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RAC Group Warns Against 'Premature' Action

A position paper on the future use of refrigerants containing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – which can, potentially, contribute to global warming – has been developed by the HVCA Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Group, and endorsed by the Council of the Association.

The position paper states that it is a key objective of all members of the RAC Group to deliver to their clients the best possible system performance at the lowest possible cost in terms of energy use.

To do so, they regularly design and install systems that make use of refrigerants based on ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons, in addition to those based on HFCs.

The paper also makes clear that the refrigeration and some of the air conditioning sector could already operate without HFCs, and that, in the fullness of time, HFCs may be superseded – as has already happened to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and is now happening to hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

To that extent, the RAC Group is in sympathy with the aspirations of the environmental lobby.

It believes, however, that for the foreseeable future HFCs have a vital role to play in helping users to make the transition from ozone-depleting refrigerant gases (such as the HCFC-based R22, which is already the subject of a phase-out programme owing to its ozone-depleting potential) to more environmentally benign alternatives.

To consider banning HFC use as early as 2011, as part of a scheduled review of the European F-Gas Regulation, is entirely impractical in that it would require wholesale plant replacement programmes which end users simply could not afford to carry out, the RAC Group insists.

“As things stand, HFCs remain the most energy-efficient choice for many applications – for example, in most small to medium-sized air conditioning systems,” the position paper argues.

“Refrigerants are currently responsible for just 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions – and some 75% of that figure is accounted for by vehicle air conditioning.

“In ten years’ time, when the motor industry has met its phase-out target, HFCs will account for less than 0.5% of greenhouse gas emissions.”

Meanwhile the refrigeration and air conditioning sector is putting its own house in order so as to minimise the environmental impact of continued HFC use.

It has embraced the European F-Gas Regulation and encouraged Government to enforce it rigorously, so that professional standards are raised and refrigerant leakage brought under control.

And it is developing further best practice guidance that goes far beyond the mandatory requirements.

“By 2011, the F Gas Regulation will have been in place for only
18 months. This is not a very long period during which to ascertain whether it is having the desired effect, especially in terms of significant reduction in refrigerant leakage,” the position paper points out.

The HVCA and the RAC Group are therefore urging the European powers-that-be to approach the review process with an open mind – and to consider very carefully the relative pros and cons before rushing to judgement on the HFC issue.

For further information, please contact Gareth Keller on 020 7313 4937 (gkeller@hvca.org.uk) or Mark Oakes on 020 7313 4935 (moakes@hvca.org.uk).

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HVCA JOINS SAFETY SCHEMES IN PROCUREMENT FORUM

The rigour of its independent member inspection and assessment regime has allowed the HVCA to achieve membership of the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) Forum.

The key element common to members of the SSIP Forum – which was initially established, with the endorsement of the Government and the Health and Safety Executive, by four of the UK’s leading operators of approved contractor schemes – is that their schemes ensure compliance with the core criteria for health and safety competence contained in the Approved Code of Practice to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

“As a result, SSIP Forum members have agreed to recognise each other’s schemes – so that, when firms have pre-qualified under one scheme, they automatically pre-qualify under another SSIP scheme, and are ‘deemed to satisfy’ the health and safety requirements of all SSIP schemes, ” Bob Towse, head of the HVCA’s Technical and Safety Department, explained.

Mr Towse added that the Association had been concerned for some time about the proliferation of discrete health and safety accreditation schemes, and the lack of mutual recognition that existed between them.

“In our view, the formation and growth of the SSIP Forum represents very significant progress in this regard.”

Importantly, the development will enable HVCA member companies automatically to satisfy the health and safety tender requirements of the increasing number of clients who are limiting their use of approved contractor schemes to those operated by members of the SSIP Forum.

In addition to the HVCA, the growing membership of the SSIP Forum membership includes Constructionline, the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), Exor Management Services and the National House Building Council.


For further information, please contact Bob Towse on 020 7313 4928 (btowse@hvca.og.uk) or Roderick Pettigrew on 020 7313 4917 (rpettigrew@hvca.org.uk).

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STRATEGIC PLAN ADDRESSES CORE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Over the past six months, the officers, members of Council and senior staff of the Association have been engaged in a wide-ranging exercise designed to update the HVCA Strategic Plan – in particular, to take into account the greatly changed economic circumstances in which members are now operating, and in which they are likely to continue to operate for some time to come.

The resulting document – which is entitled Responding to Change and which has received the unanimous endorsement of the Council of the HVCA – will provide an overall structure for the Association’s efforts, initiatives and activities over the next three years.

In particular, the document underlines the Association’s commitment to equipping its members to operate profitably, to improving the commercial building services engineering environment, and to promoting competence and professionalism across the sector.

“To deliver on these commitments, the HVCA’s efforts on behalf of its members will be focused over the next three years on four keys areas of action,” deputy chief executive Roderick Pettigrew explained.

These four areas are: commercial recovery and risk management; employment relations and lifelong learning; environment, sustainability and energy use; and standards, competence and qualification.

“To remain effective, every industry organisations must constantly review and re-examine its strategies, initiatives and activities – and must be prepared to re-cast or fine-tune them in line with member needs,” Mr Pettigrew added.

“The Responding to Change document is the result of just such a rigorous and, I believe, timely procedure.”

To downloaded a pdf of the Responding to Change document click here.

For further information, please contact Roderick Pettigrew on 020 7313 4917 (rpettigrew@hvca.org.uk) or Jack McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk).

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Hascom Contract Provides Free Member Service

HVCA has finalised an agreement with health and safety consultancy Hascom Network Ltd, whereby all Association members now have free access to a range of health and safety advisory services.

The free-of-charge services that are being made available to HVCA members with immediate effect are:

Additional Hascom services also available to HVCA members at discounted rates include: premises and site audits; accident investigations; training provision; expert witness support; and the health and safety evaluation
of sub-contractors.

Hascom Network has extensive experience in working with clients in the construction, archaeology, leisure, manufacturing and public sectors, in addition to the mechanical and electrical contracting industry.

“Compliance with ever more complex health and safety legislation is an issue which HVCA members take very seriously indeed,” commented Bob Towse, head of the Association’s Technical and Safety Department.

“The arrangement we have put in place with Hascom provides them with an additional source of expert advice, guidance and support that will be of benefit not only within their own organisation, but also to their customers and clients.”

Members will find contact details in the Members' area of the website under Health and Safety

Further information from Bob Towse on 020 7313 4928 (btowse@hvca.org.uk).

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Ventilation Hygiene Chairmans Clean Sweep

Gary Nicholls, chairman of the Ventilation Hygiene Branch of the HVCA Service and Facilities Group, is celebrating his company’s achievement of a “full house” of international quality accreditations.

For Essex-based Swiftclean – of which Mr Nicholls is founder and managing director – has achieved certification under the international ISO 14001 environmental, ISO 9001 quality management and OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety standards.

This impressive triple achievement was marked by a special presentation – made at Esca House, the HVCA’s west London headquarters – by Roderick Pettigrew, deputy chief executive of the Association.

“At a time when many companies are looking to make cuts, it is refreshing to see Swiftclean making such a substantial commitment to quality,” said Mr Pettigrew.

“It is now more important than ever that businesses should develop a competitive edge by investing in future expansion for when the markets recover.”

Ventilation hygiene and legionella control specialist Swiftclean Ltd, which has its head office in Southend on Sea, has grown from modest beginnings 27 years ago to become a profitable, £4m turnover business employing over 80 people.

“There is no doubt that recent changes in legislation have helped us expand,” said Mr Nicholls, who is currently serving a second term as chairman of the HVCA’s Ventilation Hygiene Group Branch.

“The new fire safety order and a number of high-profile legionella outbreaks and prosecutions have prompted many building operators to seek specialist expertise from companies like ours.”


Gary NichollsGary Nicholls (left) receives his suite of three international certificates from HVCA deputy chief executive Roderick Pettigrew.

For further information, please contact Gareth Keller on 020 7313 4937 (gkeller@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

 

 

 

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HVCA Sponsored Competition Names First Winner


John Clark has been confirmed as the first ever SkillPIPE champion, having secured the gold award in the national skills competition organised by SummitSkills – the sector skills council for building services engineering – and sponsored by HVCA.

John competed against four other finalists in a series of practical tests held at Leeds College over three challenging days and based on real-life work situations.

Marks were awarded for the candidates’ ability to complete an installation to an international competition standard, with due consideration for health, safety and the environment.

“It is fantastic to have been part of SkillPIPE,” John commented on learning of his victory.

“The level of competition was high, so I am delighted to have won.

“I have really enjoyed working with the other guys. It has been great to have their support.”

“The SkillPIPE category was introduced to our suite of SkillM&E competitions to offer heating and ventilating engineers the opportunity to showcase their skills and talent,” explained Neil Collishaw, head of skills competitions and awards at SummitSkills.

“The five finalists were a credit to the industry, their employers and their colleges – and proved that they have the drive and ability to succeed.”

Winner of the silver SkillPIPE award was 25-year-old Nick Lester, who is employed by national contractor Shepherd Engineering Services and also trained at Leeds College of Building.

The bronze award went to 23-year-old Ian Tattersall of Thermal Transfer and Manchester College.

All three winners were awarded a certificate, a medallion and a cash prize, as well as additional prizes donated by Monument Tools and Durapipe UK.

The SkillPIPE contest is part of SkillM&E – which consists of four parallel skills competitions that are all organised by SummitSkills.

In addition to the premier sponsorship provided by HVCA, SkillPIPE was supported by BSS, Durapipe UK, Grundfos Pumps, Monument Tools, UK Skills, City & Guilds and Leeds College of Building.

Click here for further information on the SkillM&E competitions.

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Ta Forum Initiative Encourages Quality Standards


HVCA has signed up to a Code of Practice which has been developed by the Confederation of British Industry’s Trade Association Forum to promote best practice amongst its members, and so raise their overall quality and effectiveness.

According to TA Forum chairman Andrew Large, the time is right for his organisation to take a more active role in benchmarking the activities of trade associations.

“The adoption of a Code of Practice should also demonstrate to Government, parliamentarians, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders that TA Forum members are prepared to set standards for the quality of their work – and be judged by them,” Mr Large insisted.

“The common goal is to enhance the credibility of the TA Forum and its members when seeking to influence policy in the UK, Europe and elsewhere.”

Commenting on the HVCA’s decision to sign up to the Code of Practice, chief executive Robert Higgs confirmed that the Association was a “long-standing and enthusiastic” member of the CBI – and of the TA Forum since its formation in 1997.

“As the premier trade association representing mechanical services contractors, HVCA has been instrumental in raising and maintaining standards across construction and building services engineering.

“It is entirely appropriate, therefore, that it should be equally committed to the promotion of quality across the trade association sector itself.”

The TA Forum Code of Practice aims to set out the ethical and other standards which a modern trade association should apply to its operations, along with the nature of the services it should provide.

Click here to download a pdf of the TA Forum Code of Practice.

For further information, please contact Roderick Pettigrew on 020 7313 4917 (rpettigrew@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

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Graham Manly succeeds to HVCA Presidency

Graham Manly has been elected president of the HVCA for 2009/10. Following his completion of a Higher National Diploma in environmental engineering at the National College of Heating, Ventilating, Refrigeration and Fan Engineering (now part of London South Bank University), Mr Manly began his career in building services engineering with J Jeffreys, where he became a senior design engineer.

In 1972, he joined mechanical services contractor A G Manly & Co, was appointed contracts director in 1977 and managing director in 1982. The company having been acquired by Gratte Brothers Group in 2000, he is currently business development manager of the group, with special responsibility for technical innovation.

He is a chartered engineer, a fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and a member of the Institute of Refrigeration.

Graham Manly served as chairman of the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) in 1991/93 and as president of CIBSE in 2004/05. He managed the C60 project to reduce the carbon footprint of the institution’s head office by 60% within five years.

He has been an HVCA-nominated director of SummitSkills, sector skills council for building services engineering, since its formation in 2003.

Within HVCA, he has been a member of the Technical Committee – of which he was chairman for ten years – since 1973, and served on the Council of the Association from 1986 to 1995.

Mr Manly became president elect of the HVCA in July 2008. He succeeded to the presidency of the Association at its annual general meeting on 23 July 2009.

At the same meeting, Martin Burton of H W Sladden Commercial Ltd, based in Canterbury, became HVCA president elect, and Bob Shelley of Sharp & Howse Ltd, Oxford, was elected vice president.

Retiring president Gareth Vaughan, of E Poppleton & Son Ltd of Colwyn Bay, will serve during 2009/10 as immediate past president.

For further information, please contact Jack McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

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Visitor Programme Showcases Skills Contest

HVCA is the premier sponsor for the next three years of the SkillPIPE competition, which is organised by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building services engineering.

The SKILLpipe concept has been developed to promote standards and skills across the pipe-fitting sector, and represents one of four parallel activities accommodated under the overarching SkillM&E banner – the others being SkillELECTRIC, SkillFRIDGE and SkillPLUMB.

Contestants undertake a series of practical tests based on real-life work situations that are designed to showcase their abilities and highlight the expertise they have gained during their career to date.

There are four stages to the SkillPIPE process. During stage 1, colleges and employers identify suitable candidates and register their competitors. Stage 2 consists of the assessment of the “underpinning knowledge and practical appreciation” of all nominated nominees. In stage 3, the assessed candidates compete in a national semi-final. Stage 4 sees the top candidates from the semi-final competing in the UK final.

The winner may also have the chance to compete, along with other UK finalists, at the next WorldSkills, which will take place in London in 2011.

SummitSkills sums up the benefits for employers of participation in SkillPIPE as enhancing the reputation of their business, improving the skills of their workforce and instilling pride in the company and ambition in individual employees.

The 2009 SkillPIPE final is taking place at the Leeds College of Building – where a visitor programme has been arranged for Wednesday 30 September to allow employers, students, college representatives and other interested parties to view the proceedings.

Click here for further details of the SkillPIPE visitor programme.

Click here for further information on the SkillM&E competitions.

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President Criticises ‘Non-Compliance Culture’

Widespread non-compliance with legislation designed to address the twin challenges of sustainability and carbon reduction is already jeopardising the nation’s ability to meet its long-term environmental targets, according to HVCA president Graham Manly.

“Non-compliance is becoming a culture – owing to lack of enforcement, the paltry penalties being imposed, and the absence of perceived benefit,” Mr Manly told his audience at the Association’s Annual Luncheon, which took place yesterday at the Tower of London.

This problem is being compounded by the proliferation of certification schemes and bodies – especially in relation to the “new technologies” – which is requiring many companies to undergo multiple accreditation “at considerable cost in both time and money”.

Mr Manly added that the “final negative” was that, as a direct result of competition between certification bodies, the maintenance of common criteria was being compromised.

“The certification of people not fully competent, and the pressure to accept the lowest charges for energy assessments, are producing valueless energy performance certificates (EPCs), especially for home-owners, and will also lead to superficial air conditioning inspections.”

It is little wonder, then, that clients remain sceptical about the need for compliance.

Of course, enforcement is only part of the solution – but, without it, there is no chance at all of making the regulations stick.

“Whatever reservation we may have had about CORGI – especially in its latter years – the fact remains that it was the rigour and vigilance of its inspection arrangements, along with the sanctions that could be imposed in the event of non-compliance, that ensured the effectiveness of the regime,” the president pointed out.

But can the same be said about Part L of the Building Regulations? Or energy performance certificates? Or mandatory air conditioning inspections?

“The anecdotal evidence provided by our members – along with the frankly half-hearted responses from ministers and officials – suggest the answer in most cases is a resounding NO,” Mr Manly insisted.

Yet poor work carried out by an incompetent “cowboy” can do more damage to the carbon reduction agenda – and to the building services engineering industry – than if the work had not been undertaken in the first place.

If we are really determined to secure our future, we must invest wisely – thus ensuring that personal, corporate and public expenditure achieved its objectives.

“This outcome will require practical and effective regulation, appropriate and achievable standards, a fully competent workforce – and a robust certification scheme that gives customers confidence as well as value," the president concluded.


For further information, please contact Jack McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

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Alliance provides platform for positive action

The Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance is providing a valuable forum for the review of key workforce issues – and an effective platform for the initiation of positive action – jointly by contractors and their principal manpower providers.

This was the overall message to derive from the first annual general meeting of the alliance, which took place in London earlier this month.

In his introduction to the proceedings, independent chairman Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan confirmed that, in its first year of existence, the organisation had created a "collaborative environment" in which matters of mutual interest and concern could be discussed and debated.

He added that, while growth had been modest – with 15 firms having so far met the rigorous entry criteria – he was confident that, by the same time next year, further key labour providers would have been convinced of the benefits of signing up, and would be in a position to make the “key commitments” demanded by alliance membership.

Peter Rimmer, head of employment affairs at HVCA – which established the alliance in the spring of last year and continues to provide strategic leadership and administrative support – pointed out that, in the current recession, every company had to increase its efficiency, re-examine its working practices and streamline its operations.

“Engagement with the Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance can do a great deal to assist contractors in fine-tuning their policies and strategies in the important areas of vocational training and manpower deployment and development,” Mr Rimmer explained.

“Equally importantly, it allows senior employment agency personnel more fully to understand the short, medium and long-term business requirements of their customer base.”

The annual general meeting culminated in presentation of membership certificates to two new alliance members: Watford-based Fast Track Management Services (London) Ltd; and Rullion Alltrades Ltd of Altrincham, Cheshire.

During a business programme that immediately followed the meeting, presentations were made on: the implementation into the UK of the European Agency Workers Directive; the SummitSkills Equivalence Framework for holders of overseas qualifications; and Engineering Services SKILLcard, the recognised personnel registration scheme for the mechanical services sector.

For further information, contact Peter Rimmer on 020 7313 4913 (primmer@hvca.org.uk)

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Carbon reduction delivers both opportunities and threats

The building services engineering sector has a great deal to gain from the increasing global commitment to carbon reduction and energy conservation, according to HVCA president Graham Manly.

In his inaugural address to the annual general meeting of the Association, Mr Manly reminded his audience that energy supplies could no longer be taken for granted.

“Not only are many energy sources insecure, but legislation is demanding that we reduce demand or pay up,” said the president.

“It will not be very long before the Carbon Reduction Commitment is extended to all significant businesses – and our clients will expect us to be able to help them reduce their carbon footprint.

“We must ensure that we are up to the task.”

Mr Manly went on to acknowledge that demand for many “renewable technologies” had been limited to date, owing to increased costs, long payback periods and lack of both incentives and availability.

“However, last year, France and Germany combined installed 35 times as many heat pumps and 23 times as many solar panels as we did,” he pointed out – adding that the next three years would see very significant changes in the UK market.

“And it will not be long before replacing, on a like-for-like basis, the two million gas boilers we currently install every year will not be an option,” the president warned.

Contractors must therefore understand the renewable technologies and the legislation surrounding them, must acquire the skills they need to design, install and maintain them, and must be able to provide clients with informed and authoritative advice and guidance.

“If we do not do this, not only will inappropriate systems be installed, but others will come along and take our business away from us,” Mr Manly concluded.

For further information, please contact Jack McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

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Householder Service Promotes Energy Saving

HVCA has launched the Heating Helpline to promote energy efficiency in the home and to raise the profile of members active in the residential marketplace.

"The Heating Helpline is a free service designed to provide expert guidance on every aspect of energy-efficient heating – and cooling – in the home," chief executive Robert Higgs explained.

Householders are able to access free, impartial advice, either by ringing 0800 840 4069, or by visiting the HVCA Heating Helpline website at www.heatinghelpline.org.uk.

The initiative is being supported by the publication of an authoritative information booklet entitled Your Guide to Home Heating, which is being made available free to consumers, in hard-copy format and as a download from the website.

Subjects covered include energy saving, gas safety, boiler maintenance, renewable technologies and how to avoid "rogue traders" – along with an essential contacts list and a useful "jargon-busting" glossary of heating and energy efficiency terms.

The Heating Helpline will be the subject of a consumer e-marketing and press publicity campaign during the forthcoming heating season.

For further information, contact Graeme Craig on 020 7313 4936 (gcraig@hvca.org.uk).

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DEFRA Names Mandatory Certification Body

Legislation designed to implement the EU F Gas Regulation into Great Britain came into force on 9 March 2009, requiring mandatory certification for businesses that carry out the installation, service and/or maintenance of stationary refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump systems and equipment.

Similar legislation is anticipated shortly for Northern Ireland. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has indicated that the scheme will be operated by REFCOM, which was established by the HVCA, on a voluntary basis, in 1994.

In order to ensure impartiality, the new mandatory scheme will be independent of HVCA’s continuing voluntary arrangement. Under the new regime – which will be enforced by local authorities – all relevant businesses, including those already in REFCOM membership, must obtain an interim certificate by 4 July 2009. Interim certificates will remain valid for up to two years – until 3 July 2011 – after which full certificates will be required.

Interim certificates can be issued only to those businesses whose in-scope engineering personnel already hold one of the existing refrigerant handling qualifications – City & Guilds 2078 or CITB Safe Handling of Refrigerants – or which can provide evidence of an in-house qualification, including interim personnel certification issued by the Domestic Appliance Services Association.

Full certificates are also already available for those businesses whose in-scope personnel have achieved one of the new qualifications – ie City & Guilds 2079 or CITB J11 Safe Handling of Refrigerants. REFCOM and DEFRA are in the process of putting in place a Memorandum of Understanding, on finalisation of which a new REFCOM website will be launched which will allow online interim and full certification to be undertaken.

REFCOM’s own advice line will also become available shortly. For further guidance in the meantime, click here to visit the F Gas Support Team area of the DEFRA website.

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HCA Welcomes End to European Talks

HVCA has welcomed the recent breakdown of discussions on a review of the European Working Time Directive which, had they continued, could have resulted in the abolition of the UK "opt-out".

The opt-out allows individual workers to enter into an agreement with their employers which allows them to work more than the average 48 hours per week stipulated by the directive.

Following the decision of the European Parliament in December of last year that the opt-out should be abolished – and that all "on-call" time should be categorised as working time – a conciliation process was set in train, involving the Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Ministers.

This process finally broke down on 28 April this year, without agreement having been reached on the proposed changes to the existing directive.

"This has been a long-running saga, but when the European Parliament voted last December in support of further restrictions on working time, it was clear that the crunch was approaching," said Peter Rimmer, HVCA head of employment affairs.

He added that the proposed provisions regarding "on-call" time would have been especially onerous for service and maintenance specialists and providers of facilities services.

"I am convinced that the fact that the Association wrote to all the MEPs involved in the recent conciliation discussions – and to the permanent representatives of all 27 EU member states – has been very influential in achieving this very satisfactory outcome.

"It means that the existing Working Time Directive is unchanged and, in particular, that the opt-out remains intact," Mr Rimmer confirmed.

An HVCA member survey carried out in 2003 – when the Commission began its review of the Working Time Directive – revealed that:

In October 2003, the findings of this survey were presented to key decision-makers in the European Parliament and the European Commission – and to the permanent representatives of a number of individual EU member states – as part of an initiative co-ordinated by HVCA on behalf of a number of organisations representing the construction and building services engineering sectors.

Direct discussions also took place in November 2004 between HVCA and Alejandro Cercas, the Spanish MEP responsible for working time issues in the European Parliament.

Mr Rimmer went on confirm that the Association would continue to monitor developments and, in particular, any further proposals that might emerge from the European Commission.

For further information, contact Peter Rimmer on 020 7313 4913 (primmer@hvca.org.uk)

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Construction Sector Must Adapt to Survive"

A ground-breaking report on the construction sector is providing an "agenda for action" that could help Government to improve its procurement procedures and the industry to ensure that its working practices are truly world-class.

The report which has been published by the House of Commons Business and Enterprise Select Committee picks up many of the concepts, and many of the solutions, which the specialist engineering sector has been developing and promoting for more than a decade, according to HVCA president Gareth Vaughan.

In addition to project bank accounts “which are already gaining favour with a number of clients “ these include the early involvement of the supply chain in the procurement process and an end to the use of retention clauses in public sector contracts, Mr Vaughan told his audience at the HVCA President's Luncheon, which was held at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London on Thursday 11 September.

The over-riding message was that positive action was required if best practice was to be implemented throughout the construction sector, the president insisted.

Positive action not just from Government, but also from professionals, equipment suppliers, specifiers and the contracting industry itself. History had taught that 'doing today what we did yesterday' was simply not good enough and that all industries, including ours, must adapt to survive, must innovate to prosper

Mr Vaughan went on to refer to the Associations commitment to the promotion of positive reform that would encourage higher standards, fairer working practices, increased quality and greener solutions.
I believe we now have an opportunity to drive forward such reform, to change for the better the way we do business, the president insisted.

And he urged the construction industry to offer its enthusiastic backing to the select committee's proposals and Government to incorporate them without delay into its procurement strategies. During his address, Gareth Vaughan also referred to the series of reforming initiatives that had derived from the construction industry report published by Sir Michael Latham back in 1994 and to the Government review of the contracts legislation contained in Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

I am pleased to be able to confirm that amendments to the legislation will almost certainly be introduced during the course of the next Parliament, said the president. And I am even more pleased that the proposals appear to include many of the measures for which the HVCA and the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group have long been campaigning.

For further information, please contact Jack McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

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HSE Urged to Step Up Enforcement

Concern at the apparent reduction in resources being allocated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to the enforcement of health and safety legislation has been expressed by Bob Towse, head of the HVCA's Technical and Safety Department.

Mr Towse was speaking in the light of the higher penalties being introduced by the new Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 for employers who put their workforce at risk.

The Act raises the maximum penalties that can be imposed in the lower courts for most health and safety offences from 5,000 to 20,000, and makes imprisonment an option for a wider range of offences, according to Lord McKenzie, minister at the Department for Work and Pensions.

The changes will ensure that sentences can be set at a level that will deal with businesses that do not take their health and safety management responsibilities seriously, and will further encourage employers and others to comply with the law, the minister added.

"The Act sends an important message to those who flout the law," said Judith Hackitt, chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), adding that good employers and good managers had nothing to fear from it.

"I want to remind businesses that there are no changes to their existing legal duties, and that safeguards are in place to ensure that the new powers will be used sensibly and proportionately," Ms Hackitt insisted.

However, Mr Towse said that, while higher fines would no doubt make some positive difference to compliance levels, the HVCA "would like to see a greater degree of enforcement and policing by the HSE".

"According to our members, there used to be many more unannounced visits to construction sites by HSE officials than there are today," he pointed out.

He also expressed his concern that the HSE seemed to interpret their role as" swooping in and slapping the wrists of businesses following an incident, regardless of whose fault it was".

"There is a limit to how much business can do, even in areas such as training," said Mr Towse. "In certain cases, the HSE should instead consider taking action against the site operatives concerned."

The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008, which amends Section 33 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, comes into force in January next year.

For further information, contact Bob Towse at HVCA on 020 7313 4928 (btowse@hvca.org.uk), or Simon French at Water Hygiene Training Ltd on 07771 560980 (simon.french@whtlimited.com)

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Challenge to Clients on Payment Policies

In an effort to improve payment security throughout the construction industry, HVCA members are being urged to seek an undertaking from their public sector clients that they will pay their suppliers within the ten-day period stipulated by Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).

In a statement made in the House of Lords on 22 October, Lord Mandelson made it clear that Central Government will aim to pay its suppliers as soon as possible, and within 10 days at the latest.

And he went on to confirm that the regional development agencies had already committed to the same timetable, and that a similar policy was being adopted by other Government agencies.

"Yesterday, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government wrote to the Local Government Association, and the chief executive of the National Health Service wrote to the NHS trusts, asking these public bodies to review their payment performance and follow Central Government's lead, Lord Mandelson explained.

"The Mandelson statement provides members with an ideal opportunity to challenge the payment practices adopted by their clients across the public sector, insisted HVCA vice president Martin Burton.

Mr Burton added that, whether they were working directly for the client or as a sub-contractor, members should be highlighting the secretary of state's message to their paymasters " and asking whether they were amending their payment policies as a result.

In their communications with clients, members should:

Members are requested to keep the Association informed of the actions they take and the responses they receive from clients, so that these can be fed back to the secretary of state and the appropriate BERR officials.

For further information, contact Rob Driscoll on 020 7313 4918 (rdriscoll@hvca.org.uk).

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President Highlights Professionalism

The time is right for HVCA members to emphasise the very positive contribution they make to life in the first decade of the 21st century, according to Gareth Vaughan, president of the Association for 2008/09.

Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Association, Mr Vaughan pointed out that the growing demand for a sustainable built environment for low and zero-carbon technologies and renewable energy sources was contributing hugely to our status as highly qualified professionals, capable of original thinking and genuine innovation.

Take also the increasing onus being placed on contractors to ensure that buildings comply with ever-stricter rules and regulations, and ever-higher quality standards," the president continued.

And take the increasing involvement of the engineering services sector in the overall design of today's built environment.

"These developments mean that we are increasingly being seen as professionals who are expert in the very latest sustainable solutions and who are capable of designing, installing and maintaining systems that combine maximum performance and energy efficiency with the smallest of carbon footprints and the minimum of damage to the environment.

He went on to explain that the HVCA was already committed to the development of skills and competences across the sector. But I believe that the time is also right for us to go one step further by insisting that the era in which we are living might accurately be described as the Age of the Engineer" said the president.

Surely at no other time in history had there been so many practical issues to face, so many practical problems to solve and so many practical difficulties to overcome, simply to ensure the long-term health and safety of the planet.

We can all make a difference in a global context by doing our jobs to the very best of our ability, and by using our knowledge, and our expertise, for the good of all, Mr Vaughan concluded.

For further information, please contact Jack McDavid on 020 7313 4909 (jmcdavid@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

Officers 2008/9

The presidential team for 2008/09 (left to right): Graham Manly, president elect; Gareth Vaughan, president; John Miller, immediate past president; and Robert Higgs OBE, chief executive.

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HVCA Supports CO Awareness Campaign

logo co awarenessHVCA has joined a major campaign, organised by the Carbon Monoxide Consumer Awareness Alliance (COCAA), aimed at raising awareness among consumers of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO).

The national TV and press campaign will alert householders and landlords to the risk of CO poisoning caused by faulty gas appliances.

It will also highlight the need to check household appliances regularly, and the wisdom of installing a CO alarm.

There are around 30 confirmed deaths every year from CO poisoning, but the real figure could be much higher as the early symptoms are similar to those of illnesses such as influenza, said Bob Towse, head of technical and safety at the HVCA.

Many of these fatalities could be avoided if appliances burning gas, oil or solid fuel were checked annually by qualified installers.

According to research carried out by COCAA, only half of those questioned claimed to have arranged such checks suggesting that up to 12 million households may be at risk.

COCAA which is administrated by the gas safety watchdog CORGI was set up in response to recommendations contained in a government report entitled Shouting About a Silent Killer: Raising Carbon Monoxide Awareness, which was published in September 2006.

Its membership comprises the major energy retailers, representatives across all fuel types, victim support charities and manufacturers of CO alarms.

Details of the campaign which is fronted by Kirstie Allsopp of Channel 4's Location, Location, Location programme are available at http://www.co-bealarmed.co.uk. Copies of the COCAA report on research into CO awareness can also be downloaded.

For further information, contact Graeme Craig on 020 7313 4936 (gcraig@hvca.org.uk) or Brigitte Faubert on 020 7313 4911 (bfaubert@hvca.org.uk).

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HVCA Achieves ISO 9001 Certification

HVCA has achieved ISO 9001:2000 quality assurance certification in respect of its membership handling and review processes.

Association secretary Tony Godby explained that certification had initially been sought in support of the HVCA's role as a TrustMark scheme operator.

"However, this was subsequently widened to include all of the procedures surrounding the operation of the HVCA independent member inspection and assessment regime," said Mr Godby.

And he added that the ISO quality management assessment which was made in the context of the overall HVCA business plan encompassed staffing procedures and personnel checks, resource management processes and a range of ancillary services provided by the Association's Membership Department.

HVCA was one of the first organisations to be appointed a scheme operator under the Government-inspired TrustMark initiative, which is designed to help householders to ensure that the tradespeople they employ are reliable, competent and capable of providing a quality service at a fair price.

All HVCA member companies are subject to third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability every three years.

For further information, contact Tony Godby on 020 7313 4903 (tgodby@hvca.org.uk)

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Members Gain Access to Business E-Newsletter

HVCA members are to receive a free subscription worth 200 a year to Inside Track, a monthly electronic newsletter designed to provide the critical information required to operate a successful business within building services engineering.

Delivered electronically and editorially independent, Inside Track will:

Specific areas of coverage will include: UK and European regulation and legislation; vocational education and training arrangements and funding; new and emerging technologies; materials and energy prices; currency fluctuations; labour costs and availability; economic trends and forecasts; industry skills and workload statistics; and the full range of initiatives surrounding the promotion of sustainability across the built environment.

The service which is due to launch on 1 October will be available to all new and existing Association members, and with no restriction on the number of individual users in each organisation.

For further information, contact Rowan Crowley at rowancrowley@yahoo.co.uk

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Martin Burton Elected Vice President

Martin Burton, commercial director of Canterbury-based H W Sladden Commercial Ltd, was elected HVCA vice president for 2008/09 at a special general meeting of the Association held on Thursday 11 September 2008.

Mr Burton has been a member of the Council of the HVCA since 2005 and, last year, became chairman of its Commercial and Contractual Committee.

He is currently serving a second term as chairman of the HVCA South East Regional Committee, and was chairman of the Kent Regional Branch from 2002 to 2005. He has represented HVCA on the board of the Specialist Engineering Contractors Group since 2006.

Martin Burton's election completes the line-up of HVCA officers for 2008/09, which also comprises president Gareth Vaughan, president elect Graham Manly and immediate past president John Miller.

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Employment Agency Alliance Launched

An organisation designed to improve and maintain professional standards among employment agencies has been launched by the HVCA.

The Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance represents a voluntary grouping of employment agencies that supply skilled personnel to contractors across building services engineering.

To qualify for membership, an agency must be able to demonstrate its compliance with the recognised industry standards contained in the Alliance's Key Commitments.

These will be used to establish whether an organisation is operating on a sound commercial footing, is appropriately regulated, and displays a genuine commitment to the sector.

To ensure compliance with the Key Commitments, agencies seeking Alliance membership must submit to a business audit carried out by BM TRADA Certification.

This process will be repeated every three years, with an annual compliance inspection taking place in each intervening year.

“Formation of the Alliance recognises the increasingly important role that employment agencies are playing in the supply chain along with a need for clear standards by which their performance can be judged,” explained Peter Rimmer, head of the HVCA's Employment Affairs Department.

“It will also facilitate strategic dialogue between contractors and their manpower suppliers on a range of issues including education and training, health and safety, workforce competence and legislation.”

Independent chairman of the Alliance is former MP and Labour peer Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan.

“There was a time when the very existence of employment agencies and the employment of agency workers was viewed with much suspicion,” Lord O'Neill acknowledged.

In these competitive times, however, many building services engineering contractors had found it increasingly difficult to ensure that the skills and competences of their permanent employees always matched their clients requirements.

“As a result, agencies have become a familiar and, in many cases, a much-valued feature of the overall employment landscape, as well as a significant provider of skilled labour.

“It is logical, therefore, that the industry's focus should have turned away from the wholesale discouragement of employment agency activity and towards differentiating between their relative merits.

“The purpose of the Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance is to assist in just such differentiation,” Lord O'Neill concluded.

Three agencies have already achieved Alliance membership, following a series of pilot audits carried out in the second half of 2007. They are: the Capital Group; Oracle Global Resourcing Ltd; and Phoenix Resourcing Services Ltd.

The launch of the Building Services Engineering Employment Agency Alliance took place at the Tower of London on Tuesday 15 April 2008.

Copies of the Alliance's Key Commitments document can be downloaded from the Alliance website at www.agencyalliance.co.uk.

For further information, contact John Meadley on 020 7313 4914 (jmeadley@hvca.org.uk).

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RAC Group Encourages Innovation

The HVCA Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Group has agreed to sponsor a category in the Cooling Industry Awards 2008, organised by Refrigeration and Air Conditioning magazine.

Since their inception in 2003, the Cooling Industry Awards have done a very great deal to "identify and reward and so encourage innovation and environmental responsibility across the building services engineering sector, commented group chairman Karen Leeder.

"It is this belief coupled with a long-established commitment to quality and professionalism in all their aspects that has led the RAC Group to sponsor a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractor of the Year category as part of this year's awards activity.

Nominations are being invited from refrigeration and air conditioning contractors and installers that can demonstrate significant progress in the development and adoption of environmentally friendlier solutions and working practices.

Particular weight will be given by the judges to initiatives and developments for which a proven case can be made that they are both good for the environment and make business sense.

For further information and entry details, visit the Cooling Industry Awards website at www.coolingindustryawards.com.

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Government Commits to Legislation

The Specialist Engineering Contractors (SEC) Group has expressed its delight at the announcement that amendments to the construction contracts legislation contained in Part II of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 2006 will be included in the Government's legislative programme for the next parliamentary session.

"This represents the climax of over seven years SEC Group lobbying for enhancements to the current legislation," said SEC Group chairman Trevor Hursthouse. We are grateful to construction minister Baroness Vadera and her officials for their help and support."

Mr Hursthouse added that the amendments to the Act which are to be included in the proposed Community Empowerment, Housing and Economic Regeneration Bill are expected to improve payment certainty across construction, reduce adjudication costs and introduce greater equality and fairness for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

SEC Group understands that the proposed legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech on 5 November.

For further information, contact John Nelson on 07921 687301 (contact@secgroup.org.uk).

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Specialist Groups Elect New Chairmen

New chairmen have been elected by three of the HVCA's four specialist groups.

Kevin Talbot of Cranworth Engineering succeeds Barry Pollard of Mansfield Pollard as chairman of the Ductwork Group (DWG).

Mike Staton of Statons succeeds Billy Wilgar of A C Wilgar as chairman of the Heating and Plumbing Services (HAPS) Group.

Karen Leader of Barrier Air Conditioning succeeds Graeme Fox of Specialist Mechanical Services as chairman of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) Group.

New group vice chairmen are Kevin White of Senior Hargreaves (DWG), Robert Smith of RJS Heating (HAPS) and Scott Gleed of Ceilite Air Conditioning (RAC).

Peter Excell of Platinum Maintenance Services and Sue Sharp of Overclean have been re-elected chairman and vice chairman respectively of the Service and Facilities Group (SFG).

Specialist group representatives on the HVCA Council are: Barry Pollard and Kevin Talbot (DWG); Mike Staton and Robert Smith (HAPS); Graeme Fox and Karen Leader (RAC); and Peter Excell and Sue Sharp (SFG).

The 2008 Annual General Meeting and Conference of the HVCA specialist groups took place at Trinity House on London's Tower Hill on Thursday 15 May.

Speakers at the event included Ant Wilson of Faber Maunsell and Iraq War veteran Col Tim Collins OBE.

Col Collins also presented awards to the group's top apprentices: Paul Wharton of E Poppleton & Son (DWG's Harry Hobbs Award); Simon Stafford of Bob Mansfield Heating and Plumbing (HAPS Craft Trainee Award of the Year); Mark Warlock of Macwhirter (RAC's Harry Decker Award); and Christopher Wood of Maracom (SFG's Richard Bostel Service Technician of the Year Award).

In his keynote address, HVCA president John Miller emphasised the importance of the specialist groups to the Association's life and work.

He went on to refer to the talks he and his fellow officers were undertaking with their colleagues in the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), and of the challenge they had set themselves to develop a model for a single organisation to represent all mechanical and electrical contractors.

"You may be interested to learn that, of the vast array of issues on our present agenda, there is one that truly dominates," the president told his audience.

"That is the absolute insistence by all parties to the process that, in any future structure, the interests of specialist and single-discipline companies must continue to be served, and their issues, preoccupations and priorities taken fully into account."

Mr Miller also highlighted some of the key activities undertaken by the groups over the past 12 months, including:

The president concluded by wishing Karen Leader, Mike Staton and Kevin Talbot "happy, successful and rewarding terms of office".

For further information, contact Gareth Keller on 020 7313 4937 (gkeller@hvca.org.uk).

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BEST to Manage Regional Training Groups

New arrangements have been introduced in respect of the Regional Training Groups (RTGs) previously administered by SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building services engineering.

With immediate effect, the operation of the RTGs has been passed to HVCA and its training provider subsidiary Building Engineering Services Training Ltd (BEST).

As a result, BEST will provide the secretariat for each existing RTG, with the assistance of the relevant group chairman and a designated representative of the Association’s Education and Training Department.

BEST will also be contacting local employers in regions not currently served by an RTG, with a view to gauging support for the establishment of a group.

Under the new regime, attendance at RTG meetings will continue to comprise representatives of local employers, colleges and training providers, the sector skills council and other key stakeholders.

The agendas for RTG meetings will be brief and to the point – focusing on the delivery of key information on education and training issues, including Government initiatives, funding opportunities and industry consultations.

Following each RTG meeting, the key issues raised will be incorporated into a discussion document for dissemination to all RTGs nationwide, and to other key organisations within building services engineering A dedicated website is also being planned, in order to allow wider access to RTG activities.

For further information on the Regional Training Groups, and the new secretarial arrangements, contact Sandra Pearse on 020 7313 4929 (spearse@hvca.org.uk).

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Certification Requirements Finalised

The European Commission has finalised its requirements for the training and certification of engineers working on stationary refrigeration and air conditioning equipment under the European Fluorinated Gases (F Gas) Regulation.

While most UK engineers have been assessed in refrigerant handling to the City and Guilds 2078 or the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) standard over the past 15 years, the new F Gas standard will be much more thorough and wide-ranging, according to the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Industry Board (ACRIB).

In future, the regime will include a range of practical assessments, plus a multiple-choice examination.

"This is the first time an assessment specification has been written into a regulation on refrigerant handling,” commented John Ellis, past chairman of ACRIB and past president of the Institute of Refrigeration (IoR). He added that the specification “will be tough to comply with” – but that it would have been considerably more so had it not been for the negotiation that had been carried out at a European level by ACRIB and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Since the requirements were finalised in December of last year, UK industry representatives have been working – mainly through ACRIB, of which HVCA is an active member – with the existing awarding bodies in order to develop a “top-up” qualification for engineers who have already achieved a refrigerant handling qualification.

ACRIB goes on to point out that, given that the existing workforce of up to 40,000 engineers must undergo all or part of the assessment, a key consideration is that the process should be as time-efficient as possible. It is currently anticipated that it will take around four hours for each candidate to be assessed by a qualified assessor – while the level of training needed to ensure that candidates achieve the required standard will depend on their existing qualifications and previous experience.

“ We should not forget that, while there will be a cost to industry, this training will also improve standards of competence throughout the workforce,” said IoR president Jane Gartshore.

Training providers and colleges should be able to register to deliver the new qualifications within the next few weeks, with the first assessments being undertaken in July, when the requirements for personnel certification are due to come into force.

In reality, however, ACRIB expects that it will be “some years” before the whole of the UK workforce has been re-certified.

As a result, the UK Government will issue a consultation this summer on whether to allow up to July 2011 for existing personnel to obtain the new qualification.

In the meantime, the existing C&G 2078 certificate and the CITB equivalent remain the refrigerant handling requirement in respect of both the F Gas and the Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations. The Commission has also agreed outline arrangements for a company registration scheme, whereby firms employing certified personnel must be registered.

This is likely to involve interim certification by July 2009, with full registration being achieved by July 2011. Guidance on all aspects of the F Gas Regulation is available from ACRIB and its member organisations at www.acrib.org.uk.

For further information, contact Gareth Keller on 020 7313 4937 ( gkeller@hvca.org.uk) or Mark Oakes 20 7313 4935 (moakes@hvca.org.uk)

For further information on the REFCOM register of companies competent in the safe handleing of refrigerants, go to refcom.org.uk

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Exclusive Liability Insurance for Members

A new contractor liability insurance scheme is now available to HVCA members on an exclusive basis. The scheme – entitled HVCA Unique – has been developed jointly by HVCA subsidiary Welplan and Oval Insurance Broking Ltd, and currently provides cover in respect of:

Other standard covers will be introduced over time, and terms for more specialised areas – including performance bonds – are available on request.

Key to the new scheme is the recognition that the Association's independent member inspection and assessment regime provides an increased level of risk management that is attractive to insurance underwriters – and can therefore deliver significant savings on premiums.

As part of the HVCA Unique development process, Oval carried out an extensive research and benchmarking exercise, with the result that the scheme has been designed specifically to address the concerns and requirements of HVCA member companies. These include:

HVCA Unique replaces the scheme previously offered by Aon.
For further information on HVCA Unique, contact Bruce Kirton at Welplan on 01768 860410 (b.kirton@welplan.co.uk).

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Improved Training Regime in Northern Ireland

Improved arrangements for apprenticeship training across the hvacr and plumbing sectors will be introduced into Northern Ireland in the autumn of this year.

Key to the revised regime is the establishment of a new organisation, Plumbing and Mechanical Services Training Ltd (PMST).

PMST – a joint venture between HVCA subsidiary Building Engineering Services Training Ltd (BEST) and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation (SNIPEF) – has been appointed by the Department for Employment and Learning to manage apprenticeship programmes leading to Level 2 and 3 National Vocational Qualifications, for an initial three-year period commencing in September.

HVCA believes that the new arrangements – which replace the JobSkills regime and are very similar to a programme that has operated successfully in Scotland for more than 20 years – will better serve the new-entrant training needs of both industries.

In particular, it is anticipated that they will attract more able applicants and so lead to increased achievement rates.

PMST will operate from premises in Ballymena, adjacent to those of the Electrical Training Trust, which plays a similar role across the electrical sector.

Its chairman is Derek Poole, a former chairman of the Building Engineering Services Committee of the Construction Industry Training Board (Northern Ireland).

The HVCA representatives on the board are Paul Kane of Central Group Services Ltd, Albert Hamilton of Sharpe Ventilation Services Ltd, Mark Brenner of BEST and Tony Thomas, the Association’s head of education and training.

For further information, contact PMST on 028 256 66831.

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MP Condemns 'Irresponsible' Behaviour

Video clips showing various incidents of horseplay on construction sites – which are being displayed on the Youtube website and elsewhere on the Internet – were the subject of a debate by the All Party Parliamentary Building Services Engineering Group at its meeting in the House of Commons on 13 March.

"In recent years, the building services engineering sector has enjoyed an excellent – and improving – reputation for its commitment to health and safety," commented the group's chairman, Claire Curtis-Thomas MP.

"Irresponsible and potentially dangerous behaviour such as that portrayed in the video clips has no place in today's construction industry. All steps must therefore be taken – by both employers and employees – to stamp it out." This sentiment was echoed by Bill Belshaw, HVCA past president and chairman of the Heating and Ventilating Joint Safety Committee, membership of which is comprised of representation from employers and from the trade union Amicus.

"I have good reason to believe that the incidents highlighted are by no means representative of the sector, and that, by and large, building services engineering contractors take site safety very seriously, in every situation and at all levels of the workforce," Mr Belshaw insisted.

And he confirmed that the companies involved in the incidents in question were taking appropriately rigorous disciplinary action against the individuals involved.

The All Party Parliamentary Building Services Engineering Group – to which the HVCA provides administrative support – exists to raise awareness of the principal issues involving the sector.

Bob Towse 020 7313 4928 btowse@hvca.org.uk

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HVCA Implements Agenda for Action

As part of its Agenda for Action on Sustainability, the Association has launched the first in a series of free-of-charge publications that will highlight different elements of the sustainability challenge.

The eight-page guide – entitled Sustainability A–Z for H&V – provides definitions of terms used in connection with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning of sustainable buildings.

"A great many terms are bandied about without their users always being entirely clear on their precise meaning," commented David Frise, chairman of the HVCA Sustainability Issues Group. "This new HVCA publication has been designed to ensure that our members – and others in the building services engineering sector – have a ready reference to those terms in most widespread use."

The Sustainability A–Z for H&V was launched at the H&V 07 and RAC 07 events, which took place at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, from Tuesday 27 to Thursday 1 March 2007.

During H&V 07, David Frise and HVCA president elect John Miller led a major debate on how contractors can take full advantage of the business opportunities offered by the rising demand for sustainable design solutions.

At RAC 07, Graeme Fox, chairman of the HVCA Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Group, took part in an in-depth discussion on the safe handling of refrigerants.

Click here to download your copy of Sustainability A–Z for H+V.

For further information, contact Bob Towse on 020 7313 4928 (btowse@hvca.org.uk).

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