News

LABC last week launched their new Quality Management System under the banner 'Build With Us'.  LABC started consultation on standards, performance, competencies and qualifications with local authority building control teams two years ago and in 2016 created an autonomous Standards Commit

Open Doors, which is delivered by Build UK in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) as part of the Inspiring Construction campaign, sees Build UK members open live construction sites and offices for the public to go ‘behind the scenes’ and showcase the huge variety of careers available in the industry.

New LABC President Chris Griffith-Jones (pictured right in the above image), has replaced last year's President Richard Scott and pledged to help continue improving skills, competencies and standards for its members in England and Wales.

He said, "I want to continue building on the good work carried out by Richard. LABC's new standards, ISO and work in developing competencies will drive up quality standards and retain expertise in the construction industry."

Dame Judith Hackitt's Interim Report of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety was published today, 18 December 2017, and below are the points our Members should be aware of.

The report seems to provide the platform for change that we requested, but what's most important is of course what will be implemented.

As announced in the autumn budget on 22 November, a new £25 million fund has been launched to help local authorities deliver the high quality, well designed homes this country needs. 

Last year LABC (Local Authority Building Control), consulted with our local authority members to establish a single set of consistent national standards.

And we're pleased to say that the ISO which will help make this happen is now ready to go. The Head Office audit has been passed, and the local authority building control teams are testing it as we speak - we're expecting a full launch in the new year.

Understanding lead code requirements for particular work, installation detailing and length of laps are common issues that our building control teams get involved with.

Now there’s a quick and easy way to get the answers to all of your questions with a really clever mobile phone app from the British Lead Mills (BLM).

It’s designed to offer a one stop solution for any roofer or builder (or designer, specifier or building control officer) using BLM’s products.

New technical qualifications called T levels are promising to simplify the process of vocational training in England.

Construction has been picked as one of the first three T levels to be developed by the government alongside digital, education, and childcare as the first three pathfinder qualifications to be taken forward by the government.

Chancellor Philip Hammond had set out plans for T levels in the last Budget stating that technical qualifications have not always been on an equal footing with academic ones - and wanted that to change.

Here at LABC, in our role as membership organisation for a national network of local authority building control teams in England and Wales, we're committed to providing public and consumer protection as well as to enforcing the building regulations.

The Construction Industry Council (CIC) have published a new free inclusive design guide.