The Welsh Government is currently recruiting members to the Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales (BRACW). It could be you?

Welsh Ministers have a duty to appoint a Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales for the purpose of advising Welsh Ministers on the exercise of their power to make building regulations and on other subjects connected with building regulations. Welsh Ministers have a statutory duty to consult it (and other relevant bodies) before making building regulations that contain substantive requirements.

Supported by the existing members of the committee, individuals will have the opportunity to contribute and advise the Welsh Ministers on the making and amending of building regulations, provide views on all relevant policy, technical and other related matters in Wales.  Members are appointed on a voluntary independent basis to represent particular areas/fields of expertise and experience.

Below is the link to the vacancies on the Welsh Government website and English and Welsh versions of the advertisement which I would be grateful if you could circulate to your members or include the details in any newsletter or on your website.

https://cymru-wales.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-3/brand-2/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/2300-Members-Building-Regulations-Advisory-Committee-for-Wales/en-GB  

https://cymru-wales.tal.net/vx/lang-cy/mobile-0/appcentre-3/brand-2/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/8/opp/2300-Members-Building-Regulations-Advisory-Committee-for-Wales/en-GB 

Potential applicants wishing to have an informal conversation about any matter relating to the committee should contact: Francois Samuel, Head of Building Regulations Policy, Francois.samuel@wales.gsi.gov.uk Tel 0300 062 8232

Construction is missing a trick by not making the most of the skills on offer from women, ethnic minorities and LGBT communities argues Tamsin Stirling, independent housing consultant.

Welsh construction, like Welsh football, is enjoying something of a resurgence right now. But, just like as in football, the headlines are dominated by men. That may not be a surprise, but it does not portray the industry as an economic sector that is attractive to women, or indeed anyone not fulfilling the usual male stereotype.

There is absolutely no reason why construction across the UK should not be making the most of skills from all backgrounds, ethnic groups, sexual orientation, male or female. But that’s not currently the case.

Women only account for 11% of the construction industry’s workforce, but just 1% of onsite workers. While the number of women pursuing apprenticeships has increased over the past ten years, only 2% of construction apprenticeships are filled by women.

The site environment can be hostile for anyone who doesn’t “fit in”. But the issues go deeper than that. Capital investment in construction tends to benefit men over women. Major capital projects such as Cardiff Metro and Swansea Tidal Lagoon (all excellent ideas and needed by the country) are male dominated in terms of those who will work on the developments, whether in design or construction. Contrast this with decisions to cut spending on services such as education and social care and on welfare which tend to disproportionately impact on women as they are more likely than men to be employed in these sectors and/or use these services.

In much the same way, whilst many construction schemes in Wales seek wider community benefits as a result of education and influence by CEW and its stakeholders, those gains are not always felt in the same way by women.

So, what can we do? Fortunately, initiatives such as Women in Construction are driving change in perceptions right across the industry. But positive change is only happening in pockets of excellence. We need broader action.

Welsh construction could do well to follow the example set a number of years ago by Bron Afon Community Housing which held ‘It’s a Girl Thing’ - women-only taster sessions on various aspects of construction aimed at attracting women into the industry. 

CIBSE has organised a brand new survey to determine who you think is the most inspiring women engineer in history to coincide with National Women in Engineering Day 2016 on 23rd June.

The star initiative though is the Women Building Wales programme led by women’s charity Chwarae Teg, NPTC Group of Colleges and Women in Construction. It offers women interested in construction careers a place on a fully funded 12 weeks ‘Introduction to Construction’ course. For women looking to further their learning after the course, a series of apprenticeships, work placements and additional training are on offer with the ultimate aim being employment in the industry. It was launched in February – but how many people knew?

Just as in the delivery and procurement of construction projects, we as an industry need to think holistically about the people we work with, the skills they have and their potential. Figures show that Wales will need thousands of newly–trained engineering and construction related professionals and skilled trades–people over the next decade.

Diversity in boardrooms allows for more challenge and therefore better decision-making – why shouldn’t this apply in a building site or project context? Because of a different life experience, women, ethnic minorities and LGBT people are often not aware of opportunities or feel that certain occupations are not for them. There is talent out there to be tapped; listening to what women and other under-represented groups have to say about what would encourage them to work in construction would be well worth the time, even if the detail is not comfortable to hear.

Brexit is posing many unanswered questions, but the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products is sticking to its guns. Gary Newman, executive chair is urging other similar bodies to work even harder for further collaboration with likeminded groups across Europe.

For those passionate about sustainable construction, these are very uncertain times. Like so much in our daily lives, Brexit brings into question the quality and sustainability frameworks which the building industry has developed over the last 40 years, within a European context. From CE marking to EPD, expensive re-commissioning, divergence from wider global standards or, at worst, abandonment are all current risks. But we must all make plans to deal with this radically different and potentially more isolated future.

As for the ASBP, we will put greater focus upon strengthening our ties with like–minded organisations and networks in the rest of Europe. After all, much of the inspiration and leadership for sustainable construction has come from our European partners. We will redouble our efforts to find ways to influence UK policy on all the issues that we are passionate about, such as natural products, circular economy, product reuse, low embodied carbon and healthy products and buildings. We will continue to communicate the value of standards as a mark of progress and not simply red tape. After all, the need to trade will ensure that we remain bound by European standards even though we will soon have little influence over their development.

The ASBP will seek to find innovative ways to generate new knowledge in collaboration with our members and our University partners who will inevitably face reduced research budgets. We propose to join the Construction Products Association (CPA) as an associate member, to help us to better support our members through this period of uncertainty. We will, of course, continue to champion the cause of sustainable products, and with that in mind, please check out our Product of the Month, attend our informative events, get involved and join up.

LABC has a suite of 360 registered construction details (RCDs) to help you combat the problem of cold bridging in construction that will minimise heat loss through the weak junction points in a building’s outer envelope.

“Construction joints” are those parts of a building where different elements meet and are joined together.These are the focus of attention because research has shown they create thermal bridging, which allows heat to leak out and can also create cold spots internally.  This can be at the edge of a ground floor where it touches an exposed wall or an external wall where it runs into a roof, lintel or sill to a window or door jamb. 

The SAP assessment calculation that is used to prove compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations has 42 different junctions that must be detailed.  LABC RCDs now provide for the first time a combination of different materials and products that can be used together and provide certainty as to compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations. 

Key benefits of using LABC RCDs:

• Reduction in thermal bridging

By using one of our specified details, it is now possible to demonstrate that a building which would have previously failed to comply with Part L can pass with no alteration to insulation levels or the need to use triple glazing or expensive renewable technologies.

• Potential savings

Cost analysis has shown savings as much as £1,200 on a 90m² unit are possible when using an LABC RCD.

• Free expert guidance on tap

LABC RCDs are available free of charge on the LABC website.  These details can also be accessed from your mobile phone or other smart tablet. 

LABC RCDs presently encompass masonry construction and over time will be extended to include timber frame, light steel frame, external wall insulation among others.  Find out more by visiting http://www.labc.co.uk/labc-registered/construction-details 

E5 Ground Floor Junction with an External Wall E5MCPF16                

This junction can account for up to 34% of heat loss through thermal bridging so it is important to ensure the materials specified in the detail are used and positioned exactly as detailed. Attention to detail will ensure you meet Part L of the Building Regulations. There are 66 different construction details you can use in this situation, each one having unique Psi values provided by the material manufacturer to ensure compliance when using SAP software. As a result, not only is it important to position the materials exactly as the Detail but it is crucial that the specified materials are used (even if they are not in stock at the builder’s merchant).

The registration number tells us it is detail number E5, that masonry has been used and the cavity has partial fill insulation.

So to ensure your detail does achieve compliance:

• Make sure your mortar joints finish flush for internal wall surfaces - this will ensure the floor insulation can sit tightly against the blockwork.
• Use a full sheet of insulation around the perimeter and position any offcuts in the centre of the floor.

E1 Steel lintel with perforated steel base plate E1MCFF2

This junction can account for up to 26% of heat loss through thermal bridging, so it is critical the metal lintel is isolated from the external wall to minimise heat loss through the structure.

In this detail the registration number tells us it is detail number E1, that masonry has been used and the cavity has full fill insulation.

Key construction points are:

• Check the lintel is capable of spanning the required opening.
• Insulation generally has to be positioned inside, outside and beneath the lintel to ensure it performs adequately under Part L.
• Ensure all insulation is in position before fixing plasterboard. 

E10 Eaves (insulation at ceiling level) E10MCPF4

This junction can account for up to 11% of heat loss through thermal bridging and is a major cause of the growth of mould at the junction between wall and ceiling.

In this detail the registration number tells us it is detail number E10, that masonry has been used and the cavity has partial fill insulation.

Key areas to consider are:

• Pitch of the roof which, if shallow, can prevent full thickness of insulation being installed at the roof/wall junction. It is important to fill this void and ensure insulation is continuous with the wall insulation; flexible insulation can be dressed down into the cavity to achieve this.
• Ensure any eaves ventilation is not blocked or compressed and so preventing adequate ventilation of the roof.
• Where there is a habitable room in the roof space ensure the insulation is continuous.
• Party wall junctions and ceiling detail where they abut an adjoining external gable wall.

ICE Cymru State of the Nation: Devolution was launched last week and Keith Jones Director ICE Wales Cymru explains how devolution can infrastructure the driver of the economy.

It sets out recommendations for how to deliver maximum benefits of devolution to society and make infrastructure the driver of the economy.

“For Wales, realising our full potential as a devolved nation means that we also must identify our ongoing infrastructure needs and create a cohesive infrastructure policy,” said Keith Jones Director ICE Wales Cymru.

“I am delighted that the Welsh Government is looking to establish an Infrastructure Commission and I will be pleased to work with the new administration as required.”

The impeding skills shortage in civil engineering is one of the most challenging obstacles facing infrastructure delivery. We must therefore continue to invest in the development of skills to avoid a potential skills gap.

“Devolution in Wales enables us to implement the forward-thinking infrastructure policies and programmes that will build our quality of life,” Keith said. “However, if we do not commit to actually funding and investing in infrastructure, we will pay the price of poorer health and damage to our economy and environment.”