MEMBER NEWS
SCOTLAND
With many changes in the past 18 months, it’s easy for builders to be confused about the Scottish building regulations. Here’s a summary of recent activity, but scan the QR code for more details. What’s up with the building regs? New Build Heat Standard On 1 April 2024, the New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) was introduced to reduce carbon emissions by using climate-friendly heating systems in new homes, including heat pumps, heat networks and infrared heating systems. The standard means that new homes and buildings where a building warrant is applied for after 1 April 2024 are not permitted to have polluting heat systems installed such as oil and gas boilers. Wood burning stoves The Scottish Government has issued a temporary direction to allow wood burning stoves and other bioenergy including peat heating systems to be installed in new domestic buildings. In effect, this means Scotland is in the same position as it was before the New Build Heat Standard came into force – back when there were no restrictions on these fuel types. A review is underway to shape changes to the full NBHS legislation, which should be completed in December 2024. More details are expected on the Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard. A consultation on this closed in October with FMB members providing their views to a working group. For more updates, please contact Scotland Director Gordon Nelson on the details to the right.
(l-r) Chris Carr, Peter Tait, Pam Wilson, Gordon Nelson
SCOTLAND
Shetland welcomes two FMB presidents
was the main host, with additional visits to construction and housebuilding projects run by E&H Building Contractors and Garriock Bros. Fortunately for the FMB delegation, the formidable island winds were absent. Pam said “I got a lot out of connecting with fellow members in Shetland. Running a building company in central Scotland has its own challenges and I learned how members manage the extra challenges of building on islands that are more than 300 miles north of Edinburgh.” Chris said “I have never seen so many companies training apprentices in such a small area, and I see the pride they are taking in this.”
It has been 83 years since the FMB was established in London and its member base has spread a long way since then – more than 600 miles travelling by plane, in fact. In 2002, a cluster of building contractors in and around the Shetland Islands capital, Lerwick, joined the FMB. Since then, FMB staff and other members have visited the archipelago to engage with members who deliver construction services in a location closer to Norway than much of the UK. . In October, FMB National President Chris Carr and FMB Scotland President Pam Wilson, joined FMB Scotland Director Gordon Nelson to meet members in Shetland. Peter Tait from D.I.T.T Construction
CONTACT Gordon Nelson, Scotland Director | Email: gordonnelson@fmb.org.uk | Call: 07769 687 232
44 Master Builder
www.fmb.org.uk
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