Spec Finish

6 www.thefis.org CFAGuide toContract Flooring Tier ones have duty to protect SMEs NEWS In an interview published in Construction News , Alex Vaughan, CEO at Costain, voiced his worries for smaller suppliers navigating the current economic climate. He said: “I’m concerned for suppliers in the sector who are struggling. “We get great value from our small suppliers – so we support them, and they build relationships with us and that’s a personal responsibility. “When we select our suppliers, we are very conscious of who else they are working for and if they work in our sector. All the other tier ones share the same behaviours, so we are all responsible together, which gives us confidence that people working for us, and our peers, are going to be looked after.” In response to this article, FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee, said: “This is well said and a key and welcome message going into the autumn. For me, there is still a lack of respect as to what the specialist brings. “The tender process has to be more risk focused and to do this we need to ensure we are always selecting the business that is being sub contracted to deliver for the client and not get drawn into a process where the tender with the most errors is selected or used to drive down the price. “Compliance is going to become more difficult and particularly specification detailing around products like firewalls in bespoke situations. We are going to need the expertise of the specialists”. www.costain.com Cundall Edinburgh helps deliver the first WELL Certified office Designed, built, and delivered in collaboration with Overbury, Form Design Consultants, CBRE UK and AECOM, the new Edinburgh office of Pinsent Masons has achieved a WELL Certification from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), making it the first WELL certified office in Scotland. The project achieved the WELL Building Standard by delivering a workplace that met IWBI’s rigorous standards for the design of spaces that enhance human health and wellbeing, by considering seven categories including air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. The design team undertook a biophilic office design philosophy, a proven method for increasing staff productivity and creativity in the workplace through the integration of natural materials and green plants. Other measures implemented to encourage staff health and wellbeing included naturally lit breakout spaces, high-quality filtration systems to improve indoor air quality, and circadian lighting to mimic natural daylight and help improve occupant mood, concentration and productivity. www.cundall.com The Contract Flooring Association (CFA) has launched its 2022 version of the Guide to Contract Flooring. The guide represents one of the main technical reference documents for the installation of all types of commercial flooring products in our sector, and is free to download at www.cfa.org.uk/Contract-Flooring-Association-Information-and-Downloads ). It highlights best practices in plain English and includes key references to British Standards as well as some innovation. www.cfa.org.uk FIS has published a series of Best Practice Guides for selection, planning and installation in additional specialist areas, including suspended ceilings, partitioning, drylining and firestopping of service penetrations etc. They are free to download at www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/best-practice-guides/ Alex Vaughan, CEO at Costain