The Council for Aluminium in Building has highlighted the significant opportunities sustainability delivers for the entire aluminium supply chain at the CAB Spring Forum.
Held at the Hilton and The Deep aquarium in Hull 27th February, the programme headline included presentations on aluminium recycling, the Building Safety Act and PAS2030/35, followed by an after-dinner speech by ex-Royal Marine and now marine biologist, Monty Halls.
The event started with an introduction from CAB Chief Executive, Nigel Headford, who highlighted a series of initiatives being launched by CAB this spring and summer, including the CAB Closed-Loop Recycling Scheme and its new U-Value Charter, which will be launched later this spring.
He provided an overview of a redesign of its training courses. This included an appeal to CAB members to tap into training opportunities with systems houses.
Nigel also delivered a sneak preview of the CAB stand at this year’s FIT Show (Stand R76, NEC Birmingham 29 April to 1st May), jointly sponsored by Ensinger and Jack Aluminium Systems.
He was followed by David Weatherall, Head of Business Development Hydro Extrusions. He gave an overview of Hydro’s net-zero strategy reporting that the aluminium extruder was on course to achieve a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
David also highlighted the importance of focusing on sustainability in the design phase of products to make them easier to recycle at end of life.
He said: “The key bit for this is thinking about what you do [at end of life] at the start of the design process.
“There are things that we do in the design phase by default. Can we make the product simpler? Can we reduce the number of processes used in its manufacture? Can we include something in the aluminium that means we don’t have to machine it?
“The one thing that gets forgotten about at the start – in that design phase – is making sure that that aluminium in that product is accessible at its end of life.
“We’ve had the design for assembly, and now it’s really talking about design for sustainability”
Nigel explained that the CAB Closed-Loop Recycling Scheme supports industry sustainability by isolating waste streams so that higher value aluminium alloys used in construction are ring-fenced. This also means that manufacturers can command a higher price, from recycling specialists.
The next presentation was from Stephen Collings, SCCS on the Building Safety Act and PAS2030. He highlighted the new regulatory requirements in the post-Grenfell era, including the ‘golden thread’, which he explained touched every part of the supply chain, from extrusion to installation.
“There were warning signs on the installation side from the early 1990s. Grenfell Tower was simply another installation where bad practice in the construction industry was overlooked. It’s only the tip of the iceberg”, he said.
Stephen highlighted that 12,500 medium to high-rise buildings were currently classed as ‘high risk’, with further prosecutions for failures on the horizon. He said that companies who are now found to be in breach of the act will be excluded from future tenders as part of a blacklist.
Stephen added that in addition to improving safety, the Building Safety Act created an opportunity for improved communication within the building products supply chain from the systems company through to the installer.
He also provided an overview of PAS2030 and PAS2035, which place a requirement on manufacturers and installers to http://www.c-a-b.org.ukapproach energy performance and ventilation holistically in public sector retrofit.
The afternoon event also included presentations from Andy Stevens, The Build Network UK, and Richard Ashcroft, Elmhurst Windows, who talked about the importance of mental health care in the industry and his personal journey.
The Forum then moved onto Hull’s The Deep, the globally recognised aquarium, where after dinner speaker Monty Halls, presented on the importance of leadership and teamwork, drawing on his experience in the Royal Marines and as a wildlife documentary maker and marine biologist.
“We’re working to push forward with a new agenda”, Nigel said, “Retaining opportunities for networking but also giving CAB members access to leading experts on regulation, industry innovation and sustainability.”
The next CAB event will be attendance at the FIT Show on 29th April, followed by the CAB Technical Conference at Loughborough University on 15th May.
For more information about the CAB events programme ort the CAB Closed-Loop Recycling Scheme visit www.c-a-b.org.uk. Alternatively, email enquiries@c-a-b.org.uk or call the team on 01453 828851.
Subscribe for FREE below to receive the weekly DGBulletin newsletter and monthly digital magazine!
