January 2024

Industry News
BOB 85258 TEXT
SERVICE BOOST
A construction charity has seen a 105.5%
increase in messages to its text helpline
after the launch of an initiative to take the
mental health message to construction
sites and estates teams across the UK.
Hays, the construction recruitment specialist,
joined forces with the charity Band of
Builders (BoB) in October, taking the lead on
visiting sites and reaching out to both bosses
and operatives to discuss tackling the
industry’s mental health crisis and
signposting support that is readily available,
free and easy to access.
The push to raise awareness has prompted a
105.5% jump in messages to the text line
launched by BoB to help tradespeople and
construction workers – which the charity
says is a worrying number but evidence that
more people in the sector are seeking help.
The latest figures from the helpline show that
texts about depression, financial difficulties
or relationship issues accounted for 52.9% of
messages. Thankfully, the charity says the
number of cries for help from construction
workers considering taking their own lives
has decreased from 30.4% to 13.1% in the
last three months.
BoB CEO Gavin Crane said: “Hays is uniquely
placed to take the mental health message to
sites, and the fact that the number of
messages to our text service has more than
doubled in the last three months highlights
the impact they are having in signposting
members of the construction community to
that all-important first step in asking for
help.”
“It’s vital to keep signposting where
construction workers can get help if they are
struggling with their mental health; they can
text BOB to 85258,” he added.
www.bandofbuilders.org
More news, updates and interviews at www.total-contractor.co.uk
NHBC STANDARDS 2024: CHOICE IS KEY
FOR COMPLIANCE
With the recent NHBC standards, Glidevale
Protect says it is supporting housebuilders,
developers, architects and contractors with
reliable technical information and a wide range
of compliant solutions.
The new NHBC Standards 2024 apply to every new
home registered with the NHBC where the
foundations are started on or after 1st January
2024. They support the recent uplift to Building
Regulation Part L and the proposed Future Homes
Standard by offering new guidance on the use of
integrated in-roof solar PV panels and associated
ventilation strategies. The Standards contain
revisions to clause 7.2.15 ‘Ventilation, vapour
control and insulation’ stipulating that where arrays
of integrated in-roof solar roof panels are used, the
whole roof covering should be treated as air
impermeable unless the panel manufacturer is able
to demonstrate their system is air permeable. The
Standards subsequently reference ventilation
guidance for impermeable roof coverings on both
cold and warm roofs to require adherence to
BS 5250: 2021 – Management of moisture in
Buildings – Code of practice to help prevent the risk
of condensation build up in the roof space.
To assist housebuilders in navigating ventilation
strategies in conjunction with the use of pitched
roofing underlays, Glidevale Protect offers a wide
range of product solutions to ensure compliance
doesn’t impact on choice. The company’s
comprehensive range of type LR vapour permeable,
air and vapour permeable and type HR impermeable
underlay options can be used to effectively support
the installation of integrated, in-roof solar PV panels
when utilised in conjunction with the manufacturer’s
broad range of high and low level ventilation
products on both cold and warm pitched roofs.
Using a tried, tested and trusted underlay and
ventilation solution ensures that the customer has
choice when specifying products to be used on a
development with solar PV. This includes the
company’s new product innovation, Protect A1
Solar, an HR impermeable pitched roofing underlay.
When used alongside the manufacturer’s high and
low level ventilation products, the need for a
ventilated counter batten space above the
membrane is eliminated, saving labour time and
material cost. www.glidevaleprotect.com
SURVEY: 1 IN 5 IN ROOFING IS A SMOKER
More than one in five employees in roofing in England smoke, according to data from the Office for
Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID). That’s three times higher than other industries.
Figures reveal the employee smoking inequality gap has grown by 5% over half a decade and roofing
professionals are falling behind national trends for smoking cessation. Smoking prevalence in roofing
roles means these employees are 65% more likely to smoke, when compared to the average smoking
rate in England. The data insights, collated by Vape Club, highlight the need for equal smoking cessation
support for all in society. The government has set a target of reducing the number of smokers to 5% of
adults in England by 2030. To achieve this, encouraging roofing workers to use smoking cessation
methods will be key. The UK government launched a world-first 'swap to stop' scheme, in which 1 in 5
of all smokers in England will be provided with a free vape starter kit to help them quit. A recent trial by
the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the NHS Stop Smoking Service found a vape starter kit helped
42% of participants to quit within a month. A further 15% had quit after 12 weeks.
www.gov.uk/government/news/smokers-urged-to-swap-cigarettes-for-vapes-in-world-first-scheme
6 TC JANUARY 2024