Viewpoints & Predictions “<strong>2023</strong> HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN TERMS OF INDUSTRY REGULATIONS, WITH THE TRAJECTORY CONTINUING INTO 2024” Michael Anaxagorou, Sales Director, Axter Ltd This year has revealed the pivotal role of technology in shaping the future of construction. Its increased utilisation has significantly enhanced survey efficiency and opened new avenues in specification. Notably, the impact is substantial in the realm of sustainability, with a heightened focus on net-zero goals and escalating energy costs prompting a drive toward enhancing the energy and thermal efficiency of buildings. This surge in interest has also led to increased exploration of energy generation possibilities. In the domain of Climate Map Technology, fieldbased and desktop tools are revolutionising the assessment of the impact of well-designed roofs, enabling digital modelling of existing structures against proposed alterations. Moreover, these tools facilitate showcasing the assets’ value beyond compliance, highlighting the potential for carbon reduction, long-term savings, and a more sustainable future. The year <strong>2023</strong> has been pivotal in terms of industry regulations, with the trajectory continuing into 2024. Notably, the Building Safety Act introduced the concept of 'duty holders', including clients, designers, and contractors, emphasizing the necessity for assessing competence and declining work that exceeds one's skills, knowledge, or experience. These regulations serve as a starting point for substantial change, with further developments expected, including updated rules on product standards. As a manufacturer and roofing design company, we advocate for voluntary schemes like the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and Building a Safer Future. CCPI, emphasising building safety and higher standards in presenting construction product information, has validated our Wilotekt-Plus system as one of the first CCPIverified hot melt systems in the industry. Looking ahead to the next year, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements and Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) will transition to mandatory status for most new constructions. This shift highlights the crucial role of design, construction methods, and materials in project sustainability. There’s an emerging expectation not only to meet regulatory standards but also to exceed them. In 2024, upskilling the labour force emerges as a primary trend. Addressing the ongoing shortages, particularly in roofing, entails enhancing digital proficiency and driving modernisation through workforce development for both existing and incoming personnel. Amidst the influx of information, investing in CPD for teams becomes paramount. This investment ensures familiarity with new methodologies and approaches, thereby maintaining high standards and quality of work. Moreover, advancing digital skills across the industry is imperative to fully harness the potential of technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) and collaborative online platforms for building specification and design. www.axter.co.uk “WE’RE ANTICIPATING A PIVOTAL YEAR FOR COMPLIANCE” Joan Ferrer – UK & Ireland Commercial Director, Ravago Building Solutions UK The most recent CPA forecast has highlighted a global slowdown of construction output, driven predominantly by a sharp decline in residential housebuilding. We’re fortunate not to be directly impacted by this as a business, but it will be sure to cause knock-on effects if not urgently addressed. I’d like to see the Government continue to develop a range of funding schemes for first-time buyers across the next year, as this would revitalise the private construction sector to counteract stagnation in this respect. At Ravago Building Solutions UK, we’re expecting 2024 to bring fierce competition when securing projects, largely from the perspective of product pricing. Cheap, uncertified materials from abroad significantly influence price expectations, catalysed by the highly competitive construction markets. Although infrastructure activity is currently stable, a slowdown in the number of active projects could further impact competition throughout the next year, especially considering looming delays to road works. Finally, we’re anticipating a pivotal year for compliance, especially with the roll-out of CCPI – of which we are enthusiastic proponents. It’s a positive step for rebuilding trust in the construction industry, and we are embracing the new measures to demonstrate that our technical materials and processes are robust. Netzero targets and a greater emphasis on sustainability measures are inevitable – not just for 2024, but for the foreseeable future. At Ravago Building Solutions UK, we’ve been taking excellent steps towards our own sustainability goals – including making use of new Cube20 compactors to recycle fine excess XPS dust into pellets for producing new product, reducing waste to landfill. We subscribe to the three pillars of construction; quality, sustainability and compliance – it’s crucial that we continue to preserve those pillars to avoid undermining the progress and resilience we’ve displayed as a collective over the past few years. www.ravagobuildingsolutions.com 16 TC DECEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
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