Blogs

Global Technical Services (GTS) can provide specialist award winning Fire Scrutineer knowledge and information on all areas of fire safety with your properties, ensuring quality.

The Fire Scrutineer records and assesses all aspects of the fire safety of the project to show due diligence and provide evidential, auditable records for the O&M manuals, in line with Regulation 7 & 38.

Sam Whiting, our Technical Support Manager, has been heavily involved in our Architect Design Services (ADS1.1) framework liaising with our appointed companies and our clients interested in this framework. He has gathered some frequently asked questions to help those interested in using our Architect Design Services (ADS1.1) framework understand the first steps.

All public sector organisations who applied for the social housing decarbonisation scheme will find out if they have been awarded the grant between the end of February and the start of March 2023. The gov.uk website states that grant funding agreements must be signed with successful lead applicants and projects starting in March.

Updated fire safety regulations and how they will affect you as the responsible persons. There have been attempts to improve fire safety and compliance within the structural integrity of large buildings following the Grenfell Tower inquiry Phase 1 report. The proposed guidance is becoming a legal requirement as of 23^rd January 2023 in attempts to implement best practice.

At LSE, we have a diverse and talented team with skills in different areas to fulfil all our obligations of providing remarkable frameworks and a fantastic service. To start the year, we wanted to introduce one of our team members Paul Smith our Regional Procurement Manager, and how his role adds value to our service by sharing a project he has taken part in.

Building compliance is being highlighted more than ever as a consequence of fire doorset legislation amendments. This legislation is purposed to ensure the safety of individuals both in and around the building, following guidance from the Grenfell fire. As of 23^rd January 2023, it will be a legal requirement to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to reduce the risk of fire. Upon failure to comply to the legislation, the responsible persons will be penalised both legally and financially. This amendment will ensure the correct individual is held accountable for failing to ensure fire safety in the infrastructure. The legislation in Approved Document B covers social buildings, and those over 11m in height.

Faced with a predicted 38% drop in new housing starts over the next two years. Public sector frameworks offer shelter from recession. They traditionally operate on four-year cycles, and present better industry access and cost consistency for the public sector. Furthermore for contractors and suppliers, they bring more predictable pipelines of work.

As the year 2022 comes to an end, I want to share some of the great things that the LHC London and South East team have accomplished, and we also look to 2023 with the ambition to achieve even more extraordinary things by improving lives and places through the impact of our services to the community. Join us on this journey of reflection and I look forward to sharing even more exciting news with you in the new year as we continue to grow with ambition for a greater reach. Have a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.  

Dean Fazackerley, gives an overview of why public sector organisations must approach homes construction procurement and project management together to comply with updated Building Regulations Part L. 

In the midst of a climate and cost of living crisis, the potential to infill existing sites with new homes and increase density without displacing communities or destroying buildings is an attractive prospect. This type of development is a powerful tool for good but comes with a burden of responsibility. It is not simply enough to ‘first do no harm’, truly outstanding infill development should act as a catalyst for change.  It should offer more back to existing communities than that which it takes away.  And above all else, it must not crystalize the mistakes of the past.