While alternative solutions might look better on this year’s budget sheet and the bottom line right now, any savings can be quickly lost if the costs throughout the entire lifetime of a product are not considered by doing a lifecycle cost analysis. 2. Levelling-up competency In most industries, the need for training and development cannot be underestimated. The Open University’s annual business report, which monitors the skills landscape of the UK, recently reinforced the fact that skills shortages are a long-term strategic challenge for organisations: almost two-thirds of leaders admit they have struggled to find individuals with the right skills and experience when recruiting. It’s encouraging, then, that the results of a Confederation of British Industry and Birbeck survey found that 41% of employers are planning on increasing investment in training over the next 12 monthsii. Set against the ISSG’s agenda for greater competence and standards, it is clear that this investment will be needed to help foster culture change throughout the built environment industry. 3. Identifying insights with BIM One tool that will help deliver greater compliance and capacity building is Building Information Modelling (BIM). First of all, it’s important that BIM is seen as a process, rather than a piece of software: the process of assembling all of a building’s parts and combining them to enable you to visualise how a building will look. However, it’s more than simply a 3D rendering of a building. BIM enables decision-makers to assess which products and solutions are best for a project while providing valuable information and insights about a building during its lifetime. The information provided by BIM can offer greater insights into what the best solutions are throughout a building’s lifespan. And, as previously mentioned, a specification process that places the total cost of ownership at its heart can help deliver buildings that are built more effectively, last longer, and better meet the needs of users. 4. Meeting the standards Finally, to ensure products operate as expected, they must meet certified standards and undergo stringent testing. This provides an official seal of approval that products meet the requirements expected for security, robustness, longevity, compliance, and fire safety. For instance, it’s vital that the right accreditations are in place for those installing fire safety doors and their associated hardware. Key ones to look out for include: • Warringtonfire’s FIRAS Installer Certification Scheme • BM TRADA’s Q-Mark Fire Door Installation • The GAI Diploma from the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers And then systems must be certified and have undergone independent third-party testing. Fire doors should be tested to EN 1634-1 or BS 476 22, accredited by a UKAS independent organisation, which completes any testing and certification. Accelerating culture change in the built environment industry should be an ambition for everyone involved. While legislation is an important measure to drive change, this will often set safety standards at the minimum acceptable level of what should be undertaken. Instead, we as an industry should be advocating that the solutions we deliver exceed these requirements, taking pride in how these measures will create safer, future-proof developments that better meet the needs of their users. To download the new white paper from ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group, titled ‘Accelerating Culture Change’, please visit www.assaabloy.com/uk/en/stories/whitepapers. 11 THE door industry journal winter 2022 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Industry News Interested in appearing in the Spring Edition? SAVE THESE DEADLINE DATES: Features Editorial Advertorials 15th February 25th February 5th March
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg2Nzk=