May 2021

Industry News
More news, updates and interviews at www.total-contractor.co.uk
IOR URGES ACTION
FOR SITE VISITORS
The Institute of Roofing (IOR) is urging site
visitors to apply for a Professionally
Qualified Person (PQP) CSCS card to
address concerns raised by manufacturers
about access to construction sites.
The problems follow the withdrawal of the
CSCS visitor card which stopped being issued
at the end of February 2020. Existing visitor
cards remain valid until their listed expiry date.
Recent reports from manufacturers have
highlighted that without this card, members of
their inspection teams are struggling to get
onto site to carry out their role for projects.
The IOR has investigated the issue and found
that the PQP card is the most appropriate
alternative. Valid for five years, a PQP card
certifies that the holder is a qualified member
of an approved professional body, and has the
skills and knowledge required to work on a
construction site without special supervision,
even if they are not typically based on site.
The IOR is an approved body, so all its
members can apply for a PQP card, which can
be done via the CSCS website. Applicants will
need to supply proof of membership. Stuart
Hicks, CEO of the IOR, said: “Our membership
can be used as proof of qualification, or
working towards a qualification, which is the
criteria needed to apply for a PQP card. Gaining
this card will overcome the issues that visiting
staff from manufacturers and other disciplines
have experienced in gaining access to
construction sites to carry out their work. If any
of our members have colleagues that would
benefit from this route to a PQP card, they will
need to apply for an IOR membership via our
website and achieve a grade of Associate,
Member or Fellow. This will depend on meeting
certain qualification criteria which can be
viewed on our website.”
www.instituteof roofing.org
HEALTH & SAFETY AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON
NFRC has launched a brand-new app focused Commenting on the launch of the app, Bob
on health and safety for NFRC members and Richardson, NFRC Head of Technical and Training,
their operatives. The app fully digitalises the said: “This app provides an important day-to-day
popular ‘Health & Safety Passport’, which reminder for operatives – even when there is no
previously had been a printed booklet that phone signal – on the safe working practices that
operatives could carry with them on site. This must be considered an essential part of all site
will mean operatives will now have access to working. It contains a wealth of information, from
all the health and safety information they need working at height to fire safety to Covid-safe
from their smartphone.
guidelines, complementing site-specific health
and safety documentation.
As part of the launch, the Passport’s content has
been fully updated to include recent changes in He added: “The Covid-19 pandemic has
legislation and guidance, and new sections giving demonstrated the importance of being agile and
advice and information on mental health and getting critical information and updates out to the
Covid-19. NFRC says the app is future-proofed to industry quickly. Through this innovative new app,
allow the team to remotely update information as we will be able to update the Health & Safety
and when it is required, so operatives always Passport in real-time, rather than reprinting and
have the latest information
distributing thousands of booklets every time
when they open the app.
health and safety legislation changes.
Contractors can therefore be assured that
As a Member Benefit, the
the information their operatives have is
app will only be
the most up-to-date.”
available for NFRC
Members and their
He concluded: “We hope that this is
operatives, and any
just the beginning and if the app
roofing operatives who
proves popular, we will be able to
have not received their
expand the content to include other
log-in details are
NFRC technical guidance and in
encouraged to contact the
time other areas of NFRC
NFRC Helpdesk.
activity.”
ONDULINE IS NOW PART OF ONDURA GROUP
Onduline, the lightweight roofing
and professional customers.
specialist, has announced it is now
The Group brings together three
part of the newly-created Ondura
leading companies under one roof:
Group, an international business
Onduline, for lightweight roofing
dedicated to waterproofing
solutions and pitched roofs, alwitra,
solutions for buildings.
high quality waterproofing systems for flat
The Group has been formed by Naxicap Partners roofs, and CB, façade and roof membranes for
following the acquisition of the Polish company CB pitched roofs.
in 2019, and of Germany-based alwitra.
Paul Duffy (pic), MD for Onduline in the UK, said:
Ondura says it provides a unique solution for “As part of Ondura Group we can offer an even
waterproofing roofs and buildings for both private wider portfolio of solutions to our customers.”
6 TC MAY 2021