Pro Installer April 2014 - Issue 13 | Page 30

30 APRIL 2014 PRO INSTALLER PRO NEWS www.proinstaller.co.uk ESC Responds To CLG Committee Report On Part P The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) has welcomed the CLG Committee’s latest report on Part P – the only legislation which protects the consumer from unsafe electrical work in the home - particularly the need for much greater public awareness of the regulation. Phil Buckle, Director General of the ESC said: “Our own research has illustrated the low level of public understanding of Part P of the Building Regulations and the ESC is perfectly placed to assist the Government and the industry in any public information campaign on this issue. “The collaboration between NAPIT and CERTSURE - the largest of the scheme operators - to produce a single register of Part P registered electricians will make it significantly simpler for the consumer to find a suitably qualified contractor. “The ESC also supports the report’s call for effective enforcement of Part P, although funding this via a levy on those registered with a scheme may undermine both the schemes and Part P itself. “However, we cannot agree with the report’s claim that the competent person’s schemes allow incompetent electricians entry. Under Part P, around 27,000 more ‘simpler for the consumer to find a suitably qualified contractor’ electrical contractors are having their competence assessed and samples of their work checked regularly, according to the Government’s own impact assessment on Part P.” ‘27,000 more electrical contractors are having their competence assessed Pick up the PRO Installer, FREE, from one of over 300 trade counters. 100% Of homeowners want their own bfrc energy rating certificate BFRC asked 523 randomly selected homeowners in England and Wales whether they wanted a Homeowners Energy Rating Certificate – and all of them (100%) said ‘yes’. This BFRC certificate is specific to the property and the products purchased and will feature the installers name and date of installation as well as the well-known ‘rainbow’ colour label. The ratings displayed will be ‘A+’ to ‘C’ for windows and ‘A+’ to ‘G’ for doors ‘the only such certificate available’ It is the only such certificate available in the UK glazing sector. This certificate is a valuable new marketing tool for installers. Issuing of the certificate can be promoted by the installer to the homeowner as a value added benefit of using that company. It will also link the new windows or doors supplied with the installation company and could facilitate ‘word of mouth’ recommendation. It is issued at the same time as the FENSA certificate and can be supplied with no extra administration for the installer. Just tick the box at the point of notification on the FENSA website. It costs just £1.50 (ex VAT). “The industry asked for a window energy rating homeowner certificate – and here it is,” commented BFRC MD Chris Mayne. “With all homeowners asked wanting one too it shows how right our installers were.” For more information please contact BFRC direct:- 020 7403 9200 [email protected] £6m boost to construction industry in Coventry A £6million fund to help digitise the construction industry has been launched in Coventry. A £6million fund to help digitise the construction industry has been launched in Coventry. Firms from across the UK gathered at Coventry University’s Simulation Centre to learn more about the new scheme, which will see companies compete for cash to fund collaborative research and development. The UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, has set up the fund. It brings together construction, digital and ICT to develop innovative new products, processes or services that could revolutionise collaborations between supply chain partners and unlock new business models. ‘Compete for cash’ Organisations are now being asked to register and submit applications, with proposals expected to range in size up to £2million. Mark Wray, lead technologist from Technology Strategy Board, said: “We’re really excited to have launched this competition which encourages the take-up of digitally enabled processes within the construction supply chain. “Adopting digital solutions will not only improve quality, timing and performance, but cut costs by reducing waste and errors, and will introduce a way of working in which data is stored and shared b WGvVV