All the latest news
www.eca.co.uk
Insolvency creating crushing retention issue
bust. Of those, 72 per cent report losing up to £10,000. The survey found that 67 per cent believe
n
An ECA study has found that main contractor insolvency is stopping the
release of retention payments and potentially crippling electrical contractors. According to the study, 33 per cent of respondents say they have lost retention payments in the last two years as a result of the main contractor going
retention payments should be placed in a separate trust account, which ensures a subcontractor can still access its payment even if a client or main contractor goes bust. Paul Reeve, ECA head of Business Policy said: ‘Despite revisions to the Construction Act in 2009, a clause of “pay when paid” can still be applied if a client becomes insolvent. That means main contractors have a “get out of jail free” card and don’t need to pay their subcontractors. The government needs to take action to prevent main contractors from shoehorning this clause into their contracts, so that smaller firms aren’t crippled by lost retention payments.’ Reeve added: ‘Most firms don’t have
the luxury of making 2.5 per cent profit. Therefore, losing a retention payment could wipe out any profits from a project and, in a worst case scenario, could bankrupt the firm in question.’
ECA WORKING ON GREEN DEAL
The ECA has been invited to join the BSI PAS 2030 Steering Group, covering the installation of Green Deal energy efficiency and renewables measures. PAS 2030 will become
the installation standard for Green Deal and other green refurbishment arrangements. Installers will have to meet the requirements in PAS 2030
to operate under Green Deal schemes. Paul Reeve, ECA head of Business Policy, said: ‘ECA members’ expert knowledge will help to ensure that both installers and customers benefit from a broader range of energy saving and renewables measures under the Green Deal, and that these measures
Designed for installers...
Ideal for renewal systems Simple, 2 wire installation Compatible with new S-Steel panels Reduced need for additional control equipment
URMET IS THE LARGEST MANUF A CTURER OF DOOR ENTR Y SYSTEMS IN EUROPE
marketing@urmet.co.uk ...using only two wires throughout
01376 556010
www.urmet.co.uk
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS November 2012 ECA Today 7
are properly installed so that they deliver excellent energy performance. In particular, PAS 2030 needs to include active energy saving measures – such as heating and lighting controls for domestic and commercial buildings – so the Green Deal can offer customer choice and have the biggest possible impact.’
Contractors switched on to energy efficient lighting
New research from Newey & Eyre has revealed that contractors are instrumental when it comes to supporting customers through the switch to energy- efficient lighting. More than half (58 per cent) said they found
it easy to understand what was required in the initial stage of the EU’s phase-out of inefficient lamps, which affected clear 60W GLS lamps and above, with four in 10 saying they haven’t changed the way they specify lighting, as they’ve always recommended the most energy efficient option. However, a quarter (26 per cent) of contractors did think that the changes weren’t clearly communicated in the industry. It seems the legislation is having the desired
effect, with a quarter (26 per cent) reporting that customers have embraced the opportunity to improve the efficiency of their lighting, and a further 25 per cent saying their customers have accepted the changes. Its positive impact is also extending beyond lighting, with more than a third (35 per cent) of contractors reporting that the legislation is encouraging customers to consider other energy-saving technologies. Despite there being legislation as a mechanism to
drive change, more than two thirds (67 per cent) of contractors believe customers are mainly motivated by saving money, while 23 per cent are concerned about saving energy. Complying with legislation actually ranked as the fourth priority, behind concern about the performance and quality of the product.
Joe Gough/Shutterstock
Fotokostic/Shutterstock
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72