FIS Focus - June 2015 by FIS Finishes and Interiors Sector

FOCUS THE VOICE OF THE FINISHES AND INTERIORS SECTOR

BRIGHTEST AND BEST

JUNE 2015

Full details of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FIS Contractors Awards Community: sector update, plus latest products Technical: heritage plasterwork; pods v partitions Training: FIS help to get the right CSCS card Interview: Helen Bunch, Wates Smartspace

FIS ❘ Contents

In this issue

p16

p36

p20

p14

5 Community

16 Technical: pods v partitions

Latest news from around the sector, including recently launched products

Pods are becoming a firm favourite for commercial fit-outs, so does this sound the death knell for partitioning?

10 Technical: heritage plastering

20 Training

In the wake of the Apollo Theatre ceiling collapse, a tough new inspection regime is drawing on the expertise of FIS members

FIS has teamed up with CITB to help specialist contractors get the training – and the qualified operatives – they need to get on site

14 Interview

23 FIS Contractors Awards 2015

We hear the views of Helen Bunch, managing director of the newly rebranded Wates Smartspace, on the way forward for fit-out

Full details and photographs of the winners of the seven categories from this year’s awards

Front cover: Accordial Wall Systems, Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building (p37) FIS, Olton Bridge, 245 Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands B92 7AH T: 0121 707 0077 E: info@thefis.org W: www.thefis.org Printed by Wyndeham Roche Editorial production: Wheal Associates Ltd The views expressed in FIS Focus by contributors are not necessarily those of the FIS. The FIS does not sponsor or otherwise support or endorse any substance, commodity, equipment or service advertised by others in FIS Focus and is not responsible for the accuracy or otherwise of any statement made in any advertisement within this publication.

www.thefis.org

WELCOME W

ell, the election is over. This was supposed to be a period of uncertainty with a hung parliament. We have ended up with a new Conservative government. But instead of bringing us the certainty of stable government, it is going to bring uncertainty for the sector. The EU referendum will cause people to think about investing in the UK and to analyse the business implications. Even the need to renegotiate our membership with other members of the EU will not be straightforward, despite recognition from all sides that change is needed. Our new business secretary, Sajid Javid, is clearly not letting the grass grow under his feet. Week one heard announcements about cuts to red tape: “The manifesto promises a further £10bn of cuts in red tape ... This £10bn is going to be harder to slash than the previous £10bn”. Then there’s further reform of primary authority, which will have an impact on building regs and planning requirements. Both will affect our projects – but how? A Small Business Conciliation Service to settle payment disputes – first mooted by the coalition government – has appeared in the new Enterprise Bill. So clearly we need to take it seriously. Then we have the skills gap. We are simply not training enough people to meet the needs of the sector, which means a large proportion of the workforce is immigrant labour. But the new government has pledged to reduce immigration – a new bill will make it an offence for businesses to recruit abroad without advertising in the UK. It will also set up a labour market enforcement agency and require banks to check account holders for valid visas. Most of our itinerant labour is from the EU, but if we get a No vote, what happens then? There’s talk of three million new apprentices – but how many can we create? Apprenticeships are not easy: they take time, money and commitment. At the same time, CITB is reforming the levy and grant processes for labour-only and bona fide subcontractors. The implications of this are just beginning to come into focus. With all this uncertainty ahead, it is probably just as well members are reporting record levels of business. David Frise, FIS chief executive

Community ❘ News

Coley turns up the volume for BIM and skills This year’s President’s Lunch marks the start of a new era for the association FIS president Steve Coley used the first President’s Lunch under the FIS banner to embrace two key topics for the sector: BIM and skills. Looking forward to a world where “the site foreman has his iPad on a scissor lift, marking out all the apertures before the M&E start on site”, Coley urged delegates to take notice of BIM. “Don’t swim against the tide of change. Embrace it, evolve with it and make it work for you,” he said. He took a similarly forward-thinking view of training. “It’s not just everyone at the President’s Lunch today that needs more skilled operatives, it’s right through the industry. Without intelligent,

enthusiastic youngsters to learn through experience, the main contractors don’t get their site managers who then develop into project managers who actually know what’s what!” Bemoaning the absence of construction on his own son’s recent careers day, he asked: “Five thousand years ago we were left a legacy by the Egyptians on the art of plastering. Now it is our turn to leave a legacy for the next generation. So with your wealth of experience, what can you offer a trainee?” The annual event at The Dorchester hotel in London gathered together 480 members and guests from the

construction sector to celebrate the achievements of this year’s Contractors Awards winners. Former rugby union player (and former Strictly Come Dancing star) Austin Healey was on hand to entertain and present the awards. • For more on training, see page 20 • For full coverage of the Contractors Awards winners, see page 23

Coley: “our turn to leave a legacy”

NSCC highlights skilled labour crisis Specialist contractors are struggling to recruit the skilled labour needed to meet significant increases in enquiries and orders in the first quarter of 2015. According to the latest NSCC State of Trade Report, the problem is at its most severe for 14 years. Almost half those surveyed for the report (47%) have experienced more difficulty in recruiting skilled labour, which has meant 28% of respondents have been unable to bid for work. Colin Tichias, training manager for SCS Building Solutions, admits the market is “very tricky”. “There are lots of people realising there’s money to be made and saying they can do a job, but often what you get is not what’s on the tin.” His company set up a training centre in Barnsley last November to address the problem. Bryn Withers, director of Focus Interiors, adds: “We are experiencing great difficulty in finding skilled labour at present and have had to turn down certain projects as a result.” Although 65% of specialist contractors are seeing an increase in enquiries – up 27% on the previous quarter – and 54% report an increase in www.thefis.org

orders, the skills crisis is continuing to push up prices. A record 54% of respondents experienced an increase in tender prices last quarter, which has doubled since this time last year. Suppliers’ prices are also rising in line with demand, with 82% of specialist contractors seeing higher prices from their suppliers for the second quarter in a row. Nichol: market growth Nevertheless, confidence remains is “great news” high, with 65% of specialist contractors anticipating an increase in workload in the next quarter and a record 78% expecting an increase over the coming year. NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol said: “The growing construction market is great news for specialist contractors, but we need to tackle head on the skills crisis that is facing the industry. “If we do not invest in recruiting and training people with the right skills, the industry will not be able to meet demand and this will impact on the wider UK economy.”

HERE’S HOW SPECIALIST CONTRACTORS RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY

47% had more difficulty recruiting skilled labour 28% were unable to bid for work as a result 65% report an increase in enquiries 54% report an increase in

orders

54% saw an increase in tender prices last quarter 82% saw higher prices from suppliers for second quarter in a row 65% see an increase in workload in the next quarter 78% see an increase over the coming year

FIS ❘ Community News

NEWS IN BRIEF BUILD UK UNVEILED The organisation that will be formed from the merger of NSCC and the UK Contractors Group (UKCG) – subject to a formal vote in June – is to be called Build UK. Bringing together UKCG contractor members and trade association members of either NSCC or UKCG, it will be operational from 1 September 2015 led by NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol. It will be chaired by NSCC president Kevin Louch and UKCG chairman James Wates. SAS NEW WEBSITE SAS International launched a new-look website in April – go to sasint.co.uk

ENCON FEEDBACK Encon Group has launched a feedback scheme for customers of its Encon Insulation and Nevill Long branches. The 3G wireless device asks customers at any of the group’s 20 outlets to rate the branch’s service using smiley-face buttons coloured from green to red. • www.encon.co.uk MEASOM SUCCESS Health and safety consultants have declared all Measom Dryline sites Excellent. The status was given for work in the first quarter of 2015, relating to documentary controls, management controls and physical controls on site. • www.measom.co.uk BIM TOOLKIT NBS has launched a toolkit to complete level 2 BIM. The toolkit, which is free to use, offers help to define, manage and validate responsibility for information development and delivery at each stage of the asset lifecycle. • www.thenbs.com/bimtoolkit JCT DIGITAL SERVICE The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) has launched a digital service to simplify filling in and printing JCT contracts online. JCTOn Demand guides contractors through popular contracts, allowing them to update their answers in line with the text and view the document in progress. At the end, they get a copy of the contract and a summary of the changes. • www.jctltd.co.uk/jct-on-demand

Merged body unveils new name and vision Following the merger between AIS and FPDC last year, the organisation has rebranded to become FIS – one strong voice for the finishes and interiors sector. Its mission is to address key issues that affect both FIS members and the broader construction industry and UK economy. FIS president Steve Coley said: “The coming together of AIS and FPDC has created a powerful and unique voice for our sector. Our aim is to equip members to meet client needs more effectively, to make sure the sector has enough people with the right skills working to high technical standards, and to embed a culture of quality and sustainable development.” The organisation’s chief executive, David Frise, said: “FIS will truly represent the finishes and interiors sector’s contractors, manufacturers and distributors. We have an ambitious strategy to help our members meet the needs of the industry and make it a safe, attractive, profitable sector to work in.” Although AIS and FPDC successfully came together last year, branding proved to be an issue. Pushing the two names together spelled out clearly the origins of the merged organisation but proved unwieldy to use. “We act as one organisation and needed a name that reflected this,” said Frise. “The new branding as FIS is designed to show a forward-thinking, modern organisation that reflects a dynamic sector.” A trade association’s branding is much more than a name and a badge, he

Frise: rebrand reflects a “dynamic sector”

added; it must convey an authoritative body that speaks for its members. FIS’s focus will be on skills, technical competence and building the finishes and interiors community. Skills will be supported through a new training portal through which employers can source training and funding (see page 20). Best practice guides will continue to show clients what they should be demanding and receiving. And the growing FIS community will enable members to discuss issues, network with suppliers and clients, and keep up to date with market developments. “Above all, we will help members to discover that they are not alone in the issues that affect their sector,” said Frise. “We recognise the nature of trade associations is changing and members’ time is precious. Yet in an increasingly complex and connected world, access to a single organisation that can provide relevant knowledge to the sector and to your business is of increasing value.”

Star line-up for October conference FIS members will hear from top-level speakers at this year’s FIS conference. The event, on 7 October at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel, Birmingham, will hear from Travis Perkins chief executive John Carter (pictured), NSCC chief executive Suzannah Nichol, CPA economics director Noble Francis and CITB chief Adrian Belton. Carter, the keynote speaker, will share his thoughts on the future of the construction sector, the prospects for growth and avoiding another boom- bust cycle. He will also consider

game-changing innovations, technologies and market developments. In addition, Nichol will update delegates on progress towards the merger of NSCC and UKCG into UK Build, while Francis promises an optimistic assessment of the finishes and interiors sector. Belton, who was appointed chief executive of CITB in January 2014 to modernise operations and meet the challenges of the future, will sum up the organisation’s achievements to date. www.thefis.org

FIS ❘ Community News

FIS launches drylining guidance As part of its drive to raise industry standards, FIS has unveiled a best practice guide to the installation of drylining. Designed as guidance rather than a definitive technical manual, Best Practice Guide: Installation of Drylining aims to clarify standards for highquality installation. Drylining systems are an integral part of many fit-outs, offering fire, acoustic and structural performance, as well as making a big contribution to the overall appearance and quality of the finished space. But a satisfactory installation can only be achieved when drylining is installed under proper site conditions, using the correct techniques, materials and workmanship. The guide covers all stages, from initial tendering and planning to installation, and sets out the key points to consider when installing all types of drywall. FIS technical manager Joe Cilia said: “This guide is intended as a reference point aimed at everyone in the delivery team, to understand all the issues – from specification, to selecting the correct materials, to understanding the level of detail

required during installation to ensure the product does what it is intended to do on site.” This guide is the latest in a series that also includes best practice guidance on: • Installation of suspended ceilings • Selection and installation of top fixings for suspended ceilings • Installation of partitioning • Maintenance and access into suspended ceilings. FIS chief executive David Frise said: “We are dedicated to raising industry standards. The new publication is a best practice guide for the construction team and FIS will encourage all of its members to follow the principles it sets out.” • To download go to www.thefis.org/publications/ best-practice-guides

Javid plans late payment role for trade bodies As part of the new Enterprise Bill, business secretary Sajid Javid plans to hand trade associations the power to intervene on behalf of members to challenge unfair payment terms. In addition, Javid proposes a Small Business Conciliation Service to settle payment disputes. This, he said, would help firms avoid high legal costs and maintain relations with large corporations while settling payment disputes.

According to the business department, small firms are owed more than £32bn in late payments but many are unaware of their rights or are unwilling to launch legal challenges. Rudi Klein, chief executive of the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group, said this was “another measure in the right direction”, but its success will depend on small businesses being willing to take it up.

Nevill Long adds to training centre café Nevill Long has supplied 110m2 of Armstrong Ceilings’ Mezzanine DL 100 mineral tiles to Kingsbury Training Centre near Birmingham, which is dedicated to training youngsters with special educational needs. The one-hour fire-resistant tiles have been mounted on an Armstrong metal grid in a new café that will provide training, work placements and employment for catering and hospitality students. Part of a listed building that also houses workshops and classrooms, the café’s 40 covers are open to the public as well as students. The training centre is a not-for-profit company formed in 1981 to support young people from www.thefis.org

From left: student Nathan Meade with fundraiser Bob Candlin and student Kyle Brown

disadvantaged communities, encouraging them to stay in education or develop skills for employment. Fundraiser Bob Candlin said: “Had Nevill Long not stepped in we would have had to pay for the ceiling tiles with money we don’t have.” • www.nevilllong.co.uk

ARMSTRONG SIGNS UP TO BIM LIBRARY Armstrong Ceilings has become the 100th manufacturer to partner with the NBS National BIM Library, a collection of BIM objects ranging from building fabric to M&E. Downloadable in Revit and IFC BIM formats, its 158 objects include: • Passive energy-saving system CoolZone • Perla mineral ceiling tile range • Ultima+ range • Metal lay-in and clip-in tiles • Dune tiles range. The government has stipulated that from 2016 all public construction projects must be built using level 2 BIM. Armstrong EMEA commercial technical manager Rob Gardiner said: “These BIM objects contain all relevant product information and performance values and provide a new method of sharing our product data within the building supply chain.” • www.nationalbimlibrary.com/ armstrong-ceilings-ltd

CCF FORMS RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP Distributor CCF has teamed up with Armstrong to offer customers an easier way to recycle their ceiling tiles waste. The service – suitable for end-of-life and off-cut tiles made after 1 January 2000 – is available across CCF branches. It includes a site visit to determine the suitability of the material for recycling and provision of pallets or bags. Once the waste is packed, collections can be booked through the CCF waste management hotline. CCF commercial director Stuart Stockley said: “This means CCF customers can be confident they’re choosing a compliant and cost-effective alternative to a skip.” • www.ccfltd.co.uk/Brochures

FIS ❘ Community News

FIS to launch BIM toolbox for specialist contractors FIS is poised to launch a BIM toolbox, produced with funding from CITB, to raise awareness among specialist contractors on the processes required to work using BIM. Integration of commonly understood processes across the delivery team and supply chain is crucial if BIM is to meet its full potential. Until now, most guides have been aimed at architects and tier 1 delivery teams rather than specialist contractors. These organisations may be unaware that existing processes and free-to-use software are sufficient to achieve level 2 BIM. The FIS workbook has been designed to

enable a specialist contractor to develop and deliver a BIM implementation plan. It aims to give an understanding of the key process documents that relate to the activities of the sector and a page by page explanation of what is required and how to deliver it. “BIM is not the future; it is now. It is a day-to-day reality,” says Mark Norton, head of BIM fit-out and engineering services at ISG and chair of FIS’s BIM4FitOut group. “This is an opportunity to engage and develop the holistic collaborative approach that BIM generates and demonstrate its real benefits to the construction process and our customers.”

DIARY DATES Members’ meetings 16 June Bridgend, Wales 7 July North East 8 September Glasgow 22 September West London 17 November Leeds

Events 9 November Plaisterers’ Training Awards, London 7 October FIS Conference, Birmingham 23 February 2016 FIS President’s Lunch, London 7 June 2016 FIS Awards Lunch, London

PRODUCTS FORZA TIMBER PARTITIONING Forza Doors used May’s Clerkenwell Design Week to unveil its new timber partition system, Imola, and a fully certificated integrated management system. Imola is available in a singleglazed 12mm toughened version (35 dBRw) and double-glazed 10mm or 12mm toughened version (49 dBRw) and offers a fire resistance rating of up to FD60/60. In addition, Forza’s integrated management system now incorporates ISO9001, ISO14001 and BS EN 18001. The process of achieving certification began three years ago after FIS introduced members to management system specialist Isys International at preferential rates. • www.forza-doors.com KINGSPAN TIMBER FLOORING Kingspan Access Floors has developed oak veneer staves that use magnetism to fasten to the company’s steel encapsulated floor panels. The Attiro staves enable architects to create the look of a solid timber floor while giving easy access to the panels beneath – a versatility not possible using pre-bonded timber panels. Kingspan sales manager Ian Lomas said: “Attiro enables a designer to achieve the impression of a timber floor, assembled on a raised access floor, safe in the 8

knowledge that it is serviceable and practical for their client.” The product is available in lengths of 1,200mm to 2,000mm per stave and widths of 90mm to 200mm. Its depth is 17mm, which includes a 4mm solid oak veneer, available in a range of shades and finishes. Attiro can be fitted as part of a new build or tenant fit-out where Kingspan steel encapsulated floor panels have been installed. • www.kingspanaccessfloors.co.uk

CEILINGS GET COLOUR … Rockfon’s new Color-all Special bespoke colour service for tiles and grids allows designers to create high-performance ceilings to any colour they choose. To ensure a seamless match of ceiling tile and grid, Rockfon uses the Natural Colour System throughout the manufacturing process and produces tiles in a durable matt gloss finish. Rockfon

Above: Rockfon Color-all Special

Color-all Special tiles can be specified in custom colours or from a range of 34 colours, and with exposed, semi-concealed or concealed edges in a variety of dimensions. • www.rockfon.co.uk

… AND MONOCHROME Rockfon has upgraded its Mono Acoustic system. Made from stone wool, Mono Acoustic provides class A sound absorption (0.90w), reduces echo and decreases reverberation, while the improved render formulation makes the finish smoother and whiter than before. The system creates a seamless monochrome finish whether flat, sloped or curved. Installed on a Chicago Metallic suspension system or directly mounted on existing ceilings and walls, the system suits new builds and historic buildings.

Rockfon says the new tiles are easier to apply than the previous formulation. Fewer tapered edges means less filler, which helps to speed up installation and reduce material use. Mono Acoustic allows for easy incorporation of light wells, lighting, air conditioning, ventilation systems and inspection hatches and offers class A2 fire protection. The tiles are dimensionally stable at up to 100% relative humidity and can be installed in temperatures up to 40°C. • www.rockfon.co.uk

FERMACELL BIM MODELS Downloadable in Revit format, more than 30 Fermacell wall, floor and ceiling systems are now available through the BIM portal www.bimstore.co.uk. The BIM components include steel and timber stud partitions, steel and timber wall linings and SFS wall systems, as well as dry floor screed and steel frame and timber ceilings. The BIM models provide 3D digital replicas of the products, as well as the COBIE data used by architects to guide them through design and construction process. The 3D models complement the legal documents, drawings and details that are used for tenders and proposals. • www.fermacell.co.uk www.thefis.org

FIS ❘ Technical

PA Images

A PROUD HERITAGE The collapse of the Apollo Theatre’s ceiling has ushered in a new inspection regime for heritage ceilings. Chris Wheal reports

n 19 December 2013, at 8.15pm, part of the suspended fibrous plaster ceiling collapsed at the Apollo Theatre in Westminster during a performance of The Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight. Some 88 people were injured, seven of them seriously. The ceiling of the grade II listed Apollo dated back to the original construction of the theatre in 1901. The wadding ties that held the mix of hessian and plaster in place broke, bringing down a large part of the ceiling in one lump. The ceiling had last been inspected correctly in September 2013, just three months earlier. This resulted in nobody being found at fault for the ceiling’s collapse. David Harrison of heritage plastering firm Hayles and Howe says: “Clearly what had been going on before was not fit for purpose.” Westminster City Council, which investigated the incident over the following year, agreed. It called for a new, tougher regime to change the emphasis from checking that the ceiling was unsafe to confirming that it was safe. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), HM inspector for the entertainment and leisure sector, the Association of British Theatre

Technicians (ABTT), English Heritage and the Building Research Establishment carried out some initial work. The Theatres Trust then joined the group. It is the statutory body established in 1976 – its remit extended to Scotland in 1978 – to advise on planning, regeneration and development, architecture and design and heritage. In some cases it can offer small grants. The Society of London Theatres joined to represent the owners. And heritage plastering experts from FIS, including Harrison of Hayles

“These guys have done this for years but there’s no formal qualification”

and Howe and Jon Riley of Locker & Riley, came on board too, as did structural engineers. Their report, published at the end of May, imposes new burdens on theatre owners. The tops of the suspended ceiling – often filthy and in semi-dark – must now be cleaned and well lit. In addition, structural engineers were told to

cease putting caveats and limits to their liability in their reports. FIS was asked to provide a methodology for selecting appropriate inspection firms that had the necessary experience. The association was also charged with ensuring theatres received standardised reports. “It is about experience,” says FIS technical manager Joe Cilia. “These guys have been doing this for years but there is no formal qualification, so the only way they can demonstrate that they can do it is to say: ‘Here is an example of a recent report that I have done in a theatre, I have been carrying out similar reports for X years, and here are a number of references that you can follow up’.” There is talk of a possible new NVQ in fibrous plastering or a heritage skills NVQ, but Harrison says this would only indicate that someone had the skills but not necessarily the experience. Cilia says he was agog at what needed to be included in the theatre reports. “The learning process I went through was a real eye-opener. These buildings were put up between about 1850 and 1915 and the construction methods were different then and relied on the fibrous www.thefis.org

ONGOING INSPECTION WORK FIS membership manager Robert Barker adds: “FIS is now putting together templates for preliminary inspection, full inspection/survey and a contractor selection questionnaire. These provide a robust methodology of competency in selecting companies to carry out inspections, provide survey reporting and undertake construction work. Backed by the ABTT and the Theatres Trust, they will be released in July.” There has to be a plan of the building with a www.thefis.org

Siobhán Doran Photography

plaster being held in place by wadding fitting round beams. It is that wadding that is starting to deteriorate,” he says. It is now estimated that the wads had a lifespan of just 90 years. “Add to that that these theatres were never designed for the sound systems being put in them now,” he continues. “You have these really powerful sound waves that may well contribute to the structural failures and cracks appearing. “Water can be another big contributor to the condition of fibrous plaster. It doesn’t take much water over a prolonged period, sometimes years, to contribute to full or partial collapse. So it was important that all contributory factors where considered in an inspection going forward.”

The fully refurbished Apollo Theatre and, above, the night of the ceiling collapse 11

FIS ❘ Technical grid so that any crack or defect can be pinpointed. The route taken during the inspection was important too. “We needed to agree how people would walk around a building. They might walk past something that is a hatch to get to a void above a dome and once they’ve opened up that hatch, how are they going to get into that void and is it safe?” says Cilia. “It was important they had information about what had gone on in the past. Had there been a collapse? What had collapsed and what was repaired? How was it repaired? If it was just a crack, where was the crack, when was it noticed and how was it repaired? They need to know this so they can monitor things.” And there were safety concerns beyond the structural worries. “We’ve all heard of asbestos surveys, but what I hadn’t heard of before was a lead survey. This was about lead in the paint. If you have to scrape away lead paint there is a risk to the person doing it, so having that lead survey report was important,” says Cilia. The final report is uniform and authoritative.

“We needed a report that identified what appeared to be safe at that time and what clearly needed to be addressed, with a scaling system so that anybody could pick up any of these reports and know where to find the information and know what it means. “We needed common words to be used – is it a cornice or a fancy balustrade? We need the same words used by everyone, so we have pointed them towards a directory that contains that vocabulary.” FIS completed all this in about six weeks, including a peer review. The HSE will require buildings with suspended fibrous plaster ceilings to have carried out an inspection under the new regime by September 2016. Not every theatre in the UK has a ceiling like this, but then not every theatre even knows whether it does or not. Theatres Trust director Mhora Samuel says any FIS members asked to work on theatres should call her office. “We will always provide help and support for anyone who needs it. We hold a database of all theatres – FIS members

will be able to get the age and type of theatre from us. Each building is unique and will need a bespoke service,” she says. And she flags up that smaller theatres may have less experienced staff, perhaps working part-time.

SCALE OF THE TASK On top of that there are many similar ceilings in other heritage buildings. Mark White, who has been leading the project for the ABTT, says: “The estimate is there are about 500 of these buildings in the UK but nobody has actually done a census. It takes a knowledgeable person just to tell you if your ceiling is fibrous.” Cilia adds: “Other heritage building owners are saying: ‘We quite like this; can you come and talk to us about this?’. You only have to go into a Victorian pub in London and look up and you’ll probably see some cornice work and central roses. The chances are it’s lath and plaster behind there.” There are perhaps just half a dozen firms in the UK that can do this work. It looks like being a busy few years for them.

CASE STUDY: DOMINION THEATRE After a 12-year run of We Will Rock You, London’s Dominion Theatre did a full refurb, giving it the chance to re-examine its ceilings. Buildings services manager Richard Kiernan says: “You only get to redecorate a theatre about every 20 years. We had about 100 tonnes of scaffold in the auditorium, so it gave us the opportunity to completely repair every single piece of ornate plaster. It gave the surveyor the opportunity to actually feel the ceiling instead of doing a tap test with a pole. They could get to areas they might have been concerned about from above but could not actually reach.” As a result of what they found, the theatre implemented new procedures. “There were about 150 holes in the ceiling that had been drilled by lighting and sound rigging firms. When people wanted a lighting rig in they simply drilled their own holes. “We have now installed metal beams into the roof to support the rigs and put metal top hats into the holes beneath, which are all in the places people need and are all symmetrical. We now have a no-drilling policy. If anyone wants a new hole they have to get permission from us and it has to be our plastering contractor who drills it.” The area above the ceiling was also thoroughly cleaned. New lighting was

Plasterers at work on the new ceiling installed, including emergency lighting, and a rope and pulley access system added to simplify future access. All cabling was replaced and instead of being laid on top of the ceiling, as previously, it was routed across the roof beams in trunking. Kiernon points out that they were installing £1m of electrical and data-carrying cabling, so the additional cost of routing it without adding any weight to the ceiling was marginal. Many of the original wads were swapped for wire-reinforced replacements. They found a decorative cornice that had dropped when its own weight had snapped the wad. And the top of the ceiling was recoated after some areas showed signs of damage from previous roof leaks.

www.thefis.org

FIS ❘ Interview

Smart mover

Having joined Wates in 2006, Helen Bunch is now managing director of Wates Smartspace – unveiled in March as the rebranded successor to Wates Interiors & Retail. Dean Gurden meets her

What got you started in the world of commercial interiors? I was in manufacturing for 15 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, but realised I wanted a new challenge. I then bumped into an old boss of mine, who happened to be the chairman and chief executive of Wates, back in 2006. He persuaded me that construction was a fantastic industry and that I could bring something different to it. I didn’t know a lot about working for family companies, but when I met the Wates family, I was really impressed with their passion for the industry.

“How could clients help? We’d love it if they engaged us earlier” What was it like moving sectors? I had a baptism by fire in my first year in terms of getting my head round a world that wasn’t full of factories and machines, but more about the people throughout the supply chain. If something isn’t working in manufacturing, you get rid of the machine or you fix it – clearly that is not the way to do things in the construction industry. Was it difficult entering the construction sector as a woman? Most sectors are probably dominated by men, but I haven’t let it be an issue. I actually think the construction industry is a great sector to work in and I’m really pleased I came into it. I think it offers fantastic opportunities for anybody, but unfortunately it’s not really promoting itself to women. I’m a school governor 14

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FIS ❘ Interview and Wates is doing a lot of work with schools to make children understand that there are a lot of opportunities in construction beyond working on a building site, such as finance, legal, marketing and design. Do you have any advice for women entering the industry? I’d say ‘give it a go’. And if you have any reservations, come and talk to the likes of me or other women in the industry. All the women I know in Wates are having a great career and enjoying themselves. How has commercial fit-out changed as a result of the recession? We’re seeing the market pick up, but from an incredibly low base. The market has become extremely competitive. Bidding was at 10%-20% below cost (you still see this now) just to get turnover, which is the oxygen that allows businesses to keep going. Sadly, we’ve seen a number of fit-out companies going into administration as the working out of those contracts has caught up with them. How has the recession affected Wates? We certainly had some pain and saw a massive drop in our market, which made us re-examine ourselves. We looked at our two businesses [Wates Retail and Wates Interiors] and realised that neither of them was delivering what they should be. By merging them into Wates Smartspace, we can now call on a bigger pool of people to deliver nationally in both a live office or shop environment. And it gives us more flexibility, takes out quite a lot of the overhead costs and ultimately makes us more competitive. How important is the specialist supply chain to Smartspace – and how do you see relationships with contractors and manufacturers developing? The specialist supply chain is critical to our success. This is why at Wates Smartspace we invest heavily in developing relationships, making sure we really understand their capabilities and capacities, so that together we target the right opportunities. Increasingly, we are looking for early engagement with our supply chain at the tender and pre-construction stage. It is invaluable in helping us develop the best proposition for our customers, giving us the opportunity to explore options such as off-site manufacture, and alternative programmes and www.thefis.org

specifications that could have a positive impact on the value, time and quality, and on safe delivery. As a demonstration of our commitment to work more collaboratively with our supply chain, in recognition of some of the cashflow issues experienced today we have introduced supply chain finance, which allows liquidity into our supply chain without any fee. What more could clients do in the fit-out process? That’s easy: we would love it if they would engage us earlier. It’s not uncommon for us to be awarded a contract and then they want us to start on site the following week. We’re used to this, but the more time we have to plan a job, the more successful it’s going to be and the more opportunity we have to create value for the client. I wish we were engaged about the same time as the architect.

CAREER March 2015 – present Wates Smartspace, managing director (previously Wates Interiors & Retail) July 2012 – present Wates Interiors & Retail, managing director 2010 – present Westminster Academy, governor 2011 –2012 Wates Retail, managing director 2008 –2012 Non-executive director, Needspace? 2006 –2010 Wates Group, group strategy director 2004 – 2006 Lucite International, business development director 2000 – 2003 Lucite International, EAME business manager 1998 – 1999 ICI, EAME marketing manager 1995 – 1998 ICI, European sales and marketing manager

Best and worse aspect of your job? It sounds corny, but the best thing for me is the people I deal with, both in terms of the character of people in Smartspace, the supply chain and the clients. There are some great characters who make it really enjoyable. We spend a lot of time at work and I can’t think of anything worse than spending a lot of time with people I don’t respect or whose company I don’t enjoy. The worst aspect is the early hours. People start work very early – emails start flying around at 5.30am and you’ve got people on site from 7am. It’s the one thing I wasn’t told when I was considering coming into the industry. I’m just not an early morning person.

in Bristol. The project involved creating new office space on four floors, with an open-plan design for collaborative working and the creation of breakout areas to achieve a less corporate feel. It was extremely demanding delivering to their timescales, but the quality of finish was excellent and the client was absolutely delighted. How important is it to you to be a member of FIS? Wates has been a member of AIS [now FIS] long before I started here. It has a quality standard attached to it, so it’s an endorsement for us. It’s also great for networking.

Which project are you most proud of? Having completed the fit-out for the newly formed TSB HQ in Gresham Street, London, we were really pleased to be awarded TSB’s Keypoint building

HELEN’S FAVOURITES… Book: To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee iPod track: Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson Holiday location: Barcelona Best city in the world: London Film: One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Theatre: Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth Television programme: Breaking Bad Hobby: Tennis, walking, theatre Drink: Moscow Mule

FIS ❘ Technical Privacy and soundproofing are all-important, as this pod from Framery proves

Pods’ law?

Are fashionable pod installations gradually taking over from partitioning as the office interiors stalwart? As Tony Whitehead reports, it’s not quite that straightforward

lance through interior design magazines these days and you could be forgiven for thinking that pods were the only way to divide up office space. With their designer curves and funky colours, pods – along with derivatives such as hives, booths and kiosks – shout creativity and contemporary styling. Pop a few on your floor and you instantly look modern and go-ahead. But it is not just about the visuals. According to interiors consultant and furniture designer Hilary Birkbeck, the trend is also a response to changing economics and new patterns of work. “With office rents, especially in London, just getting more and more expensive,” says Birkbeck, “these kinds of solutions are helping to maximise return from space by making it more flexible.” He points out that the current generation of so-called millennial workers have iPhones and other devices that can be used pretty much anywhere. “So you find much less work happens at a desk – but space for a quick meeting remains at a premium. The question is: how do

you provide that efficiently? It could be four stools round a coffee table, or a basic pod with four walls made from lightweight material. Or four walls made from glass and aluminium with a roof and LED lighting.” Whatever the solution, says Birkbeck, the key is to provide flexible space in which contemporary ways of working can thrive. “If cellular space gave way to open plan, then this is now being replaced by open plan with

Birkbeck points out, there are many different styles of pod on the market. These range from simple freestanding glass boxes with no ceiling to sophisticated and even weatherproof outdoor pods with their own heating, lighting and ventilation. When you cost up the advantages and disadvantages of a basic pod versus traditional partitioning, a pod may seem more costefficient but partitioning often works out as the better option. A 3m x 3m pod without a ceiling, for example, might cost £8,000. And while partitioning may initially be cheaper than that, because it goes flush up to the ceiling, lighting and ventilation adjustments will need to be made, bringing the final cost up to £9,000. But because it goes all the way up to the ceiling, partitioning gives you much better acoustic performance. By comparison, pods often need expensive sound-masking systems to be installed, which will bring up the cost to higher than that for ordinary partitioning. Getting it right, particularly in terms of

“Less work is at a desk but space for a quick meeting remains at a premium”

temporary cellular space – nomadic structures that people can reposition or assemble themselves.” But are customers getting what they need from the spaces pods create? It is not a simple question, as client requirements vary and, as

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FIS ❘ Technical

MADE FOR PARTITIONS FIS technical manager Joe Cilia highlights the many office functions that require the kind of complete floor to ceiling separation best provided by partitions: These designs from Hilary Birkbeck reflect the need for nomadic, moveable meeting spaces

acoustics, could hardly be more important. As FIS technical manager Joe Cilia says, the most expensive part of any building is the people who work in it. “If staff are distracted, research shows it takes about 15 minutes for them to return to full concentration,” says Cilia. “So get distracted just four or five times a day and the drop in efficiency of staff is enormous. It pays to get it right. “In offices, you find that people need to either concentrate, collaborate or communicate, and these functions usually need different spaces if people are to perform optimally.” Furniture makers such as Orangebox and Framery are responding to that need with determination. High-backed seating systems, which can be configured to provide an informal mini-meeting space, are proving popular. Marketed using names such as ‘cocoon’, ‘hive’ and ‘huddle’, the chair backs act as a screen to provide some privacy and a slight lowering of noise intrusion. For situations that require high levels of soundproofing, phone booth type products are also selling well. “Clients love them,” says Emma Jenkins, commercial director of west London-based furniture specialist Office Blueprint. “With people making more and more

visual Skype calls, people like the privacy – and even that the person you are calling cannot see confidential information that might be on a noticeboard over your shoulder.” The booths it supplies are made in Sweden by Framery. Designed to be used for short periods of time, with no part of the envelope rated at less than 37dB, Jenkins describes them as “scream proof”. Anyone who has worked in a noisy open plan office can appreciate the attraction of that.

MARKET APPEAL Starting at around £5,000 a time, booths are hardly cheap. However, Adrian Law, director of partition supplier iWall, understands their market appeal. “Different companies use space in different ways, and the challenge is to make that efficient,” he says. “Obviously it is not efficient if staff are booking out a conference suite of fully partitioned meeting rooms complete with air conditioning and AV equipment just to have a 10-minute phone conversation in peace and quiet.” Law concedes that booths, screens and clever furniture all have a part to play in getting the mix of space right. “And providing somewhere for a quiet 10 minutes is part of

iWall has designed these partitioned meeting rooms for one leading commercial client www.thefis.org

Audiovisual rooms Presentation suites Board rooms Rest rooms Faith rooms Store rooms Secure rooms Data rooms Canteens Dining rooms. While some of these functions could be catered for by some high-end pod products, he says, the costs are likely to be as high or higher than for partitions. “And remember too,” adds Cilia, “that while pods count as plant for tax purposes, so do relocatable partitions, so there is no tax advantage one way or the other.”

that,” he says. “You don’t want people standing out on the fire escape to make that important telephone call.” But Law counsels against turning to pod-style options too readily. “Customers like the idea of them, but many are coming to realise that they don’t perform to the level they require. Acoustically, they are very variable and some can be quite poor.” He is particularly concerned about free-standing pods that are used as meeting rooms. He points out that many of these will have a sliding glass door and will only provide some 20dB worth of soundproofing, compared with partitioning, which can routinely provide up to 40dB. Responding to the demands of the market, iWall is supplying pod-style rooms constructed from the same materials as its partitions, some with independent acoustic ceilings to ensure the higher levels of dB ratings. “Yes,” says Law, anticipating the obvious question. “You then have to ask: why stop short of the ceiling? Why not simply have relocatable partitioning?” If the answer is simply that pods just look good, then those who design and market partitions may have to work a little harder to make sure clients are aware of just how fashionable, flexible and cost-effective their products can be. 17

SIG Interiors ❘ Sponsored feature Nationwide distributor of interior products SIG Interiors discusses three very different commercial office refurbishments, which have been carried out by FIS contractor member Domino Interiors of Sheffield. In order to highlight some of the latest product trends, Domino Interiors was asked to select three recently completed office refits with different clients to reflect the vast range of products supplied by SIG Interiors and to demonstrate how they were used to provide a solution to each client’s brief.

LEARNING CURVE

lcium Software is an established software development and web design studio based in Chapeltown in Sheffield. They’d had an outline design produced for their new office showing a combination of glass and solid partitions shaped in a curve. It looked great; a welcoming area with a design interest for guests and that was the brief. Domino specified the use of the VITRAGE system, part of the Tenon range exclusively available from SIG. It’s a glazed partition system that can be faceted to form the central section of the required curve whilst ensuring that natural light was retained in the reception area. Vitrage provides a choice of single and double-glazed partition systems that offer a low-maintenance option and, subject to installation, a high level of acoustic performance. In this project, Vitrage was used alongside the Tenon Fire & Sound product, a versatile, demountable, relocatable partition system that, as its name suggests, provides up to one-hour fire protection and a high level of sound reduction. The client required a streamlined finish, which was achieved by the conversion post, which boasts exacting engineering allowing the seamless transition between systems.

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SIG Interiors ❘ Sponsored feature

LIGHT WITH PRIVACY

arillion has been creating residential, commercial and community infrastructure developments for over 200 years across the world. This Carillion Development project was to fit-out a floor in The Square in Sheffield for a new Service Centre for a prestigious contract that Carillion had won for the Facilities Management at the Ministry of Justice. Carillion wanted to use a glass partition to provide a division of space whilst not affecting the natural light transfer. The division needed to create a secure barrier and privacy for those dealing with contracts so the acoustics in the build were critical. Overall they wanted a professional and impressive office for visitors and a solution that was quick to complete. Here Domino selected a range of SIG Interior products to provide the complete solution including Tenon Vitrage and Fire & Sound, Dry Lining, Fire Walls, MF and Suspended Ceilings. Fire & Sound systems in particular was chosen for the individual offices and meeting rooms as it gave the necessary sound attenuation required for meeting confidentiality.

Domino used a mixture of the new Graphite Design and Tenon Vitrage and Fire & Sound systems for CISDI’s new headquarters in Sheffield

A TOUCH OF FENG SHUI

ISDI is a Chinese owned hi-tech manufacturing company that builds steel factories and has 30,000 employees worldwide. Just this year they chose Furnival Court in Sheffield for their European head quarters and requested local supply. Their brief was that the design was to reflect their Chinese headquarters offices that have walls displaying a dark wood and glass combination. The new GRAPHITE DESIGN system exclusively available from SIG was a perfect solution. It was simple to fit with minimal components and offered a different feel with its horizontally mounted boards. Domino used the Graphite Design, Tenon Vitrage and Fire & Sound systems on this project to create a stunning effect overall. Full height glass doors, personalised to the CISDI brand and offering some privacy, gave light to the entrance area in stark contrast to the walls that were dark walnut with dark grey framing. A full wall of Vitrage with personalised manifestation created an impressive division between the general walk-way and office space. This was the first UK Graphite installation and it added innovation and a depth in quality of aesthetic appearance. It also paid homage to the Feng Shui of the interior design created by Domino Interiors who designed and installed the complete project. The client was particularly pleased with the CISDI branding which complemented the end product. All manifestation can be personalised to the clients requirement making any partitioning personal and unique to that specific project.

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EASY DOES IT

omino Interiors, an FIS member, has been designing and refurbishing internal spaces for over 20 years. When asked why they chose the products from SIG Interiors for these projects Michael Peckett from Domino explains. “They are easy to fit when comparing to similar systems from other suppliers. The doors in the CISDI project for example were simple to install even though they are full height and very heavy, due to the ability to be able to slide the hinges and the door lock keep into position. “The brackets on the Graphite doorframe that tie the frame together mean the frames are perfectly square and assist in getting alignment in the system. All Tenon components are made to exacting standards, providing an excellent finish. It’s a tried and trusted product that meets the demand of the customer. Overall that makes our job easier with less likelihood of call backs.”

FIS â?&#x2DC; Training

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FIS ❘ Training

PLAY YOUR CARD RIGHT It’s becoming more and more difficult to have unqualified workers on site, which is why FIS has teamed up with CITB to smoothe the path to training. Chris Wheal reports

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n a wallet packed with credit and debit cards, a driving licence, store cards and membership cards, perhaps the most important for construction workers is their CSCS card. It unlocks the gates to construction sites and allows them to start work. But the toughening up of the rules surrounding the cards is causing problems, with skilled interior fit-out and finishes operatives potentially being turned away for having the wrong card. FIS has teamed up with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) to make it as easy as possible for interiors and finishes experts to get the right skilled worker card to allow them on site doing what they do best. And it looks likely FIS’s initiative could be a blueprint for the whole construction sector. The CSCS changes were introduced back in July last year. Too many construction workers were taking the easy option and getting the lowest level “operatives” green card – it counted for more than half of all cards issued. This required the simplest of touch-screen health and safety assessments. That card is now called the labourer card and also requires an NVQ level 1 qualification. But skilled workers must apply for their relevant blue skilled worker card and have a recognised NVQ level 2 qualification, which will often require on-the-job assessment. A plasterer’s card, for example, will now say plasterer on it. Keith Prince, health and safety director with main contractor group UKCG, says all its member companies will enforce the rule. “It’s for the employers to ask: ‘If you are a plasterer, why have you turned up with a labourer card?’. If you turn up with a labourer card, you will be put to work as a labourer,” he says. And he warns that although some of the old cards technically remain valid for as long as five years, some UKCG members are already insisting all workers on site have the new card with the relevant skill listed. “Our members can always set higher standards than our baseline standards. Some of our members are not accepting the old operatives card and want you to have the new card. It has been ‘slowly, slowly’ so far but I can see it becoming a problem if there are a lack of assessors.” But Prince believes workers and their bosses should see it in a positive light. “We want a more competent workforce. It’s not just a ‘nice to have’ check. I was at a meeting with the HSE and they want to drive the industry away from the tick-box approach. They want employers to be continuously mentoring. It’s like CPD for professionals – it’s about honing your skills,” he says. That’s exactly the attitude of CITB. With the HSE, CITB commissioned the Competence in Construction report (known as the Pye Tait report after the consultants who compiled it). Brayden Connolly, who is head of product management at CITB, sums up the fundamentals. “Wherever a card is awarded it ought to be on the basis of a nationally recognised qualification,” he says. Changing the name on the card to labourer made it clearer, adds Connolly, and the number of applications for labourer cards has dropped significantly. New entrants to construction can have a provisional card. This is issued one time only and lasts just six months – by which time you must have the relevant qualifications and have applied for the appropriate card for your job. 21

FIS ❘ Training Paul Gaze, specialist relationship manager at CITB, says research identified three problem areas: •T hose who had the skills but had not been assessed and awarded NVQ level 2 •T hose without the skills who needed training to reach NVQ level 2 •T oo few contractors taking on apprentices. This led to CITB funding a development programme to increase the number of operatives achieving NVQ qualifications through Onsite Assessment and Training (OSAT). CITB also agreed to provide additional funding for apprenticeships. Although CITB is tight-lipped about how much has been earmarked overall, it will say it is “hundreds of thousands of pounds”. At this point the FIS suggested establishing a web portal so that firms could find suitable assessors and approved training providers. At present it is down to FIS training manager Jeremy Clayton. He can point member firms to recognised training and assessment providers who will work flexibly with them to help get their staff qualified. “Every college will say they are running level 2 NVQ courses in plastering but, in reality, they’re not all the same,” Clayton explains. “Our members want the least disruption. They need an assessor to have onsite access,

to see as many people as possible in one go. And that may be at night or at weekends.” The hundreds of other providers who offer courses and assessments at fixed times in college classrooms don’t make the grade.

LIST OF PROVIDERS Clayton is working on codifying that process to produce a comprehensive list of providers so that the process of matching a training and assessment provider with a firm needing help can be automated. But the web portal is being designed to do much more too. Helen Yeulet, who is managing the project, says: “We want the membership to be able to identify courses that might attract funding and then be able to apply to both at the same time.” FIS has linked up with software firm

Reference Point, which also has existing links to the CSCS scheme, providing the smart cards. “What will eventually happen is that the training provider will put the details of the training done for each person and their qualifications on the system and that will update their card automatically.” FIS members will have priority access to the service but it will be open to anyone in the sector. Once the system has been proven, Yeulet sees no reason why it could not be replicated and expanded across the construction sector. And, crucially, Gaze at CITB sees scope for that too. He says: “I think it could work in other sectors. We have to make sure it is robust but it would have benefits for other sectors.” Commenting on the developments, FIS chief executive David Frise said: “Reform of the CSCS card scheme was seen as essential in the training and skills report Dr Karin Stockerl produced for the sector. This is a key driver for operative training and we are seeing a marked increase in take-up from employers keen to get their staff appropriately carded. “We aim to make the process as simple and efficient as possible by aggregating demand for training and assessment. With two thirds of our workforce not formally trained, the overall ambition for the sector is to get everyone to at least NVQ level 2 by 2020.”

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CONTRACTORS AWARDS 2015 Judges Tony Pieri and Clive Perry had their work cut out as they visited the sites of awards entries this year. The winners were announced by compere and guest speaker Austin Healey at the FIS President’s Lunch on 9 June at The Dorchester Hotel, London. Read on to find out which contractors have really shone out over the past year.

THE JUDGES CATEGORY INFORMATION The FIS Contractors Awards ceremony is held each year to encourage and promote high levels of craftsmanship and design. The architect or interior designer of a Gold award-winning project also receives an award.

This year’s judges, Tony Pieri (left) and Clive Perry

2015’s awards comprised: • Project of the Year • Interior Fit Out – for Offices; Retail and Leisure; and Other • Ceilings • Partitioning • Drywall construction • Specialist joinery • Operable walls • Judges’ award Certificates of excellence are also awarded for high standards of workmanship and technical expertise.

Awards ❘ Project of the Year

INTERIOR FIT-OUTS ❘ OFFICE

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