Barbour Product Search, with easy reference for building designers, specifi ers, contractors and manufacturers.

The announcement also chimes with the government’s Construction Playbook, which places greater focus on building positive relationships between project leads and working together to the benefi t of the entire supply chain.

Construction managers overseeing domestic and commercial projects incorporating green roofs need to plan carefully to best manage supply chain issues created by Brexit.

Many of the roll-out green roof systems popular in the UK are European imports of sedum and wildfl ower blankets, and rely on delivery within a set timeframe to ensure the sedum arrives in a suitable condition for the roof to establish successfully. However, high levels of freight traffi c in ports, compliance with new import regulations and border disruption could delay deliveries, creating issues in the supply chain and potential delays on-site.

Julian Thurbin, Director of UK grower and system supplier Wallbarn, said: “The sedum element of roll-out green roofs is usually delivered to site on a just-in-time basis, because the plants are delicate and should not, we believe, be left rolled up for longer than 72 hours. Clients, therefore, need to know how their supplier is managing the situation and the plans in place to ensure on-time deliveries. As a result, he notes that British producers have been experiencing higher than normal levels of enquiries from specifi ers and purchasing departments looking to secure a home-grown green roof supply through the fi rst quarter of 2021 and onwards.

Following the EU trade deal reached in December 2020, the construction industry is relieved that the worry of tariff s and quotas has apparently been avoided. The agreement secures a continuation of rules of origin, where bilateral recognition of assembly means UK inputs and processing into EU products and materials will be recognised.

James Butcher, Construction Leadership Council’s Brexit working group chair, said: “Mutual co-operation in respect of reducing technical trade barriers and at the border will also undoubtedly help to avoid some of the risks of delay and disruption. What this means is that we will not see the infl ationary shock of tariff and quota introductions or the expected currency depreciation associated with a no-deal.”

The National Federation of Builders agreed that the deal ensures that complex product supply chains will not become burdensome or costly through technical and regulatory barriers.

The UK and the EU have also agreed trusted trader schemes and customs co-operation to aid the exchange of import and export information and roll-onroll-off fl ow at ports. Builders Merchants Federation chief executive John Newcomb said: “We now have the assurance of the continued free fl ow of materials needed to fulfi l the government’s promise to build back bett er, improve the energy effi ciency of our homes and create the many thousands of jobs required to do so.”

A mutual agreement over VAT and debt recovery was reached. Progress on migrant workers was also made, with the UK and EU agreeing on a framework for mutual recognition of professional standards and qualifi cations. However, they were unable to agree mutual recognition of conformity assessments, so UK bodies will not be able to certify products to EU standards and vice versa.

During UK lockdown, Google searches for DIY topics increased by 35%. However, home renovation mistakes can be costly. IronmongeryDirect surveyed 1,500 Brits to reveal that nine in ten Brits att empt DIY at home, that loft conversion errors are the most expensive, and that millennials are the most likely to att empt complicated and dangerous DIY jobs.

Of the 28 most commonly att empted DIY tasks, the average cost of repairing a mistake is a staggering £3,931. Amateur loft conversions (att empted by 5% of homeowners) potentially cost £35,000 to fi x, while knocking down a wall (att empted by 10% of homeowners) can cost £20,000 to rectify and can cause collapse of the building if the wall is external (the costs for this would be extreme). 8% of homeowners have att empted replacing a kitchen, which can cost up to £10,000 to fi x if units or worktops are damaged, and 7% have att empted replacing a bathroom, which could cost in the same region to rectify. The message is clear; call a professional.

Openreach is radically changing the language it uses in its recruitment adverts aft er new research from Exeter University revealed that hidden bias deters more than half of female applicants. It also reinforces commonly held beliefs; for example, a quarter of women (24%) still feel certain careers are bett er suited to men than women, with 80% discounting engineering.

However, the research showed that when job seekers were presented with a gender-inclusive advert (for an entry-level engineering role), women’s interest in the role increased by more than 200%, with 60% stating this was because of the way it was writt en. Despite four in fi ve women admitt ing they wouldn’t consider working in engineering, more than half (56%) were interested in the engineering job role once it had been reimagined.

HS2 has off ered the opportunity to join one of Europe’s biggest infrastructure projects with a two-year graduate recruitment scheme. There are 17 places available for engineering graduates this year, aft er 1,000 graduates applied for just nine places in 2020. Karen Davis, HS2 Ltd’s Future Talent Manager, said: “In February, we’ll open the recruitment window for our annual apprentice scheme, and we’ve already increased the number of work experience placements and mentoring opportunities available”. For more, visit hs2.org.uk/careers/

Gilbert & Goode was awarded Highly Commended Building Project of the Year for its aff ordable housing development at Praze-An-Beeble, Cornwall, and the fi rm’s PreConstruction Manager Callum Yeowell was named Future Leader at the Constructing Excellence South West awards, held online in December.

Have an opinion on something in this issue or something you’d like to discuss with your peers? e-mail the Editor at cabe@redactive.co.uk