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Perform consists of aluminium mesh, embedded in polymer rubber and is environmentally sound and UV resistant. The material offers the same functionality of lead with excellent stretching properties and provides a ‘breathable’ covering which prevents the formation of condensation. Notification of Price Increase
Dear Customer
As you will be aware the price of a barrel of oil has been on a steep upward curvefor the last three months and reached $120 last week. Unfortunately this has led to substancial increasesin our key raw materials for manufacture, and in cost of transportation.
We can no longer absorb these cost increases and write to inform you that we will be increasing our prices on the 1st April 2011. Whilst Rose Roofing continues to invest in production efficiency to offset raw material increases unfortunately due to the severity of the increases we cannot absorb them fully and have no alternative except to raise our selling prices. If we continue in this current economic climate with price rises on our primary raw materials and transport i have to report that there may be further price reviews in the very near future.
Keg Bitumen £50 per tonne
Pour and Roll Felts and Solutions 9%
We thank you for your continued support and understanding. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate in contacting the undersigned.
Latest NHBC guidance 2011
BS 5250:2002
Amendment 1 2005 recomends the combined use of vapour permeable (LR) roof underlay and high level ventilation to combat the risk of harmful roofspace condasation in cold pitched roofs.
After the prolonged cold spells over the last winter this solution has now been adopted by the NHBC who require high level ventilation in all cold pitched roofs whether they incorporate a vapour permeable (LR) underlay or not. It is one of the amendments to the 2011 NHBC Standards, see below, and will take precedence over 3rd party assessments (eg. BBA certificates) which may state that ventilation is not required in this type of roof.
Many products have been marketed on the basis that the roof ‘breathes’ through the underlay and therefore eaves ventilation is not required.
To work properly, any moisture vapour entering the roof space from the rooms below needs to be able to pass to the outside around the gaps in the tiles. If the amount of moisture vapour exceeds that which can safely pass through the
underlay, then problems can occur – usually condensation forming on the underside of the underlay and dripping onto the ceiling insulation.
Research by BRE has shown that condensation is likely to occur early in the life of the home when it is drying out.
The amount of warm moist air passing into the roof space can overwhelm the underlay.
The prolonged cold, frosty and snowy weather of last winter caused some horrendous condensation problems in roof spaces. That’s the feedback we received from a number of sources including builders and homeowners.
Generally, the problems appeared to have been in homes less than two years old and most were in their first heating season. Construction moisture was still drying out and, because warm air rises, the moisture vapour migrated to
the roof space. The snow and frost on the roof meant that the migration of the vapour to the outside was not able to occur. In the conditions experienced last winter, vapour permeable underlays used in unvented roofs did not seem able to cope with the situation and condensation occurred on the inside of the underlay.
BS 5250 ‘Code of practice for the control of condensation in buildings’ does provide guidance on such situations and recommends high level ventilation at or close to the ridge.
The BS 5250 requirement is for a ventilation gap equivalent to a 5mm slot for the length of the ridge. The BS also provides guidance on how to calculate the ventilation for hipped and other roofs where the ridge length is not representative of the plan. This requirement is now incorporated in the 2011 Standards in clauses 7.2- D11 and S11.
It should be noted that when NHBC introduces a standard for a particular purpose, it will take precedence over third party assessments (eg. BBA certificates) which may not require high level ventilation.
If you have been using vapour permeable roof underlays in unventilated roofs, from January 2011, NHBC will be looking for high level ventilation.
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Winter Working Health & Safety
Some people are attracted to construction work because the outdoor life is preferred to the factory or office environment. However, extremes of weather can 1ake the gilding off, unless we know how to cope.
The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employees to 1ake reasonable care for themselves and others. This includes coping with the weather. The PPE Regulations also refer to “exposure” and this also implies the weather.
Working in Cold Wet Weather:
1. Rheumatism can be brought on, or aggravated, by allowing joints and limbs to be cold and wet for long periods. Treatment is difficult. so prevention is best Water proof clothing which is big enough to allow adequate warm garments to be worn underneath should be worn (especially applies to boots) .
2. Bronchitis is a development of a cold, brought on by exposure to cold and damp. Once affected it is easily caught again and can get worse until you are virtually disabled. Smoking makes the chance of catching it even greater.
3. If working in water e.g. trench or other place where wading is necessary, even good boots and socks can eventually allow the feet to be blue and numb. Do not stand in water for too long and if possible, change socks for a dry warm pair at intervals.
Work in Cold Dry Weather
1. Working in intense cold can slow you down physically and mentally. Reactions are slower and decision making, over even simple things, becomes harder. Hence accidents are more likely.
2. In extreme weather conditions, if possible, arrange a work rota system, so that regular periods are spent out of the cold and wind.
3. Hyposthenia usually occurs when you can no longer maintain your body temperature at about 370c. Shivering is usually the first sign, but some people do not seem 10 shiver. If you begin to feel cold “deep inside”, refer to your foreman/chargehand and 1ake a short break in a warm place. Have a warm drink and a snack during your breaks!
4. Chill Factor is the added effect of wind on the body which makes it seem colder than the thermometer actually reads. At OOC and 10mph wind, the chill factor may make it seem like -10°c, so extra protection is called for.
5. Chilblains, Frostbite and Skin Damage are not confined to Arctic explorers. They are extremely painful and disabling, so prevention is better than cure. Warn gloves and socks are essential but if you can feel your extremities getting too cold, change into a warm pair. Protective creams are available for face and wrists etc. to replace the natural oils dried up by the cold and to prevent cracking and peeling.
6. Where necessary, temporary shelter should be constructed. This will almost certainly pay for itself by improving productivity. Sheeting over scaffolding, tents or even working in the lee of the site hut are possibilities. Somewhere warm and dry to take refreshments and to dry clothes is required by Construction (Health Safely & Welfare) Regulations.
7. Long sleeved vests, long-johns, thermal underwear etc. may be the butt of jokes, but if they keep you warm. It is better to be laughed at for a few minutes than unhealthy for the rest of your life.
Confederation of Roofing Contractors
We have recently joined the Confederation of Roofing Contractors which was formed to promote membership and protect the public against unscrupulous roofing contractors.
There are strict vetting procedure to ensure that only companies can become members who are committed to providing all clients with quality service, good craft skills and working practices and methods that conform to codes of practice and uses environmentally friendly materials and where available from renewable sources. These principles are enshrined within their rules of membership and Codes of Conduct. The Confederation of Roofing Contractors stands for INTEGRITY, RELIABILITY, and CUSTOMER PROTECTION and we are proud to be associated with such an organisation.
Lead-free waterproof flashingYour risk and your responsibility
The impact that the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 could have on anyone working in the construction industry.
Any company or individual accused of health and safety breaches in future will face a much harsher regime of potential penalties as a result of the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 which came into force on 16 January 2009.
BACKGROUND
For offences under the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 there have been two levels of sentences. The top level has been the more serious offences – failure to ensure in so far as reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare at work of employees [section 2] or non-employees [section 3] with maximum fines of £20,000 in the Magistrates’ Court (although unlimited fines could be imposed in the Crown Court). The lower level has been the raft of regulatory offences e.g. breaches of manual handling regulations. Maximum sentences here have been £5,000 in the Magistrates Court (unlimited in the Crown Court). It is worth noting that most health and safety prosecutions are dealt with in Magistrates’ Courts.
INCREASE IN FINES
Under the Health & Safety (Offences) Act 2008, the s2 and s3 offences continue to have an upper fine limit in the Magistrates’ Court of £20,000, but, the maximum fines for regulatory offences have now increased from £5,000 to £20,000.
The impact is severe, particularly as the HSE will generally prosecute several offences following an incident. So if a company is prosecuted where an employee is injured by a fall from a faulty step ladder for example, it can be anticipated that the employer will face prosecution for a section 2 offence (as above), plus regulatory offences such as failure to have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, breach of the Work at Height regulations and failure under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment regulations. Previously in the Magistrates Court, the maximum fines would have been respectively £20,000 + £5,000 + £5,000 + £5,000 = £35,000.
In future,the company in this example would face the much more severe maximum fines of £20,000 x 4 = £80,000.
Imprisonment now applies to all health and safety regulatory breaches
IMPRISONMENT
Also of great concern are sentences of imprisonment for health and safety offences.
Previously, the power of imprisonment in the health and safety arena has been extremely limited, applying to failures to comply with improvement / prohibition notices or with court remedy orders. In one case the HSE served a prohibition notice on the use of a machine, but the directors did not comply which led to a serious accident. The directors were sentenced to imprisonment.
Imprisonment has also applied to fatalities in the workplace where it is proved that an individual has been guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence.
The power to imprison has been greatly expanded by the new Act. Individuals (e.g. directors, senior managers, employees) now face this for virtually every health and safety offence. Magistrates can imprison for up to six months for individual offences (maximum for combined offences 12 months) and the Crown Court, up to two years. Note, these Magistrates’ powers are soon set to increase to 12 months per offence (maximum for combined offences two years).
TWO IMPORTANT POINTS ARISE:
First, imprisonment now applies to all health and safety regulatory breaches, including for strict liability offences, such as failure to have a suitable and sufficient risk assessments or breaches of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations. Therefore, individuals can go to prison where they cannot raise a defence to the allegations.
Secondly, even in offences that are not strict liability, the burden of proof in health and safety is on the defendant to show that the steps they took were “reasonably practicable,” i.e. to prove they are innocent. Individuals facing imprisonment will have to fight to show they did not do it, rather than the prosecution having to prove their guilt.
CONCLUSION
Businesses and individuals must now be even more vigilant in ensuring their health and safety standards are maintained at appropriate level. If there is still an incident then expert legal advice must be sought at the earliest stage to provide guidance through the investigation. The combination of these will give the best possible chance of limiting fines and staying out of prison.
