STA Timber Connect

TIMBER

CONNECT JUNE 2019 ISSUE 5

News, Views and Information from the STA Welcome to ‘Timber Connect’ – the STA’s newsletter designed to keep construction professionals up to date with the latest industry news, initiatives, services and technical information available from the UK’s leading organisation representing the structural timber sector.

inside this issue...

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Word from the Chair

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OFFSITE AWARDS Site Safe Policy Wins Health & Safety Award As one of the most hotly contested events of the year, the Offsite Construction Awards celebrate product and service innovations that are taking the sector to new heights.

Held at ExCeL, London as part of futurebuild, the 2019 Offsite Awards attracted a record number of entries.

The Structural Timber Association is proud to have picked up the trophy for the Health and Safety Award for our Site Safe Policy. This award acknowledges outstanding health and safety disciplines that empower and protect construction professionals. Offsite Award judges were impressed by the Site Safe Policy strategy, which is mandatory for all STA members and independently audited for the reassurance of insurance companies, third-party warranty bodies and construction clients.

Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the STA said: “We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award, safety is paramount and an easily accessible health and safety policy that is flexible to different company needs, is pivotal to the wellbeing of providers and service users.

Site Safe creates a clear distinction in the expected health and safety processes of members and non-members within the offsite sector.”

STA Assure Updates

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CSIC & STA Collaboration

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Timber Estimating Guide

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Pictured: Trophy presented to Andrew Carpenter by award category sponsor Amanda Stainton of Portakabin

Keep up with the latest news by following us: @STAtimber

Structural Timber Association

Keep up with our latest news - www.structuraltimber.co.uk

Annual Conference & AGM

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Dates for your Diary

WORD FROM THE CHAIR

Despite political turmoil and uncertainty surrounding Brexit, I’m delighted to report that the market for structural timber systems remains resilient. Demand for timber building systems continues to be underpinned by the UK Government’s clear commitment to address the housing crisis and promote innovative offsite technologies as one way to increase supply, improve build quality and energy efficiency whilst addressing the resource shortages faced by our customers.

STA members are committed to strive for technical excellence, assured performance and delivery certainty will become expected as the implications of the Hackitt review are digested, and regulatory reform starts to take effect.

In light of this, STA Assure is quite possibly the most important initiative developed by our Association in recent years, so it has been particularly rewarding to receive widespread stakeholder endorsement from all the major warranty providers including NHBC, LABC Warranty, Premier Guarantee, Protek Warranty, Build-Zone Warranty, Self-Build Zone Warranty and ABC+ Warranty. Such endorsement recognising the professionalism of our members, along with the development of STA Assure, will continue to ensure the protection of our industry and demand for STA Assure members.

The STA Assure programme does not just cover the operations of our factories but also extends to how we build our structures. This year saw manufacturing members make a pledge to use only accredited erectors that have completed the Timber Frame Competency Award Scheme. This bold commitment further cements the professionalism of our STA Assure members and consequently has significantly increased our membership to over 600.

Mark Stevenson Chair

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The Benefits of Offsite Manufactured Timber Systems Speed of Construction The high degree of factory prefabrication enables a rapid build process, which will not be adversely influenced by inclement weather.

Cost and Programme Certainty Offsite construction for onsite installation makes scheduling and costing more predictable than with traditional building methods.

Quality Assurance Stringent factory quality control enhances the manufacture of buildings, ensuring a modern, high performance structural envelope for your scheme.

Energy usage Thermally efficient, highly airtight structures vastly reduce energy consumption across the life of the building.

Design flexibility With a wide range of innovative products and cladding solutions, timber systems can meet the aspirations of both architects and developers.

Sustainability All Structural Timber Association members use timber from PEFC or FSC certified sources, ensuring responsible management of the world’s forests.

Keep up with our latest news - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/news/structural-timber-news

Contact info@structuraltimber.co.uk

Build with confidence INDUSTRY NEWS

Andrew Orriss Appointed as New STA Assure Director The STA is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Orriss in the new role of Director of STA Assure. Working with STA members to develop the focus on technical excellence, Andrew Orriss will lead the development and implementation of the STA Assure Membership and Quality Standards Scheme. He will be responsible for building the profile of the programme and ensuring the continuing adoption of its values.

Thanks to market growth and the considerable technical investment into advancing structural timber, the industry is quickly expanding, and the demand for structural timber is on the rise. STA Assure has become a fundamental accreditation and we are keen to integrate Andrew into our team. We are confident he will be an invaluable asset to STA. Former board member of the STA, Andrew Orriss has held senior sales and chairing roles with SIG and UKSIPS. His hands-on experience in manufacturing business start-ups is paired with his experience in ‘zero carbon’ and sustainable construction matters. In his new role, Andrew will also collaborate with industry stakeholders, define STA Assure standards for existing and emerging markets and promote the benefits of this scheme to specifiers, industry stakeholders and customers.

We are also delighted to announce that Peter Blunt, Managing Director of Innovare Systems and Board member of the STA, is assuming board responsibility for STA Assure. The knowledge and industry experience of the new STA Assure team will prove invaluable.

STA Roundtable Event with Building Magazine Striving for quality in construction, not least in housing, has been our mantra. It was timely, then, that a roundtable discussion hosted by the Structural Timber Association and held earlier this month in London, sought to share views on the issues of quality, safety and performance, including what a tightening of legislation might mean for new technologies designed to boost output, such as offsite manufacturing.

So how can the industry go about improving quality, and how exactly do we define it? Chaired by Thomas Lane, Building Magazine’s group technical editor, the discussion kicked off around the subject of quality.

Thomas Lane asked the round table attendees including Build UK’s Suzannah Nicol; HTA’s Matt Hoad; Alex Goodfellow, Stewart Milne Group; Alan Robb of Benx; Sam Hart of Construction Scotland Innovation Centre; KLH UK’s Nic Clark; Robert Pannell of the Building Hub; Bouygues UK’s Steve Green; Stora Enso’s Kevin Riley and myself, Andrew Carpenter CEO of the STA - what do people actually mean by quality, and what are the challenges?

To read full Building Magazine article, go to http://www.structuraltimber.co.uk/links/bm/

Keep up with our latest news - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/news/structural-timber-news

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INDUSTRY NEWS

CSIC and STA to Boost Innovation in the Timber Sector Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and the Structural Timber Association (STA) have announced they are joining forces to support structural timber businesses across the UK to innovate and grow.

The partnership will build on the existing relationship between the two organisations, formed through several key collaborative projects that CSIC has already supported, with both the STA and its member companies CCG, Stewart Milne Group and Scotframe.

This formal partnership will create a strategic relationship between CSIC and the STA. It will deliver a supporting programme of activities and provide numerous benefits for STA members, including: • •

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Stephen Good from CSIC with STA board member Calum Murray

A series of innovation events for the timber sector, hosted at CSIC’s Innovation Factory.

A discount on use of CSIC’s Innovation Factory, which provides access to state-of-the-art equipment including an offsite cell and CLT/glulam vacuum press, as well as training and seminar spaces for up to 120 people.

Support for STA members to understand the benefits of working with Building Information Management (BIM).

FREE CPD Factory Tours Our popular Factory Tour programme is hosted by some of the UK’s leading structural timber solution providers and is aimed predominantly at architects, clients, contractors, housebuilders and developers.

For more information, go to www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events

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16th September 2019 Robertsons, Seaham

20th November 2019 Stewart Milne, Witney

Robertson Timber Engineering has been providing offsite solutions for over 30 years. During this time, they have worked with a range of clients forming partnerships with major house builders whilst maintaining a strong presence in other sectors.

Stewart Milne Timber Systems have unrivalled expertise spanning over 40 years and this factory is one of the most advanced automated timber frame operations in Europe and can produce over 8,000 homes per year.

Keep up with our latest member projects - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/project-profiles

Contact info@structuraltimber.co.uk

Collaborate, Inform & Inspire INDUSTRY NEWS

Launch of the Timber Estimating Guide Rider Levett Bucknall Report Available to Download The Structural Timber Estimating Guide has been developed by leading cost management consultants Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) to provide financial and technical information for construction industry professionals. The guide provides information for early estimates and budget preparation, equipping cost managers and estimators with a range of prices and data that can be used to demonstrate value for money.

The new adaptation of the Timber Estimating Guide is an authoritative source that raises awareness of the benefits of using timber frame systems as a core structural component. RLB adopted a cohesive approach when creating the guide by collaborating with a range of construction professionals, including clients, contractors, architects, engineers, house builders and quantity surveyors.

The costs detailed in the guide are based on three timber frame projects, with a summary and detailed cost breakdown for each. The model projects include a three-storey apartment block with 12 units, a two-storey housing development with 100 units, and a two-storey hotel with 40 ensuite bathrooms and a reception area.

RLB have provided a summary specification of all services, materials, plant and labour that is included within the costs for the three model projects. Also included within the costing tables are the commonly selected extras and options required by clients and specifiers.

To download a PDF of the Timber Estimating Guide from the STA’s online library visit: www.structuraltimber.co.uk/eg.

Keep up with our latest member projects - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/project-profiles

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STA ANNUAL CONFERENCE & AGM

Quality, Competency & Compliance The FA’s centre of excellence for English Football was the venue for the Structural Timber Association’s 2019 Annual General Meeting. An appropriate setting for the membership to gather to discuss the latest STA initiatives developed to evidence excellence and discuss the challenges within the wider construction industry. We had a record attendance during the day and the members dinner that evening, with guest speaker Matt LeTissier providing suitable after dinner entertainment in view of the location.

The delegates heard from Suzannah Nichol, CEO of Build UK on how essential it is to reform the industry and how standardised PQQ processes, fair pay schemes, mitigating skills shortages together with improving competency and compliance standards, are a significant part of that journey. She went on to applaud the STA for their initiative and foresight in setting up STA Assure with dedicated resources to deliver the programme at pace.

Peter Caplethorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, covered in detail the likely impact on the construction industry supply chain of the Hackitt and Stollard reviews, echoing Nichol’s views that the industry will be facing significant changes.

The delegates also heard from Allen Wilen from Glenigan who delivered a comprehensive assessment of the UK economy followed by Tara Kennedy from Homes England who outlined plans to drive the offsite/MMC agenda with structural timber playing a significant role.

As the delegates returned from lunch it was time for an update on the key activities undertaken by various STA committees during the last 12 months – specifically relating to training and skills performance in timber frame and the future direction of STA Assure.

With government confidence in the wider UK construction industry said to be at an all-time low, the theme for the day was to highlight that the time is right for the STA to demonstrate that our membership is ‘ahead of the game’ evidencing quality, competency and compliance standards through the STA Assure Membership and Quality Standards Scheme.

The STA is once again leading the market in recognising the need to have a demonstrable competency and compliance scheme to offer confidence that structural timber construction has wellbeing, safety and quality at its core.

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Keep up with our latest news - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/news/structural-timber-news

Contact info@structuraltimber.co.uk

Defining the Standards for Structural Timber

TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Why Use an STA Member?

The STA’s mission is to evidence quality and drive product innovation through technical guidance and research, underpinned by our members’ quality standard assessment – the STA Assure Membership and Quality Standards Scheme.

STA Members • • • • •

Undergo the independently audited STA Assure Membership and Quality Standards Scheme Operate to the Site Safe scheme to ensure timber construction is both safe and sustainable Receive regular updates on the latest building regulations and legislation Have access to dedicated technical support service, advice notes and technical documents Fully support sustainable construction, quality standards and adhere to our Code of Conduct

Timber Frame Competency Award Scheme The STA now manages the STA Timber Frame Competency Award Scheme requirements with CITB, to improve timber frame erectors’ skill levels and acknowledge the competencies of existing timber frame erectors. The training programme can support the achievement of gaining an SVQ or NVQ in Timber Frame Erection, allowing erector/installer companies to access sites that require CSCS cards. The scheme sets industrywide standards for erectors and installers of structural timber frames. As part of the STA Assure quality initiative, members are required to complete three workbooks and an online test to examine practical and theory-based knowledge, which will take up to one year to complete.

Site Safe Policy The Offsite Award winning Site Safe Policy applies to all structural timber building system members, including offsite manufacturers, fabricators, contractors and installers who work with principal contractors. Members are audited to ensure they are achieving the functional requirements of the Site Safe Policy. Both the policy and the audit process have been developed over many years to support members and provide professional building system provider services. By following the policy, members can engage with customers and enable the best project outcomes.

As the largest UK trade association within the structural timber sector, there are a host of reasons why construction professionals should choose one of our members, for more information go to: www. structuraltimber.co.uk

Keep up with our latest news - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/news/structural-timber-news

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

The Structural Timber Association are involved in a number of industry events over the coming months, which provide brilliant platforms for learning about new technologies, accessing technical information and networking opportunities.

22 June 2019 - Kent - Somerset Once again, the STA will be taking on the ultimate coast-to-coast endurance cycling challenge Chase the Sun, starting from the Isle of Sheppey and finishing in Burnham on Sea covering a distance of 205 miles in just one day! We are currently recruiting riders to join our team.

For further information, please visit - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events

24 & 25 September 2019 - Coventry The STA are pleased to announce our involvement as leading industry partner and Silver Sponsors of the newly launched Offsite Expo. This Exhibition, Masterclasses and Summit will attract circa 3,000 delegates, creating an interactive forum for businesses to showcase offsite technologies, the latest smart digital construction techniques and a place for people to engage with key industry contacts.

For further information, please visit - www.offsite-expo.co.uk

09 October 2019 - Birmingham The 2019 Structural Timber Awards will take place in Birmingham on 09 October 2019, where over 550 leaders and innovators from across the construction sector and the structural timber supply-chain will gather at the prestigious award ceremony to celebrate excellence across a variety of categories.

For further information, please visit - www.structuraltimberawards.co.uk

06 November 2019 - London This Timber Talks seminar is open to architects, engineers, clients, contractors, local authorities, housebuilders and developers and will feature high-calibre speakers who will discuss the aesthetic, commercial and technical possibilities of structural timber through case studies and award winning project examples.

For further information, please visit - www.structuraltimber.co.uk

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Keep up with our latest events - www.structuraltimber.co.uk/events