4


NEWS


Managing Editor James Parker


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FROM THE EDITOR


O


ur ongoing programme of in-depth industry round tables continues to throw up some fascinating discussions between a diverse range of voices from across the industry. We’d like to think that we are providing a unique mix, featuring product manufacturers (including event sponsors) as well as


key specifi ers like architects and housebuilders large and small, as well as specialist consultants keen to offer their expertise. We called these events Building Insights LIVE to both extend our popular ongoing podcast Building Insights


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brand, and also to emphasise the fact that, unlike so many ‘events’ these days, this is a face to face, sociable as well as intensive experience. It has been my privilege to chair a variety of challenging as well as lively debates so far, and we have several more in the pipeline. The next event is a big one, looking at the delivery in practice of homes against the Future Homes Standard, and how to unlock innovations. I can’t wait to get stuck in, although with a large panel due to the interest in the subject, it will be a challenge just to ensure everyone has their say! We recently covered a critical subject for our stakeholders (including sponsors Soprema and Siderise) of how the emerging product certifi cation regime post-Building Safety Act will change things for the better. But this round table also did not shy away from the likely pushback from suppliers in terms of whether they will be not only able to test their products, but also on whether they will accept the new, much more robust regime for transparent, fully vetted certifi cation. There were mixed views on the likelihood of this from the supply chain, or clients. The problem is, we are not accustomed to top-down control of our construction industry, and there’s already a raft of risk-related hoops to jump through in most projects. The industry has profi ted from its convoluted and often somewhat Wild-West approach to testing, accreditation and specifi cation, and to change that fundamentally requires a change of culture such as we have not seen. Paul Morrell, who co-wrote the Government’s report Testing For a Safer Future, went further at our round table, saying that such a full-blown culture change was impossible. Clearly, we must never allow the chaotic state of affairs which led to Grenfell to be possible in future. But how can such a complex and fragmented industry can be pulled into line as one, without some major prosecutions to focus the minds of the ‘laggards’ (as some at our round table panellists called them)? Grey areas in contracts around products, and simple lack of knowledge, are major blockers to remove for starters. Due to the two-tier system of the Construction Products Regulation (with most sitting outside), Morrell’s report found that two-thirds of products are effectively unregulated. Like the Offi ce of Products Safety department the Government has set up to try and crack this issue, and clamp down on those without credible processes, our round table was only scratching the surface. However, as you can fi nd out in our round table report in this issue, some attendees (e.g. Peter Caplehorn of the Construction Products Association), believed that major progress is being made, and that we are entering a new era. Slowly, the industry is catching on to what may be a ‘new normal’ where no stone is unturned on product performance. How they go about testing systems, not just products, however, is another question entirely.


James Parker, Editor


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PIXEL, ABU DHABI


MVRDV mines a Minecraft look to make a break from the norm in new resi/offi ce/retail scheme


ADF_04_2025 Covers.indd 1 08/04/2025 14:00 04.25


ON THE COVER... Architect MVRDV’s new collection of mixed use buildings in Abu Dhabi makes a break from the city’s architectural norm by breaking down facades into ‘pixelated’ forms. Cover image © Jon Wallis


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ADF APRIL 2025


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