Software specialist Createmaster has launched its latest service extension in response to the introduction of new Building Safety legislation.

The Fire and Emergency File (FEF) provides specific compliance for all buildings designated Higher-Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs) over 18 meters in height or containing more than six storeys for the new information required to be available between Gateways 2/3.

Gateways 2 and 3 are the main risk transfer points, where responsibility for the new building is passed to the owner/occupier after the construction phase.

The FEF is a structured digital template which enhances Createmaster’s existing online platform by enabling the creation of a complete, accurate and reliable as-built record of fire safety and other emergency systems installed for HRRBs.

To be completed ahead of gateway 3, it is subsequently passed, along with the O&Ms, to the end client at Practical Completion.

The FEF has been developed in collaboration with leading housing association clients and industry consultants, and according to the best practice policy guidance, embodied in the new Building Safety Regulations.

Fundamentally, the Createmaster FEF service solution simplifies the provision of crucial fire safety information, supplementing the requirements of existing Reg 38, the updated Fire Safety Act and the Building Safety Bill (BSB).

Createmaster’s FEFs supports the collation of a critical information bank, which ensures anyone carrying out design, construction or refurbishment work on a building has a complete and accurate record of the fire strategy and systems for the building and its residents.

Importantly, FEFs provide the future building owner and manager with the base construction information to help them understand what protective systems are in use in the building. This will enable them to formulate the “in-use” operation, maintenance & emergency procedures necessary to create a safe environment for all.

In the wake of the Fire Safety Act and the newly introduced Gateways, FEFs will be a required Gateway 3 item for all HRRBs, and one of the core information deliverables of the future Building Safety Case.

Createmaster Managing Director Brian Dodsworth said: “We’ve responded to a number of asset owners and managers who are committed to having accurate and complete records of the systems within their buildings.

“Our new FEF extension is designed to help seamlessly manage the process, ensuring the right data is collected and shared at the relevant time. Our team has built a service based on extensive research and development to ensure no stone is left unturned, assuring asset owners that they receive full fire and emergency information at handover.

“Our clients understand the supply chain challenges they face, and require a solution provider which can reliably tackle these head-on. This leads them to work with Createmaster to ensure this vital information is available at handover.”

A record £650bn of public and private investment will be pumped into infrastructure over the next decade, according to the updated Infrastructure Pipeline launched today.

This pipeline includes for the first time the forecasted future workforce demand based on planned investment in projects.

In the more immediate four-year period up to 2024/25, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority estimates over 425,000 individuals will be needed on an average annual basis to deliver planned investment of £200bn as the Government’s Build Back Better efforts get into full swing.

Funding mix of pipeline from 2021/22 to 2024/25 by sector (£’m)

To help suppliers make business-critical decisions as the country emerges from the coronavirus crisis, the Government is also setting out details of £30bn of planned procurements over the next 12 months in social and economic infrastructure.

National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline spreadsheet

This will create new opportunities for thousands of apprentices, technicians, graduates and skilled workers.

Today’s new Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030 also sets out a vision to put digital technology and innovation at the heart of our approach to infrastructure investment and delivery.

This pipeline outlines the extent to which new work will incorporate delivery through Modern Methods of Construction.

Some 170 of the contracts in procurements, worth between £15.4bn and £22.4bn, are planned to include elements delivered by making best use of MMC.

Click here for link Infrastructure Pipeline webpage.

The family-owned Shepherd Group is still counting the cost of legacy construction arm activities six years after selling the construction business to Wates.

According to latest accounts for the Shepherd Group, which now primarily covers the activities of the Portakabin business, obligations on previously completed projects by Shepherd Construction are still costing the group dearly.

This rump of the group recorded a £31m loss last year relating to the completion of a retail and residential complex in Colindale, North London and significant additional provisions in relation to claims on completed contracts where there remains uncertainty about the outcome.

The firm said it had been notified of some latent defect claims, including significant claims relating to items arising on historic building design issues, particularly in relation to cladding design and other fore safety issues.

Shepherd Construction pre-tax losses202020192018201720162015*-£31.3m-£21.4m-£13.8m-£31.7m-£9.7m-£60.6m*Shepherd Construction sold on 30 September 2015 to Wates. Liabilities retained by group

The company no longer trades construction contracts and the accounts were not prepared on an ongoing concern basis.

Overall the group recorded a £49m profit, up from £45m on revenue slightly ahead at £348m.

During the year the modular and portable building arm increased profit by 27% to £81m.

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HS2 is supporting over 20,000 construction jobs just one year on from the formal start of construction on phase one from London to the West Midlands.

The latest official employment figures reveal how fast the infrastructure project has geared up having continued throughout the covid-19 pandemic.

Contracts have already been awarded to over 2,200 businesses. A further £25bn worth of opportunities are expected to flow out into the wider supply chain over the coming years.

Budget so far

About £11bn (actual prices) has been spent so far, including land and property provisions. Around £12.6bn (2019 prices) has additionally been contracted, with the remaining amount yet to be awarded.

The overall budget for phase one, including Euston, is nearly £44.6bn (2019 prices). This is composed of the target cost of £40.3bn and Government-held £4.3bn contingency. The target cost includes a contingency delegated to HS2 of £5.6bn for managing the risk and uncertainties that are an inherent part of delivering major projects.

HS2 measures to upskill local people who are out of work with the training and accreditation have provide 1,100  formerly unemployed with long-term jobs.

Aerial view of HS2’s Chiltern Tunnel South Portal in Hertfordshire

This number is expected to increase in the months and years ahead as the pace of major construction work increases and HS2’s journey extends north.

Mark Thurston, chief executive of HS2, said: “We’re enormously proud of the progress we’ve made on HS2 since the Prime Minister gave us the go-ahead last year, and despite the challenges of the pandemic.

“We’ve already launched our first two tunnelling machines, with more to launch in the coming months, and construction of our stations and depots are well underway.”

“HS2 is moving forward, creating jobs, enhancing skills, benefiting UK businesses and building a low carbon, high capacity railway that will change the way we travel in Britain.”

Progress at the first of the 10-mile long Chilterns tunnel drives

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