Roof overview issue 18 autumn 2013

MINSTER ROOFING & ROOFLINE - BRINGING MORE CHOICE TO THE UK ROOFING MARKET

Minster’s brand new Roofing & Roofline Guide brings together all the biggest and best brands under one roof.

200 fully illustrated pages listing thousands of products. All backed by Minster’s industry knowledge, exceptional customer service and daily deliveries.

Email [email protected] or contact the Crawley branch on 01342 710 640 or the Luton team on 01582 813700 to get your copy.

ROOFOVERVIEW

The voice of roof training

THE magazine about your roof training groups, leading federations and key industry figures

Issue 18 Autumn 2013

Asbestos: the training truths

The importance of PPE

The importance New seat boosts safety for slaters

Asbestos: the NFRC’s Fringe benefits

. . . plus much more!

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ROOF OVERVIEW

www.rooftraining.co.uk Issue 18 Autumn 2013 ROOF OVERVIEW

Welcome to our Autumn Issue of Roof Overview and the start of the annual general meeting season for many

organisations, including the Institute of Roofing (see below), which never fails to impress with its original choice of venues.

Featured on our front cover is specialist roofing distributor Minster Roofing & Roofline’s all-encompassing product guide, the only resource of its kind available to those working in the UK roofing industry. This recently-launched, comprehensive guide features over 4,000 products, representing all the major brands. Reference sections on building regulations and training opportunities complete this indispensable publication. Dedicated to providing a one-stop reference for every roofer’s needs, the fully illustrated guide is divided into key sections covering pitch and flat roofing; roofline and rainwater; trusses and ventilation and renewable

energy, plus many more. As well as training news, this issue contains a

number of new products on the market which are designed to make roofing simpler and above all, safer. And while on the subject of safety, ignoring working at height regulations can have devastating consequences for everyone concerned – be warned by the story on page 10.

As always, thank you for your interest and support and we look forward to more of your news in the coming months.

Editor’s view

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the pages of Roof Overview. However, the publisher cannot accept liability for any inaccuracies contained herein. In addition, the views and opinions expressed in Roof Overview do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Featured on our front cover is specialist

MINSTER ROOFING & ROOFLINE - BRINGING MORE CHOICE

TO THE UK ROOFING MARKET

Minster’s brand new

Roofing & Roofline Guide

brings together all the biggest

and best brands under one roof.

200 fully illustrated pages listing

thousands of products. All backed by

Minster’s industry knowledge, exceptional

customer service and daily deliveries.

Email [email protected] or

contact the Crawley branch on 01342 710 640 or

the Luton team on 01582 813700 to get your copy.

ROOF

OVERVIEWThe voice of roof training

THE magazine about your roof training groups, leading federations and key industry figures

Issue 18

Autumn 2013

Asbestos: the

training truthsThe importance

of PPEThe importance New seat boosts

safety for slatersAsbestos: the

NFRC’s Fringe

benefits

. . . plus much

more!

Roof Overview – THE voice of roof training

If you would like to receive a regular electronic copy of Roof Overview, please e-mail [email protected] with your name, company and e-mail address. In addition, if you would like to be featured in these pages alongside roofing’s most respected and successful organisations, please use the contact details in the left-hand column.

Contact: Sue Clement

Fernau Editorial ServicesFernau CottageWivenhoe RoadAlresford ColchesterEssex CO7 8AJ

Telephone: 01206 823775Mobile: 07860 368159E-mail: [email protected]@roofoverview.co.uk Website: www.roofoverview.co.uk

It is just a month until the Institute of Roofing’s annual general meeting – have you booked your place yet?

The Institute of Roofing is the professional voice of the roofing industry, and with a strong and proactive membership we can shape and influence the future of our industry. Are you already one of our members? If not, then please speak to one of our board of governors, or visit our website – www.instituteofroofing.org – to discover the many benefits of membership, and download an application form to join our increasingly powerful collective voice.

Each year we look for unusual and interesting places to hold our AGMs, some of the most notable being the Railway Museum in York, HMS Belfast in London, and the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston.

This year’s venue for the IoR’s 33rd AGM, sponsored by Ampteam, is the Building Research Establishment (BRE) Innovation Park at Watford. It

will be held on Wednesday, October 9 (details also on our website).

Home to some of the world’s most sustainable buildings, landscape designs and hundreds of innovative low carbon materials and technologies, the Innovation Park attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Following the AGM, IoR members and guests will have the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the Innovation Park to see first-hand how emerging and innovative approaches to sustainable design and construction are improving the built environment. You can find out more about the BRE Innovation Park at www.bre.co.uk.

To reserve your place at the AGM you can download a booking form from our website – but please hurry, as places are strictly limited.

Your views and support are vital to the future of our industry, so we look forward to seeing you there!

– Institute of Roofing –

Contact: Charmaine Douglas

The Institute of RoofingRoofing House 31 Worship StreetLondon EC2A 2DX

Telephone: 020 7448 3858E-mail: [email protected]: www.instituteofroofing.org

IoR AGM - help us shape our industry’s future

Front cover: Minster Roofing & Roofline’s new, all- encompassing product guide, is the only resource of its kind

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ROOF OVERVIEW

ROOF OVERVIEW Issue 18 Autumn 2013 www.rooftraining.co.uk

Some smaller training companies, especially those who have tried to secure work delivering asbestos awareness training, have in many cases been refused work due to larger companies making what would appear to be false claims regarding their accreditation status.

Following investigations by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and replies to questions from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the accreditation myth has now been revealed.

The following is an extract from the HSE in reply to questions asked regarding recognition, and dispels any uncertainty as to the validation of any appropriate company offering its own accredited courses:

HSE has also been made aware of a number of cases where clients or site managers appear to be under the impression that workers must be in possession of training certificates issued by specific training providers or training associations before they can be allowed access to work sites, particularly in relation to asbestos awareness.

Again, this is not a legal requirement under the Control of Asbestos Regulations and training associations have been advised accordingly.

A further comment received from the HSE reads as follows:

HSE does not approve, endorse or accredit any particular training associations or individual training providers, and associations/providers

should not be suggesting otherwise in their advertising and other material.

HSE has recently written to all the major asbestos training associations to remind them of this. Neither does HSE approve, endorse or accredit the content of training that is provided. In fact, legally there is no such thing as ‘accredited’ asbestos training.

While a training association may want to accredit its members to provide training courses, it has developed as a condition of its membership that it is an internal arrangement which in no way should be seen as formal approval or accreditation of the course content by HSE.

There now seems to be a clear mandate to all who deliver the courses that they are now able to compete on a level playing field in line with competition law, and not lose business by way of misinformation from others.

It is reasonable to say that should any SMEs or others fall foul of these practices in contravention of competition law, the OFT and HSE would be interested to know about it.

It is the responsibility in due diligence of any company seeking training that they select the course appropriate to their needs. It can now be said that those promoting their courses to industry should be engaged on individual merit and quality of services, irrespective of their size or implied status.

It’s good to see that many small businesses have weathered the economic challenges of the last few years to see some light at the end of a seemingly endless tunnel.

Brian Middlemiss, proprietor of Nimrod Training & Assessment Providers Ltd, is pleased to say that they have been taking on training of a different sort over the past year or so, and new clients from both the public and private sector are now on their books.

“We are working closely with the Fire Prevention Association to offer fire warden and fire safety training, and we are providing face-fit and respiratory protection advice and training,” he said.

Meanwhile, developing client training needs and plans, assessing operatives for their all-important qualifications, delivering PASMA training and British Ladder Manufacturers training are all part of Nimrod’s extensive range of services.

Brian said: “Health and safety has never been more important than it is today. There are constant reminders in the media of the devastating consequences to people, and to businesses, when companies fail to meet legislative requirements.”

Brian not only has excellent qualifications in health and safety, his experience in this area is very difficult to match. His credentials include:t Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Buildingt Associate member of the Institute of Safety and

Health (Tech IOSH)t Certificate in Construction Health and Safety

(NEBOSH)t Certificate to teach in the Lifelong Learning

Sector.All things considered, you know you’re in safe

(and healthy) hands when you call upon him for advice and training.

– Nimrod Training & Assessment Providers Ltd –

Contact: Brian Middlemiss

Nimrod Training & Assessment Providers Ltd15 Holland PinesBracknellBerksRG12 8UY

Mobile: 07791 377559Fax: 01344 429071E-mail: [email protected]: www.nimrod-training.co.uk

Training experts team up to offer expert advice

Asbestos awareness training – who can deliver it? By Pete Davies, director of training, PD Associates NW Ltd (Images Creator Training)

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ROOF OVERVIEW


– Dörken DELTA® Pitched Roof and Façade Membranes –

Contact: Colin Williamson

Dörken DELTA®

Mobile: 07725 816947E-mail: [email protected]: www.doerken.de

It is now some 14 months since Dörken entered the UK pitched roof and façade sector with its range of high quality DELTA® membranes.

Dörken’s flagship projects, the Olympic Aquatics Centre and the Munich football stadium, have been featured in previous issues of Roof Overview and are well known throughout Europe as testament to supreme construction skills and materials.

However, there are also many, less well known, excellent new-build and renovation projects incorporating Dörken’s range of membrane products. Below is a selection of renovation projects that have recently been completed in Scotland:

Further education college, Perth Completely renovated, this listed building’s

interior has been gutted and rebuilt to the exacting standards demanded by local government planners.

All interior studs have been fitted with DELTA®-Reflex vapour barrier 4-ply membranes on internal oak battens, overlaid with conventional insulated PU boards and plaster, ensuring air- and wind-tightness in compliance with building regulations from the local building inspectorate.

The roof structure has been fitted with DELTA®-Vent S underlay on sarking boards, which support the local slate tiles that have been reclaimed from the renovation of the building envelope.

Renovation of a council estate in Kirkcaldy Complete renovation and extension to timber-framed dwellings were carried out on a post-war council estate.

New roof and exterior studs were fitted with dual purpose, heavy duty, high tensile-strength Dörken DELTA® breathable membrane type Vent S.

Interior studs and framework were fitted with DELTA®-Reflex reflective vapour barriers, in compliance with local planning permission, to renovate and restore buildings to their original condition, using present-day, lightweight, modern ‘fit for purpose’ materials.

Renovation of an old cinema in Glenrothe A complete overhaul of the roof and exterior/interior stud walls was deemed necessary to restore this post-war building to its former glory.

Old English H2 pantiles were used to cover the pitched roof space on sarking boards to allow adequate ventilation and air movement. A high tensile-strength Dörken DELTA®-Vent N 3-ply breathable membrane was fitted above the sarking boards, below the tiles, to ensure a condensation-free area in the roof space. This multi-purpose membrane was also fitted to exterior walls, creating full breathability around the building envelope.

On the interior studs, Dörken DELTA®-Reflex 4-ply reinforced reflective aluminium vapour barrier film was fitted to comply with the planners’ need for air- and wind-tightness to reduce heat loss throughout the structure.

Doctors’ surgery, Fife Complying with local planners’ requirements, this 1920s family dwelling has been completely renovated.

The main interior studs have been clad with insulation boards and DELTA®-Reflex vapour barrier membranes.

The roof structure consists of local slate tiles, supported by timber designed by local artisans and fitted with breathable membranes on battens.

Scott Hardy, owner of Creativeandconvert.com, has spoken very highly of DELTA®-Vent N breathable membrane, which, having been left unprotected from the elements during the fitting of the roof tiles, was exposed to two severe storms with torrential rain and high winds.

Not a drop of water was found under the membrane surface area, thus allowing work to be continued unhindered during this phase of the construction.

Whatever the project, there’s a Dörken DELTA® membrane for you

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ROOF OVERVIEW


We British are never short of an opening conversation gambit – our weather! Always a topic of interest, even amongst strangers, it is nowadays being rivalled in popularity by another type of climate – our economy.

Seemingly chalk and cheese as far as subjects are concerned, you only have to think about it for a few moments to recognise that energy and energy-saving, and our diverse British weather, have more in common than you might expect.

With their unique landscape, the British Isles offer us a plethora of differing regions, from the highest mountain ranges in the north and north west, to the flattest wetlands in the south east. Add the vast undulating swathes of farmland and forest in the south, plus a vast range of regional variation throughout the rest of the country, it becomes clear how local and regional weather patterns are affected.

As a leading supplier to the construction industry, Dörken DELTA® manufactures innovative, class-leading breathable membranes and vapour barriers that save energy in all types of weather.

During the manufacturing process,

each product type is carefully tested and monitored in a variety of ‘in situ’ weather conditions. Performance characteristics are then designed into the product, ensuring that it not only complies with existing norms, but more importantly, that it ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’, and performs according to the regional climatic conditions it has been designed to withstand.

As an example, Dörken has recently launched another successful DELTA® pitched roofing membrane, Alpina, that can be installed in mountainous regions at over 1,500 metres.

Performing to the highest norms in Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland, DELTA®-Alpina offers the highest calibre protection from the hazardous weather conditions which prevail in these mountainous regions. This unique pitched roofing membrane will soon be available to leading distribution channels in the UK.

Please contact Colin Williamson on 07725 816947 or Jim Dickson on 07894 496770 for more information, or visit our English language website at www.doerken.de.

– Dörken DELTA® Pitched Roof and Façade Membranes –

Energy-saving and the great British climate By UK business development manager Colin Williamson

Range of DELTA® productst Vent N

t Vent S

t Fassade

t Reflex

t Foxx

t Exxtrem

t Trela

t Alpina

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ROOF OVERVIEW


– Preforma Ltd –

No matter how high, we’ll do our best to keep you safe

The development team at Preforma has one word which drives its thought process: safety. Managing and reducing risk when working at height were the key factors for

Preforma when designing and testing its Formarail® Roof Edge Protection railing system.

Preforma originally established its reputation in the construction product industry by developing simple, effective products which maximise safety whilst offering the best value possible on high quality products. Using this expert knowledge, it applied these same principles to roofing and introduced a lightweight aluminium roof edge protection railing system.

Ed Docherty, Preforma managing director, said: “Our ethos is simple; we provide our customers with affordable products but will not compromise on the quality. We identified a need in the fall protection market for a simple system which was quick to install, lightweight yet extremely durable. We applied the successes we achieved with our modular fixed guardrail system and created a freestanding roof edge protection system.

“Formarail® Roof Edge Protection was specifically designed for rapid installation and its unique design means it not only looks great, but it

is also versatile, making it the ideal safety railing for almost any roofing project.”

Formarail® is manufactured in high quality aluminium for both durability and strength, offering a lightweight alternative to steel, increasing its manoeuvrability, ease of handling and weather- resistant properties.

Testing and conforming to industry standards form a large part of the development process for Preforma; Formarail® has been fully tested to both meet and exceed BS EN 13374, as well as many other British Standards which are listed on its website.

Specification for Formarail® Roof Edge Protection is significantly increasing and Simon Blackham, specification manager for SIG Design and Technology, said: “We have been working with Preforma for some time and have specified Formarail® for several large, high profile projects. We are impressed with the system and the service we receive from the Preforma team.”

To complement its quality product range, Preforma ensures the level of customer service it provides is first class and offers a bespoke design and installation service to ensure customers gain the full benefit of Formarail®’s unique characteristics.

Ed Docherty added: “Whether installing Formarail® yourself, or using our team of professionally qualified and highly experienced surveyors and fitters, our aim is to make your life easier on site and to add value to your project wherever we can.”

Further details of Formarail® Roof Edge Protection can be found at www.preforma.co.uk.

Contact details:

Preforma LtdGlasshouse StreetSt PetersNewcastle upon TyneNE6 1BS

Telephone: 0191 209 0923E-mail: [email protected]: www.preforma.co.uk

We are impressed with the system and the service we receive

from the Preforma teamSIG Design and Technology ’

‘

It’s your choice: Formarail® Roof Edge Protection is available in both freestanding and fixed edge styles

Hospitals • Power Stations • Schools • Shopping Centres • Public Buildings

Preforma’s in-house design team offer free advice and support to clients, architects and contractors on the positioning and installation of edge protection to maximise safety on your project.

For further details: T: 0191 209 0920 E: [email protected]

Find out more at: www.preforma.co.uk

Formarail® by Preforma Limited Glasshouse Street, St. Peters, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1BS

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ROOF OVERVIEW


New group chairman announced at AGM

– Yorkshire Independent Roof Training Group –

Contact: Denise Cherry

Yorkshire Independent Roof Training Group20 Britannia MewsPudseyWest YorkshireLS28 9AS

Telephone: 0113 347 0645Mobile: 07971 232645E-mail: [email protected]: www.yirtg.org.uk

It is all change at the top for the Yorkshire Independent Roof Training Group as Terry Chiswell retires after two years

as chairman and hands over the reins to Everlast Waterproofing’s Alex Kettle.

The well attended annual general meeting took place on June 25 at the Bridge Hotel in Wetherby, where three speakers gave interesting presentations on Building Information Modelling, Building Regulations and Heritage Qualifications (more about this later).

Terry Chiswell also gave a brief summary of the group’s key achievements over the last year, which include:t An increase in membershipt Ever-increasing participation by member

companiest More courses, more initiatives, more funding,

more projectst Greater integration with the National Federation

of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) and the Institute of Roofing (IoR), including joint events.In standing down from the role of chairman,

Terry said he was proud to have worked with Peter, Geoff and Dominic, had enjoyed the past two years and was confident that Alex would take the group forward successfully.

Alex introduced himself to the group and said he was looking forward to becoming more involved with the group. He has worked for Everlast for the last six years and his role includes management and delivery of multiple refurbishment projects with a value up to £500,000.

He said: “I enjoy my work, especially the variety of projects and the challenges offered. The company has recently won an award from the NFRC for sheeting and cladding and also a RoSPA award for health and safety, and we have a strong focus on training across all levels of the business.

“Everlast has supported me through several qualifications, including NEBOSH and a Level 6 qualification in construction site management, which was supported by NFRC. Part of my role includes selecting appropriate sub-contractors and arranging training for them, so I believe I have a good knowledge of training requirements, and I am keen to learn more and encourage the take-up of training across the industry.

“The senior management of Everlast support my involvement with the group and have agreed

to support me, both in terms of the time required to complete the role of chairman effectively, and to offer advice and guidance on technical or other issues that might arise.”

The next group meeting will be on Tuesday, October 15, 2013, at the same venue.

Yorkshire companies take advantage of heritage specialist upskilling programme (SUP)Following a presentation by Richard Jordan at the annual general meeting, five candidates from Geoff Neal Roofing and Lowery Roofing will be taking advantage of the SUP route to heritage qualifications. Richard, whose company won the 2013 NFRC Heritage Award, will deliver heritage training and on-site assessment to candidates who will be eligible for the CSCS heritage gold card on completion of the qualification.

CITB case studies on roofing disciplinesThe group has been working with Maria O’Sullivan, sector strategic manager – careers at CITB to identify a range of role models working in the roofing sector who would be willing and able to act as case studies.

The case studies will be featured on the CITB careers progression tool at www.citb.co.uk/en-GB/Careers-in-Construction/careers-pathways/.

The careers progression tool is aimed at the current and future workforce and influencers, ie careers/education professionals and parents/carers. It features comprehensive and current information on a range of construction and built environment careers, including a wide range of roofing

New chairman: Terry Chiswell (second left) hands over to Alex Kettle, while Geoff Neal (far left) and Dominic Cleminson look on

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ROOF OVERVIEW


– Yorkshire Independent Roof Training Group –

occupations. The case studies will allow users to find out the real-life experiences of people working in the roofing sector and hopefully inspire them to consider a career in roofing.

Yorkshire companies that have assisted are:t Everlast Waterproofing (part of the

Everlast Group)t Hadfield Roofing & Cladding Ltd. t Greystonest Yorkshire Heritage Roofing.

Group training officer Denise Cherry said: “It’s great that some of our Yorkshire companies have been able to help with this piece of work, as CITB prepares a good range of resources that we can use when we promote the industry in schools.”

Denise takes over as national chair of RRTGsThe group’s training officer, Denise Cherry, has taken up the post of chair of the regional roof training groups (RRTGs) committee which meets several times each year. The RRTGs report to the Roofing Industry Alliance (RIA) and Denise will also join the RIA committee for the duration of her role as chair of the RRTGs.

Claim time – are you getting your grant?If you have completed training between August 2012 and July 2013, you can claim grant from CITB at the rate of £50 per day for courses that are at least one day long. You have until October 31, 2013, to make any claims for training during this period and may be entitled to an extraordinary training grant at the end of the year.

Changes to grant in 2013/14CITB has changed the minimum claim period back to just three hours for this year and the general grant remains at £50 per day.

Achievement grant is £400 for NVQs at Level 2, 3, 4 and 6 in construction-related occupations and the site safety plus grant remains at a generous £52.50 per day. Whether you claim your grant back on a training plan or individual claims, make sure you are claiming it – call Denise if you need assistance.

Roofers’ Guide to Sustainability project reaches successful conclusionThe idea for this project originally came from YIRTG who ran a regional project during 2011/12. This was followed by a national project, delivered through the RIA and managed by YIRTG. A further smaller project developed materials which

form part of a modular programme of sustainability training.

The national project completes this month, having exceeded its original targets by providing over 300 places on training courses delivered to almost 300 individual roofers across the UK. Many of the RRTGs have been involved in this project which paves the way for other joint projects between groups. These three programmes were funded by CITB as part of their support for specialist trades.

RoofingIndustryAlliance

RoofingIndustryAlliance

The Roofers’ Guide to SustainabilityThe Roofing Industry Alliance (RIA) is working with the CITB-ConstructionSkills Growth Fund to deliver a programme of short courses on sustainability issues.This series of short training sessions, each of 30-45 minutes’ duration, offers an opportunity for roofing companies to work with their staff to raise awareness of sustainability across the business.

Each session consists of the following:• Attendance list• PowerPoint presentation• Tutor notes• Activity guidance• End test• Handout

Session titles

1 Sustainability – what it means2 Energy considerations3 Sustainable roofing solutions4 Positioning and installing solar5 The Green Deal6 Jargon

These sessions can be combined to meet the needs of individual companies and delivered in-company, or through one of the trade associations or regional roof training groups. Short courses using these materials, or on other sustainability issues can be funded by this project; please contact Denise Cherry, project manager, on 07971 232645 or [email protected].

Website: www.roofersguide.info

Roofing Industry AllianceRoofing House. 31 Worship Street, London EC2A 2DY

Telephone: 07971 232645E-mail: [email protected]: www.roofersguide.info

Manufacturers, professionals, federations and training groups working together for the benefit of the roofing industry

Members of the Roofing Industry Alliancet Clay Roof Tile

Councilt Concrete Tile

Manufacturers Association

t European Liquid Waterproofing Association

t Institute of Roofingt Lead Contractors

Associationt Lead Sheet

Associationt Mastic Asphalt

Councilt Metal Cladding

and Roofing Manufacturers Association

t Metal Roofing Contractors Association

t National Association of Rooflight Manufacturers

t National Federation of Roofing Contractors

t Single Ply Roofing Association

t Regional roof training groups

Working together for the benefit of the roofing industry

Handouts

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ROOF OVERVIEW


Ignore your working at height responsibilities at your peril, says group training officer Brian Middlemiss, after reading about a serious fall and subsequent Health and Safety Executive

(HSE) prosecution. London & Southern Roofing Training Group

offers a comprehensive range of training courses to cover working at height and other health and safety regulations, so Brian is anxious that none of the group’s members are found lacking and therefore exposed to this type of prosecution.

The case goes as follows:A site supervisor was fined after a co-worker was

left paralysed after falling ten metres from the roof of a warehouse.

The employee fell from an unprotected and fragile roof after his supervisor allowed workers, who were removing cement sheets, to go on to the roof, ignoring his company’s safety policy.

The employee suffered multiple injuries and has been left paralysed from the neck down as a result of the fall.

The Crown Court heard that the company in question was removing roof sheets by gaining access from below via a scissor lift. The HSE found that when this became difficult, the site supervisor allowed the workers to go on to the roof itself but without the knowledge of his contracts manager as was required.

At one stage the operative accessed the roof to strip off more sheets, but trod on a loose skylight panel that gave way under him. He fell around ten metres to the ground below.

His employer, who had a contract to remove asbestos cement roofs from a number of warehouses at the site, had identified them as fragile. The company had agreed a system of work where its employees used scissor lifts, removing the roof sheets from the underside.

This work was supervised on site by the site supervisor, but he failed to bring these problems to the attention of the contracts manager as required by the company procedure. Instead, he permitted a change to the system of work, whereby he and other employees went on to the roof itself to carry out some of the work.

The HSE found the company’s agreed system was safe but by changing it, the site supervisor had sanctioned an unsafe system of work. The company was unaware of the changed way of working and the supervisor had failed to consult with them.

The site supervisor pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to breaching Regulation 4(1)(b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, by failing to properly supervise work at height and make sure it was carried out safely. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £9,765.88 costs.

Speaking after the case, the operative said: “I

welcome the fact that the HSE has taken this action and I hope that this means what happened to me won’t happen to anyone else.”

An HSE spokesman added: “This incident has had a devastating and life-changing impact on the operative and his family.

“Those who supervise work at height have a responsibility to ensure that it is carried out in a manner which is safe and which guards against the risk of injury from a fall. Such injuries, if not fatal, may result in a lifelong disability for the injured person.”

Regulation 4(1)(b) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: Every employer shall ensure that work at height is appropriately supervised.

Checking risk assessment for both you and your subcontractorsIt is often difficult to check the suitability and sufficiency of risk assessments.

Here are a few checks worth making; some will be obvious, but all of these have been failed at some time by certain specialist risk assessments:Fire risk assessment: can you identify separate findings for sources of ignition, fuel and oxygen, and for fire warning, evacuation, escape routes and rescue?Asbestos: is there an asbestos survey on properties prior to 2000, or has some guesswork been used? COSHH: work through COSHH essentials, at www.hse.gov.uk/cossh/essentials, for a sample of substances and check with the results that have been supplied.Noise: look at the controls to see if thought has been given to possible reduction, elimination and isolation measures, or whether personal protective equipment (ear defenders) has been issued.And finally: are all locations, roles, equipment and substances relevant to your organisation? Is the risk assessment site-specific or generic? Beware the risk assessment for a single storey building that refers to basements, lofts, stairs or lifts.

Remember… suitable and sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) must be supplied; if not, some operatives may resort to their own devices, with potentially disastrous effects.

– London & Southern Roofing Training Group –

Site supervisor fined after worker paralysed in roof fall

Contact: Brian Middlemiss

London & Southern Roofing Training Group15 Holland PinesBracknellBerksRG12 8UY

Mobile: 07791 377559Fax: 01344 429071 E-mail: brian@ rooftrainer.co.ukWebsite: www.rooftraining.co.uk

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ROOF OVERVIEW


For Sue Clement it was just another challenge. Running her own editorial consultancy – Fernau Editorial Services – for more years

than a gentleman should politely enquire, she had been faced with many challenges.

There had been challenges presented by clients wanting to communicate with their staff, suppliers or customers; there had been challenges of coaxing and coaching a student for whom English was his second language through his Phd thesis; and once the phones had stopped ringing and the keyboard put aside, there was the challenge of riding one of her five horses into the upper reaches of the British dressage world.

But almost five years ago, it was a challenge of a new kind. The construction industry had long been the bricks and mortar of her business, with a whole range of publications and photographic assignments for CITB and many of its component parts, but the sector was hit early by black clouds of recession and budget cuts.

An early casualty was the publication she was commissioned to edit and produce for the roofing industry. What Sue recognised was that, despite the desperate times faced by the industry, there was still the need for it to communicate, and especially promote, the training of the next generation of roofers.

Prompted by friends from the regional roof training groups, she took a deep breath and went for it. Suddenly she was no longer wearing just the editor’s hat, she was now a fully-fledged publisher responsible for the whole process, from establishing the content, selling space, arranging print and distribution, chasing

late payments, in addition to her original job of making sure the articles were interesting, grammatically correct and all the apostrophes were in the right place!

Recognising she could not take on the big boys in construction communication at their own game, Sue had to come up with a ground-breaking publication to succeed. Thus Roof Overview was re-born as the voice for the roof training. By using the comparatively new system of electronic distribution, she was able to keep costs down, which allowed another innovation.

While magazine advertising chiefly consists of selling space for the advertiser’s own artwork, there has long been the system of selling advertising features, by which the publication will sell an advertiser space and then produce a page which looks like a regular article.

Sue’s innovation was to generate an entire publication in this way. She recognised the roof training groups had little funding but a mass of vital information they needed to share with roofers, so Roof Overview has become a means for this information to be communicated.

The roofing industry in general was not slow to recognise the value of a

publication which spoke to roofers in their own language (if slightly less florid!) and specialised in the vital subject of training, and many approached Sue to ask to be included. While initially insisting on the availability of training within the product or service being covered in the articles, it has led to wider editorial coverage to the point that German manufacturer Dörken has used Roof Overview exclusively for its UK launch, and Roofex requested a special supplement to publicise its first roofing exhibition earlier this year.

Despite, or maybe because of, this success, Sue has not lost touch with her editorial roots. She is still hawk-eyed in spotting grammatical slips, punctuation errors or poor phrasing, as this writer can testify. And she is fiercely protective of the content and look of the magazine.

The challenge of Roof Overview is a constant. There is always the challenge of the next issue, the next article, or the next computer crash, all to be met with the same determination with which she faces her next dressage competition. And as her faithful steed Merlin will testify, second best is not permitted when she has the bit between her teeth!

– Women in Construction –

The biggest challenge of all

The experienced team at Fernau Editorial Services encompasses a wide range of editorial and marketing support for companies and individuals. If you need copywriting, design and production,

proof-reading or publications of any kind, please call Sue on 01206 823775 or 07768 368159; or e-mail her at [email protected].

Roof Overview was re-born as the voice for

the roof training’‘

12

ROOF OVERVIEW


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roof_overview_aug_2012.pdf 1 21/08/2012 09:59

– Sika Sarnafil –

Celebrating a milestone 25 years in the industry, leading contractor of roofing and cladding systems, Progressive

Systems Ltd, hosted its first golf event on a scorching July day at Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club, Exeter.

Sika Sarnafil was a proud sponsor of the charity event, which raised over £2,000 for local organisation Dream-A-Way, who provide holidays and daytrips for people with physical and learning difficulties.

The anniversary also marked a ten-year Sika Sarnafil and Progressive Systems partnership, with the event providing an opportunity for the roofing solutions specialist to show its continued support to the vital south west-based installer.

The event was attended by some of Progressive System’s key partners and included a variety of suppliers, architects, main contractors and specifiers. Forming 30 groups of four, each team was entered into a team four ball, closest to the pin and longest

drive competitions, as well as a ‘Beat the Pro’ competition with professional golfer Chris Gill.

First place in the four ball was claimed by Midas Construction, with Loughtons, Aecom and Stacey Construction taking home second, third and fourth place respectively. Sika Sarnafil’s own technical adviser Richard Lawton came nearest the pin at the 15th hole and also managed to ‘Beat the Pro’, scoring first place in the final competition of the day.

Richard Lawton said: “The golf day was one of the best events that I have had the pleasure of attending; it was very well organised and extremely well received by the attendees.

“We were proud to attend and to have been given the opportunity to sponsor the event. Progressive Systems Ltd has been a very successful registered contractor over the last ten years, and a key partner especially over the last five.”

Progressive Systems Ltd’s Chris Curtis said: “On behalf of Progressive Systems, we would like to thank Sika Sarnafil for the valued support of our inaugural golf day.”

Sika Sarnafil sponsors Progressive Systems golf day

CSystems Ltd, hosted its first golf event on a scorching July day at Woodbury Park Hotel and Golf Club, Exeter.

Sika Sarnafil was a proud sponsor of the

Contact details:

Telephone: 01603 709360E-mail: [email protected]: www.sarnafil.co.uk

13

ROOF OVERVIEW


If you are a roofer of a certain age and reading this, you will probably agree that the years have generally not being kind as far as backs and joints are concerned in this physically

demanding trade.If you run a roofing company, or starting out

in the roofing trade, you and your employees want to stay in the best physical shape to continue working for as long as possible. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including manual handling injuries, are the most common type of occupational ill health in the UK.

Sit ‘n’ Slate is a company designing high quality tools to make the roofing contractor’s job safer – and minimising the slater’s body contact with a wet roof – by offering safe and reliable platforms for himself and his equipment.

The flagship product in the Sit ‘n’ Slate range is the innovative ‘seat’, which can be set up and ready to go in minutes.

It has been designed to minimise work-related injuries, eradicate unnecessary labour, and avoid sitting on a wet roof – and is now attracting the attention of both roofing colleges and roofing contractors globally.

A Sit ‘n’ Slate carrier is a complementary product that moves along with the roofer whilst sat on his ‘seat’, saving him valuable time. Instead of having the roof pre-stacked, the roofer takes the tiles along with him as he moves along the roof – all he has to do is adjust the elevation of the seat and skeleton frame spacings between the battens. The skeleton frame has rollers and wheels that freely slide on top of, and to the side of, the battens. Alternatively the roof can be loaded and the slater can just use the seat.

The seat is made of stainless steel, and incorporates a number of safety features. It adjusts easily to suit the elevation of the roof, and there is built-in space to accommodate a range of tools and accessories. Useable by both right- and left-handed roofers alike, the seat reduces back, knee and ankle injuries as the roofing contractor no longer has to sit on hard, wet and slippery battens for long periods of time.

Sit ’n’ Slate has donated equipment to a number of roofing colleges both in the UK and Australia, two colleges in the UK being Leeds

College of Building (LCB) and Cornwall College in St Austell.

LCB roof slating and tiling tutor Chris Messenger said: “We are delighted with the safety aspect of this seat, particularly the handbrake and the claws which dig into the roofing battens and are particularly important when working close to gable ends.

“Sit ‘n’ Slate is now embedded into the training of slating apprentices at LCB.”

Roy Smyth of Frank Bird Roofing, a Liverpool-based roofing contractor, has paid the price of over 20 years’ hard graft on the roofs with bad knees and a slight curvature of the spine.

“When I saw the video of the Sit ‘n’ Slate seat I was really impressed,” he explained.

“Before I owned one, when I was slating I would have to stand up and give my knees and back a break every so often, but now I can sit and slate for hours on end – I lay far more slates now than I ever did and my knees and back don’t hurt.”

The UK & Ireland distributor of the Sit ‘n’ Slate portfolio is www.quickloader.co.uk and further details, including how to purchase this product, are available through business development manager, Andrew Messenger, on 07815 061756 or at [email protected].

Sit ‘n’ Slate – a revolution in occupational health

– Sit ‘n’ Slate –

Contact: Andrew Messenger

Sit ‘n’ Slate

Mobile: 07815 061756E-mail: [email protected]: www.quickloader.co.ukTwitter: @sitnslate

Sit ‘n’ Slate is now embedded into the training of slating

apprentices at LCB’‘

14

ROOF OVERVIEW


Contact: Tanya Coutts

The National Federation of Roofing Contractors LimitedRoofing House31 Worship StreetLondonEC2A 2DY Direct dial: 020 7448 3196Direct fax: 020 7448 3850 E-mail: tanyacoutts@ nfrc.co.ukWebsite: www.nfrc.co.uk

t Undertake site measurements and evaluation for roofing work

t Installation of hard and soft metal roofing

t Installation of mastic asphaltt Installation of reinforced bitumen

membranest Installation of single plyt Installation of liquid waterproofing

systemst Installation of thatched roofingt Installation of tile and slate roofst Installation of wood shinglest Installation of sheeting and

claddingt Installation of rainscreen systemst Fit solar collectors to roofs.All 12 annexes will be used to assess competence across the roofing industry, while ten of the 12 (currently not including solar and rainscreen) are to be accepted by the Competent Person’s Forum.

The annexes will be used by a trained assessor to determine whether or not the roofer is competent across the range of skills and knowledge expected. There will be a fee to be assessed and prove competence this way (as yet we do not know how much), so that roofers without formal qualifications can work on projects which will require proof of competence.

What is really important is that NFRC has lead the way with roofing MTCs so that the minimum standard for the whole of the roofing industry has been set at the right level (before others were able to water it down), so that recognition is only earned by those who are truly able to show competence in roofing work.

Minimum technical competencies for the roofing industry are here!

– The National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited –

Most members will be aware that

a skilled CSCS card is the default when it comes to proving competence, and that the method of gaining this card used to be either by the industry accreditation route (ie grandfather rights), or nowadays by gaining an S/NVQ Level 2 or higher.

This is still the case, and is the method which NFRC would still encourage members to follow with the help of their roof training group (eg OSAT, apprenticeships or via an SUP).

However, it is a fact that for whatever reason, significant numbers

of roofing operatives will never take a qualification, whatever schemes are on offer, so it was important that some method of confirming the competency of those workers was developed.

Minimum Technical Competencies (MTCs), as they are known, have now emerged as the approved method of fulfilling this requirement. Originally developed for use with the Green Deal, MTCs are now being seen as increasingly important in other areas such as ECO and, perhaps most importantly of all, competent persons schemes and going forward as an alternative route to gaining a CSCS card.

MTCs are perhaps best explained as what the average building owner might reasonably expect a roofer (of whatever discipline) to be able to do competently.

NFRC accepted the task of developing the MTCs for all roofing disciplines which were mapped against units from the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and equate roughly to the current NVQ Level 2 qualifications. By taking the mandatory units from each of the occupational routes, and adding the essential units from the optional/additional ones (in most cases to include repairs and refurbishment), it was possible to draw up 12 annexes (as shown in panel) which reflect the work that competent roofers do, day in, day out, from all of the recognised disciplines.

12 annexes

Picture courtesy of YIRTG

15

ROOF OVERVIEW


The Edinburgh Fringe is best known for its comedy, theatre performances and avant-garde art shows. However, it is also starting to be known on the heritage circuit for the Edinburgh Traditional Building Festival.

On the August 20-22, the second Traditional Building Festival took place at Edinburgh World Heritage Offices and was heralded to be, once again, highly successful and extremely well received by the public.

Numerous demonstrations, talks and tours were organised by the Edinburgh Traditional Forum and laid on free of charge over the three days. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) is a part of the Forum and put on lead and slate roofing demonstrations.

The aim of the event is to celebrate Edinburgh’s traditional buildings and the materials and skills used to maintain them for future generations. It is funded by NFRC, the Stone Federation of Great Britain, and the

Construction Industry Training Board, with support from Edinburgh College, Historic Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage.

The Festival will be back again next year!

Success for heritage at the Fringe

PASMA, the trade body representing the mobile access tower industry, has launched a Publicly Available Specification – PAS 250 – a new safety standard for the design

of low-level work platforms (LLWPs), also known as ‘podiums’ or ‘pulpits’.

Sponsored by PASMA, facilitated by BSI Standards and published under licence from the British Standards Institution (BSI), it sets out the minimum safety and performance requirements for these essential, everyday access products.

According to PASMA, there is now no excuse for using low-level access equipment that jeopardises safety and can put users at risk. The specification comprehensively covers all low-level work platforms with one working platform and side protection, for use by one person with a maximum working platform height of under 2.5 metres.

Sponsoring PAS 250 is the final step in a three-point plan from PASMA to ensure that podiums have a consistent standard of safety.

PASMA’s managing director, Peter Bennett, said: “Our three-step plan involved creating a low-level training course and a guidance DVD to ensure that the people using podiums fully understood the need for safety at low levels. This new safety standard completes the plan by making the equipment itself as consistently safe as possible.”

Championed by PASMA’s technical committee, the standard was developed in consultation with the Association of British Certification Bodies, the Health and Safety Executive, Hire Association Europe, the Ladder Association and the UK Contractors Group.

The PAS 250 specification is now available for companies to purchase through both the PASMA online shop (available at http://www.pasma.co.uk/online-shop/) and the BSI online shop (http://shop.bsigroup.com/pas250). Those looking to use compliant equipment should enquire about PAS 250 from their normal suppliers.

More details on PAS 250 itself can be found on the PAS 250 FAQs section of PASMA’s website.

– PASMA –

Contact: Michael Fern

PASMAPO Box 26969GlasgowG3 9DR

Tel: 0845 230 4041E-mail: [email protected]: www.pasma.co.uk

No excuse now for unsafe low level platforms

DELTA®-Reflex is an energy-saving, 4-ply reflective air- and wind-tight vapour barrier for interior stud, floor and roof structures.

Manufactured to the highest German and EU norms, DELTA®-Reflex is manufactured using corrosion-free embedded aluminium layers between a transparent polyester film and mesh reinforced LDPE film.

The 4-ply structure ensures 100 per cent air- and wind-tightness, offers 50 per cent heat reflection and gives added insulation to any substrate. It also shields up to 99 per cent of hazardous electromagnetic radiation.

The 4-ply composite is extremely rugged, with class-leading weight-to-strength characteristics making it very easy and simple to install.

Technical characteristicsFire class: B1 (Din 4102)Tensile strength: 450 N/5cm (Din 53354)Sd value: + 150 metresTemperature resistance: -40 + 80°CR value: 0.55 m2K/W

DimensionsLength: 25/50 metresWidth: 3/1.5 metresWeight: 180g/m2

Roll: 13.5 kg

The DELTA®-Reflex product range also incorporates a full programme of accessories, including self-adhesive strips on roll, tapes, silicones, fixing agents and repair kits.

Please contact Colin Williamson on 07725 816947 or Jim Dickson on 07894 496770 for more information, or visit our English language website at www.doerken.de.

DELTA®-REFLEX

Documents

Roof overview issue 18 autumn 2013