Susan Harris, Director, SRS Sustainable Business updates us on the latest guidance in the fit-out sector
The construction industry is under increasing pressure to ensure its
activities have reduced impact on the environment. This is as true for
the fit-out sector as it is for other sectors. However, fit-out projects
also face unique challenges; frequently including quick turnaround
times, significant cost and programme constraints, and myriad of site
and access limitations.
The flipside of these challenges is that the sector presents a real
opportunity: the fit-out of a space can significantly impact its
sustainability, not just during construction or refurbishment, but for
years to come.
"A good fit-out can maximise usability of a space, improve
users’ wellbeing, and influence end-user behaviour (for example with
regard to energy usage) – all factors which can have significant
long-term benefits for building owners and tenants."
After a somewhat lacklustre quarter or two mid-2015, projections appear
to show the sector should experience welcome growth throughout 2016/17
according to the Finishes & Interiors Sector (FIS), the sector body
for the finishes and interiors sector (
FIS Market Review, FIS Focus, Nov 2015).
At
the same time as Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive of the UK Green
Building Council, indicated in her recent interview for FIS Focus
magazine the skills shortage continues to be a significant challenge for
the sector: “The capacity of site labour forces to deal with
sustainability issues is being severely challenged by the fact they are
brought together at very short notice, from sometimes unskilled
backgrounds”.
Recognising the need for practical guidance on meeting the
sustainability challenge and delivering good environmental performance,
CIRIA has joined forces with the FIS and some of the industry’s leading
contractors to advocate new, sector-specific guidance.
Following on from CIRIA’s highly regarded construction industry resource,
Environmental good practice on site (fourth edition)
(C741), the new
Fit-out environmental good
practice on site guide (C757) provides a similar resource
which directly addresses the challenges and opportunities specific to
fit-out and interiors. The new guide is focused on the contractor and
specifically the site manager, setting out clearly what she or he may
need to know to ensure good environmental management at each stage of
their project.
An easy-to-follow A5 volume, the guide covers all stages of the fit-out
lifecycle and outlines environmental considerations that should take
into account at each stage. With lots of real-life examples, a
no-nonsense “What should I do?” overview at the start of each section
and concise checklists at the end it provides both a perfect
introduction to environmental issues for new managers and an easy
reference for experienced managers keen to keep up-to-date with the
changing environmental management standards.
Designed by the industry, for the industry it’s a worthwhile resource
that is sure to take its place alongside CIRIA’s other Site Guides as
the industry benchmark for good environmental practice. You can
pre-order your copy
here or, to find out more, join us for the
official launch on the 16th March.