Bureau Veritas

BUREAU VERITAS BACKS THE HSE IN ITS DRIVE TO IMPROVE RESPIRITORY HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION

Bureau Veritas hails month-long initiative as ‘crucial’ in turning the tide on improving overall health in the construction industry  Leading CDM and Occupational Hygiene authority urges industry to eliminate risks associated with dust, starting at the design phase of development    Leading Construction Design and Management (CDM) and Occupational Hygiene authority, Bureau Veritas, has praised the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for

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CODE RED FOR HUMANITY: BUREAU VERITAS TELLS BUSINESSES TO ACT NOW TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND BECOME NET ZERO

Described as a ‘code red for humanity’, the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report revealed some stark realities about the state of our climate in 2021 – highlighting the ‘irreversible’ effect human activity is having on the environment. Now, leading sustainability authority, Bureau Veritas, is pressing businesses to

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BUREAU VERITAS LISTED ON PROCURE PARTNERSHIPS FRAMEWORK

Bureau Veritas has secured a place for Fire Engineering services on the Procure Partnerships Framework, designed to simplify procurement for the public sector. Structured around 11 regional framework lots, the Procure Partnerships Framework provides local delivery with national governance to support public sector bodies with their construction projects. Bureau Veritas

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NEW BUREAU VERITAS OFFERING MAKES EASIER WORK OF COMPLEX COMPLIANCE

As part of its continued commitment to helping make easier work of complex health and safety legislation, Bureau Veritas has launched a brand new package enabling customers to combine inspections in order to optimise efficiencies and, in turn, reduce costs. Now available nationwide, the Comply in One offering means customers

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Bureau Veritas

BUREAU VERITAS BACKS THE HSE IN ITS DRIVE TO IMPROVE RESPIRITORY HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION

Bureau Veritas hails month-long initiative as ‘crucial’ in turning the tide on improving overall health in the construction industry  Leading CDM and Occupational Hygiene authority urges industry to eliminate risks associated with dust, starting at the design phase of development    Leading Construction Design and Management (CDM) and Occupational Hygiene authority, Bureau Veritas, has praised the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) for highlighting the respiratory risks associated with exposure to construction dust as part of its month-long inspection initiative.  Launched last week, the initiative will see HSE inspectors across the UK target construction firms to check the status of their health and safety standards, looking at the control measures businesses have in place to protect their workers from exposure to construction dust, including silica, asbestos and wood dust.   Hailing the focus as a ‘crucial requirement’ in turning the tide on improving overall health in the construction industry, Bureau Veritas – a global expert in managing exposure risks to workers by recognising, evaluating and controlling hygiene hazards in the workplace – is urging construction firms to take an up-front approach to eliminating the risks associated with dust, starting at the design phase of development.   Fran Watkins-White, Head of CDM Services at Bureau Veritas, said: “The focus on construction workers’ respiratory health as part of the HSE’s inspection initiative is a necessary step in improving practices across the construction industry when it comes to protecting workers’ health. We’ve seen the industry make great strides in improving conditions that place workers at risk from exposure to dust, but there is much more to be done in terms of eliminating that risk through the design phase on projects and good construction planning – particularly when considering modern advances in construction technology.”  Research shows that each year more than 3,500 builders die from cancers related to their work, with thousands more cases of ill-health and lost working days. In fact, more workers are lost to diseases caused or made worse by their work than are actually killed in construction accidents.   The current Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 regulations require employers to control substances that are hazardous to health through various methods, including providing measures to reduce harm to health, providing monitoring and health surveillance and planning for emergencies.   Joe Marais, Team Leader in Occupational Hygiene & Storage Equipment at Bureau Veritas, said: “Current regulations require the Duty Holder – or Principal Contractor – to ensure COSHH regulations are met, which detail the necessary steps to protecting employees against over exposure to hazardous substances, including dust. When considering the ‘hierarchy of control’, all too often we see Duty Holders implementing control solutions at the mid-way point – effective if the hazard is unremovable, of course, but does little to eliminate the hazard itself.    “We would therefore urge construction companies to consider the risk of exposure to dust and other hazardous materials from project conception, effectively ‘designing out’ the dust risk through construction planning,  including off-site construction where possible, and planning for work to be undertaken in controlled environments equipped for better managing the health risks associated with dust – such as dust suppressants and collection systems.”  Fran added: “There are some simple ways that Duty Holders can ensure they are protecting the health of their employees, though we realise that complying with industry regulations and standards – such as CDM Regulations 2015, COSHH or ‘EH40’ (which details exposure limits) – can often feel like a minefield. In this instance, a third party such as Bureau Veritas can support in meeting necessary requirements and can even work with construction companies to provide a full suite of services, including CDM Consultancy services supporting the consideration of health and safety in design and support from our Occupational Health team by way of initial consultation, audit and testing through to full reports, recommendations and control of hazardous materials.” Bureau Veritas is a leading CDM and Occupational Hygiene authority, with expert capability to support clients in meeting regulations and managing exposure to risk. To find out more about Bureau Veritas’ services or to discuss individual requirements with a member of the team, call 0345 600 1828 or visit  www.bureauveritas.co.uk. 

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CODE RED FOR HUMANITY: BUREAU VERITAS TELLS BUSINESSES TO ACT NOW TO REDUCE EMISSIONS AND BECOME NET ZERO

Described as a ‘code red for humanity’, the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report revealed some stark realities about the state of our climate in 2021 – highlighting the ‘irreversible’ effect human activity is having on the environment. Now, leading sustainability authority, Bureau Veritas, is pressing businesses to play their part in reducing emissions, to stabilise rising temperatures. Published in August, the report is the first major review of the science of climate change since 2013. It revealed that global surface temperatures have significantly increased since 1970, with the past five years the hottest since records began (in 1850). Scientists who produced the report attribute 90% of the global retreat of glaciers and the decrease in Arctic sea-ice to human activity, highlighting a number of hot extremes, but less frequent and less severe cold events1. The climate crisis is a global challenge, that requires everyone to act and contribute, and it’s already been demonstrated how this can be done. The ban on chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in 1987 has averted a ‘climate catastrophe’ according to scientists2, with predictions that continued and increased use of CFCs would have contributed to global air temperatures rising by an additional 2.5°C by the end of this century. With the UK hosting the much-anticipated 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November, the focus following the coronavirus is not only to ‘build back better’ but build back greener. Three quarters (78%) of UK businesses have made a net zero pledge3, therefore firms should now be looking to shift from making long term commitments to accelerating action to reduce carbon emissions, according to Bureau Veritas. Julie-Anna Smith, South & West Europe Sustainability Services Leader at Bureau Veritas, said: “The recent IPCC report revealed some glaring truths about the science behind many of the statements made about climate change, supporting the argument that human activity is undoubtedly causing rising temperatures. “The majority of businesses have made a commitment to net zero, however there is a huge difference between commitments, plans and action. It is clear governments and organisations now need to act to reduce carbon emissions, by reducing waste, efficiently using energy, investing in cleaner technologies, and educating supply chains to do the same. “The key is to be realistic. With the UK’s own plan to become net zero by 2050, we see a lot of businesses making similar ambitious statements. We find businesses often don’t actually know how to accomplish this or have an over reliance on offsetting technologies which don’t even exist yet or feel that their actions will not make a difference. A successful and achievable net zero plan should include interim targets – to ensure efforts to become net zero are consistent and not left until it’s too late. “Businesses that are not clear on what steps they need to take to play their part in this international effort towards tackling climate change can turn to a sustainability expert like Bureau Veritas to make assessments of their current sustainability performance and set in motion recommendations for an effective carbon emissions reduction plan.” According to Bureau Veritas, the immediate priority for businesses, that have not already done so, include: Understanding the business’ emissions. Firms must calculate their baseline carbon footprint arising from its day-to-day operations (scope 1 of Greenhouse Gas Protocol), and then look on to the wider value chain for indirect emissions – such as those from suppliers and customers (scope 2 and 3). Set interim science-based targets covering the next five years – considering how data will be collected, measured and monitored, to ensure the business is on track to achieve the long term net zero commitment. Focus on the easy actions – straightforward carbon reduction opportunities such as reviewing lighting, heating and energy use, employee travel, reducing waste and switching to renewable energy sources. Review more long-term complex initiatives – start collaborating with customers, suppliers, and regulators. This will help generate new ideas for improving resource use, and also quickly identify opportunities such as funding grants, and to access new markets, new customers and talent. Bureau Veritas has experience and technical expertise in helping some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance in a number of sectors including food, pharmaceutical, financial and manufacturing. With a proven track record in verification of environmental, health & safety and social data, including conducting audits against the requirements of ISO 14064 Part 3, Bureau Veritas is also a GRI Community Member, an AA1000AS Licensed Provider, a UKAS accredited ISO 14064-1 Verification Body. To find out more, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.

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NEW FIRE SAFETY ACT PROMPTS RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEW, BUREAU VERITAS TELLS DUTY HOLDERS

Leading safety and compliance expert, Bureau Veritas is encouraging landlords and duty holders to prepare for the Fire Safety Act 2021 which will make significant changes to fire safety regulation – describing the legislation as a new era for building safety. Given Royal Assent on 29th April this year, the Act will amend the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and aims to make it clearer where responsibility for fire safety lies. The new laws apply to buildings containing more than one home that are more than 18 metres or six/seven stories in height and seeks to respond to the outcomes of the Hackitt Review. The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarifies that the responsible person or duty holder for multi-occupied, residential buildings must “manage and reduce the risk of fire” posed by the building’s structure, and most notably external wall systems, including windows and balconies, and individual occupants’ entrance doors. Under the clarification, fire and rescue services will be authorised to take enforcement action and hold building owners to account if they are not compliant. This latest law follows on from various action already taken designed towards strengthening the whole regulatory system for building safety, including new sprinkler requirements and the forthcoming Building Safety Bill which was presented to Parliament on 5th July 2021. John O’Sullivan MBE, Technical Director – Fire Consultancy at Bureau Veritas, states: “The approval of the Fire Safety Act marks a significant step in the right direction to mitigate the fire risk in relation to life safety and building safety and is one of the biggest outcomes of the Grenfell Inquiry to date. The government is expected to release further guidance on the Act later this year, as there is further consultation currently taking place in relation to the stay put policy and evacuation procedures for high rise residential properties. “Therefore, we would encourage any landlord or duty holder to take stock of the new changes already in place and review its current fire risk assessments policies. The Fire Safety Act potentially poses new challenges for duty holders, with the inclusion of the building structure, external walls, balconies and windows now forming part of a fire risk assessment process, and with the onus now firmly placed on duty holders to get it right, its essential these are done properly.” The Fire Safety Act also provides a foundation for secondary legislation to take forward recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase one report, including lift inspections, reviewing evacuation plans and fire safety instruction for residents. The upcoming Building Safety Bill, which was placed before parliament on 5th July 2021, and is expected to be passed into law by 2022, this is likely to include parts of phase two recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry that will enact a change in Building Regulations. John continues: “With these new changes enforced by the Fire Safety Act, and more updates to come in the near future, it may seem a daunting task for landlords or a residential buildings duty holders to keep on top of the regulations to ensure risk assessments are accurate. However, third party health and safety firms, like Bureau Veritas, are able to conduct compliant fire risk assessments and make recommendations for necessary changes to mitigate the risk to ensure homes remain safe.” Bureau Veritas offers a comprehensive range of fire and life safety consultancy services to suit all requirements, including fire risk assessment, fire engineering, building control and fire science. The testing, inspection and certification expert offers duty holders the unique opportunity to select the services they require to help improve fire safety management in their buildings, whilst benefitting from the cost-efficiencies of a combined service. For further information on how Bureau Veritas can support with fire risk assessments and fire and life safety strategies call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk

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BUREAU VERITAS URGES CONSTRUCTION BUSINESSES TO TAKE HEED OF NET ZERO PLEDGE REQUIRED FOR UK GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

Leading compliance expert Bureau Veritas has revealed that construction businesses looking to bid for UK government contracts worth more than £5m will need to step up their sustainability credentials as a new rule requires them to commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – and demonstrate how they will manage their impact on the environment throughout the contract. Earlier this month, the UK government announced it will require businesses to commit to net zero by 2050 and publish clear and credible carbon reduction plans before they can bid for major government contracts1. A carbon reduction plan sets out where an organisation’s emissions come from and the environmental management measures that they have in place. Some large companies already self-report parts of their carbon emissions, known as Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect owned) emissions. However, the new rules are set to go further, requiring the reporting of some Scope 3 emissions, including business travel, employee commuting, transportation, distribution and waste. Scope 3 emissions represent a significant proportion of an organisation’s carbon footprint. Welcoming the new measures, Bureau Veritas, which has helped some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance, has described the move as a ‘quantum leap’ for sustainability. As such, the firm is pressing construction businesses to revisit, review and independently verify their environmental strategies in preparation of the upcoming changes, due to be implemented from September. David Murray, Technical Director for Sustainability at Bureau Veritas, comments: “Considering the government spends more than £290 billion on procurement every year, these new requirements are a ‘quantum leap’ for sustainability across the UK. “However, it also means that companies hoping to win these lucrative government contracts can no longer simply pay lip service to their environmental policy but instead must demonstrate a credible, robust and ambitious plan for achieving net zero carbon emissions. “Ahead of these changes, firms that haven’t done so already will need to review their existing sustainability strategy and be confident about how they plan to reach net zero carbon emissions, which includes a focus on coherent data collection, reporting and action. “Whilst this process can be inherently complex, the good news is as a third-party sustainability expert, at Bureau Veritas, we’ve built up specialist experience in supporting businesses with the sustainability credential in recent years – invaluable expertise which we’d urge all construction business to utilise now.” Bureau Veritas has experience and technical expertise in helping some of the world’s largest organisations improve their sustainability performance in a number of sectors including food, pharmaceutical, financial and manufacturing. With a proven track record in verification of environmental, health & safety and social data, including conducting audits against the requirements of ISO 14064 Part 3, Bureau Veritas is also a GRI Community Member, an AA1000AS Licensed Provider and a UKAS accredited ISO 14064-1 Verification Body. To find out more, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk

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BUREAU VERITAS LISTED ON PROCURE PARTNERSHIPS FRAMEWORK

Bureau Veritas has secured a place for Fire Engineering services on the Procure Partnerships Framework, designed to simplify procurement for the public sector. Structured around 11 regional framework lots, the Procure Partnerships Framework provides local delivery with national governance to support public sector bodies with their construction projects. Bureau Veritas has been appointed to the Procure Partnerships Framework Professional Services Agreement in all regions. The four-year framework starts on 1st September 2020 and covers 11 disciplines including project management, structural and civil engineering, quality surveying, MEP design and fire engineering. It follows the recent announcement of a similar contractor framework from Procure Partnerships. It is estimated that this new professional services framework could account for a total spend of up to £500m over the four year period. Steve Highwood, UK Construction Sector Lead at Bureau Veritas, said: “This is a significant achievement for the Fire Engineering team at Bureau Veritas and a real testament to the quality of our services. “With a proven track record of delivery, we provide a range of fire safety engineering services, working closely with clients throughout the project lifecycle to help design and coordinate effective strategies. “Being appointed to the Procure Partnerships Framework will give added confidence in the quality of our services and in the way in which we approach every individual project. We’re delighted to be included on the four-year framework and looking forward to working with public sector clients across the UK in this coming period and beyond.” Robbie Blackhurst, Procure Partnerships Framework Director, said: “This agreement has been two years in the making and it now allows the Procure Partnerships Framework to offer a one-stop shop of both professional services and contractor appointments to our public sector clients. “The framework is divided into sub-regional lots supporting the appointment of both local and national practices, offering both direct award and further competition project call-offs. “We were extremely impressed with the quality of tenders received and delighted with the calibre of suppliers that we now have locked into our four-year agreement.” Find out more about our Construction Consultancy services, including Fire Engineering, at https://www.bureauveritas.co.uk/construction-consultancy.

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LEADING BUILDING COMPLIANCE AUTHORITY WELCOMES ‘VITAL’ NEW SPRINKLER THRESHOLD

Leading safety and building compliance authority, Bureau Veritas, has pledged its full support to the government’s recent introduction of a new 11m threshold for sprinklers – asserting it marks a vital step forward in the journey towards enhanced fire safety regulation. On 26 May 2020 the UK government released the inaugural phase of its Fire Safety Approved Document Work Plan; the important implementation plan based on Hackitt report recommendations designed to create a new regulatory framework for building safety. As part of this, the government announced updates to the Building Regulation in Approved Document B whereby the current trigger height for sprinklers in new residential flats will be replaced from 30 metres (typically 10 floors) to just 11 metres (typically four floors). This significant reform means that any new flat developments with a floor at the new threshold will be required to be fitted with a sprinkler or alternative fire suppression system. Importantly, the requirement, which comes into effect on 26th November 2020, will only apply to projects lodged before this time and that have not started ahead of the official cut-off date of 29 January 2021. Alongside this, the government also recently announced the new requirement for wayfinding signage in flat developments in stairs and lobbies to assist firefighting operations. Looking ahead, further regulatory reforms are expected to follow later in the year to include the consideration of Evacuation Alert Systems and potentially the introduction of a new 11 metres height requirement for firefighting shafts, as opposed to the current 18 metres. Andy Lowe, technical and training director for Bureau Veritas Building Control, comments: “Following an ongoing consultation period, we are in full support of the government’s decision to considerably lower the threshold height for the provision of sprinklers in new flat complexes, while also including the provision of storey identification signage in staircases to assist wayfinding for firefighters. “While these may seem relatively simple changes, they are incredibly important ones which will go a long way in helping ensure that residents are safer in their homes and that more adequate preventative measures are in place should an incident occur.” In response to the new Approved Document B Fire Safety, Bureau Veritas, a leading global compliance, testing and inspection expert in building compliance, is holding a specialist webinar specifically designed to support the industry in understanding the changes. To be held on 17 June 20 , the free webinar will see the business’ expert Construction Consultancy team cover a range of important fire updates covering the combustible cladding ban, assessments in lieu of testing, new cladding requirements, and more. Andy adds: “Inherently, amid the ongoing transition towards the creation of a much more holistic and robust future fire safety framework, there will be a lot of change for the building industry to get to grips with. As such, as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting customers operating in this sector, both existing and new, we have developed a new webinar designed to provide a quick and convenient overview of the latest changes and what they mean for them. We’d urge as many customers as possible to attend what promises to be an incredibly valuable session.” To register your interest in the upcoming ‘Approved Document B: Understanding Fire Safety Changes’ webinar please visit https://bureauveritas.zoom.us/webinar/register/1015907514985/WN_VbUnwR1PTFSE-UkgeGA6vQ. Alternatively, for more information on Bureau Veritas please visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk.

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WINNING EMPLOYEE ‘HEARTS AND MINDS’ ESSENTIAL FOR SAFE RETURN TO WORK, ADVISES BUREAU VERITAS

As the UK government unveils new guidelines for making workplaces ‘COVID-secure’, global health and safety expert Bureau Veritas is advising businesses that their safe return to work depends on their ability to “win the hearts and minds of employees” alongside creating clear policy, systems and processes with regular monitoring. On 11 May, the government published guidance for employers to help them get their businesses back up and running and workplaces operating safely following almost two months of strict coronavirus restrictions. The new guidance covers eight workplace settings that are allowed to be open, from outdoor environments and construction sites through to factories and takeaways. The guidelines focus on five key points; work from home if you can, carry out COVID-19 risk assessments in consultation with workers or trade unions, maintain social distancing and, where this is not possible, manage transmission risk, all of which must be supported with more stringent cleaning processes. And with many businesses now facing the daunting challenge of implementing the guidelines, Bureau Veritas, which has been working with a number of sectors to help them safely resume operations, believes that those firms that work collaboratively with their workforce to introduce new ways of working are likely to fair better. Ken Smith, UK Chief Executive at Bureau Veritas UK, said: “For almost all British businesses, introducing the appropriate health, safety and hygiene measures required to make workplaces ‘COVID-secure’ as per the new government guidelines will require a complete overhaul of their current operations. “It’s a mammoth undertaking which will only be successful if employers win the hearts and minds of employees to ensure they are empowered and committed – and must be underpinned by clear policy, systems and processes with regular monitoring. To achieve this, businesses are advised to introduce measures in consultation and consensus with staff, have regular communication and active engagement on whether these are effective as well as creating a system that encourages staff to come forward and voice concerns if at any point they feel unsafe at work.” Other challenges the employers should consider, says Bureau Veritas – which recently launched its ‘Restart Your Business’ assurance service to help firms manage their return to work strategies – includes how the government’s advice to avoid using public transport will impact employees as well as having a better understanding of the movement of people around business premises. “Taking the time to understand the occupational use of buildings – logistics, deliveries, how lifts are used, desks are spaced and the hygiene of frequently used touchpoints – will stand duty holders in good stead for resuming operations. “Given the sheer size and complexity of making workplaces safe against the threat of coronavirus transmission, a nuanced approach that truly reflects best practice, could ultimately, help to save lives.” The ‘Restart Your Business With Bureau Veritas’ service provides a voluntary, independent assessment of a firm’s COVID-19 readiness to re-open their business premises, with a statement of assurance issued on completion that can be displayed on its website and at its properties. To find out more about ‘Restart Your Business With Bureau Veritas’, call 0345 600 1828 or visit: https://share.hsforms.com/1tTRe4h7IQZOBHtRBmdDDfg2z02a.

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BUREAU VERITAS LAUNCHES NEW ‘RETURN TO WORK’ SERVICE TO HELP BUSINESSES RESTART POST-LOCKDOWN OPERATIONS

As businesses plan their return to work following months of coronavirus restrictions, Bureau Veritas has launched a new service to help construction firms meet the robust health and safety standards required to safely restart their operations. It comes as the UK government prepares to end the coronavirus lockdown by drawing up guidelines for the safe return of employees to different working environments. According to latest reports1, the guidance, which has yet to be published, will differ according to each company’s operating environment. It will, however, seek to maintain social distancing, variable shift patterns, encouragement of continued homeworking and strict hygiene practices. As such, committed to helping the construction industry navigate the current conflicting advice on resuming operations, global health and safety expert Bureau Veritas has developed its new ‘Return To Work Assurance’ solution. The service provides a voluntary, independent assessment of a firm’s COVID-19 readiness to re-open their business premises, with a statement of assurance issued on completion that can be displayed on its website and at its properties. The scheme covers best practice measures required by firms to meet the local and international standards on managing coronavirus risks in the workplace. These include hygiene, disinfection and cleaning assessment, social distancing best practice, personal protection equipment requirements as well as employee specific risk assessment. Ken Smith, UK Chief Executive at Bureau Veritas UK, said: “As we emerge from lockdown, which is currently in its sixth week, for almost all businesses across the UK, the urgent priority will be how to get back to work as quickly as possible and with appropriate health, safety and hygiene measures in place to protect their employees and their clients. “Safely restarting business amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic remains unchartered territory for many, especially construction sites. That’s why, we’ve created our Return To Work Assurance solution to aid business owners, property managers and employers to put in place hygiene, safety, maintenance and regulatory processes that will ensure a safe working and trading environment.” One of the key challenges for firms planning on resuming operations, says Bureau Veritas, has been deciphering conflicting advice on appropriate health and safety measures required in the workplace, which is impacting organisations operating across multiple countries in particular. Ken adds: “With many nations across the world having their own policies, regulations and standards on managing coronavirus risks, this can leave many multinational organisations confused as to the correct action to take. Luckily, as a global leader in compliance operating in more than 140 countries, our Return To Work assurance scheme can provide solutions tailored for specific sector and geographical needs. We’d urge all our new and existing client to make use of this fantastic new service.” To find out more about Bureau Veritas’ Return To Work Assurance Solution, call 0345 600 1828 or visit: https://share.hsforms.com/1tTRe4h7IQZOBHtRBmdDDfg2z02a

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18th EDITION USHERS IN ‘GREENER ERA’ FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY, STATES BUREAU VERITAS

As the first set of wiring regulations to focus on energy efficiency, Bureau Veritas is calling on the industry to embrace appendix 17 of the 18th edition – with the guidance helping to usher in a new ‘greener era’ that will be critical to meeting the UK’s environmental targets. Earlier this year, the UK became the first nation to enshrine into law the net zero target, committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by “at least” 100 per cent below 1990 levels in 20501. And to meet these obligations, drastic action will be needed in the way buildings use energy, says electrical safety expert Bureau Veritas – encouraging businesses to adopt key energy efficiency measures raised in the 18th edition. This includes appendix 17 of the IET Wiring Regulations, which came into force on January 2019. Appendix 17 offers expert guidance on the lessening environmental impact of electrical installations, through measures such as replacing traditional standard filament, halogen and fluorescent lights with super-efficient LEDs and using smart controls is one of the easiest ways to cut energy costs. Also as noted in appendix 17 on-site renewable energy sources and other local production sources such as solar PV and wind energy production don’t themselves increase the efficiency ‘use’ of the electrical energy however they do reduce the overall public electricity network losses which can be considered indirect energy efficiency measure. According to Bureau Veritas, appendix 17 is set to rise in prominence in the coming years, playing a fundamental part of the next major amendment to BS 7671, expected in 2022. Michael Kenyon, Technical Manager at Bureau Veritas, said: “Given the escalating calls to take action on sustainability and drastically reduce our energy consumption, it’s no surprise that appendix 17 is lighting the way for a new greener era for improving energy efficiency in buildings. “Although at present, many of the suggested changes are just recommendations rather than mandatory requirements, we’d encourage businesses to take heed now and ensure that each and every installation is completed as safety and sustainably as possible. Not only will this help organisations to stay ahead of regulatory compliance – we expect many of the appendix 17 guidance to become mandatory in the next major update – but it will also cut operating costs while going a long way in helping our society meet the UK’s net zero pledge.” One such measure that can be adopted to improve energy efficiency is power factor correction, which can achieve significantly reduced consumption and CO2 emissions, along with lower electricity bills. However, the focus on energy efficiency is also likely to widen its scope to address other challenges such as unclean distorted electrical supplies, states Bureau Veritas. Michael adds: “It’s likely that as appendix 17 develops into part 8 in the next significant amendment, there could be greater guidance on where electronic equipment creates an unclean distorted electrical supply (harmonic distortion) and can damage equipment by creating heat/overload. “As an industry, we still have a huge job to do in terms of not just meeting carbon reduction commitments but ensuring a sustainable infrastructure; which Part 8 will hopefully help to more adequately address. Indeed, it may mean more change for a number of sectors to get to grips with but it is an important step forward not only in tackling climate change but also in creating new opportunities for electrical contractors.” Bureau Veritas offers a range of testing and certification services to support customers in managing compliance around electrical safety in general for new and existing installations or for specific areas, such as electric vehicle charging points. For further information, call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk

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NEW BUREAU VERITAS OFFERING MAKES EASIER WORK OF COMPLEX COMPLIANCE

As part of its continued commitment to helping make easier work of complex health and safety legislation, Bureau Veritas has launched a brand new package enabling customers to combine inspections in order to optimise efficiencies and, in turn, reduce costs. Now available nationwide, the Comply in One offering means customers can benefit from combined inspections nationally across multi-site operations in order to ensure economies of scale along with the same level of technical excellence. Comply in One works whereby the Bureau Veritas team will work closely with a client to identify all areas of their compliance needs that are suitable for a combined approach and deliver the according solution. In the case where clients have various deadlines for services and locations, the team can even bring compliance inspections in line, or bend and flex delivery to reflect the risk profiles. For fast-moving businesses the commercial benefits include a typical 20%-30% cost saving compared to standalone inspections, reduced disruption, detailed holistic reporting helping to simplify analysis and the peace of mind afforded by full compliance in a shorter time. This is, of course, supported with the same best-in-class technical excellence. Ahead of the launch, Bureau Veritas invested heavily in upskilling all appropriate consultants to ensure a consistent pedigree of expertise in all individual remits. All assessments are subsequently independently audited and verified by the business’ technical, quality and risk division.  Testament to the benefit of this innovative approach Comply in One was previously piloted at one of the UK’s leading high street banks which used five services including asbestos, fire, water, property compliance and even fabric condition survey. The result was compliance cost reductions of a fifth, while follow up verification on identified repair works meant that the number of clear reports increased by 30% over a five year period. This latest launch follows on from the previous introduction of Building in One; Bureau Veritas’ ground breaking cloud based software system that enables businesses to define, plan, schedule and monitor all regulatory compliance, and store documents in a centralised location using one, simple to use platform. The result is a true one-stop-shop for businesses seeking to try and make easier work of the increasingly complex compliance minefield. Vicky Shah, Retail and Hospitality Lead at Bureau Veritas, comments: “Amid the difficult current landscape, we know from talking to customers that they are already facing many challenges in terms of the turbulent economy, legislative upheaval and tight deadlines. With Comply in One, therefore, our remit is to lessen the compliance burden by enabling a combined approach in order to reduce disruption and, in turn, costs, while helping to ensure consistency of service. “As demonstrated in our work with one of the UK’s largest banks, this approach can make a huge difference not just in terms of efficiencies but hugely simplifying the entire compliance process – from initial inspection through to verification and ongoing monitoring – for all involved. We really see this approach, particularly when used with our complementary Building in One offer, as a game changer in the compliance sector and would actively encourage all customers to take advantage of this service today.” Comply in One is currently available in three flexible packages covering health and safety, electrical and fire safety. To find out more about Comply in One or Building in One from Bureau Veritas’ call 0345 600 1828 or visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk

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