Lead is a metal that is found in the environment and was used in many consumer products. Some you might never have thought of, including roofing and plumbing products, coatings for toys and in soils. Most people have a small amount of lead in their blood from these exposures.
Lead was used in most homes before being banned in the late 1992, lead and other products including paints are still likely to exist undetected in many places. Before digging into any renovations in an old home, it’s worth considering lead materials may be present. Summit Environmental can undertake lead-based risk assessments and sampling to certify that the materials contain lead or risk free.
Lead paints were extensively used, for a range of uses both internally and externally to wood, metal and other surfaces. This includes doors, door frames, stairs, banisters, window frames and sills, flooring, pipework, radiators, soffit’s, fascia’s and garage doors.
Do I have lead in my home?
The age of your home is a good guide. If it was built before the 1992 there could be some lead contained.
Does it have original coats of paint? If your paintwork is quite thick – lead could be locked into the deepest and oldest layers.
If lead is likely to be present, we would recommend having a lead-based paint tests for homes built prior to 1992, but it may not be necessary if the materials are in good condition, and you don’t plan to redecorate.
Is lead testing for lead materials mandatory in the UK?
No, it isn’t. We advise ‘Don’t do it yourself,’” It’s possible, but poses several hazards, especially if there are children or pregnant women in the household.
Workers, however, are protected by The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) and this regulation places a duty on employers to prevent, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to control employee exposure to lead.
Can you test for lead at home?
You can test for lead in your home in many ways:
Home test kits. These tell you if lead is present, but not how much is present. We wouldn’t advise doing it yourself, however, we understand cost is always important.
Secondly, we are happy to analyse your samples for you, send them to us and we can analyse them for you. This will save surveyor costs.
Use Summit Environmental for sampling and assessment. With many years of experience undertaking lead assessments and completing sample testing, we have a great understanding of lead in a range of buildings and structures all the way to marine vessels. Using a surveyor reduces the risk’s that sampling may generate many free fibres of materials. Experienced surveyors are also recommended so that the person sampling is fully trained, wear the correct PPE, minimise the risks of disturbance and ensure the sample is fully representative of the material in question and is suitable for analysis. All our lab assessments and testing certificates are always produced for each of the samples taken/received together with a percentage & mg/kg figure for each paint sample.
How do lead materials get into your body?
When lead and items containing lead are processed, worked, or recovered from scrap or waste they can create lead dust, fume or vapour. Your body absorbs lead when you:
Breathe in lead dust, fume or vapour;
Swallow any lead, eg if you eat, drink, smoke, or bite your nails without washing your hands and face.
Any lead you absorb will circulate in your blood. Your body gets rid of a small amount of lead each time you go to the toilet, but some will stay in your body, stored mainly in your bones. It can stay there for many years without making you ill.
Prolonged breathing or ingesting lead dust or fumes can cause serious health problems like kidney, nerve and brain damage or infertility.
The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) places a duty on employers to prevent, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to control employee exposure to lead.
What is lead poisoning?
Lead poisoning, also known as plumbism and saturnism, is a type of metal poisoning caused by lead in the body. The brain is the most sensitive. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, irritability, memory problems, infertility, and tingling in the hands and feet.
A simple blood test can detect lead poisoning. A small blood sample is taken from a finger prick or from a vein. Lead levels in the blood are measured in micrograms per decilitre (mcg/dL).
Lead testing in blood?
A lead test measures how much lead is in the blood.
There is no safe blood level of lead. However, a level of 5 mcg/dL is used to indicate a possibly unsafe level for children. Children whose blood tests at those levels should be tested periodically. A child whose levels become too high — generally 45 mcg/dL or higher — should be treated.
How should your health be checked at work regarding lead?
At your place of work, an appointed doctor or a nurse (under the supervision of a doctor) will take a small blood sample to measure the amount of lead it contains. This is measured as a number in micrograms of lead for each decilitre (or 100 millilitres) of blood.
You are legally obliged to provide blood or urine samples for this purpose. Blood-lead levels are usually checked every three months, especially if you are under 18 or a woman of child-bearing age. It may be more often if you do the sort of work where you could rapidly absorb lead (eg work on lead-burning processes where exposure to lead fume could be high unless properly controlled).
The doctor may check your blood-lead level less often if your exposure and your blood-lead level do not usually change very much. This could be every 6 or even 12 months.
Is lead testing in blood mandatory in the UK?
Yes, under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, employers must arrange for workers ‘significantly’ exposed to lead at work to have regular blood tests. These regulations lay down two blood levels: An ‘action level’, above which your employer must review the steps they are taking to control your lead exposure.
When is lead in paint dangerous?
Lead-based paint is most dangerous when it is deteriorating—peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, etc. And if you plan to disturb the paint at all, perhaps for a big renovation, a repair, or simply a new coat of paint, you need to take extreme caution, as these activities can create toxic lead dust.
What is lead paint testing?
Lead paint surveys, aim to quantify the amount of hazardous paint present in the building or area. The lead paint sampled during the survey is then analysed to determine the presence of lead-based paint.
Lead paint surveys & analysis are crucially important for those involved in refurbishment or renovation, particularly in period properties or listed buildings which have been neglected or have remained unchanged for some time.
Lead in drinking water?
Lead can be present in drinking water That’s why it’s important you find out if your home has lead pipework. This is more likely if it was built before 1970, but your pipes might also be joined by lead solder if they were installed before 1987.
How to check for lead pipes?
Find the pipe leading to your internal stop tap and the kitchen tap (it’s usually under your kitchen sink or in the downstairs toilet).
Unpainted lead pipes will be dark grey or black, and their joints will look swollen.
Scrape the pipes gently with a coin. If they’re lead, shiny silver strips will appear.
Tapping a lead pipe with a metal object will produce a dull thud rather than a clear ringing.
How to reduce the amount of lead in water?
Use cold main tap water for drinking or cooking. Hot tap water will dissolve more lead than cold water. Only use cold water when mixing infant formula.
Run the tap for a couple of minutes. If water has stood in your pipes for a few hours or more, run the taps before you use water for drinking or cooking.
What can you do to protect your own health?
Make sure you have training if you need to work safely with lead, including what to do in an emergency, or such as a sudden uncontrolled release of lead dust or fumes. Wear any necessary protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment required such as gloves, RPE and other PPE. Practise a high standard of personal hygiene, and especially: – wash your hands and face and scrub your nails before eating, drinking or smoking; – wash and/or shower and change if necessary before you go home.
https://summitenvironmental.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/stockvault-warning-peeling-wall-texture217949-scaled.jpg17072560markhttp://summitenvironmental.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Summit-Environmental-Logo-1-300x96.pngmark2021-12-04 22:14:512021-12-04 22:15:34Everything You Need To Know About Lead Materials!
A Fire Risk Assessment is an assessment that prepares us to be able to complete our emergency fire action plan, to know more about our premises, and to be able to train our staff, and protect our teams or residents. It is for many assessors, business owners and their employees, clearly a potential life saver, to be prepared in the case of fire and the ensuing evacuation.
What are Fire Risk Assessments?
A fire risk assessment is a review undertaken of a building to assess its fire risk and to offer recommendations to make the building safer if needed. If there are less than five occupants regularly in the building, then it is not required for the assessment to be written down, even if that would be a wise step to confirm awareness.
What do you need to know when completing a Fire Risk Assessment? Here are the elements that you will need to consider:
emergency routes and exits.
fire detection and warning systems.
fire-fighting equipment.
the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances.
an emergency fire evacuation plan.
the needs of vulnerable people, for example the elderly, young children and those people with disabilities.
providing information to employees and other people on the premises
staff fire safety training.
In addition to these, consideration will also have to be given to the following, when carrying out the assessment,
Identify the fire hazards.
Identify people at risk.
Evaluate, remove, or reduce risks.
Record your findings, prepare an emergency fire-plan and provide training.
Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly.
Are Fire Risk Assessments required annually?
Our recommendation is that the responsible person completes a fire risk assessment or a review of it at least once per year, but it can be sooner, if for example where there has been a significant change in the environment that is being assessed, any changes to either the property, or to legislation that has been updated. For lower risk properties this could be every 2 to 3 years.
Are Fire Risks Assessments legally binding?
A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement. It is your duty to identify fire risks and hazards in your premises and to take appropriate action. The law states that arisk assessment must be ‘suitable and sufficient’, that it should show that: a proper check was made. That you asked who might be affected and you dealt with all the obvious significant risks and that you considered the number of people who could be involved.
As Fire Risk Assessments are a legal requirement. It is your duty to identify fire risks and hazards in your premises and take appropriate action.
How often is a Fire Risks Assessments required?
The recommendation is that the responsible person completes a fire risk assessment at least once per year or when there has been a significant change in the environment.
You are responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you are:
an employer
the owner
the landlord
an occupier
anyone else with control of the premises, for example a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor
You are known as the ‘responsible person’. If there is more than one responsible person, you must work together to meet your responsibilities.
As the responsible person you must:
carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly
tell staff or their representatives about the risks you have identified
put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures
plan for an emergency
provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training.
Who can undertake a Fire Risk Assessment?
You can do the Fire Fisk Assessment yourself with the help of standard fire safety risk assessment guides if you have the correct training and experience.
If you do not have the expertise or time to do the fire risk assessment yourself you need to appoint a ‘competent person’ to help, or to appoint a professional risk assessor.
Your local fire and rescue authority might be able to give you advice if you are not sure your risk assessment’s been carried out properly. However, they cannot carry out risk assessments for you.
However, the risks for getting it wrong can be severe, so, call in the experts.
How much does a Fire Risk Assessment cost?
The cost of a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) will depend on several factors, which will include do I get a Fire Risk Assessor to do the job for me, to complete the survey and to update and maintain the records, or do I do the job myself, or nominate a competent person? The other factors that need to be considered is the size of the area to be assessed or any problems that someone who is not trained may miss, or not fully understand the significance.
Many companies may find it difficult to appoint a competent person, when their main role may take them away from the task in hand, or to defer the Fire Risk Assessment to another day. With a competent person as the Fire Risk Assessor, a new employee to the organisation may get fire training more rapidly, but perhaps not so effectively, as a professional could do. It is certain that one way or other there will be a cost centre to this significant legal requirement, it is also likely that in the case of fire, the saving could be significant both in the cost of human life and that of property and goods.
What is included in a Fire Risk Assessment?
The content of the fire risk assessment will be influenced by several factors, depending upon the nature and use of the building, where it is located if it is a shared premises and if is a building undergoing alterations or extensions.
Areas that need to be considered in almost all fire risk assessments are fire detection systems, emergency exits and routes (including evacuation plans), firefighting equipment and the availability of information and advice to the building’s occupants.
Issues such as the specific needs of vulnerable people and the safe storage of any dangerous substances must also be considered. However, these may not always be a relevant factor for the fire risk assessment depending on the use of the building
You must carry out regular checks to make sure that:
all fire alarm systems are working.
the emergency lighting is working.
you record any faults in systems and equipment.
all escape routes are open for use and the floor is in good condition.
all fire escapes can be opened easily.
automatic fire doors close correctly.
fire exit signs are in the right place.
emergency routes and exits.
fire detection and warning systems.
fire -fighting equipment.
the removal or safe storage of dangerous substances.
an emergency fire evacuation plan.
the needs of vulnerable people, for example the elderly, young children or people with disabilities.
providing information to employees and other people on the premises.
staff fire safety training.
Non-domestic premises are:
all workplaces and commercial premises.
all premises the public have access to.
the common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings.
What about shared premises?
In shared premises it is likely there will be more than one responsible person. You will need to co-ordinate your fire safety plans to make sure people on or around the premises are safe.
For common or shared areas, the responsible person is the landlord, freeholder or managing agent.
What happens to the Fire Risk Assessment in regards to alterations, premises extensions and new buildings?
When building new premises or doing building work on existing premises, you must comply with building regulations. This includes designing fire safety into the proposed building or extension. A fire risk assessment must cover all areas of the building.
When did Fire Risk Assessments become law?
From 1st October 2006, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person (RP) of any non-domestic premises to carry out a fire risk assessment, including measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire, and identify persons at risk.
Having completed Fire Risk Assessment, what next?
You need to start converting your Risk Assessment to an Emergency Evacuation Action Plan, which is always well supported by a plan of the premises which will show all relevant details of fire doors, escape routes, fire fighting equipment, emergency lighting, staff training and fire assembly points.
Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans
Your plan must show how you have:
a clear passageway to all escape routes
clearly marked escape routes that are as short and direct as possible
enough exits and routes for all people to escape
emergency doors that open easily
emergency lighting where needed
training for all employees to know and use the escape routes
a safe meeting point for staff
People with mobility needs?
You should also make special arrangements for people with mobility needs for example make sure there are people to help wheelchair users get downstairs if there’s a fire.
Penalties and enforcement.
You could be fined or go to prison if you do not follow fire safety regulations. Local fire and rescue authorities inspect premises and can issue fire safety notices telling you about changes you need to make.
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Fire risk assessments and health and safety in blocks of flats are very much on the radar following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower. Where does that leave you when trying to sell a flat?
What are Fire Risk Assessments?
A fire risk assessment is a review undertaken of a building to assess its fire risk and to offer recommendations to make the building safer if needed. If there are less than five occupants regularly in the building, then it is not required for the assessment to be written down, even if that would be a wise step to confirm awareness.
Who is responsible for the fire risk assessment?
The question that often arises in leasehold properties is who is responsible, and who pays for, the statutory requirements to carry out such checks and to undertake any work.
The regulations will apply to “Premises” which the order defines to include “…any place…” in particular a workspace, although not to “domestic premises”. This does sound confusing, but essentially means that common parts of a building containing dwellings will be covered but not premises occupied as a private dwelling, such as the flat itself.
The duty is on the responsible person who will generally be the person responsible for managing the common parts. This can include the freeholder and a right to manage company, a Residents Management Company and also managing agents contracted to act on behalf of any of the above.
There is duty on the “responsible person “to “…take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case to ensure that the premises are safe”. The fire safety risk assessment duty of the “responsible person” is to evaluate the risk to people from fire, taking into account existing fire safety measures and to determine whether additional measures are necessary.
What is the law surrounding fire risk assessments?
The regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the relevant law.
The regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The legislation states that “Any such assessment must be reviewed by the responsible person regularly so as to keep it up to date…” Presumably the frequency of the risk assessment may depend upon the building concerned. For example, the age and size of the building.
The legislation is enforced by the Local Fire and Rescue Authority, that can carry out inspections and serve enforcement notices on the “responsible person” in the event of non-compliance.
As the duties under the Fire Safety Order (FSO) are extensive, there will often be cost involved in compliance, such as the cost of the inspection itself, replacement of communal doors, fire extinguishers, means of escape etc.… Whether these costs can be passed on to leaseholders by the freeholder or other responsible person depends on the terms of the lease in particular, the service charge provisions.
More modern leases will include an obligation on the freeholder to comply with statutory requirements, with a right to recover the cost of this from leaseholders. Some leases will also have a clause requiring leaseholders to comply with statutory requirements in respect of their own demised premises e.g., if the FSO requires them to install new fire doors to their flats.
Even if the lease does not contain the above clause specifically allowing the freeholder to recover the cost of complying with the FSO, the freeholder may be able to rely on other clauses in the lease, for example, a sweeping up charge.
“Sweeping up clauses” are a widely drafted service charge provision clause allowing recovery of costs for unforeseen items of expenditure. An example would be “expenses incurred for the benefit of the building” or “expenses incurred in the interests of good estate management”.
Such clauses do not automatically allow recovery of all such charges and there has been a lot of case law on the wording they need to contain. However it is likely that such expenditure would fall within a comprehensive “sweeping up clause“.
Who pays for the fire risk assessment and required works?
The cost of work carried out by a freeholder in respect of a statutory obligation still has to be reasonable under the landlord and the tenant Act 1985 and carried out to a satisfactory standard. However, it would be hard to argue that it is unnecessary if required to be done by statute.
Consultation with leaseholders, under section 20 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 is still, of course, required if the works exceeds the cost of £250 for any one leaseholders.
I have a fire risk assessment, what now?
Following this assessment, the document is intended to act as a “living document”, that is, as a tool to help adopt acceptable control measures that can be put into place, that will effectively reduce the severity of the consequences or the likelihood of an accident or incident occurring, to such a level that the overall residual risk is reduced to the lowest possible practicable and acceptable level achievable.
The assessment should be reviewed before any major refurbishment works are carried out, so that the circumstances detailed above can be reconsidered again in the light of the spend proposed and/or available and the possibilities or needs to improve general fire safety measures during the refurbishment. Matters to consider should include the adequacy or even the presence of emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems, decorative surfaces and finishes, possible smoke venting, signage and floor surfacing, especially considerations for contrasting nosing’s (leading edges) of stairs etc.
Need help and advice, contact us
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Clearly Global Warming is what everyone is talking about, the effect upon our environment and the World that we may leave for our Children’s Children. There has been much written about the situation that mankind has made and if there is away forward, or have we responded too slowly and now looking at a lost cause?
Regarding the insulating of our homes, you may say, if the environment is that much warmer what is the need to insulate in a country like the United Kingdom where severe weather is less common and the likelihood of snow during the winter less likely and frosty mornings something that may become memories from our past?
The answer must be this, that most fuels that we use will have a negative effect upon The Earth and most fuels that are available to us are increasing in cost, with shortages potentially the case. It therefore makes good sense to look after the heat that we have produced and to retain it in the properties where we live and work.
Post pandemic the World has stirred and the economy’s which have laid dormant for months are using and absorbing all the natural resources which are available. Therefore, demand and prices are high, and resources available low. The UK store less gas than any other country in Europe. As a youngster I recall seeing the green gas storage tanks in virtually every town that I drove through, where are they now?
Please remember that properties that are well insulated do get a double bonus of good insulation, the first being warmer in the winter and the second cooler in the summer, which when you consider the cost and effect of air conditioning is a tremendous plus point.
Insulating your home doesn’t just make it more energy efficient, it is also one of the best things you can do to reduce your energy bills remember to look for cheaper energy deals that may be available and that you may be able to switch to. Insulating your home will make your house warmer and more comfortable, while also reducing its impact on the environment in the process.
Loft Insulation
What does insulation do?
Insulation – and draught proofing – protects your home against cold in winter and excess heat in the summer and can even reduce noise pollution (like the sound from a road or passing aircraft). What’s more, some key insulation measures are ‘low cost’, in that they pay for themselves in less than five years.
Other than low energy lighting, these measures have the best returns of all energy efficiency investments. Furthermore, if you decide to sell or rent your home, the rating that your home receives on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be improved.
How does the heat escape from my house and the cold get in?
There are five ways that heat can escape:
Conduction – that’s heat moving through solids like metal or brick.
Radiation – this is the heat you directly feel when you stand near a heat source. It is in fact infra-red radiation, and just another form of ‘electromagnetic radiation’ like radio waves, visible light, ultra-violet and x-rays – which all travel at the speed of light. If you take infra-red photos of your house on a cold, still night you can help see where heat is being lost.
Convection – this is the natural tendency of warm air or water or other gases and liquids to rise, while cold air and water falls downwards. This often results in circulation of air and is the main principle behind central heating radiators.
Air movement – draughts are a common form of heat loss, taking warm air from within the home and letting it out into the outside (and typically replacing it with cold air coming in). Another example is a wind blowing past a house, which will generally have a cooling effect on it. Water movement has the same effect upon your property.
Evaporation – not a process that we naturally associate with heat loss, but if it rains on a hot summer day, after the rain stops, some of it may evaporate from the roof and walls, and this will cool the home considerably.
Where do I need to insulate in my home to protect myself from heat loss?
On a cold day, heat can escape from your home in all directions, – up, down and sideways. So, you should think about insulating the whole property and not just concentrating on one element.
The roof
The walls
The floor
The windows and doors
Many people make the mistake of assuming that heat only goes up – but only one form of heat transfer (convection) primarily moves up. Heat will travel in all directions. It is also known that heat will always travel towards cold.
If you adjoin another home, either through shared walls or through a floor that is in effect another household’s ceiling, or vice versa, you are fortunate as you will not suffer from heat loss, assuming the other side is heated as well. However, you will still need to heat your home, as you will not have heat gain either. The general rule is that the bigger the temperature difference, the greater the flow of heat. So, the colder it is outside, the greater the heat loss from your home.
How much heat is being lost from different parts of my home?
This depends on the type of house that you live in, whether it’s detached or semi-detached, or if it’s a terrace property, and if so, if it is mid or end terrace. When an EPC is being completed on a property, the heat loss perimeter is a significant calculation and will hugely affect the outcome. The larger, or longer the heat loss perimeter is, the more heat you will lose from it. If you live in a flat, the losses will be different again, and will depend on whether your flat is in the middle, at the top or at ground floor level.
For a typical house the walls will lose most heat, around 30% and up to 40%. The roof will be next at around 25%, probably followed by windows and doors at around 20%, and the floor (of your lowest storey) at around 10%. Quite a large loss will occur because of draughts and a lack of airtightness. Of course, draughts can also be attributed to floors, doors and windows, the walls or roof. It should also be known that some controlled ventilation is essential for reducing the risk of stale or damp air.
Do I need planning permission for insulation work?
In most cases, insulation work does not require planning permission from your local council. The exceptions may include external wall insulation and, in areas where there are conservation schemes, glazing.
Even if you don’t need planning permission, building regulations could apply, so check with your local council’s building control department.
What types of insulation are there?
Good insulation types
Good insulators include many products that typically have a structure similar to wool. In effect a good insulator will trap tiny pockets of air within a material which itself is also a good insulator. These include the very common mineral and glass wools, which come on rolls in blanket form, or in a somewhat denser form as batts or slabs.
Sheep’s wool is of course a great insulator, as are other natural fabrics like hemp and cotton – so curtains are good insulation products. Some mineral and glass wool style products are ‘higher density’ and therefore have greater insulation effect, typically about 25% greater.
Most wood and wood- based products, for example, MDF, plywood, and hardboard, are also generally quite good insulators – so wooden doors and wooden loft boards help keep warmth in the home.
Not surprisingly, paper is another a good insulator, including recycled paper, and cellulose from other sources such as crop wastes. Although flammable in its untreated form, it is treated to make it fire resistant for use as insulation. This is supplied in sealed sacks, but once opened is in loose form, which makes it suitable for installing in circumstances where blankets or batts won’t fit.
Polystyrene and similar products are generally good insulators. Polystyrene is sometimes referred to as EPS (expanded or extruded polystyrene slab) form. These products are also usually fire resistant, and much denser and heavier than the sort of polystyrene that is used for packaging. EPS is typically 50% more effective, for the same depth, as a standard mineral or glass wool product.
Closely related are spray foam solutions, which are typically polyurethane based. The foam forms on the mixing of two chemicals and it hardens, trapping tiny pockets of air. Because the foam fills crevices and gaps, it can also eliminate draughts and provide strengthening to existing building structures, for example roof tiles. Other foam solutions include adhesive strips for insulating around windows, doors, or loft hatches.
Some ‘insulators’ work by stopping the flow of air (draughts) through cracks and gaps, such as sealants (mastics). One of the cheapest sealants is papier-Mache, which you can make yourself from torn-up paper and wallpaper glue.
Another method of insulation is reflection. There are now multi-foil products, which are generally a sandwich of metal foils and plastic style insulators. These can be used to reflect radiated heat and are designed to insulate where there is not the space for wool, batt and EPS type products. Some polystyrene and other products are also coated with foils.
Good insulation material doesn’t just slow the process of heat loss, depending on its specific use, there are other properties that are important too, such as physical strength, fire resistance, resistance to mould, and non-toxicity; cost is another important consideration too.
Poor insulation types
Unfortunately, many materials with physical strength and which are therefore used in building construction, including metals (such as copper, steel, and aluminium), stone, brick, tiles, and concrete, are good conductors and have limited ability to insulate. However, some more modern versions of these materials have been designed to have construction strength but lower heat transmission than in the past, for example, modern breeze blocks.
Water is also a bad insulator, which means that anything that soaks up moisture will usually conduct heat away quite quickly. Moving air also takes heat away quickly even though air that is prevented from moving, generally when trapped in tiny pockets, makes a good insulator.
Here are some of your quick wins that will not break the bank.
These are the type of small tasks that any of us could do at home with little or no cost and a minimal amount of experience.
1. A digital thermometer
Digital thermometers that record the maximum and minimum temperature since last being reset can show you just how warm or cold different parts of your home are. This is basic tool that will help you to identify specific rooms in your home that need attention. Working on the basis ‘if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it’, thermometers are a good investment.
2. A plug-in thermostat
If you use an electric heater without thermostatic controls, your heater will continue to generate heat and use electricity even after a room is warm enough, which is a waste of energy and money. A plug-in thermostat can solve this. You plug the heater into the plug-in thermostat, which is in turn plugged into a power socket, rather like plugging an electrical device into a time switch. You can then set the temperature you want on the plug-in thermostat and once it hits that temperature, it cuts off power to the heater.
3. An electric blanket
Electric blankets can be a way of compensating for a chilly bedroom. Most electric blankets are designed to fit below the bottom sheet, they are typically used to pre-warm a bed. During this pre-warming phase they have a relatively high -power consumption, around 100 watts for a double sized bed. Once you are in bed, an electric blanket must be turned down to the sleep setting. This setting uses about a quarter of the electricity, typically around 25 watts, which is equivalent to a couple of mid-power low energy light bulbs. However, many people turn the blanket off altogether once they get into bed.
One alternative to an electric blanket is a hot water bottle, although this is not necessarily more energy efficient, especially if you do turn the blanket off once you get into bed – which is a good habit to get into. Neither option should be a substitute for sufficient bedding, or an appropriately warmed bedroom. It’s important to ensure that any bedroom is not too cold, especially if the sleeper is elderly, unwell or a young child.
4. A brass radiator key
A brass radiator key is a useful investment for bleeding your radiators, which releases the gases caught in a radiator causing it to be cold towards the top and reducing its efficiency. It is worth paying extra to invest in a brass key, rather than buying a pressed steel one, as the latter tend to be easily broken. Many modern radiators don’t have the standard square valve head — if that’s the case you’ll need a screwdriver as well.
5. A radiator shelf.
A radiator shelf just above a radiator helps to throw heat forward from the radiator into the room, rather than letting it raise up to the ceiling. You can buy purpose-made radiator shelves, which clip easily onto most radiators.
6. Radiator reflector panels
Radiator reflector panels can stop heat being wasted from the back of a radiator into an external wall. They are especially useful in older homes where the walls are solid, which rules out the option of cavity wall insulation. You can buy radiator reflector panels or radiator foil, or you can make your own by cutting a piece of cardboard to size and covering it in the type of kitchen tin foil you use for cooking. You’ll need a long stick and double-sided tape to attach them to the wall behind the radiator.
8. A carbon monoxide alarm
Getting rid of draughts and unnecessary ventilation is a major way of reducing wasted heat, saving money on your energy bills in the process.
A carbon monoxide alarm is not energy-saving but you need to invest in one before you make any changes to reduce draughts or alter the ventilation in your home. This is in case you block a source of essential ventilation by mistake, such as for a fuel burning device that doesn’t have a balanced flue, for example, an old boiler. It’s a good idea to have an alarm anyway; carbon monoxide (CO) is highly toxic, but impossible to detect without an alarm because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless.
9. Expanding foam
There are some simple solutions to draughts. Expanding foam, which comes in an aerosol can, is useful for filling holes in brickwork. If you upgrade your boiler, for example, any new boiler will have a balanced flue, meaning you no longer need an air ventilation in an external wall in the area where the boiler is sited. So, the obsolete airbrick could be filled with expanding foam. One word of caution though: many gas fires still don’t have balanced flues, so don’t assume you can block up a room vent just because you are upgrading a gas fire. It’s also important to keep clear any ventilation in roof spaces or under the level of floorboards.
10. Papier-Mache
Another heat saving measure is to fill medium-sized gaps in floorboards with papier-Mache – this is easy to make, you just mix wet wallpaper paste with torn newspaper – which is easy to press into the gaps. It’s a very effective and inexpensive solution, assuming you’re not intending to expose the floorboards as a feature.
11. Sealant
Smaller gaps that allow draughts can be filled using a tube of sealant. You may need a simple steel caulking gun, or the sealant may be packaged so you can use it without one. It works well to fill gaps around doors and window frames.
12. A letterbox flap
A letterbox flap to keep out draughts at your front door is another inexpensive investment, especially useful if the outer flap doesn’t fit or return to its position very well.
13. Draught seals
Ill-fitting doors and windows can be a source of draughts. There are a variety of draught seals or sealing strips that can be used around doors and windows in order to reduce draughts and stop the unnecessary loss of warm air.
14. Curtains
Windows and doors will also benefit from heavy or lined curtains, especially if they are only single glazed.
15. A chimney balloon
A chimney balloon blocks the cold air that falls down a chimney, as well as preventing internal warm air from being drawn up the chimney when it is not in use. The balloon can be deflated and taken out of the fireplace as and when you need to use it. If you are looking for a more permanent solution, and don’t have plans to use your fireplace at all, it is best to get a qualified tradesman to cap the chimney at the top and shut it off at the bottom, as this will be more energy-efficient.
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TrustMark is the UK’s only Government Endorsed Quality Scheme
The whole ethos of TrustMark is their passion for quality – it underpins what TrustMark stands for – continual improvement, best practice, excellent customer service and protection.
Trustmark provide a high level of assurance, certainty and protection to homeowners looking to have work done in and around their homes. TrustMark Registered Businesses are thoroughly vetted and continually monitored to ensure they meet required standards in technical competence, customer service and trading practices, so homeowners can be sure they’re making the right choice.
Peace of mind about quality of work and customer service
Whether you are looking for an electrician, a plumber or a landscape gardener, the TrustMark logo is a reassuring sign of the quality and standards they are required to uphold. TrustMark Registered Businesses are required to adhere to high standards of technical competence, customer service and trading practices, all of which are underpinned by our Customer Charter, the Code of Conduct and the Framework Operating Requirements.
Why use Summit Environmental?
For exactly the reasons above, we care about quality and customer service.
To find out more about Trustmark visit
https://www.trustmark.org.uk/
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If you are the owner of a commercial property, or you are in the process of buying a commercial property, you may be the person legally responsible for managing any asbestos present at the property. Therefore, should you be considering selling a commercial property at some point in the future, you should have an asbestos survey conducted.
Asbestos Regulations relating to Commercial Premises
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 clearly sets out these responsibilities for any property that is non-domestic. Exposure to asbestos can be fatal, causing serious illnesses that can take decades to manifest and produce symptoms. Since asbestos was banned in construction in the UK in 1999 there is no need for concern in any commercial building constructed after this date.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a heat-resistant, chemical resistant, strength binding naturally fibrous mineral that was commonly added to manufacture building materials. It was found to be a durable material with fire and heat resistant properties. That is why it works so well as a fire proofing & insulating material.
Any building constructed between the 1800’s and 1999 will likely have asbestos-containing materials within the property. However, during the 1970’s & 1980s, health experts determined that asbestos was responsible for negatively impact the health of anyone who is exposed to it.
The greatest exposure to asbestos occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged because this action releases fibres into the air which can be readily inhaled and cause severe health consequences. Some of the most significant health consequences include lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
What is an asbestos survey?
Any man-made structure, commercial building, residential building, or house constructed between the 1850 and 1999 can still pose a risk to the occupants or workers who live or reside within them. UK Regulations require you to conduct asbestos surveys on buildings constructed within this time. Asbestos surveys are required if you are occupying, buying, selling, or demolishing commercial premises. If there are tenants or people living inside the building, then asbestos surveys are also performed as a health and safety check.
The job of an asbestos surveyor is to inspect your building and identify potential asbestos-containing materials. The asbestos fibres themselves cannot always be identified directly because they are microscopic, however an asbestos surveyor is familiar with the types of building materials that might have asbestos in them, such as roofing materials, Wall panels, insulating materials and flooring materials. When selecting an asbestos surveyor you should ensure the surveyor has experience of surveying commercial premises.
Once the surveyor has located an asbestos containing material a small sample will be taken of each suspect material which will then be analysed at the laboratory for further in-depth analysis. The laboratory will identify the type or types of asbestos present with sample(s) a bulk certificate of analysis is produced detailing the laboratory results.
Is an asbestos survey required and if so, what type of survey?
Asbestos survey types
Asbestos Management Surveys
What are asbestos management surveys?
Management asbestos surveys are standard inspection surveys to comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for all commercial and industrial property and for those buying or selling property. This type of inspection is non-intrusive but does include sampling of suspect materials which are then sent to the laboratory to report on whether asbestos is present and if so, what types of asbestos.
If you are a business whether leaseholder or freeholder this survey will identify what asbestos containing materials are in place within your demise, their condition and what your legal obligations are to comply with the regulations.
If you have been asked to carry out an asbestos survey for management purposes and provide an asbestos register for insurance or compliance purposes, including visits from either HSE or Environmental Health this is the survey type which includes the information set out in Regulation 4 “Duty to Manage”. This applies to a building built prior to the year 2000.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
What is an R and D Survey?
The aim of this survey type is to survey the property in question for asbestos containing materials so as these can be managed safely or as is usually the case removed safely in line with the regulations before the strip-out and re-fit. All property types are covered regardless of size or class of use – residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed.
Asbestos refurbishment surveys and asbestos demotion surveys must be undertaken on properties which are due to be refurbished or demolished.
Professionals, occupiers, and management agents involved in minor and major fit-outs and strip-out will need to commission such a survey prior to beginning the works. As well as the requirements for this type of survey covered under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSG264, further stipulations and requirements are contained in the CDM Regulations 2015.
R and D asbestos surveys are highly intrusive, and damage will occur to elements of the property to inspect the fabric of the building. Therefore this type of survey can only usually be undertaken in a vacant property and one which is owned by the person or company commissioning the survey.
Asbestos Re-inspection Survey
What is an asbestos re-inspection survey?
An asbestos re-inspection survey (also referred to as an annual asbestos re-inspection survey) is designed to allow the duty holder to monitor and record the condition of any previously identified asbestos products within a building.
Like any building material, asbestos-containing materials are also subject to potential damage and degradation. As an asbestos product degrades it can be more likely to become a hazard to health, therefore should be inspected at regular intervals to ensure its condition has not deteriorated.
When selling a commercial property?
Asbestos is often found in commercial premises prior to buying and selling. Therefore, should you be considering selling a commercial property at some point in the future, you should have an asbestos survey conducted.
It is important that you understand the location and potential danger of ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials) if you own a commercial property, you are a tenant or manager of a building with responsibilities that include managing asbestos.
If you are planning to sell a commercial property, a recent asbestos survey and/or asbestos removal project, is more likely to highlight previous good asbestos management processes and strategy.
Summit Environmental and commercial asbestos surveys.
Our asbestos survey reports contain material assessment, risk rating for materials with recommendations on materials found including photographs and highlighted floor plans. This information can then be used by those involved in the refurbishment and or demolition works.
If you need an asbestos management survey or asbestos refurbishment survey in commercial premises in Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and London please contact us, we will be happy to discuss your requirements.
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Summit Environmental are accredited by TrustMark for our Retrofit assessments. TrustMark is a government endorsed quality scheme for trades in and around the home.
What are retrofit assessments? What is PAS 2035?
From 1st July 2021, all ECO3 funded Retro-fit work will have to adhere to PAS 2035 standards, which will require fully trained and TrustMark approved retro-fit professionals such as Summit Environmental.
A Retro-fit assessor will complete more than just an EPC, which we all know is needed for the sale or rent of existing UK housing stock. The role of the retrofit assessor will complete an occupancy assessment, a condition report and to convert Rd SAP assessments to SAP assessments to comply with the requirements of a retrofit assessment.
The Process of Retrofit assessments
Part 1) The Occupancy Assessment.
The Occupancy Assessment will be used to generate a professional report which outlines how the occupant uses the energy of the property. With this assessment you can use the Rd SAP data and create an accurate report based on the household’s overall energy usage.
This is achieved by entering information such as the number of occupants in the property, the actual water usage per week, which rooms are heated by which heating systems etc. as well as the use of white goods within the property and information provided from household bills.
Part 2) The Condition Report.
This flexible reporting process will allow a create a room- by- room report of a house, entries may be multiple ‘items’ within a room and can provide a brief description of their condition. A star rating will be attached to each room to represent its overall condition. In addition to this, pictures will be taken and attached as evidence for each part of the report. With the information the Condition Report Survey will generate a PDF file with all the information entered in a clear and professional format.
Part 3) Rd SAP to SAP Converter.
This conversion tool allows users to Rd SAP data, to create a Design SAP input file which can be passed to Retrofit Coordinator, who will be the project manager for the conversion project.
The history of the Retro fit process is covered by the following paragraphs which is driven by the countries target to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Government Targets.
This relates to the governments targets which were originally set, based upon the greenhouse emissions as of 1990. The initial figures have been changed, and the target is now for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050. To meet this goal by 2050, there needs to be significant improvements to the UK’s 27million domestic dwellings. Domestic dwellings account for a substantial proportion of our greenhouse emissions, considered to be around 25% of the problem.
Each Home Counts.
The Each Home Counts report was published in 2016 and outlined 27 recommendations, including the establishment of a quality mark, now known as TrustMark, for domestic retrofit supported by a framework of technical standards.
The aim of the report was to restore confidence of consumers and the government in the retrofit industry, to facilitate new central and local government policies whilst promoting a national programme of domestic retrofit.
What is PAS 2035?
PAS 2035 is the specification for the energy retrofit of domestic buildings and was developed as part of the Each Home Counts process. The Retrofit Standards Framework is the standard that any holders of the Trustmark Standard, is required to comply with when carrying out domestic retrofit work.
When considering the government’s target to not only reduce carbon emissions, but to also end fuel poverty, it became evident that more needed to be done to improve the UK’s housing stock. The Each Home Counts introduces a better process for the retrofit of energy efficiency and renewable energy. As a result of this review the introduction of the Pas2035 framework document was introduced for the end- to -end delivery of the domestic retrofit work.
When does PAS 2035 apply?
The government have made it clear that any funding they provide for energy efficiency measures will need to go through the PAS 2035 process.
Where does PAS 2035 apply?
PAS 2035 requires that every dwelling that is to be subjected to energy retrofit work is to be firstly assessed by a retrofit assessor who will provide information about the dwelling for use by a retrofit coordinator.
PAS 2035 may be applied to all domestic retrofit activity that is covered in the following categories:
Funded by national or local government schemes,
Retrofit promoted/funded by landlords, including RSL’s and private landlords,
Individual buildings by their owners or occupants.
Retrofit that is integrated with and forms part of a broader repair.
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Who is responsible for managing asbestos in a commercial property?
This is a question that crops up time and time again when granting leases. Tenants will usually insist on seeing an asbestos survey and landlords are keen to wash their hands of it (literally).
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (Regulations) imposes a duty to manage asbestos risk in non-domestic premises. This requires the ‘duty holder’ to determine whether asbestos is present in a building or likely to be present, and to manage any asbestos that is or is likely to be present.
So what does this actually mean?
Firstly, a landlord does not have to arrange an asbestos survey in order to let a property. This is a common misconception. Many tenants seem to think that this is a mandatory requirement (like an EPC) but this is simply not the case. A landlord’s only requirement is to comply with its obligations as ‘duty holder’ under the Regulations. This is not a pre-requisite to letting the property to a tenant.
A landlord must keep in place its own records and a written plan to manage asbestos and they are required to provide information about the location and condition of the asbestos to anybody who is liable to disturb it. This would typically include tenants, contractors and employees. However, tenants who believe that they can force a landlord to carry out an asbestos survey are mistaken.
Secondly, a ‘duty holder’ is any person who has an obligation to maintain or repair a commercial premises or exercises some element of control over the whole or part of it or has a means of access to and from the premises. In broad terms, therefore, it captures anybody with an interest in the property (under a tenancy or not). This means that there can be more than one person at any one time who is a duty holder. In the typical landlord and tenant scenario, the landlord is the duty holder before the lease is granted, and both the landlord and tenant are duty holders after the lease is granted.
So, is the landlord ‘off the hook’ as soon as they grant a lease?
No, not quite. The landlord cannot shift the obligations of duty holder to a tenant, but as soon as the tenant signs the lease it will become a duty holder in its own right.
Where there is more than one duty holder, the contributions to be made by each party in complying with the Regulations are determined by the nature and extent of the maintenance and repair obligations owed by each party to the other. In other words, a carefully drafted lease can place most (if not all) of the obligations on to the tenant.
The situation is slightly different in a multi-let building where the responsibility for maintenance of the common parts, services, external fabric and main structure of the building will generally lie with the landlord. Here, the landlord will be required under the Regulations to arrange for asbestos surveys and for copies of asbestos registers to be produced for each tenant – although a properly drafted lease will ensure that these costs are recovered from the tenants under the service charge.
Finally, it is worth remembering that:
‘Managing’ asbestos does not necessarily mean removing it. The only requirement is to have an action plan and a system in place for managing the risk. In many cases the best decision may be to leave the asbestos in place because it is contained and ‘safe’.
Even where the landlord has passed the responsibility on to the tenant, the landlord will still have to step in and carry out work in the event of the tenant’s default – so this is always something to monitor and keep on top of.
Asbestos management is definitely something to discuss and agree from the outset of any lease.
The Regulations apply to both landlords and tenants, so it is in everybody’s interest to reach a mutual understanding.
Need help, contact us to discuss your requirements on [email protected]
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Energy Performance Certificates are a legal requirement within the property building, letting and sales market. If you are building a property the EPC’s will be produced from the plans for the construction, if you are in the process of letting or selling an existing property you must have one to support the transaction, the EPC will be a visual and non-intrusive examination of your property, this is the responsibility of the seller or landlord to arrange. For sales this has been a requirement since 2007, and for the rental sector since 2008. The EPC is valid for ten years, and although you may have one which is out of date, which is not illegal, you are unable to proceed with selling or letting.
Q2. Are EPC’s accurate?
The programme for data calculation is very accurate, for existing property the RDSAP, Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure is used, the ‘Reduced’ means visual information collected on site, a non-intrusive inspection. The assessor can only input what he can see, access may not always be good, and if he is advised of works which have been done, the property owner will need documented evidence of that work, to support data entry. The assessor will also benefit from the knowledge of the property owner where certain items may not be obvious, such as where there may have been extensions and clarity of build date may be needed.
Some of the factors that the Energy Assessor is not able to change, are already pre-set in the software programme, and other factors have no effect upon the RDSAP software.
It also worth considering that Government Legislation is often changed, as are the building regulations, in line to meet Government Targets. New building materials, insulation and new technologies are all having effect on the grading of your EPC assessment. There-fore when you had an EPC completed ten years ago, your current EPC may be down-graded to show a lower result.
If you believe that the EPC that has been produced for your property is not correct, you are able to lodge a complaint, in the first instance to the Energy Assessor who completed the EPC. You are also able to make complaint to the Assessor’s Accreditation Agency.
On this point, SAP, Standard Assessment Procedure, full data is collected from plans, that were used for new domestic buildings that have been built since April 2008.
Q3. Are EPC’s still required?
The answer is a most definite yes, EPC’s most certainly needed when a home being sold by owner or being put up for rent. When a new build is under construction there will also be an EPC produced, this one will be based upon he plans of the build. With an ever-changing range of energy efficient products, you can work on the assumption, the newer the build, the more energy efficient it should be. With a target of zero carbon emissions by 2050, I can only imagine that the EPC will become more important. If you look at the Government schemes for improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock, they include an EPC to verify improvements and so the EPC will only become more commonly used.
Q4. Are EPC’s Required for holiday lets?
A holiday let would normally be exempt from needing an EPC, having said so, that is based upon the ruling that it would be used for less than four months of the year. Another thing to bear in mind is that for most holiday lets, the energy used is normally paid by the property owner. The property would also, if used for four months of the year, be using energy consumption of less than 25% of what would be the result of all year use.
Q5. Do Listed Buildings need an EPC?
The first line of action is to check on historicengland.org.uk if the property is a listed building.
Either way get an EPC completed on your property, by an accredited assessor, he should not switch off any recommendations unless given written guidance by the Local Conservation Officer, stating that the specific recommendation would “unacceptably alter the properties character or appearance” The owner should review the recommendations and be encouraged to consider making cost effective improvements that will reduce energy consumption and make the building more comfortable. Should the minimum energy efficiency standard not be achievable, or planning restrictions apply, then it could be used as grounds for an exemption.
Q6. Can EPC’s Fail?
The rating of an EPC is graded between the highest rating of A and the lowest of G. and being the least efficient, and therefore the more costly to run, and potentially the most damaging to the environment. The EPC is not a document to state if the property fails, but only an assessment to state where improvements can be made. The average band for the UK. is band D.
As a property owner the EPC that you have will advise you of the steps that you can take to make your property more efficient, warmer, more comfortable and cost you less to run.
If you are a property owner who intends to let the property for rent, or maybe a part of it, then what you need to be aware of is that the minimum energy standards for privately rented properties is to be no lower than band E.
Q7. Can EPC’S be done remotely?
Remotely is an adverb, from a distance, without physical contact.
I suppose that in one way you could say that an EPC is completed remotely, due to it being a non-intrusive assessment of the energy performance of your property, the energy assessor will enter in the data that he can see to complete the assessment, the property owner may support his findings with history about the property and may support that with receipts or guarantees of work completed.
To add further clarity, the domestic property assessor does need to be on site, as does the owner, or his agent, and willing and able to give access to the home.
Q8. Can an EPC be completed on-line?
The accredited energy assessor will have two ways to complete the EPC, either by a paper document, which he will complete and then support it with floor plan, site notes, property measurements and photographs, alternatively he may enter the details directly through to the accreditation company using an I-pad or mobile phone, also supported with floor plan, site notes, measurements and photographs.
The EPC is unable to be prepared by any other party.
Q9. Who can do an EPC certificate?
The energy assessor who collects the various data and supporting evidence will enter this into the software that will determine and calculate the energy efficiency of the property that he is assessing.
For existing buildings, rather than new, the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure will be used. Data from your property will include items like date of build, heat loss walls, party walls, wall type and insulation, both water and space-heating, glazing and insulation plus doors.
There are some factors that are pre-set in the RDSAP software, such as standard occupancy, standard heating patterns, building regulations values and dates, SAP fuel prices, standard lighting usage, and standard locality and topography.
When these figures are brought together is when the RDSAP software produces the EPC rating, and certificate.
Q10. I can-not find my old EPC certificate.
The new 2020 EPC register will enable you to review your most recent EPC, and to check if it is still valid. The register was launched by the housing minister, Christopher Pincher on 30th September 2020, and holds details for over 27 million properties. You may be able to access a copy of your missing EPC document, but only if one exists.
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Everything You Need To Know About Lead Materials!
/0 Comments/in Deleterious Materials /by markLead is a metal that is found in the environment and was used in many consumer products. Some you might never have thought of, including roofing and plumbing products, coatings for toys and in soils. Most people have a small amount of lead in their blood from these exposures.
Lead was used in most homes before being banned in the late 1992, lead and other products including paints are still likely to exist undetected in many places. Before digging into any renovations in an old home, it’s worth considering lead materials may be present. Summit Environmental can undertake lead-based risk assessments and sampling to certify that the materials contain lead or risk free.
Lead paints were extensively used, for a range of uses both internally and externally to wood, metal and other surfaces. This includes doors, door frames, stairs, banisters, window frames and sills, flooring, pipework, radiators, soffit’s, fascia’s and garage doors.
Do I have lead in my home?
The age of your home is a good guide. If it was built before the 1992 there could be some lead contained.
Does it have original coats of paint? If your paintwork is quite thick – lead could be locked into the deepest and oldest layers.
If lead is likely to be present, we would recommend having a lead-based paint tests for homes built prior to 1992, but it may not be necessary if the materials are in good condition, and you don’t plan to redecorate.
Is lead testing for lead materials mandatory in the UK?
No, it isn’t. We advise ‘Don’t do it yourself,’” It’s possible, but poses several hazards, especially if there are children or pregnant women in the household.
Workers, however, are protected by The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) and this regulation places a duty on employers to prevent, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to control employee exposure to lead.
Can you test for lead at home?
You can test for lead in your home in many ways:
How do lead materials get into your body?
When lead and items containing lead are processed, worked, or recovered from scrap or waste they can create lead dust, fume or vapour. Your body absorbs lead when you:
Any lead you absorb will circulate in your blood. Your body gets rid of a small amount of lead each time you go to the toilet, but some will stay in your body, stored mainly in your bones. It can stay there for many years without making you ill.
Prolonged breathing or ingesting lead dust or fumes can cause serious health problems like kidney, nerve and brain damage or infertility.
The Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 (CLAW) places a duty on employers to prevent, or where this is not reasonably practicable, to control employee exposure to lead.
What is lead poisoning?
Lead poisoning, also known as plumbism and saturnism, is a type of metal poisoning caused by lead in the body. The brain is the most sensitive. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, irritability, memory problems, infertility, and tingling in the hands and feet.
A simple blood test can detect lead poisoning. A small blood sample is taken from a finger prick or from a vein. Lead levels in the blood are measured in micrograms per decilitre (mcg/dL).
Lead testing in blood?
A lead test measures how much lead is in the blood.
There is no safe blood level of lead. However, a level of 5 mcg/dL is used to indicate a possibly unsafe level for children. Children whose blood tests at those levels should be tested periodically. A child whose levels become too high — generally 45 mcg/dL or higher — should be treated.
How should your health be checked at work regarding lead?
At your place of work, an appointed doctor or a nurse (under the supervision of a doctor) will take a small blood sample to measure the amount of lead it contains. This is measured as a number in micrograms of lead for each decilitre (or 100 millilitres) of blood.
You are legally obliged to provide blood or urine samples for this purpose. Blood-lead levels are usually checked every three months, especially if you are under 18 or a woman of child-bearing age. It may be more often if you do the sort of work where you could rapidly absorb lead (eg work on lead-burning processes where exposure to lead fume could be high unless properly controlled).
The doctor may check your blood-lead level less often if your exposure and your blood-lead level do not usually change very much. This could be every 6 or even 12 months.
Is lead testing in blood mandatory in the UK?
Yes, under the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002, employers must arrange for workers ‘significantly’ exposed to lead at work to have regular blood tests. These regulations lay down two blood levels: An ‘action level’, above which your employer must review the steps they are taking to control your lead exposure.
When is lead in paint dangerous?
Lead-based paint is most dangerous when it is deteriorating—peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, etc. And if you plan to disturb the paint at all, perhaps for a big renovation, a repair, or simply a new coat of paint, you need to take extreme caution, as these activities can create toxic lead dust.
What is lead paint testing?
Lead paint surveys, aim to quantify the amount of hazardous paint present in the building or area. The lead paint sampled during the survey is then analysed to determine the presence of lead-based paint.
Lead paint surveys & analysis are crucially important for those involved in refurbishment or renovation, particularly in period properties or listed buildings which have been neglected or have remained unchanged for some time.
Lead in drinking water?
Lead can be present in drinking water That’s why it’s important you find out if your home has lead pipework. This is more likely if it was built before 1970, but your pipes might also be joined by lead solder if they were installed before 1987.
How to check for lead pipes?
How to reduce the amount of lead in water?
What can you do to protect your own health?
Make sure you have training if you need to work safely with lead, including what to do in an emergency, or such as a sudden uncontrolled release of lead dust or fumes. Wear any necessary protective clothing and respiratory protective equipment required such as gloves, RPE and other PPE. Practise a high standard of personal hygiene, and especially: – wash your hands and face and scrub your nails before eating, drinking or smoking; – wash and/or shower and change if necessary before you go home.
For further reading:
CLAW at Work Regulations 2002
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l132.htm
For some examples of lead exposure cases see below;
https://www.hse.gov.uk/lead/case-studies.htm
For more information……read more on our blog
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Fire Risk Assessments, what you need to know.
/0 Comments/in Fire /by markA Fire Risk Assessment is an assessment that prepares us to be able to complete our emergency fire action plan, to know more about our premises, and to be able to train our staff, and protect our teams or residents. It is for many assessors, business owners and their employees, clearly a potential life saver, to be prepared in the case of fire and the ensuing evacuation.
What are Fire Risk Assessments?
A fire risk assessment is a review undertaken of a building to assess its fire risk and to offer recommendations to make the building safer if needed. If there are less than five occupants regularly in the building, then it is not required for the assessment to be written down, even if that would be a wise step to confirm awareness.
What do you need to know when completing a Fire Risk Assessment? Here are the elements that you will need to consider:
In addition to these, consideration will also have to be given to the following, when carrying out the assessment,
Are Fire Risk Assessments required annually?
Our recommendation is that the responsible person completes a fire risk assessment or a review of it at least once per year, but it can be sooner, if for example where there has been a significant change in the environment that is being assessed, any changes to either the property, or to legislation that has been updated. For lower risk properties this could be every 2 to 3 years.
Are Fire Risks Assessments legally binding?
A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement. It is your duty to identify fire risks and hazards in your premises and to take appropriate action. The law states that a risk assessment must be ‘suitable and sufficient’, that it should show that: a proper check was made. That you asked who might be affected and you dealt with all the obvious significant risks and that you considered the number of people who could be involved.
As Fire Risk Assessments are a legal requirement. It is your duty to identify fire risks and hazards in your premises and take appropriate action.
How often is a Fire Risks Assessments required?
The recommendation is that the responsible person completes a fire risk assessment at least once per year or when there has been a significant change in the environment.
You are responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you are:
You are known as the ‘responsible person’. If there is more than one responsible person, you must work together to meet your responsibilities.
As the responsible person you must:
Who can undertake a Fire Risk Assessment?
You can do the Fire Fisk Assessment yourself with the help of standard fire safety risk assessment guides if you have the correct training and experience.
If you do not have the expertise or time to do the fire risk assessment yourself you need to appoint a ‘competent person’ to help, or to appoint a professional risk assessor.
Your local fire and rescue authority might be able to give you advice if you are not sure your risk assessment’s been carried out properly. However, they cannot carry out risk assessments for you.
However, the risks for getting it wrong can be severe, so, call in the experts.
How much does a Fire Risk Assessment cost?
The cost of a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) will depend on several factors, which will include do I get a Fire Risk Assessor to do the job for me, to complete the survey and to update and maintain the records, or do I do the job myself, or nominate a competent person? The other factors that need to be considered is the size of the area to be assessed or any problems that someone who is not trained may miss, or not fully understand the significance.
Many companies may find it difficult to appoint a competent person, when their main role may take them away from the task in hand, or to defer the Fire Risk Assessment to another day. With a competent person as the Fire Risk Assessor, a new employee to the organisation may get fire training more rapidly, but perhaps not so effectively, as a professional could do. It is certain that one way or other there will be a cost centre to this significant legal requirement, it is also likely that in the case of fire, the saving could be significant both in the cost of human life and that of property and goods.
What is included in a Fire Risk Assessment?
The content of the fire risk assessment will be influenced by several factors, depending upon the nature and use of the building, where it is located if it is a shared premises and if is a building undergoing alterations or extensions.
Areas that need to be considered in almost all fire risk assessments are fire detection systems, emergency exits and routes (including evacuation plans), firefighting equipment and the availability of information and advice to the building’s occupants.
Issues such as the specific needs of vulnerable people and the safe storage of any dangerous substances must also be considered. However, these may not always be a relevant factor for the fire risk assessment depending on the use of the building
You must carry out regular checks to make sure that:
Non-domestic premises are:
What about shared premises?
In shared premises it is likely there will be more than one responsible person. You will need to co-ordinate your fire safety plans to make sure people on or around the premises are safe.
For common or shared areas, the responsible person is the landlord, freeholder or managing agent.
What happens to the Fire Risk Assessment in regards to alterations, premises extensions and new buildings?
When building new premises or doing building work on existing premises, you must comply with building regulations. This includes designing fire safety into the proposed building or extension. A fire risk assessment must cover all areas of the building.
When did Fire Risk Assessments become law?
From 1st October 2006, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person (RP) of any non-domestic premises to carry out a fire risk assessment, including measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire, and identify persons at risk.
Having completed Fire Risk Assessment, what next?
You need to start converting your Risk Assessment to an Emergency Evacuation Action Plan, which is always well supported by a plan of the premises which will show all relevant details of fire doors, escape routes, fire fighting equipment, emergency lighting, staff training and fire assembly points.
Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans
Your plan must show how you have:
People with mobility needs?
You should also make special arrangements for people with mobility needs for example make sure there are people to help wheelchair users get downstairs if there’s a fire.
Penalties and enforcement.
You could be fined or go to prison if you do not follow fire safety regulations. Local fire and rescue authorities inspect premises and can issue fire safety notices telling you about changes you need to make.
Need help with a Fire Risk Assessment?
Do I need a fire risk assessment (FRA) to sell my flat?
/0 Comments/in Fire /by markFire risk assessments and health and safety in blocks of flats are very much on the radar following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower. Where does that leave you when trying to sell a flat?
What are Fire Risk Assessments?
A fire risk assessment is a review undertaken of a building to assess its fire risk and to offer recommendations to make the building safer if needed. If there are less than five occupants regularly in the building, then it is not required for the assessment to be written down, even if that would be a wise step to confirm awareness.
Who is responsible for the fire risk assessment?
The question that often arises in leasehold properties is who is responsible, and who pays for, the statutory requirements to carry out such checks and to undertake any work.
The regulations will apply to “Premises” which the order defines to include “…any place…” in particular a workspace, although not to “domestic premises”. This does sound confusing, but essentially means that common parts of a building containing dwellings will be covered but not premises occupied as a private dwelling, such as the flat itself.
The duty is on the responsible person who will generally be the person responsible for managing the common parts. This can include the freeholder and a right to manage company, a Residents Management Company and also managing agents contracted to act on behalf of any of the above.
There is duty on the “responsible person “to “…take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case to ensure that the premises are safe”. The fire safety risk assessment duty of the “responsible person” is to evaluate the risk to people from fire, taking into account existing fire safety measures and to determine whether additional measures are necessary.
What is the law surrounding fire risk assessments?
The regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the relevant law.
The regulatory reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The legislation states that “Any such assessment must be reviewed by the responsible person regularly so as to keep it up to date…” Presumably the frequency of the risk assessment may depend upon the building concerned. For example, the age and size of the building.
The legislation is enforced by the Local Fire and Rescue Authority, that can carry out inspections and serve enforcement notices on the “responsible person” in the event of non-compliance.
As the duties under the Fire Safety Order (FSO) are extensive, there will often be cost involved in compliance, such as the cost of the inspection itself, replacement of communal doors, fire extinguishers, means of escape etc.… Whether these costs can be passed on to leaseholders by the freeholder or other responsible person depends on the terms of the lease in particular, the service charge provisions.
More modern leases will include an obligation on the freeholder to comply with statutory requirements, with a right to recover the cost of this from leaseholders. Some leases will also have a clause requiring leaseholders to comply with statutory requirements in respect of their own demised premises e.g., if the FSO requires them to install new fire doors to their flats.
Even if the lease does not contain the above clause specifically allowing the freeholder to recover the cost of complying with the FSO, the freeholder may be able to rely on other clauses in the lease, for example, a sweeping up charge.
“Sweeping up clauses” are a widely drafted service charge provision clause allowing recovery of costs for unforeseen items of expenditure. An example would be “expenses incurred for the benefit of the building” or “expenses incurred in the interests of good estate management”.
Such clauses do not automatically allow recovery of all such charges and there has been a lot of case law on the wording they need to contain. However it is likely that such expenditure would fall within a comprehensive “sweeping up clause“.
Who pays for the fire risk assessment and required works?
The cost of work carried out by a freeholder in respect of a statutory obligation still has to be reasonable under the landlord and the tenant Act 1985 and carried out to a satisfactory standard. However, it would be hard to argue that it is unnecessary if required to be done by statute.
Consultation with leaseholders, under section 20 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 is still, of course, required if the works exceeds the cost of £250 for any one leaseholders.
I have a fire risk assessment, what now?
Following this assessment, the document is intended to act as a “living document”, that is, as a tool to help adopt acceptable control measures that can be put into place, that will effectively reduce the severity of the consequences or the likelihood of an accident or incident occurring, to such a level that the overall residual risk is reduced to the lowest possible practicable and acceptable level achievable.
The assessment should be reviewed before any major refurbishment works are carried out, so that the circumstances detailed above can be reconsidered again in the light of the spend proposed and/or available and the possibilities or needs to improve general fire safety measures during the refurbishment. Matters to consider should include the adequacy or even the presence of emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems, decorative surfaces and finishes, possible smoke venting, signage and floor surfacing, especially considerations for contrasting nosing’s (leading edges) of stairs etc.
Need help and advice, contact us
Insulation…Winter is coming!
/0 Comments/in Asbestos Compliance /by markClearly Global Warming is what everyone is talking about, the effect upon our environment and the World that we may leave for our Children’s Children. There has been much written about the situation that mankind has made and if there is away forward, or have we responded too slowly and now looking at a lost cause?
Regarding the insulating of our homes, you may say, if the environment is that much warmer what is the need to insulate in a country like the United Kingdom where severe weather is less common and the likelihood of snow during the winter less likely and frosty mornings something that may become memories from our past?
The answer must be this, that most fuels that we use will have a negative effect upon The Earth and most fuels that are available to us are increasing in cost, with shortages potentially the case. It therefore makes good sense to look after the heat that we have produced and to retain it in the properties where we live and work.
Post pandemic the World has stirred and the economy’s which have laid dormant for months are using and absorbing all the natural resources which are available. Therefore, demand and prices are high, and resources available low. The UK store less gas than any other country in Europe. As a youngster I recall seeing the green gas storage tanks in virtually every town that I drove through, where are they now?
Please remember that properties that are well insulated do get a double bonus of good insulation, the first being warmer in the winter and the second cooler in the summer, which when you consider the cost and effect of air conditioning is a tremendous plus point.
Insulating your home doesn’t just make it more energy efficient, it is also one of the best things you can do to reduce your energy bills remember to look for cheaper energy deals that may be available and that you may be able to switch to. Insulating your home will make your house warmer and more comfortable, while also reducing its impact on the environment in the process.
What does insulation do?
Insulation – and draught proofing – protects your home against cold in winter and excess heat in the summer and can even reduce noise pollution (like the sound from a road or passing aircraft). What’s more, some key insulation measures are ‘low cost’, in that they pay for themselves in less than five years.
Other than low energy lighting, these measures have the best returns of all energy efficiency investments. Furthermore, if you decide to sell or rent your home, the rating that your home receives on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be improved.
How does the heat escape from my house and the cold get in?
There are five ways that heat can escape:
Where do I need to insulate in my home to protect myself from heat loss?
On a cold day, heat can escape from your home in all directions, – up, down and sideways. So, you should think about insulating the whole property and not just concentrating on one element.
Many people make the mistake of assuming that heat only goes up – but only one form of heat transfer (convection) primarily moves up. Heat will travel in all directions. It is also known that heat will always travel towards cold.
If you adjoin another home, either through shared walls or through a floor that is in effect another household’s ceiling, or vice versa, you are fortunate as you will not suffer from heat loss, assuming the other side is heated as well. However, you will still need to heat your home, as you will not have heat gain either. The general rule is that the bigger the temperature difference, the greater the flow of heat. So, the colder it is outside, the greater the heat loss from your home.
How much heat is being lost from different parts of my home?
This depends on the type of house that you live in, whether it’s detached or semi-detached, or if it’s a terrace property, and if so, if it is mid or end terrace. When an EPC is being completed on a property, the heat loss perimeter is a significant calculation and will hugely affect the outcome. The larger, or longer the heat loss perimeter is, the more heat you will lose from it. If you live in a flat, the losses will be different again, and will depend on whether your flat is in the middle, at the top or at ground floor level.
For a typical house the walls will lose most heat, around 30% and up to 40%. The roof will be next at around 25%, probably followed by windows and doors at around 20%, and the floor (of your lowest storey) at around 10%. Quite a large loss will occur because of draughts and a lack of airtightness. Of course, draughts can also be attributed to floors, doors and windows, the walls or roof. It should also be known that some controlled ventilation is essential for reducing the risk of stale or damp air.
Do I need planning permission for insulation work?
In most cases, insulation work does not require planning permission from your local council. The exceptions may include external wall insulation and, in areas where there are conservation schemes, glazing.
Even if you don’t need planning permission, building regulations could apply, so check with your local council’s building control department.
What types of insulation are there?
Good insulation types
Good insulators include many products that typically have a structure similar to wool. In effect a good insulator will trap tiny pockets of air within a material which itself is also a good insulator. These include the very common mineral and glass wools, which come on rolls in blanket form, or in a somewhat denser form as batts or slabs.
Sheep’s wool is of course a great insulator, as are other natural fabrics like hemp and cotton – so curtains are good insulation products. Some mineral and glass wool style products are ‘higher density’ and therefore have greater insulation effect, typically about 25% greater.
Most wood and wood- based products, for example, MDF, plywood, and hardboard, are also generally quite good insulators – so wooden doors and wooden loft boards help keep warmth in the home.
Not surprisingly, paper is another a good insulator, including recycled paper, and cellulose from other sources such as crop wastes. Although flammable in its untreated form, it is treated to make it fire resistant for use as insulation. This is supplied in sealed sacks, but once opened is in loose form, which makes it suitable for installing in circumstances where blankets or batts won’t fit.
Polystyrene and similar products are generally good insulators. Polystyrene is sometimes referred to as EPS (expanded or extruded polystyrene slab) form. These products are also usually fire resistant, and much denser and heavier than the sort of polystyrene that is used for packaging. EPS is typically 50% more effective, for the same depth, as a standard mineral or glass wool product.
Closely related are spray foam solutions, which are typically polyurethane based. The foam forms on the mixing of two chemicals and it hardens, trapping tiny pockets of air. Because the foam fills crevices and gaps, it can also eliminate draughts and provide strengthening to existing building structures, for example roof tiles. Other foam solutions include adhesive strips for insulating around windows, doors, or loft hatches.
Some ‘insulators’ work by stopping the flow of air (draughts) through cracks and gaps, such as sealants (mastics). One of the cheapest sealants is papier-Mache, which you can make yourself from torn-up paper and wallpaper glue.
Another method of insulation is reflection. There are now multi-foil products, which are generally a sandwich of metal foils and plastic style insulators. These can be used to reflect radiated heat and are designed to insulate where there is not the space for wool, batt and EPS type products. Some polystyrene and other products are also coated with foils.
Good insulation material doesn’t just slow the process of heat loss, depending on its specific use, there are other properties that are important too, such as physical strength, fire resistance, resistance to mould, and non-toxicity; cost is another important consideration too.
Poor insulation types
Unfortunately, many materials with physical strength and which are therefore used in building construction, including metals (such as copper, steel, and aluminium), stone, brick, tiles, and concrete, are good conductors and have limited ability to insulate. However, some more modern versions of these materials have been designed to have construction strength but lower heat transmission than in the past, for example, modern breeze blocks.
Water is also a bad insulator, which means that anything that soaks up moisture will usually conduct heat away quite quickly. Moving air also takes heat away quickly even though air that is prevented from moving, generally when trapped in tiny pockets, makes a good insulator.
Here are some of your quick wins that will not break the bank.
These are the type of small tasks that any of us could do at home with little or no cost and a minimal amount of experience.
1. A digital thermometer
Digital thermometers that record the maximum and minimum temperature since last being reset can show you just how warm or cold different parts of your home are. This is basic tool that will help you to identify specific rooms in your home that need attention. Working on the basis ‘if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it’, thermometers are a good investment.
2. A plug-in thermostat
If you use an electric heater without thermostatic controls, your heater will continue to generate heat and use electricity even after a room is warm enough, which is a waste of energy and money. A plug-in thermostat can solve this. You plug the heater into the plug-in thermostat, which is in turn plugged into a power socket, rather like plugging an electrical device into a time switch. You can then set the temperature you want on the plug-in thermostat and once it hits that temperature, it cuts off power to the heater.
3. An electric blanket
Electric blankets can be a way of compensating for a chilly bedroom. Most electric blankets are designed to fit below the bottom sheet, they are typically used to pre-warm a bed. During this pre-warming phase they have a relatively high -power consumption, around 100 watts for a double sized bed. Once you are in bed, an electric blanket must be turned down to the sleep setting. This setting uses about a quarter of the electricity, typically around 25 watts, which is equivalent to a couple of mid-power low energy light bulbs. However, many people turn the blanket off altogether once they get into bed.
One alternative to an electric blanket is a hot water bottle, although this is not necessarily more energy efficient, especially if you do turn the blanket off once you get into bed – which is a good habit to get into. Neither option should be a substitute for sufficient bedding, or an appropriately warmed bedroom. It’s important to ensure that any bedroom is not too cold, especially if the sleeper is elderly, unwell or a young child.
4. A brass radiator key
A brass radiator key is a useful investment for bleeding your radiators, which releases the gases caught in a radiator causing it to be cold towards the top and reducing its efficiency. It is worth paying extra to invest in a brass key, rather than buying a pressed steel one, as the latter tend to be easily broken. Many modern radiators don’t have the standard square valve head — if that’s the case you’ll need a screwdriver as well.
5. A radiator shelf.
A radiator shelf just above a radiator helps to throw heat forward from the radiator into the room, rather than letting it raise up to the ceiling. You can buy purpose-made radiator shelves, which clip easily onto most radiators.
6. Radiator reflector panels
Radiator reflector panels can stop heat being wasted from the back of a radiator into an external wall. They are especially useful in older homes where the walls are solid, which rules out the option of cavity wall insulation. You can buy radiator reflector panels or radiator foil, or you can make your own by cutting a piece of cardboard to size and covering it in the type of kitchen tin foil you use for cooking. You’ll need a long stick and double-sided tape to attach them to the wall behind the radiator.
8. A carbon monoxide alarm
Getting rid of draughts and unnecessary ventilation is a major way of reducing wasted heat, saving money on your energy bills in the process.
A carbon monoxide alarm is not energy-saving but you need to invest in one before you make any changes to reduce draughts or alter the ventilation in your home. This is in case you block a source of essential ventilation by mistake, such as for a fuel burning device that doesn’t have a balanced flue, for example, an old boiler. It’s a good idea to have an alarm anyway; carbon monoxide (CO) is highly toxic, but impossible to detect without an alarm because it is colourless, odourless and tasteless.
9. Expanding foam
There are some simple solutions to draughts. Expanding foam, which comes in an aerosol can, is useful for filling holes in brickwork. If you upgrade your boiler, for example, any new boiler will have a balanced flue, meaning you no longer need an air ventilation in an external wall in the area where the boiler is sited. So, the obsolete airbrick could be filled with expanding foam. One word of caution though: many gas fires still don’t have balanced flues, so don’t assume you can block up a room vent just because you are upgrading a gas fire. It’s also important to keep clear any ventilation in roof spaces or under the level of floorboards.
10. Papier-Mache
Another heat saving measure is to fill medium-sized gaps in floorboards with papier-Mache – this is easy to make, you just mix wet wallpaper paste with torn newspaper – which is easy to press into the gaps. It’s a very effective and inexpensive solution, assuming you’re not intending to expose the floorboards as a feature.
11. Sealant
Smaller gaps that allow draughts can be filled using a tube of sealant. You may need a simple steel caulking gun, or the sealant may be packaged so you can use it without one. It works well to fill gaps around doors and window frames.
12. A letterbox flap
A letterbox flap to keep out draughts at your front door is another inexpensive investment, especially useful if the outer flap doesn’t fit or return to its position very well.
13. Draught seals
Ill-fitting doors and windows can be a source of draughts. There are a variety of draught seals or sealing strips that can be used around doors and windows in order to reduce draughts and stop the unnecessary loss of warm air.
14. Curtains
Windows and doors will also benefit from heavy or lined curtains, especially if they are only single glazed.
15. A chimney balloon
A chimney balloon blocks the cold air that falls down a chimney, as well as preventing internal warm air from being drawn up the chimney when it is not in use. The balloon can be deflated and taken out of the fireplace as and when you need to use it. If you are looking for a more permanent solution, and don’t have plans to use your fireplace at all, it is best to get a qualified tradesman to cap the chimney at the top and shut it off at the bottom, as this will be more energy-efficient.
Summit Environmental become TrustMark Approved.
/0 Comments/in Asbestos Compliance /by markWhat is TrustMark?
TrustMark is the UK’s only Government Endorsed Quality Scheme
The whole ethos of TrustMark is their passion for quality – it underpins what TrustMark stands for – continual improvement, best practice, excellent customer service and protection.
Trustmark provide a high level of assurance, certainty and protection to homeowners looking to have work done in and around their homes. TrustMark Registered Businesses are thoroughly vetted and continually monitored to ensure they meet required standards in technical competence, customer service and trading practices, so homeowners can be sure they’re making the right choice.
Peace of mind about quality of work and customer service
Whether you are looking for an electrician, a plumber or a landscape gardener, the TrustMark logo is a reassuring sign of the quality and standards they are required to uphold. TrustMark Registered Businesses are required to adhere to high standards of technical competence, customer service and trading practices, all of which are underpinned by our Customer Charter, the Code of Conduct and the Framework Operating Requirements.
Why use Summit Environmental?
For exactly the reasons above, we care about quality and customer service.
To find out more about Trustmark visit
https://www.trustmark.org.uk/Selling a commercial property, do you need an asbestos survey?
/0 Comments/in Asbestos /by markAsbestos in Commercial Premises
If you are the owner of a commercial property, or you are in the process of buying a commercial property, you may be the person legally responsible for managing any asbestos present at the property. Therefore, should you be considering selling a commercial property at some point in the future, you should have an asbestos survey conducted.
Asbestos Regulations relating to Commercial Premises
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 clearly sets out these responsibilities for any property that is non-domestic. Exposure to asbestos can be fatal, causing serious illnesses that can take decades to manifest and produce symptoms. Since asbestos was banned in construction in the UK in 1999 there is no need for concern in any commercial building constructed after this date.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a heat-resistant, chemical resistant, strength binding naturally fibrous mineral that was commonly added to manufacture building materials. It was found to be a durable material with fire and heat resistant properties. That is why it works so well as a fire proofing & insulating material.
Any building constructed between the 1800’s and 1999 will likely have asbestos-containing materials within the property. However, during the 1970’s & 1980s, health experts determined that asbestos was responsible for negatively impact the health of anyone who is exposed to it.
The greatest exposure to asbestos occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged because this action releases fibres into the air which can be readily inhaled and cause severe health consequences. Some of the most significant health consequences include lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
What is an asbestos survey?
Any man-made structure, commercial building, residential building, or house constructed between the 1850 and 1999 can still pose a risk to the occupants or workers who live or reside within them. UK Regulations require you to conduct asbestos surveys on buildings constructed within this time. Asbestos surveys are required if you are occupying, buying, selling, or demolishing commercial premises. If there are tenants or people living inside the building, then asbestos surveys are also performed as a health and safety check.
The job of an asbestos surveyor is to inspect your building and identify potential asbestos-containing materials. The asbestos fibres themselves cannot always be identified directly because they are microscopic, however an asbestos surveyor is familiar with the types of building materials that might have asbestos in them, such as roofing materials, Wall panels, insulating materials and flooring materials. When selecting an asbestos surveyor you should ensure the surveyor has experience of surveying commercial premises.
Once the surveyor has located an asbestos containing material a small sample will be taken of each suspect material which will then be analysed at the laboratory for further in-depth analysis. The laboratory will identify the type or types of asbestos present with sample(s) a bulk certificate of analysis is produced detailing the laboratory results.
Asbestos survey types
Asbestos Management Surveys
What are asbestos management surveys?
Management asbestos surveys are standard inspection surveys to comply with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 for all commercial and industrial property and for those buying or selling property. This type of inspection is non-intrusive but does include sampling of suspect materials which are then sent to the laboratory to report on whether asbestos is present and if so, what types of asbestos.
If you are a business whether leaseholder or freeholder this survey will identify what asbestos containing materials are in place within your demise, their condition and what your legal obligations are to comply with the regulations.
If you have been asked to carry out an asbestos survey for management purposes and provide an asbestos register for insurance or compliance purposes, including visits from either HSE or Environmental Health this is the survey type which includes the information set out in Regulation 4 “Duty to Manage”. This applies to a building built prior to the year 2000.
Asbestos Refurbishment and Demolition Surveys
What is an R and D Survey?
The aim of this survey type is to survey the property in question for asbestos containing materials so as these can be managed safely or as is usually the case removed safely in line with the regulations before the strip-out and re-fit. All property types are covered regardless of size or class of use – residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed.
Asbestos refurbishment surveys and asbestos demotion surveys must be undertaken on properties which are due to be refurbished or demolished.
Professionals, occupiers, and management agents involved in minor and major fit-outs and strip-out will need to commission such a survey prior to beginning the works. As well as the requirements for this type of survey covered under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and HSG264, further stipulations and requirements are contained in the CDM Regulations 2015.
R and D asbestos surveys are highly intrusive, and damage will occur to elements of the property to inspect the fabric of the building. Therefore this type of survey can only usually be undertaken in a vacant property and one which is owned by the person or company commissioning the survey.
Asbestos Re-inspection Survey
What is an asbestos re-inspection survey?
An asbestos re-inspection survey (also referred to as an annual asbestos re-inspection survey) is designed to allow the duty holder to monitor and record the condition of any previously identified asbestos products within a building.
Like any building material, asbestos-containing materials are also subject to potential damage and degradation. As an asbestos product degrades it can be more likely to become a hazard to health, therefore should be inspected at regular intervals to ensure its condition has not deteriorated.
When selling a commercial property?
Asbestos is often found in commercial premises prior to buying and selling. Therefore, should you be considering selling a commercial property at some point in the future, you should have an asbestos survey conducted.
It is important that you understand the location and potential danger of ACMs (Asbestos Containing Materials) if you own a commercial property, you are a tenant or manager of a building with responsibilities that include managing asbestos.
If you are planning to sell a commercial property, a recent asbestos survey and/or asbestos removal project, is more likely to highlight previous good asbestos management processes and strategy.
Summit Environmental and commercial asbestos surveys.
Our asbestos survey reports contain material assessment, risk rating for materials with recommendations on materials found including photographs and highlighted floor plans. This information can then be used by those involved in the refurbishment and or demolition works.
If you need an asbestos management survey or asbestos refurbishment survey in commercial premises in Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and London please contact us, we will be happy to discuss your requirements.
Retrofit assessments to improve energy performance in Sussex
/0 Comments/in Asbestos Compliance /by markSummit Environmental are accredited by TrustMark for our Retrofit assessments. TrustMark is a government endorsed quality scheme for trades in and around the home.
What are retrofit assessments? What is PAS 2035?
From 1st July 2021, all ECO3 funded Retro-fit work will have to adhere to PAS 2035 standards, which will require fully trained and TrustMark approved retro-fit professionals such as Summit Environmental.
A Retro-fit assessor will complete more than just an EPC, which we all know is needed for the sale or rent of existing UK housing stock. The role of the retrofit assessor will complete an occupancy assessment, a condition report and to convert Rd SAP assessments to SAP assessments to comply with the requirements of a retrofit assessment.
The Process of Retrofit assessments
Part 1) The Occupancy Assessment.
The Occupancy Assessment will be used to generate a professional report which outlines how the occupant uses the energy of the property. With this assessment you can use the Rd SAP data and create an accurate report based on the household’s overall energy usage.
This is achieved by entering information such as the number of occupants in the property, the actual water usage per week, which rooms are heated by which heating systems etc. as well as the use of white goods within the property and information provided from household bills.
Part 2) The Condition Report.
This flexible reporting process will allow a create a room- by- room report of a house, entries may be multiple ‘items’ within a room and can provide a brief description of their condition. A star rating will be attached to each room to represent its overall condition. In addition to this, pictures will be taken and attached as evidence for each part of the report. With the information the Condition Report Survey will generate a PDF file with all the information entered in a clear and professional format.
Part 3) Rd SAP to SAP Converter.
This conversion tool allows users to Rd SAP data, to create a Design SAP input file which can be passed to Retrofit Coordinator, who will be the project manager for the conversion project.
The history of the Retro fit process is covered by the following paragraphs which is driven by the countries target to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Government Targets.
This relates to the governments targets which were originally set, based upon the greenhouse emissions as of 1990. The initial figures have been changed, and the target is now for the UK to be carbon neutral by 2050. To meet this goal by 2050, there needs to be significant improvements to the UK’s 27million domestic dwellings. Domestic dwellings account for a substantial proportion of our greenhouse emissions, considered to be around 25% of the problem.
Each Home Counts.
The Each Home Counts report was published in 2016 and outlined 27 recommendations, including the establishment of a quality mark, now known as TrustMark, for domestic retrofit supported by a framework of technical standards.
The aim of the report was to restore confidence of consumers and the government in the retrofit industry, to facilitate new central and local government policies whilst promoting a national programme of domestic retrofit.
What is PAS 2035?
PAS 2035 is the specification for the energy retrofit of domestic buildings and was developed as part of the Each Home Counts process. The Retrofit Standards Framework is the standard that any holders of the Trustmark Standard, is required to comply with when carrying out domestic retrofit work.
When considering the government’s target to not only reduce carbon emissions, but to also end fuel poverty, it became evident that more needed to be done to improve the UK’s housing stock. The Each Home Counts introduces a better process for the retrofit of energy efficiency and renewable energy. As a result of this review the introduction of the Pas2035 framework document was introduced for the end- to -end delivery of the domestic retrofit work.
When does PAS 2035 apply?
The government have made it clear that any funding they provide for energy efficiency measures will need to go through the PAS 2035 process.
Where does PAS 2035 apply?
PAS 2035 requires that every dwelling that is to be subjected to energy retrofit work is to be firstly assessed by a retrofit assessor who will provide information about the dwelling for use by a retrofit coordinator.
PAS 2035 may be applied to all domestic retrofit activity that is covered in the following categories:
Have questions on improving your energy performance, retrofit assessments and EPC’s contact us https://summitenvironmental.co.uk/contact/
“Asbestos In Commercial Premises, What You Need To Know”
/0 Comments/in Asbestos, Asbestos Compliance /by markWho is responsible for managing asbestos in a commercial property?
This is a question that crops up time and time again when granting leases. Tenants will usually insist on seeing an asbestos survey and landlords are keen to wash their hands of it (literally).
Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (Regulations) imposes a duty to manage asbestos risk in non-domestic premises. This requires the ‘duty holder’ to determine whether asbestos is present in a building or likely to be present, and to manage any asbestos that is or is likely to be present.
So what does this actually mean?
Firstly, a landlord does not have to arrange an asbestos survey in order to let a property. This is a common misconception. Many tenants seem to think that this is a mandatory requirement (like an EPC) but this is simply not the case. A landlord’s only requirement is to comply with its obligations as ‘duty holder’ under the Regulations. This is not a pre-requisite to letting the property to a tenant.
A landlord must keep in place its own records and a written plan to manage asbestos and they are required to provide information about the location and condition of the asbestos to anybody who is liable to disturb it. This would typically include tenants, contractors and employees. However, tenants who believe that they can force a landlord to carry out an asbestos survey are mistaken.
Secondly, a ‘duty holder’ is any person who has an obligation to maintain or repair a commercial premises or exercises some element of control over the whole or part of it or has a means of access to and from the premises. In broad terms, therefore, it captures anybody with an interest in the property (under a tenancy or not). This means that there can be more than one person at any one time who is a duty holder. In the typical landlord and tenant scenario, the landlord is the duty holder before the lease is granted, and both the landlord and tenant are duty holders after the lease is granted.
So, is the landlord ‘off the hook’ as soon as they grant a lease?
No, not quite. The landlord cannot shift the obligations of duty holder to a tenant, but as soon as the tenant signs the lease it will become a duty holder in its own right.
Where there is more than one duty holder, the contributions to be made by each party in complying with the Regulations are determined by the nature and extent of the maintenance and repair obligations owed by each party to the other. In other words, a carefully drafted lease can place most (if not all) of the obligations on to the tenant.
The situation is slightly different in a multi-let building where the responsibility for maintenance of the common parts, services, external fabric and main structure of the building will generally lie with the landlord. Here, the landlord will be required under the Regulations to arrange for asbestos surveys and for copies of asbestos registers to be produced for each tenant – although a properly drafted lease will ensure that these costs are recovered from the tenants under the service charge.
Finally, it is worth remembering that:
Asbestos management is definitely something to discuss and agree from the outset of any lease.
The Regulations apply to both landlords and tenants, so it is in everybody’s interest to reach a mutual understanding.
Need help, contact us to discuss your requirements on [email protected]
Got a question regarding an EPC? Here are our questions we get asked the most
/0 Comments/in EPC /by markQ1. Are EPC’S a legal requirement?
Energy Performance Certificates are a legal requirement within the property building, letting and sales market. If you are building a property the EPC’s will be produced from the plans for the construction, if you are in the process of letting or selling an existing property you must have one to support the transaction, the EPC will be a visual and non-intrusive examination of your property, this is the responsibility of the seller or landlord to arrange. For sales this has been a requirement since 2007, and for the rental sector since 2008. The EPC is valid for ten years, and although you may have one which is out of date, which is not illegal, you are unable to proceed with selling or letting.
Q2. Are EPC’s accurate?
The programme for data calculation is very accurate, for existing property the RDSAP, Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure is used, the ‘Reduced’ means visual information collected on site, a non-intrusive inspection. The assessor can only input what he can see, access may not always be good, and if he is advised of works which have been done, the property owner will need documented evidence of that work, to support data entry. The assessor will also benefit from the knowledge of the property owner where certain items may not be obvious, such as where there may have been extensions and clarity of build date may be needed.
Some of the factors that the Energy Assessor is not able to change, are already pre-set in the software programme, and other factors have no effect upon the RDSAP software.
It also worth considering that Government Legislation is often changed, as are the building regulations, in line to meet Government Targets. New building materials, insulation and new technologies are all having effect on the grading of your EPC assessment. There-fore when you had an EPC completed ten years ago, your current EPC may be down-graded to show a lower result.
If you believe that the EPC that has been produced for your property is not correct, you are able to lodge a complaint, in the first instance to the Energy Assessor who completed the EPC. You are also able to make complaint to the Assessor’s Accreditation Agency.
On this point, SAP, Standard Assessment Procedure, full data is collected from plans, that were used for new domestic buildings that have been built since April 2008.
Q3. Are EPC’s still required?
The answer is a most definite yes, EPC’s most certainly needed when a home being sold by owner or being put up for rent. When a new build is under construction there will also be an EPC produced, this one will be based upon he plans of the build. With an ever-changing range of energy efficient products, you can work on the assumption, the newer the build, the more energy efficient it should be. With a target of zero carbon emissions by 2050, I can only imagine that the EPC will become more important. If you look at the Government schemes for improving the energy efficiency of our housing stock, they include an EPC to verify improvements and so the EPC will only become more commonly used.
Q4. Are EPC’s Required for holiday lets?
A holiday let would normally be exempt from needing an EPC, having said so, that is based upon the ruling that it would be used for less than four months of the year. Another thing to bear in mind is that for most holiday lets, the energy used is normally paid by the property owner. The property would also, if used for four months of the year, be using energy consumption of less than 25% of what would be the result of all year use.
Q5. Do Listed Buildings need an EPC?
The first line of action is to check on historicengland.org.uk if the property is a listed building.
Either way get an EPC completed on your property, by an accredited assessor, he should not switch off any recommendations unless given written guidance by the Local Conservation Officer, stating that the specific recommendation would “unacceptably alter the properties character or appearance” The owner should review the recommendations and be encouraged to consider making cost effective improvements that will reduce energy consumption and make the building more comfortable. Should the minimum energy efficiency standard not be achievable, or planning restrictions apply, then it could be used as grounds for an exemption.
Q6. Can EPC’s Fail?
The rating of an EPC is graded between the highest rating of A and the lowest of G. and being the least efficient, and therefore the more costly to run, and potentially the most damaging to the environment. The EPC is not a document to state if the property fails, but only an assessment to state where improvements can be made. The average band for the UK. is band D.
As a property owner the EPC that you have will advise you of the steps that you can take to make your property more efficient, warmer, more comfortable and cost you less to run.
If you are a property owner who intends to let the property for rent, or maybe a part of it, then what you need to be aware of is that the minimum energy standards for privately rented properties is to be no lower than band E.
Q7. Can EPC’S be done remotely?
Remotely is an adverb, from a distance, without physical contact.
I suppose that in one way you could say that an EPC is completed remotely, due to it being a non-intrusive assessment of the energy performance of your property, the energy assessor will enter in the data that he can see to complete the assessment, the property owner may support his findings with history about the property and may support that with receipts or guarantees of work completed.
To add further clarity, the domestic property assessor does need to be on site, as does the owner, or his agent, and willing and able to give access to the home.
Q8. Can an EPC be completed on-line?
The accredited energy assessor will have two ways to complete the EPC, either by a paper document, which he will complete and then support it with floor plan, site notes, property measurements and photographs, alternatively he may enter the details directly through to the accreditation company using an I-pad or mobile phone, also supported with floor plan, site notes, measurements and photographs.
The EPC is unable to be prepared by any other party.
Q9. Who can do an EPC certificate?
The energy assessor who collects the various data and supporting evidence will enter this into the software that will determine and calculate the energy efficiency of the property that he is assessing.
For existing buildings, rather than new, the Reduced Data Standard Assessment Procedure will be used. Data from your property will include items like date of build, heat loss walls, party walls, wall type and insulation, both water and space-heating, glazing and insulation plus doors.
There are some factors that are pre-set in the RDSAP software, such as standard occupancy, standard heating patterns, building regulations values and dates, SAP fuel prices, standard lighting usage, and standard locality and topography.
When these figures are brought together is when the RDSAP software produces the EPC rating, and certificate.
Q10. I can-not find my old EPC certificate.
The new 2020 EPC register will enable you to review your most recent EPC, and to check if it is still valid. The register was launched by the housing minister, Christopher Pincher on 30th September 2020, and holds details for over 27 million properties. You may be able to access a copy of your missing EPC document, but only if one exists.
https://find-energy-certificate.digital.communities.gov.uk/find-a-certificate/search-by-postcode