Clayton Kingman is UK head of constructing envelope at SIG Distribution
In an business the place price is at all times a precedence, we’ve got developed a tradition of doing sufficient to fulfill requirements, however we’re not centered on creating the experience or funding to do higher than “simply sufficient”.
The just lately launched Constructing Security Act is a chance for the development business to, actually, rebuild its repute by demonstrating that it’s about far more than quickest and least expensive.
The act gives the complete development provide chain with a chance to alter its tradition from doing simply sufficient to certainly one of delivering higher, safer buildings in the very best manner.
“The design of any building-envelope system will inevitably contain placing collectively merchandise that weren’t initially designed to work collectively for a selected utility”
Whereas the principle focus of the act is on higher-risk buildings (HRBs), I consider that it presents us with a chance to use further rigour to the supply of all buildings.
It’s a large shift in mindset, however as suppliers, installers and designers we should be asking: have we completed all the pieces we may should ship the very best consequence beneath the circumstances?
In contemplating the reply to that query, it would assist to consider how you’ll have the ability to clarify your specification choice to a decide. When you learn the Constructing Security Act such as you would learn the Well being and Security Laws, it’s terrifying. Did you comply with the suitable procedures? Did this lead you to make the suitable specification choices? In that case, it’s best to have the ability to justify why you got here to that call.
This isn’t a simple state of affairs – nobody can realistically hope to have an knowledgeable understanding of each product or mixture of merchandise accessible.
Working with the availability chain
The design and specification of any building-envelope system, for instance, will inevitably contain placing collectively merchandise and elements that weren’t initially designed to work collectively for a selected utility. Deciding on and mixing the assorted components that collectively make up the envelope with out compromising the efficiency of any of them will not be simple.
Reaching the suitable resolution requires the complete provide chain to work collectively to ship the very best consequence. Following the Code for Development Product Info gives assurance that product data is updated, correct and supported by related efficiency take a look at information.
One other key component of the Constructing Security Act is competency. The act locations a requirement on all these within the development business (and never merely these engaged on HRBs) to be competent to do their job correctly – that features designers, contractors and anybody finishing up any design or constructing work, together with product distributors and producers. A reliable individual should have the ability to reveal the talents, data, expertise and behavior essential to design, construct and provide a scheme in accordance with all related necessities.
In fact, for HRBs the selection of envelope system is much more essential. That’s as a result of as soon as a design has acquired gateway two approval from the Constructing Security Regulator, any subsequent change to the specification may additionally want approval by the regulator (a course of that may take as much as six weeks) earlier than work can proceed on web site.
Whereas this will likely make the risk and value of potential delay by means of worth engineering much less enticing, it additionally locations an onus on procurement groups to make sure that merchandise specified for an HRB might be accessible when required, as last-minute substitutions is not going to be an possibility.
