www.theBESA.com Issue 24 The magazine of the Building Engineering Services Association September2022 tobuildingsBringinglife Also in this issue: Introducing our new Presidential team Building Safety Act –travesty or triumph? Campaign celebrates female role models Date: 20th October 2022 Location: Novotel London West
Fire Dampers at your fingertips. Inspect. Detect. Report. available on the App Store search for HomeVAC
B rexit, the war in Ukraine, global climate change – we are having everything thrown at our economy. It would be easy to despair, but can we dare to hope?
Part of the reason for the UK’s so-far piecemeal approach has been the difficulty in making the investment sums add up, but now a fully funded national building retrofit plan makes absolute financial sense. It was always going to be vital to deliver net zero, but now it has much greater economic and social urgency.
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While immediate action is needed to get the country through the coming winter (especially the millions of fuel poor households), the lack of a long-term strategy to address existing residential and commercial building performance is now even more gaping.
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While the cost of energy is a serious shock to the UK and is leading to misery for many, our sector is part of the solution.
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It’s economy...that again
The building engineering services sector will be central to any such plan. However, none of this is straightforward. We don’t know how long the war in Ukraine will last, we know energy prices will find a level –but we don’t know what that is and when it will happen. So, timescales remain fuzzy. We are back to Donald Rumsfeld’s ‘known knowns and unknown knowns and unknown unknowns’.
@BESAGroup BESA Group 3 04 national c 2022 Bringing buildings to life at the 2022 National Conference 06 BesA national Awards Record breaking shortlist announced 08 new B esA presidential team Introducing the team 09 president’s perspective BESA President Robert Fletcher 10 Building regulation changes Record temperatures turn up heat on building regs 12 net Zero German lessons could inspire UK net zero plan ndoor air quality Clean Air Day put ventilation in the national spotlight safe workspaces BESA supports unions’ push for safer workspaces Building safety Act Travesty or triumph? Member spotlight BESA members lead vital cancer research project B esA affiliate group committee appointed publications BESA campaign celebrates female mentors & role models sFg to cscs competence fighting B esA of
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We also bring together experts from around the industry and from other fields to help us improve our understanding of what we are facing. Our regular webinars continue to deliver on that front and next month our National Conference returns to an ‘in person’ format in London. Read all about it on pages 4-7 and make sure you are ‘in the room’ for those key conversations that could make all the difference to your and your fellow members’ businesses. n Advertising & production Open Box M&C T: +44 (0)121 200 7820 E: inside@ob-mc.co.uk
One of BESA’s most important jobs is to support you, our members, by doing the analysis of what we do know and plugging knowledge gaps where we can. By sharing your experiences with us (through our business surveys, for example) you help us to form a wider picture to help you plan and us set strategic goals for the sector and to lobby government.
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. Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022
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One of the most important factors that held back investment in energy efficiency for decades was the relatively low price of electricity and gas. While not downplaying the impact fuel poverty has had on millions of families over the years, for the bulk of the population energy costs were not particularly high on their list of concerns. Things are very different now.
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While rising costs hurt every business, judging from our latest surveys BESA members are busy. You are active in many growth sectors and medium to long-term prospects are promising. Some of the product supply issues have settled down, according to the Construction Products Association. While skilled labour remains in short supply, many members tell us they are still planning to increase their level of directly employed staff and reduce dependence on agency workers.
Academy directory The learning solution for building services engineers 38 B esA Webinars 2022 The must-see webinar for the building services sector Legal and commercial 40 Lessons for building services industry in landmark R&D tax relief case 41 What the experts say about the hard market 42 The first
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Bringing buildings to life at the 2022 National Conference for purpose, fit for people, fit for life.
T his year’s BESA National Conference will take place on Thursday 20 October at the Novotel London West – with a lavish Awards Dinner to follow that evening. The over-arching theme of the one-day conference is: ‘Bringing buildings to life’ and it will feature a wide range of speakers focused on making buildings “fit for people, fit for purpose, and fit for Thelife”.Association is delighted to be returning to an ‘in person’ format after two-years of virtual conferences and the events team is bringing together representatives from across the building engineering supply chain to consider the sector’s hottest topics. There will be six keynote panel sessions taking place in the main BESA Theatre to generate animated and informed debate: - 1 -
The Future Building
The Safe Building rethinking fire safety - 4 -
The Healthy Building Keeping people happy, healthy, and productive - 3 -
What will our industry look like in 10, 20 – even 50 years’ time? - 6 -
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The Valued Building the CBI considers how the economy is affecting the value of built assets S
The Human Building Why a building is like a human body and what that means for its services - 2 -
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The Skilful Building a more diverse, skilled workforce - 5 -
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“The challenge for our industry is to demonstrate how it is improving collaboration and integration to keep people healthy and safe. That kind of collaboration is often hard to replicate in a virtual setting, so we are delighted to be welcoming speakers and delegates back in “Theperson.Conference will demonstrate why it is so important to be ‘in the room’ to have that chance conversation that could change everything.”
Book your tickets to the Awards and National Conference now. For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities email: charlie.pierpoint@thebesa.com
The subject of technical and professional competence and the need to comply with rapidly changing building safety legislation will be a theme running throughout the day as will the need to improve methods for capturing and sharing operational data in line with the ‘Golden Thread’.
Date: thursday 20 october 2022 novotel London West 2022
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Lord Redesdale CEO, the CarbonAssociationManagement Tom Thackray Programme director for decarbonisation, CBI Gill Kernick , Director of transformation,Arup Alexandra Knight Founder,diversitySTEMazinginitiative Frances Brown AssociateHoaredirector,Lea Lucy Sherburn, CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year
“One of the biggest challenges in the post-Grenfell environment is how we can demonstrate compliance by considering buildings and their engineering services as a complete system rather than a jumble of components,” said BESA chief executive David Frise (above). PA rt NE r S
The conference will also feature two Technical Theatres hosting a series of detailed sessions looking at everything from diversity in recruitment and retention to modern methods of measuring and monitoring indoor air quality (IAQ) and the very latest technical guidance View the full programme High profile speakers already confirmed include Liberal Democrat peer Lord Redesdale –CEO of the Carbon Management Association; the CBI’s programme director for decarbonisation Tom Thackray; Arup’s director of transformation Gill Kernick; the founder of diversity initiative STEMazing Alexandra Knight; Hoare Lea associate director Frances Brown; and CIBSE ASHRAE Graduate of the Year Lucy Sherburn
shortlist
The enlarged awards scheme has resulted in a record number of entries with a wide array of building services talent appearing on the shortlists – see the full list
6 BESA Group Companies BESA NAtIoNAL AWArDS
The Awards celebrate individuals, teams, and companies responsible for delivering projects, products, innovations, and initiatives that demonstrate excellence in building services engineering. All the entries were scrutinised by an expert panel of judges drawn from across the sector. They also feature for the first time a Specialist Groups award to pay tribute to the work of the many individuals who give up their own time to carry out important technical work on behalf of the Association and the industry at large.
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The Product Innovation category has a shortlist of 16 due to the huge response from all parts of the industry demonstrating an impressive array of different technologies.
Above: Comedian Zoe Lyons will host the BESA Awards
As well as being hosted by Zoe Lyons – well known from her appearances on Mock the Week and alongside Michael McIntyre and Paul O’Grady – the Awards dinner will feature a live band so promises to be BESA’s most lavish to date.
Also returning to an in-person format after the enforced two-year break, the Awards feature several new categories that were open to both members and non-members including Net Zero Initiative, Product Innovation, Diversity and Inclusion, Competence and Compliance, and Women in Building Services
The Association’s long-running management training award has been relaunched as The Manly Trust Management Training Bursary which offers generous funding to support the career development of a young engineer identified as one of the industry’s ‘future leaders’.
he BESA National Awards will be presented at the same venue that evening and will be hosted by the award-winning comedian Zoe Lyons.
The dinner will also be the culmination of a year-long series of local heats for apprenticeship and training awards hosted by BESA’s regions and devolved nations with regional winners going forward to the national final in London.
Record breaking announced for BESA National Awards
our industry in action. Above all, this year’s awards brought to our attention some of the brightest and most self-sacrificing people who are sharing freely of their time and expertise for the greater good of the industry. “We are hugely grateful for their efforts which bode well for the future of our profession.” n
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Recognising and rewarding excellence in building services
7 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group BESA NAtIoNAL AWArDS
For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities email: charlie.pierpoint@thebesa.com
“The judges were hugely encouraged by the breadth and depth of talent and innovation represented by the large numbers of entries we received,” said BESA head of technical Graeme Fox (right), who chaired the judging panel. “We were particularly delighted to see such strong support for the Competence and Compliance award as this is a major focus for our sector – not least because of new building safety legislation.
“Both the large and small project categories also attracted strong support and demonstrated the best of PA rt S P o NS or S Book your tickets to the Awards and National Conference now.
Immediate Past President, BESA 2022/23 Neil Brackenridge is Regional Director at Lorne Stewart Group. He was formally the MEP Regional Director for the Midlands and North at Wates Construction and was the representative for BESA member SES (Engineering Services) Ltd.
In the past, Claire has been recognised by the British Institute of Facilities Management with an Excellence in a Major Project Award and was shortlisted for Leader of the Year. Claire has a passion for engineering and believes that to achieve technical quality people must be trained properly, supported with technological enhancements and a sustainable mindset. Claire will continue the focus of helping to inspire young people to succeed within the industry with ambitious plans next year to expand Linaker’s apprenticeship opportunities. n
Adrian Hurley, Managing Director of FP Hurley and Sons Ltd has been employed as a building services engineer in the construction industry for 40 years and has been with the family business for 32 years. His involvement in the construction industry started from a very young age having been born into a family of engineers. After completing his A levels he headed to National College, Polytechnic of the South Bank, London to read their degree course in Environmental Engineering. After graduating, he was employed by contractors in London and gained membership of CIBSE and became a Chartered Engineer. He joined the American consultancy, Heery Architects and Engineers and was promoted to Chief Engineer in London before leaving to join the family business. His involvement with BESA started in early 2019 when he became the Wales elected representative at Council. In early 2021 he left the Council and joined the Membership Committee. He has been a member of the Wales Steering Committee since 2019. n
Neil, the Principal Winner of the Alfred Manly Award in 2002, is actively involved in the BESA Council and the North West Region. Neil is also Chair of the BESA Education Committee & Skills Partnership. n
Rab is a time served plumber with 30 years’ experience in the construction industry, both in mechanical and multi-trade environments. He has been employed with Fife Council Building Services for 22 years, initially, his service began in an advanced plumber role before moving into a chargehand post, further progression through the management career path brought him to supervisor level before becoming a coordinator and finally to his current post of Team Manager Mechanical Services. His journey with BESA began in 2016 when he was selected to become Fife Council’s representative at regional meetings, this then escalated into him becoming vice chair for Scotland in 2017 and then chairman in March 2018, an achievement of which he is extremely proud. He played a large part in instigating the initial local authority forum in 2016, which he still chairs. BESA Scotland now holds seven quarterly forums regularly attended by representatives from all the country’s councils.
Claire Curran, Managing Director of Linaker Ltd, is a progressive and passionate professional with nearly 25 years in the building services industry in a multitude of roles with companies such as GSH, ISS, Kier, Wates.
Claire Curran President Elect, BESA 2022/23
Graduating from Leeds Metropolitan University, Neil began his career as a I&C Craft Apprentice and progressed through member organisation. He has held a number of managerial roles and directorships in major contractors ever since.
In addition, Claire has a business and marketing degree, financial qualifications and an MBA, topped up with ‘hanging around plant rooms for far too long’.
Introducing BESA’s new Presidential team Companies
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NEW PrESIDENtIAL tEAm Claire NeilAdrianCurranHurleyBrackenridgeRabFletcher
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Adrian Hurley Vice President, BESA 2022/23
The building engineering sector has been focused on a different Three Rs for some years now: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle These have become the basis of an all-round approach to sustainable building services, but these too will soon become victims of progress.
The Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge University has published research arguing for a new set of Rs: Reduction, Removal, and Repair if we are properly to get to grips with global climate change. Our sector has made good progress on the first R thanks to our development of highly energy efficient technologies and processes for reducing direct and ongoing emissions from buildings. However, undoing damage already done by removing carbon from the atmosphere and repairing damage to the natural world are massive challenges. stable Before the industrial revolution, CO2 levels were stable at below 280 parts per million (ppm) for thousands of years – they are now well over 400 ppm. That is why our climate is heating up. Reversing that is incredibly difficult because CO2 stays in the atmosphere trapping heat for hundreds of years. And every year humans emit over 33 billion tonnes of the stuff. B esA Rotherwick House, 3 Thomas More Street, St Katharine’s & Wapping London E1W 1YZ t: +44 (0)345 646 1044 E: enquiries@theBESA.com www.theBESA.com
Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group 9
T hose of us of a certain vintage will remember our Three Rs from school: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. This founding principle of our education system could be traced back to the early 19th century and seemed to work well enough. Things are a bit different now and teaching priorities have changed, although many employers would argue that those basic three Rs are not a bad starting point for any career, but you can’t turn back the clock.
This edition of Your BESA is packed with examples of how we, your trade association, and you the members are already contributing to this challenge –and what comes next! n
Therefore, the wider engineering industry is looking at the viability of ‘at scale’ solutions like carbon capture and removal, and geo-engineering (even looking at how we might dim the sun and refreeze the polar ice caps). Bill Gates, Google and others are investing huge amounts in this area, but where do building engineers fit into this?
It would be easy for us to think it is all a bit above our pay grade – a bit futuristic and large scale – so we should leave it to the tech geniuses. However, that would be to ignore the fact that the built environment is responsible for over 40% of global emissions. We have been battling away for years to strip carbon out of the construction, renovation, and operation of buildings and that will continue to be important because, unless we do our jobs well, repairing the damage will become impossible.
It is also vital that we promote what we are doing because our industry’s contribution to the global challenge is still not well understood and, as a result, we struggle to attract enough skilled people. The next generation need to see that they can make a meaningful contribution if they join our industry.
robert fletcher PrESIDENt’ S PErSPECtIvE
Good comethingsinthrees
“ The next generation need to see that they can make a ourcontributionmeaningfuliftheyjoinindustry.”
For example, they said that new ventilation requirements were deliberately prescriptive to prepare the country for future pandemics – and they would not compromise in that area even though it was equally important to reduce energy use. They said the overall strategy was for tighter fabric standards and air tightness, but with additional focus on systems that bring outside air into buildings.
Improved filtration is also a feature of the changes to Part F with a more frequent requirement for HEPA filters in systems that provide outside air. Officials told us this was designed to ensure air conditioning would still be widely specified for comfort reasons, but that there would now be greater focus on filtering the outside air supply to ensure we are better prepared for future health emergencies and the more usual annual flu and cold epidemics. n
Graeme fox, BESA head of technical “ Building Regulations revisions are usually the result of wouldhigherroomiscompromisesseveralandthereoftentoomuchwriggletoestablishthestandardsweliketosee.”
10 BESA Group Companies Bu ILDING rEGu LAtIoN ChANGES
Indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring is now mandatory in offices and all recirculating ventilation systems must be capable of switching to ‘full fresh air’ mode when necessary to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Bathroom extract systems must have an ‘always on’ feature and trickle ventilators are also recommended in non-domestic buildings. The new guidance stipulates a recommended minimum air supply rate of 0.5 l/s.m².
R evised Building Regulations that came into force in June could help to reduce overheating in buildings.
All new residential buildings, including care and children’s homes, and student accommodation, must also be designed to reduce overheating, thanks to the introduction of the new Part O. Changes to ventilation include making CO2 monitors compulsory and adding new standards for recirculating ventilation systems in offices.
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“The Building Regulations have never been perfect – far from it. Revisions are usually the result of several compromises and there is often too much wriggle room to properly establish the higher design and operational standards we would really like to see,” said BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox “However, the government deserves credit for performing something of a juggling act with the latest changes to try and balance energy/carbon reduction with improving the indoor environment to protect health, well-being, and productivity.” resilient Record summer temperatures recorded in several parts of the country have upped the ante on making buildings more resilient to the impact of climate change – and particularly to overheating – while the pandemic helped to raise the profile and stress the importance of ventilation.
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Revisions to Parts F and L of the Regulations were worked on in parallel to improve ventilation and tackle overheating while still cutting carbon emissions by 30% in new homes and by 27% in non-domestic buildings.
BESA was able to discuss revisions to the regulations with officials at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) before they were published, and it was clear that the pandemic had a profound impact on the regulators’ thinking.
Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group 11
“The built environment is responsible for more than 40% of total carbon emissions so upgrading our building stock could have a major impact on our net zero targets while also improving health, well-being, and productivity by creating better indoor conditions.’’ “It is also the quickest and most cost-effective way to drive down gas and electricity consumption in homes, schools, offices and industrial buildings when we are facing an unprecedented energy Germanycrisis.”isgrappling with the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on its gas supplies and has pledged to invest €35.5bn in its renewable levy to lower electricity prices with another €20bn going towards decarbonising industry and developing hydrogen.
German consumers no longer pay the renewables levy that helps to finance the expansion of wind and solar power. Instead, the government has stepped in as part of efforts to cut electricity bills. n In the UK, public buildings are to receive a further £635m for energy efficiency upgrades in the latest round of the government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Healthcare facilities, schools and local authority buildings will be able to apply for grants to install heat pumps and other low carbon solutions and to pay for energy efficiency measures like insulation and double glazing.
Transformation Fund will allocate €56bn to supporting “climate-friendly” building renovation and seek to reduce 30% of Germany’s total energy consumption that is used to generate space and water heating.
Much of the funding will be aimed at improving buildings in the bottom 25% of energy performance, a move that could be replicated by the rest of the EU, which is updating its Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. This also represents a dramatic shift in government priorities from supporting the construction of new homes to renovating more existing ones with one official saying: “One euro spent on renovation is ten times more efficient than if it was spent on a new home.” comprehensive “This looks like a comprehensive plan for retrofitting buildings with both net zero and reduced energy costs for consumers in mind,” said BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox. “We have long been calling for something similar in the UK and I would urge our officials to look at this closely.
734 grants have already been awarded in phase one of the scheme, which the government claims is supporting more than 30,000 jobs in the clean heating and energy efficiency sectors. Overall, the scheme is designed to cut emissions from public sector buildings by 75% by 2037, compared with levels recorded in 2017 and will eventually provide a total of £1.425bn for building upgrades by 2025.
Graeme fox, BESA head of technical
B ESA believes the UK should take inspiration from a German plan to fund a massive programme of building energy efficiency upgrades.
“ The built environment is responsible for more than 40% of total carbon emissions so upgrading our building stock could have a major impact on our net zero targets by creating better indoor conditions. ”
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German lessons could inspire UK net zero plan
The German government has pledged to spend €177.5bn of its federal budget on climate action, including a huge programme of building renovations, which could provide a template for the UK’s own national retrofit programme that will be essential to delivering our net zero Germany’sobligations.Climateand
Nuaire board director Stuart Smith told the webinar that the sites visited by the Mail Online almost certainly had ventilation systems, but they were not doing their job effectively. “Some of the results are staggering with huge spikes in VOC and CO2 in popular hospitality venues at relatively quiet times of the day – so we can only imagine what they must be like when they are busier.”
13 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group INDoor AIr quALIty
T he serious impact of poorly ventilated spaces on human health was highlighted by live trials carried out on National Clean Air Day in June with BESA hosting a special webinar to examine the results.
Air pollution was described as “the biggest environmental threat to our health” by leading air quality and health expert Professor Stephen Holgate of Southampton University “Even though we can’t see it, air pollution impacts our health from our first breath to our last. When we breathe polluted air, it can inflame the lining of our lungs and get into our bloodstream ending up in the heart and brain.’’
“Air pollution is a public health crisis.”
An air monitoring exercise carried out by the national news website Mail Online in collaboration with ventilation company and BESA affiliate member Nuaire revealed widespread cases of harmful indoor pollution in hospitality, transport, and office buildings around London.
“We are sure these buildings have ventilation systems, but how well maintained and managed are they?”
Some of the results were described by the journalists involved as ‘scary’ – with particularly high readings for volatile organic compounds and particulate matter.
“We have been talking about this for years, but we have just had a pandemic, the Grenfell Tower fire was five years ago and now we have an energy crisis. What else do we need to make people sit up and start doing the right things to make buildings safer, healthier, and more efficient?” asked Nathan Wood, chair of BESA’s Health & Well-being in Buildings group n BESA has produced three guides to help members address the IAQ challenge. They can be downloaded for free on the BESA website Professor Stephen holgate, Southampton university
Clean Air Day put ventilation in the national spotlight
“ Even though we can’t see it, air pollution impacts our health from our first breath to our last. ”
The studies emphasised the importance of turning indoor spaces into ‘safe havens’ designed, operated, and maintained to limit human exposure to airborne contaminants, harmful gases, and diseases in line with the Association’s ongoing campaign.
The webinar focused heavily on the need to improve the maintenance and operation of existing ventilation systems, which could be addressed with better awareness and education about the extent and nature of the problem.
The panellists agreed that upgrading ventilation should be tackled as part of the government’s push for net zero, which will require most buildings to be refurbished and/or retrofitted with more effective building services technologies.
More long-term monitoring of IAQ using increasingly sophisticated devices can help building operators improve their understanding of the problem, added Mazen Jamal from Airthings for Business “You need more than just a snapshot of what is going on to fully understand the underlying issue as the levels and types of pollutants change continually. That is why we are starting to see greater take-up of monitoring on a subscription basis, so users pay for long-term measuring that can inform their maintenance strategies.”
The pledge is “a simple commitment to adhere to health and safety law and best practice” and includes particular provision for measuring and assessing indoor air quality (IAQ). It refers to guidance produced by BESA’s Health & Well-being in Buildings group to improve ventilation, filtration and air cleaning in offices and other workplaces*.
The unions and their members are now encouraging employers to sign the pledge and commit to putting strategies in place for making employees feel safer about returning to work and to consult their workforces on appropriate measures.
Accurate Independent SAGE believes all indoor areas should be assessed by a specialist for air quality, design, and ventilation.
Employers should assess their physical environment and working practices according to health and safety law including risk assessments, to ensure that they are designed to safeguard against the spread of infection.
They are also calling for continuous real time CO2 monitoring with a notification when levels go above 800 parts per million (ppm) – as a proxy for measuring IAQ. All building users should be provided with information on what to do when conditions are unsafe and will have the right to remove themselves without threat of repercussions under the terms of the pledge.
BESA saferunions’supportspushforworkspaces 15 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group SAfE WorKSPACES
This follows a presentation by BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) explaining the three pieces of guidance produced by the Association since the start of the pandemic, which culminated in the recent launch of ‘Buildings as Safe Havens – a practical guide’ in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.’
“They recognise that improving building ventilation can play a huge part in helping the country recover from the pandemic and make buildings more infection resilient in preparation for future health emergencies.’’
coalition of trade unions and scientists is using BESA guidance to support a campaign to improve conditions in workplaces, including turning buildings into ‘safe havens’ from polluted air.
All building users should be provided with accurate and accessible information on ventilation in each space and what constitutes safe occupancy and unsafe air quality levels.
The Public & Commercial Services (PCS) union secured Cabinet Office support for an ‘Employer Pledge’ developed by Independent SAGE – the group of scientists working together to advise the government and the public about dealing with and recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic –in response to the government’s ‘living with Covid’ strategy.
“The involvement of trade unions and this extremely influential group of scientists at the highest level of government brings the prospect of ‘safe havens’ much closer,” said Fox. “I found union officials very receptive to our guidance and the principle of protecting workers from sources of outdoor pollution and the cocktail of indoor contaminants that can be found in many workplaces.
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“They also noted the importance of using properly trained and accredited ventilation and IAQ specialists to carry out remedial work on buildings and on avoiding ‘silver bullet’ solutions.” n All three of BESA’s air quality guides can be downloaded for free on the BESA website
He said this constituted a “travesty of justice that shines a spotlight on popularist law making”.
16 BESA Group Companies Bu ILDING SAfE ty ACt
The government’s £4.5 billion Building Safety Fund has also reopened for new applications, giving more leaseholders access to financial support.
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“While the Act has quite rightly found a solution to the problems of innocent occupiers of some dangerous buildings, it has done so by making a scapegoat of the whole industry and by throwing developers, contractors and their supply chains under the proverbial bus rather than accepting the fundamental role that successive governments, their own regulators and agents have played in creating this mess,” added Willmott.
he Building Safety Act, which came into force in June, is splitting opinion. For hard pressed leaseholders in high-rise homes, it is welcome relief from the threat of huge bills to make their properties safe, but to some in the construction industry it creates more problems than it solves. However, there can be no argument that this Act will profoundly change construction culture in the coming decades. It has given politicians new powers to force through several controversial changes including how urgent remediation work will be paid for and it gives leaseholders more legal support in their efforts to avoid having to pay for historical building safety defects. Any building owner who continues to press leaseholders to pay to fix historical building safety defects could now face criminal action, unless they can prove they are legally entitled to recover these costs.
“The Building Safety Act makes clear building owners’ liabilities and gives us powers to pursue those that continue to flout the rules,” said Secretary of State for Levelling Up Greg Clark “It has also introduced far-reaching legal protections to relieve many leaseholders from the financial burden of fixing their homes.” rebellion But not everyone is happy about this and, as Your BESA went to press, there was a considerable developer rebellion underway with several refusing to sign contracts assuming responsibility for past mistakes because of the conditions imposed by the Act.
Building Safety Acttravesty or triumph?
Rick Willmott, chief executive of Willmott Dixon, said many in the industry would be wondering “how the widespread failure of the government’s own regulatory and testing system has left building owners and their contractors facing uninsured and unquantifiable financial risks for residential properties certified as fully compliant with Building Regulations over the last 30 years”.
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in how to create comprehensive records and fill in any risk gaps evidence A duty of care also falls on all equipment suppliers and installers to provide good quality information. The Regulator could ask to see evidence that the appropriate product was supplied and that it was installed as specified to avoid retrospective action under the new laws.
This will also lead to greater pressure on contractors to keep their competence and compliance training and verification up to date.
“A digital audit trail is your legal protection and insurance, so companies need to put a long-term strategy for their digital transformation in place,” said Tomkins. “As our reliance grows on technology, so issues such as security, privacy, availability, resilience and auditability are likely to become more commonplace, making it important to partner with competent IT providers.”
“This is not just about ensuring safety and staying legal – it is about long-term value for money,” said Tomkins. “Around 80% of a building’s cost throughout its lifetime comes from maintenance, whereas the initial construction costs are just 20%.
safety issues
Key new measures under the Building Safety Act • new powers for the secretary of state to restrict builddevelopers’irresponsibleabilitytonewhomes • An estimated £3bn extension to the Building Safety Levy • improved rights for building owners to launch legal action against 30liabilitymanufacturerscontractors,developers,and–withextendedtoyears • extra powers for courts to largerconcealedshellcompanies‘associated’prosecuteincludingcompanieswithincorporations • tougher regulations to enforce higher quality industrystandardsbuildinginallsectors • A national regulator for construction products will carry out practice.andunsafesurveillance,marketremovematerialsconfrontpoor Find out more about SFG20’s building safety act checklist Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group 17 “ The Building Safety Act makes clear building floutthoseusliabilitiesowners’andgivespowerstopursuethatcontinuetotherules.” Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Levelling up
The Act will also put greater focus on the compliance of any planned new build or major refurbishment work and SFG20 emphasised the importance of considering the maintenance of new building assets early in the process.
“The new Act really puts compliance in the spotlight, making it critical that all maintenance activities can be tracked, monitored, and evidenced including ensuring the data is readily accessible and can be shared quickly with anyone who needs it,” said Tomkins.
Specific such as appropriate refrigerant use and the condition of pressure vessels are included in the checklist, which guides facilities managers
“By assessing the likely cost of maintaining a building before finalising the designs, you will be able to remain compliant and save money.’’ n
“If you own or are responsible for maintaining a building that falls within scope, then you must take immediate action to ensure you have up-to-date records of all your installed systems,” said Steve Tomkins, SFG20’s director of product and business development He said that creating an asset register was an obvious first step – as maintaining assets correctly will provide financial and operating benefits in addition to ensuring the building is compliant.
BESA has studied the legislation in some detail to see how members and their clients could be affected and SFG20, part of the BESA group that produces the industry’s standard for planned service and maintenance work, has produced a checklist of key actions.
A ‘golden thread’ of information covering all installed systems must be available in a digital format under the terms of the Act –and the information needs to be accurate, up to date, easily understandable and accessible by those who need it. Not least any emergency services that might be summoned to an incident in their building.
E: training@altecnic.co.uk T: 01785 218 altecnic.co.uk206 Grow your knowledge with the Altecnic Academy - Heat Networks - Sealed Systems - Thermostatic Mixing Valves - Backflow Prevention - Dirt & Air Separation - Hydronic Balancing - Legionella: A History - Heat Interface Units - Dynamic vs. Static PRVs - plus many more... Topics: ENQUIRE NOW! FREE tailored training and resources available from the Altecnic Academy, delivered in-person or online! CPD’s TECHNICAL HUB PRODUCT TRAINING
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust has been a world-renowned provider of healthcare research for more than 50 years and its scientists were responsible for breakthroughs in lung cancer, melanoma, drug discovery and leukaemia. It is also one of the UK’s largest hospital Followingcharities.amajor fire in 2017, the decision was taken to substantially rebuild and extend its Paterson Building on Wilmslow Road. IHP, a joint venture between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine, was engaged by the Christie working in conjunction with Cancer Research UK and the University of Manchester. concentration The new facility will bring together the largest concentration of scientists, doctors and nurses in Europe and is designed to enable close collaboration to speed up progress on key cancer treatments.
The new facility is set to be twice the size of the original Paterson building and the Christie wants the building to be at the heart of its plan to lead the world in clinical trial recruitment by 2030 “supporting the development of new and kinder cancer therapies”.
Imtech’s north west regional director Tony Walker said the company was “extremely proud to have secured this fantastic project” which he said would be of huge importance to the future of cancer research in the UK by providing clinicians and scientists with the space needed to work alongside each other
ESA member companies are playing a key role in the development of one of Europe’s most important healthcare research facilities.
Imtech UK secured the £34.5m contract to deliver MEP services to 113,300 sq ft of heavily serviced and engineered laboratory research space across four floors, along with 92,000 sq ft of consultants’ workspace at a new clinical centre in Manchester.
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BESA members lead vital cancer research project 19 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group mEmBEr SPotLIGht
It sub-contracted key work packages to several other BESA member firms to help it meet the challenging brief of delivering highly specialised services while also achieving a BREEAM rating of ‘very good’ for the completed building.
Fletchers Engineering installed the pipework, DDI carried out the ductwork installation with Duct Busters carrying out the ductwork cleaning. End Systems has completed the ventilation commissioning and air conditioning work was carried out by Skyline. A great example of the ‘BESA Community’ working in collaboration and sharing key skills on a project crucial to the future of healthcare research and treatment.
The new building will provide 26,792m2 of laboratory and associated write up space spread over nine operational levels with a further three floors of plant and services. Most of the lab spaces are standard specification, but there are a few select areas that have specialist requirements including a basement floor that houses a specialist biological research unit. To speed up the installation process, Imtech is using off-site manufacturing including prefabricated horizontal service modules and risers complete with flooring. The large plantroom will also be constructed off-site before being lifted into position. As well as speeding up delivery, this will also help to meet the clients’ sustainability goals and improve safety. There is a 19-week commissioning period before the building is due to be handed over early next year.
Founded in 1993, Imtech UK is a facilities management, m&e, energy performance and systems integration company with an annual turnover of £561m. It employs more than 2,000 people and has offices across the UK and Ireland. n www.imtech.co.uk
Elysator UK Industry leading specialists in chemical-free water treatment solutions. www.elysator.co.uk
20 BESA Group Companies WELCom E to BESA!
Wownow Hire has been helping UK businesses with all their commercial hire needs since 1995, offering UK and Ireland wide, same-day hire supplier for all your access, plant, waste and tool needs. www.wownowhire.co.uk
Hands HQ HandsHQ makes smart software to keep your team safe. HandsHQ allows you to create better RAMS in less time, and to say goodbye to your training matrix with their training register software. www.handshq.com Wownow Hire
Enginus Limited
Welcome to our newest Affiliates
AccuTemp Limited specialise in the maintenance, service and repair of air conditioning systems. Their engineers are fully certified and have many years’ experience in the installation, commissioning and service of air conditioning and ventilation products. www.accutemp.co.uk Concept SolutionsEnvironmentalLimited Water and air solutions for your business and your wellbeing. www.conceptenvironmental.co.uk
DHL Supply Chain Limited World’s leading contract logistics provider. www.dhl.com Elecmech Building Services Ltd Elecmech deliver mechanical and electrical solutions. www.elecmechme.co.uk
Ryak Cleaning and Support Services Ryak Cleaning and Support Services are a multi-functional family run cleaning business. Specialising in cleaning solutions for business and manyapartmenthotelandbusinessesmanyapremises,commercialtheyofferpremiumservicetoofNorthernIrelandfromsmalllargeretailerstochains,officesandblocksplusmore. www.mdspecialistcleaningservices.co.ukwww.ryakcleaning.com
Congratulations to our newest members
Cento Cento is a market leader and long-established specialist recruiter in the building services industry. Centro is breaking the traditional mould of recruitment by working in complete partnership with their customers to learn and understand your culture to build successful hiring strategies, ensuring that the talent they source and secure is not only of the highest calibre, but is also the right fit for your business and objectives. www.centogroup.com AccuTemp Limited
Cool Designs Ltd
MD CleaningSpecialistServices Ltd MD Specialist Cleaning Services provide commercial kitchen grease ducting and extraction deep cleans as part of any other cleaning services you require. Based in Oswestry they cover all of the surrounding areas.
Enginus are a mechanical services contractor in North Oxfordshire, providing mechanical solutions for the built Theirenvironment.offsitefabrication services provide pipework spools, valve assemblies, plant skids and packaged plant rooms and their highly qualified and experienced teams provide a comprehensive, safety conscious and quality driven product for their clients. www.enginus.co.uk
Cool Designs Ltd are the largest UK HVAC Distributor of Toshiba, CIAT, Carrier and Fujitsu. National coverage offering sales, design, training, technical and site support. www.cdlweb.info
Fluid Projects Limited Fluid Projects Limited are specialists in the design, installation and maintenance of commercial building services., with a wealth of experience in a majority of commercial sectors including: healthcare, military, government, retail, process plant, hotels and care homes. www.fluidprojects.co.uk
Hoodz South West UK Hoodz is the trusted name for commercial kitchen cleaning, extraction system cleaning and fire prevention solutions for restaurants, assisted living, schools and other food service industries. hoodzinternational.co.uk/sw-uk/ Maintenance & Contracting Services Ltd Maintenance & Contracting Services Ltd offer mechanical and electrical building services installation and maintenance. MCS Ltd is a Bristol based independently owned building services contractor, with the capability, when required to provide a whole scheme solution from design through to commissioning. www.mcsmc.co.uk
GWS Ventilation Hygiene GWS Ventilation Hygiene offer high quality services in association with air ventilation and extract systems to a range of customers across the UK, providing 24 hours service 7 days a week. www.gwscleaning.co.uk
ESA’s affiliate membership scheme has continued to grow steadily with members helping the Association develop several industry standards, training courses, and promote best practice.
specification The BESA Pipe Plus app, which was launched earlier this year, is a fine example of collaboration in action as it was the result of affiliate members working with BESA’s pipework group and in partnership with the British Metal Tubes and Fittings Association (BMTFA)
The app is a specification tool that helps users identify the most suitable metal pipework solution and relevant technical standards. It will continue to be developed to incorporate plastic pipework and pipe insulation and is available from the Apple and Google Play stores.
The collaboration between BESA and the BMTFA also led to the launch of a new BESA Technical Bulletin (TB55) clarifying the legislative requirements around carbon steel pipework, and the new Competence and Compliance Award to be presented at the BESA National Awards on October 20th. It is sponsored by the BMTFA and will recognise a company that has demonstrated an all-round commitment to competence and compliance in line with the demands of the new building and product safety legislation.
“The Affiliate programme has already identified many common areas where collaboration can enhance all parts of the supply chain and I encourage others to join us.” n
The group has also been confirmed as a core part of the BESA structure with the appointment of its first steering committee chaired by Chris Owen of TATA Steel with Gordon Pringle of HASL as vice-chair.
The guiding principle of the group is that the industry’s supply chain needs to collaborate more effectively. Its members have, therefore, set about trying to put that mantra into practice by working with BESA to secure additional funding for training, sharing knowledge and supporting joint projects like the National Conference, CPD presentations and contributing to the Association’s regular webinar programme.
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21 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group BESA AffILIAtE GrouP
“Working together to address these issues, identify new opportunities and implement robust solutions will help drive the changes from which we can all benefit.’’ Gordon Pringle said he was delighted to be given the opportunity to contribute to the work of BESA during a period of “pivotal change”.
“These are just a few of the great examples of best practice and innovation in our sector,” said Chris. “But we do have growing concerns in several key areas, including skills shortages, knowledge gaps, the use of legacy specifications and outdated working practices as well as around product compliance and traceability.
For more information about the BESA Affiliate programme, contact Jenny House: jenny.house@theBESA.com
Affiliate group appoints steering committee
The committee also wants to set up a series of initiatives linked to the Association’s wider agenda for demonstrating competence and compliance, addressing the growing skills crisis in engineering and construction that threatens to undermine quality and productivity and working towards the government’s net zero targets.
Following the first meeting, affiliate committee members agreed to focus on developing generic industry training content. They recognised that CPD content is often product focussed and favours design managers and consultants, whereas many BESA members favour training aimed at construction operatives, managers and FM engineers.
“ Working together to address these issues, identify new opportunities and implement robust solutions will help drive the changes from which we can all benefit. ”
Chris owen, Chair, BESA Affiliate Steering Committee
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technical compliance. BESA was the first trade body to recognise the Build UK Common Assessment Standard as a way of deeming to satisfy its own business assurance checks. This streamlines the process for members who already hold one of the following accreditations: CHAS Elite, Constructionline Gold/Platinum, Achilles Building Confidence or CQMS Safety-Scheme Premium/Elite all of which are deemed to satisfy the revised BMR.
23Pu BLICAtIoNS
T
Download your digital copy of the National Agreement.
he Association has updated a key part of its Competence Assessment Standard (CAS) to reflect tougher requirements set by the Building Safety Act. The BESA Business Management Review (BMR), which all existing and prospective members must complete as part of their CAS audit, has been updated in line with the Build UK common assessment standard. This will help members achieve wider recognition of their professionalism across construction and building services – something that will become increasingly important as the Act, which came into force earlier this year, starts to transform working practices.
Updated National Agreement Handbook published for 2022
MEMBERS’ GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE BESA COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT STANDARD (CAS) BUSINESS MANAGEMENT REVIEW (BMR)
BESA CAS Guide V5.0 July 2022
he industry’s National Agreement covering pay rates and employment terms and conditions is playing a vital role in maintaining good relations between employers and workers across the building services sector.
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Through a simple but rigorous process, BESA validates all members by scrutinising business management capability, workforce competence and updates competence process
BESA
The revision work was carried out by BESA’s Employment Policy Committee, which comprises several industry employers, who were also praised for maintaining the close working relationship with the unions that has allowed the Agreement to survive and thrive. n If you would like to speak to someone about how to implement the National Agreement or provide feedback, contact the Employment Affairs Team on 020 7313 4915 employment.affairs@thebesa.comor
Your BESA Issue 24
“As the industry standard, using the agreement helps promote long-term labour price and industrial relations stability, avoiding the need for individual company negotiations,” she said. “We regularly review the agreement to make sure it continues to offer employees the most attractive terms and conditions, including welfare benefits provided by the preferred industry supplier Welplan.”
To help maintain the current stable and harmonious situation, BESA has updated the handbook that accompanies the Agreement “The Agreement creates a level playing field for pay and for terms and conditions of employment,” said Paula Samuels, BESA’s head of employment affairs. “Its existence allows contractors to focus fully on competing on quality of service, technical excellence, efficiency and delivering client satisfaction – rather than continually having to look over their shoulders to see what is happening in the market on rates of pay and changing conditions.
www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup
The revamped BMR aligns with Build UK’s pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) and now requires members to provide a Corporate Social Responsibility policy, an anti-slavery statement and to meet equality, diversity, and inclusion standards. n There is a BESA webinar available on demand that goes into more detail about the Build UK standard and looks at tender processes, PQQs and dispels several myths. | September 2022BESA Group
All members must pass the CAS audit which provides independent assessment of technical competence and commercial capability. This nationally recognised standard gives clients’ peace of mind that the contractors they engage are technically competent and have a trained workforce capable of delivering high quality and safe projects.
The number of women coming into the sector has risen sharply in recent years, but women still only account for 16.5% of the engineering workforce. This is up from 10.5% in 2010, according to research carried out by EngineeringUK, but remains too low and means many employers are missing out on the full range of skills they need to address current and future challenges.
BESA campaign timed to coincide with this year’s International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) highlighted the importance of using mentors and role models to speed up the pace of change in the industry.
Just as England’s Lionesses are role models for transforming football culture, successful female engineers will be central to improving diversity in our industry, the Association believes.
“The profile provided by INWED is as vital as ever because women remain under-representedhugelyin many engineering professions –including ours,” said BESA vice president Claire Curran (left). “As the only platform of its kind, it plays an important role in encouraging more young women and girls to take up engineering careers.
BESA featured a series of ‘guest blogs’ from prominent women in engineering to help promote the range of exciting careers open to women in building services as part of this year’s INWED celebrations. They reflected the initiative’s 2022 theme of highlighting the inspirational work women engineers do round the world “to support lives and livelihoods”.
24 BESA Group Companies DIvErSIty
rolementorsfemalecelebratescampaignBESAandmodels
“Overall numbers of women coming into engineering are on the up, but progress is still slow. Our work around INWED highlighted the key part played by role models and mentors in the recruitment and retention of women.”
A
Alexandra Knight, the founder of Stemazing (right) – the organisation she set up to inspire greater diversity in Science, “Researchbackstereotypes(STEM)EngineeringTechnology,andMaths–saidthatnegativewerestillholdingdiversityinengineering.showsthatgirlswho
www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group DIvErSIty
only interact with male educators reinforce their negative stereotype that they don’t belong in STEM. The surprising evidence is that boys who interact with female educators don’t think they are any less able or respected but they have a more equitable view of girls and women in STEM so their experience is also positive.
Claire Curran, BESA vice President
Many of the lessons learned from the INWED campaign will be debated during the BESA National Conference on October 20th and new diversity categories will be presented for the first time during the National Awards that evening (see pages 4-7) n For more details on how to book your tickets for both BESA’s National Conference and Awards, visit the website “ Overall numbers of women coming into engineering are on the up, but progress is still slow.
Work around INWED highlighted the key part played by role models and mentors in the recruitment and retention of women. ” 2022
“I love the fact that I am constantly learning and discovering new things,” the Fairheat consulting engineer wrote. “This means I am making a real difference and having an impact on the decarbonisation of heat, which is one of the biggest challenges we face as a “Womencountry.have so much to offer to this industry and often they don’t realise that their skills are just what we need,” added Sherburn. “There are amazing opportunities opening up thanks to the net zero agenda and the push to make buildings healthier and more sustainable.
“It can be a bit daunting for a young woman to consider coming into this industry so, having mentors and role models is very important. I had great mentors through the Heat Exchanger Mentoring scheme and am lucky to have very supportive female colleagues. They provided an environment where I could thrive as a young female engineer.
“The STEM skills shortage is estimated to cost employers in the UK £1.5bn a year. This cost to the economy is huge, but what will the cost to humanity be in the future if we don’t plug this gap? Role models inform, influence, and inspire the decisions people make about their life and career.” In her blog, Curran encouraged other women to follow in her footsteps. “It is a colourful and varied industry with lots of diverse opportunities; where you can be anything you want to be.” She said it was important for the industry to present a more positive image: “We are not very good at shouting about the great stuff we do, the cool stuff. As a result, many women have a negative image of the sector – yet my career in engineering has allowed me to travel the world and get involved in some amazing, exciting projects.” Andi Connelly Horsley, mechanical engineer and technical publications lead at BESA (right), said women were good at challenging the status quo and bringing a fresh perspective to engineering challenges. “Why do we engineer things? Why do we do it like that? Is it because we have always done it that way? Why not try this instead? The client is interested in the outcome so ‘why’ should always be the first question –then you look at the how and the what.’’
“Is it any wonder that we don’t have enough people choosing to go into STEM careers, like building services engineering?” wrote Knight, who will be a keynote speaker at this year’s National Conference (see pages 4-7)
“So diverse role models benefit everyone, and the younger this engagement happens the better.” Research by EngineeringUK also shows that 73% of 11–14-year-olds don’t know what engineers do and neither do 69% of parents. 42% of teachers don’t feel confident giving engineering career advice.
Current CIBSE Graduate of the Year Lucy Sherburn (left)also highlighted the importance of mentors who could help young women feel comfortable and reach their full potential.
25 Your BESA Issue 24 | September
“They were especially helpful with strategies for dealing with ‘challenging’ work situations, especially construction sites where women are underrepresented and can sometimes be less accommodated. I do feel things are getting better on that front, but we are not quite there yet.”
“It was an old boss of mine who taught me what equality actually was. It is not about treating everyone the same because we are not all the same. It is about treating everyone as an individual, so they can do the job to the best of their ability, including within certain constraints like being pregnant,” she added.
“This is not only important for diversity but also a key piece of the inclusion puzzle,” wrote Knight. “A study presented in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology showed that early childhood is a key window in which educational interventions aimed at fostering female engagement with STEM may have greater impact.
the
RACHP group pays tribute to Canning and Thomson
Jason Canning (left) of NBC Air Conditioning has stepped down after three years as chair of BESA’s Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump (RACHP) group. He has been replaced by Richard Merritt of AC Solutions Group (bottom left). Also resigning from the committee after many years’ service is former BESA President Malcolm Thomson (right), who also represented the members as a director of ACRIB. The RACHP Group committee said it was hugely grateful to Jason for his service as chair and to Malcolm for his long-standing commitment and service to the group and the wider industry.
BESA members can now book a private one to one session with our Head of Health and Safety, Rebecca Crosland (above), to discuss any related health and safety support or guidance you may need which could include: health and safety questions which impact you, your business or staff specific health and safety templates assistance with the SSIP process guidance through the health and safety section of your BESA CAS audit Email Rebecca.crosland@thebesa.com to arrange your H&S session now.
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BESA BitESizE UpdAtES 27 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group
Introducing the BESCA Schemes Board Chair
The following BESA publications are being reviewed and developed this year. If you are interested in contributing, please contact mark.oakes@thebesa.com Damper Guide testing Guide to use
New free Health and Safety support sessions for BESA members
of Plastic Pipework • tr20 - Installation and testing of Pipework • tr5 - Welding of Carbon Steel Pipework
Publications coming up in 2022
•
of Pipework • tr11 -
to Good Practice: Site Pressure
When a VHE member completes a job, they must verify their work by uploading it to the VHE system so the client can demonstrate their property has had its grease extract system cleaned to the TR19 Specification and is fully compliant for insurance purposes, for if the worst were to happen, and a fire was to break out, they have a full audit trail. The VHE Team are delighted to have smashed the milestone mark for 2,000 notifications for August and would like to thank all VHE members for their hard work and support!
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BESA Academy shortlisted for Digital Transformation Award this high-profile awards scheme was set up to celebrate and encourage the vital work that trade bodies, professional organisations and chartered institutions do for their members to ensure their voices are heard and their causes are BESAchampioned.Academyhas been shortlisted in the Digital transformation category because of its rapid response to increased industry demands for digital services during the pandemic. It completely transformed its training provision in just four months. Wishing the Academy the best of luck!
ian Mcgregor, Hob Mechanical services Ltd
Vent Hygiene Elite (VHE) smash milestone for notifications
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installation • DW154 – Specification for Plastics ductwork • tr6 –
Ian is an experienced staff management, training, gas safety professional and has gained his experience through apprenticeship served heating and ventilation fitter/welder who has gained considerable experience in the maintenance of commercial h&v systems, leading to a strong aptitude for fault diagnosis, with a particular interest in boiler and burner installations with their associated control systems. Ian is admired for his ability to make difficult decisions and influence change within organisations, forming and maintaining good working relationships with clients, contractors and suppliers.
• DW145 – Specification for fire
28 BESA Group Companies Consistently hitting deadlines for our clients has kept us a valued part of supply chains for more than 35 years. Ensuring projects stay on track even with tight deadlines never compromises our quality as we know system safety is That’sparamount.whyIEP is a market leader in DW154 plastic ductwork fabrication and supply. • A BESA-audited leading edge production facility, fabricating plastic ductwork to DW154 using PVC, PVC/GRP, PPs and FBPP/GRP • A nationwide distribution service and extensive stocks of vent pipe and fittings, sheet and rod www.iep-ltd.co.uk Fabrication: 01428 751 200 Distribution: 0121 771 2828 Critical Compliance in Plastics Engineering One of the few BESA specialist members with in-house plastic ductwork fabrication and installation
The other webinars in the series will be held this autumn and the topics we will be debating are:
29 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group SfG20
didn’t get tHe cHAnce to Attend?
How to optimise Your Maintenance regime
t’s no secret that maintenance professionals are facing, arguably, the most challenging environment we’ve ever seen. In a drive for cost-effectiveness and doing more with less, the need to find ways to work efficiently has never been greater.
To support those affected, SFG20 – sister company of BESA is running a series of webinars to offer insight into what practical steps can be taken to optimise your maintenance regime. Each webinar has been created to help maintenance professionals improve working efficiencies and focus limited budgets in the right areas. Our first webinar, “How to balance your maintenance strategy for optimal return,” held in July, attracted a large audience of maintenance professionals from all sectors. During the webinar, we discussed how to select and utilise different maintenance approaches according to the importance of assets and their usage, while ensuring compliance with legislation.
• How maintenance can help to deliver organisational objectives During these webinars, we will discuss the following:
don’t miss this webinar series:
• The role that optimisation of maintenance plays in delivering critical organisational objectives such as energy savings, carbon reporting and reduction, occupant wellbeing and resilience in the face of climate change.
Catch up today!
• The importance of risk i.e., the probability and impact of failure of assets, and what role it plays on the selection of maintenance approach.
Register now for our upcoming webinar on Wednesday 7 September SFG20 was developed by BESA in response to a need for a best practice standard for maintenance. The SFG20 system has been designed and developed over three decades to keep pace with the changing maintenance profession, and its aim is to provide a technically robust standard system that is highly customisable to individual building needs.
Find out more about SFG20 n
One of the most important aspects of SFG20 for clients and contractors is that it provides flexibility as well as standardisation. Users can customise their own schedules to reflect the buildings that they maintain – enabling rapid location of any problem areas and reducing time on-site for technical teams.
• How to use risk to optimise your maintenance strategy
I
Developed by the 38 schemes displaying the CSCS logo and launched this year, the app allows those responsible for checking cards to verify over two million cards using a single app on their smartphone or tablet.
aving already improved card checking procedures at site gates, the CSCS Smart Check app has been updated to include a number of additional card schemes that display the CSCS logo such as SKILLcard and an improved process for reporting cards that may have been obtained fraudulently.
SKILLcards can be checked using the app whether using QR codes, contactless technology, or manual input. In addition, the app now includes improved functionality to report suspected fraudulent cards, providing employers with a quick, easy and secure way of identifying and then reporting fraudulently obtained cards.
The app is FREE and available to download from the App Store and Google Play. For more information and instructional videos on how to use the app, visit the SKILLcard website Companies “ Developed by the 38 schemes displaying the CSCS logo, the app allows those responsible to verify over two million cards using a single app on their smartphone or tablet. ”
CSCS SmArtChECK APP
“It is a great example of what our industry can achieve by working together. All 38 card schemes now have a common platform that links directly to our databases to help clients ensure anyone trying to get onto their site has kept up to date with the latest requirements for health, safety and technical qualifications.” n
30 BESA Group
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Rachel Davidson, Director of Certification at BESA , said “The Smartcheck app is the crucial next stage in developing a fully ‘smart’ system that will further enhance our efforts to improve professional standards, keep people safe on site and fight fraud.
Smart Check app will boost competence and fight fraud
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In partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, we have developed an online Health and Safety Environment course and test. The test meets the H&S requirements for all Craft and Operative SKILLcards and is designed for those within the heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration occupations. The test is 100% online and takes less than two hours to complete. Save time and money spent on resits by booking the course and test.
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33 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group
This course will upskill qualified f-gas engineers to ensure they are aware of the specific requirements which must be applied when handling these refrigerants.
like to provide or if you are interested in developing a course with us, then get in touch! Email academy@thebesa.com
This short online course will provide you with fundamental awareness of some of the F-Gas terms and regulatory requirements which must be adhered to, by those working in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.
Do you work with refrigeration or airconditioning engineers or technicians?
As environmental legislation drives the sector towards lower global warming potential refrigerants, our technicians are increasingly having to deal with and handle flammable refrigerants.
Register now understanding Mechanical ventilation with Heat recovery for commercial Applications
Join this course with Ian Palmer, Head of UK Specification at Airflow to learn about the following; course content you would
Free online accredited CPD
BESA AwarenessF-Gas course
Are you responsible for ensuring your engineers qualifications are up to date and would benefit from greater awareness of the regulations they must abide by and the basic principles and terms used?
Book now Working FlammablewithRefrigerants
On this course you will learn how the systems we use today can be managed to reduce or remove the risk of Legionellosis and associated bacteria.
This course will give you the confidence to communicate with customers and your staff alike, ensuring a professional and efficient service.
• Why do we need ventilation? • Why is ventilation with MVHR an ideal solution? • How does MVHR work? • Key drivers for MVHR • Legislation • Types of heat exchangers • Energy saving via different MVHR technologies • Typical MVHR applications Register now Interested in working with BESA Academy? If you have
Do you have conversations with engineers or customers about F-Gas related jobs?
History of Legionella and Legionella Within Hot and cold Water systems
Join Altecnic for an insight into the history of Legionella, Legionnaires Disease and managing the risk in water systems.
• The no-brainer benefits of an early warning system Register now HvAc system Air Filtration for clean Healthy indoor Air Quality Air filtration is the best proven technology for the removal of hazardous airborne particles. Traffic air pollution particles in cities and COVID-19 droplet aerosol virus particles inside buildings are of concern. This course gives practical measures that can be used as a strategy to deliver clean safe air inside buildings. HVAC system maintenance with use of PPE should be made in adherence to current safety guidance. Enhanced air filter efficiency and reduced running costs can be made using Low Energy Air Filters. Register now compensation for thermal expansion This course highlights the need for flexibility analysis in pipe work systems. It shows how expansion and building movement solutions for specific problems in systems can be compensated and covers flexibility solutions for specific problems. Register now
• Theory use and application of air and dirt separation equipment • The principles of operation • Theory behind air release
• Common symptoms of sealed system equipment containing too much air and dissolved air Register now Monitor, react and prevent corrosion Register for this CIBSE approved course, facilitated by Gordon Pringle of HASL on Monitor, React and Prevent Corrosion. Gordon is joined by Paul Ashby of Geberit and Rob Vissers of Resus.
• Think again regards to Precision Carbon Steel adoption • Why poor pressurisation is often the cause of corrosion problems
• Correct selection and operation of thermostatic radiator valves
• Energy efficient, hygienic and instantaneous domestic hot water generation plant sizing and selection
• Use of pressure independent control valves
• Legionella control in domestic hot and cold water systems
• How to maximise cost savings Register now Water systems for Modern Buildings
Air and dirt separation
• The application and positioning of thermal balancing valves
This CIBSE accredited course will outline the design considerations for variable volume systems. In this short course you will learn:
• Application and positioning of differential pressure control valves
• Water systems stagnation reduction Register now
• How to improve system commission ability
• How to introduce energy savings by correct commissioning
Free online accredited CPD variable volume pressure systems
On this course you will learn:
• Pseudomonas control and management in cold water systems
Join Flamco for this CIBSE accredited course on Air and Dirt Separation. On this course you will learn:
• Why do systems corrode?
34 BESA Group Companies BESA ACADEmy tr AINING DIrECtory
This CIBSE accredited course outlines the design considerations for water services systems and covers the following:
• Correct application of commissioning products
The types of products and their location when fitted into an apartment block and where and how these products link with various controls utilised in a building in support of fire fighters. It also clarifies the various BS/EN standards that a smoke control system must follow for competence and compliance. Register now new Boilers on old systems – Hydraulic separation This 2-part CIBSE accredited course looks at system design in commercial heating applications. Learn about the difference between sealed and open vented heating systems and how to assess and choose the best method of separating the primary and secondary circuits. Register now reducing risk When specifying Building and industrial services pipework
In this course we look at UK Building standards for A2 vertical wall systems for membranes in high-rise buildings and high-risk buildings, Euro class A2 façade breather membranes in vertical rear-ventilated façades and applicable building types. Also, what to look for and which certifications are essential, Euro class A2, B and E rated façade membranes and Euro class A2 membranes in re-cladding remediation of high-rise building façades. Register
Registernownow
Join TATA for this course on reducing risk when specifying building and industrial services
It also includes practical layouts for a consultant and installer to consider when fitting an air brick. Register now scA guide to common escape routes This course shows why a guide was required for fire engineers based on fire data by improving the understanding of smoke control systems for the benefit of building residents.
35 Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group
Metal Air Bricks for Building Applications into external Walls
You’llpipework.learn how to correctly specify project pipework, review application and installation case studies to identify best practice and discover more about new innovations such as BIM and the use of VR, which will have a positive impact on the industry. Register now
We identify why building ADB should change and show the various test standards that a firebrick must achieve.
Scalding is still a real problem when it comes to hot water systems, and we must ensure the water is safe to use. By using simple but affective thermostatic mixing valves the risk can be removed. This free CIBSE accredited course describes the different types of mixing valves available and also explains how to manage the risk of bacterial growth. Register now euroclass A2 vertical Façade Membranes
In this CPD we gain an insight into the use of a metal air brick supply, exhaust and why a metal air brick was required for smoke control to Class A2 S1 do.
thermostatic Mixing valves
Learn all about the design process for the selection of fire stopping of service penetrations, how to apply the nine golden rules, understand the importance of early engagement, as well as the terms and definitions used and the key questions to ask to ensure a compliant installation of fire stopping.
Firestopping of service penetrations
interested
36 BESA Group Companies Browse our full range of courses today! BESA ACADEmy tr AINING DIrECtory
This CIBSE approved course focuses on the importance of system hydraulics and the application of realtime, corrosioncanunforeseenservicewillcorrosioncondition-basedmonitoringthatsafeguardusersandprovidersfromeventsthatleadtoincreasedlevels.
Register now understanding uK Building regulations relating to MvHr
needlepoint Bipolar ionisation
This CIBSE accredited course explains why we need ventilation with heat recovery and the benefits of using this type of system, along with some good practice installation examples. Register now you have course content you would like to provide or you are in a course with us, then get in touch! Email academy@thebesa.com
if
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This CIBSE approved course is presented by GPS Air, and provides an overview on the Needlepoint Bipolar Ionisation as an advanced technology in helping produce more productive indoor environments. Register now Free online accredited CPD don’t take a chance on corrosion. change!
Interested in working with BESA Academy? If
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SFG20 have created a series of three webinars on the topic of “How to optimise your maintenance strategy”. Registration is now live for webinar 2, “Focus on risk to optimise your maintenance strategy,” where we’ll discuss the commercial impact to organisations of not being able to perform due to non-continuity of operation, optimising a maintenance strategy by blending approaches, the role of asset availability and the tools that you can use to put risk at the heart of your decision-making process
BESA Webinars 2022 the must-see webinar for the building services sector All webinars take place on Tuesday and Thursday at 12:00 – 1:00pm GMT View the 2022 webinar series today Wednesday 7 september Focus on risk to optimise your maintenance strategy
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tuesday 13 september creating Better rAMs in less time This webinar is aimed at everyone involved in writing, reviewing or monitoring risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) this webinar, HandsHQ will discuss the challenges health and safety professionals face with paper-based RAMS and solutions to improve quality, productivity and process.
Senior account manager at HandsHQ Rob Bullen CFIOSH EHS&S Specialist at HandsHQ
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38 BESA Group Companies BESA WEBINAr SErIES
Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group 39 THE UK’S LARGEST BUILT ENVIRONMENT EVENT ukconstructionweek.com FREEREGISTER EXHIBITORS300+ NETWORKINGEVENTS PRODUCTS6,000 HOURS150+OF CPD Build Digitalisation Infrastructure Net Zero Careers Centre Surfaces Offsite ExpoTimber DesignsGrand Live (5-9 October) INCLUDES ENTRY TO: Timber Expo, Green Living Live and Grand Designs Live BIRMINGHAM 4-6 OCTOBER 2022 | NEC Sponsors Media partners Supported by Raise withdevelopmentyourandsectorprofile,professionalyourgaininsightadvancepersonal BESA Associate Membership. www.thebesa.com/associate ASSOCIATE
We recently provided some guidance to BESA members on a recent webinar. If you missed it and wish to find out more, you can gain more information by watching on-demand here Get in touch with ForrestBrown directly by emailing hello@forrestbrown.co.uk and mentioning that you are a BESA member. ForrestBrown offer an exclusive discount from their standard fee to all members.
“ While the majority of claims pass through the system without facing an enquiry, engaging the wrong advisor, or failing to prepare adequately, could put your business at risk. ”
To ensure your claim stands up to scrutiny, you need to start by picking the right adviser. Many are not regulated, and with the building engineering services industry facing exceptional challenges, examination of an advisor’s credentials is key.
As a result, it is important for businesses involved in the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, control and management of engineering systems and services in buildings to be aware of the steps needed to protect themselves in the event of an enquiry.
Aside from the potential impact on future claims, if HMRC finds proof of an erroneous or invalid claim, significant sums may be required to resolve the situation. In some serious cases, HMRC can extend their assessment back to earlier years.
Secondly, the best advisory firms will have specific sector experience. If an advisor does not speak the language of building services, they do not know your business. Thirdly, the policy-level conversation surrounding R&D tax relief is changeable. If you suspect a copyand-paste job from an advisor, your claim may face the threat of an enquiry.
The recent growth in spurious R&D claims has prompted an increase in enquiries from HMRC, leading to the risk of challenge to legitimate claims. Also, in spite of the successful ruling against HMRC in the Quinn tribunal case, HMRC has stated it will persist in challenging the eligibility of customer-led R&D projects for the SME incentive.
40 BESA Group Companies LEGAL AND Comm ErCIAL
R&D tax relief helps businesses innovate. However, while the majority of claims pass through the system without facing an enquiry, engaging the wrong advisor, or failing to prepare adequately, could put your business at risk. n
Lessons for building services industry in landmark R&D tax relief case
R &D tax relief can act as a lifeline for innovative building engineering services businesses. However, with HM Revenue and Custom’s (HMRC) mounting scrutiny it is important to ensure your R&D tax relief claim is as robust as possible.
“Unfortunately, many business owners are sacrificing the quality of protection for their business and livelihood in favour of short-term and, sometimes relatively minor, money-saving. This becomes a serious issue when it comes to making a claim and it becomes evident that the event is not covered.
An unintentional oversight such as this can be enough to put a small firm out of business.
When we work with larger entities, we still find that some are leaving insufficient time for their broker to properly consider the nature of the risk. Engaging in the process early will allow the insurer to rate the risk correctly and offer the most optimal terms possible.”
Marsh Commercial’s Development Underwriter, James Wainwright says; “We engage with small businesses on a daily basis who are extremely pricefocused by nature, and the cost of living crisis has made the importance of obtaining a competitive quotation even more of a priority. Professional forums are an extremely common and valuable way for likeminded small business owners to exchange views on the challenges affecting their businesses, and if someone has had a positive experience in obtaining insurance cover for their business, then word gets around and others are inclined to try.
For more information or to get a quote, please speak to the BESA Business Insurance Services team - call 0333 241 3533 or email BESA@marshcommercial.co.uk
What aboutexpertsthesaythehard market
Gary head, Director financial Lines, AxA Insurance
These underwriting losses lead to hard markets, like the one we are currently experiencing for Professional Indemnity (PI). Insurers and brokers drive the price of insurance down over a number of years to a level which is inadequate to cover the losses.
Your BESA Issue 24 | September 2022www.theBESA.com @BESAGroup BESA Group 41LEGAL AND Comm ErCIAL
“Investing some time and effort with your broker into presenting your risk in a clear and concise way which demonstrates an understanding of the professional risks being faced, and a positive and proactive approach to risk reduction and management, should pay handsome dividends over time. Equally, building up a relationship and/or degree of loyalty /continuity with an established insurer should be a sensible move. So next time a new broker tells you they can “beat the price” for your PI cover… buyer beware!” n
“ Firms should look for an established, experienced insurer who has been in the sector for a good period of time and appears committed for the future. ”
Gary Head, Director Financial Lines at AXA Insurance (right) explains; “Cheapest is rarely best in many things and PI cover is no different. Firms should look for an established, experienced insurer who has been in the sector for a good period of time and appears committed for the future. These markets are unlikely to be the cheapest but they do have a long-term view of the pricing needed to provide a sustainable and reliable claims service at the moment of truth. PI claims are often very complicated and very expensive, so firms need a solid and established partner to be there with them when it matters.
H ard markets in the insurance industry happen when insurers suffer sustained losses over a number of years and as a result, some are forced to pull out of certain classes of business. This reduces the amount of capacity in the market to cover the risks.
Martlet argued that: (i) there were defects in the installation works in relation to the fire barriers and EPS insulation board (‘installation breach’); and, in the alternative, (iI) that the EWI cladding as specified did not meet applicable fire safety standards as at the date of the contract (‘specification breach’).
Martlet decided on professional advice, to remove the EWI cladding and replace it with a new non-combustible system. Martlet claimed for around £8million in damages from Mulalley for costs incurred in (a) investigating and remedying, by removal and replacement, EWI rendered cladding; and (b) providing a waking watch until the EWI cladding had been removed.
The claimant, Martlet, owned five high rise tower blocks in Gosport used for social housing. The defendant building contractor, Mulalley, carried out refurbishment works under a design and build contract between 2005 and 2008 which included the installation of EW1 cladding known as StoTherm Classic. Following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, Martlet carried out investigations which revealed that the cladding system included combustible EPS insulation boards. These investigations also revealed serious installation defects including in the fire barriers. Martlet implemented a fire patrol system (a ‘waking watch’).
It is noteworthy that the sole defendant in the case was the design and build contractor. Whereas, in our experience, claims are brought against the myriad of professionals involved in the relevant project. In consequence, a degree of caution should be adopted in assessing the wider application of the case in terms of assessing the duties and performance of those other construction professionals. It is therefore important to have regard to the specific facts and contract terms on a case-by-case basis. n
tHe decision
Ruth Wilkinson and Sam Beer, Hill Dickinson LLP
The first of many numberdecisioncladding–one
This decision is the first “cladding claim” to produce a substantive decision. Many more will follow.
Mullaley tried to rely on a British Board of Agrément (BBA) certificate relating to the StoTherm Classic. However, the judge also held that as at the date of the design and specification of the StoTherm Classic system any reasonably competent designer and specifier could not simply have relied upon the 1995 BBA Certificate, and ought to have been well aware of the requirements in Approved Document B 2002 and BRE Report 135 (2003). The judge said that “the BBA Certificates cannot be said to amount to a form of “guarantee” or “passport” to compliance with the Building Regulations.”
the waking watch were within the reasonable contemplation of the parties (in other words, not too remote) and, in any event, a reasonable step to mitigate a far greater loss if there had been a full evacuation of the block. If Martlet had only succeeded on its installation breach case it would have only been able to recover the costs of repairs (not replacement scheme) and the waking watch costs.
suMMArY
I n July 2022, the Technology and Construction Court handed down the first substantive decision relating to combustible external wall insulation (EWI) rendered cladding and provision of a waking watch (Martlet Homes Limited v Mulalley & Co Limited [2022] EWHC 1813).
tHe FActs
The judge held that Martlet succeeded on both the installation breach and specification breach case. Martlet was able to recover damages relating to the costs of the replacement scheme and the waking watch. The costs of
42 BESA Group Companies LEGAL AND Comm ErCIAL
Mulalley defended the claim on the basis that the real cause and reason for the remedial works and waking watch was that the EWI cladding did not met the heightened fire standards post Grenfell. Mulalley also argued that only certain repair works were necessary.
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