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