With it reported that the construction sector will grow over the next two years, Bureau Veritas has been quick to assert that an industry shift towards earlier engagement with compliance partners is vital to raising quality and safety standards for all.
Despite a momentary downtime, largely the result of a post-Brexit slump in confidence and weakening pound, the consensus is that commercial construction will regain pace in the coming months. According to the latest Construction Products Association (CPA) report, UK construction output will by 2.3% in 2019, primarily due to major infrastructure projects.1
Conversely, the residential housing boom shows no sign of abating anytime soon with the government recently announcing a revised target to build 1.5 million new homes by 2022 – in order to bridge the escalating housing deficit.
However, concerns lie in the fact that an increased pressure on commercial and residential developers to build more properties, despite a declining workforce, presents a risk to deliverability and quality control. A recent study, for example, estimated that over half of all new build properties have ‘major faults.’2
Andy Lowe, director for building control at Bureau Veritas, comments: “Amid incredibly tight construction deadlines, cost pressures and a raft of legislation, it is understandable that the modern builder and developer has a lot to get to grips with.
“That’s why we always advocate early engagement with a certification specialist. Without the ability to influence the wider project, it can be incredibly difficult to optimise quality control procedures and enhance safety measures, while enabling developers to achieve stated targets.
“In some cases it can even help streamline proceedings and improve efficiencies, particularly when it comes to ensuring the design aspect correlates to the compliance requirements. Without the approver’s early input, for example, any decisions made by a design team could be borderline in terms of interpretation and, upon review, it may be that items such as the fire strategy or number of staircases are questionable thus affecting the design as a whole and even resulting in the need for a redesign.
“In this way, we believe an industry shift towards earlier engagement is core to not only increasing quality and safety standards, but optimising efficiencies on current major projects going forward.”
For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk
