BESA and TICA warn of “serious safety risks” posed by unqualified contractors

They cite one recent project where an unqualified multi-trade contractor installed ductwork with serious safety flaws, creating health risks and fire hazards. Both trade bodies fear that, rather than being an isolated example, this may be the ‘tip of the iceberg’.

Nathan Wood, chair of BESA’s London and South East region, said: “We are still seeing specifications being value-engineered to the maximum and many construction trades being squeezed on price. The result is that non-competent multi-trade outfits are undercutting professional ventilation installers and thermal insulation contractors.”

The faulty installation cited featured poorly insulated ducting, which created condensation and mould growth.

Wood added: “Condensation can quickly allow mould to germinate within 24 to 48 hours. This mould growth then produces spores which spread to other damp areas, multiplying the issues.”

Awaab’s Law

This is exactly the kind of problem that the forthcoming Awaab’s Law is designed to prevent. Due to come into force in October, it’s named after two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who died following prolonged exposure to mould in his Rochdale home.

Awaab’s Law will set strict deadlines for landlords to investigate and fix damp and mould, but its impact depends upon the competence of those carrying out the work. Without properly trained and accredited contractors, the law risks becoming a box-ticking exercise rather than a safeguard for residents’ health.

Wood said: “This is a colossal change in legislation. Preparation starts with organisations verifying both the competence of their skilled trade workers and the organisational capabilities of the specialist sub-contractors they employ.”

Insulation board

The risks extend far beyond mould. Chris Ridge, technical director at TICA, highlighted the incorrect use of flammable rigid insulation board on the project.

Ridge noted: “The board in question is a polyisocyanurate (PIR) board that’s not certified for use with ductwork. In fact, the Euroclass reaction to fire for this product will be either Euroclass E or Euroclass F.”

Euroclass E indicates a high contribution to fire, while Euroclass F signifies a material with little or no resistance to fire.

TICA has repeatedly called for PIR boards to be banned from internal duct applications, first of all back in 2022 and then again in 2024.

Multiple dangers

Ridge added: “It’s frustrating to see such flammable products still being used on internally located ductwork. A competent thermal insulation specialist would know better, but a non-competent multi-trade contractor may not.”

In conclusion, Ridge observed: “If the client had verified the organisational capabilities of the contractor rather than reward on price and convenience, this would not have happened. In this case, the appointment of a non-competent multi-trade organisation has led to multiple dangers.”

BESA and TICA have jointly stressed that clients must verify competence and organisational capability before appointing contractors for safety-critical building services work.

*Further information is available online at www.thebesa.com