Standard practice

Once again, a new minister is appointed to oversee construction and once again his in-tray is christened with a call for a better control of standards in the industry.

Naturally, many other construction sectors may say the same but fenestration has in many ways taken the lead in setting quality standards …though largely because we had to work harder to repair such a chequered reputation in the first place.

However, the prospect of licensing does take things to another level though, while the FMB says the idea has widespread support, it will be very interesting to see how such a scheme could be policed to ‘purge the whole sector or rogue firms and unprofessional outfits.’ All the standards, certification and quality schemes in windows and doors have raised the bar for the vast majority but the rogues and cowboys are still with and probably always will be.

Of course, it is early days and the new boy may have no such plans in mind but when an idea has the support of the FMB, he is very unlikely to dismiss it out of hand. Read Story

We hope you enjoy this week’s issue.

Chris Church Editor

Please send all your news stories to news@the-glazine.com

This Week's News

‘Make standards your mission’, new Minister urged

The FMB has called on new Construction Minister Andrew Stephenson to make it his mission to raise quality and standards in the construction industry through mandatory licensing.

 Chief executive Brian Berry said: “The time is right to look at a meaningful way in which we can purge the sector of rogue firms and unprofessional outfits once and for all. With the publication of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and the quality of some new build homes being called into question, we need to act now to improve standards and increase productivity.”

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Resi construction up
5% in 2018

Total residential construction output increased by 5% in 2018 to £74.2bn, however early signs indicate a slowing of the growth rates for both starts and completions into H1 2019, according to the latest Construction and Housing Forecast Bulletin from AMA Research.

The growth was underpinned by 8% increase in new work but with residential RMI remaining static at £30bn.

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GPD 2019 promises ‘biggest yet’

The 27th annual Glass Performance Days conference is set to be the biggest yet with more than 240 presentations over the four days of the June event.

The main theme of GPD 2019 revolves around concepts of the future, say organisers: “We are looking into themes around smart glazing, smart factories, smart buildings and even smart cities. The technical sessions of the conference and workshops will address the challenges the industry faces today regarding the ever-changing demands from architectural development, façade engineering, new technologies and the latest R&D, as well as energy efficiency, and glass and sustainability.

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GGF salutes over 150 years of history

Over a century and a half of history was saluted when Scotland’s oldest glazing company received a special Outstanding Service Award from the Glass and Glazing Federation.

Mitchell Glass was founded in the Borders town of Hawick in 1875 but the story goes back even further to 1862 when 14-year-old Robert Mitchell ran away from his home in Kinross and became apprenticed as a glazier in Edinburgh.

As he approached retirement, Robert passed the business to his son Alex, who died in 1948 and had no family to take over but the Board of Directors decided to continue with the name Mitchell Glass.

Current owner, Peter Roden started as an apprentice carding engineer and from successful completion and study, he worked in insurance and bookkeeping before starting in the glazing business as a sales manager for Mitchell Glass.

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