Building Services News - in Focus
Gas Safe Register Scheme in Place
Corgi has been replaced by the Gas Safe Register Scheme as Britain's gas safety scheme. From 1 April by law anyone working on gas appliances must be on the Gas Safe Register, with the 120,000 Corgi registered engineers required to re-register to the new scheme.
Official figures show around 25 people a year die from carbon monoxide poisoning due to the incorrect installation of gas appliance and poor maintenance.
Ann Robinson, Gas Safe Register's director of public awareness highlighted the importance of gas safety:
"Gas Safe Register will raise public awareness of the dangers of using unregistered installers and explain how easy it is to avoid them by always using a registered engineer."
Further information: www.gassaferegister.co.uk
CSB Code Unwrapped
The UK Green Building Council (UK-GBC) has unveiled its detailed proposals for the new Code for Sustainable Buildings (CSB).
Supported by RIBA, Arup and Lend Lease, the UK-GBC is urging the government to introduce a single code for all new and existing non-domestic buildings.
The plan is for a ‘building MOT' to be introduced to monitor and improve the environmental performance of a building for the duration of its life.
Daniel Labbad, chief executive of Lend Lease, said the code will "create an overarching framework that could be easily understood across the industry."
Further information: www.lowcarbonbuildingsdirectory.org
Minister Comments on UK-GBC Proposal
Planning minister Margaret Beckett UK Green Building Council's (UK-GBC) proposed Code for Sustainable Buildings.
The UK-GBC Code proposed consistency across policies, tools, guidelines, metrics and targets. It is a framework using existing legislation to help all make all buildings are sustainable.
Beckett commented at environmental conference Ecobuild:
"I am very willing to listen to people coming forward with ideas to reduce carbon emissions. The industry has understood and accepted the basic arrangements needed for further investigation."
Plans are for the government to consult on the Code for Sustainable Buildings in the summer.
Further information: www.building.co.uk
BREEAM, LEED, and Green Star - Global Carbon Metrics
BREEAM, LEED, and Green Star have announced they will be working together to establish a common metrics on carbon emissions from new buildings.
The UK, US and Australian organisations currently use different measurement methods. To satisfy the growing demand for a consistency for carbon emissions they will establish a constant metric, for measurement and reporting.
Paul King, chief executive of the UK Green Building Council, commented:
"Rating tools like BREEAM, LEED and Green Star have a proven track record in driving significant improvements in performance, and I'm delighted they are now coming together to help create an international language that will enable us to talk with one voice about the vital role green buildings can play in creating a low-carbon future."
Further information: www.building.co.uk
Please note that Consolux is not responsible for the content of external websites.
