Welcome to the latest edition of our digital magazine for members.
It is yet another busy issue which captures the breadth of the Association’s activities and showcases the hard work of our members struggling to deliver high quality projects in line with wider social ambitions to make buildings safer and more sustainable –against a very tough economic backdrop.
There is a preview of our latest annual conference on pages 6-9 which we describe as our “most ambitious to date” because of the sheer breadth of content and mix of formats designed to deliver as much useful information and ‘takeaways’ for attendees as possible.
Yet, despite all the effort made by BESA’s staff to keep up with wider developments such as legislation and political policy so that our members are well informed and able to plan their future business activities, we sometimes feel we simply cannot run fast enough.
Political mixed messaging has been a serious problem for businesses for many years but seems to be reaching a real nadir when it comes to net zero and air quality – two of the biggest issues affecting our sector.
The lack of clarity and ambition is confusing the public and discouraging businesses from investing in the measures, skills, and innovations we need to meet our widest social goals. Even Michael Gove, who had been making all the right noises, started pulling the rug from under us when he told Times Radio that the long-supported heat pump roll-out would now be reviewed.
Hassle
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added that the government was considering delaying or abandoning energy efficiency and net zero measures because they could have “a direct cost for consumers” and cause people “some hassle”.
Labour is equally guilty of using key environmental policies as ‘political footballs’. Sir Keir Starmer urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to review plans to extend the city’s Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) because of the perception that it cost his party the Uxbridge by-election.
Yet, there is a public health crisis in this country driven by high levels of air pollution. Over half a million Londoners suffer from asthma and round 4,000 deaths in London could be attributed to toxic air in 2019, according to Imperial College. Introducing clean air zones is the fastest way to reduce nitrogen dioxide, which directly affects the lungs.
Clearly, the cost-of-living crisis is a serious issue, but it is too easy to simply start ‘reviewing’ important policies for political expediency. What are we supposed to tell our members? One day it is all go go go for net zero, the next it is all up in the air again.
BESA members are keen to do the right thing, but continual mixed messaging makes it impossible for them to plan. Nobody said it would be easy, but either you believe in this stuff, or you don’t – our politicians really need to decide. n
Join us at the BESA Annual Conference to have your say and hear from the experts.
05 president’s perspective BESA President Claire Curran
06 B esA Annual conference and industry Awards
• ‘ Most ambitious’ conference programme and expanded awards
• Expanded shortlist announced for BESA Awards
10 Welcome to B esA!
New members and Affiliates
12 Building safety Act Hub From Shed to Shardit applies to you!
13 sKi LLcard Building Safety Act: Right Card, Right Job
14 B esA scotland
Diane Drummond elected chair of BESA Scotland
15 20 years of B esA cAs Celebrating 20 years of the ‘Badge of Quality’
16 indoor Air Quality
BESA training aims to meet soaring demand for IAQ knowledge
18 sFg20 helping FMs deal with cost and carbon challenges
21 energy systems catapult Engineering alliance report highlights lack of net zero awareness
22 re FcoM
Refrigerant driving licence hailed as lifesaver
23 B esA bitesize updates
• New BESA HIU Test Regime now available
• Upskill and future-proof your career
• Dates for your diaries
• BESA webinars 2023
24 Welcome Worcester Bosch BESA and Worcester Bosch decarbonisation collaboration
Welcome to another packed edition of Your BESA . It is a great privilege to be writing my first page as Association President.
I told the recent AGM that my presidential year would be marked by considerable change not least because of the way the Building Safety Act is shaking up the way we must do business. It is the biggest change to our industry’s regulatory framework since the Second World War and has profound implications for the whole process of delivering projects.
Our forthcoming conference (see pages 6-9) will look at this in some depth and will focus on the practical implications for all of us including how we must take a close look at everything we do to be compliant.
Inevitably, this means we will be increasingly reliant on digital processes and emerging and evolving digital tools to have access to the vast amounts of information needed to make buildings perform better and keep their occupants safe. To do that successfully you need fantastic data with great in-depth analysis.
SFG20 – the industry standard for building maintenance developed by BESA – is an example of just that kind of technical innovation. It is already playing a massive part in the way buildings are managed and maintained – and its potential is hugely exciting (see page 18). We can achieve so much with great data and make huge strides towards net zero.
However, not everyone is on board this fast-moving digital train with us. I was rather depressed to read that 63% of residential landlords in the UK are more
likely to sell their properties than make the energy efficiency improvements needed to meet the government’s new EPC ratings target by 2025.
The survey carried out by Green Building Renewables, found that two thirds were concerned about the cost of achieving the ‘C’ rating required for new rentals, which will be extended to existing tenancies from 2028.
Yet, this is one of the biggest business opportunities for UK businesses – both those who own properties and those who work on the improvements and maintenance needed to make them more sustainable. Our digital tools, allied to our good old fashioned engineering principles, can help to unlock this massive market for the benefit of our industry, our clients, and their tenants –and transform our built environment.
Of course, we have a huge skills issue to overcome, but digital can also help us to plug that gap and make it easier to reach out to the new generation so we can state our case for being their career of choice. n
Sign up for the Conference so we can all learn from each other and from the many expert speakers about all the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“ Our digital tools, allied to our good old fashioned engineering principles, can help to unlock this massive market for the benefit of our industry, our clients, and their tenants –and transform our built environment. ”
BESA is bringing together its most wide-ranging programme of commercial and technical content for its sixth Annual Conference this October. It has also announced an expanded shortlist for its growing programme of Industry Awards
The one-day event, which is sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric, will take place on Thursday, 12 October at the Novotel London West.
It comprises three seminar strands grouped under an overall heading of ‘Building businesses, building the future’ with content designed to appeal to building services professionals, young engineers, facilities managers, manufacturers, and specifiers.
There will be a particular focus on skills shortages, the push for net zero, the rapid development of digital technologies, and the commercial and contractual challenges facing the building engineering sector.
BESA members and young engineers can attend free of charge. The cost to non-members is £120 and bookings can now be made online here. A £10 donation will be made for every delegate who registers to the Association’s chosen charity Light House Club, which is dedicated to tackling mental health problems in the industry.
The packed one-day event, which is also supported by bronze sponsor GPS Air, features three distinct strands: Business, technical, and young engineers. The first will look at how firms can manage costs and invest for the future, improve collaboration, and comply with the Building Safety Act.
The technical section will be the largest with sessions dedicated to each of
the industry’s key technologies and shaped by BESA’s specialist groups. The over-arching technical theme is delivering safe, healthy, and energy efficient building services – covering the complete lifecycle of a building and progress towards net zero.
Many of the topics have been chosen with young engineers in mind and members of the Association’s Future Leaders group will be participating in several discussions. They will also play a leading role in the final feedback session that closes the event.
There will be individual talks and debates on ventilation and indoor air quality, fire safety, energy efficiency and carbon counting, Golden Thread; heat pumps; changes to the F-Gas regulations, heat networks and the role of heat interface units (HIUs); FM and building maintenance, overheating, and adapting to climate change, among others.
There will be a keynote session on ‘Transforming building services to transform the NHS’ led by Lord Markham, the Minister in charge of delivering the government’s ambitious plan to build 40 new hospitals by 2030.
A session on the importance of ventilation in addressing the UK’s healthcare crisis will back up Lord Markham’s call for improving indoor air quality to support patients and reduce waiting lists. It will also examine new BESA guidance on reducing mould and condensation in homes as well as the need for more investment in schools to protect children from illness and allergies.
Another keynote session will focus on the Building Safety Act with an official from the office of the Building Safety Regulator explaining what contractors should be doing now to comply and
the shift towards a whole new ‘safety culture’ across construction.
“This is shaping up to be our most ambitious conference to date,” said BESA chief executive officer David Frise “The blend of commercial, contractual, and technical sessions means we can say – with complete confidence –that there is definitely something for everyone.
“Trying to capture the full breadth of the challenges and opportunities now facing our sector is quite an undertaking, but our conference team aided by our Advisory Board drawn from across the industry, has somehow managed to cram it all into one day.”
Several ‘people focused’ sessions will look at how businesses can make themselves more attractive to a younger and more diverse generation; and how mentoring and reverse mentoring can help firms prepare themselves for future challenges. A discussion on recruitment strategies will also draw on international experience with speakers from the North American contractors’ body the MCAA and GCP Europe joining the expert panel.
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The expansion of digital techniques will be central to several sessions with one focused on the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) delivered by Sukhmit Singh of Atkins. He will explain how AI can be harnessed to support the work of building engineers by improving performance data gathering and analysis. >>
David Frise, BESA chief executive officer“ This is shaping up to be our most ambitious conference to date. The blend of commercial, contractual, and technical sessions means we can say – with complete confidence – that there is definitely something for everyone. ”
Special speaker, Dr Jo Jolly, deputy director at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA), will also describe how the transition to data-driven processes is helping to deliver more sustainable major projects.
BESA is introducing more interactive workshops this year along with short ‘lightening learning’ sessions to give delegates quick access to takeaway actions. One of these will be a legal and commercial ‘health check’ with experts from BESA’s in-house team offering targeted advice on delegates’ specific concerns.
There will be detailed seminars on heat networks, fire safety in ventilation systems, heat pumps, heat recovery systems and a ‘Big Debate’ between supporters of chemical and non-chemical water treatment. A highly practical session will also look at ‘energy efficiency quick wins’ to help building managers get to grips with rising costs while also balancing the need to prepare for net zero. n
BESA has also announced the shortlist for its expanded programme of National Awards , which will be presented during a gala dinner at the same venue as the Conference later that evening. The 2023 Awards are sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric and the dinner will be hosted by the comedian Darren Harriott.
The Association revamped and expanded its awards scheme this year
and introduced a new regional qualifying format for some of the categories. The categories were reviewed and revised to ensure they rewarded individuals, teams, and companies from each part of the sector’s supply chain. Although some the awards are exclusively for BESA members, many are now open to the whole industry to ensure the programme reflects the full breadth of building services engineering expertise.
The Association launched several new awards last year including Net Zero and Diversity initiatives and has now expanded even further by adding more technical categories, Small and Big Budget project awards, and a special Building Safety Act category. There are awards for outstanding projects and firms as well as individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Categories cover the full supply chain from manufacturers and distributors though contractors, engineers, and clients.
The awards also honour the next generation of engineers with the popular apprentice categories. This year BESA’s regions in England and devolved nations held local heats between May and July with each sending forward finalists to the national event for some of the categories.
“Expanding the range of categories and changing the qualifying process has clearly paid off,” said BESA director of technical Graeme Fox , who chaired the expert judging panel which was drawn from across the industry. “The judges were delighted to see so many talented apprentices and young engineers being put forward, which bodes well for the future.
“However, it was also good to see so many nominations for the Outstanding Service and Specialist Groups awards as this demonstrates how many BESA members are willing to give freely of their time and expertise for the greater good of the industry and its clients.”
You can see the full shortlist here and find details about booking tickets for both the National Conference and Awards on 12 October
For more details, including registration, exhibition, and sponsorship opportunities, please contact: Charlie.pierpoint@theBESA.com n
“ Although some the awards are exclusively for BESA members, many are now open to the whole industry to ensure the programme reflects the full breadth of building services engineering expertise. ”
Duct Control are UK, industry leading fire damper, TR19 ventilation and TR19 kitchen extract cleaning, maintenance, inspection and testing specialists with over 25 years combined experience within the ventilation and hygiene industry. ductcontrol.co.uk
EnvirotechFM delivers bespoke technology led facilities services. Their heritage is based within the mechanical and electrical building services installation sector and from relationships with long standing clients have established their hard services company, complementing the design, build and maintain strategy.
envirotechltd.co.uk/
With over 25 years of cooling and heating expertise, Heming Services are you local experts for commercial cooling and heating. heming-services.co.uk
Heronridge Services are specialists in the design, installation and after sales servicing of all types of air conditioning and associated ventilation systems for offices, commercial and domestic premises. heronridge.co.uk
Commercial kitchen cleaning and maintenance experts since 1972. Hoodz is the trusted name for kitchen cleaning, legal compliance, and fire prevention solutions for restaurants, institutions, and other food service industries.
Hoodzinternational.co.uk
MJ Quinn offer fully integrated end to end design, plan and build solutions. Mjquinn.co.uk
Racsel have been providing professional, efficient and cost-effective building maintenance services to their long-standing client portfolio; which include leading businesses in retail, restaurants, schools and commercial office spaces, managing agents, large FM businesses, local authorities as well as residential properties for over 50 years.
racsel.co.uk
RI Cruden is an established mechanical, electrical and renewables business who uphold an exceptional reputation for high quality installations in domestic, commercial and industrial projects. They provide a comprehensive and professional project management service, as well as complete after sales maintenance plans.
ricruden.net
McGoff Group Facilities Services are focused on delivering customer centred, value-adding reactive and planned FM services to blue-chip multi-site customers and in critical environments across a number of sectors including; residential, healthcare, retail and leisure. mcgoffgroup.com/services/ maintain/facs/
Castle Building Services are one of the UK’s leading providers of building services, offering a wide range of high quality engineering and contracting services covering all aspects of mechanical and electrical engineering. castlebs.co.uk
Plumbtricians supply facilities management, compliance, PPMs (Planned Preventative Maintenance), servicing, remedials and repairs, refurbishments, and installations. All aspects of gas, plumbing, heating and electrical services.
plumbtricians.co.uk
Voltix is one of the UK’s leading facilities maintenance companies and provide their clients with an excellent delivery partner for all their commercial installation, reactive maintenance and ongoing facilities maintenance requirements. They have hundreds of satisfied clients from London and surrounding areas and South East England. voltixservices.co.uk
ACV have been designing, manufacturing and distributing high performance heating and hot water products for 100 years. They are specialists in stainless steel and home of the tank-in-tank concept, giving you a safe and reliable DHW performance to match the largest of hot water demands. Acv.com/gb
Bosch is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heating products. In the UK, Bosch industrial heating is part of Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd, a company that specialises in providing complete system solutions for commercial and industrial heating sectors with individual outputs from 50kW to 38,000kW.
bosch-thermotechnology.co.uk
Domus Ventilation is a manufacturer of market-leading ventilation systems that save energy and improve indoor air quality. Established over 30 years ago. Domus Ventilation manufactures high quality and solution based ventilation products for the domestic and light commercial building industry from its state-of-the-art production facilities in South Wales. domusventilation.co.uk
Certification SAS
Eurovent Certita Certification is recognised as a world leader in the field of third party product performance certification for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration products.
eurovent-certification.com/en/
With over 100 years of innovation, Fellowes Brands provides workplace solutions for a world with an ever-changing need for innovation.
fellowesbrands.com
GO Labs is an independent laboratory specialising in the production and analysis of preferred vacuum test (PVT) capsules and microbiological contact samples which are collected from inside ventilation systems in order to ascertain the level of cleanliness within the system.
go-labs.co.uk
Plasma-cleanair operates globally from their Greater Manchester Head Office. They strive for excellence and support their customers in managing odour and grease, indoor air quality and ventilation and ongoing service and support. They work with their customers to meet compliance, legislation and insurance regulations, reduce energy costs and reduce fire risk.
plasma-clean.com
Whether we like it or not, the implementation of the Building Safety Act is now underway and affects each and every one of us. It is crucial that we embrace the significant cultural shift needed, where competence and compliance must be at the forefront.
As new guidance and legislation continue to flood in at a rapid pace, we understand the overwhelming challenge of trying to stay informed. That’s why we take the burden off your shoulders by doing the reading for you. So, we have created our very own BESA Building Safety Act Hub, where you will discover everything you need to know, including:
• Key dates and a clear roadmap
• What you should be doing now
• The Building Safety Act - everything you need to know about:
• Regulatory and Enforcement Bodies
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Competence
• Gateways
• Golden Thread
• Mandatory Occurrence Reporting
• Building Control
• Devolved Nations
We are staying on top of the emerging secondary legislation and guidance to identify what is especially relevant to our members. We provide a wide variety of products and services that will assist you in meeting your compliance needs.
Bespoke legal and commercial advice from our in house team of experts
Hassle free Health and Safety advice from our in house team of experts
Tap into technical standards, guidance and expert advice
Check out our upcoming and on demand BESA Webinars with industry experts
Ensure you and your staff are skilled and competent by completing free online accredited CPD, short courses and using the free Skills Advisory Service from BESA Academy
Ensure you are working to the latest standards and aware of changes in regulations and legislation by downloading our latest technical publications, standards and guidance from BESA Knowledge
Acquiring the BESA Competence Assessment Standard (CAS) accreditation enables you to demonstrate competence and compliance to the highest standard
No need to worry about building control and LABC’s if you are part of a Competent Person Scheme like BESCA CPS
Be registered with the UK’s leading F-Gas register REFCOM and for those who want to go that extra mile to prove their compliance join REFCOM Elite
If you own or manage facilities, you should use SFG20’s industry leading maintenance software, which helps you understand your asset maintenance requirements
Evidence individual competency with SKILLcard - the personnel registration scheme for the mechanical sector of building services
Vent hygiene is more than cleaning, its fire prevention. As a contractor you should be registered with the UK’s leading vent hygiene register - VHR
Ensure you check the Building Safety Act Hub regularly as we will update as and when new regulations, legislation and updates are released. As always we welcome any feedback or if there is something missing, please get in touch with us n
Remember to check out the “Building Safety what you need to do and why you need to do it now” session at this year’s BESA Annual Conference, on 12 October Book your free tickets if you are a BESA member
The introduction of the Building Safety Act marks a pivotal moment for all working in the sector, not just employers, but also individuals working on site from engineer to apprentice. Why?
Because it places a requirement on everyone to be able to evidence the right competencies for the tasks they are contracted or employed to undertake. In short, it means you need to have the ‘right card, for the right job’. 2023 is the Acts ‘delivery year’, so delay is no longer an option. The industry must begin implementing the necessary changes to its operations to meet the Act’s compliance demands. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will monitor and enforce adherence of the regime which will apply to all buildings ‘from shed to Shard’. The BSR will have ‘teeth’ to hold to account those in the industry ‘who choose not to learn the lessons and improve’.
The Act gives the Regulator power to impose competence requirements on those undertaking building work, Clause 33, Schedule 1 of the Building Act 1984 defines competence as having the appropriate ‘skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours’ and
requires all individuals carrying out design, construction, refurbishment and maintenance work to be competent for their roles.
rigHt cArd, rigHt JoB
One of the best ways to be able to evidence competencies for an occupation is to hold a CSCS alliance partner card - for building engineers, this is SKILLcard. Although many professionals in the sector already carry cards, as some projects require cards in order to access site, there are still those who have either never held a card or have lapsed.
The message is that whether you are asked for cards or not on site, a SKILLcard is the easiest way to provide the evidence of competence which the regulator will be looking for. Don’t forget, this is now a legal requirement. So think, ‘right card, right job’ to protect yourself as an individual and as an employer.
support And Advice
SKILLcard, is committed to assisting engineers in identifying the most suitable certification for their roles. Whether it’s about acquiring a new card or upgrading an existing one, the team at SKILLcard stands ready to guide engineers through the process. Workers and employers can find out more about the pathways to the right card on the SKILLcard website
In addition, the BESA Academy’s Skills Advisory Service is on hand providing up to date, clear and impartial advice and guidance to employers and individuals and is free of charge to all. For heating and ventilation employers or individuals seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Building Safety Act’s implications, the BESA’s dedicated Building Safety Act hub serves as a vital resource. n
“ One of the best ways to be able to evidence competencies for an occupation is to hold a CSCS alliance partner card - for building engineers, this is SKILLcard. ”Diane Drummond, managing director of B-DACS Air Conditioning , is the new chair of BESA Scotland for 2023/24.
She has been a director of B-DACS, which installs, maintains, and repairs commercial ventilation and air conditioning systems throughout Scotland, since it was founded 20 years ago by her husband Brian.
She previously worked in the retail sector for 15 years before switching to banking where she rose through the ranks to a senior management role at Lloyds. She left in 2012 to go full-time at B-DACS where she was able to apply her extensive business experience overseeing the day-to-day operations and financial management of the Glasgow-based firm.
“The bank gave me the leadership and people management skills which have shaped the way we run B-DACS today,” she said. “I was very fortunate to have some fabulous mentors who guided me.
“I have a real passion for learning and every day is different. I love the flexibility the role brings, and I like the fact we can make changes and implement ideas that benefit both employees and customers.”
Drummond admits that many people would be wary of working with their husband or partner but says they “just make it work”.
skill sets
“Brian and I have completely different skill sets. We don’t always agree but we trust each other to do what is right for the business, the people, and our customers.”
Their daughter Linzi is also a director and has worked at B-DACS for 12 years running the Operations Department.
BESA’s membership director Rebecca Fox welcomed Drummond’s election and said she was looking forward to working with her to further strengthen the Association’s presence in Scotland.
“We are very proud to be the only built environment trade association that represents every part of the UK,” said Fox. “We have a particularly strong heritage in Scotland and Diane is the latest in a long line of motivated and experienced business people who have been prepared to take on the role for the benefit of our members and the wider industry.”
In 2021, Drummond was chosen to take part in a programme called ‘Unlocking Ambition’ run by Scottish Enterprise. The programme included coaching on business growth, leadership, and strategy.
“I graduated from the programme in 2022 with a wealth of knowledge and more confidence in myself which has helped to shape and grow B-DACS,” she said.
BESA Scotland and CIBSE Patrons are also co-organising a technical visit to a groundbreaking new development sited immediately under the new Firth of Forth bridge crossing near Edinburgh on 25 October.
The former World War One naval barracks at Port Edgar in Queensferry are currently being transformed into housing by the Lar Housing Charity, which has also made the site available to a team from Edinburgh University researching the use of seawater as a heat source for heat pumps.
This promises to be a hugely popular event with its unusual combination of historical interest and cutting-edge technology. To book your free place email: martina.stocker@theBESA.com
Diane Drummond elected chair of BESA ScotlandThis year marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the BESA Competence Assessment Standard (CAS) – the badge of quality that sets Association members apart from their competitors.
At a time when technical competence and commercial capability are under greater scrutiny than ever, the fact that BESA members must pass an independent third-party assessment process to remain in membership is a hugely valuable commercial benefit.
This nationally recognised standard backed by the industry’s leading trade body gives clients’ peace of mind that contractors delivering their projects are technically competent, have a skilled workforce and will deliver high-quality services.
While some construction-related organisations and businesses are scrambling to get their processes up to standard so they can deal with the blizzard of new legislative requirements created by the Building Safety Act and changes to multiple Building Regulations, BESA members have the luxury of a 20-year head start.
No other organisation scrutinises its members’ technical capabilities to the same extent as BESA – and no other organisation has 20 years’ experience of working through the process and ironing out the wrinkles. All of which
means members can take great pride in continuing to meet the standard and can use it to promote themselves to clients who need more reassurance than ever that the contractors they employ are up to the job.
rigorous
The process is rigorous but straightforward. It looks closely at the way the business is managed, how well the workforce is trained and the company’s ability to remain technically compliant with UK legislation. This can involve a certain amount of paperwork, but there must be a little pain to get the gain.
The first step of the process can be completed online and if the member can demonstrate they already meet Build UK’s Common Assessment Standard through either CHAS Elite, Constructionline Gold/Platinum, or Achilles Building Confidence, they will only have to complete the technical part of the BESA assessment.
That can either be carried out on site by one of BESA’s inspectors or can often be done remotely where the member provides a video walk-and-talk through one of their projects. The video is then
uploaded to the online CAS portal for independent review, which is often followed by a remote interview with an inspector.
“The BESA membership team are always on hand to help members get through the process successfully,” said director of membership Rebecca Fox “Many actually find the assessment process itself a useful exercise as it is an opportunity to take a fresh look at the way they work and improve their business. We can then help them update any procedures that might need attention and we have a wealth of guidance as well as policy templates to share.
“With businesses facing so many economic and regulatory challenges just now, BESA members can really make this work in their favour,” she added.
“Ultimately, however, the CAS process is all about giving members that valuable Badge of Quality that sets them apart and reassures their clients that they are the right firm to carry out those vital building services projects.”
To contact the BESA membership team call 0345 646 1044 or email: membership@thebesa.com
As interest in indoor air quality (IAQ) reaches ever higher levels, BESA has launched a ‘basic awareness’ training course for anyone who needs to know more about this crucial area of health & wellbeing in buildings.
It was developed by the Association’s online training Academy and is based on the series of guides produced by BESA’s Indoor Air Quality group promoting the concept of buildings as ‘Safe Havens’ from polluted outside air.
The training provides a useful introduction for anyone interested in the subject including those with some working knowledge of building services but who need to have a deeper understanding of IAQ. It is also suitable for people from a non-technical background keen to expand their knowledge so they can make better informed decisions about their indoor environments.
This short online course explains the importance of IAQ, the main airborne contaminants that affect buildings, their sources, and the impact on the
indoor environment caused by outdoor pollution.
It is not designed to lead to a technical qualification but will help anyone who needs to put together an IAQ strategy for their building and be more aware of the threats to health, well-being and productivity posed by poor air quality.
It should also equip them with enough knowledge of the topic to be able to ask informed questions, establish the kind of technical intervention required, and appoint IAQ/ventilation specialists to carry out improvement or remedial work.
The course provides a series of practical measures that building owners and operators can take to address IAQ concerns including measuring and monitoring airborne contaminants, checking, and improving ventilation systems, and understanding the role of filtration and regular maintenance of air systems.
It takes around 45 minutes to complete the course online and it can be completed in a series of manageable ‘bite sized’ chunks at the user’s
convenience from home or work. It costs £15 plus VAT for BESA members and £25 plus VAT for non-members
BESA intends the training to support its messages to contractors, developers, designers, manufacturers, builders, occupiers, and maintenance engineers about how they can act positively on buildings and their systems to improve occupant comfort, health, and well-being – and strengthen their businesses in the process.
“Everyone in building engineering services should have a basic grounding in air quality solutions and be able to explain how poor IAQ affects human health and well-being and the costs of not addressing it properly,” said IAQ Group chair Nathan Wood
“There is huge demand for this kind of introductory training from right across society because everyone is impacted. 90% of people spend at least 90% of their time indoors – and it is so important that we spread the word and improve understanding of this major threat to public health, which directly affects respiratory and heart conditions, asthma, and mental health.
“The more people know and understand why and how IAQ affects health and comfort, the greater will be the pressure on government to legislate properly and in line with the latest worldwide data,” said Wood. n
For more information and to register for BESA’s Basic Awareness training for IAQ, visit the BESA Academy website
Since the last issue of Your BESA, the SFG20 team have been busy producing new guidance to help owners and managers meet their carbon reduction goals and cut operating costs in the face of high inflation.
Tackling Carbon through effective building maintenance strategies explains how facilities managers can create plans to meet carbon reduction responsibilities while also reducing energy costs and extending the useful operating life of built assets.
SFG20’s software helps its users create targeted and costed maintenance plans to manage their assets efficiently and stay legally compliant. The team has now extended this service by providing strategies for taking targeted and practical steps towards their carbon reduction goals.
The Guide includes advice from SFG20 building maintenance experts on how to develop a sustainability plan, optimise equipment performance, implement energy-efficient practices, unpick the differences between embodied and operational carbon, and embrace the circular economy.
The role of regular maintenance in improving equipment efficiency and cutting operating costs is highlighted – particularly as preventative maintenance has been shown to save up to 18% in commercial building energy costs.
SFG20’s guide explains how to carry out a carbon footprint assessment to establish a baseline of current emissions, identify high impact areas, and determine mitigation priorities. This means FMs can focus on key areas of energy use including HVAC systems, lighting, office equipment, refrigeration, and building fabric and work out methods for improving performance.
“Most building owners understand that they need to get on with the task of shrinking their carbon footprint, but few have properly detailed plans of how to get there,” said SFG20’s product director Paul Bullard
“Our role in supporting thousands of maintenance professionals across UK buildings gives us valuable insight into the challenges they face. We want to provide them with the tools and guidance they need to evaluate and cost these challenges, and to provide guidance on the various options to address them. I think they will find this guide extremely helpful, and it will take the weight off a few shoulders.”
The team have also produced a new webinar offering 10 top tips for driving down operating costs. It outlines the areas where costs are rising, and
the problems caused by ‘sub-optimal’ maintenance regimes before setting out a strategy that helps to reduce maintenance costs while still ensuring the building remains fit for purpose. It can be viewed on demand and includes tactics for maximising internal resources, making more cost-effective choices in the use of external expertise and mitigating risk.
SFG20 says that many of its users find adopting this kind of ‘risk-based approach’ to maintenance supported by accurate, up-to-date digital asset registers can cut their overall costs by as much as 20% without compromising legal compliance or operating efficiency.
SFG20 Resource Modeller was developed for just this task and is designed to price the specific requirements of any building so FMs can find the most cost-efficient strategy. n
www.sfg20.co.uk
“ SFG20’s guide explains how to carry out a carbon footprint assessment to establish a baseline of current emissions, identify high impact areas, and determine mitigation priorities.
Vent
is more than just
Areport commissioned by Actuate UK , the engineering services alliance of which BESA is a member, has revealed a worrying picture of skills shortages and lack of net zero understanding and awareness, which it said remained “inconsistent and abstract”.
Following a year-long survey of industry professionals, the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) report revealed large gaps in the industry’s workforce with 73% of respondents saying that the sector, as it is now, would not be able to deliver quality net zero buildings at the necessary scale due to the shortage of people with the appropriate skills 68% of respondents said it was increasingly hard to find those people – and more than
60% believed it would still be difficult to recruit the right skills in five years’ time.
“Clear definitions of what net zero buildings are, encompassing the full lifecycle of the building, will be central to setting the course for upskilling the sector,” the ESC reported. “Partnerships that educate clients about net zero buildings and how to commission them could play a key role in supporting increasing demand and investment in quality.”
It also called for a framework of properly targeted activities, regulations, standards, and processes to deliver net zero buildings.
“Industry needs to play a central role in defining, driving and delivering this, partnering with government where necessary to build a landscape which facilitates it,” the report added. “Trade organisations have a vital role in articulating skills needs and tailoring these activities to specific sectors as well as government to help educate and drive the industry to deliver.”
The ESC said action should focus on easily accessible training and on bringing new, diverse talent into the sector. Promoting upskilling, the integration of new skills and mobility of skills within and beyond the sector could help refresh and reset the culture within the industry.
BESA’s director of training and skills Helen Yeulet said the report showed the industry was “at a tipping point” for its skills capacity.
“There is a clear consensus that the industry needs to drive cultural change with the government providing supportive incentives,” she added. “We want to work with our partners in Actuate UK and beyond to define the industry’s skills needs and training solutions which will ensure the industry can get ready to deliver our net zero targets” she said.
“Those businesses, organisations and individuals who are prepared to diversify and who demonstrate a lifelong appetite for learning and development will be in highest demand.”
Rob Hargraves, ESC’s retrofit skills advisor (right), said that getting to net zero would require a wholesale change in thinking on skills.
“It will require us to take a holistic approach. Making sure the skills are there. Making sure the standards are enforced and upheld. Making sure there is an informed customer base,” he said. “As technologies evolve, we need to be ready to evolve our approach to training and the regulatory environment.” n
There was a warm welcome across the industry for the recent launch of the United Nations Refrigerant Driving Licence (RDL) scheme to help improve worldwide safety standards in the air conditioning and refrigeration industries.
More than a decade in the making, the scheme was launched at a conference for signatories to the Montreal Protocol hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Bangkok. It seeks to help developing nations achieve higher competence standards in safe refrigerant handling through training and accreditation of operatives.
BESA, which operates the UK’s primary refrigerant management registration scheme REFCOM, said the timing was significant because of the rapid growth in the use of new ‘alternative’ refrigerant gases. These are designed to replace traditional global warming equivalents but are often more flammable so require users to have more stringent safety training.
The Association’s technical director Graeme Fox was one of the founders of the RDL scheme and hailed its launch as a “significant development for the worldwide refrigerant industry that will save many lives”.
“A lot of countries do not enjoy the training and technical infrastructure
we take for granted in Europe and the rest of the developed world,” he said. “Many of those countries still want to progress and adopt more environmentally friendly refrigerants. However, the speed of the transition to new gases is causing some very serious safety issues and there have already been several deaths caused by the mishandling of these substances.”
The European Union is currently debating a further strengthening of its F-Gas regulations, which would lead to an even faster pace of change away from higher global warming potential (GWP) gases to flammable alternatives. Changes in large developed markets are quickly reflected in other parts of the world as manufacturers adapt their production strategies.
The African industry is concerned that it is being used as a ‘guinea pig’ to test refrigerant transition, and the U-3ARC, which represents companies in all 54 African states, called for a halt to their introduction until technicians were properly trained.
It said the risks were “enormous” and that “the protection of the environment only makes sense if the human being, who is at its centre, benefits from it”.
Fox, who is also President of the Institute of Refrigeration, said this showed how important the RDL scheme would be and urged the industry to share its expertise and resources to upskill the global workforce. He also asked regulators to be patient as efforts were stepped up to raise standards.
“European legislators deserve praise for seeking to set the pace on reducing global warming, but changes need to be proportionate and practical,” he said. “We must be mindful that one of the consequences of limiting the use of conventional refrigerants is that many developing nations with minimal expertise end up handling large amounts of flammable gas.” n www.refcom.org.uk
“ The United Nations Refrigerant Driving Licence scheme seeks to help developing nations achieve higher competence standards in safe refrigerant handling through training and accreditation of operatives. ”
Last month we unveiled a new uK test regime for Heat interface units (Hius), which replaces the original standard developed in 2016 and revised in 2018.
BESA’s UK HIU Test Regime has been considerably expanded and enhanced to improve the information available to specifiers and to ensure a better experience for end users. It was designed with consumer protection in mind and to ensure the market meets the needs of those developing and designing heat networks.
read about the full update and launch
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WHY
Our
Update
BESA has welcomed the heating and hot water manufacturer Worcester Bosch as its latest Affiliate member.
The company, which was founded by the late Cecil Duckworth in 1962, is one of the UK’s best known heating brands. It was a pioneer of combination boiler technology in the 1980s and a leader in the growth of the condensing boiler market in the 1990s. It joined the Bosch Group in 1992 with Duckworth, who later owned Worcester Rugby Club, becoming president of the Bosch Heating Division in 1995.
The company has since developed a wide range of high efficiency heating products including the market leading Greenstar boiler range and is a major player in the burgeoning heat pump market. It is currently trialling hydrogen-ready boilers and is supporting growth in heat networks through its range of heat interface units (HIUs). Several of its products have successfully passed through BESA’s HIU test regime.
BESA and Worcester Bosch jointly developed a free online training programme to help upskill heating engineers to install heat pumps as both organisations recognised that the skills shortage was a major barrier to wider adoption of low carbon heating solutions.
The programme, which is delivered through BESA’s Academy, has so far trained more than 1,000 installers since its launch in 2021. Both organisations have pledged to deepen their partnership to help the industry keep pace with rapidly developing government policy around decarbonisation of heat and to share technical resources.
Martyn Bridges, the company’s director of technical services, said Worcester Bosch was delighted to become an affiliate member of “such a respected and longstanding organisation”.
“We have collaborated on the very successful heat pump training course and been delighted at the take-up it has received. We will continue to play an active role within BESA.”
Pete Mills, commercial technical operations manager, added that the challenges the industry faces to meet net zero targets made it more important than ever to support trade associations.
“BESA became an important information channel through Covid and lockdown and has been at the forefront of navigating the industry through the challenges of Brexit, UKCA marking, the Building Safety Act and other industry changes,” said Mills, who is a member of BESA’s HIU Test Standard steering group.
“We have never seen so many government consultations, regulation changes and new standards and that is set to continue. Through my personal involvement with BESA, I have seen how it is helping to improve outcomes for consumers using heat networks.”
BESA’s head of engagement and innovation Jenny House said the partnership with Worcester Bosch was a perfect example of how a trade body and a manufacturer could pool resources for the greater good of the sector.
“We already have a highly productive working relationship with the company and the fact they have now agreed to become a member means we can achieve even more together. From training to sharing technical guidance to joint political lobbying – there is lots to aim for.” n
Read the blog about the main barriers to decarbonisation of heat by Worcester Bosch specification sales director Rob Leonard
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