OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 £4.25
THE MAGAZINE OF THE FEDERATION OF MASTER BUILDERS
RESTORED TO GLORY Vantage & Co Group Limited is the overall winner of the 2023 Master Builder Awards for an impressive renovation of an old Georgian villa in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter
FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE New FMB National President Chris Carr is eager to have an impact
AIRTIGHT PLAN How to pass your air tightness test to ensure regulatory compliance
LEAD FROM THE FRONT Why smart leaders drive site safety and employee development
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Contents OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 Industry update
Features
21 Focused on the future
New FMB National President Chris Carr sets out his intentions and ambitions for his time at the helm, eager to build on the work of his predecessor
7 Welcome
23 Masters of their craft
The 2023 Master Builder Awards celebrate all of the the quality work being done by FMB members
A look at all of the winning people and projects from the national ceremony of the 2023 Master Builder Awards. Every winner showcased the hallmarks of FMB membership: consistent quality Your FMB 38 Supporting you to solve critical issues Getting paid is a fundamental requirement for successful business operations, which is why the FMB provides members with legal support to recoup owed amounts
8 News
The latest headlines from the industry
13 The FMB’s viewpoint
14
Issues affecting the sector
Spotlight
14 Raise your glass
FMB member Punch Construction Ltd gave an old pub a much needed upgrade
42 Protect yourself
15 Leading from the front
Despite your best intentions, mistakes can and do happen. Be prepared by having the right Professional Indemnity Insurance in place 43 In your interests A summary of the FMB’s latest engagement with politicians and other key stakeholders in the industry 44 Member update A list of new members who have joined the FMB as well as those who have had to be expelled for not maintaining standards 46 Member news
Member research shows the positive impact good leaders can have on H&S
23 21
Business support
16 Quality over quantity Delivering your best work on every project requires a robust set of best practices 18 H&S round-up The latest news and information to help keep you and your team safe on site
19 Airtight plan
Passing your air tightness or air leakage test is essential to ensure compliance
An update from members in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Editorial Editor Bradford Keen bradford.keen@redactive.co.uk Head of marketing Isabelle Kihm Senior designer Will Williams Picture editor Claire Echavarry Publishing director Joanna Marsh
Advertising Advertising enquiries Lyndsey Camplin +44 (0)20 7880 6245 masterbuilder@redactive.co.uk
Master Builder has been carefully prepared but articles are published without responsibility on the part of the publishers or authors for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any view, information or advice included therin. Articles published in Master Builder do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Federation of Master Builders Ltd nor can the Federation of Master Builders Ltd, the publishers or authors accept any responsibility for any claims made by advertisers.
Published by Redactive Publishing Ltd Fora, 9 Dallington Street, London EC1V 0LN www.redactive.co.uk
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FEDERATION OF MASTER BUILDERS David Croft House 25 Ely Place London EC1N 6TD Tel: 020 7025 2900 www.fmb.org.uk
@federationofmasterbuilders
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Welcome BRIAN BERRY
T he most important reason for building companies wanting to join and remain members of the FMB is credibility: the ability to stand out from the competition. This is why the FMB is committed to raising standards and helping members drive their businesses forward with a range of services including contracts, e-learning, legislative updates, and business helplines. High standards In this issue, we look at what this all means in practice, focusing on various aspects of standards including the impact of the recent FMB business coaching programme and how it has helped members champion quality building work. Research by Ross McKillop, a lecturer in Construction Management at Glasgow Caledonian University, reinforces how important effective leadership is. Speaking to a range of SME construction business leaders, including eight FMB members, McKillop found that the quality of a company’s leadership has a direct result on health and safety and organisational performance – see page 15. We also turn the spotlight on a member’s work at an old pub in Essex, transforming the Ferry Boat Inn into a contemporary establishment with an historical feel – see page 14. Additionally, given the growing commitment to create energy efficient buildings, on page 19, we examine how best to pass an air tightness test. Celebrating excellence We focus on the national winners of our prestigious FMB Master Builder Awards – the Oscars of the building industry. Our awards were held last month at the Grosvenor House Hotel in central London hosted by the well-known television presenter Nick Knowles – see pages 23-36. Congratulations to the overall winner of the 2023 Master Builder Awards, Vantage & Co
Congratulations to the overall winner of the 2023 Master Builder Awards, Vantage & Co Group Limited
Group Limited. And well done to all the other winners and those who took part to make the awards such a success across the UK.
New National President Last month at our Annual General
Meeting (AGM), we elected Chris Carr (Yorkshire & Trent Region) as the new National President. Chris has a long association with the FMB and, as a house builder, is a vocal champion of the need to increase the supply of local house builders given the year-on-year decline of SME house builders in the housing market. On page 21, Chris sets out his vision for the next two years as National President and Chair of the FMB Board. This period will also include the forthcoming UK General Election, which has to be held before January 2025, giving the FMB an opportunity to raise all the issues that we have lobbied for on members’ behalf for inclusion in the political parties’ manifestos. We want a business environment that actively supports small builders to thrive by: investing in skills and training; providing a long-term policy to support
the retrofitting of existing homes; encouraging more smaller house
builders to the market; and stamping out unscrupulous companies by licensing all building companies.
There’s much to do but the FMB has set its agenda to ensure your needs and interests are met.
BRIAN BERRY, Chief Executive Federation of Master Builders
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INDUSTRY UPDATE NEWS News
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY NEWS
CE mark not for construction Despite the UK Government deciding to continue with CE marking on many products and services, it has not extended the European stamp of quality to the construction industry. After much protest from manufacturers and contractors, the UK Government has indefinitely extended use of the CE mark rather than moving to UKCA, which was meant to happen in December 2022, out of concern that global manufacturers would remove products from the market due to the additional complexity of doing business with the UK. UKCA marking scheme Construction products will only receive the CE mark until 30 June 2025. After that, UKCA marking scheme will become mandatory. Chief Executive of the
NatWest and Supply Chain Sustainability School collaborate to boost retrofit Natwest Group and Supply Chain Sustainability School (SCSS) have partnered to provide retrofit skills training to the UK construction industry. SCSS’ sustainability platform offers free retrofit and sustainability training to 80,000 users, but the bank’s strategic support and sponsorship will enable better collaboration amongst SCSS’ 200 supply chain partners to speed up training delivery. James Close, Head of Climate Change at NatWest Group, said: “Our collaboration with the Supply Chain Sustainability School will help cultivate a more mature retrofit supply chain, share knowledge and build the skills needed to retrofit homes and buildings across the UK.” SCSS’ retrofit programme, sponsored by NatWest, launches on 7 November, with a virtual conference. Resources including e-learning modules, online assessments, conferences, workshops and webinars will be accessible to professionals in the built environment until autumn 2024. For more information, visit bit.ly/MB-SCSS-Natwest
Construction Products Association (CPA) Peter
Caplehorn said: “The CPA has long argued that every day that manufacturers have to wait for clarification from government causes more damage. This uncertainty has exacerbated product availability issues, led to UK and foreign manufacturers pulling products from the UK market, diminished investment and R&D, and therefore negatively impacted jobs and the ability of the product sector to support the UK construction industry every day. “We will appreciate further discussions with the Government to ensure the UK construction products sector sees similar clarity very soon.”
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STATE OF TRADE
Super squad planning teams will be sent to assist local authorities with planning permissions, according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC). Additionally, relaxation of permitted development rights and reforms to compulsory purchase orders will enable New super squads for local authorities NaviLens app points for blind and partially sighted people to access and locate information and interact with their environment by scanning a code using serenity spaces to mitigate stress and sensory overload; amenities for guide dogs; visually contrasting floors, walls and furniture; colour-coded, tactile signage system with Braille and embossed text and symbols; The newly built London office of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has fully adopted the new BSI neurodiversity standard, providing additional support to visually impaired people. The Grimaldi Building in Islington can be navigated using the Navilens app for those with sight loss, and has met design standards laid out by the British Standards Institution (BSI) PAS 6493 Design for the Mind – Neurodiversity and the Built Environment guidance. Additionally, the building provides greater accessibility and inclusivity to all of its users, including: a multi-faith room; London has a neurodiverse building
local planning authorities across England to take more decisive action on planning permissions. A budget of £800 million, coming from the £1.5 billion Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land fund, will be used to make space for more than 50,000 new homes on brownfield sites. Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the reforms will make it easier to regenerate disused brownfield land, streamline planning processes and help homeowners renovate and extend their homes “outwards and upwards”. Jean Hewitt, Inclusive Environments Specialist at Buro Happold, said: “As technical author of the new PAS 6463 design standard, it’s been a true joy and a privilege to work on the first building in the UK to interpret and apply the new guidance. It’s purposefully drafted to offer flexibility in the way it is applied to meet different circumstances and user needs. “With this building demonstrating what’s possible, I hope others will follow suit, to make places as inclusive as possible for everyone to enjoy and have the opportunity to flourish.” their phone camera to hear an audio description of the area; an embossed vinyl flare path showing the main circulation route around each floor; controllable lighting, for both intensity and colour temperature; acoustics that reduce noise; a passenger lift with voice annunciation, visual displays and tactile signage within the lift and on each landing; and kitchens with tactile and visual cues for cupboards and taps, and contrasting marine edge worktops.
40% FMB members reporting an increased workload in Q2 2023. Source: FMB State of Trade Survey Q2 2023
38% FMB members struggling to hire carpenters . Source: FMB State of Trade Survey Q2 2023
29% FMB members struggling to hire bricklayers . Source: FMB State of Trade Survey Q2 2023
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INDUSTRY UPDATE NEWS
RMI output to fall by 11% Private housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) output is forecast to fall by 11% in 2023, according to the Construction Products Association’s (CPA’s) Construction Industry Forecasts - Summer 2023 Edition. Slightly reassuring is the forecasted growth in 2024, although it will likely be low at 2%, in line with a recovery in household finances. There has been a slight increase in energy-efficiency works in response to rising energy costs since the war in Ukraine, which has offset the decline, to some extent, in other improvement works. Private housing RMI generates £29 billion a year for the UK economy, and showed impressive performance between 2020 and early 2022 when more people were working from home and trying to find office space and increased living areas. But the highs have fallen, with rising inflation, interest rates and mortgage rates, and falling wages affecting home improvement projects. Additionally, steep declines in private housing new builds will contribute to the disappointing forecast of 7% decline across the construction industry. Private housing output, generating more than £40 billion a year for the UK economy, will likely be the worst performing market in 2023 due to the the surge in mortgage rates last year and interest rates this summer. CPA Economics Director Professor Noble Francis said: “Further interest rate and mortgage rate rises this year, as well as falling real wages, are likely to lead to sharp falls in demand within the house building and improvements sectors.”
Labour costs keep rising
Labour costs will soon be the most challenging issue for the construction industry, said the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), which forecasts a 10% increase over the next year. Rising inflation, higher living costs and continued labour shortages are behind the forecast. Annual growth in the BCIS labour cost index is predicted to increase to 5% in Q3 2023 8.3% in Q2 2024 Dr David Crosthwaite, Chief Economist at BCIS, said: “Labour site rates continue to rise faster than wage awards. We’re expecting a period of catch-up, with people demanding wage increases that go towards offsetting some of the price
rises we’ve seen across the rest of the economy. “It’s also important to remember that while material cost increases are slowing, levels are still significantly higher than they were three or four years ago.” Crosthwaite added: “Since 2019, the overall construction workforce has shrunk by 181,000 people – 98% of whom were self-employed. The number of those employed has also fallen, but by a smaller proportion. “The volume of this decline is significant. What’s interesting is that despite the number of insolvencies having risen and the number of workers falling, the number of firms and labour productivity both appear to be increasing, suggesting that the industry is becoming more efficient.“
200-year- old roofing contractor goes bust
After failing to find a buyer, the business has been forced to close.
The administrator said “it was not possible to find a purchaser for the Leicester-based glazing, metal roofing and cladding and building conservation specialist”. “The property and remaining assets are being sold via Sanderson
Glazing and roofing contractor Norman & Underwood, which has been in business since 1825, has ceased trading with the loss of 49 jobs.
& Weatherall (property) and Eddisons (chattel assets),” the adminstrator concluded.
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STATE OF TRADE
Tall buildings need a second staircase
All new buildings taller than 18m will require a second staircase. The new rules, confirmed by Housing Secretary Michael Gove, come after an initial threshold of 30m was set. Eddie Tuttle, Director of Policy, External Affairs and Research at the Chartered Institute of Building, said: “We have always believed the proposal to mandate secondary
staircases for buildings over 18 metres tall to be the best solution as it provides a more comprehensive strategy in ensuring all high-risk buildings have more than one means of a safe entrance and exit. Not only does it make exiting buildings in the event of an emergency easier, but it also allows emergency workers to avoid interruption.” Simon Allford, President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said: “This is a significant moment. Over six years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it is hugely positive and reassuring to see the Government listening to the united call of experts on fire safety, bringing greater coherence and certainty for industry. Mandating second staircases in new homes over 18 metres is a vital step towards a safer built environment for all. We are pleased to have played our part in this.”
79% FMB members reporting material
cost increases in Q2 2023. Source: FMB State of Trade Survey Q2 2023
69% FMB members increasing their prices . Source: FMB State of Trade Survey Q2 2023
The Scottish Procurement Alliance has invited contractors – including plumbers, joiners, bricklayers, electricians and landscapers – to pitch for a place on the new £100 million refurbishment & modernisation framework. The RM3 framework aims to guide Scotland towards its 2045 net zero targets by retrofitting and repurposing social and public buildings, with a focus on kitchen and bathroom refits, electrical works, mould prevention, fire safety upgrades, heating system installations, and other energy efficiency works. Lesley Anderson, Regional Director at the Scottish Procurement Alliance, said: “The framework is an exciting opportunity for SMEs and larger organisations to get the chance to deliver on meaningful projects within the public sector. It has a huge emphasis on encouraging local supply chains, so we’re also hoping it will have huge benefits to local economies too.” Refurb and modernisation framework open to Scottish contractors
19% FMB members reducing new staff hires due to increased outgoings. Source: FMB State of Trade Survey Q2 2023
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INDUSTRY UPDATE VIEWPOINT
The FMB gives its viewpoint on the headlines affecting the construction sector Viewpoint
Boost in builders’ workloads
Homes for everyone, everywhere
Activity in repair, maintenance, and improvement (RMI) building work has climbed in Q2 of this year, but house building is lagging behind, according to the FMB’s State of Trade Survey Q2 2023 . Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “While there are plenty of positives to take from this quarter’s State of Trade Survey , there are still worrying signs for house builders. Workloads are up, driven by a strong RMI sector. Encouragingly, we’re also seeing pressure on obtaining skilled labour easing. “The survey points towards other areas of concern, with just under half of FMB members anticipating that profits will be lower than expected and around one in five saying they are restricting their hiring of new staff. With inflation dipping marginally, we’ll need to see over the coming months if this has any positive effects on bottom lines.”
many SME house builders are stuck in planning purgatory, which stops the delivery of housing and employment opportunities in their communities. “The recommitment to ‘building beautiful’ is positive. The FMB has consistently highlighted that it is the small, local house builders that are best placed to truly deliver on this ambition. They build quality, local homes that reflect their communities’ needs which is why the Government’s
The Government’s 10 Point Housing Plan, which was announced by Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove with the aim of delivering a long- term plan for housing, is a welcome boost to build more houses. But new homes are needed everywhere – not just in cities. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “It’s positive to see a focus on brownfield sites, which are the mainstay of SME house builders, but the planning system also needs to be fixed to ensure that these developments become a reality. Too
focus on urban areas needs to be balanced with the need to address housing shortages in our rural communities.”
Industry needs more Government commitment A fall in construction activity generally and housing activity in particular as seen in S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction PMI data shows the Government needs to commit clearly to building new homes.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “At a time when we need to be building more homes we are moving in the opposite direction and building fewer. There is a whole generation of people who can’t get on the housing ladder, which is holding back growth and investment. While it might be politically easy to shelve housing commitments to gain votes in some areas, the Government must recommit to their annual housing target of 300,000 homes. “There are long-term planning system issues to solve, but the Government needs to take the bull by the horns and restate its ambition to build new homes.”
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SPOTLIGHT PUNCH CONSTRUCTION
A n old pub housed in an even older building dating back to 1591 needed an upgrade. It had been three decades since any remedial work had been carried out on the Ferry Boat Inn in North Fambridge. So FMB Central member Punch Construction Ltd had a big task to tackle. Firstly, the Grade II Listed building required a lot of work, including replacing the original oak sole plates and studs in the old cellar. Next was the new extension at the rear of the building to house the commercial kitchen. Finally, the old conservatory dining room was to be transformed into something completely new. “The pub needed a full strip- out of the commercial aspect of the business and large-scale restoration of the listed section of the original pub,” says Punch Construction Ltd Director Darren Arnull. Honouring tradition Restoration works included replacing the original oak sole plates and studs in the old cellar. The reworked space features: a three-course brick wall with DPC layer to prevent damp; oak sole plates; spliced studs;
Blending traditional skills with fresh talent, Punch Construction replaced the conservatory dining room with a new oak-framed barn to meet the demand for the pub’s restaurant area. The team manufactured the oak trusses on site and craned them into place. Adjoined to the oak-framed barn is the new rear extension to house the kitchen. The result is a modern pub with a traditional feel that happily accommodates old and new, past and present. “We used a wide variety of in-house trades including carpenters, lead workers, roofers, plumbers, bricklayers and groundworks,” Arnull says. “We needed all of these skill sets because of the diversity of this job, which required listed building repairs, new oak-framed construction, commercial fridge building and commercial plumbing.” Touches of the trade Showing a deep appreciation for aesthetics, the team salvaged brass from old ships – a nod to the name of the pub – and repurposed it for finishes such as the lights above the bar and elsewhere in the pub and restaurant. The custom-made bar is a beautiful sight to behold, with its brass top and brass light fixtures suspended from above, and a mirrored backlit wall. To maximise restaurant space and to enhance the dining experience, the team installed underfloor heating so more customers can enjoy a comfortable temperature during their meal. With an exceptionally satisfied client – and many more happy pub goers – the Ferry Boat Inn is an impressive example of a project that simultaneously
New look for an old pub
The Ferry Boat Inn, North Fambridge
Attention to detail and an impressive skill set transformed this old pub into a perfect blend of tradition and modernity RAISE YOUR GLASS
new tenons on original timbers;
a new diagonal cross brace notched over the studs and tenoned at each end; and traditionally lathed and lime- plaster finish to meet English Heritage standards. “These traditional skill sets are dying off but they’re desperately needed to preserve
historical, listed buildings,” Arnull explains. “At Punch, we aim to pass these skills onto the next generation.”
The bar top is made from brass salvaged from ships
honours tradition whilst celebrating the future.
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SPOTLIGHT STRONG LEADERSHIP
The quality of a company’s leadership has a direct result on health and safety, member research shows EXEMPLARY LEADERS
Ross McKillop
R esearch from Ross McKillop, a lecturer in Construction Management at Glasgow Caledonian University, reveals positive behaviours by leaders of SME construction companies result in strong organisational development and improved health and safety performance. Speaking with 32 business owners, eight of whom were FMB members, McKillop compiled a four-stage process. Here he summarises his research findings. 1 The leader’s vision The leader's vision for the company’s overall performance needs to align with their strategy for keeping employees safe on site. After all, a serious accident at a construction SME, for example, could have detrimental effects on the business – even forcing it to shut down – due to decreased productivity, fines and replacement costs for plant equipment or materials. 2 The leader’s practices Good leadership requires sensible practices that focus on building relationships with employees. The process of relationship building is often easier when employees and leaders share similar behaviours and are motivated by similar goals – ‘birds of a feather stick together’. My research shows younger employees tend to be motivated by development and money, whereas older workers by stability and praise. By understanding these motivators, leaders can suitably incentivise employees. Developing younger employees and teaching them about processes and procedures,
for example, gives them greater competency and reduces accidents. Older workers are motivated by the leader's concern for their health and safety. They respect leaders who give them a stable and safe working environment. Both younger and older employees perform better when they know there is a chance that their leaders might correct their negative behaviours. It is also clear that actions speak louder than words – meaning that the way business leaders behave encourages employees’ actions. For example, a business leader who communicates verbally to their employees about the value of health and safety practices, and also embodies this behaviour through their own actions, helps employees to understand the importance of health and safety. The owner of one company in the research was drawn to an employee who wanted to improve their communication skills to help instruct those on site whose first language was not English. The owner supported this, seeing the opportunity to develop an informal leader who could help the team. When it comes to organisational development, leaders who actively create a company where employees support one another within a family atmosphere are more likely to end up with team members who are more considerate of each other’s needs. 3 The leader’s reflections so leaders who reflect on feedback from clients, main contractors, health Nothing is perfect the first time round in a construction business
and safety professionals or their employees often take actions to refine processes and performances. These leaders understand how their own behaviours and those of others are at play in creating a safe and sustainable business. 4 The leader’s refinements Reflection enables leaders to understand their company’s commercial impact and how best to move forward. Doing so leads to suitable refinements by improving existing health and safety controls, processes and behaviours of employees. Examples of incremental refinement include: Minimum adjustments to risk assessment to prevent confusion; Improving PPE for comfort rather than just protection from hazards; and Training employees to take on additional tasks at work to further their development and that of the company. Many SME construction leaders are using technological tools, such as communication apps and online access to training and important documents, to support employees to improve health and safety behaviours. Any members who are interested in participating in future research are invited to connect with McKillop via LinkedIn at bit.ly/RossMcKillop
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BUSINESS SUPPORT QUALITY WORK
A hallmark of being a Master Builder is that every project meets high standards. Here, FMB members share their strategies to ensure that they always deliver quality work QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
from the planning and communication into the finish and the standards column.” People matter Despite builders' best efforts, they won’t always get quality right. Often, this is due to inexperience, Kendal argues. Poor planning affects project timelines, which intensifies pressure, causing people to rush and standards to suffer. Weeks maintains that there are two main causes of poor quality: products and labour. For a start, a product could just be of inferior quality and not up to the job. But then builders can also procure the incorrect types of products. “A good example is sand used for building walls,” Weeks points out. “If that type of sand comes from different suppliers it can
I f you want to last in the construction game, you need to be good, which means delivering the kind of work that you are proud of and your clients get excited about. “Quality, to us, means we want to show our work to others, to point and say, ‘We did that,’” says Dennis Weeks, Managing Director of North London Loft Rooms in Essex. “I am not saying it’s necessarily something we like, as we all have different tastes, but it has to have been done right with the right materials in the right
“If the site is constantly untidy and the client isn't kept up to date with things, it can affect how they feel about your work and whether or not they'd recommend you.” Working to high standards throughout the “entirety of a project” is important, Kendal argues. “During and immediately after a project, it's probably an equal split of importance: 25% finish, 25% standards, 25% communication, 25% planning. Over time, the percentage points leak
way – and it will tell others, merely by its presence, that it is decent quality work.” From the start of the project to the finish and even a little beyond are all important moments to ensure quality delivery, says Michael Kendal, Property Developer at A. Kendal Builders NE Ltd in Scotland. Kendal explains: “Quality work, to me, covers the entirety of a project, with the obvious factors being that it is built to standard and finished to a high standard. But the manner in which it's delivered is also important.
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QUALITY WORK
create different colours of the mixed mortar.” The challenges with labour, Weeks argues, is more complex. If a team lacks experience and training, then quality will likely suffer. “A tradesperson specialising in one trade can grow to perfect that trade over their ability to do other trades; whereas someone who is regularly doing different trades could become proficient at most of them but unlikely be an expert in any.” The result is that a team may not always have the best person for the job at hand. The environment – internal and external – of where work is being done can also affect quality. “Even the best of us have bad days,” Weeks says, “which can have a knock-on effect. A momentary lapse in concentration or forgetting something can have significant impacts on the quality and success of a project.”
Michael Kendal
Dennis Weeks
Members’ best practice tips
Kendal says: Develop and maintain strong working relationships with fellow tradespeople who share the drive to deliver work that they are proud of. Review past projects to see what lessons can be learnt, what mistakes can be rectified and what processes can be improved upon. Weeks says: Identify the different elements of a project that require unique skill sets and employ people who are experts in that field to deliver on those skills. Build upon each element of the project by successfully completing the element that precedes it – this ensures logical checks and balances are in place. Use each stage or element to assess that the plans have been correctly followed and quality standards met.
Cause and effect
of poor quality
In the FMB Coaching Programme, Coach Maria Coulter expands upon an idea presented by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) that there are four
Fix any errors before moving to the next stage. Record each stage with photographic or video evidence to ensure accountability.
key components affecting quality:
minimum standards to meet. “The difficulty is the diversity of regulations and advice, which can be conflicting and confusing, as they tend to change constantly. However, by ensuring our plans are well made, and presented clearly and consistently in all of our projects, we can adapt more easily to the changes and clearly guide our staff.” Standards are valuable for another reason too, Weeks explains: to use them to train teams. Meeting standards requires having essential knowledge. From
Standards, Technical Requirements & Guidance for design & construction of new homes; Building Regulations; National Building Specification; and British Standards related to construction. Kendal says some form of industry certification for builders – similar to Gas Safe for gas engineers – is “overdue at this point since a building inspector can only adjudicate if they're aware of the project in the first place”. Such a scheme would keep all relevant parties informed through coordinated planning and communication. As Weeks points out, standards and regulations provide an important benchmark to work against, and are generally the
design – including changes, poor specifications, poor design integration; production – including unrealistic programming and budget, irregular inspections, insufficient quality assurance; materials – such as poor handling, wrong choices, inefficient logistics and incorrect storage; and labour – including lack of skills and training, the wrong equipment on site, bad communication
Up to standard In the FMB Coaching
Programme, which has been facilitated by Construction Coach Maria Coulter, one of the modules concerns this very topic: how to deliver quality work. A key part of achieving this ambition is adhering to regulations and best practice standards. This is especially true when it comes to questions of safety. For example, the Building Safety Act 2022 requires rigorous duties from those working on high-rise residential buildings. But other guidances, are also important, such as: Codes of Conduct from the FMB and CIOB; ISO 9001; Criteria for a Quality Management System
that strong foundation, the only direction is up.
“Standards, in essence, give us a minimum benchmark to achieve quality. But it is the finesse and experience applied to those minimum standards that deliver higher and higher quality.”
and a lack of supervision.
National House Building Council – Performance
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BUSINESS SUPPORT HEALTH & SAFETY
The latest news and updates on health and safety in construction to help you and your workforce stay safe on site HEALTH SAFETY &
Construction deaths are on the rise
Construction is the most dangerous industry in the UK to work in, says HSE, with more than twice as many fatalities recorded in 2022/23 compared with the second most dangerous industry, agriculture, forestry and fishing. The data shows that 45 construction workers died on the job, compared with 21 agricultural workers and 15 manufacturing workers. In 2021/22, 29 construction workers died on the job, with 39 fatalities in the previous year. The most common causes of fatalities recorded across all industries were: 40 – falling from height 29 – struck by moving objects 20 – struck by a vehicle
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has issued an ‘amber’ rating for the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR), which is set to take on responsibilities for signing off any high-risk or high-rise buildings in the UK from October. The IPA defines amber ratings as: “Successful delivery appears feasible but significant issues already exist, requiring management attention.” It issued the rating in March in its annual report for 2022/23. The BSR – part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – will act as a watchdog, evaluating the competence of construction project delivery teams and overseeing the conduct of Building Amber rating for Building Safety Regulator
Read the full HSE report at bit.ly/MB-HSE-fatal
HSE inspects silica respiratory risks Builders working
Control personnel. In its own annual report, the HSE acknowledged that there were “significant issues” with the BSR that had be overcome before assuming full responsibilities. Read the full IPA report at bit.ly/MB-IPA
with bricks, tiles or at manufacturing
facilities will be subject to HSE inspections assessing
respiratory risks to workers posed by silica dust exposure.
Government launches new Cladding Safety Scheme in England
Inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a
The Government’s Cladding Safety Scheme has been officially launched following a speech by Housing Secretary Michael Gove. The scheme provides £5.1 billion of Government funding for the removal of unsafe cladding on all medium-rise buildings between 11 and 18 metres across England, and high-rise buildings over 18 metres outside of London. There are plans to extend the scheme to include the social housing sector. Under the current terms, thousands of mid-rise buildings will qualify across the country. Uptake is expected to be strong given that there are no costs involved for residents/leaseholders. To qualify for remedial works, building owners will need to apply through Homes England Cladding Safety Scheme, showing that fire safety professionals have recommended the works take place. For more details on the scheme, visit bit.ly/MB-Govt-Clad
significant risk factor for developing serious health conditions including silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer. It is found in stones, rocks, sand and clay. Employers have a duty to manage risks to workers under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). HSE inspections, which commenced in July, form part of its Dust Kills silica campaign. Find out more at bit.ly/MB-HSE-Silica
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BUSINESS SUPPORT AIR TIGHTNESS
Passing an air leakage test is a regulatory requirement, says LABC Energy Consultant Jamie Best AN AIRTIGHT PLAN
Master Builder: What is the purpose of an air tightness test? Jamie Best: An air tightness test – or air leakage test – assesses air infiltration in a building’s envelope; namely, all the elements separating the indoor from the outdoor environment, including walls, windows, doors, roofs, and floors. Air leaks can significantly affect a building’s energy efficiency. Infiltration of outside air can increase energy loads, as heating systems have to work harder to maintain indoor temperatures. By identifying and addressing air leaks,
we can reduce energy consumption, utility bills and the building’s carbon footprint.
Regulations. If lucky, you can correct issues on site whilst the engineer is present. But fixing defects usually requires significant work, so a second or multiple visits are likely.
MB: Which properties require an air tightness test? JB: Since 2006, Part L of the Building Regulations has required air tightness testing of new build housing. Despite the absolute or ‘backstop’ test figures new houses need to achieve (8 m3.hr. m2 @50Pa), most air tightness test figures are derived from the as-designed SAP calculation. Older regulations required different
MB: Could you provide a checklist to help FMB
members pass their air tightness tests?
JB: Avoid short-term solutions – temporary sealing or mastic – as they will lead to problems later and aren’t acceptable in
Jamie Best
terms of Building Regulations. Factor in air tightness from the design stage to make better material choices and monitor during construction to fix problems whilst they are accessible. Think about areas of the building from outside to inside that are likely to leak, and work according to the principle that air (like water) follows the path of least resistance, which isn’t always the shortest path. If air can enter through a brick mortar joint, around an unclosed cavity and plasterboard and exit through an unsealed wall-to-floor junction, it will! You should also:
testing frequencies depending on the type of dwelling, but this is no longer the case. All units need to be tested, from sites with one unit to those with hundreds of units. MB: What are some of the common mistakes leading to a failed air tightness test? JB: Bathrooms and kitchens are the ‘go to’ areas for an engineer when a property fails an air tightness test because air typically leaks in behind dry-lined plasterboard. The entry point is usually along and under the skirting, which inevitably gets a mastic seal to fix the issue. Behind kitchen units, baths and toilets without skirting, there is usually a large cavity. Applying a continuous ribbon at all sides of dry-lining and flexible mastic behind the skirting will minimise air leakage. Be mindful of where pipe and cable distribution occurs. There is no excuse for creating a 110mm opening for a 50mm waste pipe! MB: What must be done if your property fails the test? JB: If your property fails, you need to retest to comply with Building
Set realistic air tightness targets – standard practice is now 5 m3.hr. m2@50Pa.
Engage a testing company early on – many visit for free or a nominal cost during construction to identify risk areas. Fit windows and doors properly before the test takes place. Poorly fitted windows and doors will lead to failed tests. Be mindful that the plasterboard itself won’t leak but there may be leaks where the plasterboard meets other materials. Skirtings, soil pipe risers, unsealed holes for waste pipes will leak to the outside.
Bathrooms are a common ‘problem area’ when it comes to air leakage
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INTERVIEW CHRIS CARR
M embers of the FMB have a powerful resource available to them: each other. Which is why Chris Carr, the recently elected National President, is striving to increase engagement amongst members. “To make the SME construction sector thrive, FMB members need to collaborate with one another,” says Carr who is also the co-owner of Carr & Carr (Builders) Limited in North East Lincolnshire. “That could be working on larger projects as a joint venture or something as simple as selling surplus building materials to each other.” A key part of facilitating member engagement is the new FMB app, which Carr is excited to play a role in developing further. Together with the FMB Find a Builder service, the digital presence is a great opportunity for members to showcase what they offer. Eager to continue the good work of his predecessor, Jan Etchells, Carr wants to serve all FMB members by: helping contractors find repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) work through social housing providers, councils and local authorities; representing housing developers through his roles in the Construction Leadership Council’s Housing Group and the Future Homes Hub’s SME Housing Group; reducing planning and delivery burdens (Future Homes Standards, Biodiversity Net Gain, new planning legislation) that disproportionately affect SME/micro developers; and
sector work for the FMB’s contractor members. “As builders, we should be the first port of call for any public and third sector organisations. We need to promote to these clients the massive benefit of using an FMB member, including the warranties we provide.” Additionally, house builder members need support. Carr sees value in delaying the Future Homes Standard and finding more efficient ways of readying brownfield sites for developers. Long-term growth Well aware of the ongoing skills shortage, Carr wants the support of members to do more with colleges and construction training providers to attract the next generation of recruits. “We need to show new entrants to our industry what a great institution the FMB is and inspire them to be future members,” he maintains. Tied to the ambition to attract new recruits to the industry is Carr’s desire to grow the FMB – but the task is not a simple one. “Bringing new members into any organisation is difficult. Our Membership Team in Leeds does a great job, but we all need to help where we can. “As FMB members and office holders, we need to proactively ‘sell’ the benefits of membership to builders and housing developers.” Ways to do this include promotions, more FMB branded site boards, banners and van stickers. “We are all proud to be part of our fantastic FMB. I’m hopeful that individually and collectively we have great years ahead.”
Engagement, collaboration and growth are what new National President Chris Carr wants for the FMB FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
became Yorkshire and Trent Regional President in his 30s and has since represented SME housing developers on a national level. He has presented on behalf of the FMB at three European Parliamentary conferences, two House of Lords Select Committee meetings and two House of Commons Select Committee meetings. Ready to tackle difficult tasks at hand, Carr says he wants to find more public
engaging architects and governing bodies to show the value, quality and assurances FMB companies offer clients. Ready for the job Carr is eager to “listen more and speak less” during his time as National President, and he is confident that his “long service in the FMB” has prepared him for the role. A member for more than three decades, Carr
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