NBS - Experts & Thought Leaders

Hochiki Europe, a globally renowned provider of innovative life safety solutions, is excited to announce its partnership with NBS, a construction specification platform. This collaboration aims to streamline the specification process for specifiers, making it easier than ever to incorporate Hochiki’s market-renowned products into building projects. Range of life safety products By joining NBS Source, Hochiki Europe will have 50 products listed across its comprehensive range of life safety products, including fire alarms and control systems. This digital solution allows specifiers to quickly and easily select Hochiki products, ensuring accurate and efficient specifications. Product and specification data "We wanted to find a way of raising our profile amongst built environment professionals and chose NBS Source as a way to target specifiers looking for best-in-class product and specification data," said Ian Humby, UK Sales Manager for Hochiki Europe. Ian Humby adds, "Partnering with NBS aligns with our goal of making it easier for specifiers to choose Hochiki. Furthermore, NBS Source has given us the ability to build and maintain relationships with specifiers throughout the whole construction journey, resulting in a much smoother and more collaborative process." Saving time and resources With NBS, specifiers and designers can effortlessly drag and drop Hochiki products into their specifications, saving valuable time and resources. The platform provides detailed product information, technical specifications, and compliance data, ensuring that all requirements are met. This partnership reinforces Hochiki Europe’s dedication to providing exceptional customer service and supporting the industry with innovative solutions. By leveraging the power of digital technology, Hochiki Europe is empowering specifiers to create safer and more secure buildings. 

Many of the new requirements under the new Building Safety Act 2022 are still not understood by those making critical decisions in the fire safety supply chain, says cable supplier - AEI Cables. The Act – introduced in October 2023 makes new requirements for higher-risk buildings, which are those deemed to be at least 18 meters in height or at least seven stories containing at least two residential units. safe evacuation The appeal for more easily understood information from the regulator comes following an earlier study from built environment specification experts - NBS showed that half of respondents were either unsure or had no idea of duty holder responsibilities for higher-risk buildings. The systems in these buildings powered by electrical cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. safety for electrical cables The Building Safety Regulator will oversee the safety and performance of all buildings Stuart Dover, General Manager of AEI Cables, said, "We are keen to share our guidance on safety for electrical cables, which provide power for many of the building safety systems in high-rise buildings, but any further clear guidance from the regulator in the application of the details would be welcomed by the supply chain." The Building Safety Regulator will oversee the safety and performance of all buildings, as well as having a special focus on high-rise buildings. It will promote competence and organizational capability within the sector including for building control professionals and tradespeople. Firetec Enhanced cabling Building owners should have their building safety regime in place and any occupied higher-risk buildings should be registered with the Building Safety Regulator. 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.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is partnering with technology firm - NBS to help architects and designers specify passive fire protection products and systems when looking at building safety design. In a win-win approach, those using the NBS cloud-based platform can now have access to appropriate high-quality guidance and technical content, helping them to produce accurate and structured specifications.  Providing product information It will also assist ASFP members to provide product information and technical data in an appropriate and structured format. NBS is an integrated global platform for everyone involved in the design, supply and construction of the built environment. It will now be able to publish references to and extracts from ASFP Technical Guidance in NBS products and services, and to provide ASFP with extracts of NBS content for peer review. Fire protection products NBS is a UK-based technology company whose roots lie in the UK’s National Building Specification NBS is a UK-based technology company whose roots lie in the UK’s National Building Specification, which for nearly 50 years has been helping the construction industry build better and with lower risk. It provides content and connectivity for anyone involved in the design, supply and construction of the built environment. Commenting on the partnership, ASFP CEO, Steven Davies, said: “One of the ASFP’s key aims is to raise the standards and improve the quality of passive fire protection products and installations. This new partnership with NBS offers us the opportunity to influence the way in which passive fire protection products are specified and to improve understanding throughout the construction sector of the properties and performance of this key life safety products.” Integrated global platform Richard Waterhouse from NBS, said: “Fire safety has never been more important, and the ASFP bring a wealth of knowledge that’s unmatched in the industry.” He adds, “Having them on board will no doubt prove invaluable to our users when looking to specify passive fire protection products. Equally, this will be hugely beneficial to manufacturers who are looking to provide the very best standard of data and in a format that architects and specifiers can easily obtain.”

Following the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement on 23 March, several imminent and future changes were laid out by the UK government. This included VAT scrappage for residential energy-saving measures like heat pumps and solar panels, a 12-month cutting of fuel duty by 5p per liter, and to support the decarbonization of commercial premises, targeted business rate exemptions for eligible plant and machinery used in onsite renewable energy generation and storage. This is complemented by a 100% relief for eligible low-carbon heat networks with their own rates bill. focus on research and development There was also a distinct focus on research and development. Tax credits are to be reformed, with the potential to increase the R&D expenditure credit after the summer months. This is a top-line view of just some of the government’s announcements. As the dust has settled, we’ve asked fire and construction sector professionals what they make of the statement. Read on to find out how they believe the Spring Statement will impact the industry. Upskilling the employees We need rapid innovation to ensure that the built environment can cope with climate change and energy demands" Russell Haworth, the CEO, of NBS, says, "We need rapid innovation to ensure that the built environment can cope with climate change and energy demands. Construction product manufacturers need regulatory and policy clarity along with incentives to innovate. Unfortunately, this is another chance missed to make the UK a world leader in combatting climate change impact.” “While productivity was touched upon, it’s very ‘jam tomorrow’ and neglects the elephant in the room, which is the reskilling of existing employees to cope with the digital future. Providing support now to up-skill employees would have been to everyone’s future benefit, including the Treasury.” Building safety Ian King, COO, Zeroignition, says, “With materials hard to get hold of and prices rising rapidly, construction is under pressure. It's encouraging to see the Government is taking a step towards solving the climate crisis and bringing forward the business rate exemptions for green technology.” “So too is throwing businesses a lifeline by reducing the tax to incentivize firms to invest and innovate more. Yet the proof is in the pudding and the autumn budget will reveal the true extent of this investment. One oversight is around building safety with construction product testing facing backlogs. Significant funding needs to be unlocked to create new testing labs.” Decarbonization We’d like to see the support of a broader range of strategies and technologies to give more builders to make a sustainable impact" Fraser Robb, Managing Director, Perega, says, "By not adequately acknowledging or progressing the aims of COP26, the Spring Statement fell short of building on last November’s momentum. As engineers, we’re here to make things possible, including decarbonizing the built environment, but we need a budget and governmental support to have any hope of success.” “Along with increased funding, we’d like to see the support of a broader range of strategies and technologies to give more builders, large companies, and SMEs alike, the opportunity to make a lasting, sustainable impact." Reducing fuel prices Ben Hancock, Managing Director, Oscar Acoustics, says, “Companies of all sizes are being squeezed and warnings that prices could rise to potential double-digit percentages have loomed heavy for bosses. Seeing the government take the relevant action by cutting fuel duty will help the construction sector. These moves will be particularly welcome at the sub-contractor level working to keen margins.” “However, given the UK is facing its highest tax burden as a proportion of GDP since the 1950s, more initiatives that help contractors and small business owners combat the rising cost of raw materials would have been welcomed.” Addressing supply chain challenge The energy crisis and high inflation are putting immediate pressure on the market" Ibrahim Imam, Co-Founder, and Co-CEO, PlanRadar, says, “Unblocking supply chain issues have been a major, persistent concern within UK construction and the Chancellor’s statements have failed to address this long-standing problem. While the 12 months cut on fuel duty may go some way to easing financial pressures felt by housebuilders, developers and contractors alike, we’re disappointed not to see the government do more for this essential sector.” “It’s obvious the energy crisis and high inflation are putting immediate pressure on the market, but it’s also important not to lose sight of long-term goals if we are to reach challenging sustainability targets, such as Net Zero 2050, and it would have been heartening to see the Chancellor address this.” Energy efficiency Erik Boyter, CEO, WindowMaster, says, "UK construction has a critical role to play in relieving the pressure of skyrocketing energy prices, and we’re yet to see this fully realized in a holistic, multidisciplinary discussion. There are so many instruments, in the form of building methods and complementary technology, available to implement a sea change in energy efficiency if only government would play conductor and lead from the front. Every option must be considered.” “Crucially, the government needs to give due consideration to how we might improve energy efficiency by harnessing natural elements within commercial and residential property environment itself, such as through intelligent natural ventilation or passive solar design. I hope the Government’s move to reduce VAT on energy-saving devices to zero won’t be an exercise in bureaucracy and meeting narrow thresholds, otherwise only a privileged few will benefit."

As Grenfell remains a chilling reminder of the importance of fire safety in construction, new digital methods are now being adopted to guarantee the safety of end users. But how is digitization helping and how will this further advance fire safety during the wider construction process? There’s no doubt that the past five years have had a profound effect on the construction industry. Events such as the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire disaster have forced the industry to sit-up and rethink the processes it currently has in place. Campaign for a complete system overhaul The result has been a campaign for a complete system overhaul. Advocates for change, such as Dame Judith Hackitt, are now speaking at length of a ‘broken industry’ and how without major reform, the construction industry will never reach acceptable levels of safety. Yet hope is on the horizon and as is often the case with such events, they can and must serve as a catalyst for major change. Hackitt’s inquiry into building regulations and fire safety, following Grenfell, revealed a need for greater fail safes and a requirement for what Hackitt termed as ‘The Golden Thread’ of information. This is an accurate record of a building, providing a timeline of what has gone into the structure, from design to occupation and its ongoing maintenance. By having this in place, the industry can then deliver full transparency and accountability to help keep end users safe. Introduction of new building safety regulator Hackitt’s inquiry into building regulations and fire safety, following Grenfell, revealed a need for greater fail safesA further response has been the introduction of a new building safety regulator and new construction product regulator, both of which represent a landmark moment not just in fire safety, but improved levels of safety across the board. The first, which is under the Health and Safety Executive, will oversee the safety and performance of all buildings with a new, more stringent framework for higher-risk builds. The latter, (the construction product regulator), will be aimed at manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe, before being sold and that they abide by pre-determined levels of industry safety. If products aren’t deemed fit for purpose, these stricter measures will grant the regulator the power to remove products, revoke building safety certifications, as well as prosecute those who attempt to side-step rules. Building Safety Bill Speaking at the Construction Leaders’ Summit in February 2020, Hackitt explained that the Building Safety Bill and the creation of the new regulators will help the sector to change both technically and culturally, moving away from decisions that result in the ‘cheapest solution’, to one where safety and quality become paramount. Hackitt also warned that the regulators will have real bite. She said, “It will not look to see you have merely followed the rules, but check the building is safe from planning to occupation and you’ve done everything in your power to ensure this.” New laws post building regulations and fire safety review New laws have also been introduced since Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety New laws have also been introduced since Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety. In April of 2020, UK Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick announced a series of measures comprising of what he called ‘the biggest change in building safety for a generation.’ These were changes that applied to multi-occupancy buildings of 18 meters and above, or six stories, whichever is reached first. For buildings in-scope, a duty holder regime will apply, with a Client, Principal Designer and Principal Contractor. The contractor and designers will have to demonstrate that the building is safe and the ability of the duty-holder to choose which building control body to oversee the removal of the construction/refurbishment. To make sure the regulation is followed, there are gateway points at various stages, requiring regulator sign-off before the project can move forward. The sign-off procedure can then only take place once the right evidence is in place. Before residents are allowed to occupy the building, a full digital documentation will have to be provided which includes drawings and datasets and any design changes will need to be amended, signed-off and recorded. The need for digital adoption It’s clear that with so many changes coming into play that a new way of working is needed, with the needle pointing towards digital adoption as an answer to these issues. One of its main benefits is that it gives specifiers, contractors and residents the ability to access extensive datasets on specific fire related products. This feature plays a huge role in guaranteeing the safety of buildings and end users, by supplying them with the most up-to-date information and the latest in industry laws and regulations. If the industry is to iron-out the risk of products being ‘mis-specified’, then architects must be given a vehicle to access this information as easily as possible. Rise in use of digital tools, 3D and data Another example is the recent changes to the RIBA Plan of Work – the industry blueprint for the process management of a build. While this still remains as the ‘go-to’ map for how a construction process should take place, digital innovation continues to transform many aspects of its project workflow. This can be seen in the likes of ‘Part 3 – Changing Processes’ where the use of digital tools is helping to shift the balance away from 2D information towards 3D and data. Digital site surveys are also becoming the norm, using cloud surveys, photogrammetry, lidar sensors and the ability to mount cameras on drones, to help with the success of projects. BIM (Building Information Modeling) BIM can be used to improve the design, construction and operation of buildings, making them safer for end users Feeding into this is also the greater use of BIM (Building Information Modeling). This digital approach can be used to improve the design, construction and operation of buildings, making them safer for end users. Again, it’s a concept that has been around for some time, but the recent shift in perceptions has allowed this way of working to flourish, with three quarters of specifiers now using BIM, compared to just one in ten a decade ago. Digitization – The only way forward It’s obvious to see that shifting to digital has an immeasurable benefit to the future of the construction industry. Not only do digital tools improve standards, reduce mistakes and improve record keeping and auditing at every stage, but it also keeps costs down and drives up quality. From previous history, we’ve seen that the construction industry is notorious for dragging its heels when it comes to change, but as we’ve seen so far, the quicker it adopts this way of thinking, the quicker improvements in fire safety and compliance can be achieved. ‘Build Back Better’ We’ve heard the government talk of ‘Build Back Better’ and the digitization of the industry will hold all the keys to ensuring this is possible. If nothing else, the construction industry owes it to the victims and survivors of the Grenfell fire tragedy to make sure that all is being done to eradicate the chances of future mistakes from happening again.