EWS | DIGEST IN BRIEF M&E firms feeling more optimistic MANCHESTER OFFICE TARGETS OPERATIONAL NET-ZERO CARBON The worst fears of specialist M&E contractors about the impact of the coronavirus crisis have not been realised, according to a new survey. Firms are now far more optimistic about work prospects and most remain upbeat despite the furlough scheme ending this month. The Building Engineering Business survey shows that 67% of contractors expect their turnover to increase or remain the same in the third quarter of this year compared with quarter two, when there was a sharp drop in turnover because of the pandemic. Between the first and second quarters, almost two-thirds (60%) reported the sharpest drop since the survey began four years ago, but the fall was not as large as businesses had predicted. Compact reactors could fill nuclear gap A new generation of more compact nuclear reactors could be built on the site of the cancelled Wylfa development, according to manufacturer Rolls-Royce. Plans to build a 20bn largescale reactor at the North Wales site were abandoned last month when the main developer, Hitachi, pulled out. However, Rolls-Royce with its consortium partners BAM Nuttall and Laing ORourke said this could open up an opportunity to bring forward smaller reactors at the Anglesey site and at Trawsfynydd. These can operate for 60 years, providing about 440MW of electricity enough to power a city the size of Leeds. The government believes 16 compact reactors could be delivered by 2050. Sustainable buildings can support wellbeing Sustainable buildings can help tackle the climate emergency and boost peoples health and wellbeing, according to the World Green Building Council (WGBC). This was a key message from the launch of the organisations Sustainable buildings for everyone, everywhere strategy. The strategy is designed to address the fact that, by 2050, the global population will increase to 9.8 billion and the worlds building stock will double. This could have devastating environmental, social and economic impacts, according to the WGBC. Federated Hermes and MEPC have become Design for Performance (DfP) pioneers with 4 Angel Square at Manchesters mixed-use redevelopment Noma, and 11 and 12 Wellington Place, Leeds. Angel Square is targeting operational net-zero carbon, in line with the UK Green Buildings Council definition. It is a LETI Pioneer Project, so will seek to achieve the KPIs in LETIs Climate Emergency Design guide. Wellington Place, with is targeting Breeam Outstanding. Read more on the DfP initiative on page 40. Industry urged to have its say on changes to Wiring Regulations Draft for public comment released for proposed Amendment 2 to BS 7671:2018 Proposed changes to the 18th edition of the Wiring Regulations are now open for public comment, with the release of a consultation for the electrotechnical industry on a potential second amendment to BS 7671:2018. Led by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and BSI, the draft for public comment (DPC) outlines the proposed changes to the regulations to be introduced in March 2022. John ONeill, NICEIC and ELECSAs director of technical excellence, said: The DPC gives everyone within the electrotechnical industry an opportunity to put forward their views, and I urge all to engage and comment. The proposed changes, which cover safety improvement and international and European standards alignment, follow discussions at committee level with electrotechnical industry stakeholders. Gary Parker, technical manager of the Electrical Contractors Association, also encouraged its membership to engage with the consultation. He said: Its vital that the regulations keep up to speed with new industry technology and methodologies. However, this must be balanced with a practical engineering approach. The DPC will be open for comment until 11 December. It is available via the BSI Standards development portal at standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com CEO: value firms that have apprentices The CEO of a major specialist contractor has urged clients to demonstrate their commitment to skills by positively discriminating in favour of subcontractors that invest in apprentices. TClarkes Mark Lawrence said commitment to training should be recognised when packages of subcontract work are awarded. It would have been easy for us to say that, this year, we will not take on any apprentices, Lawrence said. But we did not. We showed our willingness to invest in our future, in the futures of 180 apprentices, and in our industrys future. I have a direct and frank question for our marketplace: does commitment like this carry weight with you? Either our marketplace actively recognises the value of skills and the creation of a talent pool or it does not. Now is the time. Lawrence believes that if the commitment made by firms like his goes unrewarded, then quality will continue to fall across the sector. Contract by contract, project by project, the construction world and the UK supply chain will fight on price and keep on grinding downwards, he said. The result will be that, for all the billions of pounds invested by the nation in the coming months and years to build homes and infrastructure, there will be little return in terms of skills and quality jobs for the future. 8 October 2020 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE Oct20 pp08-09 News.indd 8 25/09/2020 14:20