INDUSTRY NEWS
SEC GROUP CALLS FOR CONSTRUCTION REGULATORY BODY
S
pecialist Engineering Contractors’ (SEC) Group chairman, Trevor Hursthouse
OBE, has called for the setting up of a statutory authority to regulate construction industry practice. Mr Hursthouse said: “In the last two
years there has been an outpouring of reports on construction (most generated by the Grenfell tragedy and the Carillion collapse) which have all come to similar conclusions. Past evidences suggests that these are unlikely to lead to significant improvement. What is now required is a properly resourced regulatory authority for construction that steers the industry in the direction of best practice delivery.” SEC Group is proposing the setting up of a Construction and Infrastructure Authority. This would replicate some of the powers
associated with regulatory authorities for sectors such as water, energy, telecoms and rail, formerly in public ownership, and other authorities promoting best practice in their respective areas, such as the Competition and Markets Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. The remit of a Construction
and Infrastructure Authority would include oversight of the procurement practices of public bodies, challenging bad practice and highlighting strategies to deliver projects collaboratively with industry; ensuring socio-economic benefits of public sector procurement are being delivered; intervening in cases of supply chain abuse; promoting greater SME engagement with the procurement process; raising industry standards of technical capability through promotion of
schemes for accrediting competent businesses; and driving the digital agenda for construction. A Construction and Infrastructure Authority would also have power to act in an advisory capacity for private sector construction. In the public sector it would have power to impose penalties on public bodies for poor practice or failure to comply with statutory responsibilities. This could extend to excluding suppliers from public procurement for poor performance and supply chain abuse. Mr Hursthouse concluded: “For almost 20 years Singaporean construction has benefited from its Building and Construction Authority, which has created a more efficient industry in Singapore that prides itself on being able to consistently deliver projects safely and within time and budget.”
BUILDING CONTROLS ARE THE KEY TO COMPLIANCE, SAYS BCIA
T
he Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is encouraging the wider industry to consider the importance of implementing effective building
controls from the outset of building projects in order to meet current legislation. The 10 80 10 rule represents the total lifetime costs of a building, whereby only 10% of costs are invested at the design stage while a staggering 80% is spent on the running and maintaining of a building. The BCIA is calling for a change in approach from those in the supply chain at the initial stages of building projects. By investing in an efficient controls system at the start of
construction, this will dramatically lower operational costs in commercial buildings over the long-term while also helping to meet a wide range of legislation. A good example of this is the Minimum Energy Efficiency
Standard (MEES) which came into force earlier this year. It is now unlawful for a landlord to let or renew a lease on a property if the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating is F or G.
By installing additional zone control, for instance, or demand control of lighting and heating using occupancy sensors, an EPC rating can receive a welcome boost and unnecessary energy usage can be substantially lowered. It is these relatively simple additions to the BMS system that have a significant impact on the EPC rating. Energy efficiency in commercial buildings remains a high priority and is something that must be continually addressed as part of requirments to meet current and new legislation. The BCIA argues that one of the best ways that this can
be accomplished is by bearing in mind the 10 80 10 concept from the outset of construction projects and making sensible and strategic decisions to future-proof today’s sophisticated buildings. Through the implementation of innovative control
systems, wider industry will be able to comply with legislation over the upcoming years.
Inbrief
BSRIA has appointed Dan Higgins as its new sales manager for the organisation’s Instrument Solutions division.
www.bsria.co.uk
Using green gases such as hydrogen to decarbonise heat in the UK has been declared a credible option by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) in a report released today, November 22 2018, and it could replace natural gas in parts of the energy system.
www.theccc.org.uk
Independent humidification and dehumidification specialist, Humidity Solutions, has seen a number of recent changes to its team with two new hires and an internal move.
www.humiditysolutions.co.uk
Vaillant Industrial has been awarded the RoSPA Gold Award for the third year running in recognition of its commitments to ensuring world-class health and safety practices at its manufacturing plant in Belper, Derbyshire.
www.vaillant.co.uk
Kershaw Mechanical Services has attained verification certification to PAS 1192-2 covering Design and Construction for Level 2 BIM for its design, manufacture, installation and supply of specialist services to the building industry.
www.kershawmechanical.co.uk
Boiler manufacturer Potterton has appointed specification specialist Robin Gibbs as divisional sales manager for the Southern region, to drive the continued success of its Assure range of boilers.
www.potterton.co.uk
Conex Bänninger has appointed Nick Ryan as specification manager for Australia and the South Pacific, underlining its commitment to this important market.
www.conexbanninger.com
National Ventilation, a leading UK-based ventilation manufacturer and supplier, has launched its new website, offering a clean, fresh, simple and attractive design which is easy for users to navigate.
www.nationalventilation.co.uk
www.heatingandventilating.net December 2018 7
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