INSULATION
Raising competency in the industry
Raising standards across the board is crucial to bridging the construction skills gap, explains Paul Simpson,
commercial director at Recticel Insulation
The UK construction industry
is facing a well-reported skills
shortage due to tradespeople
retiring or leaving the sector
without being replaced. It’s an issue
that needs addressing urgently if the
country’s future building requirements
are to be met. But as well as sourcing
new recruits to fulfil project demand,
might a change of mindset amongst
existing employees be in order to help
raise building standards?
Understandably, the UK construction
skills shortage tends to focus on the
practical expertise of roofers, engineers,
bricklayers and carpenters, but good
building practice in these areas is
also important to improve structural
performance, and this requires an
adaption in attitude.
Correct material specification is vital
to building success. It’s an unwritten rule
that applies right across the industry,
particularly in relation to roofing and
general construction. However, it
appears all but a few key players are able
to offer customers the guidance they
need to ensure a newbuild or renovation
project’s safe, effective delivery.
Selling customers short
Too often, the emphasis is on cost rather
than performance when it comes to
offering a client a waterproofing system,
for example. ‘Get the sale’ seems to be
the mantra among some contractors,
regardless of whether it’s the appropriate
option. With this of course comes the
danger that such disregard will lead to
poor specification and products. This
really doesn’t equate to value for money,
as corner-cutting, and not knowing what
products are and how they relate to each
other increases the risk of system failure
and further, potentially costly repair. In
a worst-case scenario, poor specification
could put lives at risk.
This is where engaging with a
specialist company such as Gradient,
Recticel’s sister company, proves crucial.
Gradient’s turnkey service offering in
relation to single-layer roofing solutions
means its technical teams are available
at every stage of a project. We view this
close working relationship with clients
as essential to us developing a bespoke
single-layer roofing solution to suit their
precise requirements. Furthermore, this
single-point provision simplifies what
is a potentially stressful process for
the client by eliminating the need for
multiple contacts.
To supplement our consultation,
design and manufacturing service,
Gradient opened a training centre in
2019. For merchants and distributors,
the training centre has proved useful
in raising their product awareness in
order for them to give informed advice to
customers.
A workshop, for example, might
involve demonstrating why ordinary
construction board shouldn’t be used
as part of a flat roof application, how
to achieve falls that are compliant with
BS:6229, and which height an upstand is
required to meet.
Information such as this will mean
distributors and the like are able to offer
informed, over-the-counter advice to
customers, with the end result being a
good quality installation.
Education, education
In my opinion, the current construction
skills shortage is partly due to collegetrained
employees leaving their place of
learning and not continuing with their
education once they embark on a career
in the trade. It means their knowledge
doesn’t extend to the raft of new products
and technologies that arrive on the
market. An antidote to this might be to
provide a programme of events similar to
a CPD whereby tradespeople are credited
for having an understanding of updated
technologies.
Any industry worth its salt should
develop continuous improvement
initiatives. It’s mandatory for architects
to undertake such programmes, but
in the building and roofing sectors,
individual companies or employees
are left to make their own training
arrangements.
There ought to be a legislative
programme in place to upskill our
construction workforce. Perhaps then
it will become the type of industry that
people want to join.
Incentive-based training schemes
are an obvious enticement to further
education. The offer of a recognised
qualification and an opportunity for
career progression and improved
remuneration would benefit the
individual, as well as add much-needed
kudos to the occupation itself.
In business, reputation is everything,
and so it should be with industries if
they are to thrive. Compared to the film,
music or sports sectors, the building
trade will never be thought of as
‘glamorous’. But that doesn’t preclude it
from being considered desirable. After
all, having a hand in shaping our future
built environment ought to be viewed as
quite an alluring prospect. It’s a message
the construction industry should be
sending to school and college students,
as their participation is crucial to the
industry’s future.
w www.recticel.com
Paul Simpson:
“There ought
to be a
legislative
programme
in place to
upskill our
construction
workforce.
Perhaps then
it will become
the type of
industry that
people want
to join”
Knauf Insulation launches
next generation
non-combustible So t
Linerboard
Knauf Insulation has enhanced its
Earthwool Sot Linerboard range,
achieving best-in-class thermal
performance, and adding rigidity to make
installation even easier. The improved
range will help customers meet the
increasing demand for non-combustible
insulation in car parks, stadiums and
commercial units.
“Specifications for non-combustible
sot insulation are likely to increase as
building regulations evolve further and
sot applications become a focus for fire
safety,” said Luke Davies, rock mineral wool
product manager at Knauf Insulation.
Earthwool Sot Linerboard now has a
lower thermal conductivity of just 0.034
W/mK. It has the best possible Euroclass A1
Reaction to Fire Classification rating, and
is available in two finishes with a range of
thicknesses for any build-up.
w www.knaufinsulation.co.uk
42 www.rcimag.co.uk August 2020
/www.recticel.com
/www.knaufinsulation.co.uk
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