June 2018

Industry News
LEE MORAN WINS
LOCAL HERO AWARD
Dan Walker, Lee Moran, Andrew Wakelin & Laura Brewer
Charity-minded Surrey roofer Lee Moran
has been crowned the nation’s top ‘Local
Hero’ at the UK Roofing Awards, a new
award sponsored by SIG Roofing.
Lee, whose family-run business Moran
Roofing Specialists is based in Farnham, was
recognised for his years of fundraising for the
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which cares for
terminally ill people, as well as other causes.
Lee has been raising funds since 2012. He
was inspired by his stepfather, who also
raises money for charity, along with the
deaths at a young age of a friend and an
uncle who each attended the Phyllis Tuckwell
Hospice for their end of life treatment. His
father Darryl also survived cancer and that
spurred him on even more.
Lee received an unprecedented number of
nominations for his many charity works. A
Facebook page he set up, ‘Farnham Rants’,
has so far raised more than £10,000 for the
hospice. He has also raised money for the
Shooting Star Chase children’s hospice and
the British Heart Foundation. Farnham Rants’
has attracted more than 19,500 members.
Lee said: “I set it up to encourage lighthearted
banter and build an online
community where I gently persuade people to
take out an advertisement with the money
donated to Phyllis Tuckwell.
“It was really pleasing to be nominated for
the Local Hero Award and a massive surprise
to actually win it,” he concluded.
More on the UK Roofing Awards: p.16
MIXED RESPONSE TO HACKITT FINDINGS
The conclusions from Dame Judith
expecting something
Hackitt’s long-awaited review into
stronger.
Building Regulations – Building a
“Independence and simplicity
Safer Future – have received a
are the antiseptics we need to
mixed response from industry.
guard against unsafe buildings –
Simon Storer, Chief Executive of the
this all feels too weak to effect
IMA explained: “The Hackitt
the major culture change that’s
review has identified failings in
needed in the construction
the construction industry that must
industry.”
be corrected if we are to deliver the safe and
Focussing on the recommendations around
secure environment we all demand and expect.
products and desktop studies, Nigel Morrey,
“With a great deal of thought and insight the technical director at Etex Building Performance,
report has identified that the only sensible way of explained: “We welcome the Hackitt Review’s
achieving this is to have a robust performance calls for more rigorous materials testing as well
driven testing regime with clear areas of
as the restriction of assessments in lieu of tests,
authority, responsibility and accountability. rather than an outright ban. Test data which
reflects real conditions should form the bedrock of
“We fully support this direction as it will provide
all construction product development but as the
the necessary framework based on actual not
Review concludes, desktop studies can provide a
assumed competencies and performance and
viable route to compliance if used in a responsible
encourage future investment in construction
and appropriate way by competent people.
material innovation and improvement.
“Crucially, the new British Standard for evaluating
“We encourage the government to adopt these
test data must clearly set out the type of evidence
recommendations and implement the necessary
required for assessments, using data that mirrors
changes speedily to ensure tragedies like Grenfell
on-site conditions as closely as possible. It also
never happen again.”
needs to establish clear parameters for ensuring
Elsewhere, Ben Jayes, Managing Director of the competence of individuals performing these
Vivalda Group, views the final report as an analyses. Both the government’s consultation on
opportunity missed to demonstrate clear
desktop studies and the Hackitt Review reference
leadership in the area of fire safety for high rise the importance of ‘competent staff working for an
buildings. He explained: “We were expecting a far organisation that is accredited’ but in our
clearer statement from Dame Judith, which would experience this is not enough. Working for an
include banning any combustible material on tall accredited organisation does not guarantee
buildings. We had also hoped to see sharper teeth capability of the individual.
when it came to independent building inspection,
“It is now critical that the assessment process
however this appeared to have been overlooked in
proposed for cladding materials is also applied to
favour of tighter regulations outlined in the report.
other building products. There is a real danger
“On a more positive note, while it is encouraging that the industry has one set of rules for cladding
to see that the role of ‘dutyholders’ within the systems and a different set for other materials
planning, design and construction phase of which will only create confusion and an
building projects is given weight, I can’t help unworkable two-tier system. We need to apply
feeling let down by the final review. We were this best practice across the board.”
8 TC JUNE 2018