Category: Opinion
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Inflation indices: one size does not fit all
Figure 1 shows CPI and CPIH to be stable compared to construction indices, suggesting practicality in benchmarking and financial planning. Meanwhile, BCIS’s All-in TPI saw high inflation early on, but since 2021, the Infrastructure Output Price Index and Civil Engineering TPI have been more volatile. Civil Engineering TPI had nine quarters of year-on-year changes over…
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Building performance verification is construction’s next competitive battleground
Ahead of World Sustainability Day on 29 October, Willmott Dixon’s Doug Drewniak says it’s time to time to address the industry’s broken green promises on building performance. Image: Dreamstime Despite decades of innovation in sustainable design and net-zero commitments, the uncomfortable truth is that new buildings routinely consume more energy than promised. This performance gap…
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Why are we letting net zero be sabotaged?
For too long, industry’s argument for renewables has been rooted in the need to reach net zero. Rightly or wrongly, that narrative doesn’t chime with the public. There is space to make this case, but it must be grounded in real life, every-day benefits. View the original article and our Inspiration here
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Five steps to mitigating the domino effect of supply chain insolvency
A fractured supply chain can unhinge projects, particularly those operating without a contingency plan. Chris Bristow shares tips to mitigate potential damage. Supply chain insolvency in construction can trigger a wave of disruption and shake up project timelines on a grand scale. The ripple effect can decelerate progress, with repercussions that can impact more than…
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Five steps to mitigating the domino effect of supply chain insolvency
A fractured supply chain can unhinge projects, particularly those operating without a contingency plan. Chris Bristow shares tips to mitigate potential damage. Supply chain insolvency in construction can trigger a wave of disruption and shake up project timelines on a grand scale. The ripple effect can decelerate progress, with repercussions that can impact more than…
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Off-grid: how energy infrastructure impacts construction projects
Contractors must engage with grid operators early to avoid delays in their developments, writes Barrett Harris. Image: Dreamstime Among the several challenges facing UK construction, getting a quick connection to the electricity grid is fast becoming another hurdle to overcome. Recent soaring demand for connections has put the grid under significant pressure, with backlogs leading…
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Making unsafe buildings safe again: the realities of cladding remediation
Facade specialist Kris Zakrzewski MCIOB reports from the front line of construction’s most complex projects Image: Dreamstime Cladding remediation on higher-risk buildings (HRB) is one of the greatest challenges facing the industry today. As a senior project manager working on facades, I witness firsthand how these schemes place pressure on every stage of delivery. Delays often…
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Why CPD is essential to foster public trust in the construction industry
Institute members must be up to date with the latest regulations to ensure the highest standards in the built environment, writes Eddie Tuttle. Image: Dreamstime In the coming weeks, the CIOB’s policy and public affairs team will review the outcomes of party conference season, which is currently in full swing. We’ll also examine a forthcoming government…
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Why McAlpine is rethinking quality control
The construction industry should effectively utilise non-compliance reports if it wants to improve approach to quality control, writes Tony Smith. Some site teams, averse to using NCRs, may opt for their own remedial works, such as cutting out and recasting the affected section of concrete. If this is done without following the NCR process, and…
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Talking business at the party conferences
Eddie Tuttle shares a sneak preview of CIOB’s busy diary during the annual political party gatherings. The final details of our events are still being confirmed at the time of writing but we will, of course, invite the relevant ministers to participate, including the minister for industry, Sarah Jones, and the minister of state for…