A diet of alphabet soup: Rod Appleyard’s day in the life of a fenestration surveyor

We are now well into the year and the future looks good, some would say. To an outsider our industry looks awash with loot aplenty to move around and spend and not a lot of restrictions. Our beloved Deputy Prime Minister’s Office takes the same view, and has decided a little more pain would not be amiss.

Let’s go back to the beginning of the year. We have a little bit of legislation, an addition to the building regulations known as ‘Doc P’. That’s nothing to do with us!, I hear you shout. Wrong. To all you companies that supply and install conservatories, it does in a big way.

You see one of the little extras that you may offer is the odd electric socket or two, and the new legislation will increase your costs. As of the 1st of January 2005 no-one except a qualified and certified electrician can alter or install any electrical equipment in a domestic dwelling without a D.I.C. or ‘Domestic Installers Certificate’. This little gem is a bit like the CORGI set-up save that when the work has been done a certificate is issued to the householder stating that the segment of work done by that person complies with current NICEIC and Building Regulations Document P.

Buying and selling a home

It does not stop there. This is a legal document and forms part of the deeds of the house. The effect on us is that the local spark that used to wire up part-time for you can no longer do it unless he is registered in his own right. If he is not then you are liable for one hefty fine as the certificate will be asked for in all conveyance packs. This pack will become more relevant as we head for 2007 when every household will have to use it to sell or buy a house.

We are only in the first quarter of the year and lo and behold a fundamental change in Building Regulations has been issued. Yes, I know that a vast number of conservatories fall outside some of these, but not all. Also be warned that in April 2006, if not before, this will change and all conservatories will come under the jurisdiction of the Building Regulations, not just for thermal requirements but also for footings and floor slabs, roof ventilation, fire egress and so on.

There is also legislation afoot regarding underfloor heating, more on ventilation of gas boilers, and last but not least the new codes of practice on PVC-U windows and doorsets will be along soon followed by the in-the-pipeline code of practice on conservatories.

Not so obvious

These are the more obvious changes we have to deal with, so now to the ‘under discussion, not so obvious’.

Did you know that the manner in which our work is carried out and the welfare of the operative is under scrutiny? Have you heard about the two metre rule? (if the work platform is above two metres from ground level then a full scaffold has to be supplied, and of course erected by a certified scaffolder with a certificate of competence).

The two metre rule is to be abolished as part of a move to encompass all levels from 10mm upwards. In 2004 nine construction operatives died by falling from working levels under two metres and 490 were injured, so soon all levels will be under scrutiny. How many of you have a working practice statement for working elevated above ground level?

We are only in the first quarter of the year and a fundamental change in Building Regulations has been issued

Now we get to some real humdingers. Facilities for bodily function (that’s an inspired way of putting it) and the washing of hands, canteen facilities, special units for the use of! Do you get the picture? Just look at our cousins over the pond and in Europe and you will see the future loud and clear.

Mirror this to how we worked in the Sixties. For company owners the difference is not only profound but also alarmingly expensive. For operatives, what we cannot do without a certificate is unbelievably little, none the less it is a fact of present day practice.

To make matters worse the alphabet game continues with many alterations and additions in the pipeline, to Documents B (fire safety), F (ventilation), and more. While it would be to easy to comment on them all at this time, Murphy’s Law will prevail.

What is now being talked about may not be what arrives on the statute books, but rest assured whatever it is, provision will have to be made.

For further information, visit www.odpm.gov.uk > Building Regulations

Awards of the month

Fabricator of the Month

To Sid Slot, who although he routs out the correct dimension for drainage on his windows realises his mistake and screws the hinges over so that it seals the hole and no-one will know.

Installer Team of the Month

To Lawrence F. Lightning, for his speed and dexterity in removing all the front elevation of a house of windows inclusive of two bays and a front door only to find that he had the wrong house of windows in the van (Factory 50 miles away).