In your weekly PCA update this week:

• Paula’s Paper 3: Salts Analysis
• Wood Decay in Buildings Webinar
• There’s still time to join the PCA Pub Quiz
• Helping members prepare for IR35 changes
• Have your say & submit your views
• Occupational Respiratory Health
• Working from home? Claim back tax
• Join us for ‘Tune in Tuesday’

Paula’s Paper 3: Salts Analysis

We have released a number of papers from your resident researcher, Paula, which form part of a series focusing on salts. This latest paper summarises the analyses from several laboratory and on-site tests of salt damage and the evaluation of effective treatments.

Following these three papers, we’re keen to hear thoughts and feedback from you, our members, on your own case studies dealing with salts in both historic and residential buildings. From this feedback we hope to create a paper and eventually, publish it in an international scientific engineering journal.

Look out for the next technical document from Paula, which won’t be a paper itself, but a list of publications and recommended references for further reading on salts and porous building materials.

We are always looking to move forward and research plays a crucial role in progressing the future of the preservation industry. Paula can work with you on possible projects too, why not give her a call on 01480 400000. Members can access this paper, together with the previous two, via the button below.

Wood Decay in Buildings Webinar

Members can now register for the next LIVE webinar on ‘Wood decay in buildings: Causes and Cures’, which takes place 9-10am on Thursday 16th April.

PCA’s Peter Fitzsimons will present a review of typical problems such as wood boring insects and dry rot etc., and the available in-situ repair and treatment solutions. Join us as we assess the role of wood preservatives for both curative and preventative treatments and discuss “whether modern materials and designs will make timber buildings more, or less, resistant to biological degrade in the future”.

There’s still time to join the PCA Pub Quiz

It’s certainly a very stressful time right now, so why not join us at 2pm today (and every Friday hereafter) as we bring a bit of light relief with our PCA Pub Quiz – register via the button below…

Sadly, whilst we can’t be in the pub (or pub garden), we can still grab a cheeky drink at home and join in for bit of lighthearted fun ahead of the Easter break! Test your knowledge, compete against your friends and colleagues for some good old fashioned banter!

Helping members prepare for IR35 changes

Changes to the off-payroll rules (sometimes known as IR35) which were due to come into effect on 6 April 2020, have now been delayed until April 2021 to help businesses and individuals deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members must be aware this is a delay to the introduction of the changes and not a cancellation.

Thomas Quinn has provided a helpful document, with example scenarios included, to assist members with these forthcoming changes. You can access this via the button below.

For more information, we are just a phone call/email away: 01480 400000 / [email protected].

Have your say & submit your views

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation under s.14(3) of the Building Act 1984 seeking views on proposals of potential amendments to the Building Regulations 2010, regarding the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings.

This will be of particular interest to our members as it lists “insulation and water proofing materials used below ground level” as one of the few exceptions. Your Association has formally replied and welcomes that it provides clarity on waterproofing and fire regulations.

The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 13th April 2020.

Occupational Respiratory Health

For those members who attended the Regional Meetings – whether in person or via our first virtual meeting – you will recall Gary Pharo from Sundstrom’s presentation on Occupational Respiratory Hazards. Gary is sharing his slides with members, which can be accessed via the button below, together with a document on Coronavirus & Recommended Equipment.

Members are welcome to get in touch with Gary direct as he has a number of documents/relevant information which may be of great use at this time. Gary can be contacted as follows: [email protected] or 07487 257359.

Working from home? Claim back tax

Did you know that if you’re working from home, you can claim tax back on additional home expenses? MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis’ blog (which has been checked by HMRC) states that if your employer requires you to work from home (and that means you’ve had increased costs, e.g., heating & electricity), you’re entitled to claim something back for them. At this point there are millions who are required to work from home, but in practice, apportioning the cost is tough, so instead you can opt for what’s effectively a £6/wk flat rate.

Members can access more information, including interest-free overdrafts, credit / store / personal loan payment holidays etc., via the button below.

Join us for ‘Tune in Tuesday’

It was great to see so many of our members joining us for our first ‘Tune in Tuesday’ session. There was plenty of engagement and the feedback has been great. We can only continue to reiterate that we are here for you, our members, and that your Association will continue to provide as much information as we can, on the topics that are important to you via these weekly ‘Tune in Tuesday’ events – so why not join us next week?

Registration is now OPEN via the button below. If you have any queries, please give us a call on 01480 400000.

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