Experts in a diverse range of skills in fire safety are becoming the Fire Aware Educators to help guide those in the supply chain trying to find their way around the wave of legislation and compliance currently being introduced. Key changes under the Building Safety Act involve data collection for
Last week, VIVID welcomed Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (H&IOWFS) to one of their tall tower buildings for a hands-on training exercise designed to help crews gain valuable experience in tackling high-rise fires. The event brought together around 40 fire service personnel, including senior command officers
Using the highest-rated fire performance cables will help firefighters in the event of a fire in some of the largest new buildings being developed, says leading cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the need for the use of Category 3 fire performance cables which are designed to
Inconsistency in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regime, even among EU countries, means that a commercial building that receives the highest rating in one country could receive a grade up to four places lower in another, according to Savills in its Impacts research programme. The international real estate advisor says
Fresh figures from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) reveal that up to 75% of high-rise residential buildings are falling short of the UK’s latest building safety requirements, raising major concerns across the sector. Of the 1,454 high-risk buildings where owners have submitted their mandatory safety case files, the BSR has
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has taken another step forward, as part of its ongoing campaign to tackle the growing complexity of construction contracts, by launching a groundbreaking Simplified Sub-Contract built on the ‘500 Word’ principle. This simplified contract is designed to cut through legal jargon, reduce disputes and
Mediaworks, a leading independent digital agency, has published a new whitepaper titled “Making Waves in Customer Satisfaction: Achieving AMP8 Performance Goals Through Smarter Digital Engagement.” The report explores how water companies can meet the UK’s 2025–2030 Asset Management Period (AMP8) performance requirements by embedding digital thinking across customer experience, climate
Using fire performance cables which meet and exceed current standards and guidance can only help to improve safety in critical fire safety situations, says leading cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the importance of following the technical guidance for the selection and installation of cables for Category
Promat has released a significant update to its renowned Passive Fire Protection Handbook, which offers a go-to resource for best practice in specifying and installing passive fire protection systems across the UK construction sector. The newly revised edition introduces an overhauled section on structural steel protection, aligned with the latest
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) is taking a stand against poor behaviour in the supply chain. Members working in the housebuilding sector have raised concerns about unfair snagging practices on plaster or tape and jointed walls where LED lights are being used at shallow angles to inspect the finish. This
Experts in a diverse range of skills in fire safety are becoming the Fire Aware Educators to help guide those in the supply chain trying to find their way around the wave of legislation and compliance currently being introduced. Key changes under the Building Safety Act involve data collection for all information at key stages of construction, while there have been amendments to Approved Document B and new regulations for Residential Evacuation Plans which come into effect in 2026. The growing fire safety industry body Fire Aware has a number of specialist members who also act as technical guidance experts for members who need help around the new challenges of legislation. Gavin Skelly, Fire Aware CEO, said members specifically provide training courses relating to fire safety and management relevant for designers, main contractors, domestic trades, material suppliers, building management, hotel and leisure, commercial and private landlords and local authorities. He said: “At a time of increasing concern for the safety of the public who use our buildings and spaces, the fire safety industry is under increasing scrutiny and those with a duty of care should understand this is more than a job, it is a vocation. “We believe there is enough legislation to ensure safety if they are understood and followed. We have specialists who can help guide anyone in the supply chain around some of this new legislation because it can be challenging given its complexity and scale.” The expanding industry body is leading the way by focusing on the moral responsibility of all those working in the fire safety supply chain including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders. It aims to change the culture of the built environment sector by introducing a moral code of conduct via a series of charters designed to influence how member companies behave in upholding their duty of care. Fire Aware is a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a common aim to work and trade responsibly to all best practice standards in the interests of the safety of the general public. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Last week, VIVID welcomed Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service (H&IOWFS) to one of their tall tower buildings for a hands-on training exercise designed to help crews gain valuable experience in tackling high-rise fires. The event brought together around 40 fire service personnel, including senior command officers and frontline firefighters, supported by four fire engines, an aerial ladder platform (ALP), and several support vehicles. Over the course of four hours, crews worked through a realistic mock scenario involving a fire in the building. To make the exercise as true-to-life as possible, each flat was marked with scenario cards indicating potential challenges—such as customers with disabilities—giving crews a chance to think on their feet. A temporary evacuation control hub was set up in the garden area, staffed by eight team members who coordinated the response and kept communication flowing throughout. Members of VIVID’s Building and Fire Safety Team also took part in the role play, helping guide the fire service through the scenario and sharing key information. Tom Robinson, Executive Director of Assets and Sustainability, VIVID said, “We’re proud to support Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service and continue working together on future training exercises. Building strong partnerships like this helps move towards a safer environment for our customers—and that’s something we’re fully committed to.” Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service, Watch Manager, Sally Gould said, “My senior team are really happy with the opportunity, exercises like this are incredibly valuable—they give us the chance to put our policies and procedures into practice in a realistic setting, which is something we don’t often get to do. We’ve all learnt so much from being on-site and working through the scenario, and it’s helped build confidence across the team. It’s also been a great way to strengthen our working relationship with VIVID, and we’re really grateful for the time, expertise and support.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Using the highest-rated fire performance cables will help firefighters in the event of a fire in some of the largest new buildings being developed, says leading cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the need for the use of Category 3 fire performance cables which are designed to withstand heat and flames for up to 120 minutes, helping to protect equipment, property and even lives, supporting critical safety circuits in tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia. Category 1 cables guarantee 30 minutes of defence against flames, making them ideal for emergency lighting, while Category 2 cables give 60 minutes of fire protection and are commonly used for alarm systems. For firefighting, additional time is required and Category 3 cables are able to withstand up to 120 minutes of exposure to fire, providing enhanced emergency power to assist firefighters. The guidance for Category 3 Control fire performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings. Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, said: “In the interest of safety of property and lives in these critical spaces we are recommending these cables because they meet all compliance requirements. This provides specifiers, installers and asset owners peace of mind when considering cabling for new and existing buildings.” The systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. These cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world. For more information see the AEI Cables website, tel 0191 410 3111 or email sales@aeicables.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Inconsistency in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regime, even among EU countries, means that a commercial building that receives the highest rating in one country could receive a grade up to four places lower in another, according to Savills in its Impacts research programme. The international real estate advisor says that the lack of standardisation in energy labelling can even vary within countries. In Belgium, the same energy performance (measured in kWh/m²/year) would receive a ‘C’ rating in Flanders but a ‘D’ or ‘F’ in Brussels, owing to stricter rating thresholds in the Brussels-Capital Region. Standards for primary energy consumption in ‘A’-rated offices across Europe also vary, resulting in buildings that would receive a grade of ‘A’ in some countries only receiving a ‘D’ or ‘E’ in others. Savills says that while the EU is implementing a revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which should bring countries within its jurisdiction more into line, there are likely to still be discrepancies within individual countries as local political sensitivities, technical challenges, climate risks and the nature of existing building stock mean that sustainability standards vary considerably from one city to another. Legacy EU country/UK energy label comparison, by country: Chris Cummings, Director, Savills Earth, comments: “The lack of standardisation in energy labelling within the EU, and the UK which also uses EPC as its main measure of building performance, illustrates a wider global problem for cross-border investors and tenants in understanding what constitutes a ‘good’ building: if even within the same bloc there’s disparities, how can they compare across even wider geographies such as APAC or the US? Ideally, investors and occupiers should look beyond the headline EPC grade to examine a building’s actual energy data to get a true picture of its relative performance. If they don’t, they run the risk of excluding buildings which have received a lower rating in countries which exert a ‘tougher’ EPC regime, as they do not fulfil their sustainability objectives, only to go on to take a building in another country which has a higher grade, but ultimately is a poorer performer.” Sarah Brooks, Associate Director, Savills World Research, says: “City-level differences in sustainability standards can again present distinct challenges and opportunities for occupiers and investors. They must account for differences in local policy, market expectations and available incentives in their strategies. Gaining a competitive edge often means exceeding national requirements as well as aligning with city-level expectations and long-term local sustainability plans. Nuanced due diligence is vital.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fresh figures from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) reveal that up to 75% of high-rise residential buildings are falling short of the UK’s latest building safety requirements, raising major concerns across the sector. Of the 1,454 high-risk buildings where owners have submitted their mandatory safety case files, the BSR has reviewed 170 to date. Alarmingly, 125 of these did not meet the required standards. Legal notices have now been served on the owners of non-compliant properties, compelling them to act on serious safety failings. Failures range from inadequate assessments and missing resident engagement strategies, to structural and compartmentation issues requiring significant remedial work. The data was part of the BSR’s first formal performance update, covering the period from late 2023 through early 2025. It also revealed a growing backlog in planning approvals. On average, developers are waiting 36 weeks — or nine months — for Gateway approvals, three times the intended 12-week target. Out of 2,108 applications submitted in that window, only 338 received approval. A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) acknowledged the delays and said recent recruitment and process reforms are starting to improve throughput. The BSR has now surpassed a key milestone, with the number of decisions each month finally exceeding the number of new applications received. Further reforms are underway. The BSR, which was previously part of the HSE, is being restructured into a standalone authority. A dedicated Innovation Unit has also been launched to help accelerate new-build approvals, particularly those that adopt modern construction methods or demonstrate exemplary safety strategies. To strengthen enforcement and technical scrutiny, the regulator is also recruiting experienced engineers and building safety professionals following criticism that previous case reviewers lacked sector-specific knowledge. Baroness Taylor of Bolton, chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, spoke as part of an ongoing inquiry into the BSR’s performance: “The Committee wants to hear from all stakeholders to find out if the BSR has the skills and resources required to ensure the safety of all buildings and its residents in the process of approving applications for high-rise buildings. This is crucial if the Government is going to achieve its manifesto target of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.” As the BSR moves to ramp up its capabilities and regain industry confidence, the figures underscore the scale of the task ahead in transforming building safety in the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) has taken another step forward, as part of its ongoing campaign to tackle the growing complexity of construction contracts, by launching a groundbreaking Simplified Sub-Contract built on the ‘500 Word’ principle. This simplified contract is designed to cut through legal jargon, reduce disputes and promote better business relationships across the sector. This initiative forms a key part of FIS’s work to drive fairer procurement and smarter contractual practices through its Responsible No Campaign. Developed in consultation with FIS members and aimed at fit-out and specialist contractors, the new sub-contract was developed by an FIS Working Group led by renowned contract specialist, Sarah Fox. At the heart of Sarah’s philosophy is the belief that simplification works. By streamlining deals and clarifying terms, businesses can save time, build stronger relationships and avoid unnecessary conflict. The newly released contract embodies this principle and is now available to FIS members for free here. Matt Hallam, Divisional Director at Telling Finishings and a participant in the initial development workshop, commented: “For years construction contracts have increased in both content and terms, often adding minor changes and clauses which continue to confuse, conflict and often compromise those required to sign them.” “The need for a shorter and ultimately more simplified contract has never been greater and we at Telling Finishings look forward to rolling out the ‘500-word Contract’, to hopefully give both the comfort and clarity these contracts were originally built to achieve.” To further support members and industry professionals in adopting this new approach, FIS will host a webinar with Sarah Fox on 25 September. Click the link to book your place:Improving Business Relationships and Avoiding Disputes with Simplified Contracts. This session will provide practical insights on how to use the contract effectively and avoid disputes through simplification. FIS is now encouraging all those involved in the industry to download the contract and register for the webinar to learn how simplification can help transform contractual relationships in this sector. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mediaworks, a leading independent digital agency, has published a new whitepaper titled “Making Waves in Customer Satisfaction: Achieving AMP8 Performance Goals Through Smarter Digital Engagement.” The report explores how water companies can meet the UK’s 2025–2030 Asset Management Period (AMP8) performance requirements by embedding digital thinking across customer experience, climate resilience and service delivery. Drawing on sector-wide data, regulatory analysis, and insights on behaviour, the whitepaper outlines five critical trends reshaping water management today, including rising public scrutiny, increasing demand for climate preparedness and growing expectations for seamless, self-service digital experiences. The whitepaper emphasises that AMP8 is not just a compliance milestone but a reputational turning point for the water sector. With customer sentiment increasingly shaped by online interactions, digital channels have become central to how trust, transparency, and long-term value are communicated. To support this shift, Mediaworks has developed the Mediaworks Measure of Experience (M-MeX), a proprietary index benchmarking digital performance across visibility, sentiment, accessibility, engagement, and self-serve effectiveness. While Ofwat’s C-MeX and D-MeX scores reflect customer perception, M-MeX provides water companies with a complementary performance measure to identify gaps and digital improvement opportunities. The report benchmarks the digital and customer satisfaction performance of 17 UK water companies. Findings reveal that although some providers excel in digital visibility, many struggle with negative sentiment, weak content coverage, and low engagement. These are all factors that could limit their ability to meet AMP8 customer metrics. Dan Hoggan, Chief Technology Officer at Mediaworks, commented, “In the AMP8 era, customers are not simply service recipients, they are informed, empowered stakeholders. “Water companies that respond with tailored digital services, proactive engagement and inclusive communication will not only meet regulatory demands but also future proof their reputations. “This whitepaper offers the blueprint for water companies to meet that expectation.” The whitepaper is now available to download from: HERE Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Using fire performance cables which meet and exceed current standards and guidance can only help to improve safety in critical fire safety situations, says leading cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the importance of following the technical guidance for the selection and installation of cables for Category 3 Control fire performance cables under the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice. The guidance for Category 3 Control fire performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia. Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, said: “We are seeing quite an increase in demand for Category 3 Control cables and we can only stress that if they meet and exceed all standards requirements this can only help in the interest of safety of property and lives in these critical spaces. “Meeting standards is a minimum requirement but going above and beyond these standards will help firefighters in a real-life fire situation.” The systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. These cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world. For more information see the AEI Cables website, tel 0191 410 3111 or email sales@aeicables.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Promat has released a significant update to its renowned Passive Fire Protection Handbook, which offers a go-to resource for best practice in specifying and installing passive fire protection systems across the UK construction sector. The newly revised edition introduces an overhauled section on structural steel protection, aligned with the latest test standards and regulatory requirements. This new content supports contractors, designers and specifiers working to meet the heightened compliance demands introduced under the Building Safety Act. The update reinforces the handbook’s role in promoting best practice and delivering peace of mind as the sector adjusts to tighter safety regulations. In particular, it supports the Golden Thread requirement by providing up-to-date and traceable technical detail on tested systems. The newly updated structural steel section includes information on choosing the correct protective board, performance guidance for specialist steel protection boards including VERMICULUX®-S, PROMATECT®-250 and PROMATECT®-XW, installation guides for 1, 2, 3 and 4-sided encasements, and treatment of complex steel profiles, including cellular beams. The handbook also covers how to calculate the level of protection needed, and guidance on achieving a range of fire resistance from 30 minutes up to 240 minutes. It also highlights the standards that need to be met, such as EN 13381-4 and EN 1363-1. The revised content brings Promat’s technical guidance in line with the latest industry testing and performance criteria. Promat now offers the most comprehensive testing portfolio for structural steel fire protection available in the UK, making the handbook a vital reference for professionals involved in specifying and installing life critical safety. Josh Slack, Commercial Director at Promat, said: “The Passive Fire Protection Handbook is one of the most trusted resources in UK construction. This update takes it to the next level. With the spotlight rightly on building safety, there’s a real desire for absolute clarity, certainty and compliance – and that’s exactly what this updated guidance delivers. “It gives our customers the confidence they need when specifying structural steel protection, which is especially important as this continues to be a popular construction method.” This structural steel update is part of Promat’s wider commitment to raising standards to support the latest legislation to improve building safety. By offering detailed technical data and real-world application guidance, the handbook helps to ensure that fire protection systems are not only specified correctly, but installed to perform as tested. Josh added: “For anyone responsible for demonstrating compliance – from principal designers through to contractors and building owners – the handbook provides a reliable, thoroughly tested foundation to work from. It reflects Promat’s role as a proactive partner in the industry’s drive towards safer, more accountable construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) is taking a stand against poor behaviour in the supply chain. Members working in the housebuilding sector have raised concerns about unfair snagging practices on plaster or tape and jointed walls where LED lights are being used at shallow angles to inspect the finish. This improper practice whereby the light is shined close to, or directly against the surface of the wall, highlight surface imperfections which are normally imperceptible to the human eye well within tolerance when industry standard inspection methods are used. On launching the campaign, Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive stated: “We often talk about the culture of construction and that means we need to look at all behaviours and the effect they have. It is clear to us that this over-zealous approach to inspection is creating a lot of bad feeling and straining relationships. Our belief is that the practice has little to do with quality and everything to do with keeping pressure on the supply chain, making sure sub-contractors are operating under commercial tension. In the worst of cases it is being used to delay, reduce or withhold payment and with that all the cashflow and mental health issues that plague SMEs in the supply chain. It can be little more than bullying and has no place in the sector today.” To tackle the problem head on, FIS has published new guidance which members are encouraged to download and share with their clients ahead of starting work. This guidance covers how inspections should be conducted and encourages the classification of the flatness of the plastered finish is agreed along with the level of smooth finishes before work starts. FIS Head of Technical James Parlour said: “We’ve tried for a number of years attacking this problem from purely a technical perspective, but people continue to ignore the standards. Change won’t happen unless we put our heads above the parapet and start to call out bad behaviour. This latest guidance and supporting resources should help align expectation and inspections to the standards and ensures that we avoid glancing light issues in inspection which exaggerate even the smallest of imperfection. “We do appreciate that it can be difficult for individual members to do this directly, but we are also asking members to report to us when they encounter these bad practices and we can pick it up as a collective effort. So the message is clear, if you are inspecting drylining and plaster finishes, use the standards and ensure that your processes are informed, fair and realistic. If you are a specialist contractor and have experienced unfair snagging practices, don’t just put up with it and move on reach out to us in confidence so we can log cases and start to challenge businesses to improve”. FIS is also concerned the effect bad practices have on those looking to start a career in the sector. Young people are being encouraged into the industry but when they are faced with this culture and ruthless nature many leave before they have had chance to really see what a good career the construction industry can offer. To support the campaign FIS will be launching a short video to help showcase the problem and is develop new training to support inspections. You can register on the FIS website to receive free access to the training when it is launched later this summer. For more information visit https://www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/shine-a-light-on-bad-practice-not-walls-campaign/ To report your experiences, email details in confidence to info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals