CONSTRUCTION FIXINGS
Testers (eight companies are members in both categories). General manager, Mark Salmon, started proceedings with
CFA doubles up I
n addition to delegates from the six full members of the CFA, all fixings manufacturers with a significant market presence in the UK, the conferences welcomed representatives from CFA’s nineteen Approved Distributors and twenty six Approved
a CFA activity report, which included in-depth consideration of plans to completely overhaul the CFA website. The current site already acts as reservoir of knowledge, particularly in the form of downloadable CFA Guidance Notes on a wide range of safety and performance critical fixings issues. Following a careful evaluation of alternative web designers the CFA has now committed to a re-design that will improve navigation and search engine optimisation, incorporating for the first time a news feed and video clip capability. There was then an open discussion on other potential improvements for the website with a wide range of suggestions to further enhance support for members and to improve contractors and specifiers ability to identify and contact CFA approved testers and distributors. Above all, members were clear about the need for real impact on the homepage to highlight the importance of fixings and motivate visitors to explore the extensive resources available throughout the website. Mark Salmon then focused on the BS8539 Code of Practice for the selection of and installation of post-installed anchors for use in concrete and masonry. The CFA has been the lead driver in initiating the development of a British Standard equivalent to the highly regarded Irish Fixings’
Code of Practice, which sadly gained its momentum from a fatal site accident involving the incorrect use of fixings. Despite some resistance from the standards body, Mark Salmon reported, that the CFA was succeeding in injecting a significant level of practical detail to the Code, so that it can be used as “an educational document”. A key requirement of the Code, which while not having the force of law is expected to be extremely influential on construction professionals, is a clearly defined procedure for making specification and product changes on-site. The document clarifies the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in the fixings chain from manufacturers and specifiers through distributors to contractors and installers, and places clear emphasis on the importance of specifying and using European Technical Approved products and conforming to Eurocodes.
For the second year in a row the UK Construction Fixings Association elected to stage its conference in dual locations, one hosted by ITW Construction Fixings Ltd in Crawley and one by Hilti GB Ltd in Manchester.
For the syndicate sessions the Approved Distributors
and Approved Testers split into separate groups. Approved Distributors focused on legislation as it impacts distributors, with Alistair Little of 2K polymer systems considering the additional complexities presented by recent updates in REACH and the Global Harmonisation System for classification and labelling of hazardous substances. David Russhart, also from 2K, explored some of the issues
following the enactment of the Construction Products Regulation earlier this year, particularly looking at responsibilities for the storage and transportation of anchor resins. He emphasised that there remained a number of areas in the new legislation that required further clarification – something the CFA was active in trying to achieve through its relationship with the Comité Européen de L’Outillage. For the Approved Testers Mark Salmon introduced the idea of identity cards for competent testers, which was seen as being beneficial by attendees. Mark also outlined the significant changes that have been introduced in the TG4:11 Anchorage systems for scaffolding – testing regime compared to TG4:04. Changes included drop-in anchors no longer being approved for masonry and higher factors for testing nylon anchors. A reduction in proof testing to 1.25x had been introduced at the request of the scaffolding industry. Additional guidance for brickwork now includes use of concrete screws. Both groups then came back together for a presentation from
Steve Osborne of web designer Aura Creative Communications entitled ‘Refresh yourselves’. The presentation concentrated on attracting new customers and gave four key steps to follow:
• STEP 1: Sort out your brand. • STEP 2: Sort out your website. • STEP 3: Devise a digital communications strategy. • STEP 4: Pass hot prospects data to sales or telemarketing.
Both events concluded with practical demonstrations on
torque and clamping forces and the importance of understanding the idea of ‘load relaxation’ and why users need to keep it in mind when testing resin anchors.
About CFA
The CFA’s primary goal is ‘Ensuring Best Fixings Practice’. Its full members are fischer Fixings UK Ltd, Hilti GB Ltd, 2K Polymer Systems Ltd, Simpson Strong-Tie Liebig, Rawl Fixings and ITW Spit Fixings. In recent years it has extended its influence in the UK fixings supply market through developing associate membership categories for Approved Distributors and Approved Testers. The CFA has an authoritative website at
www.fixingscfa.co.uk which hosts a wealth of information and articles covering the spectrum of fixings installation practice and providing, in particular, a range of Guidance Notes targeted at improving the selection and safe installation of fixings.
82 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 72 November 2011
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