FM Report 203 - Friday 23rd August 2007

23 August 2007

Latest FM news direct to your desktop

BPF says 'Merton Rule' must be relaxed
The British Property Federation (BPF) has backed Government plans to relax the 'Merton Rule' that requires a building to generate 10-20% of its energy through onsite renewables. It says it is a less efficient way of cutting carbon than by investing in the energy efficiency of buildings and procuring renewable energy produced on a bigger and more efficient scale. The BPF says solar panels and wind turbines attached to buildings cannot provide the energy required in urban and many sub-urban locations.
http://www.bpf.org.uk

Study on how to cut carbon more
The UK Green Building Council is to lead a project on behalf of Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on the costs and benefits of raising energy performance standards in new non-domestic buildings above current Building Regulations to drastically cut carbon emissions. The project is due to deliver its findings by October.
http://www.ukgbc.org

Workplace accidents trend continues down
There were 241 fatalities at work in 2006/7 of which 31% occurred in the construction sector. This compares to 217 deaths in 2006/6, the lowest on record. The long term downward trend continues, but there has been very little change in the overall rate in the last five years. The HSE is targeting inspection of the refurbishment and repair parts of the construction sector where fatal injuries are on the increase.
http://www.hse.gov.uk

Total FM at Total UK
Taylor Woodrow FM has won a 5-year contract with Total UK to provide hard and soft FM to its offices in Watford and Luton from 1 September. Taylor Woodrow will integrate the new services with its existing team that delivers maintenance to Total's retail network and work with its strategic alliance partners - Chubb for security, OCS for cleaning and Integral for M&E.
http://www.taylorwoodrow.com/construction

EMCOR responds to Hampshire CC
EMCOR Facilities Services has been awarded a £1.8m contract by Hampshire County Council to manage and oversee maintenance and emergency response services for 385 public service buildings across the county. These include fire stations, schools, libraries, museums and retirement homes in the Council's 'Area A' comprising Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester, and follows a successful six year relationship in 'Area B'.
http://www.emcoruk.com

Financial close on North Middlesex University Hospital PFI
EcovertFM, Bouygues UK and HSBC Infrastructure Fund Management Limited (Bouygues Consortium) have reached financial close on the North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust's PFI scheme to provide a new build Emergency Care Centre, Critical & Acute Care Centre, DTC and additional Clinical Support Services. The new £111m building will be completed by 2010 and the consortium will provide maintenance and helpdesk services, and lifecycle services for the 31.7 year concession.
http://www.ecovertfm.co.uk

BIFM conference has sustainable theme
Next year's conference returns to Keble College, Oxford (18th - 19th March 2008) will be entitled 'Sustainable FM - meeting the challenge'. Papers are invited for the main or practice sessions. Papers must be submitted by Friday 14 September 2007.
http://www.bifm.org.uk/bifm/knowledge/submissions

Waste management website for business
Businesses can share their hints, tips and best practice in dealing with waste on a website relaunched this month by the Environment Agency. It covers issues such as preventing and dealing with fly-tipping, advice on reducing waste and expert advice from regulators on waste legislation. Originally launched in October 2005, the new look website features an online forum with specific threads for different business interests and up to date information on legislation.
http://www.wastematters.org.uk

Extra leave for workers
From 1st October additional statutory holiday entitlement will be coming into force. Workers currently have a statutory minimum of 20 days leave a year, which will rise to 24 days' annual leave, and then to 28 days annual leave from 1 April 2009. The additional eight days are being introduced as a result of the Working Time (Amendment) Regulations 2007.
http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/holidays/page40455.html

Cleaning report
According to the latest UK Contract Cleaning Market Development report from MBD, the UK contract cleaning market is now worth around £12bn having grown by 18 per cent since 2003. Demand is expected to increase by 14 per cent between now and 2012. Labour costs represent about 90% of total costs of contract cleaners.
http://www.mbdltd.co.uk

Green buildings attractive for investment return
Research published last week by GVA Grimley shows that environmental issues are high on the agenda of property investors seeking higher returns. The Sustainable Investment Survey 2007 found that when evaluating properties, 77 per cent of institutional and private investors attach some importance to sustainability, a view that rises to 94 per cent on purchasing decisions. Mark Rawstron, Investment Partner at GVA Grimley commented, “Investors are now turning their thoughts to how sustainability issues will impact on their portfolios and how investing in green buildings could increase long-term return on investment.”
http://www.gvagrimley.co.uk

Funding to develop the future of higher education
The University of Salford is working with Balfour Beatty on a £3m project to develop employer-led education and training that can be delivered in the workplace. A £2.99m grant from The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will be used for a 2-year project investigating how higher education can better work with the construciton industry to meet the needs of their employees, with for example, fast track awards, linking vocational and academic learning within the same programme of study.
http://www.salford.ac.uk/press