December 2023

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Viewpoints & Predictions “THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT 2024 IS SET TO BRING GROWTH WITH A PREDICTED 12% INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS” Ken Lynes, Managing Director of Fixfast It’s fair to say that 2023 brought choppy waters for construction. Energy prices remain high, inflation has increased and there’s been an 18% reduction in construction projects. Despite this, Fixfast has not only weathered the storm but continued to grow. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this success. We’re known for our ‘Maximum Reliability, Minimum Fuss’ brand promise. For our contractor customers, this means we deliver the products they need when they need them. It’s a simple philosophy, but it’s why we consistently have the best customer satisfaction rates in the industry. We’ve also forged strong partnerships with the major OEM manufacturers and design fasteners for their systems at our UK manufacturing site. And we’re seeing the growth of the façade side of our business, thanks to the introduction of the Fixfast façade support system. Our teams have been busy delivering on our digital transformation. This has included the launch of our new website which is underpinned by technology that creates seamless integration with all our internal processes. It’s supported by a Product Information Management (PIM) system, which allows us to update all our technical, commercial and marketing information, related to each of our thousands of products at the touch of a button – wherever it’s held. So, whether it’s on our own systems or those of our partners, it’s always accurate and up to date. This is important because the Building Safety Act will bring greater accountability across the supply chain and increased scrutiny of product choice. It means specifiers need to be confident that the information they use is accurate and that the products they specify will perform as they are designed to. For this reason, Fixfast is also amongst the first in the UK to have achieved the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) verification for our DrillFast, MatchFast and TapFast ranges. The good news is that 2024 is set to bring growth with a predicted 12% increase in construction projects. To help us meet customer demand, Fixfast will be moving to new, larger premises, which will allow us to further expand our UK manufacturing capability. The building itself is also much more environmentally friendly. It will be built using clean, inert and ACM free recycled aggregates and hardcore where practical, and features low-carbon technologies such as a VRF heat pump for heating and cooling, and solar panels to achieve an EPC A+ rating. The foundations we’ve laid in 2023 mean that we will be able to support our customers and OEM partners by providing the products they need to support the creation of better, safer buildings – backed up by the accurate information needed for specification. Not just in 2024, but for many years to come. www.fixfast.com “A FOCUS ON DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS IS CRUCIAL” Kay Rose (FIoR), CEO of the Institute of Roofing As we reflect on the past year in roofing and construction, it’s evident that the industry is undergoing significant transformations. At the Institute of Roofing (IoR), our focus on soft skills training has become increasingly vital. The integration discussions with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) underscore the industry’s recognition that professional skills extend beyond qualifications. The emphasis is now on holistic individual development, including crucial soft skills such as communication, presentation, organisation, time management, and professionalism. It’s not just about what you know, but how you apply that knowledge in a professional setting. Professionalism is a foundation into which wider skills feed into. Skills such as delivering on commitments, managing workloads effectively, and avoiding overcommitment to prevent disappointments. Addressing these basic requirements is essential for anyone in the industry, promoting reliability and trustworthiness not only as an individual, but as part of a wider organisation. The challenges of the past year, which include the continual preferences to virtual meetings, can often expose deficiencies in professional communication and behaviour. This highlights the importance of fostering a respectful and committed attitude within the industry. Looking ahead to 2024, I think a focus on developing soft skills is crucial for anyone entering the roofing profession – but particularly the younger generations. Handling crises, effective communication, and navigating difficult conversations are ‘skills for life’ that should be integral to education and training. While technical expertise is crucial, companies must also invest in cultivating well-rounded individuals. Having a positive attitude toward training is key to equipping the industry with the necessary skills for the future. As we look to the future, embracing a holistic approach to education and training will ensure a robust and competitive roofing industry. www.instituteofroofing.org 18 TC DECEMBER 2023
“2023 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF REGULATORY CHANGE” Bradley Hirst, Technical Services Manager for Knauf Insulation 2023 has been a year of regulatory change. Significant uplifts to Parts L (thermal performance) and B (fire safety), which both affect the specification of insulation, came into full force bringing in stricter standards for the design and construction of buildings in England and Wales. Similar updates have been made in Scotland and Ireland. Then there’s the Building Safety Act, which is placing greater accountability across the supply chain. As a result, we’re likely to see the specification of construction products for higher risk buildings undertaken much earlier in the design and build process. The key takeaways from these changes are that buildings must achieve much higher performance standards, the products and systems specified must be used (and any substitutions approved and signed off). And ultimately, the finished building must perform the way it’s designed to. So, what does this mean for insulation? Well, firstly we’re seeing greater thermal efficiency of the building fabric, which means clients are moving to lower lambda products and using much more insulation than before. For example, contractors are being asked by housebuilders to install loft insulation to depths of 400mm or 500mm. They’re also increasing masonry cavity widths to 150mm with an equivalent depth of insulation to improve energy efficiency and provide greater flexibility – a move that’s only set to increase as we get closer to the introduction of the Future Homes Standard. The focus on fire safety we’ve seen over the last few years will also continue to be a priority in 2024. So, my message is that the best way to minimise risk and ensure compliance is to use non-combustible materials such as Knauf Insulation rock and glass mineral wool for all projects, regardless of height or use. Added to that is the issue of real performance. The regulations have brought in much greater scrutiny of product choice and standards of workmanship. Where insulation is concerned, good installation can make or break real thermal, fire safety and acoustic performance – and that’s affected by the material used. It’s important contractors and installers choose a product that’s easy to install correctly. It can be difficult to get a good fit with materials such as rigid boards as they’re inflexible and cannot adapt to imperfections in the substrate. This introduces gaps that reduce performance. But it’s easy to get a good fit with mineral wool because it adapts to the substrate and knits together at the joints. Ultimately, by focusing on the real-world benefits of better thermal efficiency, enhanced fire safety, acoustic performance and materials that are easy to install correctly, your insulation is more likely to deliver the performance that’s needed in 2024 and beyond. www.knaufinsulation.co.uk “BUSINESSES THAT EXCEL IN DELIVERING PRECISELY WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS WILL STAND APART FROM ANY BUSINESSES THAT DO NOT” James Chillman, UK Country Manager, Fergus At Fergus, 2023 saw even more roofing business owners opt for job management software – for good reason. It automates much of their work, removes paperwork and reduces inefficiency. In short, it gives them more time back. By automating a lot of business processes you can also look to take advantage of some of 2024’s biggest business trends, one of which includes adopting new techniques to improve customer experience. Those businesses that excel in delivering precisely what the customer wants, promptly and stress free, while efficiently resolving any issues, will stand apart from any businesses that do not. If you’re looking to develop top notch customer care, then job management software Fergus can help you quickly get ahead of the trend. It helps you to: Be speedy: with custom templates, you can quickly generate accurate quotes and invoices, sending them directly to clients via email or SMS. Be informative: set reminders and send automatic confirmations and updates to your clients, so every appointment runs smoothly and customers are always kept in the loop about any adjustments. Be ultra-reliable: thanks to smartphones and GPS, you can track your team members’ exact location and route, which means you can let clients know an ETA without disturbing a driver while they’re on the road. In October 2023 we launched Fergus Essentials so that businesses of any size can afford to adopt job management software. Designed specifically for sole traders or small teams in the trades industry, Fergus Essentials offers a range of features that help streamline day-to-day operations and improve your customer interactions. It can track jobs, create quotes and estimates, manage invoices and keep your calendar and timesheets in order. For larger companies and those wanting to drive growth, Fergus Pro provides a full suite of powerful job management services with features like advanced project management, team collaboration tools, real-time reporting and enhanced customisation options. www.fergus.com DECEMBER 2023 TC 19
Page 1 and 2: DECEMBER 2023 Feeling you are at a
Page 3 and 4: Editor’s Intro MATT DOWNS EDITORI
Page 5 and 6: REGULARS 12 NFRC ROOFING TALK Ruth
Page 7 and 8: WestWood Liquid Technologies Limite
Page 9 and 10: STILL THE MARKET LEADER PRICE DROP
Page 11 and 12: UNROLL YOUR POTENTIAL Become accred
Page 13 and 14: TAKE YOUR ROOFING BUSINESS TO THE N
Page 15 and 16: “THE NEW COMPETENCE REQUIREMENTS
Page 17: Maximum reliability. Minimum fuss.
Page 21 and 22: “THE LRWA IS POISED TO COLLABORAT
Page 23 and 24: LEARN MORE You may just see a roof.
Page 25 and 26: The Liquid Roofing & Waterproofing
Page 27 and 28: MANUFACTURERS OF PVC SINGLE PLY MEM
Page 29 and 30: Redefining Surfaces. Redefining Pro
Page 32 and 33: Flat Roofing CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
Page 34 and 35: An ever-increasing number of househ
Page 36: Pitched Roofing WE CONTINUE TO INVE
Page 39 and 40: Roofing Updates CCPI FOR JB RED For
Page 41 and 42: you’ve e hired you’ve hired the
Page 43 and 44: TC: What are some of the most commo
Page 45 and 46: LOOKING FOR AN ALTERNATIVE SUPPLIER
Page 47 and 48: DON’T BE CONSTRAINED BY 100MM CAV
Page 49 and 50: A central requirement of the Buildi
Page 51 and 52: FORMULA HIGH PERFORMANCE MARKETING
Page 54 and 55: Workwear Choices POOR QUALITY WORKW
Page 56 and 57: Workwear Choices Continued from pag
Page 58 and 59: Updates For further info on all the
Page 60: WITH SIDERISE ® Global experts in

December 2023

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?