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Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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CRE Events
Exhibitors enthuse over the CRE experience
By 4pm on the first day of CRE 24 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, exhibitors Chris and Kim Dunphy had already had so many helpful and detailed conversations with visitors that they were “completely talked out”.
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
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Urgent call for more Craftspeople and Built Heritage Sector professionals to apply for CSCS Cards
Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of ConstructionSkills today joined with other industry partners to call for more craftspeople and building professionals in the built heritage sector to apply for CSCS cards. In a speech to clients, contractors, trainers, professional bodies and industry groups at the German Gymnasium, St Pancras, London on Tuesday 9th February, he stressed the need for the right blend of skills, expertise, knowledge and experience and demonstrating competency to do this work. On the day, representatives from the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG), English Heritage, Unite the Union and CSCS joined Sir Michael to promote the many benefits the card scheme brings. At the meeting, a new ‘Quick Guide to CSCS for the built heritage sector was launched. This includes the CSCS Heritage Skills card for craftsmen and women who work on pre-1919 building projects and to improve safety standards.Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of Construction Skills said: “The built heritage sector is benefitting from its own specific cards. Clients, heritage organisations and funding bodies should demand this evidence of competency and the right skills for the job and we are working with contractors and trade bodies to help those in the sector to obtain the CSCS Heritage Skills card.”.
Brian Adams, Chief Executive of CSCS said: “I am delighted to be launching the Quick Guide to CSCS for the Built Heritage and for us to be working in partnership with this important sector of the construction industry to help its craftspeople and building professionals display competency and health & safety awareness”.
Mike Moody, Chairman of the National Heritage Training Group adds: “As an employer, I know full well the benefits to my business of having safe and qualified employees and as qualifying the workforce is the key objective of the National Heritage Training Group we are urging other employers and individual craftspeople to follow suit and apply for the CSCS Heritage Skills card as soon as possible”.
The CSCS card was developed jointly by CSCS and the NHTG and launched in September 2008, as a response to the NHTG’s research findings that around two thirds of those who work on pre-1919 buildings do not have the right skills to do so, most commonly because the vast majority of those are general builders who move from new-build to repair and maintenance.
It is hoped that this call for more people to sign up for the scheme will help to further integrate this highly-skilled sector into mainstream construction practice, as well as contributing to maintaining heritage building stock in a sustainable and sympathetic manner.
Sir Michael concludes: “Training and development is key to a competent and safe workforce and as Chairman of ConstructionSkills, I believe that we are all striving to make sure that our industry and its many sectors has the right skills in place and the CSCS helps us show that people are competent and possess these skills.”.
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