In your weekly PCA update this week:

• PCA 2021 AGM & Board Meeting
• Can you Force YOUR Team to get Vaccinated?
• IWCG Open meeting – View on the RICS Doc
• NEW TBIC Waterproofing & Ground Gas Guide
• An Interesting Find – 1952 Woodworm Report
• Missed the Latest Webinar – Watch the Replay
• New Dates Released for SW Online Training
• Heatwave – Advice on High Temperatures
• Can you help contribute to this research?
• Covid19 Restrictions are Easing – But be Cautious
• Welcome to our New Provisional Members

PCA 2021 AGM & Board Meeting

Following the meeting of the PCA Board on Thursday, we held our Annual General Meeting.

Originally, we had planned for our first face to face Board meeting since last February, together with a hybrid AGM. We had hoped also to welcome members who wished to attend the AGM in person back to PCA Headquarters, but in the end, we had to revert back to holding both meetings remotely.

This year John Bradley, Hudson Lambert and Cormac Rooney were due to retire by rotation in accordance with the Articles of Association. Both John and Cormac wished to stand for re-election however, after spending many years on the Board, Hudson decided it was time to step down and give the opportunity to bring someone new onto the Board. We are greatly indebted to Hudson for the time he has supported the Executive whilst on the Board, and very importantly his time spent as Chairman.

Following the AGM, John Bradley and Cormac Rooney were re-elected and we welcome our new Board member, Alex Brook from Ebsford Environmental to the PCA board. To find out more about the PCA board, click on the button below.

Meet the PCA Board Members >>

 

Can you Force YOUR Team to get Vaccinated?

With there being media hype uncertainty around COVID rules and the ‘ping pandemic’ plaguing many PCA members (as well as your Association itself) and other construction/property specialists as well, we took some time to ask a few questions with the PCA’s H&S partners ‘Stallard Kane’.

To help protect all colleagues (and business in itself), can we or should we encourage or force employees to get themselves double vaccinated? Can you insist on workplace testing?

To find out more, click to read the blog…

Click to Read More >>

 

IWCG Open meeting – Views on the RICS Doc

We were pleased to welcome 22 Invasive weed group members to a meeting to discuss the recent RICS Consultation document “Japanese Knotweed and Residential Property”.

All-in-all we believe the new risk assessment framework proposed by RICS will serve surveyors, lenders and homeowners well.  Peter went through some specific areas of the RICS document indicating where the PCA are proposing to submit editorial comments and encouraged all IWCG members to consider making their own responses by the deadline of 3rd August.  For PCA members only, minutes of the meeting with more details of our discussions will be available early next week.

PCA Guidance Note >> RICS Consultation Document >>

 

NEW TBIC Waterproofing & Ground Gas Guide

For all Structural Waterproofing and Ground Gas specialists, ‘The Basement Information Centre‘ (TBIC) recently launched a new guide titled: ‘Basements: Ground Gases & Structural Waterproofing‘. This guide focuses on the design and construction at an early stage to help project teams navigate the requirements of BS 8485:2015+A1:2019 and BS 8102:2009.  The cost of the guide is £10 however, if you are a PCA member, you have a 20% discount. To get the discount, contact Andy at the PCA on 01480 400 000. Simply click here to purchase.

For those wanting to learn more about the guide, there is a replay of the webinar that supported the TBIC launch of the guide.  Simply click the button below to view.

View the video >>

 

An Interesting Find – 1952 Woodworm Report

This is a post that’s generally more quirky than what we usually do, but we thought it might be something of interest to our longer-serving and older members, as well as for many of those that like to learn about the history of our industry.

We were kindly forwarded a very old woodworm damage report from the 1950’s to a church roof by ‘Forest Product Research Laboratory’ (which became part of BRE in the 80’s).  It is rather short compared to most standard reports these days, but we thought it might be a ‘little jog down memory lane’ for some and for others, an opportunity to see how professional reports have developed from the 1950’s to now. Our thanks to PCA member Gervais Sawyer for sharing.

Click to view >>

 

Missed the Latest Webinar – Watch the Replay

A BIG Thank You to ALL that joined us yesterday for the latest of our LIVE webinar broadcast featuring your Technical Manager James Berry diving into ‘Building Regulations & Basement Conversions.

For anyone that missed it, or for those of you that want to circulate it to your teams, the replay is now available ‘on-demand’.  Simply click on the button below to view.

Click to view >>

 

New Dates Released for Waterproofing Online Training

For those members who might have missed the opportunity to book onto our NEW Online Surveyor Training in Structural Waterproofing, we are please to announce NEW availability for the online course run between October to November 2021 (view course training schedule for Oct-Nov).

Recognised for delivering the highest standard in structural waterproofing training, this online training provides:

• 8 live interactive sessions
• 20 recorded learning videos
• Multiple professional trainers
• A whole suite of learning materials
• …all at the convenience of a click!

To find out more or to book onto the online training between Oct-Nov 2021, simply call 01480 400 000 or contact us online.

Click for more info >>

 

Heatwave – Advice on High Temperatures

With temperatures soaring in parts of Britain this week, It is important to remember the risks of overheating if PCA members and other construction/property specialists have employees within their workspaces.

HSE has recently pushed out helpful guidance that includes:

• Is it too hot to work?
• What the law says
• Outdoor working guidance
• Heat stress

For those that want to view more, click on the button below.

Click for more info >>

 

Can you help contribute to this research?

We have had a request from a PCA member to help circulate a questionnaire looking for information about the geographical distribution of wood-boring insects in Europe & the UK. If you are able to spare a few minutes to answer an online form about species that represent a threat for timber and derived wood-materials around you, it would be greatly appreciated.

Our thanks in advance to anyone that can help contribute to the research.

Complete the questionaire >>

 

Covid Restrictions are Easing – But be Cautious

As much as Covid19 restrictions have now eased in parts of the UK, we wanted to put out a message of caution to all PCA members (as well as to all construction/property specialists) about continuing to manage the risk to minimise the loss of team members through illness, the pings through ‘Track & Trace’ and the loss of revenue to your organisation/company.

With the ‘Construction Leadership Council’ (CLC) publically coming out to advise contractors and their colleagues to continue wearing masks in enclosed spaces for the near future, restrictions might be lifting, but the virus is still very much a threat.

Even last week, the PCA still had reports that HSE were undertaking site visits to ensure Covid safety. Our advice for everyone is to continue being Covid vigilant and to continue controlling the risks with regular reviews and updates to your risk assessment(s).

To find out more about what you can do and the current restrictions, click on the button below.

Find out more >>

 

Welcome to our New Members

The following company is now in Provisional Status of the Association (Damp and Timber sector);

Eco Tiffin Ltd (Contractor Damp & Timber)
249 Chambersbury Lane,
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
HP3 8BQ

 

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