NEWS
they had been priced out of projects as a result,” said Davidson, who called for a government-driven public awareness campaign to improve client engagement.
The BESA meetings also confi rmed that most clients erroneously considered the legislation a ‘Construction’ Safety Act aimed exclusively at the construction industry and did not apply to those owning, managing and operating buildings throughout their lifecycle. BESA members also expressed concern about the number of projects being delayed due to additional planning constraints exacerbated by severe shortages in local authority building control departments. The need to pay for additional third-party testing to ensure building components meet the specifi cation when operating as a system is another potential source of higher cost and project delays, the BESA meetings reported. “There is also a serious geographical divide with
clear evidence that the further north you go, the less awareness of and engagement with the legislation you fi nd, particularly amongst clients,” said Davidson. BESA’s industry-wide survey, carried out by AMA
Research, reported that 88% of respondents showed some awareness of the Act, with almost a third claiming to be “fully aware”. There were higher levels of awareness amongst BESA members than in the industry, but a detailed
“As there is currently very little enforcement of the legislation and, therefore, no apparent consequences, clients are still subjecting contractors to aggressive and sub-economic pricing.”
understanding of roles and responsibilities was found to be mixed and varied by building and project type. Most contractors told researchers that the Act had a minimal impact on their businesses, and just 9% reported making any “signifi cant changes” to help them comply.
Compliance and legal understanding of the legislation were proving to be “challenging” for most industry businesses who told researchers they needed more training and a closer working relationship with the offi ce of the Building Safety Regulator to embed the changes required to improve building safety. Levels of awareness vary according to company size, with larger organisations, both in terms of turnover and number of employees, shown to be more up-to-speed.
“Some fi rms have used the Act, and the wider
post-Grenfell context, as an opportunity to re-set employees’ focus on what makes them good at their jobs and where they fi nd defi ciencies, to carry out more training,” added Davidson. “However, this is far from universal and access to appropriate training remains another key challenge for our sector and one that BESA is pursuing vigorously.”
She added that the industry needed clearer and
simpler guidance to help them apply the legislation measures to their businesses and explain them to their clients. She also called for a closer and more productive relationship involving open communication channels with the Regulator and a greater willingness to off er advice on complying with the Act. “Also, if the government is really serious about improving standards of safety and performance alongside its ambitious plans for construction growth, it must properly resource the Regulator and ensure that this potentially game- changing legislation is fully enforced,” said Davidson. “Too many clients still think the Act does not apply to them, so they need to be the target of a major awareness programme. It cannot be left to individual contractors to try and educate their clients, particularly while cost remains king.”
three perspectives on the future of the RACHP industry ASERCOM Convention 2025: M
ASERCOM has released the programme for the ASERCOM Convention 2025, its fl agship event for the refrigeration, air conditioning
and heat pump (RACHP) industry, to be held in Brussels on 24 January 2025. This year’s event is structured around three essential perspectives – policy, market insights and challenges – designed to equip participants with a well-rounded understanding of the industry’s future. “This year’s programme refl ects a deliberate focus on connecting strategic discussions with real-world challenges. By addressing not just policy and market trends but also the practical hurdles faced by our industry and the installers in the fi eld, the Convention delivers actionable insights for all participants,” says Marco Masini, President of ASERCOM.
The Policy section will delve into the
regulatory and political landscape shaping the RACHP industry. Sessions include an overview of ASERCOM’s achievements in brand awareness, perspectives on the EU political environment and key insights into medium- to long-term policies relevant to the sector. Sustainability and fair competition will be discussed under the heading ‘ESG’. This is followed by the critical topics of refrigerants and polymers as regulatory challenges.
In the Market Insights segment, experts will
address emerging trends and technologies, including the future of heat pumps, reactions to the newly adopted F-Gas Regulation and the role of certifi cation in ensuring a sustainable and competitive industry. Participants will also gain
Download the ACR News app today
insights into cybersecurity and grid stability as enablers of effi cient RACHP applications. The Challenges section tackles pressing issues such as workforce and skills shortages, focusing on training, safety and certifi cation solutions. Manufacturer liability will also be discussed, with updates on standards ensuring meaningful compliance and safety in RACHP components. The ASERCOM Convention 2025 promises to be a landmark event for the RACHP industry, bringing together policy-makers, innovators, and professionals to shape the sector’s future. A live stream will be available. Registrations for on-site and online participation are still possible online.
https://www.asercom.org/convention-2025/
www.acr-news.com • February 2025 9
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
