RoofingIssue 62 magazine TODAY December/January 2016 Roofing Today’s Professional Roofer Campaign This is the final edition featuring the Professional Roofer Campaign. Roofing Today is grateful for all the support from contractors and we are pleased to be playing our part in helping to raise standards across the industry. Launched in September, the Professional Roofer Campaign provides advice and guidance from industry-leading experts for contractors who want to improve and grow their businesses. Professional Roofer offers advice and information on l Better health & safety l Improving workmanship l Building customer confidence The Professional Roofer Campaign Portal collects together all print and online resources in one place and can be accessed from the Roofing Today website homepage: www.roofingtoday.co.uk. Are you proud of your work? Then tweet us @RoofingToday your completed project photos using #professionalroofer and we will feature it on the Professional Roofer Wall of Fame! Page 4 News Page 8 Grow Your Business by Focusing on Workmanship Simon Dixon, Sandtoft Roof Tiles Page 10 How Can Professional Roofers Safeguard Their Health? Bryan Henesey, IOSH Page 12 Will the National Living Wage Make Us Poorer? Page 16 Contractors Get Set to Benefit from the Insurance Act 2015 Page 18 Using Drones for Roof Surveying Lionel Firn, Hopgrove Productions Page 20 Training to Win Tony Burke, Avonside Group Services Page 22 Werner Ladder Product Road Test Page 24 Caution: Sale Ahead Don Waterworth Page 26 How About Not Working at Height? John Cunningham, Metrotile UK Page 32 Getting to the Top James Fisher, Bilco Page 34 Predictions for UK Roofing 2016 Page 36 DACH+HOLZ: The Final Countdown Page 37 Product News Page 43 Industry Events Diary Publisher: David Cowell - [email protected] Roofing Today Magazine is published by Editor: Dr Claire Griffiths - [email protected] Construction Media Publishing Ltd 31 Seymour Terrace, Seymour Street, Liverpool L3 5PE Administration: Jemma Daly - [email protected] Tel. 0151 708 0070 Fax. 0151 708 0888 Media Accounts: Brenda McNally - [email protected] [email protected] Paul Fitzgerald - [email protected] www.roofingtoday.co.uk Every effort has been made by the publishers to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this magazine. However, under no circumstances can the publisher accept liability for any loss or damage which may arise or result from errors or omissions in any advertisement or editorial, its content or position. All opinions and facts presented in editorial features are those of the companies and individuals submitting such editorial and are accepted and published in good faith by Construction Media Publishing Ltd and are not warranted to be correct in any way and the publishers will not accept any responsibility for, or any liability arising from, that content. Roofing Today Magazine Page 3 Enquiry 28 News Wages Rocket as Skills Shortage Threatens UK Construction Construction skills shortages are pushing wages in the sector far above the national average, but could also put at risk some of the Government’s biggest housing and infrastructure programmes, the latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has revealed. The RICS UK Construction Market Survey shows that 61% of construction professionals have reported sharp wage rises in the sector. Average construction earnings have risen by more than 6% in the year to October – a marked increase on the average UK wage rise over the same period of under 2%. Labour shortages were reported by 66% of construction professionals to be the most significant barrier to growth in Yorkshire Construction Sector Boosted by UK Roofing Market Set for Continued the last quarter of 2015. Bricklayers and quantity surveyors are reported to be in particularly short supply, with 62% and Launch of Roofing Supercentre in Sheffield Growth 60% of survey respondents having difficulty finding these workers. Sheffield's construction sector has been given a major boost with the opening of The roof tiles market has shown good levels of growth in recent years, driven to a large RICS Chief Economist, Simon Rubinsohn said: Yorkshire's biggest specialist roofing supercentre. extent by the new housebuilding market. “While workloads are still growing at a relatively healthy Burton Roofing Merchants Ltd - the UK's largest independent supplier of roofing The correlation between the roof tiles market growth and the growth in housing pace, labour shortages in the construction sector are causing materials - has opened a £1.5m supply and resource centre on a three acre site on completions is positive, reflecting housing as a large end use sector for tiles, at over delays at different stages in the development process and Idiots on Ladders Winner Declared Parkway Avenue. 30%, with a total of around 75% of the market accounted for by newbuilds and re-roofing leading to significant problems with project planning. More The new centre will give builders and DIY enthusiasts access to a 31,000 strong and improvements. as 2015 Ladder Exchange Closes than 60% of our survey respondents said that these resulting product range plus a bank of expertise and information. planning delays were an impediment to growth. The winner of the popular ‘Idiot on Ladders’ competition has been "The construction industry in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire is extremely announced by organisers, the Ladder Association. buoyant at the moment but firms have been hampered by a lack of resources in The 2015 winning photo was submitted by Mike Harris and shows terms of genuine know how and access to the latest products," said Peter a workman at height examining a gable while standing on a short Burton, Managing Director of Burton Roofing Merchants Ltd. ladder which is balanced on the top rungs of two extension ladders. "This new centre will fill that gap. We build our business around highly skilled Gary Chudleigh, Ladder Association Marketing and and experienced people. Communications Officer, said “This year’s winning image is a "We are helpful and friendly and will provide customers with the materials and prime example of how not to use ladders. Wrong in every detail, it practical support to help them get the job done." simply serves to illustrate the need for proper ladder training. Gone Jobs are the days when learning on the job is acceptable. The risks are The new centre has created 10 jobs and is the 11th facility to be opened by simply too great.” Burton Roofing in the UK. The announcement came as the Ladder Association’s Ladder The company has had a record year with turnover exceeding £50m and it intends Exchange scheme finished its ninth year. Running from 1 to build on its success by expanding its number of retail sites across the country. September to 31 December 2015 the scheme allows ladder users across the country to replace broken and bent ladders for safe, new The business was started by Peter Burton in 1982 in Hull and now employs 161 In the short term, the roof tiling market over the next few years is set for continued ones at a discount offered by several partner organisations across staff across its network of retail sites and online services. growth as the number of housing starts is forecast to rise in 2016 and 2017. the UK. Also, in the short term the shift back to houses (and away from flats and apartments) is Gary added: “Over the years the Ladder expected to continue, due to the over-supply of city flats, benefitting the tiles market. In Exchange has removed thousands of BS5534 Standard Update Development the medium term, however, the number of newbuild flats is expected to rise as pressure “That said, industry wages are becoming increasingly unsafe ladders from service, thus reducing After the recent update of BS 5534:2014 coming into to effect in March 2015, the intensifies to increase housing density, in the South East in particular. attractive, and I would hope that over time this will the risk of an accident resulting from a Standard has now been amended and re-issued in September 2015 as ‘BS encourage skilled workers to return to the sector, as well as Improved levels of RMI may provide further support to the market in the refurbishment worn or faulty product.” 5534:2014+A1:2015 Slating and tiling for pitched roofs and vertical cladding – sector, as consumers seek to undertake repairs which they have postponed during recent drawing school leavers and graduates towards construction “Equally important is the fact that buyers Code of practice’. years. Further opportunities for the market may arise from household extensions, and industry careers.” and users of ladders, and the people who This Standard has developed in order to meet new regulatory requirements and there has been a modest upturn in mortgage lending in 2014/2015 which may reflect RICS Skills and Talent Director, Sally Speed said: supervise their use, are encouraged to design standards as part of changes to UK Building Regulations, European some of this demand. “Apprenticeships alone will not be enough. Ministers must think about height safety in general and look to draw a link between education, future careers and Eurocodes and industry Technical Standards. An increase in dry fix roofing has added value to the market although traditional mortar ladder safety in particular over the period skills. Employers need to take the lead in improving skill The Standard is for designers and specifiers of tiles, slates, shingles and bedding currently remains the most widely used fixing method in England and Wales, of the campaign. With falls from height levels, providing more vocational pathways to work and associated products for pitched roofs and vertical cladding. while in Scotland around 80% of roofing is mechanically fixed.