Your BESA Issue 13

YOUR

Issue 13

Welcome to our new President

BESA National Conference & Awards 2019 Confidence returns to contracting

Also in this issue Future Leaders at the House of Lords P8 REFCOM and World Refrigeration Day P13 Critical Damper Testing P15 BESA launches vent hygiene safety scheme P27

www.theBESA.com

@BESAGroup

BESA Group

The World’s first Fire Damper Inspection app

COMING SOON

BESA chief executive David Frise

Welcome

YOUR BESA - ISSUE 13 In this issue:

David Frise

PrESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

P04

MEMBERSHIP

P07

WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY

P13

TECHNICAL NEWS

P15

BESA NATIONAL CONFERENCE

P20

UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK

P28

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

P30

Climate and social change must go hand-in-hand In one of her last acts as Prime Minister, Theresa May committed the government to achieving the zero carbon targets recommended by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

The Association believes these are eminently achievable, and could spark much needed economic growth and provide welcome social benefits.

have to be a massive investment in extra grid capacity to support electrification of heating alongside the rapid expansion of electric transport. If we try to emulate France, where they are fitting 240,000 heat pumps a year – while suddenly plugging in tens of thousands of new electric cars – our existing grid will simply fall over.

Of course, it will not be Mrs May’s government that delivers on this promise – they will be long gone and the target will be reviewed in five years’ time anyway – nevertheless it is welcome.

Opportunities

Major improvements to the insulation and energy efficiency of existing buildings as well as a wholesale shift from fossil fuel-based heating were central planks of the CCC’s recommendations. It estimated that the transition to green heating systems would cost about £15bn a year up to 2050 and would involve widespread adoption of heat pumps in place of conventional boiler driven central heating and an acceleration in the use of district heating and hydrogen.

The technical changes should not pose a problem to BESA members, but converting the UK’s 24.5 million existing homes to low/zero carbon power is a huge logistical challenge. There will also

All of this should create huge business opportunities for the building engineering sector and lead to further job creation. However, we will not be able to deliver net zero targets unless we also implement the compliance culture revolution called for by Dame Judith Hackitt in her review of building regulations and safety. That will also require investors in buildings to face up to their responsibilities and address some of the social unfairness that emerged from the Grenfell inquiry.

High quality, low carbon systems can lift thousands of families out of fuel poverty by slashing energy bills, but more importantly they will be part of a retrofit programme that creates a legacy of high quality housing and facilities supporting social mobility, opportunity and more healthy living conditions for thousands of families.

However, if we continue to view buildings as purely financial investments, the problems of quantity and quality will persist. We need to recognise that building homes is also a ‘social’ investment that is central to improving the health and well-being of our communities.

BESA members can play a huge part in delivering a fantastic legacy, but achieving our technical goals will require clients to insist on seeing evidence of competence – as proposed by Dame Judith. If you want high quality buildings – both new build and retrofit – then you must be prepared to invest in using competent people and to take full responsibility for the impact of your work on the lives of the people who inhabit them. .

Follow David on Twitter: @outsiderwrecker4 Your BESA Magazine is produced and managed

by Open Box Media and Communications Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)121 200 7820 Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information given, the publisher - the BESA Group; or Open Box Media and Communications Ltd - the production managers; cannot accept liability for loss or damage arising from the information supplied.

The inclusion of adverts and information herein does not in any way imply or include endorsement or the approval of, or from, the BESA Group.

3

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

Huge opportunities lie ahead much work has been done to deliver improvements.

However, the tragedy of Grenfell Tower was the biggest shadow to hang over my time in office. I was elected just a few weeks after the disaster so the subsequent inquiry and ongoing soul searching have been a constant reminder of why BESA is so focussed on competence and compliance – and why our members must remain vigilant and committed to quality in everything we do.

Tim Hopkinson looks back on an eventful two years as BESA President and ahead to a future full of possibilities The Association went through a period of major change during my time as President – and has, without doubt, emerged stronger. Our ups and downs very much reflected the journey experienced by the industry as a whole, but the final state of trade survey of my period in office (see page 9) shows that confidence is returning…cautiously.

If the many challenges we have faced and hurdles overcome have proved one thing, it is that the Association remains more relevant than ever. Without the hard work of David Frise and his BESA Group teams, the sector would be in a much darker place.

The difficulties we have faced, as an industry, in the last two years showed all too clearly the potential there is for anarchy to break out if we do not have the structure created by BESA to deliver technical standards; to support business needs; to manage rates of pay and, most importantly, to support training and apprenticeships.

4

BESA Group Companies:

We should never underestimate the importance of BESA to the sector and should celebrate that it is still going strong after 115 years – still supporting members in good times and bad, and still pressing governments for change.

It has been quite a turbulent time in the last two years: The political mess of Brexit, which meant the government dropped the ball spectacularly in terms of vital social issues like energy; housing; health and education and the collapse of Carillion and its impact on hundreds of excellent businesses and thousands of their employees.

The latter made us redouble our efforts on late payment and retentions – and we have successes to celebrate. Project bank accounts are now being widely adopted and the government has promised to exclude poor payers from public sector projects above £5m from this September.

Time will tell if this proves more effective than previous late payment ‘initiatives’ but

TRAINING

Grenfell will have an enormous impact on our industry. It is not transforming working practices as quickly as we all might have hoped, but even the worst offenders cannot ignore the lessons unpicked by the Hackitt Review. The government will legislate – it has no choice, but the secret for our sector is to make sure clients are talking to us – the employers who have invested in our people and our processes – and insisting on evidence of competence.

Putting buildings right will create fantastic business opportunities for BESA members going forward – and not just in terms of safety, but also in quality so they become better places to live, work and play…and so they reduce their impact on the environment.

My two years in office have been a bumpy ride, but also a hugely enjoyable one – and the future holds great promise.

I am delighted to be passing on the presidential baton to John Norfolk with the confidence that our Association is able to look ahead with renewed optimism, has a strong and committed team, and a strategy that will allow us to build on solid foundations.

Members are our greatest strength A welcome from new BESA President, John Norfolk

contribute to the “bigger picture” of improving building performance for the greater benefit of society.

Our dedication to our three pillars – technical standards and compliance; skills; and support provided by the BESA ‘community’ – will be increasingly helpful for members looking to succeed in today’s challenging economic and political circumstances.

It is a great honour to be writing my first welcome article in Your BESA as President of this great Association, which has been supporting and representing our industry for 115 years.

We are not blind to the competition – not least the ‘Google Effect’, which prompts people to argue they don’t need a trade association because they can find everything they need online.

The value of our BESA community is that we exchange views and share expertise – we meet, debate and work together. If you are not physically in the room, you will miss that valuable conversation and that priceless nugget of knowledge that is not on Google.

We have a proud history and a deep reservoir of specialist knowledge to call upon – and members have always been our greatest asset.

The Association has long provided us with the opportunity to come together as colleagues and competitors to share expertise, experience and problems – and to pool our knowledge for the greater good.

“The value of our BESA community is that we exchange views and share expertise – we meet, debate and work together”

I am also hugely grateful to my predecessor Tim Hopkinson, who took on the extra burden of a second year in office in order to steer the Association through some choppy waters.

It is no secret that we went through a tricky period, but Tim managed to steady the ship in his first year before putting in place some crucial building blocks over the past 12 months.

He set us back on course and, crucially, rejuvenated BESA’s engagement with its membership. This is something I intend to build on as we prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead because never has your specialist knowledge been more in demand and more valuable.

We are in the midst of major technical and philosophical change in this country, which will transform the way we work and thrust our industry into the limelight.

BESA’s role is to help its members succeed and, by encouraging more companies to join us, we can have more leverage to drive vital improvements to the built environment from which everyone in our society can benefit.

As president I look forward to continuing the Association’s excellent work and helping to prove why being a member is more relevant and valuable than ever – underpinned by the deep pool of knowledge and expertise gathered by and for members over more than a century.

It is an ongoing challenge for all industry bodies to demonstrate the value of membership, but at BESA we always aim to ensure that our activities provide tangible benefits for individuals as well as the member company. Our work should also

5

Air flow (m3/s x 1,000)

Delivering Optimised Indoor Air Quality

40

Daikin Applied (UK) Ltd designs and manufactures a range of Air Handling Units from standard modular units to more complex bespoke systems, which are designed to

34

provide inherent flexibility that can be configured and combined specifically to meet the exact requirements of any healthcare building. Our AHU’s are designed to be the most

28

environmentally friendly and energy efficient on the market, thus reducing their ecological impact, whilst keeping costs down through the minimisation of energy consumption.

25

Combined with the small physical footprint of the system, these features make our Air Handling Units ideal for your application.

22

19

16

14

D-AHU

11

Professional

D-AHU Modular R

5.5

0

0.21 m 3/s up to 40 m 3/s

0.13 m3/s up to 6.95 m3/s

D-AHU Modular P

D-AHU Modular L

0.13 m³/s up to 14.16 m³/s

0.07 m3/s up to 0.7 m3/s

For all your AHU, Chiller, Spares & Service enquiries contact us on:

0345 565 2700

6

BESA Group Companies:

www.daikinapplied.uk

TRAINING

MEMBERSHIP

Meet the BESA Regional Team Say hello to our Regional Team! There have been a few changes over the past year so we thought it would be useful to provide an update of who is who and what areas they cover.

The biggies worth mentioning are the introduction of Jenny House, who will be looking after BESA Affiliates as well as Central London. Natasha Gardner, who previously worked as part of the BESA Training team now looks after the North West and Yorkshire regions. Iain McCaskey as well as being the Head of Scotland and Northern Ireland has recently taken over the North East and Cumbria regions and Catherine Griffith-Williams, Head of Wales, has also taken on Bristol and Gloucester.

All our Regional Team are on hand to help with any queries or if you would like to discuss how to get the most out of your membership, remember the team are only a phone call or an email away.

Scotland, Northern Ireland & North East England Iain McCaskey 07860 794 734 Iain.McCaskey@theBESA.com

Northern England

We also have Brian Litster, BESA Membership Services Manager who will be happy to help with any subscription or membership queries. You can contact Brian on 01768 861701 or brian.lister@theBESA.com

Natasha Gardner 07557 002 871 Natasha.Gardner@theBESA.com

It’s that time of year again, when we ask you to provide us with your up to date contact details.

It is vital we have your most recent information so you can receive all the latest BESA updates and news.

To update your details visit www.theBESA.com/ members-admin/

Wales / Cymru Catherine Griffiths-Williams 07967 347 883 Catherine.Griffith-Williams@theBESA.com

Midlands & South West Janet Shelley 07967 347 903 Janet.Shelley@theBESA.com

London & Affiliate Members Jenny House 07970 377 815 Jenny.House@theBESA.com

South East Louise Stoddart 07970 767 097 Louise.Stoddart@theBESA.com

7

Engineers ‘struggling’ with mental health Many building services engineers are finding it hard to cope with stress in the face of increasing time and financial pressures, according to chair of the BESA Future Leaders Reanna Taylor.

She said more engineers were now being forced to work “crazy hours” to keep on top of workloads and the additional stress and weight of responsibility were contributing to growing mental health problems.

The BESA group has been rolling out a programme of mental health ‘first aid’ training in a bid to get on top of the issue.

“This is a huge priority area for us,” said Reanna, who is also the current CIBSE Graduate of the Year. “Employers and

told a meeting of the Society of CIBSE Patrons ahead of their prestigious annual lunch in the House of Lords.

colleagues need to be more vigilant so they can spot the signs when someone is really struggling. Stress levels are rising as project times become more compressed and relatively junior engineers are being given responsibility for increasingly large packages of work.

“It is so important that people are trained to understand how to offer support. Often they just need to encourage the person to talk about how they are feeling,” she

She explained that mental health training was one of the “soft” skills being promoted by the Future Leaders group along with better communication and collaboration between professions. She also told the Patrons that the industry’s record on diversity was improving.

“Women in engineering are definitely on the rise,” she said. “That is fantastic for the industry because they bring freshness, new ideas and enthusiasm. It is so important that we embrace that and give them opportunities to develop and grow.”

Visit BESA’s mental health hub at: www.thebesa.com/mentalhealth

Why choose Field Management Software?

In today’s competitive facilities maintenance sector, it has become more important than ever for companies to compete with their rivals by driving up productivity, reducing operational costs but also ensuring service excellence and compliance. To this end, the demand for responsive field management software is quickly becoming something of a necessity among business owners.

So how can companies benefit from using management software?

• Visibility and Control – Thanks to the software’s integrated platform, managers can monitor their contract performance, customer KPIs, job profitability and engineer productivity – all at the touch of a button! A Customer Portal is ideal for giving clients access to their reports and asset health 24/7.

8

BESA Group Companies:

Some portals even enable customers to log their own reactive jobs, request or approve quotes and download copies of invoices and reports.

specifications and produce weekly planning reports for schedulers and customers. The software will ensure that visits and tasks are not missed.

• Companies can go paperless and invoice faster – Field management software can also work wonders when it comes to cutting workloads and increasing productivity. By going paperless and using an integrated mobile app, all data duplication and excessive paperwork is completely avoided.

Same day invoicing is achievable by auto-calculation of charges. Cash flow is improved whilst data duplication is removed thanks to the software’s ability to integrate existing accounts platforms including Sage, Quickbooks and Xero.

• Engineers can easily be mobilised With a responsive mobile app that works offline on smartphones or tablets, field engineers can be up to speed with all aspects of a job ahead of their site visit.

They can easily receive equipment information, a full site history and industry standard service sheets in realtime to aid give them the best possible chance of a first-time fix. They can also complete risk assessments to ensure health and safety compliance before work begins.

• Planned preventative maintenance is made easy – Powerful planning features include the ability to create full site asset registers, import industry standard task data such as SFG20

TRAINING

One of the leading providers is Joblogic, who offer all BESA members one free user license per business for life upon purchase of their software. Please contact onboarding@joblogic.com today.

BESA mourns ‘gentleman’ president Graham Manly made so many genuine friends through their business dealings.”

The whole building services sector united to pay tribute to hugely popular former BESA President Graham Manly OBE, who died in May. The Association said he was “an absolute gentleman and unifying figure, who leaves a huge legacy and whose death will be mourned right across the building engineering sector”.

Graham was one of the few people to have served as President of both BESA (then the HVCA) and CIBSE. He was also chairman of the industry’s research organisation BSRIA and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012 for his services to building engineering.

“The world of building services has lost one of its most influential and best loved figures,” said BESA President Tim Hopkinson. “He was a wonderful engineer and business leader, but arguably his greatest achievement was his ability to bring people together and to promote collaboration in a notoriously fragmented industry.

“He said himself that the greatest highlights of his career were related to people rather than buildings and that he was inspired by his father’s example to always treat people ethically and with respect. As a result, I can’t think of anyone who

Former HVCA chief executive Robert Higgs OBE added that it was not “only that Graham’s contribution to the industry was so immense, it is as much his style, personality and generosity of spirit that will be remembered”.

Throughout his 50-year career, Graham was a great champion of young people, devoting much of his time to mentoring students, particularly during his 15 years serving as a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Ambassador.

He joined the industry in 1962 when he began studying for a Higher National Diploma in environmental engineering at the National College of Heating, Ventilating, Refrigeration and Fan Engineering. Last year he received an honorary doctorate from the college in its current guise as the School of the Built Environment and Architecture – part of London South Bank University where he was also a visiting professor.

He was chairman of BSRIA in 1991/93; President of CIBSE in 2004/05; and President of the HVCA in 2009/10. He was also a director of Summit Skills and chair of the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies. Graham’s father Alfred also served as President of the HVCA in 1978/9.

Confidence returns to contracting

Outlook for the period to the end of the

75%

OF BUSINESSES SAW TURNOVER INCREASE OR REMAIN STEADY

UK CO NS T

OVER RN TU

The Building Engineering Business Survey found that 75% of businesses had seen their turnovers increase or remain steady during the first quarter of this year compared to the last three months of 2018.

second quarter was largely N & MAINTENA TIO NC retentions during the first quarter C positive, with almost U of this year.

R 29% of businesses “It is encouraging to see estimating their confidence returning to the turnover would rise. sector. However, the trend However, costs are towards higher labour costs also on the up with % will not be eased until we 58% of businesses ENGINEERING address our widening skills gap,” reporting higher SERVICES SECTOR said BESA chief executive David labour costs and 73% Frise. “This illustrates the increasingly seeing higher materials critical need to encourage young people costs compared to last year. into the industry via apprenticeships.”

Payment terms and retentions remain Overall, the engineering services sector is problematic with 81% saying the typical estimated to account for some 40% of UK number of days waiting to be paid for construction and maintenance turnover, work completed on commercial projects according to the latest figures. was 31 or more – 63% said that was the typical period on public sector projects.

For the full survey visit the Analysis and Forecasts section in the Members’ Area of 58% of businesses said between 1% the website. and 10% of their turnover was tied up in E

Building services contractors are feeling a bit more confident about the future, despite rising costs and persistent payment issues, according to our latest state of trade survey.

40

9

TRAINING

Apprenticeship levy changes to support SMEs The most recent changes to the apprenticeship levy should encourage more SMEs to take on apprentices.

The government is now willing to cover more training costs and levy payers are able to transfer more of their funding to other providers and employers.

Under new ‘co-investment’ rules that came into force in April, the government will cover 95% of the apprentice training costs for a nonlevy paying employer – meaning the company only has to find 5% of the training costs. If the apprentice was enrolled before April, the employer still has to fund 10% of the costs.

All employers are entitled to a £1,000 incentive from the government when hiring an apprentice aged 16-18 – and

an organisation with fewer than 50 employees will receive 100% funding from the levy for all apprentices aged 16-18.

If a levy payer has any unspent funding they can transfer it to another organisation – including firms in their supply chain – up to 25% of their total

fund. This provides another option for non-levy payers instead of co-investment and means that 100% of the apprenticeship training costs can be funded by the levy.

For more information and advice contact BESA Training: www.theBESA.com/training

Scottish skills can lead climate challenge Scotland has set more ambitious carbon reduction targets than the rest of the UK and BESA Scotland members are developing the skills to match.

Speaking at the annual BESA Scotland Awards for apprentices in the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh, BESA President Tim Hopkinson said the fact that Scotland had set a net zero carbon emissions target five years ahead of the rest of the UK was a huge opportunity for members.

access to the right quality of apprentices and the right kind of skills to equip your businesses for the challenges ahead,” said Mr Hopkinson.

Scottish Parliament member Colin Beattie (below), who hosted the awards, said Scotland was “extremely proud” of its building engineering industry, which he said was making a vital and growing contribution to the economy.

He highlighted the role of apprenticeships in ensuring the country had a workforce equipped to meet future challenges.

“There is very strong engagement with employers here in Scotland and [the Parliament] is delighted to host BESA’s awards because supporting young people is a fundamental part of ensuring companies have the skills they need to achieve their business goals.”

“The rest of the UK is looking to Scotland for leadership,” he told the audience of more than 200 people in the Holyrood building. “This is a fantastic opportunity. You have both the opportunity and the responsibility to turn political intentions into real, practical measures.”

BESA Scotland has enjoyed great support from employers for the new National Occupational Standards that will underpin qualifications and apprentices in Scotland for the next five years.

“This is an excellent example of how the Association works closely with companies across the sector to ensure you have

10

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

SKILLCARD

CRO route for Fire Sprinkler Installer set to close for new applications SKILLcard has started the next phase of the planned closure of CRO application routes.

Following the withdrawal of the CRO card for Medical Equipment Installers, the second route to begin closure is the Fire Sprinkler Installer card. The closure applies only to new applications at this stage. A new qualification route is now open in order to obtain a blue SKILLcard for that occupation.

The phase out of CRO cards is happening in order to deliver the Construction Leadership Council’s (CLC) 2025 vision.

As a result, card schemes carrying the CSCS logo including SKILLcard, must only certify those occupations with nationally recognised construction related qualifications, i.e. NVQs or approved equivalents.

The project, expected to take a number of years, must identify paths for those affected occupations to be signposted to an agreed industry qualification for that occupation.

FIRE SPRINKLER INSTALLERS SKILLcard is no longer accepting new applications for the Fire Sprinkler Installer CRO card as of 23 June 2019.

New applicants can now apply for a blue SKILLcard for which a new qualification route is now open.

SKILLcard has worked closely with BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association) to provide a new recognised qualification, IQ Level 2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation (QCF).

Ruth Oliver, BAFSA Skills & Qualifications Adviser said, “We have developed a comprehensive qualification route which allows Fire Sprinkler Installers to demonstrate their competence via a

SKILLcard has worked closely with BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association) to provide a new recognised qualification, IQ Level 2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation (QCF) formal qualification pathway. We offer a full course for individuals with less than 4 years’ experience. However, we have also recognised the value of time served professionals and as such also offer an experienced worker qualification for those with 4 years or more verifiable experience” You can find out more detail of both courses and dates at bafsa.org.uk Existing card holders can, at this time still renew their Fire Sprinkler Installer CRO card. However, the renewal route will close at some point in the future, the date of which is yet to be confirmed. When considering renewal, cardholders may choose to undertake the new qualification which will enable them to apply for a blue SKILLcard.

important journey for the CRO card. We will be doing everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible in supporting our cardholders.

We are delighted to have worked in partnership with BAFSA, offering a skilled worker SKILLcard for those working in the installation of fire sprinklers.

Ultimately this is not just about supporting the CLC vision but improving our industry and the outcomes for clients across the built environment.”

At this point only Medical Equipment Installers and Fire Sprinkler Installer CRO cards are affected. SKILLcard are reassuring all CRO cardholders that their current card remains valid until the expiry date shown on the card.

You can find out more about the CRO Phasedown on the SKILLcard website: skillcard.org.uk/cro-phasedown

Duncan Sibbald, Head of Certification at BESA, who operate SKILLcard for the building engineering sector commented, “This is the start of an

11

WISE Demand controlled ventilation with intelligence and simplicity built-in.

WISE begins with our software at the design stage to help identify the right ventilation solution for your project. Wireless commissioning of WISE is effortless and SuperWISE provides a real-time system overview to keep your project smooth from start to finish and beyond.

Find out more about WISE wise.swegon.com

Simply brilliant The Mikrofill 3.

Wras approved to fluid risk category 4, designed and manufactured in the UK, the Mikrofill 3 is the most advanced ‘direct type’ pressurisation unit available, suitable for filling LPHW/CHW applications from empty.

The Mikrofill 3 does not contain any pumps or RPZ valves and is designed to be connected directly to a buildings incoming mains/boosted water supply.

NATURALLY INSPIRED EFFICIENCY

Contact Mikrofill today - to find out more about how the Mikrofill 3 can help with your next project. T: 03452 606020 E: info@mikrofill.com www.mikrofill.com

12

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

WORLD REFRIGERATION DAY

Challenge “In the next 10 years, there will be more air conditioning units installed than in the whole history of the industry since 1902. This is a massive sector that is not going away and the challenge now is to make it more environmentally friendly and energy efficient,” said Mr Frise.

Many of the worldwide events, which were all held on 26 June, the 195th anniversary of the birth of refrigeration pioneer Lord Kelvin, placed particular emphasis on skills and encouraging young people to consider careers in an industry that already employs more than 50,000 people in the UK.

REFCOM helps raise profile of ‘invisible sector’

Mr Fox said many people did not even realise there were careers available in the sector and called for more focus on schools and careers’ advisors. “This is a fantastic industry with a wealth of opportunities for anyone looking to learn a useful trade and contribute to society,” he said.

The UK’s primary F-gas register, REFCOM, played a key role in the first World Refrigeration Day (WRD) as co-host with the Institute of Refrigeration (IoR) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

WRD also showcased the launch of the first ‘Train The Trainer’ sessions for the pilot programme of the Refrigerant Driver’s Licence (RDL), which is an initiative championed

by Mr Fox. He and his REFCOM team have been lobbying for some time for training and standards aimed at helping countries, who signed up to the Kigali Amendment, to prepare for working with more environmentally friendly, but flammable, refrigerants.

Head of REFCOM, Graeme Fox kicked off events in Europe with a presentation from the East of England Showground* that was transmitted around the world and followed events broadcast from Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and China before the baton was handed on to Africa, the US and Canada.

“The RDL is a vital and significant development for the worldwide refrigerant industry and is in line with REFCOM’s ambition to help raise professional standards both at home and abroad,” said Mr Fox.

WRD aims to raise the profile of the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sectors, which the organisers said remained largely invisible to the public despite its pivotal role in making modern life possible.

“Our industry is a hidden miracle,” Mr Fox told his global audience, pointing out its pivotal role in food storage and transportation; healthcare, the development and dissemination of medicines; and IT and data management.

“Without cooling you would just have to throw away your smart phones because they wouldn’t work,” he said. “Even the international space station uses ammonia cooling and our technologies will be essential to achieving carbon reduction targets.”

“There are many countries without the training and technical infrastructure we take for granted, but who still want to progress and adopt more environmentally friendly refrigerants. This REFCOM-led initiative is a great way for us to share our expertise around the world and collaborate with other countries for the greater good.” *The WRD seminars were broadcast worldwide from the 2019 Temperature Controlled Storage and Distribution Exhibition.

The attached photograph shows REFCOM’s Graeme Fox preparing for his live worldwide broadcast with Miriam Rodway and Lisa Waters from the Institute of Refrigeration. www.refcom.org.uk

BESA Chief Executive, David Frise said it was a “massively underestimated industry” that was responsible for making parts of the world habitable.

13

14

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

TECHNICAL NEWS

Owners still ignoring ‘critical’ damper testing Many building owners and managers are still putting their occupants at risk by failing to have fire and smoke dampers correctly tested, according to BESA members.

Despite growing awareness of fire safety issues in general, many building operators remain confused about their responsibilities to maintain a sound working system.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO), which came into force in 2006, stipulates that a “responsible person” must ensure ALL components of the fire safety system in a building are kept in “efficient working order” and “good repair”. They must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and then put a planned maintenance regime in place.

Failure to do so can lead to a fine of £10,000 and two years in prison for the designated responsible person – as well as closure of the building – yet many companies remain in breach of the legislation because they ignore hidden elements of the passive fire protection.

“Ventilation ductwork is a major potential weak spot in any fire strategy because it contains critical fire safety equipment that is out of sight and is, therefore, regularly overlooked,” said Indepth managing director Richard Norman, who was chair of the BESA ventilation hygiene group for four years.

Regularly

Some building owners are now commissioning ‘asset registers’ to establish how many dampers they have, but this can only ever be a first step and does not make the building compliant with fire legislation.

“If you are going to all the trouble and expense of having a damper survey, why not have the dampers tested at the same time? This is a far more efficient and effective process that, as well as saving clients’ money by combining the two activities, helps them comply with legislation more quickly,” explained Mr Norman.

He also criticised the practice of simply checking the dampers were in place and then issuing a certificate.

“In the past, ‘tests’ were often little more than visual verifications followed by the issuing of a certificate that did nothing to make people safer. Fortunately, we are starting to see an improvement in the professionalism of the industry and the sooner this stops being little more than a ‘tick box’ exercise the better.”

Each damper should be drop tested and then reset to open.

A full test report should then be issued including photographs of each tested damper in the open and dropped position. At this point, the specialist carrying out the test must notify the building operator of any remedial work that may be needed, accompanied by a schedule of works and associated costs. The remedial work must be undertaken in order for the building to comply with the RRO. For more information about compliant fire and smoke damper testing visit: www.fire-damper.co.uk

“Under the terms of the relevant UK standard BS9999, dampers should be tested at least once a year – and in ventilation systems likely to accumulate dust more quickly or in other types of high-risk buildings tests should be carried out even more regularly,” he said.

A fire damper survey is the first step towards achieving a fire damper testing regime in line with the legal requirements of the RRO. Once they are located, dampers need to be inspected. A visual assessment will highlight any damage or anything that might prevent the damper from closing properly in the event of a fire.

15

LEGAL AND COMMERCIAL

The effect of the notice of making good defects Practical completion was achieved in March 2005. There was a 12-month defects liability period. There were issues with the concourse flooring and paintwork but in May 2011, a notice of making good defects was issued by the Employer’s Agent which confirmed that the defects which the Council had required to be made good had been made good.

In 2017, SSMC’s first claim against the Council and Interserve on the basis that the original works were defective was struck out by the courts as it was time barred (i.e. more than 12 years from practical completion).

The court confirmed that Interserve’s liability under the collateral warranty was coterminous with its liability to the Council under the contract.

SSMC commenced these proceedings against Interserve under the collateral warranty alleging that it had failed to identify and rectify defects within the defect liability period pursuant to its obligations under the contract. There is a longer limitation period available for breach of obligations during the defects liability period.

Brought to you by

In Swansea Stadium Management Company Ltd v (1) City & County of Swansea and (2) Interserve Construction Limited (2019) it was held that the effect of a notice of making good defects is conclusive that identified defects have been made good.

FACTS In 2003, the Council entered into an amended JCT Standard Building Contract with Contractor’s Design, 1998 edition with Interserve to design and build the Liberty Stadium in Swansea. There were substantial amendments to the clauses relating to the defects liability period and contrary to the usual position, required Interserve to identify and schedule defects.

Swansea Stadium Management Company Ltd (“SSMC”) was a leaseholder and operator of the stadium. Under the lease SMMC’s repair obligation excluded liability for latent defects and SSMC had the benefit of a collateral warranty from Interserve in respect of the works.

16

BESA Group Companies:

THE DECISION The court dismissed the claim and held that the effect of the notice was to bring an end to clauses relating to identifying and rectifying defects under the contract.

Accordingly, following the issue of the notice, any defects were deemed to have been made good, even if they had not been.

The court held that issuing the notice would not prevent a subsequent claim under the contract by the employer if there were outstanding defective works. For example, a breach of an obligation to complete the works in a proper and workmanlike manner or to design with reasonable skill and care. However, in this case, claims under the building contract were time barred.

KEY POINT The employer will have six or twelve years from Practical Completion in which to bring a claim depending on whether the building contract was executed as deed.

There is a longer period for claims for breach of the defects liability period obligations. In light of this, will employers and contract administrators take more care to ensure that all defects have been remedied before issuing the notice of making good defects?

TRAINING

TECHNICAL NEWS

BESA supporting well-being standard With buildings under increasing scrutiny for their links to poor occupant health, well-being and productivity, the time has come for a British Standard to set out clear steps to better indoor conditions.

BESA is working with EFT Consult, the ECA and others to help draft the UK’s first British Standard PAS for health and well-being performance rating of commercial and domestic buildings.

The work was inspired by ground breaking legislation passed by the Welsh Government.

The ‘Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015’ was the first of its type in the world and set out to improve social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing, encouraging organisations to think more about the longterm effect of their work on the generations of people who will occupy their buildings.

BESA and its partners will work with the BSi to map out the required improvements in design, installation and better build quality as well ongoing long-term maintenance.

The ultimate aim is to produce a benchmark standard for health and well-being that can be adopted by building services professionals worldwide.

Currently, UK building performance tends to be measured in terms of energy efficiency, but with growing concern around links between poor ventilation and rising cases of asthma and the impact of lack of natural lighting on mental health, the Association felt there was a pressing

need for something more focussed on how buildings influence wider quality of life.

Asthma The economic argument is persuasive too: Over 3,000 new cases of occupational asthma are diagnosed each year at a cost of over £1bn, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). One in 10 cases of adult onset asthma relate directly to their workplace conditions.

Recent studies have also shown that improvements in productivity of between 3% and 20% can be expected if a worker’s indoor environment is improved, but the World Health Organization (WHO) states that outdoor air is frequently used as supply air for ventilation systems despite heavy contamination by smog and other outdoor pollutants. It has called for much more effective use of air filters and room air purifiers in homes and businesses.

Poor housing alone costs the NHS more than £2bn a year in treating people suffering from a wide range of illnesses linked directly to living in cold, damp and often dangerous homes.

Therefore, a more effective approach to the specification of building services solutions through a BSI standardisation document should deliver wider environmental benefits and reduce the economic burden on both the state and employers.

Creating the new PAS will involve establishing health and wellbeing performance-ratings and deliver a step change in managing data, which supports improved planning, co-ordination and delivery of better indoor conditions for all.

BESA is relaunching its Indoor Air Quality group in the autumn with a wider remit for broader health and well-being to support the work with the BSi. To find out more visit: www.theBESA.com/iaq

17

18

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

TECHNICAL NEWS

New fire-resisting ductwork CPD course introduced by Rockwool Stone wool insulation manufacturer, Rockwool, has introduced a new CPD training course for BESA members involved in the specification, installation, inspection and verification of fire resisting ductwork.

The CPD will explain the key differences between the British Test Standard BS 476-24 (Method for determination of the fire resistance of ventilation ducts) and the current BS EN test standards which include; BS EN 1366-1, BS EN 1366-8 and BS EN 1366-9.

BS 476-24 was superseded by the current BS EN test standards from 1st July 2013. The BS EN test standards for ductwork apply to all works where a building notice, full plan of application or initial notice was submitted after the 1st July 2013 and where a harmonised product standard exists.

The new CPD produced by the BESA affiliate member company takes consultants and contractors through five topic areas; the current Building Regulations and relevant standards; the range of applicable ductwork systems; the EN standards for ventilation and smoke extract ductwork; the key differences between the BS and EN test standards.

“The more onerous BS EN standards require a broader range of tests which include larger ducts and requirements for circular ducts which are not currently covered within BS 476 Part 24,” says Paul Barrett, head of product management at Rockwool. “In addition, the EN standard incorporates additional thermocouples for monitoring both average and maximum temperatures on the non-fire side of the compartment.”

The full range of technical differences means that BS EN testing can prove challenging to pass for traditional solutions. This CPD clarifies the current situation on fire duct systems and the compliance requirements for consultants and contractors. It also provides helpful guidance on how the application of appropriately tested insulation can significantly minimise fire risk in buildings. www.rockwool.co.uk

Modern, sustainable, future-proof comfort We are now in an age where energy use has come into focus as never before, with government targets on achieving net zero carbon, which is where our industry has such an important role to play.

Our towns and cities are slowly becoming ‘smarter’ and we will see heat and electricity flowing in both directions, based upon where it is needed and how it is being produced.

Whatever our cities and towns look like in the future though there is an urgent need to reduce energy consumption in the buildings we use – including the older buildings we currently occupy, which will still be in use for the next 50 -100 years.

zero-carbon technologies, which has already risen significantly – with renewable energy now playing a major part in energy production across the globe.

At Mitsubishi Electric, they call it a ‘Lean, Mean, Green’ approach.

LEAN Reduce your need for energy in the first place by making buildings as energy efficient as possible, which also reduces the size of the equipment needed to heat, ventilate and sometimes cool buildings.

MEAN Use and control this reduced energy as efficiently as possible with systems that can transfer heat from areas that need cooling, such as server rooms, to occupied areas that need heating.

GREEN Supply the reduced energy needed from renewable sources.

As an industry, we already have the skills and technology to do this through better insulation, modern building techniques and materials, and equipment that is available now and can be widely applied, such as heat pumps.

Together, the construction industry can ensure modern levels of sustainable comfort.

At the same time, we need to continue increasing the amount of primary energy we get from low or

For further information on Mitsubishi’s range of energy efficient solutions visit http://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

19

BESA NATIONAL CONFERENCE

TURNING THEORY INTO PRACTICE This year’s BESA National Conference will take place at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, London on 21 November.

Taking its overall theme as ‘Competence, compliance and climate change – turning theory into practice’, the Conference will consider how the building engineering industry can meet many of the technical challenges ahead.

These include turning the government’s pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 into real, practical measures; delivering the building safety solutions highlighted by the Hackitt Review; complying with ever tightening refrigerant legislation; and achieving higher standards in pipework, ventilation and off-site manufacturing.

The wider theme of health and well-being in buildings will also be central to the Conference with technical experts considering the impact of rising pollution, overheating and poor humidity control on the quality of life of building occupants.

The net zero carbon challenge will be a cornerstone of the one-day event as BESA believes building engineering firms will be central to the £1trn programme to fully decarbonise the UK economy by 2050.

Among the targeted technical sessions analysing innovations, processes and technologies will be an expert panel considering the implications of the Hackitt Review for professional competence and compliance chaired by BESA chief executive David Frise.

The panel will consider how the industry can implement the post-Grenfell recommendations to make buildings safer. This discussion will go beyond the national debate about cladding to look in detail at broader elements of fire safety, such as dampers and compartmentalisation, and consider how the industry can help landlords and tenants implement comprehensive fire safety strategies.

The Health and Well-being agenda will be covered by BESA’s new special interest group, which is drawn from specialists across the sector with particular emphasis on indoor air quality; temperature and

20

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

humidity control; and the use of natural lighting. This will have a close link to the session planned on ventilation technologies and the increasingly important discipline of ventilation hygiene.

The underpinning role of specification will be a key consideration for delegates, particularly in areas like pipework where the threat posed by low grade, counterfeit products can have long-term and serious consequences. Delegates will gain valuable insights into methods for checking quality and authenticity of products.

The Conference will also look in detail at developments in low carbon heating; particularly around the potential for deployment of hydrogen and the growing market for networks and district heating.

Much of BESA’s specialist technical guidance will underpin the content of the Conference sessions along with innovations like the Association’s new pipework app; its newly launched Ventilation Hygiene Elite scheme; and updates to its heat interface unit (HIU) test standard.

Taking its overall theme as ‘Competence, compliance and climate change – turning theory into practice’, the Conference will consider how the building engineering industry can meet many of the technical challenges ahead

The air conditioning and refrigeration sectors have their own specific challenges linked to extraordinary changes in the refrigerant gas market driven by legislation and concerns about global warming. The implications for system design and maintenance will be considered in detail by Graeme Fox, the head of the industry’s main F-gas register Refcom.

BESA’s thriving Future Leaders group of young engineers will take the lead on examining the growing digital technology options available to modern building services professionals.

They will also consider the potential for improving the industry’s productivity by harnessing digital techniques and will address the many diversity and skills challenges that threaten the sector’s ability to achieve its technical goals.

There is a natural synergy between that area and the growing role of off-site fabrication and other modern methods of project delivery, which will be the subject of a key session led by immediate past president Tim Hopkinson.

“While this will be primarily a technical conference, it will position the work of BESA members and the wider sector in the context of the big political, social and economic changes the country is experiencing,” said BESA chief executive David Frise.

“Tackling climate change will create economic opportunity, but it also means the country can address some of its worst social justice issues,” he added.

“If you want to prevent people getting ill then they must live, work and play in civilised conditions.

“Buildings are more than simply economic investments. They perform a vital social function – and this year’s conference will demonstrate how our technical work can be the underpinning factor in delivering a better built environment for all.”

PLUS, DON’T MISS OUT...

on our #BACKTOTHEBESAFUTURE exhibition, looking back on our heritage as the HVCA.

Early bird tickets are priced at £60+VAT for BESA members and £80+VAT for non-Members. For more information visit www.theBESA.com/conference

21

Panasonic: 100 Years of Product Innovation, Leading the Way in R32 At Panasonic, we believe in technologies that improve people’s lives. Which is why we have developed a complete range of residential and commercial R32 systems that will offer you the solution that perfectly matches your project requirements. Available in an extensive range of capacities and styles - all complemented by excellent performance, efficiency and lower environmental impact.

R32 – a “small” change that changes everything

NEW 4 WAY 60X60 CASSETTE INVERTER • R32 GAS

R32 NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

NEW 4 WAY 60X60 CASSETTE

R32

A++

A+

R2 ROTARY

22dB(A)

-10°C

-15°C

R410A R22

BMS

R32

NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

6,50 SEER

Our heat pumps containing the refrigerant R32 show a drastic reduction in the value of Global Warming Potential (GWP).

Seasonal efficiency in cooling will bring you saving all year while heating.

Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

4,20 SCOP

Seasonal efficiency in heating will bring you saving all year while heating.

Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

COMPRESSOR

Inverter range provides more precise temperature control and keeps the temperature constant with lower energy consumption and a reduction in noise.

Panasonic R2 Rotary Compressor.

Designed to withstand extreme conditions, it delivers high performance and efficiency.

SUPER QUIET

With Super Quiet technology our devices are much more quiet than a library (30dB(A)).

COOLING MODE

HEATING MODE

R410A/R22 RENEWAL

Down to -10°C in cooling only mode. The air conditioner works in cooling only mode with an outdoor temperature of -10°C.

Down to -15°C in heating mode. The air conditioner works in heat pump mode with an outdoor temperature as low as -15°C.

The Panasonic renewal system allows good quality existing R410A or R22 pipe work to be re-used whilst installing new high efficiency R32 systems.

INTERNET CONTROL

INTEGRATION P-LINE

This unit is Ready to be ready to connect integrated and to internet and be managed by be managed by Panasonic centralized smartphone, with a powerful systems with and user friendly CZ-CAPRA1 App to manage the comfort wherever you are.

CONNECTIVITY

5

NEW FLOOR CONSOLE TYPE INVERTER+ • R32 GAS

www.eggeassociats.net

· Easy to combine with standard 60x60 ceiling grid · New refrigerant R32 · High energy savings A+ · Quiet operation from only 23dB(A) · Drain pump included · Easy to install: Flexible piping length and compact outdoor · Can reuse old piping · Weekly timer wired control · Smartphone control (Optional) · Connectivity by KNX, Modbus and Bacnet (optional)

YEARS

COMPRESSOR WARRANTY

Communication 5 Years port to integrate Warranty. the unit to home We guarantee and building the outdoor unit management compressors in systems most the entire range known for five years. standards.

R32

NEW PACI STANDARD CEILING INVERTER+ • R32 GAS

NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

NEW FLOOR CONSOLE with new nanoe™ X air-purifying system: outstanding efficiency A++ and comfort combined with a breakthrough design

R32 NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

NEW PACI STANDARD CEILING INVERTER+ · Wide air distribution for large rooms · Horizontal air flow reaches max.9.5m. · Fresh air connection available on the unit · Slim design with 235m height fits narrow space · Silent operation · datanavi simple support tool app with remote controller (CZ-RTC5B) · Twin, Triple and Double-twin split options · Easy connection and controlled of external fan or ERV using the connector PAW-FDC on the indoor unit PCB. The external device can be control by the remote control of the Panasonic indoor unit This data refers to specific units in the line-up, see full leaflet for technical details of each model.

R32

A++

A+

-10°C

-15°C

R410A R22

BMS

R32

NEW REFRIGERANT GAS

Our heat pumps containing the refrigerant R32 show a drastic reduction in the value of Global Warming Potential (GWP).

6,50 SEER

4,20 SCOP

Seasonal efficiency in cooling will bring you saving all year while heating. Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

Seasonal efficiency in heating will bring you saving all year while heating. Energy efficiency rank from A+++ to D.

COOLING MODE

Wider operation Hz range of compressor realize more high efficient operation through the year. For Big PACi Series PE2.

The air conditioner works in cooling only mode with an outdoor temperature of -10°C.

HEATING MODE

The air conditioner works in heat pump mode even when outdoor temperatures are as low as -15°C.

R410A/R22 RENEWAL

The Panasonic renewal system allows good quality existing R410A or R22 pipe work to be re-used whilst installing new high efficiency R32 systems.

INTERNET CONTROL

CONNECTIVITY

Next generation system providing a user-friendly remote control of air conditioning or heat pump units from everywhere via internet.

Communication port to integrate the unit to home and building management systems most known standards.

5

YEARS

COMPRESSOR WARRANTY

5 Years Warranty.

We guarantee the outdoor unit compressors in the entire range for five years.

Discover the range now at www.ampair.co.uk or call us on 01707 378 670

22

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

BESA embraces agenda to build a safer future

The last of those letters was written a month before the Grenfell Tower fire but no action was taken. In fact, the report showed the Government’s deregulation agenda over the past decade actively undermined the safety of high-rise residents.

The good news is that, if done right, the Government’s Building a Safer Future proposals for a radical new building and fire safety system that puts residents’ safety at its heart could be a golden opportunity to overhaul a deeply flawed system. BESA seized on the chance to be a leading voice in this national conversation through the consultation process for these proposals that closed at the end of July. We thank our members who contributed feedback towards our formal submission.

A recent damning report from Inside Housing revealed that the All-Party Group on Fire Safety and Rescue wrote to three successive Ministers 21 times over four years, urging them to act to make sure we avoided another fire following the 2009 Lakanal House fire that killed six people.

Keeping safety high on our agenda, BESA kick-started a national campaign to strengthen fire safety protocols, specifically with the correct installation and maintenance of ventilation systems in commercial kitchens. BESA and its members are already leading the way by spearheading the development of higher standards and compliance but we’re also meeting with industry and political stakeholders to campaign for strong action on new fire safety protocols for commercial kitchens so easily avoidable losses of life and property do not occur – as demonstrated in a recent London kebab shop fire caused by an unattended charcoal grill that ignited food and damaged the flats above it.

A new Prime Minister means new opportunities and challenges to engage with Government on our sector’s issues. BESA will put safety and retentions and late payment reform at the forefront.

For more information visit www.theBESA.com/representation

Retaining your skilled employees We know that in today’s challenging business environment, it is more important than ever to recruit and retain skilled employees.

Providing the right range of benefits helps business, large or small, to achieve this goal and ensure long-term success.

Since announcing its decision to exit the pension fund sector, Welplan is now focussed exclusively on its employee benefits business and is in the process of making some significant changes including:

• Reviewing and increasing our range of benefits – to provide the most cost effective flexible range to all clients.

• Commissioning the development of new online platform, that will

simplify processes at all levels – from registration through to on-going account management.

• Developing new communication templates helping employers to demonstrate the value of benefits to your employees.

Employee benefits are a costeffective way to increase employee retention and recognise the value they add to your company. Staff from the companies we work with often tell us good employee benefit schemes make them feel valued and help to provide peace of mind and financial security.

Why not talk to our UK based team of employee benefits experts to see how we can help your business recognise and retain your staff?

Remember – if you are a Welplan pensions customer, please be assured that your pension is operating as normal.

We are in the process of ideintifying the best possible receieving scheme to transfer your pension into. Until then, it is business as usual.

You can read more about the pension closure at: www.welplan.co.uk/pensions

Web: www.welplan.co.uk Phone: 0800 1958080 Email: contact@welplan.co.uk

23

BESA UPDATES

Legal and Commercial All BESA members have full access to expert support from our experienced and knowledgeable Legal and Commercial team.

BESA Health and Safety Service provides reliable, responsive and practical health and safety support on standards and compliance.

• Vat Reverse Charge and full guidance is available on the Members’ Area of the website

• Hundreds of people are killed each year and hundreds of thousands suffer ill health and injury at work. The BESA Health and Safety department are working hard in the background with other engaged health and safety individuals to ensure health and safety issues within specific industry groups are raised and shared throughout our network of members

• Competition factsheet will be published in response to a number of high profile cases within the sector • A series of Commercial awareness courses are taking place across the country and most have already sold out • Q2 State of Trade – keep an eye out for results, which will be published mid-August.

Email: legal@theBESA.com Tel: 020 7313 4919

Technical Team The BESA Technical Team is on-hand to give expert advice, guidance and practical support.

Our fully trained team are here to help with member queries whether it be clarification on regulations or specific design advice.

• In collaboration with the British Metal Tube Fittings Association (BMTFA), extensive work is underway to compile a comprehensive database for a Joint BESA/BMTFA Pipework Selection website/app

24

Health and Safety

• The health and safety forums are now active and provide advice on specific safety issues using industry experts to give up to date advice and guidance. The forums currently cover asbestos and other construction dusts and face fit testing. There is a practical demonstration showing the face fit testing process and why it is a legal requirement.

Find out where the next BESA Health and Safety Forum is by visiting www.theBESA.com/events or contact your regional manager • BESA has been working with the HSE to raise awareness of the new welding fume controls. There will be a safety event in November 2019 with advice and guidance available from the HSE and many other industry professionals. There will be practical demonstrations showing LEV controls as well as advice and guidance on mask selection and face fit testing. Further information and how to book your place at this event will be available in due course Email: HSsupport@thebesa.com Tel: 01768 860452

Employment Affairs

• A recent fire in an area close to the BESA offices in Rotherwick House, has once again highlighted the importance of the BESA Fire Safety campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of restaurants and in particular, fast food outlets, that are located within residential buildings

The BESA Employment Affairs team provide practical assistance to members managing their workforce and in establishing terms and conditions of employment.

• The BESA Knowledge Portal, continues to provide an accessible resource for BESA’s range of standards, specifications and guidance, for both members and non-members. Remember BESA Member’s receive a 50% discount on all publications

• A Service Level Agreement (SLA) was published earlier this year, outlining the scope of services and support available to guide members on all aspects of employing and managing paid staff. This is available in the Members’ Area of the website.

• Originally, an appendix to DW 144 – Specification for Sheet Metal Ductwork, DW146- Fire Rated Ductwork has become a document in its own right. The content is based on a joint guidance document that is currently at the consultation phase between BESA members and the Association for Specialist Fire Protection. The intention is that both documents will provide members with a clear position with regard to the EU standard, yet to be published, which has caused a great deal of ambiguity around fire rated ductwork for a number of years

• The team will soon be offering site visits to assist with HR Audits of members’ HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Online HR audits are already available in the Members’ area of the BESA website, which we encourage members to access and use.

• TR19® Grease, the technical document that underpins the Ventilation Hygiene Elite Scheme, has reached the final consultation phase. Once it has received approval from both the Ventilation Group Executive and the BESA Technical Committee, endorsement will be sought from the RISCAuthority

• A Redundancy and Restructure factsheet was included in our quarterly newsletter Workforce Matters. The newsletter will address key employment issues through a cycle of publications over the coming months. In particular, key proposals for reform arising from the Taylor Review on Modern Employment Practices, which could have a significant impact on many employers such as worker status, holiday pay and working time. The Association will issue appropriate advice and guidance to members as and when these proposals are enacted and there has been the opportunity to consider the implications.

Email: technical@theBESA.com Tel: 020 7313 4935

Email: employment.affairs@theBESA.com Tel: 020 7313 4900

BESA Group Companies:

TRAINING

FABRICATION

01428 751 200

DISTRIBUTION

0121 771 2828

For more than 30 years Industrial Engineering Plastics Limited (IEP) has been a UK market leader in plastic fabrication and supply.

UK MARKET LEADER IN PLASTIC DUCTWORK FABRICATION AND SUPPLY

• A leading edge fabrication facility, fabricating

ductwork to DW154 using PVC, PVC/GRP, PPs and FBPP/GRP

• Bespoke fabrication of trays, covers,

guards and tanks

• A nationwide distribution service and

extensive stocks of vent pipe and fittings, sheet and rod

www.iep-ltd.co.uk

25

NOW. PUMP TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE. WILO-STRATOS MAXO: THE WORLD’S FIRST INTUITIVE SMART-PUMP*

NEW

Your new partner is the most flexible pump: the Wilo-Stratos MAXO is the perfect fit for any application and ensures optimal system efficiency thanks to its intelligent control mode. Furthermore, the pump can be integrated into all relevant systems due to diverse interfaces. And with optimised and innovative energysaving features the Wilo-Stratos MAXO meets the changing requirements superbly. No other pump on the market offers you more efficiency, connectivity and convenience. This is how already today we are making your life easier with the innovations of tomorrow.

WILO BRINGS THE FUTURE. Discover the future of pump technology: www.wilo.co.uk/future

*We understand a smart-pump as a new category of pumps, which goes far beyond our high-efficiency pumps or pumps with pump intelligence. Onlythe combination of the latest sensor technology and innovative control functions (e.g. Dynamic Adapt plus and Multi-Flow Adaptation), bidirectional connectivity (e.g. Bluetooth, integrated analogue inputs, binary inputs and outputs, Wilo Net interface), software updates and excellent usability (e.g. thanks to the Setup Guide, the preview principle for predictive navigation and the tried and tested Green Button Technology) make this pump a smart-pump.

BESA Advert - Jul19.indd 1

26

BESA Group Companies:

17/07/2019 15:06:01

TRAINING

TECHNICAL NEWS

BESA launches vent hygiene safety scheme BESA’s accreditation arm BESCA has launched a scheme to help ventilation hygiene specialists demonstrate competence as part of the industry-wide campaign to improve safety in buildings.

With building owners, operators and insurers becoming more aware of the fire risks posed by poorly cleaned and maintained systems, there has been growing demand for a robust process to verify the quality of cleaning – particularly of grease extract systems used by commercial kitchens.

The ‘Ventilation Hygiene Elite’ (VHE) scheme is based on BESA’s long-established and industry recognised specification and guide to good practice TR19®. The scheme is developed, approved and administered by BESCA, who will audit firms’ work to ensure standards are maintained and manage a database of post-clean reports.

These reports will be used as an auditable trail by the VHE member firm; their clients and insurers. BESCA will also carry out ongoing surveillance of each registrant to confirm continuing compliance and to ensure that all staff are undertaking recognised training and have reached the right level of competence to meet the TR19® standard.

The scheme helps building operators provide supporting evidence to prove that fire safety strategies are being well managed. It also helps the member company maintain an auditable trail of cleans and reduces insurance risk. Being part of the scheme will help members to grow their businesses because the number of clients and insurance companies specifying TR19® as the required cleaning standard is growing rapidly.

Eligible BESA members, who meet the scheme’s criteria, can join free of charge. VHE members will also be able to use the scheme’s Quality Mark in any advertising and will feature on the BESCA Vent Hygiene register that directs clients towards competent firms.

For more information or to join the scheme visit: www.besca.org.uk/schemes/besca-approvedventilation-hygiene-elite/ • Raise your profile Get noticed with the customers that matter to you

BESA members can now enjoy up to a 53% discount on membership to Builders’ Conference, the construction industry’s premier information, data and analysis provider.

BESA members who join up will receive access to Builders’ Conference unique data platform Serino which posts up to 11,000 UK wide construction projects each year, covering every sector. Serino offers: • A fast, intuitive system Delivering real time, pure data at the push of a button • Receive only the facts Invaluable industry intelligence and sales leads across the UK in every sector

Join Builders’ Conference and not only get access to Serino, but also get access to:

ACCESS

11,000

UK PROJEC FROM JUST

TS

£799 +VAT

• Useful networking events • Detailed statistical analysis • Industry insights and best-practice guidance • Our extensive online company directory The team at Builders Conference are happy to give BESA members a quick online demonstration of Serino so you can see for yourself how you can access valuable project data at an affordable price.

FIND OUT MORE

www.theBESA.com/member-offers/ builders-conference

27

UK CONSTRUCTION WEEK

UKCW Role Model 2018 Arleta Andreasik-Paton and Role Model nominee Sophie Lydia Smith (Credit: UKCW)

Innovation and new advisory board shape theme for disruptor products and technologies at UK Construction Week 2019 An innovation advisory board made up of construction clients, contractors and consultants has met to shape how Innovation is placed at the heart of this year’s UK Construction Week.

It will also assist in scrutinising the latest projects, products and technologies being pitched for a new Innovation Zone, sponsored by the Construction Innovation Hub, at this year’s UK Construction Week event in October.

Arbiters from Willmott Dixon, Luton Airport, Bryden Wood, Mace, TfL, The Princes’ Foundation and Castle Planning will decide what will appear in the Innovation Zone and will also choose the winner of UKCW’s Innovation Award

28

BESA Group Companies:

2019 which will be announced on the second day of the show.

Nathan Garnett, UKCW event director, says: “We are embarking on a period of rapid change, and construction is ideally placed to capitalise on the new tech revolution. Everyone would love to claim their product, project or solution is innovative, but it’s the specifiers and clients who should judge these things. We are extremely grateful for their support in

TRAINING

vetting what is truly innovative at this year’s event.

“By creating this zone in partnership with industry, and the award, we are planning to promote a wide range of new ideas of relevance to many markets. It’s also a message to the whole construction supply chain that fresh thinking and new technical solutions are available right now to boost quality, speed, sustainability and social cohesion. This celebration of ingenuity is needed to stop the race to the bottom created by placing cost ahead of all else.

“Other industries have gone through major changes thanks to disruptors.

Construction must be next. The Minecraft generation is making its way into the workplace. They have never known life before smartphones and have totally intuitive digital skills that need to be put to good use. Modern Methods of Construction that seem alien to some just look like blindingly obvious common sense to them. These are exciting times and UKCW intends to do all it can to support future innovations coming into the sector.”

UK Construction Week is the UK’s largest construction event. Last year’s show was attended by 34,012 delegates, featured 350 speakers delivering 300 hours of content, and more than 650 stands covering over 70,000 square metres providing launches, demos and offers on more than 10,000 products.

Now in its fifth year, UKCW will return to the NEC in Birmingham once again on 8-10 October 2019.

It is free to attend and consists of multiple sections: Build, Building Tech, Civils, Energy and HVAC, Surface and Materials, and Timber. It also features the newly launched Concrete Expo (8-9 October only) and Grand Designs Live (9-10 October only).

Following a successful inaugural year in 2018, the UKCW Role Models initiative is also back for 2019 and has had quadruple the amount of submissions.

The Role Models are chosen from all parts of the industry, identified as inspiring

people who have a strong story to tell and can help to attract others into similar roles.

They also act as mentors. Last year’s Role Models have been out visiting schools and meeting young people to encourage them into construction as a rewarding career. They have also been promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in construction.

The shortlist of 98 Role Models has been released, and the overall winner will be announced on 9 October.

All shortlisted Role Models will be given the opportunity to speak at UKCW on the main conference stage and will take part in a student initiative, including a new Careers Resource Centre where young people and those interested in entering the industry can meet with the Role Models and with a range of professional membership bodies.

Energy and HVAC is at the core of all buildings and UKCW delivers options for all types of new build construction, retrofit, upgrade and more. There will be live showcases of power and energy sources including renewables, heating, air conditioning and ventilation, heat pumps, EMS, new connections, ICP and power solutions for the built environment.

Visitors trying Canon’s Antycip VR Simulation (Credit: UKCW)

One of the biggest draws to the show has always been its free CPD programme. This year there will be more than 150 hours of CPD content available. The programme will take on a different theme for each day of the show, tackling fire safety, health and wellbeing and sustainability.

Experiencing the Coventry University Construction Simulator demonstration (Credit: UKCW)

Other seminar spaces around the event will deliver bespoke content, including the Digital Construction Hub, Surface and Materials Hub, Offsite Theatre, just some of the 20 features in UKCW 2019.

The social side is also being promoted.

Networking doesn’t have to be formal – it can be carried out in the VIP Lounge or in the more relaxed environment of the Beer Festival. Thanks to its success last year, Rockaoke is back on the Wednesday night to help break the ice. There will be live music, street food and the Gin and Fizz bar also on hand to help visitors mix and mingle during the three-day show.

Nathan Garnett says: “We hear time and time again that organised meetings and chance encounters at UKCW have created valuable new business for visitors. If you work in the construction industry, it’s a must-attend event due to the calibre of the attendees which it attracts. The bulk of visitors are senior managers, 85% are authorised to spend, there are over 34,000 trade buyers under one roof working on more than 471,000 live projects, making UKCW a £50 billionpound market place. It makes sense to register for UKCW and to meet your market in person.”

Registration to UK Construction Week is now open via www. ukconstructionweek.com/visit www.ukconstructionweek.com

29

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Shaking up the FM market “The only thing we don’t do is build from the ground up,” says Claire. “We will do refurbs and retrofits – but the bulk of our business is in running the buildings.”

There is a big shake up going on across the facilities management (FM) market as clients recognise they need more engineering support to help them keep their buildings operating properly, according to Claire Curran – managing director of M&E contractor Linaker Ltd. FM is returning to its silos. After years of aggregating ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ services into multi-million pound multi-service contracts, many clients want their specialist technical support back – and £12m turnover BESA member Linaker is well placed to benefit, according to managing director Claire Curran.

The company still has its very first client – a regional hairdressing business, which received free maintenance for the next 25 years as a quarter century anniversary present.

MD Claire Curran and Chairman Bill Harrison

“A lot of technical expertise disappeared with the huge multi-service FM contracts,” she says. “People got very good at managing the contracts, but lost some of that hands-on engineering skill needed to make sure a building meets its user’s expectations.”

Linaker is well placed to take advantage as FM goes back to its roots. “We would not take on a £24m full service FM contract, but we would very much like the £2m engineering slice of that business because we have the specialist building engineering expertise – and that is the way the market is moving,” says Claire.

She believes the conditions are favourable for Linaker to achieve its planned growth from its current £12m turnover to £30m in three years – it has already seen a 10% surge in business in the early part of 2019.

“Currently, Linaker services up to £2m PPM, but if a client just wants a boiler service contract, we’re happy to do that too. All clients get an annual compliance report – whatever the contract size. It is challenging to work in this way, but it means we are properly set up on every contract and, as the business grows, we can cope because we have the systems in place.”

Being a member of BESA is a key part of the business strategy, according to Claire. It uses the Association’s SFG20 planned maintenance tool on every job and enjoys the support of being part of the organisation.

“We couldn’t survive without SFG20,” says Claire. “As soon as we price a tender we look at SFG20 to start planning the labour. It is also very important to feel part of something bigger and we like the fact that BESA is out there lobbying for our industry and making sure our voice is heard.” www.linaker.com

Revenue The firm, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, is based in Oxted, Surrey and has offices in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Livingston and London with one scheduled to open in Manchester later this year. It employs 105 engineers and around 30 management staff. It has more than 400 clients representing around £10m annual maintenance driven revenue – and carries out about £2m worth of installation projects every year.

30

BESA Group Companies:

“We are a medium sized business that operates like a large one,” explains Claire.

“These days clients want to buy a local maintenance service, which is why we have regional offices and locally-based engineers, but they also want all the compliance and health & safety support that comes with a properly structured national business.

TRAINING

MC 7 4 1

M8

5 2

% 9

6

.

X

+

3

0

=

1

Manage everything from service jobs and asset maintenance schedules through to commercial refurishment projects Manage and schedule reactive and PPM jobs Record asset test readings and history Drive replacement and upgrade works Share vital information with the free customer portal Smart resource assignment built from asset service intervals & types Seamlessly connect ďŹ eld workers with the mobile app Request a FREE Demo of the software trusted by 100,000+ users globally

simpro.co.uk or call 0800 622 6376

ices ltd. has built up a rv Se g in an le C i J& , 00 established in 20 ross london and ac ny pa m co ng ni ea cl g that reputation as a leadin iding a flexible service ov pr to ed at ic ed D .

K U the rest of the e available 24 hours a ar rs ne ea cl r ou s, nt ie works around our cl standard UK wide. as e nc lle ce ex er liv de d day, 365 days a year, an eaning SerViCeS Cl p ee D n o ti la ti n Ve

but many of our ages to each business, ck pa ing an cle on es: lati We tailor our venti ckage with us that includ pa ing an cle ep de on ntilati customers take out a ve ventilation ductwork • Internal cleaning of all extract grills • Cleaning of intake and lation canopies • A deep clean of all venti • Fitting of access panels ices, you with J&I Cleaning Serv ing an cle on lati nti ve ep your kitchen By booking regular safety standards and ke d an h alt he all t ee m u can ensure yo running smoothly.

ning SerViCeS KitChen Deep Clea

s that a wide range of benefit ide ov pr n ca I J& m fro an A professional deep cle : ts worthwhile, including en m int po ap lar gu re e mak poisoning • Reducing the risk of food st problems • Reducing the risk of pe al • Meeting standards t through grease remov en m uip eq t ho ur yo of y • Increasing the efficienc ur equipment yo of • Extending the life variety of e deep cleaning a wide nc rie pe ex ve ha s er an with industry Our professional cle ensuring full compliance ile wh , try un co e th ss our kitchens acro business. And as a 24-h ur yo to on pti ru dis al chen up and regulations and minim cleans to keep your kit ht nig er ov er off en ev business, at J&I we siest hours of the day. running during your bu rViCeS we proViDe: other Cleaning Se tion • High level • Post building/renova on cti fe sin • Di • Post flooding/fire ductwork ) and floor • Air supply ss re att m c (in y er lst ho • Carpet, up

no fixed contracts d an s on ati ot qu y or at FREE non-oblig , Eastcote, HA4 9XG ad rial Estate, Field End Ro Unit 7, Eastcote Indust com • Email: info@jicleaning.

3 41 63 86 08 02 Office number: