Local Authority Building & Maintenance November/December 2023

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LABMONLINE.CO.UK

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

ROAD TO ZERO CARBON FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

SPECIAL REPORT How can social housing meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard? REHAU UK’s CEO, Martin Hitchin offers advice to social housing stakeholders

SUPPLEMENT: BREAK THE MOULD Zinsser discusses the issues surrounding mould and mildew in social housing, and provides a step-by-step guide to tackling the problem

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CONTENTS

November/December 2023 Vol.39 No.6

REGULARS 5 Comment Autumn Statement

FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY

6 News Homes for the North’s blueprint to “ turbocharge” housing delivery — Pretium’s Total Disrepair Solutions framework — £1 .5m centre for sustainable construction and retrofit 7 Acoustic Floor Solutions with A. Proctor Group Latest guidance on the specification of acoustic floors 8 Project Update Affordable housing scheme in Bristol — New council apartments in Harlow — Planning permission granted for Winklebury regeneration 9 Tackling Condensation & Mould with The Dwelling Doctors Advice on the causes and treatment of mould in social housing 10 Housing Fit for the Future Nigel Sedman, Executive Director of Homes at ForHousing, on the HA’s commitment to involving tenants every step of the way

Dulux helps councils tackle graffiti

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40 Electrical Safety and Compliance Ensuring electrical safety and compliance in social housing 42 Graffiti Removal Advice on selecting trusted supply chain partners and paint solutions Advertorial Supplement 25 Zinsser’s step-by-step guide to tackling mould in social housing 51 Under Warranty Global Home Warranties offers advice on strengthening communities through structural warranties

ROAD TO ZERO CARBON

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16 How can Social Housing meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard?

Advice for social housing stakeholders on achieving the Future Homes Standard

29 Get Engaged Getting to grips with the building safety regime secondary legislation 33 Reducing fire-lated Deaths What we can learn from coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths reports 36 Shutting out Intruders The importance of secure door design to better protect tenants

KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

Crawley’s journey towards Net Zero

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18 Pioneers powering decarbonisation Liberty and NetZero Collective’s ambitious work with Crawley Borough Council to decarbonise its stock 21 A Window on Good Specification A2Dominion Group’s Derek Jay explains how there’s no substitute for great design

The benefits of plastic piping

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38 Round-up

12 Industry Comment Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) discusses the next government’s housing policy SPECIAL REPORTS 14 Metal vs. Plastic — Is There a Clear Choice?

Why plastic piping is proving a popular for hot and cold-water applications

Ensuring resident safety in social housing

Advice on specifying through-floor lifts

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45 Low Maintenance, long Lifecycle Bathrooms A look at the increasing popularity of wall panels for social housing

23 Focus on Environmental Product Declarations with Glidevale Protect Glidevale Protect discusses sustainability and publishing EPDs for its key ranges

48 Trust your Lift Provider Why there’s no room for compromise when it comes to selecting a home lift supplier

23 Round-up

50 Round-up

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EDITOR’S COMMENT

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Autumn Statement In November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced his Autumn Statement. Contained within it were a raft of new measures, from increasing devolution, a commitment to unfreezing Local Housing Allowance, an investment of £110m over this year and next to deliver high quality nutrient mitigation schemes, unlocking 40,000 homes, £32m to address the planning backlog and develop new housing quarters in Cambridge, London and Leeds, and a £450m allocation to the Local Authority Housing Fund to deliver 2,400 new homes.

But what impact will the Autumn Statement have on the cost-of-living crisis, will it help councils struggling against a backdrop of huge financial pressures, what about decarbonisation, and the need for more social housing? And will the funding aimed at tackling the planning backlog be enough to fix the issue, a number of UK planning experts and housebuilders are sceptical.

Ahead of the announcement, London Councils released the findings of its latest finance pressures survey, which reveals ‘a fast-deteriorating situation for town hall budgets across the capital’. According to the findings, London boroughs are set to overspend on their original budget plans by almost £600m this year (2023-24).

Concerned about future spending plans, London Councils set out its key priorities for the Autumn Statement, which included ‘an overall increase in funding by 9%’, ‘investment to reduce homelessness, including through uplifting the Local Housing Allowance and Homelessness Prevention Grant’ and ‘reforms to the broken local government finance system, such as giving councils longer-term funding settlements and more devolved powers’.

Following Jeremy Hunt’s announcement, Cllr Claire Holland, Acting Chair of London Councils, welcomed the decision to end the freeze on Local Housing Allowance, saying: “Boosting LHA is essential for helping low-income Londoners pay their rent and avoid homelessness”, adding “but with one in 50 Londoners currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough, the housing crisis remains a critical risk to town hall budgets.”

UK100 welcomed the ‘deeper devolution

deals for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands’, however Chief Executive Christopher Hammond says: “Manchester and the West Midlands are ambitious climate leaders, but relying on trailblazers and a patchwork of devolution deals risks a postcode lottery for action on the defining issue of our times.”

We believe that the “announcement of Wave 3 should be accelerated. ” Ahead of the Autumn Statement being announced, decarbonisation was a major talking point, with many in the sector hoping the Chancellor would take the opportunity to release the full £3.8bn of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

One such organisation was the National Home Decarbonisation Group, with Chair Derek Horrocks commenting: “The lack of any major new announcements on the decarbonisation of all housing types is disappointing. A huge amount of momentum has been built in recent years — largely because of the first two waves of Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund — however we would have liked government to go much further by bringing forward Wave 3 of this scheme.”

Nicholas Harris, Chief Executive of Stonewater concurs: “We believe that the announcement of Wave 3 should be accelerated, and all remaining funds should be released.”

Whilst Mayor Andy Burnham welcomed the news for Greater Manchester concerning devolution, he fears the announcements will not ease the cost-of-living pressures this winter for residents on the lowest incomes, saying: “Residents in all 10 of Greater Manchester’s boroughs will face a tough time over the next few months and our councils will continue to face unprecedented pressures on their budgets.”

On behalf of the team at LABM, I would like to thank you for your continued support and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy New Year.

LABMONLINE.CO.UK

LOCAL AUTHOR

NOVEMBER/DECEMB ER 2023

ITY BUILDING &

MAINTENANCE

ROAD TO ZERO

CARBON

FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY KITCHENS, BATHRO OMS & DISABIL ITY NEEDS

COVER STORY: HKR Architects, Adstone Construction and Apex Airspace completed the design and delivery of a modular rooftop extension for Lambeth and Southwark Housing Association. More details here www.rdr.link/lan033

SPECIAL REPORT How can social housing meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard?

REHAU UK’s CEO, offers advice to Martin Hitchin social housing stakeholde rs SUPPLEMENT: BREAK THE MOULD Zinsser discusses the and mildew in social issues surrounding mould step-by-step guide housing, and provides a to tackling the problem

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Blueprint to “turbocharge” housing delivery in Northern England A “once-in-a-generation” plan to tackle the North of England’s housing crisis and provide more and better homes for the region has been revealed by Homes for the North.

Total Disrepair Solutions framework Pretium Frameworks has launched a Total Disrepair Solutions framework, to deliver disrepair and complex works, which will help tackle the ongoing issue of condensation, damp and mould in housing stock. The PCR 201 5compliant framework was developed by Echelon Consultancy jointly with, and on behalf of, Riverside Group.

Jess John, Pretium’s Director of Framework Partnerships, says: “ Damp and condensation mould is one of the most pressing issues currently facing the UK housing sector, causing stress, anxiety and health problems for tenants, as well as being the cause of many expensive legal disrepair claims.

This framework was developed in collaboration with Riverside to offer housing providers an easy-to-access, compliant solution for the delivery of disrepair and other complex works.”

More details on the framework here www.rdr.link/lan001

Retrofit training hub The Retrofit Academy has opened its Hampshire Training Hub in partnership with workforce solutions and training specialist, SERT Training, increasing its nationwide network of training hubs to 1 0. The new training partnership will provide contractors and housing providers in the region with the highest quality training for Retrofit Advisors, Assessors and Coordinators required to work on upcoming programmes.

The Retrofit Academy’s nationwide network of Training Hubs is licensed to provide leading retrofit courses curated by the UK’s experts in retrofit knowledge and skills.

For more information on the training hubs visit www.rdr.link/lan002

Homes for the North’s blueprint will treble the number of houses being built and create billions of pounds of economic growth. The organisation — an alliance of the region’s biggest housing associations — has published its Plan for More and Better Homes which sets out how a new government can turbocharge housing delivery across the country and provide real levelling up to some of the UK’s poorest areas.

Exclusive polling also reveals that homebuilding is a key electoral issue for voters in marginal Northern constituencies, with seven in 10 swing voters saying the issue will shape their decision at the next election.

The scale of the housing shortage is undeniable, with research showing that the North of England needs two million new homes by 2050 to fulfil its economic potential, and 100,000 homes in need of significant upgrades or replacement or in the medium term.

Housebuilding in England alone is expected to fall far short of the Government’s target of 300,000 new homes per year, and even to fall to just half of that level following changes to planning policy, at a time when new good quality homes are needed more than ever.

Barriers such as net additionality rules, funding gaps, multiple landowner negotiation challenges, and underresourced local authority planning departments are holding up crucial home building projects.

In the North, of 80 regeneration projects slated to be delivered in partnership with housing associations over the long-term with public funding, only a quarter have secured the required funding in full, and over half have no public funding in place to enable their delivery.

The report sets out practical steps to build Northern capacity for economic growth and greater opportunity in all

communities. By taking a strategic approach to investing in local delivery partnerships, providing long-term certainty on rent and grant subsidy, and linking Local Plan-making to regional economic targets, the Plan will add £3.9bn of gross value added to the UK economy, deliver 42,920 homes, and regenerate 80 communities, which is enough to provide almost 59,000 people with a year’s work.

Homes for the North Chair Steve Coffey says: “Our Plan provides the first ever comprehensively-mapped vision of regeneration opportunities across the North, and would deliver what the region, its people and economy need — more and better homes.”

More information the ‘Plan for More and Better Homes’ here www.rdr.link/lan003

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Acoustic Floor Solutions with

£1.5m centre for sustainable construction and retrofit Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is investing £1.5m into developing skills, research, training and consultancy to support the UK construction sector reach net zero. ©metamorworks/AdobeStock

What makes for a good separation floor?

Two types of sounds must be considered in addressing the challenge of achieving the best acoustic solutions in building design, says A. Proctor Group: airborne and impact sound.

Heavyweight or Lightweight?

When considering acoustics, the mass of a wall or floor is a significant factor. The greater an element’s mass, the harder it is for vibrations to transfer through.

Isolation The University launched the Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit to develop solutions, skills and support locally and nationally to enable the transition to net zero within the built environment sector. Led by Professor Richard Bull, Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, the centre will bring together a range of expertise to help the sector reach the ambitious net zero climate change targets by 2050.

“Net zero by 2050 presents a huge challenge to the construction sector, which accounts for up to 50% of carbon emissions,” says Professor Bull, an expert in energy, sustainability and the built environment. “An absence of skills, knowledge and expertise threaten to derail plans for the UK’s important net zero targets. But this ground-breaking centre will enhance the way in which existing buildings and new construction can meet those all-important climate change objectives.

“We plan to develop new ways to support industry, to help them learn the new skills needed to retrofit existing properties en masse, and create new buildings in a sustainable way.”

NTU’s record in sustainability and the built environment includes the University’s ‘Scale-up Retrofit 2050’ whitepaper report which called for a nationwide programme to boost the energy efficiency of existing homes through deep retrofit.

It’s REMOURBAN project demonstrated the benefits of deep retrofits and was showcased as part of the UK Built Environment Virtual Pavilion during COP26. This was followed by a ‘scaling-up deep retrofit for social landlords’ pilot project, which was funded by the Energy Saving Trust and ongoing collaboration with ARC Partnership and Nottingham City Council.

An effective way to prevent sound transmission through structures is by physically isolating one side from the other. This can be achieved using separate structural elements, such as independent floor and ceiling joists or resilient mountings for floor and ceiling surfaces.

Resilient layers offer a cheaper, thinner, and lighter-weight solution applied as floor deck or batten systems, and ceiling mounting bars. These dampen the vibrations and reduce the energy from the sound waves, allowing a degree of movement.

Absorbency Absorbent acoustic materials reduce the echoes within cavities in a wall or floor construction, breaking up the sound waves.

Fibrous materials such as mineral or polyester quilts are usually used for this purpose, most commonly in framed structures.

Acoustic Floor Systems Batten systems such as Profloor Dynamic battens are popular in timber floors. The extra depth introduced between the battens simplifies service runs within the floor and provides additional void space in which fibrous layers can be added to boost sound absorbency.

Deck systems are shallower and can boost the impact sound performance of a floor, however, offer little scope to improve airborne performance. Deck systems are ideal for refurbishment where floor-to-ceiling height may limit the scope for using a batten system.

The A Proctor Group supplies a comprehensive portfolio of acoustic solutions to cover a range of project requirements and floor constructions.

■ For more information visit https://proctorgroup.com/

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NEWS: PROJECT UPDATE All-affordable housing development in Bristol Abri, a leading housing provider, is pleased to announce that The Old Brewery, one of the largest affordable housing developments in Bristol, has reached a key milestone with ‘topping out’ being achieved.

Bristol City Councillor Tom Renhard and John Kearney, Head of Provider Management from Homes England, were present for the occasion that marked the building reaching its highest point.

Located at the end of a popular high street in Southville, the scheme includes 107 new affordable apartments, offering a combination of one-, two- and threebedroom homes, with 98 of them available for shared ownership and nine for social rent.

Stuart Hensby, Associate Director Sales and Marketing at Abri says: “With great thanks to grant funding from our Strategic Partnership with Homes England, we’re excited to provide more much needed affordable housing in Bristol. Good quality homes and facilities

are key to making a difference and creating thriving communities, especially in the midst of the national cost of living crisis. We’re ambitious to deliver 10,000 warm, safe and sustainable homes by 2030, including over 750 homes in Bristol within the next five years that’ll create places where people feel they belong.”

As well as new homes, the regeneration at The Old Brewery includes the adaptation of some of the original brewery buildings to retain the industrial heritage of the site. Seven commercial spaces are being created, including the conversion of the original brewery manager’s house, and these buildings will be used to offer new services for the local community, including food and drink outlets, offices and creative spaces.

Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homelessness from Bristol City Council comments: “Building homes is about creating neighbourhoods that meet the diverse needs of our communities and make use of unused brownfield land, so it’s great to see the results of another high-quality 100% affordable regeneration that’ll deliver much needed housing in Bristol. The new homes in Southville ward look great and will add to over 12,500 homes built since 2016, as we continue to tackle Bristol’s housing crisis head on.”

Pictured from left to right are Stuart Hensby, John Kearney, Ben Richards, Cllr Renhard, Phillippa Yeates and Sam Stone.

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Tackling Condensation & Mould with

Eradicating mould Green light for new council apartments in Harlow The Harlow Regeneration Partnership (HRP), an equal partnership between Harlow Council and The Hill Group, has received planning approval to build 24 high-quality, energy-efficient council homes on a derelict site on Perry Road in Staple Tye, Harlow.

Councillor Michael Hardware, Harlow Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, says: “Not only will this development deliver much-needed homes for Harlow residents, but it will also contribute to the regeneration and renewal of Staple Tye. These high-quality apartments will be some of the most energy-efficient homes in Harlow and they will all be delivered by the Harlow Regeneration Partnership, which was only recently launched to accelerate the rebuild of our town.”

Tom Hill, Managing Director at The Hill Group, adds: “This first exciting development is just the beginning for the Harlow Regeneration Partnership, and we look forward, not only to starting on site at Perry Road but to delivering many more high-quality, genuinely affordable, sustainable homes for Harlow’s communities in the future.”

Planning permission granted for Winklebury regeneration Housing association VIVID has been granted planning permission for the major regeneration of central Winklebury. This transformative project will deliver 203 highly sustainable new homes, along with 4.5 acres of public open green space, a new pre-school, a community centre, a medical centre and pharmacy, public play area and a new retail hub with parking.

Councillors voted to give the plans the go-ahead at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Planning Committee. VIVID worked closely with local residents and the wider community, as well as Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council and the NHS to create an exciting regeneration plan, over a series of consultations and a number of years, to ensure the plans were shaped by the people who would be impacted most.

Mould is a type of fungus that typically grows upon damp and wet materials (e.g. walls and ceilings). It can be a range of colours, including green, black, grey, white and brown. Over time, mould has become a huge issue, particularly in social housing, and the UK government are currently setting out the new laws and guidelines.

What causes mould?

The most common causes of mould are condensation, inadequate ventilation, dampness and humidity.

Each of these individual factors cause an excessive build-up of moisture in the air within a property.

Whether this moisture was created by inescapable steam from cooking or showering, drying clothing inside, plumbing leaks, or from the lack of adequate ventilation, the detrimental result can still be the same: mould growing within the home.

As discussed in our previous column, condensation is a major culprit when it comes to mould. When humid air makes contact with a cold surface, it creates moisture. If this moisture cannot escape, you are left with mould.

Mould in social housing According to the Housing Ombudsman report, addressing mould needs to be a higher priority for landlords,1 especially when it comes to social housing. Given the range of health issues that mould can cause (e.g. allergic reactions, respiratory infections, poor mental health and worsening of asthma), it is clear that change is needed, and fast!

A solution?

Government guidance states that councils and housing associations must take complaints about mould seriously.2 At The Dwelling Doctors, we couldn’t agree more. Eradicating mould, and preventing its return, is our specialty. We offer professional ventilation, condensation control, mould eradication, and associated repair services, to effectively ensure that tenants feel safe and content in their mould-free homes.

References: 1. Housing Ombudsman Service (2021). Housing Ombudsman urges zero tolerance approach on damp and mould. Accessed online: https://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/2021/10/26/housing-ombudsmanurges-zero-tolerance-approach-on-damp-and-mould/ (Oct 2023).

2. England Shelter (2023). Damp and mould in council and housing association homes. Accessed online: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_and_mould_in_c ouncil_and_housing_association_homes? (Oct 2023).

■ For more information please contact James Dilleigh via email: jdilleigh@thedwellingdoctors.co.uk

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HOUSING FIT FOR THE FUTURE

Community voice Delivering on our commitment to getting it right means involving tenants every step of the way, says Nigel Sedman, Executive Director of Homes at ForHousing. ccording to Maslow, having a warm, safe place to live and rest is one of our most basic human needs. That’s what delivering on our mission as an organisation ultimately comes down to.

We’re here to provide our tenants with well-maintained, quality affordable homes where they can truly thrive. We know we have work to do and that we don’t always get it right — but we are committed to working together with tenants to continuously improve so we can provide the highest level of customer service possible.

I believe that to achieve that, we need to put our tenants at the heart of all we do and ensure they feel listened to and are treated with respect. We want tenants to be satisfied with the services they receive from us, be proud of their homes, and be able to trust us to deliver on what we say we will do.

Involving tenants has always been a driver for us and the focus of our culture, but the recent introduction of tenant satisfaction measures has encouraged us to build upon how we do this. For example, we listened to feedback from our tenant panel and are now taking action by making further improvements to our repairs and maintenance services.

We’re working with our contractors to provide tenants with effective and customer-focused maintenance services that meet their expectations. We’ve revised timescales for getting jobs done based on tenant feedback. We’re committed to getting things done on time and are communicating timescales clearly to tenants so they know when they can expect work to be done.

We’ve also listened to tenants’ views on scheduling repair appointments. They told us they want to be able to make

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ForHousing has three Community Voice groups — in Salford, Knowsley and Oldham

appointments themselves, so we’re working on developing a way for tenants to do just that by the start of the next financial year.

We have also recently been collaborating on ways in which we can keep people informed about the safety of their homes.

Inviting feedback ForHousing’s Community Voice group is just one of the ways in which tenants influence decision making, hold us to account and share feedback. We have three local groups in Salford, Knowsley and Oldham which work alongside ForHousing as partners to talk about opportunities to work together, raise issues, and help solve them.

As the world moves forward at such a pace, we are all getting used to and expecting things more quickly, maybe even instantly. So, when we invited ideas and feedback from customers about accessing safety information about their homes, we weren’t surprised to hear that ease, efficiency, and choice were some of their expectations.

We’re now working with our Community Voice groups to build and test a new ‘safe homes portal’ on our website, to give tenants peace of mind and instant access to compliance information about their homes.

At the click of a button, tenants will be able to see when their next electrical or gas inspections are due and request copies of safety certificates. All they need is their tenancy number and postcode and they’ll be able to see what checks have been completed and when the next ones are due.

Testing is now underway and tenants will letus know what’s working well and what needs some tweaks. We’ll then use this to make any updates with the ambition to roll the portal out to all customers before the end of the year.

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keep listening to “our...we’ll tenants so we can deliver on what matters most to them.

”

What we’re trying to do is provide more choices to tenants about how they access information, and the portal is just one of the ways we’re doing this. We really believe this will take us a step forward in that openness we always aim to foster.

Tenants will feel more empowered and have information at their fingertips.

To ensure we’re continuously improving, increasing our transparency, and achieving the highest level of service possible, we’ll keep listening to our tenants so we can deliver on what matters most to them.

■ For more information on ForHousing visit www.forhousing.co.uk

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MARKET REPORT: CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FORECAST 2024-2025

Gradual social housebuilding growth from 2024 In November Glenigan, one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, released its widely anticipated UK Construction Industry Forecast 2023-2025.

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he key takeaway from the November Forecast, which focuses on the three years 20232025, is the construction industry will continue to struggle in the face of a challenging economic climate. Particularly, restrained private sector investment, a housing market slowdown, weak UK economic growth, and high interest rates will continue to suppress sector activity for the remainder of the year.

Despite short-term woes, renewed construction growth is forecast for 2024 (+8%) and 2025 (+7%) as the prospect of a recovering economy and market certainty lifts consumer and business confidence, boosting the industry.

forecast for 2024 and 2025, with firm development pipelines already pulling through to support a rise in industrial and office starts.

Improved consumer confidence and household spending are also expected to feed through to lift activity in consumer-related verticals, including private housing and retail. This is anticipated to have a knock-on effect on investment in logistics facilities from 2024 to meet demand for online retailing. However, these positive predictions will likely be offset by declines in public sector investment in education and health as government-funded projects are reviewed post-election.

Recovery on the horizon

Social housing

It’s not all bad news, with public sector construction providing a relative bright spot during 2023 as government underspend was rolled forward to the current financial year, boosting departmental capital programmes.

Despite conditions remaining tough for the rest of 2023, gradual recovery is

High construction costs over the past two years have constrained development activity into 2023, with housing associations forced to reappraise the viability of new projects. Coupled with this, the slowdown in the private housing market has had a knock-on effect on social housing starts, resulting in fewer opportunities to take

forward mixed-tenure developments. This has caused an estimated fallback in projectstarts of 13% this year. However, greater cost stability is anticipated to increase development activity over the next two years, lifting starts, with a 7% growth forecast for 2024, and 5% for 2025.

Glenigan’s Economic Director Allan Wilen says: “After sharp falls in starts and a challenging set of economic circumstances in 2023, construction can expect gradual improvement in market conditions over the next two years.

“Higher construction costs are expected to constrain social housing starts for the duration of 2023, despite increased funding for affordable housing. Additionally, the slowdown in the private housing market will have a knock-on effect on opportunities for associations to move forward with larger, mixed-tenure, developments in partnership with other developers.

“However, growth is forecast to accelerate next year as housing associations press on with their development plans, while a brighter economic outlook should also increase the viability of mixed-tenure sites.”

■ Request a copy of Glenigan’s UK Construction Industry Forecast 2023-2025 here www.rdr.lin/lan004 ■ To find out more about its services and expertise, visit www.rdr.link/lan005

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

INDUSTRY COMMENT

The next government’s housing policy Matthew Warburton, Policy Advisor at the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH), discusses the next government’s housing policy and dissects the proposals of the three main opposition parties. y early 2025 we will have a new Government, and current polling suggests it is unlikely to be Conservative-led. Labour is currently on track for a substantial majority, but given the volatility of current politics it would be foolish to rule out the possibility of another hung parliament.

What policies can we expect from a new government for housing?

There is a perhaps surprising amount of common ground among the main English opposition parties on broad aims and policies for council housing; most of the differences are on matters of detail.

Labour, Lib Dems and Greens all agree on the need to substantially increase the supply of housing for social, or genuinely affordable rent.

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Annual target Labour is reluctant to commit to an annual target but the Lib Dems and Greens both argue for 150,000 new social homes a year to address housing need and the homelessness crisis. For the Greens, increasing social housing supply is seen as more important than hitting the current Government target of 300,000 new homes a year across all tenures. The housing policy paper presented to the Lib Dem conference took the same view but was amended from the conference floor to reinstate an overall target (for the UK as a whole) of 380,000 homes. Labour, in contrast, has committed to 1.5 million new homes over

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the next parliament but has not said just how many of them will be for social rent.

The parties do not agree on the future of the Right to Buy. Only the Greens would abolish it. Labour proposes to review and reduce discounts and strengthen covenants restricting early resale. The Lib Dems propose giving local authorities freedom to vary discounts according to local conditions and, in extreme cases, to suspend RTB altogether.

Nor is there agreement on where new homes should be built. Labour proposes 10 New Towns, including development on parts of the Green Belt. The Lib Dems go for 10 Garden Cities, without saying whether the Green Belts would be affected. The Greens argue that Green Belt boundaries should be kept under review but with no reduction in the overall acreage. Reactions to Labour’s New Towns plans have argued that it will focus development on the South and East, aggravating the North-South divide that levelling-up was supposed to address.

Social housing quality Labour, Lib Dems and Greens all propose big increases in investment in insulation and other measures to improve the energy efficiency of homes in all sectors.

Interestingly, there is no mention of programmes specifically for social housing like the current Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund; the emphasis is on an area-based cross-tenure focus, with both Labour and Lib Dems

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Labour, Lib Dems and “Greens all propose big increases in investment to improve the energy efficiency of homes in all sectors.

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mentioning “street by street” approached co-ordinated by local authorities, with the Lib Dems wanting to build on the experience of the General Improvement Areas of the 1970s.

Less is said about other aspects of social housing quality. Labour says only that it will “seek to improve the quality and safety of social housing”; the Lib Dems commit to complete the review of the Decent Homes Standard and implement the new standard (for social housing) by 2030. The new regulatory system for social housing is nowhere explicitly mentioned. Nor is there any acknowledgement that the costs of raising the quality of social housing, financing decent homes, building safety and better thermal efficiency may stretch many council HRAs to breaking point without a satisfactory long-term settlement on rents. These are matters on which councils will want an early conversation with any new Minister for Housing.

www.arch-housing.org.uk

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SPECIAL REPORT: PLASTIC PIPING FOR HOT AND COLD-WATER APPLICATIONS

Metal vs.

Plastic – is there a clear choice?

Since the introduction of polyethylene (PE) in the 1950s, there has been debate around whether the material provides a better alternative to metal, particularly when it comes to potable water transportation. Here, Craig Norman, Building Services Segment Lead at Aliaxis, explains why plastic piping is proving a popular for hot and cold-water applications.

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raditionally, metal piping has been the go-to for utility companies, specifiers, and developers.

However, the stronghold it once held in the market has declined in recent years, given the introduction of plastics, which offer an array of advantages such as cost and time efficiencies, along with health and sustainability benefits. But what is the impact of its use on the environment and public health?

The advantages of plastic While ensuring the safe transportation of water is paramount, providing homes and business owners with systems that facilitate appropriate water temperature and pressure is another key consideration when it comes to property development. This requires pipework systems that are capable of excellent insulation and long-term resistance to corrosion and temperature change; making plastic a strong choice.

Although metal piping offers many of these features, cPVC or PEX alternatives are recommended, given the overwhelming benefits they have across the entirety of a

Fluxo boasts a heat resistance of up to 70°C and pressures of up to 10 bar

project. So much so, that the Pipes and Fittings Market Report UK 2016 – 20201 found that plastic piping for water supplies in new-builds was up by 60%. This is not only due to its hard-wearing qualities, but also because of its health, environmental and economic benefits.

Environmental concerns There are plenty of logistics to consider when planning and installing new pipework systems, however, sustainability should always be front of mind when choosing materials. While the use of plastic may seem reductive as the world aims to decrease its consumption, in this circumstance, the material is the better choice in comparison.

Assessing the environmental impact of piping goes deeper than evaluating the material itself. Further thought is required around its transportation, longevity and disposal. With this in mind, a recent report from McKinsey and Company2 found that when comparing plastics to alternative materials, they had a lower total greenhouse gas contribution in most applications across several industries, including construction.

In addition, a study from TEPPFA3 found that in all the categories in which they were evaluated, copper piping systems had a significantly higher environmental impact than plastic solutions. As a result, it is kinder to the environment to use plastics over metals in this scenario.

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Public health credentials Another important note, in favour of opting for plastic piping and fittings, is its rust resistance. Many metals will break down following consistent exposure to water, which can lead to metal particles breaking off and contaminating a property’s water supply.

Avoiding the release of toxins into the water that occupants are consuming is paramount, due to the potential impact on public health. Fortunately, plastic materials, in comparison, remain completely intact for the long-haul, avoiding these risks.

Plastic pipework, such as that produced by Aliaxis for hot and cold-water applications, is also considered safer, as smooth internal walls ensure that bacteria are less likely to develop and infiltrate the water’s supply. Notably, the plastic solutions Aliaxis provides, operate up to temperatures of 70˚C for hot and cold domestic systems, which is required to kill bacteria sometimes found in water supplies, such as Legionella, which is destroyed at 60˚C. While metals tend to enable the transportation of water at higher temperatures, studies from Nesta4 show that maintaining a boiler flow rate of 6070˚C, compared to between 70-80˚C (which is currently common practice), can save households between 6-8% on gas usage, costs and emissions — ideal as the UK continues to face a cost-of-living crisis.

Simple installation With the benefits to public health and the environment evident, it seems that the battle may already have been won.

However, there are still many other reasons to opt for plastic over metal. For example, time spent on the install of pipework, and therefore labour costs can be driven down by using plastic alternatives. Not only is it cheaper to source than metal, but it is quicker to fit due to the ease of its manipulation, in turn meaning fewer joints to contend with.

The time-saving qualities of plastic piping make it a sensible choice, but its notoriously lightweight composition comes with its advantages too. Not only is the risk of injury while handling heavy

The Pipes and Fittings Market Report UK 2016 – 2020 found that plastic piping for water supplies in new-builds was up by 60%

metal items reduced, but it tends to be more cost-efficient to transport.

System lifespan Ease-of-installation and cost-effectiveness is always important. However, ensuring the longevity of pipework is vital to the enduring success of a construction project.

As mentioned, not only do some metals corrode over time, but they are also more susceptible to pinhole leaks and bursting during winter, whereas plastics can withstand a range of temperatures whilst resisting permanent damage.

Plastic — the ideal choice Given its sustainability and public health credentials, Aliaxis believes that plastics hold the key to hot and cold-water solutions.

Ultimately, plastic piping provides a solution that is long-lasting and doesn’t require a frequent turnover of materials that can pose harm to the environment. Not only this, but its non-corrosive qualities mean customers are assured they aren’t ingesting dangerous toxins. That is why Aliaxis is proud to provide plastic alternatives across a variety of applications, including its complete hot and cold-water offerings. This includes its HTA and SuperFlo ABS systems, as well as the newly introduced range, Fluxo.

Aliaxis offering The Fluxo range completes the manufacturer’s catalogue of hot and coldwater solutions, which means an entire building can now be fitted using its product portfolio. Alternatively, Fluxo can be used as a stand-alone product, boasting a heat resistance of up to 70°C and pressures of up to 10 bar. While

Aliaxis’ HTA and SuperFlo ABS systems are used to transport water vertically and horizontally through a building, Fluxo now acts as a ‘second-fix’, transporting water directly into appliances and sanitary ware.

Made from cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), a long-lasting alternative to copper, Fluxo is highly resistant to heat, chemicals, and corrosion, and includes an aluminium layer which creates an anti-oxygen barrier to prevent iron oxide residue forming within the piping network. It also features a smooth internal bore which prevents bacteria growth and guarantees longer consistent performance across pump and flow rates.

This new offering, alongside its existing hot and cold-water solutions, demonstrates Aliaxis’ commitment to creating worldleading fluid management solutions, which put public health and sustainability first.

The additional benefits plastic piping offers, such as time efficiency, cost saving, and ease-of-application are an added bonus for those looking for reliable piping and fitting solutions for an array of building segments.

References: 1. https://www.bpfpipesgroup.com/media/22114/ plastic-pipes-dominating-new-build-with-ease.pdf 2. https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/ industries/chemicals/our%20insights/climate%20im pact%20of%20plastics/climate-impact-of-plasticsv2.pdf 3. https://www.teppfa.eu/wpcontent/uploads/LCA16_HC-Leaflet-PP-r-vs-Cu.pdf 4. https://www.nesta.org.uk/project/lowering-boilerflow-temperature-reduce-emissions/

■ For more information on Aliaxis’ extensive range of hot and cold-water solutions, visit www.rdr.link/lan006

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SPECIAL REPORT: MEETING THE FUTURE HOMES STANDARD

How can social housing meet the 2025 Future Homes Standard?

When it comes to decarbonisation, the UK social housing sector is facing a huge undertaking. The Future Homes Standard is set to accelerate progress, but its complexities, scope and timescales can prove challenging to stakeholders on new or retrofit housing projects. With the full rollout just over a year away, REHAU UK’s CEO, Martin Hitchin, explores what social housing stakeholders need to do to stay ahead of the curve on these allimportant regulations.

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he Future Homes Standard (FHS) has been much trailed, yet adjustments made to Part F and L of the Building Regulations in 2022, focusing on ventilation and energy efficiency, continue to drive debate in the social housing sector, but even as stakeholders continue to get to grips with these uplifted standards and how they affect new-build and retrofit projects, it must be noted that these updated requirements were an interim measure. The FHS will be adopted in full from the start of 2025, putting further pressure on local authorities.

Despite the upheaval it poses to construction projects, it cannot be denied that its goals are laudable. Ensuring all new homes emit 75-80% less carbon than earlier benchmarks is paramount if the social housing sector is to remain on-track with the legally mandatory goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Yet it will take an unprecedented effort to achieve, even before existing buildings are factored in.

Indeed, with reports suggesting that 80% of current properties will still be in use by 20501, and that most public housing was constructed between 1945 and 19802,

construction professionals have their work cut out. The facts are simple — these buildings were not designed with net zero in mind, so while upgrades are necessary, ensuring they are effective and FHScompliant will require close collaboration across the supply chain.

Countdown to compliance Yet with 2025 looming, it’s alarming that over two-thirds of the sector seem unprepared for the new uplifts. This alarming statistic is detailed in the ‘Future Homes Standard: Preparing UK Housing for 2025’, the latest market readiness report from polymer solutions provider REHAU. Based on a survey of 200 decision makers across the housing industry’s various sectors conducted by the company’s independent research partner Censuswide, 79% of respondents said meeting the current FHS timeline would be ‘somewhat challenging’ or ‘very challenging’.

Though these findings are eye-opening, social housing’s status as publicly owned property means the spotlight is on these estates to evolve to meet increasingly rigorous sustainability regulations. As such,

sector stakeholders must adapt to meet standards imposed by the FHS. Awareness of all housing components and the role they play in meeting the upcoming regulations will be key to this.

Building understanding However, as REHAU’s latest whitepaper underlines, there is still work to do if the sector is to meet its FHS obligations post2025. For example, despite windows having a major impact on building ventilation and thermal efficiency, none of the respondents surveyed could confidently say they knew of a frame system that could achieve the required FHS U-value of 0.85W/M2K. Specifically, 65% said ‘no’ when asked, and the remaining 35% were uncertain.

With the FHS’s full implementation only a year away, this is clearly worrying and will require cooperation throughout the supply chain to resolve. Also, it must be noted that awareness of the standard is not the issue — it is simply that housing stakeholders believe meeting its requirements will be hard, and solutions are not obvious.

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This too is reflected in the report’s data, where 76% of respondents working on newbuilds said the current timeline presented challenges for the industry. Though all survey participants noted factors such as ‘cost’ and ‘supply chain issues’ as other concerns, it is significant that ‘insufficient technical understanding’ was cited as the main concern for new-build stakeholders.

These uncertainties may become further exacerbated by recent government revisions to building energy efficiency standards. Though the changes announced by the Prime Minister at October’s Conservative Party Conference do not directly impact the FHS, watering down previous national green energy commitments may shake the sector’s confidence around sustainability legislation and what they include.

Growing concerns can already be seen in comments from the National Home Decarbonisation Group, which recommended the Government reaffirm its green commitments by allowing the full release of the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund in the Autumn Statement.3 With a year to go until the FHS’s full implementation, any additional changes could further affect clarity over what precisely the social housing sector needs to do to decarbonise.

The path forward To reiterate, the sector expressing concern about its readiness for the FHS is not a sign of any shortcomings or reluctance to engage with the standard. The changes it sets out are transformational for the nation’s residential building stock and industry best practices, so difficulties are to be expected, especially as the 2025 deadline nears.

Achieving the performance levels the FHS sets out will, therefore, require greater levels of collaboration between social housing providers, architects, and specifiers. This cooperation should also extend beyond direct new-build and retrofit project stakeholders to suppliers of key components such as windows.

Leveraging this third-party expertise at the design stage can allow for more thorough and precise specification practices before site works begin, allowing greater peaceof-mind over meeting required thermal performance levels.

As part of this approach, social housing stakeholders should conduct relevant research into their supply chain and gauge whether the organisations within it can be relied upon for high-quality components.

With the goalposts soon to move around

what constitutes compliant products in social housing construction, not doing so may result in potential pitfalls. For example, certain window systems that state ‘high performance’ may not necessarily align with the FHS due to external factors including inadequate building structure surveys and or the removal of existing frames. Collaborating with experts can help remove these issues.

Bridging the gap As REHAU’s new report demonstrates, there is a clear gap between today’s social housing stock and what will be required from 2025 onwards. Though this can be explained by the ambitious FHS timeline, it should not detract from the fact that substantial work was always going to be required if the sector is to meet its net zero commitments.

For both new-builds and retrofit projects, windows are key to bridging this gap. Yet their importance to achieving FHS compliance cuts both ways, as inadequate or ill-informed specification could lead to further inefficiencies, further impacting building performance. It is, therefore, imperative that social hosing stakeholders actively engage with experts in their supply chain to identify best practices and solutions.

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https://ukgbc.org/news/ukgbc-responds-to-ccchousing-report/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/292252/age-ofhousing-dwellings-in-england-uk-by-tenuree/#:~:tex t=The%20largest%20share%20of%20social,owner %20occupied%20households%20in%20England. https://www.elementaldigital.co.uk/nhdg-calls-ongovernment-to-bring-forward-next-shdf-wave/

■ You can download a copy of REHAU’s report, ‘Future Homes Standard: Preparing UK housing for 2025’, here www.rdr.link/lan007

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ROAD TO ZERO CARBON

Pioneers powering decarbonisation In an era defined by the urgency of climate change, the need to reduce carbon emissions has never been more pressing. While conversations often focus on individual actions, one pioneering project in Crawley demonstrates the power of collaborative partnerships in addressing both residential and commercial property decarbonisation — an aspect often overlooked in the broader sustainability conversation, as LABM finds out.

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iberty, the property services firm, is one of Crawley Borough Council’s strategic delivery partners and has worked with them since 2019 delivering heating services to their tenants. Through this relationship, Crawley Borough Council was introduced to NetZero Collective, who are experts in decarbonising buildings, known for their work supporting social landlords to make their homes net zero.

Having completed a pilot of decarbonising 10 whole-homes for Crawley Borough Council, delivered by Liberty in 2021-2022, NetZero Collective is now surveying and making recommendations to guide Crawley on its approach to decarbonising its commercial buildings.

Their surveys use cutting-edge technologies and industry best practice, aligned to PAS2038, to identify ways to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Residential — homes fit for the future One of the standout success stories from this collaboration is the whole-home decarbonisation pilot programme. Glenn, a Crawley Borough Council tenant, became

Work underway on Crawley Borough Council tenant Glenn’s home

one of the first to participate in the council’s ambitious project to reduce carbon emissions while also putting money back in residents’ pockets.

The retrofit programme involved upgrading 10 homes with cutting-edge renewable technologies. A mix of solar panels, battery storage, heat batteries and air source heat pumps replaced traditional

Delegates on a tour of 66 Treyford Close

gas boilers, significantly improving energy efficiency. The properties achieved an EPC B energy rating after retrofit.

Work on Glenn’s home was completed in early 2022, and the results speak for themselves. Glenn has seen an 80% reduction in his monthly fuel bills. Glen shared: “So far we’ve saved £80 a month.

It’s quite a major difference, so I’m pleased with it left, right, and centre really.”

Without the decarbonisation scheme, Glenn’s home was predicted to have emitted over 70 tonnes of CO2 cumulatively by 2050. By retrofitting the property, it has reduced this by 95%.

Councillor Ian Irvine, Cabinet Member for Housing at Crawley Borough Council, comments: “We have set the council the target of being a net zero carbon contributor by 2040, excellent schemes like this help us reach that goal while saving our tenants much needed money off their energy bills.”

Neil Waite, NetZero Collective Director, says: “This is proof that decarbonisation and lower fuel bills can be achieved by combining technologies like air source

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Eddi solar diverter

have set the council “theWetarget of being a net

Sunamp Thermin heat battery

zero carbon contributor by 2040, excellent schemes like this help us reach that goal while saving our tenants much needed money off their energy bills.

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heat pumps with solar PV and battery storage, in homes that are insulated to good, and easily achievable levels.”

Glenn’s experience serves as a testament to the tangible benefits of sustainable retrofitting.

Commercial — extending the Impact However, the collaborative effort between Crawley Borough Council extends beyond residential homes. In line with their commitment to reducing carbon emissions, they have embarked on a mission to transform commercial buildings into models of sustainability.

In June of this year, NetZero Collective began survey works on 19 non-residential buildings in the Crawley area, part of the council’s broader strategy aimed at fostering a greener future for all types of properties. The project aims to lead by example, inspiring other businesses and landlords to follow suit in the pursuit of carbon neutrality.

One of the key buildings included is the K2 Crawley Leisure Centre, which is the largest council-owned building and is at the heart of the Crawley community. NetZero Collective collaborated with CoreLogic UK, to capture a seamless 3D digital twin of the entire leisure facility, completed in 1937 scans over seven days — the largest 3D scan ever completed in Europe.

Findings from the survey showed that over the course of seven years, the leisure centre could not only save £7.2m on energy and maintenance costs but equally as important, reduce CO2 emissions by 16.2 kgCO₂/m²/yr.

Surveys on other Crawley Borough Council buildings showed similarly striking results, such as the Furness Green

Community Centre which if retrofitted as recommended, would see its EPC rating go from F down to A. Councillor Bob Noyce, Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change at Crawley Borough Council, says: “We were pleased to see the outcomes of these surveys which will help us progress towards our twin aims of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and expenditure.”

Study Day — sharing knowledge Liberty, NetZero Collective and Crawley Borough Council believe passionately in sharing their learning and recently held a study tour for local authorities and housing associations, to showcase their work in Crawley. Knowledge exchange is essential in the fight against climate change, and this event served as a platform for innovative ideas and strategies to flourish.

Karen Sloan, Managing Director of Heating and Compliance Service at Liberty says: “Collaborative partnership working is crucial in our collective journey towards a zero carbon future. This project has demonstrated that tangible, impactful

Neil Waite from NetZero Collective talking to delegates on the study tour

change is possible when public entities, private companies, and residents come together with a shared vision. We were proud to showcase our work to other housing associations and local authorities, giving them the chance to get hands-on with the technologies we installed.”

Conclusion In the heart of Crawley, a collaborative approach has lit the path toward a decarbonised future. The success of this initiative serves as a reminder that landlords must consider the broader picture, encompassing both residential and commercial properties, in their quest for sustainability. Taking this approach can help keep the cost of retrofit down for landlords, whilst still delivering energy bill savings for their tenants.

Neil Waite, NetZero Collective Director adds: “Beyond the immediate financial considerations, decarbonising homes presents landlords with a unique opportunity to positively impact their tenants and the local economy.

“The success of this initiative reiterates the fact that we have the tools and knowledge to significantly reduce our carbon footprint today. It’s a testament to what can be achieved through collective effort and strategic planning.

“In an age where climate action is nonnegotiable, these collaborative efforts are blazing a trail toward a net zero future.”

■ For more information on Liberty and its services visit www.rdr.link/lan008 ■ For more information on the NetZero Collective and its services visit www.rdr.link/lan009

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For all the latest news and views check out

labmonline.co.uk

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

LABM’s website offers an essential information resource for local authority and housing association specifiers, and anyone involved in the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social and affordable housing, schools, healthcare facilities and public sector buildings.

On the website you’ll find details on all the latest funding and regulatory updates, sector announcements, contract awards and industry events. We share insight and opinion from commentators across the supply chain, feature in-depth project case studies and in our Products section, showcase new product innovations, technologies and construction solutions.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @labmmag and on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/local-authority-building-maintenance for all the latest stories.

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ROAD TO ZERO CARBON

A window on good specification It was recently reported that social landlord A2Dominion had completed more new homes achieving an EPC Band A rating than any other landlord in the UK. Senior Design & Technical Manager at A2Dominion Group, Derek Jay, explains how there’s no substitute for great design and the specification in generating long-term social, environmental, and financial return.

Derek Jay

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’m an architect by trade and was in practice for 23 years, working across private and affordable housing, but I decided I wanted to try to guide the strategy that dictates the design of homes by moving client side and working for a big social landlord where I could have more influence.

As an architect in practice, I worked on a broad range of housing projects for private and affordable developers, but over time, I began to realise that I could have a greater influence on the sustainability of homes if I moved client side.

I joined A2Dominion in 2020, with the ambition to promote sustainability, and contribute to improving our stance and policies in this area, and my colleagues and I have a strong commitment to realising the benefits of sustainability for individual households, the environment, and communities.

We want to try and instil positive decision making and changes on a project-by-project basis, and ideally, our social housing decarbonisation strategies will link everything up, get everyone talking to each other, and share knowledge and good practice.

The redevelopment of Hammersmith Town Hall into homes for A2Dominion

The development challenge I’m responsible for development in London, and in the last two or three years we have been delivering roughly 800 new homes a year. However, this volume of output will be hard to maintain over the coming years, due in most part to the rapidly rising cost of development. Many construction costs have risen by 30% from when our sites were competitively

won, and this, alongside the increasing costs in managing our existing assets, means that our main priority is getting things right for our current customers’ homes, particularly in the context of property EPC ratings.

A2Dominion’s priority should be building robust, and well insulated homes, using the right materials, and solving multiple problems in one go, and

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ROAD TO ZERO CARBON

NorDan’s composite timber windows were specified for the Hammersmith Town Hall redevelopment

it is my belief that sustainability in housing means more than just the environment, it should also encompass the sustainability of people and communities. All three are interlinked.

There are a number of key criteria that A2Dominion must consider when evaluating building products and materials, these include resident use, ease of maintenance, and environmental efficiency.

We know that we need to take good decisions around carbon reduction and form strong group-wide relationships with forward thinking companies.

Supplier relationship A good example of how we’ve worked closely with a supplier to ensure building products deliver long-term positive outcomes for A2Dominion and residents is NorDan UK. NorDan’s windows are helping us reduce the whole life carbon in homes by using timber, and materials with an extended lifespan that are easy to recycle at the end of their ultra-long life. NorDan’s composite timber windows deliver good environmental performance, and from a maintenance and use point of view, our residents like the familiarity of timber inside their homes.

Having a durable thin aluminium layer on the outside also makes a lot of sense because it extends lifespan and reduces the need for maintenance because we need

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NorDan’s composite timber windows feature a durable thin aluminium layer on the outside

View from the window: Tom O’Sullivan, NorDan UK Tom O’Sullivan is the Technical Specification Advisor for NorDan UK in London and the Southeast of England, he explains: “Derek and A2Dominion were very clear from the outset, that, where possible, building products needed to meet their social, environmental, and financial return criteria.

“Technically, for us, this translated into ultra-low U-value windows, delivering Passivhaus levels of insulation and airtightness. This then contributes to optimising the performance of the home — reducing operational carbon and making a house warmer, and more energy and cost efficient for residents.

“The outward-opening reversible windows specified by A2Dominion are manufactured from sustainably grown timber, making them carbon neutral at the point of manufacture, and incorporate an ultra-thin layer of aluminium on the surface of the wood, which should deliver up to 60 maintenance free years. This all results in very low levels of embodied and whole life carbon, all of which can be reviewed in granular detail via the product’s Environmental Product Declaration — or EPD. “The windows also have an inbuilt restrictor, for safety and security, and can be cleaned on the outside from the inside — extra added design features made with the user in mind.

“I’m pleased to say NorDan now has a supplier agreement with A2Dominion, and is working on future projects, but it isn’t alone in demanding more from its building products and suppliers.

“We are now supplying 10 of the 12 G15 London landlords, which 100% supports the rhetoric that social landlords are thinking three dimensionally about future and return, including the environmental and social challenges they face.” building solutions that tick multiple boxes.

Moving forward, we need to continue to strive to make our homes as energyefficient as possible, so they are affordable to heat and run, and to fulfil our commitment to sustainability targets. To achieve this, A2Dominion will continue to

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consider new approaches to building and improving homes, embracing new products, materials and methods.

■ More information on NorDan’s windows here www.rdr.link/lan010

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ROAD TO ZERO CARBON ROUND-UP Wates’ Net Zero target validated by SBTi Wates Group has approved near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company has had its target for scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 validated by the SBTi. This puts Wates five years ahead of the UK 2050 national Net Zero target.

Wates is prioritising direct emissions reduction, however currently, 98% of the company’s greenhouse gas emissions fall under scope 3, with 85% of these from the products and services the company purchases from its supply chain.

Reducing these emissions will therefore play a major role in reducing total emissions, and Wates is working closely with its supply chain partners to identify and deliver the necessary carbon reductions.

The science-based Net Zero target is in addition to Wates’ existing near-term target, which includes: Reducing Wates’ absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions by almost half (46.2%) by the end of 2030 against a 2019 baseline (The target boundary includes land-related emissions and removals from bioenergy feedstocks). ● A commitment that 89% of Wates’ suppliers (by emissions) covering purchased goods and services will have sciencebased targets by the end of 2027. ● Wates’ ambition is to exceed its near-term target, as part of the Race to Zero campaign, and the company plans to halve its scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030 against a 2019 baseline.

Bekir Andrews, Interim ESG Director at Wates, says: “Having our targets validated by the SBTi is an important step to ensuring their validity and demonstrates our commitment to improve the sustainability of our business.”

■ Wates’ Environmental and Sustainability Plan can be found here www.rdr.link/lan011

Focus on Sustainability with

Glidevale Protect publishes EPDs for key ranges Leading UK building products manufacturer Glidevale Protect has published third party, independently verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for three of its construction wall membranes to assist specifiers by providing clear sustainability and life cycle assessment data.

Created by One Click LCA and verified by the EPD Hub in accordance with EN 15804+A2 & ISO 14025 / ISO 21930, the product and factory specific EPDs do not contain average calculations and have been assessed cradle to gate with modules A1-A3, C1-C4 and D, with the life cycle analysis (LCA) published in accordance with the reference standards ISO 14040/14044.

Detailing key environment impact data including global warming potential (GWP) calculations as well as total energy and water use, the EPDs form a transparent analysis of each product’s carbon footprint to give full reassurance in specification.

The development of EPDs for Protect TF200 Thermo, Protect VC Foil Ultra and Protect TF200 demonstrates Glidevale Protect’s continued commitment to and investment in sustainability.

Protect TF200 Thermo is a reflective breather membrane for external walls which can enhance thermal performance and Protect VC Foil Ultra, a reflective air and vapour control layer (AVCL), offers low emissivity to enhance the thermal performance of internal walls, ceilings and floors. Both can be used together as a system to help maximise the energy efficiency rating of a building and control condensation risk.

Protect TF200 is a high performance breather membrane, offering protection to external walls and minimising the risk of interstitial condensation.

Detailed EPDs help specifiers to understand a product’s sustainability credentials when working to more stringent regulations such as Building Regulations Part L as well as whole building environmental assessment standards like BREEAM. EPDs quantifiably demonstrate the environmental impact of a product and data is independently verified and certified in line with internationally recognised standards, focused on the product’s whole life cycle.

■ More information can be found at glidevaleprotect.com

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ROAD TO ZERO CARBON ROUND-UP EDF acquires CB Heating EDF, Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, has acquired one of the UK’s leading air source heat pump installers, CB Heating, in a strategic step towards helping customers transition to zero carbon heating solutions such as heat pumps. The acquisition follows on from the strategic investment made by EDF into CB Heating in 2022. The announcement follows the recent Government extension of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), and 50% boost for the air source heat pump grant. The deal will also see EDF putting a dedicated team in place to deliver heat pump solutions for a range of homes across the country, forming part of a wider range of zero carbon home products for both local authorities and developers looking to ensure compliance with the new legislation.

■ Find out how EDF is helping Britain achieve Net Zero by leading the transition to a cleaner, low emission, electric future and tackling climate change here www.rdr.link/lan012 Purdy’s commitment to social housing decarbonisation works Purdy Contracts Ltd, part of the Kinovo Group, the specialist property services company that delivers compliance and sustainability solutions, is announcing a series of successful framework appointments. The first is Eastern Procurement Limited’s Asset Improvement and Sustainability Framework; another is NHMF Frameworx’s Domestic Heating Appliances and Installations Servicing, Maintenance and Installations Framework in the East Midlands, East of England, Greater London, and Southeast regions. In addition, Purdy has also received a direct award from Broadland District Council to replace Broadland’s existing systems and supply with ASHPs, high heat retention storage heaters, solar PV and battery storage. Purdy has also been awarded the Chichester SHDF Energy Retrofits Phase 2 programme, through the Greener Future’s Partnership framework.

■ For more information on Purdy’s work visit www.rdr.link/lan013 UKGBC publishes embodied carbon report Embodied carbon is increasingly being factored into how we design new buildings, as well as influencing decisions behind whether an existing building should be demolished or re-purposed. However, the current lack of consistency and transparency of embodied carbon modelling methods is reducing the construction sector’s ability to fully understand the environmental impacts associated with specific building materials, processes, and design choices.

The UK Green Building Council has published new guidance to support the construction sector improve how embodied carbon emissions are modelled and reported on, enabling more informed and sustainable decision-making across projects. It provides stakeholders with an understanding of best practice, insight into common variations and errors within the modelling process and gives recommendations on how to improve overall reliability of modelling results.

■ Download a copy of UKGBC’s report here www.rdr.link/lan014

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New Ecodan R290 heat pump Manufactured at Mitsubishi Electric’s factory in Livingston, Scotland, the Ecodan R290 heat pump, with its low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant, is a big step towards more sustainable home heating. Using a hydrocarbon refrigerant that can achieve high Coefficient of Performance (COP) values greater than four in heating mode, means higher heating performance; and with a cost-of-living crisis, this also means enhanced energy savings and reduced operational costs for a household.

The product is also designed to operate quietly, ensuring a peaceful home environment for its users, and allows for multiple zone control, enhancing energy efficiency and individual comfort. What’s more, the Ecodan R290 has capacity to provide reliable home heating in extreme conditions too. Even in temperatures as low as -15˚C, it can reach a high heating temperature of 75˚C, matching that of a traditional gas boiler.

■ More information on the Ecodan R290 heat pump here www.rdr.link/lan015 Net Zero Accelerator tool Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) and Advanced Infrastructure are rolling out a Net Zero planning tool across 58 local authorities in England and Scotland. Utilising Advanced Infrastructure’s LAEP+ platform and SSEN’s network capacity data, the application — LENZA (Local Energy Net Zero Accelerator) — is driving forward data access, modelling and collaboration in Local Net Zero planning. LENZA is being rolled out to local authorities in SSEN’s north of Scotland and central southern England licence areas who can register interest to join the programme. Participants will be given access to hundreds of datasets, including network capacity and local potential for renewable technologies, as well as training workshops to facilitate the delivery of their Net Zero targets.

■ More information about LENZA, including how to get involved, can be found here www.rdr.link/lan016

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LABMONLINE.CO.UK

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

LOCAL AUTHORITY BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

ERADICATING MOULD IN SOCIAL HOUSING Page 26 | Trust Zinsser to break the mould Page 28 | Zinsser’s step-by-step guide to tackling mould

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ADVERTORIAL SUPPLEMENT

Higher levels of humidity and condensation, as well as an increase in warmth and moisture, can encourage black mould growth on internal walls and ceilings

TRUST ZINSSER TO BREAK THE MOULD Mould and mildew has become an increasing problem in residential properties across the UK, with the Regulator of Social Housing reporting that between 120,000 and 160,000 of the four million social homes in England have “notable” amounts of damp and mould. However, the extensive Zinsser range of reliable, mould-resistant paints and products is the ideal way of combatting and preventing mould growth quickly and effectively.

Causes and health risks Poor insulation and insufficient ventilation within a building often causes excess moisture and can result in the appearance of mould. This is due to higher levels of humidity and condensation, and an increase in warmth and moisture in local authority housing can encourage black mould on internal walls and ceilings. Moreover, the cost-of-living crisis has meant that many households cannot afford to heat their homes and ventilate damp areas, which can also lead to mould growth.

Despite being unsightly, mould can have serious health implications for tenants, as airborne spores can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, respiratory infections and even death. The seriousness of the issue was solidified earlier this year with the passing of Awaab’s Law, which requires social landlords to identify the underlying causes of mould in their properties and find long-term solutions.

Awaab’s Law is named after Awaab Ishak, a two-year old boy who died in December 2020 due to prolonged exposure to mould in his family’s home. The law stipulates that

social housing landlords must resolve damp and mould issues to strict deadlines or else rehouse tenants in safe accommodation.

Solving decorating problems With almost 175 years of quality and innovation, Zinsser’s range delivers specialist products to provide tried and tested solutions to every decorating problem, including mould and water stains, peeling surfaces and fire damage. Zinsser B-I-N is the world-renowned primer, sealer and stain-killer that provides ultimate adhesion to any surface, while B-I-N AQUA offers a groundbreaking, water-based and odour-blocking alternative to B-I-N. Zinsser also provides solutions to peeling, flaking, dusting or chalking surfaces with flexible bridging sealer Peel Stop, Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is a primer, sealer and stain-blocker that’s perfect for painting iron railings, steel doors and galvanised gutters, and WaterTite is a waterproofing paint that can be applied to dry, damp or wet surfaces in order to cure water problems immediately.

Due to the severity of mould damage in social housing, landlords trust Zinsser to

Mould can have serious health implications for tenants

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efficiently tackle mould, mildew and algae with their specialist product range of primers and paint finishes that are specifically designed to protect the dried coating against fungal degradation.

Preparing a mould-stained surface with Zinsser Mould Killer & Remover before painting will provide a long-lasting finish. The water-based formula contains a fungicide that effectively removes dark stains caused by mould, fungus and algae and is ideal for use in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas of high humidity. The Mould Killer & Remover also has a handy trigger spray for hard-to reach areas and can be used on various internal surfaces such as tiles, wood, plaster and wallpaper.

Mould-resistant interior paint PermaWhite has a unique formulation and contains a biocide that protects the dried coating against fungal degradation. The hardwearing paint provides a scrubbable finish that is specifically designed for high-humidity areas that are subject to challenging wear and tear such as bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms.

In addition, the paint film is designed to resist cracking, peeling and blistering for up to seven years before first maintenance.

One of the most widely recognised obstacles in improving letting performance in social housing is the poor condition of properties when tenancies end. This presents a challenge to landlords, as they must combine speed with quality to ensure that the properties are fit for habitation and to minimise the voids rate as quickly as possible.

Local authority and privately owned properties alike are prone to mould problems if they suffer from excess damp, moisture and humidity.

In a recent case study, we provided specialist Zinsser products to deal with the aftermath of a water leak that caused mould build-up throughout a property. A combination of Zinsser Universal Degreaser & Cleaner alongside Mould Killer & Remover was used to prepare the area, followed by a coat of B-I-N AQUA to prime the surface and two coats of PermaWhite to actively prevent mould and mildew.

From initial survey through to specification and application of coatings, we provide on-site advice, training and technical assistance, and we will physically inspect the surface you need to paint and specify the ideal products to suit the project.

The best products for the job When dealing with decorating problems such as mould prevention and removal, it is essential to find the best paints and primers for the job. Our Zinsser specification service is offered free of charge, with members of the experienced Zinsser team available to work with professionals across the industry — at every stage of their project. From initial survey through to specification and application of coatings, we provide on-site advice, training and technical assistance, and we will physically inspect the surface you need to paint and specify the ideal products to suit the project.

Mould and mildew damage successfully treated with Zinsser’s range of specialist paints and primers

Mould and mildew damage in residential properties is a prevalent and serious problem in the UK, but it can be successfully treated and prevented with specialist paints and primers. Zinsser’s range of mould-resistant products provides an efficient, long-lasting solution to mould,

mildew and algae growth caused by moisture and poor ventilation.

■ For more information on Zinsser and its range of products visit www.zinsseruk.com

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ZINSSER’S STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO TACKLING MOULD When combatting a decorating job involving mould and mildew, a best practice approach involves cleaning, prepping and priming the mould damaged surface, before applying two coats of mould-resistant paint. Read on for Zinsser’s simple step-by-step guide to mould prevention and removal in just four simple steps.

STEP 1

STEP 2

First, thoroughly clean the mould-stained area with Zinsser Universal Degreaser & Cleaner before rinsing thoroughly and allowing to dry. The Universal Degreaser & Cleaner is a waterbased detergent that is colour fast, fabric safe and removes tough stains quickly and effectively from many surfaces.

Next, apply Zinsser Mould Killer and Remover directly to the surface, this will prepare a mould-stained area before decorating and provide a longer-lasting paint finish.

The Mould Killer and Remover contains a fungicide that effectively removes dark stains caused by mould, fungus and algae — making it ideal for use in bathrooms, kitchens and other areas of high humidity. The waterbased formula comes in a handy trigger spray and can be used on a variety of internal surfaces such as tiles, wood, plaster and wallpaper.

For the ultimate, problem-solving paint products, check out the Zinsser range at www.zinsseruk.com STEP 3

STEP 4

Once the surface is suitably prepped, allow to dry before priming with ultimate performance, water-based primer, sealer, stain-killer and odour-blocker B-I-N AQUA. B-I-N AQUA effectively blocks stubborn stains from mildew, nicotine, smoke, water, grease, tannin, crayon and lipstick, acts as an outstanding barrier against odours and offers exceptional adhesion without the need for sanding. It’s also tintable to pastel and mid-tone colours and recoatable in just 45 minutes.

Finally, after allowing to dry, apply two coats of mouldresistant paint Zinsser PermaWhite to the surface, leaving two hours drying-time in between coats. Known as the “holy grail” Zinsser product for mould, PermaWhite contains a biocide that protects the paint film against fungal degradation, in addition to cracking, peeling and blistering for up to seven years.

The tried and trusted solution for mould growth, PermaWhite actively prevents mould and mildew in high humidity areas, such as kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms.

It has a Class 1 Scrub Rating for easy cleaning and is touch-dry in just 30 minutes.

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FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY

Get engaged

Early engagement is critical for safer buildings

he publication of the building safety regime secondary legislation is amongst the most important regulatory change for the industry in more than 30 years.

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Distinction Doors’ fds fire door system has already been tested with a data pin installed into the hinge of the door

As organisations get to grips with the building safety regime secondary legislation, supply chain partners, architects, designers and facilities and maintenance teams are seeking reassurance and expertise to support the transition, says Owen Jones, Technical Director for the stockist and distributor of the fds (fire doors systems) fire door product range, Distinction Doors.

Undoubtedly a step in the right direction, many businesses and individuals are experiencing uncertainty and hesitancy as the changes and new processes appear difficult to understand and follow. Alongside our approved manufacturing partners, we are already working hard to ensure our fire door customers are equipped with the necessary knowledge and understanding to specify, procure and maintain GRP composite fire doors competently.

insist that all stages of “theWesupply chain, up to and

Early engagement

always been addressed early or thoroughly enough. As a result, ambiguities and omissions have compromised performance.

There’s also the issue of value engineering, which can of course compromise the integrity of the fire safety design. Early consultation with product manufacturers and other specialist sub-contractors would alleviate this. Their expertise and knowledge can be used to inform the overall fire safety design and aid the specification and procurement of fire safety measures before

Our biggest tip is to engage early. This has always been the case, but the new regime emphasises the importance of knowledge and information sharing early in the project. Ultimately, the success of these reforms lies in collaborative working and involving specialist sub-contractors, including product manufacturers and suppliers earlier in the process.

We believe that in the past specialist design elements, such as fire doors haven’t

including manufacture are third-party certified to the BM Trada Q-Mark Fire Door Manufacturer certification scheme.

”

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To prepare and support early consultation, product manufacturers have a duty to provide access to clear and transparent product information, e.g., technical data, test evidence, product specification and maintenance information. This is particularly pertinent for fire safety products, especially test data.

Test evidence should be readily available in a digital format. Proof of independent third-party testing offers reassurance to all stakeholders, demonstrating that the product has been verified by an expert and is publicly available.

Fire doorsets, for example, should be third-party tested and certificated using an independent United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited test house. To comply GRP composite fire doorsets must now be tested from both sides and satisfy BS476 or the more demanding EN1634.

promotion has emphasised the importance of information and traceability now.

In recent years several GRP composite fire door system houses, and members of the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers, have taken steps which go some way to meet the demand for product traceability — gaining thirdparty certification and taking control of their supply chain.

This not only significantly reduces risk but also promotes stakeholder confidence.

For example, we insist that all stages of the supply chain, up to and including manufacture are third-party certified to the BM Trada QMark Fire Door Manufacturer certification scheme. A fds manufacturing partner is only approved after passing quality system audits, security testing to PAS 24, and bi-direction fire and smoke seal testing to EN1634-1 and EN1634-3, respectively. Only then are they awarded the respected Q-Mark against the BM Trada STD 170 scheme, which is over and above the mandatory requirements of Building Regulations.

Traceability

Golden Thread

While the implementation of the Golden Thread of Information is a little way off, its invention and more recent wide-spread

As we move towards the Golden Thread, product manufacturers and suppliers will be seeking ways and means of complying and achieving the desired outcome. HSE guidance states that the building information must be kept digitally, kept securely, a building’s single source of truth, available to people who need the information to do a job; available when a person needs the information, and presented in a way that person can use.

Moreover, once the building is occupied, the information stored must show how building safety risks are being assessed and managed.

Fire doors will be an important feature of the Golden Thread in both the design and construction phase and once the building is lived in. With fire door

construction or refurbishment begins, ensuring they are delivered as planned.

Input will also aid repair and maintenance programmes, long-term.

As a supplier of safety critical products for both new-build and refurbishment projects, we are hopeful that while the new regime relates to high-risk buildings, it will be a driver for change across the entire built environment. Early engagement is critical for safer buildings.

Readily available product information

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Fire doors will be an important feature of the Golden Thread in both the design and construction phase and once the building is lived in

inspections mandatory under the new regulations this is likely to put the responsible person and therefore, the local authority under pressure.

To support them, some product manufacturers and suppliers are adopting cloud-based software and technology, which can be read by a compatible smart phone. For instance, our fds fire door system has already been tested with a data pin installed into the hinge of the door. A variety of systems are available to allow population of this pin with a record of the door details, including specification and references to test data. This data can be updated throughout its life, easing management of these critical building safety components.

■ More information on the fds fire door product range here www.rdr.link/lan017 ■ More information on Distinction Doors here www.rdr.link/lan018

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FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY

A fire crew attending to a fire in a high-rise tower block in Portsmouth.

Image ©Gary L Hider/AdobeStock

Reducing fire-related deaths

LABM reports on the National Social Housing Fire Strategy Group’s Fire Safety Event: Reducing fire deaths must be our priority, which took place in October at the Building Centre in London.

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peakers included Sir Ken Knight CBE, QFSM, DL who gave the Chair’s welcome, Andy Frankum, Chair of the National Social Housing Fire Strategy Group (NSHFSG), who discussed the aims of the National Social Housing Fire Strategy Group Network, and Dennis Davis from the Fire Sector Federation, who delivered a presentation on the changes to the law, which asked, isn’t it about time fire risk assessments were delivered competently?

Will Dawes from the Home Office shared statistics on fire deaths and serious injuries and what the statistics tell us, whilst Penelope Schofield, The West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Senior Coroner highlighted the coroner’s role in preventing future deaths. The afternoon’s talks were round off by Jan Taranczuk who provided an analysis of 10 years of Prevention of Fire Death (PFD) reports.

Fire safety is a huge concern for local authorities and housing associations across the UK, and it’s understandable,

given the terrible tragedy at Grenfell Tower. For housing providers with finite budgets and many competing challenges, such as Building Safety, Decent Homes, decarbonisation, rising costs of materials and building works, under resourced departments etc... the enormity of these challenges can seem overwhelming.

Since Lakanal and Grenfell, the conversation surrounding fire safety has tended to focus around the building structure and its component parts, unsurprisingly. Desktop studies were rightly called into question and the need for greater transparency and more rigorous legislation was evident for all to see.

Those responsible for the management of properties need to know what they are specifying and its appropriateness to the application, and conduct regular rigorous checks. All assessments should be conducted by a competent person. If changes are implemented, it’s important the impact of those changes to the building and people who live in them are considered.

The last six years has seen a huge amount of regulatory upheaval, with the Building Safety Act 2022 coming into force in October. The NSHFSG says we ‘need to get back to fire safety basics if we are to learn from where fire deaths have occurred in the past’, to reduce fire deaths in the future and ensure resident safety.

It’s important to think about the continuing nature of fire deaths. Fire deaths are often people in care and people in their own homes who are maybe vulnerable or have some form of infirmity or disability, which needs to be taken into account when implementing fire safety strategies and measures.

Research statistics In his opening address, Sir Ken Knight CBE said: “Recent research published by the Home Office in March, called “An In-depth Review of Fire-related Fatalities and Severe Casualties in England in 2010-11 to 2018-19”, supplemented the previous BRE research into the fire fatalities in Scotland

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©ambrozinio/AdobeStock

which found that generally, fire-related fatalities and injuries are more likely to occur because of an individual’s circumstances, or equipment in the home, rather than the type of property they live in. I think that’s a really telling statement to come to otherwise we focus on property types rather than the vulnerability of people in fire. And this is also confirmed by more recent examination of the Coroner Prevention of Deaths report issued under Rule 28 of The Coroners Rules.”

Sir Ken said there are 39 reports into 43 deaths in domestic premises, including care homes, between August 2013 to 2023 and the Government is also currently consulting on disability evacuation, which Sir Ken said “plays right into the heart of this, if you understand why the deaths occur, you can, much more importantly, understand how they can be prevented”.

Home Office research revealed that the overall number of fire-related fatalities per year has decreased since 2017, and identified a few key factors that could be associated with the reduction of fatal fires in England, these included an increase in households with working smoke alarms, a downward trend in smoking, drug and alcohol use and improved safety standards.

Also, the Smarter Regulation: Fire safety of domestic upholstered furniture consulation closed in October. However fire-related deaths are still occurring.

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Resident safety Andy Frankum said: “We’re here today to raise the profile of fire deaths. With all the regulatory changes, it’s important that we’re looking in the rear view mirror and making sure our residents are safe, that’s what it’s all about.

“I’ve been in housing 14 years as a health and safety professional, a fire safety professional for 20, and this is the biggest single change I’ve seen in regulation. For me it’s about strengthening the enforcement regime so people can be held to account when they don’t meet those standards. And that’s why we’re running the ‘Back to Basics’ campaign, to make sure people are safe and we’ve got the right measures in place to ensure that can be delivered.”

The Home Office’s Will Dawes shed light on the statistics: “We did some analysis of the relative risk of being a fire fatality and there’s an exponential rise through the age groups, especially over the age of 55, and 64 and above, it goes above the general population average. The same is true for the relative risk of being a severe casualty, but that’s less prominent.

“The risk of being involved in a fatal fire is higher for males than females and again that’s a risk you start to see over the age of 17, which maintains throughout the ages.

A challenge for us in the Home Office going forward, and the Fire Service is

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capturing better and more consistent data and understanding some of those trends.”

Coroner’s perspective Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield said: “There are about half a million deaths in the country every year and about 40% get referred to coroners, of those about 15% of all deaths go off to have a postmortem. That’s 82,000 post-mortem examinations and there are 83 senior coroners around the country.

“Inquests are a very small percentage of the cases we deal with — about 6%.

Most inquests involve a coroner and a family member. With 30,000 inquests, how many PFDs do you think are written? It’s a really small percentage unfortunately, about 0.1%, 450 a year.

“When a PFD is written, it’s sent to the recipients, the person to who the coroner is addressing the report to, it may not be anyone involved in the inquest, it could be the Secretary of State, it could be a chief executive of a particular organisation, or it could be any national body, and they have 56 days in which to provide a response.”

Only 33% respond. Penelope says “it’s incredibly frustrating if people choose not to respond and that’s why the legislation is a little bit toothless”.

Penelope continued: “Once we get the response we send it to the Chief Coroner’s Office and all interested persons involved.

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The CCO then publishes it on their website with all the responses, so it can become quite apparent who hasn’t responded.”

Learning from the past Jan Taranczuk says: “Deaths are important and we need to understand individual deaths to be able to understand the whole story. Lakanal was in July 2009. I was a Housing Manager at the time. At that stage I’d never heard of the Stevenage Harrow Court fire that happened in February 2005, I only found out about it when the Shirley Towers fire happened in 2010.”

When Jan discovered that what had happened to the fire fighters who died in Southampton, had occurred in Stevenage five years earlier, he was shocked. The fire fighters had died as a result of electrical wiring falling from the ceiling and wrapping around them. The plastic trunking which was meant to hold the electrical wires in place had melted. The coroner on the Stevenage case said in their report that metal trunking should have been used instead of plastic.

©ink drop/AdobeStock

The coroner issued a PFD and nobody took any notice. Post Shirley Towers, the electrical regulations changed to require all systems for fixing electrical cables in escape routes to be of metal construction.

It’s clear there are lessons to be learnt.

When it comes to fire safety, it’s not just about the building, but the people who reside within them and their circumstances.

The information contained within Prevention of Future Death reports has a valuable role

to play in stopping the same mistakes inadvertently being replicated elsewhere and vitally, helping prevent future firerelated tragedies. And the advice of the coroners should never be ignored.

■ More information on the National Social Housing Fire Strategy Group here www.rdr.link/lan019

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FIRE PROTECTION & SECURITY

Shutting out intruders

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Glyn Hauser, R&D Senior Group Manager at JELD-WEN explores the importance of secure door design and its role in helping landlords to better protect tenants.

JELD-WEN’s Atherton 4 Panel Entrance Doorset in slate

t’s easy to see why security is such a big issue amongst social housing properties. Not only can multipleoccupancy properties feel less secure because of the quantity of people accessing common spaces throughout the day and night, but many tenants could unknowingly be compromising security for their neighbours. However, a secure high performing flat entrance doorset can offer a highly effective and relatively simple solution to keeping residents safe and intruders out.

Research has found that social renters are three times more at risk of being burgled than homeowners1, and while some UK neighbourhoods remain tightly knit, it often seems as if Britain’s community spirit is waning. To see how this is affecting tenants living in social accommodation, we recently commissioned research to explore how secure they felt within their homes, and how important it was for their front door to offer a high level of security.

Of 1,000 respondents2, one in four residents living in a multi-occupancy property reported that a security breach had taken place in their building over the last 12 months, with 23% of tenants raising concerns about security to their landlord, and a third (33%) not feeling that their home offers adequate protection against a break in. This comes as almost half (47%) of all respondents felt that crime was increasing in their area. As some of the most vulnerable residents, it is also concerning that 44% of those living in a local authority property had personally felt the need to invest in additional security equipment in the past year, including CCTV, recording doorbells and security lights for their homes.

Despite these findings, a third (32%) admitted to leaving their front door unlocked overnight and well over half (57%) would leave it unlocked during the day, which is when most burglaries take place. A further quarter (24%) felt their front door was not secure.

Wider evidence suggests that those living in more deprived areas are likely to experience a weaker sense of attachment to their neighbourhoods, particularly where there is a decline in social infrastructure, which limits opportunities to meet and engage in community life3, meaning

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Of 1,000 respondents, one in four residents living in a “multi-occupancy property reported that a security breach had taken place in their building over the last 12 months. ” neighbours are less inclined to look out for one another. As winter looms, and the cost-of-living crisis deepens, the risk of crime is increasing.

With this in mind, the landlord should perhaps listen closely to the needs of their tenants to ensure that they feel safe in their own homes. When building or retrofitting a property, it may also work in the landlord’s favour with the likes of insurance companies, to specify doors with the SBD stamp of approval.

More than just a door Amongst increasing inflation, budget cuts and evolving regulations, we are all experiencing a challenging and uncertain economic landscape. Certain gaps in regulation and lack of clarity in the guidance can also make it difficult for landlords to ascertain exact best practice.

However, there is considerable opportunity for social landlords to elevate security standards amongst their residents and better protect tenants.

Procuring an accredited and certified doorset that has been designed to meet the rigorous standards of enhanced security testing and performance (as defined by the UK police security initiative ‘Secured by Design’ (SBD)) is important for increasing the effectiveness against a potential break in.

Thieves are typically opportunistic and seek out weak points of entry when attempting a burglary. If a front entrance door looks like it will be easy to force open, it’s much more likely that they will attempt to break in than one that appears to be reinforced with anti-theft design features.

Similarly, if a previous security breach has occurred in a flat that has an identical entrance door to those surrounding it, and nothing has been done to make security upgrades, there is a higher chance that neighbouring properties could become the target of a future break-in.

In social housing, there is a common misconception amongst those living in multiple-occupancy properties that their dwelling will be protected via the security

that comes from a communal entrance point. However, shared responsibility from other tenants means that this isn’t always the case, with previous reports of fire doors being propped open and non-residents having access to the building compromising the ability to keep crime out.4

Deter and defend Investing in an SBD-certified flat entrance doorset for individual dwellings can effectively reduce, if not negate, the appeal of one of the most effective access points for burglars. Should someone attempt to force entry, landlords can rest in the assurance that the SBD-stamp of approval means that the door’s design incorporates a number of construction features, as defined by the police, that go above legal requirements and have proven resistant against physical attack.

Certification requires PAS24 testing by an independent third-party from a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) authority, which ensures measured conformity. Each doorset will go through intense and rigorous assessments, measuring resistance against soft and hard body impact, through to hardware attack and manipulation, and endurance testing.

More recently, SBD has campaigned that dual certification of fire-rated doors — which provides assurance that a door works from both a security and fire control perspective — should also test for smoke permeability, to ensure even further protection for residents.

The result is a landlord’s best chance of reducing risk and keeping properties and tenants safe and secure. This comes as various academic research studies demonstrate that products independently certificated to SBD standards are responsible for supporting consistently high reductions in crime.

Unlocking the opportunity Despite a gradual decline in recent years, tenants in social housing are still more likely to be victims of crime, such as burglary and theft5, and as a deepening cost-of-living

JELD-WEN SecureSET range of Flat Entrance Doorsets are fully compliant to Building Regulations and third-party dual certified

crisis increases this risk — alongside reports that a quarter of tenants do not feel that their front door offers an adequate level of security — it has never been more important to ensure that residents have the protection they need to feel safe in their own homes.

Since January, social landlords will already have had to get to grips with new regulation including routine checks and inspections of fire doors. Given that internal breaches are equally important — particularly when it comes to safety — there’s a clear opportunity to pay due diligence to security as part of both newbuild and retrofit processes, and address two major concerns in one. Our hope is that social landlords listen to their residents’ concerns and consider the impact secure doorsets can have in creating a safer community.

References: 1. https://www.wiredgov.net/wg/news.nsf/articles/Burglary+risk+highest+fo r+least+advantaged+groups+04092017111000?open 2. 2 One Poll research, September 2023 3. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/socialmedia-burglary-rise-expensive-purchases-location-t ag-bragging-study-a8432746.html 4. https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/sponsored/howaware-are-social-landlords-of-the-level-of-security-i n-resident-buildings 5. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thecharter-for-social-housing-residents-social-housingwhite-paper/the-charter-for-social-housingresidents-social-housing-white-paper

■ SecureSET and SecureFIT flat entrance doorsets by JELD-WEN carry the SBD accreditation along with dual certification.

To find out more visit www.rdr.link/lan021

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FIRE PROTECTION SECURITY ROUND-UP Secure doorsets for Birmingham University Station rebuild Door Group, a unit of ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, has supplied construction company VolkerFitzpatrick with a bespoke package of timber internal and external steel doors as part of a project to rebuild University Station in Birmingham. All doors within University Station must withstand high levels of traffic and allow for easy access and egress, while keeping staff safe in the event of an attack. The Safeguard doors specified provide LPS 1175 security standards to SR3 & SR4 classification. The Safeguard range is designed to significantly reduce the ability of forced entry using both mechanical and powered tools, rigorously tested using heavy-duty mechanical and powered tools, with a fire rating of up to one-hour as standard.

■ For more information on ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions visit www.rdr.link/lan022 Framexpress launches fully certified fire doors Leading trade fabricator, Framexpress, has launched its own complete range of Composite Fire, Smoke and Security Doorset Solutions. The range, Fire Doors by Framexpress, is fully compliant with the latest ‘Building a Safer Future — An Implementation Plan’ guidelines from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities and gives installation companies confidence that the fire doors they are fitting offer the appropriate fire resistance to keep buildings and occupants safe.

Ensuring the highest standards of specification and performance, Fire Doors by Framexpress only uses the highest specification and partners, including Winkhaus and its FireFrame FD30 doorsets in the range. FireFrame utilises a purpose-developed GRP with fire resistant additives. This works in conjunction with an AV2 autolocking system, proven to limit door leaf distortion during fire testing, to provide 30 minutes fire protection.

■ For more information on the Fire Doors by Framexpress range visit www.rdr.link/lan023 National award for fire prevention and protection work Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has seen two members of staff and the entire Protection Team recognised for their outstanding contributions to building and fire safety at the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Prevention and Protection Awards 2023. Adam Postlethwaite, Protection Training and Development Manager, won the ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ in the Protection category for his work developing fire safety regulators at a service, regional and national level. Sarah Hardman, Prevention Development Officer, was a joint winner in the Prevention category following her achievements in the field of Home Safety, including the development and implementation of the Home Fire Safety Assessment, which helps at-risk residents receive free fire safety advice and equipment.

The GMFRS Protection Team also won the ‘Team Award’ for their work across our city-region in relation to building and business safety.

■ More information here www.rdr.link/lan024

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New Cavius Relay Unit Kidde Safety Europe’s new Cavius Relay unit serves as a dedicated connection between smoke and heat alarms, and third-party safety systems in the event of a fire. Enabling an emergency signal to be transmitted to systems such as telecare systems, strobe lights and sounders, this offers an ideal specification for dwellings that house vulnerable people and where Equality Act compliance is essential. It is an interface between Cavius RF smoke and heat alarms and hard-wired third-party inputs (such as fire panels, break glass boxes and sprinkler flow switches) and output systems (such as telecare systems, strobes and sounders).

When any of the input devices are triggered, it sends a message to the unit, which in turn activates all the other appliances within the system, quickly raising the alarm and ensuring the safety of building occupants.

■ To discover more on Kidde’s product range visit www.rdr.link/lan025 JB Red Batten receives CCPI verification Marley’s JB Red Batten is one of the first construction products to achieve verification with the new Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI). Developed following the Hackett review into Building Regulations and fire safety, the CCPI is backed with industry support, and aims to change the way construction product manufacturers manage and provide information on products.

The third-party verification means that users of a specific product can have confidence that it has been fully assessed across a series of 11 clauses. They include the internal product information sign off process, removal of misleading or ambiguous wording in product descriptions, availability of documentation to support specific product claims, and a robust and ongoing training programme to ensure product knowledge is only relayed by competent personnel.

■ For more information on the CCPI accredition, or Marley JB Red Batten visit www.rdr.link/lan026

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The next evolution in Home Life Safety The newest innovation in Multi-Sensor alarms from Aico is the Ei3030 Multi-Sensor Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm.

The Ei3030 combines individual Optical, Heat and CO sensors, and includes: ● Fire Response — The device contains a Thermistor Heat Sensor and high-performance Optical Sensor that intelligently work together, but will also operate independently. ● CO Response — The proven electrochemical CO Sensor provides an accurate CO response. The CO response is in line with BS EN 50291-1:2018. ● Visual Indicators — The Ei3030 has visual Fire and CO indicators. The relevant indicator flashes depending on what has triggered the alarm. ● Kitemarks — This device holds Kitemarks for British Standards BS EN 14604:2005, BS 5446-2:2003 and BS EN 50291-1:2018.

The Ei3030 also features built-in dust compensation technology.

The specific self-monitoring dust compensation mechanism reduces the risk of false alarms. The optical sensor chamber continually self-monitors minute changes in dust levels, automatically recalibrating the alarm’s trigger point when necessary to reduce false alarms. The Ei3030 can also be fitted in any room where both Fire and CO protection is required (excluding the kitchen) meaning coverage can be provided with fewer alarms.

The product utilises an easi-fit base, is mains powered, has a 10year rechargeable lithium cell backup, and is compatible with other Aico mains-powered units. The device is also compatible with the Ei3000MRF Module for wireless interconnection and data extraction via the Ei1000G Gateway, and includes Aico’s AudioLINK+ technology.

■ To learn more about the Ei3030 alarm, please visit www.rdr.link/lan027

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SPECIAL REPORT: ENSURING ELECTRICAL SAFETY IN SOCIAL HOUSING

Image ©joe888/AdobeStock. According to the 2018/2019 Home Office Fire Statistics, 9% of all fires within the social housing sector were ignited by problems with electrical components

Electrical safety and compliance Following changes in legislation to standardise processes across the board, greater scrutiny is being placed on electrical safety and compliance in the local authority sector.

Therefore, manufacturers must be on hand to support electrical professionals to ensure this, Hager tells LABM.

The Hager pilot App for the AFDD with ProTools arc fault detection device

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ontractors and installers should partner with manufacturers who boast high-quality products and a comprehensive understanding of the latest regulations. As well as those who offer robust, innovative, and safe products built to last that are kinder to our planet.

In this article, Hager UK explains: ● The latest Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023. ● The importance of using quality, safe and robust products ● How manufacturers can support contractors in meeting targets — including financial, sustainability, safety, and productivity Shockingly, the Electrical Safety Roundtable’s Social Housing Sub-Group revealed that 25% of social housing properties don’t have the Government’s recommended five electrical safety features. On top of this, 12% failed the Government’s Decent Homes criteria.

The 2018/2019 Home Office Fire Statistics outline that 9% of all fires within the social housing sector were ignited by problems with electrical components (such as wiring,

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cabling, or plugs). Of those fires, 317 led to fatalities or injuries. This highlights the dangers and risks that not installing quality items, conducting regular inspections, and having compliant products can lead to.

Safe and decent homes Hager UK, a business passionate about supplying quality, robust, and safe products, is advocating for all properties across the UK to be fit-for-purpose and kinder to our environment. Here, they share how manufacturers can (and should) support the industry to ensure that this becomes the new normal.

It’s clear that more must be done industry-wide to ensure that all properties are safe. Contractors have always adhered to rules and regulations, understanding that they have a duty of care for residents housed within their properties. That said, previous legislation has proved subjective — for example, it outlined that all housing should be ‘safe and decent’.

In order to address this, Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Government have placed greater focus on this sector to ensure a consistent and standardised approach is being adopted nationwide. However, this overwhelming scrutiny is having a detrimental effect on some professionals within the sector, as it’s hindering creativity and innovation for fear it might be received negatively or dismissed. Due to this, there’s much discussion about this particular topic currently within the industry.

Last June, the Government hosted a consultation about electrical safety in the social rented sector, and the results sparked the introduction of the latest legislation — the Social Housing (Regulation) Act. Brought into effect in July this year, it outlines the terms of approved schemes for the investigation of housing complaints, and is intended to ignite the beginning of a proactive approach to electrical safety.

Adhering to — and where possible, exceeding — these regulations is key.

Local authorities across the UK strive to keep up with regulatory changes and enhance their understanding of the industry as a whole. That said these amendments can prove costly. For many, it can result in a complete renewal or upgrade of electrical equipment to meet

The Electrical Safety “Roundtable’s Social Housing Sub-Group revealed that 25% of social housing properties don’t have the Government’s recommended five electrical safety features.

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these new targets — which can incur significant time and financial costs. Not to mention the unnecessary waste due to regular replacement of products.

So, what is the solution?

In terms of a long-term solution, there’s scope for a holistic support package that manufacturers can offer to the local authority sector — including regular training, updates on regulatory changes, and ad-hoc help and guidance to ensure compliance is met and end-users are safe.

Contractors need to collaborate with manufacturers who offer clear advice, guidance, and support regarding compliance, as well as boast robust, longlasting, and safe products. With times tougher than ever before due to the current cost-of-living crisis, and budgets being stretched across an array of departments, investing in quality products is a must.

Not only will it provide contractors with assurances that a compliant, compatible, and capable component has been installed, but also that work is completed safely, accurately and to the highest standard — every time.

To truly get best value, contractors should purchase products that retrofit into older systems, and offer intelligent updates regardless of existing (or future) processes that are introduced. At Hager UK, we’re proud to have launched our latest solution in the residential market.

The AFDD with ProTools — an Arc Fault Detection Device manufactured to the very highest German engineering standards.

With safety always a priority, this AFDD was created with additional safety features included as standard. The circuit doesn’t

Hager’s next generation of single module wide AFDDs all come with advanced ProTools diagnostic software

need to be re-energised when tripped to identify the cause of the fault, allowing the consumer unit to be left in a safe condition until troubleshooting can be concluded — protecting both the end-user and the contractor. It also contains a microprocessor which runs a sophisticated algorithm which continuously checks the circuit for any indication of an arc fault.

While existing testing programmes are compatible currently, should other manufacturers create electrical devices with different waveform signatures in the future, the device may no longer be suitable.

Instead, it may cause it to trip, require immediate attention, and potentially need entire product replacement or upgrade.

But, the AFDD with ProTools is able to intelligently modify the algorithm to accommodate new product signatures as and when required. Our solution is futureproof thanks to the unique diagnostic software and regular automatic in-situ upgrades, allowing contractors to have total peace of mind that safe, innovative, and long-lasting equipment is installed throughout their properties.

■ For more information about Hager’s AFDD with ProTools, visit www.rdr.link/lan028

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SPECIAL REPORT: SELECTING SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS

Graffiti removal For local authorities, maintaining facilities and ensuring that they remain fit for purpose is crucial — but it can be a big undertaking. To make the process as hassle free as possible, councils should select trusted supply chain partners. Here, Dulux Trade explains what to look for from a paints and coatings supplier and shares an example of the added support it offered on a project in Eastleigh town centre.

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hen resources and budget are tight, it is important to make sure that any refurbishment work is carefully planned. As part of this, local authorities should lean on the expertise of their supply chain partners to make sure that the correct products are chosen. This is particularly crucial for paints and coatings as they play a vital role in preserving buildings. If the right solutions are selected, they can improve aesthetics and reduce maintenance cycles — including the associated costs and disruption.

A great example of this is Dulux Trade’s recent work with Eastleigh Borough Council. Its products were specified for the redecoration of a multi-

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storey car park in Eastleigh town centre — uplifting the aesthetic and ensuring the professional finish can be easily maintained for years to come.

Eastleigh’s Dulux Trade upgrade Eastleigh Borough Council was looking to increase the use of its long-stay car parking facility. However, frequent graffiti had been acting as a barrier to use. As such, the council wanted to improve the aesthetic of the space and combat the ongoing graffiti problem. Having worked with Dulux Decorator Centre on another project, Eastleigh Borough Council reached out to arrange a site visit and asked for a recommendation for redecorating the stairwells and main car parking levels.

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Following the visit, the Dulux Decorator Centre team created a bespoke specification that would enable Eastleigh Borough Council to revive the car park and easily remove any future graffiti. This would therefore reduce the need to carry out costly and disruptive redecoration work every time new graffiti was applied.

The perfect specification The team recommended Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth Masonry Paint followed by a finish coat of Dulux Trade Anti-Graffiti Clearcoat. Together these products deliver a tough, long-lasting finish.

Craig Wilson, Technical Specification Manager at Dulux Decorator Centre, explains more about the specification:

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“To ensure a professional standard finish, I suggested that the existing graffiti be removed prior to redecoration. I provided the details of a professional cleaning company to steam clean the walls and remove all graffiti, dirt, mould, and other contaminants prior to the decoration works taking place.

“For the application we selected Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth Masonry Paint as it features unique Stay Clean technology that protects against dirt and mould growth within the paint film for long lasting colour and finish. It also protects against all weather conditions for up to 15 years — providing Eastleigh Borough Council with a durable solution that will keep the car park in peak condition for longer. We also selected Dulux Trade AntiGraffiti Clearcoat as it dries to a tough gloss finish, making it much easier to remove future graffiti and maintain the building.”

The team also recommended the use of

“The Dulux Decorator Centre team created a bespoke specification that would enable Eastleigh Borough Council to revive the car park and easily remove any future graffiti.”

Dulux Trade’s Metalshield Gloss for metalwork and Weathershield Exterior High Gloss for use on timber. Dulux Trade AntiGraffiti Clearcoat was also chosen for un-coated block walls.

Additional support provided The Dulux Decorator Centre team also recommended a contractor who could complete the redecoration work for Eastleigh Borough Council. They supplied the details of numerous trusted Dulux

Connect members and KAR Contractors were selected for the job.

Rob May, Commercial Director at KAR Contractors says: “We were thrilled that the Dulux team put us forward for this project — and even happier that we were successful in winning the work. The products selected for this project were easy to apply and will keep the car park looking its best for years to come thanks to their durability and ease to clean. We would definitely recommend using Dulux Trade Weathershield and AntiGraffiti Clearcoat moving forward on other projects.”

■ To find out more about Dulux Trade Weathershield and Anti-Graffiti Clearcoat visit www.rdr.link/lan029 ■ For further specification advice, visit the Dulux Decorator Centre website www.rdr.link/lan034

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

Low maintenance, long lifecycle bathrooms

Bathrooms are one of the most frequently used rooms in a property, so making sure they perform well and offer long-term value for money can be a challenge for affordable housing providers. Here, Steph Harris, Product Manager at Showerwall discusses why wall panels are becoming an increasingly popular choice for landlords when it comes to delivering low maintenance and long lifecycle bathrooms.

A social housing bathroom after the installation of Showerwall’s wall panels

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s well as being one of the most used rooms within a home, bathrooms also have to cope with steam, heat and water, which all pose challenges for the appearance, condition and cleanliness of walls. While ceramic tiling has traditionally been used to address these issues, problems such as mildewed grouting, loose tiles and splash-marked walls are common.

Waterproof wall panels are proving an increasingly popular alternative solution for social housing landlords, with design and innovation making them a genuine choice for modern interiors, while still offering value and convenience.

Making the switch from tiles to wall panels can be made easier for maintenance teams with training support from manufacturers like Showerwall. Made for affordable housing, Showerwall’s Laminate

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

We’re currently fitting “Showerwall panels as part of our programme of bathroom upgrades and the feedback has been great, from our operatives and tenants alike.

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wall panels offer a cost-effective alternative to tiles, providing a fully waterproof wall panelling system designed to suit any bathroom renovation or new build project.

When it comes to retrofitting or installing new bathrooms, giving fitters the chance to get hands-on with wall panels and to ask questions of product experts can help landlords swiftly deliver low maintenance, long lifecycle bathrooms.

Showerwall’s wall panels in Silver Grey

Reducing time and costs One housing provider to benefit is Southway Housing, as Maintenance Manager Dave Fitzgerald explains: “We were looking for a solution that would enable us to reduce labour time and cost, but also increase the longevity of our bathroom upgrades. We currently maintain around 7,000 properties and needed a product that would be quick to fit but that would also fit the bill and provide a low maintenance, waterproof wallcovering.

“Our building materials provider suggested wall panels and we met with Showerwall who agreed to undertake onsite product and installation training. The training was so helpful and has been really useful for our operatives, as it gives them a chance to ask questions and discuss any issues around installation. I would recommend the training to other housing providers as this gives your team a chance to work with the product under the instruction of an experienced installer.

Also, if any issues or questions do arise, then the trainer is on hand to provide the answers and guidance.

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“We’re currently fitting Showerwall panels as part of our programme of bathroom upgrades and the feedback has been great, from our operatives and tenants alike. The benefits over tiles are numerous, with less time to install, minimal maintenance and no grout.

“The Sureseal sealing system also provides really good protection compared to standard silicone on tiles. Tile grout and sealant failing is a major cause of leaks and repair work in a lot of our properties’ bathrooms and the Showerwall kit is a good alternative that provides additional protection from leaks. We would definitely recommend Showerwall to other affordable housing providers.”

to last and easy to maintain. Ideal for use as part of bath replacements or shower enclosure upgrades, this solid grout-free surface eliminates hiding places for mould, dirt or germs, a simple wipe-clean solution.

Meeting the growing demand for housing is a national challenge and ensuring that all properties remain up to standard is an ongoing priority. Showerwall has been developed with this in mind, ensuring that renovations and upgrades are completed as quickly as possible, whilst also providing a long-lasting solution.

Showerwall offers free trial material and on-site installation training for maintenance managers and specifiers; please email info@showerwall.co.uk for more information.

Hardwearing solution

■ To find out more about the Showerwall product range or to order your copy of the new Affordable Housing Collection brochure, please visit www.rdr.link/lan030

Fast and easy to install, the panels do not require specialist trades. They provide a cost-effective solution that can be fitted directly over tiles or direct to plaster or plasterboard, resulting in a hardwearing waterproof wall panel system that is built

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS

Trust your lift provider Steve Hill, National Sales Manager for UK home lift manufacturer, Terry Lifts explains the importance of stable supply chain partnerships during these challenging times, and why there is no room for compromise when it comes to selecting a home lift supplier.

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s another challenging year comes to an end attention will soon turn to the new financial year and budgets. While there may be some areas where cuts can be made (yes, further still!), there are others where the impact on resident welfare is just too great. One such area is improved access to rooms, facilities, or gardens, for example with a home, step or platform lift.

We work with many local authorities supporting vulnerable and elderly residents with home access solutions.

While some residents in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland may gain financial

A through-floor home lift should comply with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and the requirements of BS 5900:2012

support through a Disabled Facilities Grant, that’s not always the case.

We fear that as the stranglehold on council spending grows ever tighter, efficiencies may put residents at greater risk.

To prevent this we are encouraging procurement, facilities and maintenance teams to pay close attention to the standards and professionalism of their chosen home lift supplier and their products.

Investing in a high quality and reliable lift from a proven and trusted supplier will be more cost-effective in the long run.

Stable supply chain partner

It’s important to consider the stability of the supply chain when specifying lifts

Firstly, consider the supply chain, is it stable? Is the lift manufactured in Britain?

Where are the components manufactured?

How does the lift company manage its supply chain? These are all valid and important questions.

The pandemic exposed the vulnerability of some UK lift companies, those whose products are shipped in from abroad. Delays and soaring shipping costs hit hard. With end-users feeling the brunt.

A UK supply chain makes problem solving easier. Over the years we have received numerous requests and questions. Sometimes this sparks an idea for a tweak or development to an existing

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product. And because our suppliers are on our doorstep, we can react to this, quickly. It’s the same if there is ever an issue, we can act fast and remedy it.

There’s no waiting for weeks while the solution crosses the water.

Made in Britain Our supply chain is huge. We use between 50-60 suppliers regularly and utilise almost every part of British manufacturing, from electronics and hydraulics to fabrication, turning, pressing, and punching to name a few.

We are incredibly proud to support British talent. This is one of the reasons we applied to be Made in Britain accredited.

As a Made in Britain member, customers recognise that Terry Lifts products are British-made and are manufactured to the highest standards.

The mark promotes trust and confidence.

On awarding the accreditation Made in Britain CEO, John Pearce said: “Terry Lifts epitomises the innovation, consistency and resilience that are embedded in the DNA of the British manufacturing sector. Terry Lifts’ existing and potential customers can clearly see that the company’s products adhere to the highest standards and are of truly British provenance.”

Quality and compliance Then of course, there’s the question of quality. Divergences in global standards can

Divergences in global “standards can lead to quality and reliability issues.

Lifts manufactured here in Britain are subject to British and European standards, and are produced by trained, skilled engineers.

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lead to quality and reliability issues. Lifts manufactured here in Britain are subject to British and European standards, and are produced by trained, skilled engineers. This isn’t the case for every home lift supplier currently selling products in the UK. A through-floor home lift should comply with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. But, perhaps, more important, is compliance with the requirements of BS 5900:2012.

A through the floor lift requires an opening to be created for the lift to pass through when travelling from floor to floor.

This instantly breaks the fire integrity and removes the fire protection of the first-floor structure — potentially enabling a fire to move freely between floors.

To minimise risk, it is vital that an independently certificated through the floor lift is specified. Look for a product that complies with BS 5900:2012 (Powered home lifts with partially enclosed carriers and no lift way enclosures) and is independently tested by an approved Notified Body. A compliant product will maintain the fire and smoke protection between floors, whether it is parked upstairs or downstairs.

British-based expertise Underpinning this is access to help and expertise, locally. Whether that’s via an approved and trusted network of agents and partners or in-house advisors. With a British manufacturer there’s often an expert in each area of the business including design, manufacture and installation, individuals who can offer guidance and support throughout the procurement process and beyond.

After-sales care and support are vital when appointing a lift access provider.

Some lift suppliers also offer training, sharing their expertise with facilities managers and maintenance teams, amongst others, allowing for repair and maintenance to be carried out to a professional and approved standard.

■ For more information on Terry Lifts and their range of lifts visit www.rdr.link/lan031

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & DISABILITY NEEDS ROUND-UP Kitchens made safer thanks to new Grab-a-Rail AKW, a leading provider of bathroom accessibility solutions, is producing Grab-a-Rail, an easy and quick to install solution that will help to make kitchens safer to move around and more accessible. The strong counter-level grab rail, developed by Steve Michael, Director of Senior Homes Solutions, has been designed to give users increased independence and reduce their risk of falls when navigating the kitchen space.

Grab-a-Rail will initially be available in white from AKW and is available in 1,000mm and 600mm lengths. It has eight fixing points, ensuring that when it is installed under the countertop it is strong enough to support up to 15.5 stone (100 kg) of downward pressure, as validated by University of Birmingham tests1.

Designed to be installed on cupboard and drawer units, Grab-aRail can be retrofitted to most kitchen countertops, however tests with granite surfaces are still ongoing.

Stuart Reynolds, UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW, comments: “Our company strapline is ‘Life Made Better’, so when Steve approached us with his design and test results from the University of Birmingham, we were very interested. The kitchen is a notoriously difficult space to move around for those with mobility or visual impairments and this simple, easy to install solution will make life better for many.”

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The University of Birmingham carried out tests under its AMCASH (Advanced Materials Characterisation And Simulation Hub) project.

■ To find out more download Grab-a-Rail information from visit www.rdr.link/lan032

Advertisement index Here is a useful summary of all the adverts that appear in this issue of Local Authority Building & Maintenance.

Each is listed with its page number and a direct URL that will get you straight to the relevant online information

A. Proctor Group ..................(page 7) www.rdr.link/LAN1 00

DoorCo ................................(page 35) www.rdr.link/LAN1 05

Rockwool UK Ltd............(page 2/IFC) www.rdr.link/LAN1 1 1

A. Proctor Group ........(page 52/OBC) www.rdr.link/LAN1 00

Horne Engineering Co Ltd ..(page 47) www.rdr.link/LAN1 06

Samuel Heath & Sons ........(page 31) www.rdr.link/LAN1 1 2

Aico Ltd ..............................(page 32) www.rdr.link/LAN1 01

Ideal Heating Ltd ................(page 43) www.rdr.link/LAN1 07

Sunray Timber Fire ..Doors (page 39) www.rdr.link/LAN1 1 3

AKW Medi-Care ..................(page 47) www.rdr.link/LAN1 02

LABM ONLINE ....................(page 20) www.rdr.link/LAN1 08

The Dwelling Doctors Ltd ....(page 9) www.rdr.link/LAN1 1 4

Andreas Stihl Ltd ................(page 13) www.rdr.link/LAN1 03

Mitsubishi Electric ................(page 4) www.rdr.link/LAN1 09

BPD ....................................(page 23) www.rdr.link/LAN1 04

ProBuilder Live ..................(page 44) www.rdr.link/LAN1 1 0

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UNDER WARRANTY in association with

Strengthening communities through structural warranties Andrew Gunning from Global Home Warranties delves into how local authorities can harness the benefits of structural warranties to ensure safer, well-constructed social housing and affordable living solutions, fostering lasting community connections.

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ocal authorities stand as pioneers in the realm of innovative housing initiatives, continually striving to foster vibrant, resilient communities. As the housing landscape undergoes rapid transformations, a powerful tool has emerged to potentially revolutionise how local authorities approach their new building stock: structural warranties. Traditionally associated with the private sector, these warranties are gaining prominence as a means to fortify communities.

Addressing the affordable housing The pursuit of affordable housing remains a central challenge for local authorities.

Structural warranties offer a pivotal contribution by providing a safety net against major structural damage, water ingress, and poor build quality. This assurance provides local authorities with the confidence to mitigate unforeseen expenses, ultimately making affordable housing more accessible and sustainable for residents seeking homeownership.

Cultivating confidence High-quality social housing forms the bedrock of strong communities. Leveraging structural warranties as incentives for home tenancy and shared ownership showcases the commitment of local authorities to uphold standardised building practices. By partnering with warranty providers, local authorities reinforce property standards, reducing risks, and enhancing long-term community value. Additionally, these warranties facilitate tenants' aspirations of homeownership by meeting lending institutions' criteria.

Attracting and retaining residents In a competitive real estate environment, local authorities must attract and retain residents. Offering structural warranties distinguishes them as proactive entities invested in residents’ welfare. The assurance of a structural warranty becomes a compelling reason for families to settle in and for existing occupants to remain within the community, fostering stability and growth.

Alleviating financial strain The unpredictability of major repairs poses financial burdens for both local authorities and tenants. Structural warranties play a crucial role in mitigating such uncertainties, covering poor workmanship, latent defects, and significant damages. While not a comprehensive home insurance policy, these warranties provide essential reassurance and financial protection against construction-related issues.

Collaborative partnerships The success of structural warranty programs hinges on robust partnerships between local authorities and reputable contractors. Establishing these collaborations ensures efficient, highstandard repairs covered by warranties, benefiting not just authorities but also contributing to the local economy by supporting community businesses.

Addressing concerns Misconceptions about structural warranties can impede their adoption. Local authorities must proactively address concerns regarding coverage limitations and costs.

Clear and transparent communication

fosters understanding and trust, ensuring both authorities and homeowners are aware of the programme’s benefits.

Steps towards integration Implementing structural warranties requires a systematic approach. A step-by-step guide aids local authorities in selecting reputable warranty providers, communicating benefits to internal construction teams, and establishing administrative procedures. This approach fosters trust, ensuring quality construction and reassurance for future occupants.

Structural warranties are emerging as transformative tools for local authorities, reshaping the landscape of housing initiatives. Their integration marks a pivotal step toward offering affordable, well built housing and redefining the relationship between local authorities and potential homeowners. As the housing paradigm evolves, these warranties are poised to play a central role in shaping the future of local authority housing initiatives.

■ More information on Global Home Warranties and its services here www.globalhomewarranties.com

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