Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

5 tips to streamline any project with Construction Management SaaS

2022-12-19T10:00:56Z

Zutec: Created page with "A simple answer to a complex construction problem Time is one of our most valuable assets, regardless of the sector we work in. Anything that preserves hours and minutes should..."

A simple answer to a complex construction problem

Time is one of our most valuable assets, regardless of the sector we work in.

Anything that preserves hours and minutes should be cherished.

With many complex processes at its core, the construction industry is a tough sector to make time-saving a reality.

With so many stakeholders – both internal and external – regulations and guidelines to follow, such as the cladding pledge and the uplifted Regulation 40 Part L, and many moving parts of your business and projects – it means that often you’re powerless to stop your project drifting further away from completion.

With that in mind, we’ve used our experience to put together 5 helpful tips to leverage construction SaaS to ensure that losing time won’t be part of the plan.

1 – Everyone on one platform

As a developer or housebuilder how often do your on-site managers, contractors, inspectors and your supply chain have to wait around, waiting for the right documentation and data?

How often do you and your direct team have to delay your project(s) while you wait for the right information to make a decision?

Working across different systems, tools, and platforms – and even from email attachments coming from different providers – creates a maelstrom of problems, which can mean countless hours wasted.

What it boils down to is everyone on a project working from a single platform – a single source of truth that is inclusive to key project stakeholders, making data visible to all concerned and supporting the decision-making process. This, however, is easier said than done and we advise the transition should be a phased one to encourage trust and adoption.

The beauty of a digital, cloud-based solution, is that everybody can have the data they need to ensure progress toward completion – at any time – and all be working from the correct workflows, templates and forms to ensure your data is accurate, easily findable, preserved, sharable and correct.

Our solutions are configured for your project. We consult with you to understand what workflows, forms and data you need to ensure you can set a process that works across your business and supports your role though the project to completion – and we deliver a solution that brings your team and external stakeholders together, so collaboration is as simple as a push of a finger on a touchscreen.

2 – Data – but tailored for your project

A big problem for construction projects is incomplete, incorrect or missing data. ‘[https://www.zutec.com/making-part-l-compliance-easier/ Bad data’ cost the sector more than £1.3 trillion in 2020].

How can your project move forward when the data you or an assessor needs, isn’t accessible, accurate, structured or standardised?

[https://www.zutec.com/cladding-remediation-ews1-form-facts/ Cladding remediation] will demand all concerned businesses to complete this critical work – and data will be pivotal to any cladding project being completed. To obtain an EWS1 form for completed remediation works, relevant safety and maintenance documentation will need to be readily available and correct – while photographic evidence may need to be presented to an assessor to prove the building work done and its safety.

The uplifted Part L of Regulation 40 requires mandatory photographic evidence and housing plot data to be collected, categorised, stored and shared, so assessors can sign off building work for EPC ratings and the BREL report for plot completion.

Without this evidence and specific data tailored to your project, potentially crippling costs can ensue from intrusive works to demonstrate work done to already built developments – something that can easily be avoided.

With a construction SaaS platform built for purpose, all data, information, and processes can be standardised, so evidence can be captured in the right way, and assessors can swiftly inspect this and sign it off work to issue BREL and EPC Reports.

All data that is needed for any regulatory or project sign-off can be made visible and available to review and feedback on, with tailored dashboards that make any relevant information sharable, easy to locate and mark up. Nothing is missed and your project moves like clockwork.

3 – Get a tool built for the job

When choosing a new tool, you’ll look for the option that gives you the most benefits. You wouldn’t choose something that doesn’t make things easier.

The same goes for your project. There are a multitude of options available that can help you with the raft of data you need to accrue, store safely, check and disseminate.

So it makes sense that whatever you choose has the features to hand that you and your team will need to progress your project. Ready-made forms, workflows, templates and a menu that makes everything simple to find and share.

For Part L compliance as an example, a checklist and schedule for photographic evidence at every stage of your build would be desirable. Something that offers transparency when compliance isn’t an option – it’s necessary.

A Construction SaaS platform like Zutec provides sector-specific templates to get you started quickly and before you even begin using the software solution –providing a tool that meets exactly what you need from the moment you press the ‘on’ button.

4 – Cloud-based operating = more freedom

The Cloud sounds hi-tech and its inner workings are pretty detailed, but what it means for those on the ground is that you don’t have to be in the office anymore to complete your work.

You and your team can be on-site and gathering data with various devices without the need for a wi-fi connection – and the information you input stays secure and will be uploaded as soon as you recommence a data connection.

It’s automatic, it’s quick and it’s so easy, you won’t even notice.

And then you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

The photographic evidence you need for proving cladding remediation and Part L compliance, can be correctly collected, stored, shared and ready for assessment.

The hours you will save in avoiding countless trips to the office and back is reason enough to favour a cloud-based, construction SaaS platform. One where you can save time and money by doing all your data processing on site.

5 – All parts of your project made visible

Some of your projects can span years and are more complex than others. No two are the same.

It places even more dependency on your processes and workflows to be standardised and best practice enforced. With such shifting goalposts, it’s important that the framework for work and data that has been completed and is yet to be completed – is clear, concise and transparent.

You need to be able to track milestones, monitor progress, stay on top of problems and risks, and keep your fingers on the pulse of your project. So do your team. The only way to do that is with simple workflows designed to prompt delivery and productivity – and with dashboards that visualise that information in the clearest way so you can understand your project better.

A SaaS construction platform with intuitive, adaptable workflows and dashboards as standard promises to be the solution your project is looking for. With every team member and stakeholder pulling in the same direction, regulation compliance while driving efficiencies will be part of the journey, rather than a tricky prospect.

These five points hold the key to your project achieving PC when you plan it to – rather than fighting against missing data and chasing up information for assessments.

Need more information?

We’ve got our on-demand webinar on ‘Preparing for Part L and the road to data digitisation’ that provides you with the answers you need.

And we’ve got a whitepaper on the finer details of cladding remediation so you’re fully prepared for everything – which you can find [https://www.zutec.com/knowledge-hub/cladding-remediation-whitepaper/ here.]

Alternatively, click [https://www.zutec.com/book-a-demo/ here] and you can see how our platform keeps your project on track.

--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 10:00, 19 Dec 2022 (BST)

[[Category:Research_/_Innovation]]

Project success and why quality management matters

2022-12-19T09:59:24Z

Zutec: Created page with "Poor decisions made using ‘bad data’ cost the construction industry £1.3 trillion globally in 2020, These bytes of data that are at the root of this expensive problem, run ..."

Poor decisions made using ‘bad data’ cost the construction industry £1.3 trillion globally in 2020,

These bytes of data that are at the root of this expensive problem, run up rework bills of £63million alone, according to the same report

These staggering numbers scream that more emphasis needs to be focused on collecting and surfacing accurate data and efficient data handling at all stages of the building project.

A sector-specific [https://www.zutec.com/product/quality-management/ Quality Management] tool that weeds out these expensive errors could generate mammoth cost savings and increase data efficiency across the board for housebuilders, developers and other construction professionals – which would make a positive impact on yearly targets for any housebuilder or developer.

=== What’s the issue? ===

Bad data, as the FMI report spells out, is bleeding profits for all construction companies, despite the industry converting to more digital methods to manage and understand it.

The report, a survey of 1,115 construction professionals, tells us that there isn’t a specific part of building projects that needs rewriting. Across the board, the data being obtained is either unclear or unusable. At worst, professionals remain unclear about exactly what type of data that needs to be obtained, and how it should be stored and managed. For building regulations like [https://www.zutec.com/product/quality-management/part-l-compliance/ Part L], where digital data is mandatory to ensure compliance, lacking or bad data would lead to the inevitable delay of a project completion if costly and invasive reworks were required to obtain it.

The FMI report states:

* 82% of professionals are collecting more data from construction technology today than three years ago, but 39% say that less than half of that data is usable
* 40% of the average organisation’s data is bad – meaning inaccurate, incomplete, inconsistent or untimely information
* Professionals report problems with the whole process, from knowing what data to collect (51%) to understanding how to manage project data effectively (52%)

With such widespread problems, clarity must be a priority when dealing with project data.

What is needed?

When is it needed by?

Who is collecting the data?

Where does the data go and where is it stored?

Why is this data being collected?

And how can the data be easily shared with key stakeholders and collaborated on?

By answering these questions, those in the construction sector can make better decisions to build better, avoiding costly rework and easily complying with mandatory regulations like Part L, and the Building Safety Act. And by integrating the RIGHT solution, these questions will be answered, as a tool built for these demands will be pre-configured to prioritise and standardise structured data.

Which also means that mandatory requirements in regulations such as Part L will no longer be an obstacle. Instead, it will simply be another milestone in a project.

Comply with Quality Management

Part L, as an example, demands that SAP assessors have evidence and data presented promptly, so EPCs (Energy Performance Certificates) and the BREL Report (Building Regulation England Part L Report) can be released. The as-built BREL Report must be completed and presented to the SAP assessor prior to the EPC being produced. An on-site audit of building details and thermal elements will be required during construction and at completion for building regulation approval, including photographic evidence to confirm all new builds and refurbished dwellings are constructed correctly using materials and technology that ensure energy savings and meets building regulation standards.

A centralised platform that collates, standardises, stores and shares all documentation and data, would make Part L a simpler part of the building project process, as opposed to a major obstacle.

Even though construction professionals are collecting more data digitally than ever before, there are plenty that are using the wrong tools for the job. [https://www.zutec.com/part-l-a-tailored-platform-for-the-job/ Ambiguous software and platforms] that don’t standardise or structure data and don’t offer the required level of quality management mean that any data can slip through the net. Some projects are using a multitude of solutions that synchronise, rendering data and documentation unclear, in silos and even worse – incorrect.

Massive delays can be a symptom of bad data quality management.

Get the data seal of approval with the right Quality Management

A clear process, outlined from the beginning and with all stakeholders involved with data acquisition, is key to ensuring any data that is collected, is valuable and understandable.

Templates and guidelines that highlight common standardisations to ensure the right data is gathered, direct where the data should be stored and make the data transparent with a user-friendly experience, accessibility and labelling of data, would help teams align and increase efficiency. Is there a better way to focus your team’s efforts on productive activity, increase efficiency and work toward a swift and satisfactory conclusion, than with a platform where everyone has the data they need at all times and know what they need to do with it?

Erroneous and badly aligned data slow down progress and can make regulatory compliance – something your project depends on – a slog, rather than simply another well-signposted milestone in your process.

A Quality Management solution gives you and your team the templates, workflows and dashboards to capture, mark-up, trace and share all photographic evidence and present it for assessors. It avoids confusion on what data to collect and helps every stakeholder know what needs to be done at every stage. You’re missing photographic evidence for a plot or there is documentation missing? An intuitive and clear dashboard that tracks Part L evidence progress fits the bill and dispels any confusion.

If you want your data to be correct and your project to have that assurance of Quality Management?

Then choose the right tool for the job.

[https://www.zutec.com/product/quality-management/ Learn more about our Quality Management Solutions]

--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 09:59, 19 Dec 2022 (BST)

[[Category:Operations]]

The importance of digitising data to support cladding remediation and facilitate safer housing

2022-11-23T13:33:11Z

Zutec: Created page with "With [https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/dluhc-warns-housebuilders-to-sign-cladding-pledge-contracts-very-soon/5120160.article Michael Gove back in the Cabinet and again heading..."

With [https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/news/dluhc-warns-housebuilders-to-sign-cladding-pledge-contracts-very-soon/5120160.article Michael Gove back in the Cabinet and again heading up the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), he is now pressing for the 48 housebuilders] who signed the original cladding pledge to commit to remediate life critical fire safety works in buildings over 11 metres, to sign a contract that will ensure critical work is undertaken promptly.

In a letter to developers back in January, the government set out the following six commitments that it asked companies to sign up to:

* A commitment to prompt remediation of historical defects that are already identified or are discovered in future in buildings where the developer or persons associated with it has had a role in the development.
* Regular reporting on pace and transparency of work.
* Compliance with agreed controls and frameworks on the proportionality of the work to be undertaken.
* Contribution to an 11 to 18-metre remediation fund for those buildings where direct remediation has not occurred or cannot occur.
* Evidence of senior officers and managers being fit and proper persons to undertake major scale development with lasting social and economic impact.
* Suitable processes to audit, assure, and review membership, including consequences of joining and conditions of admission for new entrants.

With many buildings across England still requiring remediation work to be done, by adopting a digital approach to existing and incoming data on these buildings, some of the commitments above can be reached and guidelines met via transparent, clear and traceable information that can determine what work is needed, and how it can be tracked and completed in a compliant way.

Digitisation can introduce [https://www.zutec.com/construction-saas-cladding-remediation/ quicker, simpler and better processes and tools] to use data in the right way to make the right decisions.

By digitising data including legacy information – and leveraging the power of a Construction SaaS platform – housebuilders and developers can move toward meeting the demands that cladding remediation asks – and apply technology to transform this and other projects in an efficient and effective way.

To get there though, we must examine – and overcome – those obstacles that housebuilders and developers face to implement cladding remediation.

Time and resources

With project calendars already crammed, how do housebuilders squeeze more time to allow for cladding remediation? And when the time comes to begin this vital work – where do the extra resources come from? That extra cog in the delivery chain, usually means a bigger team to tackle the work?

Instead of just looking to add extra resources, housebuilders can get a step ahead by digitising data and streamlining processes, to make every project quicker and clearer. With a better understanding of what is at stake, projects can take less time, making space available to take on more work. With a digital platform or tool, every subcontractor involved in a project can get access to the tool so they can be on the same page, meaning more efficiencies can be made. By providing access to correct data in a digital tool and making legacy detail available, it can avoid members of the team chasing up missing or incorrect data before a project starts.

To demonstrate the importance of digitisation to a business, according to research from McKinsey, [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/digital-construction/accelerating-digital-transformation-in-the-construction-industry/114614/ the top ten percent of companies with the largest digital revenue account for up to 80 percent of digital revenue generated in their sector.]

While digitisation changes the dynamics of the business and support revenue generation, it also supports decisions that leads to effective building work and safer housing.

The research also indicates that larger-scale businesses have committed large resources to digitisation both in terms of investment and developing a digital workforce. And the investment has paid off. It means the cost saved via digitising processes can be allocated to completing the critical cladding remediation and eliminating the danger to thousands of lives.

Data and legacy issues

Due to the slower nature at which the construction industry began to pick up on digitisation, there are years of data either in hard copy form, gathering dust – or stored insecurely in Excel sheets, as an example. Worse still, companies who have used a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to software can mean data can be misconstrued, unclear, unstandardised or data has to be painstakingly altered to fit the software – as opposed to a [https://www.zutec.com/knowledge-hub/cladding-remediation-whitepaper/ platform that is custom built for a sector].

To successfully complete cladding remediation of buildings of 11 metres and above, data must be present to allow for prompt, traceable work to take place. Without the right data to hand for example, the EWS1 Form which is required for property valuation purposes and ultimately project sign off, will take far longer to complete. The same can be said for digital handover and quality management. All legacy data must be legible, easily located and accessible, and above all, sharable.

A cloud-based SaaS platform can be the answer, not only for storing legacy data but also capturing new data even when there is zero data connection, so work can continue. Data and information can be easily input in the field and stored without a data connection, which means there are no need for trips to the office to use the computer. All data will be safely uploaded and visible in the cloud from the moment a connection is reinstated.

Upskilling your team

Not everyone is a whizz with a computer or tablet. Ensuring your people have the necessary skills to hand to optimise a digital approach is fundamental to the potential benefits. Without the correct training, the correct conventions and data handling will fall by the wayside and errors can occur, risking the data itself and placing a tangible danger to the project in terms of work done, regulation alignment and the practical completion date.

It makes choosing the right platform for your needs even more pivotal. Extra features may well come in handy, but if the interface isn’t intuitive and clarity cannot be added to workflows and documentation, there’s little point in having those features.

Choose wisely. Simplicity and how quickly the platform can be picked up are questions that need to be answered. If the tools aren’t a good fit – then this can just waste time. If your team levels up their knowledge via helpful, [https://www.zutec.com/become-a-zutec-pro-user-with-our-new-interactive-training-tool/ always available training] and by using a system that displays data clearly and facilitates ways of working and sharing information, your digitisation programme will reap the benefits – as well as your projects.

Unifying all moving parts

With any construction project, the number of subcontractors and members of the supply chain can be dizzying. Keeping track of daily operations is quite the challenge – and with every link in the chain, for every stakeholder involved, data and documentation are at the heart of progress. One company can’t sign off their job until a form or evidence is validated. A supplier may move onto the next job and leave the site without complete documentation – leaving you to chase up the missing info. Ensuring you always have the right data to offer reassurance to all parties is the holy grail.

And to do so, having all data that is aligned and presented with clarity is a necessity. The FEF (Fire Emergency File) depends on clear, immediately locatable data. With a click of a button, a contractor can grab the documentation they are looking for and photographic evidence can be checked and reviewed to proceed with compliance checks. Projects can be more efficient as everyone will have access to all the tools and data they require to work effectively. And Site Managers can trace what is complete and what needs to be done, so there will be no more lost hours frantically trying to contact parts of your supply chain to find data that may be missing. Everything can be on one screen.

On one, simple platform.

All the data, all the time

Digitising all data for a dwelling means cladding remediation can be made less of a laborious process and building can be made safer sooner. With one tool, all information can be made easily accessible for assessors so building work can be signed off—a huge benefit that has a huge impact on a project and time to completion. A platform like this can also be used in other aspects of a project, such as Quality Management, Part L alignment and Digital Handover, to name a few. These vital processes and tasks hinge on collaboration between teams, data being visible, simple to disseminate and a place where users can extrapolate the facts, so regulations can be kept in sight and assessors, managers and those on site can be aligned.

Instead of exorbitant costs in widening your teams to allow for the extra work, a digital approach can optimise all processes, increase productivity and cut costs – so more people can live in a safer environment in less time.

It’s the ultimate solution with zero drawbacks.

What’s stopping you?

To get more info on how a configurable platform can have positive impact on all your projects, click here to watch our [https://www.zutec.com/knowledge-hub/webinar-on-demand-evidencing-cladding-remediation-for-compliance/ cladding webinar].

Or you can click below to get a custom demo to see for yourself.

[https://www.zutec.com/book-a-demo-cladding/ BOOK A DEMO HERE]

<br />
--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 13:33, 23 Nov 2022 (BST) [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Regulations]]

Part L compliance – A tailored platform gives you the right tools for the job

2022-10-26T13:27:33Z

Zutec: Created page with "The Building Regulation 40 Part L uplift, which came into effect in June 2022, means a 31% reduction in [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/upload..."

The Building Regulation 40 Part L uplift, which came into effect in June 2022, means a 31% reduction in [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099626/ADL1.pdf carbon emissions for new and refurbished homes], in comparison to previous Part L standards.

As a stepping-stone to the new [https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-buildings-standard Future Homes and Future Buildings Standard] that comes into force in 2025, Part L 2021 aims to keep the construction sector aligned with the UK’s targets of Net Zero by 2050 and is helping housebuilders and developers build more sustainably.

The industry is evolving and Part L is part and parcel of this transformation. But to truly embrace the future of construction, digitisation is mandatory.

From our extensive experience in applying technology to process to achieve compliance, discover why a multitude of factors underline the necessity of traceable data – and why a solution built specifically for construction regulation compliance is recommended – as opposed to an ambiguous approach to information and data that can impact performance, progress and compliance, which will result in a drop in productivity and efficiency too.

A [https://www.zutec.com/knowledge-hub/webinar-preparing-for-regs-40-approved-document-l/ solution that is specifically designed for Part L compliance] offers templates, workflows and a better clarity of data, speeding up projects and reducing the risk of costly rework.

The first thing to consider is what Part L demands from every housebuilder, developer and construction business.

=== Part L – things to consider ===

It’s up to housebuilders and developers to evidence that new builds and refurbished dwellings are built using materials, methods and technology that help to meet these new environmental and performance standards in the uplifted Part L 2021. With compliance at the core of a build, how do you keep track of;

Materials and implementation – what materials are used? How are they implemented?

Multiple subcontractors – what tools and solutions do they use? Are they optimised for emissions?

A lengthy supply chain – Do you have the proof of work to gain the EPC and BREL Report?

Energy supply – Is it the most efficient? This covers hot water, heating and lighting

An on-site audit, using one platform used by every stakeholder to keep a record of all pertinent building information, checks and photographic evidence until construction is complete and approvals are acquired, will take the pain out of this laborious process – and crucially, save countless hours.

=== Proving Part L compliance ===

One mandatory requirement of the Uplifted Part L is photographic evidence of materials used and work done. Specific requirements for photographic evidence are outlined in Appendix B of Part L 2021, however the key takeaway from this is that photos are required to be taken DURING construction and prior to production of the EPC and BREL output compliance report.

These photographic images must be unique to each property and detail. They must guarantee that the as-built construction reflects the design stage SAP calculations. This offers a promise on the quality and installation in accordance with best practice and property performance.

Each photo taken and submitted to the assessor should be digital and high enough resolution to allow scrutiny of the area. Close-ups are also necessary, as well as geo-location to show date, time and location of each image to link to the plot number. The property detail should also be included so photos can be traced back correctly.

This photographic evidence should be taken at differing stages of construction when work is installed, completed and before closing up works take place. Technology can play a big role to make this happen, alongside a schedule and checklist to offer transparency of the requirements and visible milestones. If this is provided to all site managers to ensure this evidence is collected and recorded, it greatly reduces the possibility of work being deconstructed and retrofitted through invasive procedures later.

Non-compliance with the BREL report, which is required by the building control body for final work sign off, also means a property can’t be ‘completed’ until it meets standards.

The only way is by [https://www.zutec.com/knowledge-hub/part-l-whitepaper/ ensuring each building stage is well documented], creating a clear audit trail where all documentation and evidence is standardised and easily available for assessors to review. By doing this, it allows for easier digestion of data, so delays become less frequent.

This points to a workflow that is specific to the demands set by Part L legislation. Where every moving part has their tasks laid out in front of them, with a crystal-clear interface and a pre-built, specific template to further enhance productivity.

=== Ambiguity is not the answer – aim for a purpose-built platform ===

For such a pivotal part of your project, concessions should not be made. There are multiple solutions that allow construction companies to securely store data and share within multiple groups, but not all of them work for regulatory compliance, and not all of them work for Part L. A platform that isn’t built specifically to ease the process of aligning with regulations can actually slow down productivity and enhance costs.

A tailored solution can make life on site and for compliance easier, and the benefits of such a platform can include:

* Standardised information
* Easily stored, displayed and disseminated information, such as images, spreadsheets and 3D imaging models
* The ability to give and receive feedback while in progress, allowing remediation rapidly
* Pre-built templates for Part L compliance – and more time-saving methods and capabilities.

Platforms that cater for a wide funnel of sectors, needs, and requirements may seem right for your business at first, but they can actually cause delays in process when it comes to data transparency, lack of purpose-built templates, an inability to share content and information seamlessly, as well as other drawbacks such as collecting and documenting on-site evidence – and can break in your project chain, either before or after the construction phase.

The potential for a failed or delayed SAP assessment is higher by using a system that doesn’t optimise every stage of information gathering. Why run the risk of time and cost losses, by using a tool that isn’t designed for your needs?

Precious time can also be wasted creating documents that adhere to certain structures, like the BREL report. Pre-configured templates exist and can be found with the right solution. For example, tailored forms and workflows are a big plus for projects, where every stakeholder can align with standardisations and structure with a template that is present on their platform from the start.

When deadlines and budgets matter more than ever – why settle for a system that can put your project at even greater risk? Why not opt for the tool that is built for Part L regulation compliance?

=== Final considerations for Part L compliance ===

Your project cannot be signed off without a successful SAP assessment. To achieve this, not only does your project have to reduce emissions by 31% – but the data and evidence that your project hands over to the SAP assessor must be transparent and sharable.

To get to that stage, workflows and responsibility must be administered. With multiple streams of data from a collective of site managers, sub-contractors and other construction professionals, keeping a coherent and clear inbound trail will be nearly impossible.

With a clear workflow in place in one platform, with everyone knowing their role in gathering the crucial information and documentation – two things will occur.

Firstly, the data will be comprehensive and correct as there are no tasks that are missed. Secondly, the time it takes to get to the stage where all information is gathered and shared with the SAP assessor will be vastly reduced. A clear path with milestones and responsibilities is a big part of ensuring your project will meet deadlines. A purpose-built platform will use pre-built templates aligned with current regulations, to ensure crystal-clear transparency.

=== The right tool to save time and cost ===

A software that is designed to work in any sector cannot produce templates that are built for purpose and can’t supply the exact information as and when needed, as the entire platform is developed with any business in mind. A SaaS platform built for construction, with solutions tailored particularly for regulatory compliance such as Part L 2021, provides a single place to evidence completed work and offer clear templates and workflows that provide relevant information as and when it’s needed.

With a platform built for the construction sector, with regulatory solutions for areas such as the uplifted Part L, time can be preserved by gathering the right information at the right time, and avoiding obstacles like data with potential errors or inadequate detail that results in time-wasting or at worst cost-intensive reworks.

With a tailored construction SaaS platform like Zutec, SAP assessors can be automatically looped into evidence early, so they can start assessing work immediately. A solution that is created with housebuilders and Part L in mind – can present data in a standardised, interpretable way that is optimised for project progress and truly digitises your process.

Get a bespoke demo for your business and see the benefits of a construction SaaS platform in action.

--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 14:27, 26 Oct 2022 (BST)

[[Category:Property_law]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

Part L SaaS and photographic evidence

2022-09-27T14:53:19Z

Zutec:

On the 15th June this year, building construction changed. Building Regulation 40 updates came into force, which affected the approved documents for many sections, including Part L. This transforms how dwellings are constructed with a view to conserving fuel and power.

= Photographic evidence =

To ensure compliance to the uplifted Part L, detailed evidence in the form of photographic images is mandatory – and this blog is focused on what is required and more.

Discover exactly what comprises Part L, why photographic evidence is necessary, what constitutes that evidence – and what failure to comply might mean.

The UK is adapting to a necessity for sustainability. Part L is a pivotal step forward in the roadmap towards the Future Homes Standard, coming into effect in 2025.

= Approved Documents =

Part L is an ‘Approved Document.’ An approved document tells us what may be accepted as reasonable provision for relevant requirements and compliance, of the Building Regulation to which they refer.

The updated Part L of Building Regulation covers the conservation of fuel and power in the building of dwellings, refurbishments and non-domestic dwellings in England, and establishes how energy-efficient new and existing buildings should be.

= Part L =

Part L is split into three sections:

Approved Document Part L1A: This covers the requirements for new homes to be energy efficient. Individuals responsible for building work must ensure that homes comply with the requirements provided within this document.

Approved Document Part L1B: This covers the requirements for renovations and extensions to existing homes to be energy efficient. It does highlight that it’s not always possible to meet new build standards, but the regulations state that if a thermal element (roof, wall or floor) is being replaced or renovated then it must be done to Part L1A standard.

Approved Document L2A: This covers the required energy standards during construction of new commercial buildings, and Approved Document L2B covers existing buildings other than dwellings.

The bottom line of Part L is that all new homes must produce 31% less carbon emissions than previous Part L regulations stated.

= What is being assessed? =

Part L focuses on [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/standard-assessment-procedure#:~:text=SAP%20works%20by%20assessing%20how,like%20comparison%20of%20dwelling%20performance. how much energy a dwelling will consume] when delivering a standard rate of comfort and service, such as hot water and heating. The assessor will use standardised assumptions for who will occupy the dwelling and the behaviour that will define the usage. Other factors, such as fuel costs, are also considered.

This is then divided into energy use per floor, but the bottom line will be all dwellings are checked to gauge the annual energy consumption for space heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation – as well as appliance usage and odds of seasonal overheating. Photographic evidence will be taken during installation and in situ to provide evidence that these measures have been successfully implemented.

= How will it be evidenced? =

To evidence that the building is constructed using the correct material and in line with projected emission levels, photographic evidence must be taken to exhibit that the materials, designs and construction take into account and deliver the 31% reduction on emissions compared to previous Part L limitations.

Photographs can be taken by anyone on site, but each instance must have a separate photo record acquired. On a typical project, these photos will accumulate quickly and will total hundreds, if not thousands of separate images. Ideally this will be securely stored and easily sharable with multiple stakeholders. Also, this will need to be located simply so the SAP assessor can proceed with their testing in an efficient manner – reducing the chance of wasted hours on-site.

The images should be digital and of enough resolution to ensure a qualitive assessment. Where a longer shot is taken and sufficient detail isn’t present, a further close-up will be required. This test is a pass/fail scenario, with a score out of 100. The SAP assessor has many more variables to consider and to arrive at a reasonable verdict, much more data will be necessary.

At the design stage, SAP calculations are made, which result in a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). This provides a rating of energy performance based on the design of the dwelling and shows the building inspector that the home will meet the requirements under Building Regulation 40, Part L.

The SAP assessor will create an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate), which is required for homes when built, sold or let. Authorised SAP assessors are necessary to produce these calculations and the completed home’s EPC.

All images should be enabled with geo-location, which means that every image should have the location and time added. The reference to the part of the building the image refers to, as well as the plot number, must also be included.

= Failing a SAP Test =

The result of a failed SAP test primarily means rising costs. To remedy a failed SAP test will normally demand a more energy efficient or greener solution is required – the installation of which will demand invasive work that will cause significant project delays.

At worst, budgets will be stretched or entirely rewritten thanks to extra, unplanned work to ensure a passed SAP test. Without a pass, the building will not be signed off for completion.

= Software as a Service solutions (SaaS) =

The uplifted Part L regulation will ensure that your project produces a dwelling that is less harmful to the environment and crucially, can achieve sign-off. The added data and evidence required to comply with these regulations can be another drain on resources however.

With so much information that needs to be shared, viewed and assessed for compliance, a central platform that provides a single source of truth and the catalyst to efficiency on-site is essential. Something that stores, files, labels, geo-locates, time stamps and enables the sharing of thousands of photos and supporting documentation per project, would cut out unnecessary time wasted by doing so manually, or with a sub-standard, ambiguous platform.

Construction and quality management SaaS is purpose-built to not only provide these solutions, but also enhance workflows and allow seamless sharing of data. A configurable solution designed to overcome the data requirements that all projects are required to meet.

= Related Articles on Designing Builidings =

* Approved document L.
* 15 June 2022 changes to Approved Documents.
* Approved documents.
* Big data.
* BIM.
* Building data exchange.
* Changes in SAP 10
* Common data environment.
* Data in the construction industry.
* Making the most of big data.
* SAP calculations for conversions?
* Standard Assessment Procedure SAP
* Structured data.

--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 15:53, 27 Sep 2022 (BST)

[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:DCN_Software]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Standards_/_measurements]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

Software as a Service for cladding remediation

2022-09-27T14:52:39Z

Zutec:

Cladding remediation is pressing housebuilders and developers to begin an introspective examination of not only their buildings but their construction processes, explains Mike White, CTO at Zutec.

So far, 49 housebuilders in England have [https://www.ifsecglobal.com/fire-news/major-uk-housebuilders-commit-funds-to-fire-safety-works/ pledged to action the critical remediation of dangerous cladding]. Contracts have now been sent out to ensure commitment.

It means that work has already begun across the country to remedy the situation that puts tens of thousands of lives at risk. Time is of the essence. The combined cost is expected to be around the £8 billion mark – which may prove to be the biggest hurdle in resolving the cladding crisis.

Clearly, a more efficient approach embracing digital processes can construction technology can help to mitigate unnecessary costs and time.

= An insular industry =

The construction industry is notorious for sticking to tried and trusted methods. So much so, that the [https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/imagining-constructions-digital-future sector is second only to agriculture as the least digitised sector in the world]. Excel sheets, pdfs and paper copies still form the backbone of many construction sites and maintained buildings. Important documentation can reside in dusty boxes and fade with time. Documents are lost, damaged and prone to error, meaning intrusive tests may be required on cladding inspections due to a lack of credible building information. Clearly, a better process is required.

These documents and records are constantly referred to during all phases of the building lifecycle – and the cladding remediation process requires a better method.

Photographic evidence may also be required to prove compliance and that the correct materials have been used to release the all-important EWS1 forms. This is unchartered territory for many involved in the process. Housebuilders and developers new build pipelines must be maintained to ensure balance sheets remain in the black. How will cladding remediation fit in around their packed itineraries? And how will resources be stretched as more work gets underway?

Duty holders, contractors and inspectors will need to embrace digitisation to bring efficiency to the process, especially for photo-based evidence.

= Digitised data to drive forward cladding remediation =

Guaranteeing properties are fire-safe in the most efficient way – this is at the heart of cladding remediation.

An archaic system for data collection and storage is not the most efficient path to obtain and maintain the safety of legacy buildings. Data must be quickly available, legible, clear and instantly sharable between contractors and assessors. Records, plans, blueprints – they need to be readily available whenever the need arises to refer to them.

To ensure cladding remediation can be completed quickly, a centralised solution to assess, track and record all work, which can be shared to all relevant stakeholders, is something all housebuilders and developers should consider before work commences.

Without this, a contravention of regulations, alongside missing deadlines and increased costs are all distinct possibilities.

= Clarity and compliance =

The remediation of cladding requires inspection, extensive rework, assessment and approval to release the all-important EWS1 form as each stage demands robust records and painstaking attention to detail.

A quality management SaaS solution should therefore be quick to implement, configurable to individual business needs and intuitive and user friendly in the field. The right platform should optimise on-site hours and guarantee that the right materials are being used in the right place – so when the time comes to submit to assessors – the chance of sign off is quicker and costly re-assessment is dramatically reduced.

It should also encompass photographic evidence which can be compiled, stored and geo-tagged.

In short, with so much data to be collated, shared, evidenced and assessed – a single platform to successfully achieve this for each in scope building would not only speed up processes and control costs which had previously been manual tasks – but would be a driver to a higher rate of success.

With the EWS1 Form being valid for five years before reassessment, storing them in a central, cloud-based location also has obvious benefits.

= All bases covered for building safety =

Using one out the box platform for all these activities ensures compliance by following systematic, digital processes to make fire safety and building risk management simple and painless.

Some cladding remediation solutions ensure clients not only provide evidence of cladding work remediated but that the data is authentic and auditable, which can be used for other quality management and assurance purposes further down the lifecycle of the building. Embracing construction tech to take the next step will ensure remediation work is not only done – but done correctly.

= Related article on Designing Buildings =

* Big data.
* BIM.
* BS ISO 16739:2013 Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for data sharing in the construction and facility management industries.
* Building data exchange.
* Building safety act.
* Common data environment.
* Cladding for buildings.
* Data and behaviours in construction.
* Data in the construction industry.
* Fire safety bill.
* Golden thread.
* Grenfell Tower fire.
* Hackitt Review.
* Making the most of big data.
* Structured data.

--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 15:52, 27 Sep 2022 (BST)

[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:News]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Regulations]]

How information digitisation is transforming the residential sector

2022-09-27T14:51:50Z

Zutec:

= Digitalisation and the pandemic =

The use of digital technology and innovative processes has been propelled since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the move towards better information management and automation for planning, design, construction and handover, as well as operations and maintenance, for the residential sector.

We are seeing a sector that is realising the benefits that digital technology brings to information, and embracing it to build a better, more efficient built environment for all. The residential sector.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been an important enabler for digital transformation in construction and across the built environment for many years. The UK BIM Framework has provided the current approach to implementing BIM. However, the journey to get there is evolving from a sole focus around BIM to one that now encompasses thinking around the exchange of information requirements – not just model deliverables.

BIM tends to come into its own for larger projects with scale, providing a holistic and comprehensive approach to highly structured data for managing information, with the added advantages of multiple use for standard designs, allowing it to be part of a broader standardisation and automation process for a build and across projects.

However, the future represents an opportunity to take stock and set out information requirements that are aligned to current processes and standards, delivering robust information that will truly benefit the project and team, and make the most of technology to improve the robustness of these requirements and the move to more automated workflows.

--[[User:Zutec|Zutec]] 15:51, 27 Sep 2022 (BST)

= Can digital technology aid the residential sector? =

Looking back, the benefits of BIM have always been harder to realise for smaller- scale residential projects, low plot count housing, for example, where the size and individuality of each project is different and variations in design layouts are greater. CAD models in residential builds can also be treated as a statement of intent rather than with rigidity as changes are often needed along the way.

With this mindset, the residential sector has taken a different (and maybe slower) approach to digitisation and while BIM may be part of the solution, there have been other information requirements, with technology now taking a lead role in their delivery.

Not only can technology help set out those information requirements, providing a greater ability to improve the quality of the information being produced and shared, it addresses wider information management needs such as information centralisation, processing, workflows and exchange, which is vital for this sector.

Harnessing data and information in the right way provides greater insight into each residential project and asset, which ultimately improves building safety, performance and sustainability.

From housebuilder, developer, contractor and property owner and manager, BIM enabled information management systems become one configurable platform, providing broader and better building information management that is accessible, available, accurate and compliant all the time.

= From BIM to better information management =

As we see requirements for information getting more extensive and complex, a cloud- based database with automated workflows within a common data environment (CDE) can simplify processes while removing errors and ambiguities, and providing a greater connection between the requirements, the project delivery and the stakeholders.

This standardisation of construction processes, as well as centralising and visualising information, data and reporting, has become an essential requirement. Ensuing the right people have the right visibility of the right information across a project at the right time to make the best decisions is critical – driving efficiencies, productivity and cost savings.

The company Zutec was one of the first construction technology companies in the world to be awarded the BSI Kitemark TM certification for BIM software, which represents the international standard for ISO 19650. This not only brings structure to data but also can bring structure to inspections and workflows, centralising information, project management and streamlining digital handover all in one platform.

BIM-enabled CDEs, can brings 3D models, structured data (IFC/COBie) and project documentation under one roof, providing a unique visual index of information and documents to form the “as-built” record of a built environment to achieve ISO 19650 compliance… but that’s not all.

Whether a team is in the office to coordinate clash detection in models, in the field gathering photographic evidence of work done for inspections, or responsible for planning maintenance activities from the asset register and digital handover, a visual index (in 3D) can support the project team by supporting the full lifecycle information gathering of a project or asset.

= About the Author =

Maria Hudson is CMO at Zutec, see external link for more information or contact [http://contact@zutec.com/ contact@zutec.com] and press article [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/stakeholders/zutec-construction-management-software-and-cde-for-the-entire-building-lifecycle/114378/ here]

The Zutec BIM solution, for example, offers advantages in the planning stage and ensures work onsite progresses more smoothly and efficiently. With a comprehensive view of a project (as a digital twin), teams can fully visualise and monitor progress, as well as plan maintenance when needed and highlight changes or concerns.

Information can also be managed, captured and updated in the field and attributed to 3D models, using real-time tools for greater accuracy. Data can be viewed directly on site using any device or in the office providing convenience. And with a complete history of all assets troubleshooting problems can be made easy.

Teams can directly enrich data directly and easily provide location information for inspections, update BIM objects with field data such as serial numbers and add in photographic evidence, which are geo- located to plots, of products and materials used. Real-time data feeds also mean teams can continuously monitor asset performance to get complete knowledge and control across the building lifecycle.

As a fully configurable platform, it is easy to maintain a digital golden thread of information across construction projects and capture the exact information and data needed to make informed, and effective, decisions as a construction project progresses. Centralising information, teams can manage their entire project portfolio, from operational efficiency and productivity to configurable analytics to interrogation and reports on asset data.

Zutec also offers out-of-the-box quality management [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/zutec-digital-cladding-remediation-solution-launches-for-housebuilders-developers-and-owners/114440/ solutions for cladding remediation] to [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/building-control-news/zutec-releases-photographic-digital-solution-for-part-l-compliance/114463/ Part L compliance]. Now housebuilders and developers need to demonstrate that new builds and refurbished dwellings are constructed using the right materials, methods and technology that meet standards with photographic evidence, Zutec can ensure teams stay ahead of the curve by having the right processes in place for compliance.

To complement Zutec, our sister company Bond Bryan Digital can simplify information management requirements. As a leading information management and BIM consultancy, work is centred around best practice (including the UK BIM Framework and ISO19650) – setting out detailed information requirements that clients want, when they want it, removing the complexity to deliver reliable, robust and reusable information.

Additionally, Createmaster, another sister company under the BuildData group can provide a comprehensive Digital Handover service on top of the Zutec platform to allow your team to focus on high-value activities and not chasing sub-contractors for information.

= External links =

[https://www.zutec.com https://www.zutec.com]

= Related articles on Designing Buildings =

* BIM.
* BIM articles.
* BSI construction product identification system.
* Centre for Digital Built Britain.
* Digital.
* Digital engineering.
* Digitisation.
* Defining the digital twin: seven essential steps.
* Digital Built Britain v BIM.
* Digitalisation in Construction.
* Digital information.
* Internet of things.
* Review of Industry Digitisation.
* Smart contracts.
* UK digital strategy.

[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Product_Knowledge]] [[Category:DCN_Software]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]] [[Category:Construction_management]] [[Category:Design]] [[Category:Operations]] [[Category:Roles_/_services]]

Part L SaaS and photographic evidence

2022-09-21T08:17:29Z

Zutec: Created page with "On the 15th June this year, building construction changed. Building Regulation 40 updates came into force, which affected the approved documents for many sections, [https://www.z..."

On the 15th June this year, building construction changed. Building Regulation 40 updates came into force, which affected the approved documents for many sections, [https://www.zutec.com/ie/product/quality-management/part-l-compliance/ including Part L]. This transforms how dwellings are constructed with a view to conserving fuel and power.

To ensure compliance to the uplifted Part L, detailed evidence in the form of photographic images is mandatory – and this blog is focused on what is required and more.

Discover exactly what comprises Part L, why photographic evidence is necessary, what constitutes that evidence – and what failure to comply might mean.

The UK is adapting to a necessity for sustainability. Part L is a pivotal step forward in the roadmap toward the Future Homes Standard, coming into effect in 2025.

Part L – what is it?

Part L is an ‘Approved Document.’ An approved document tells us what may be accepted as reasonable provision for relevant requirements and compliance, of the Building Regulation to which they refer.

The updated Part L of Building Regulation 40 covers the conservation of fuel and power in the building of dwellings, refurbishments and non-domestic dwellings in England, and establishes how energy-efficient new and existing buildings should be.

Part L is split into three sections:

Approved Document Part L1A: This covers the requirements for new homes to be energy efficient. Individuals responsible for building work must ensure that homes comply with the requirements provided within this document.

Approved Document Part L1B: This covers the requirements for renovations and extensions to existing homes to be energy efficient. It does highlight that it’s not always possible to meet new build standards, but the regulations state that if a thermal element (roof, wall or floor) is being replaced or renovated then it must be done to Part L1A standard.

Approved Document L2A: This covers the required energy standards during construction of new commercial buildings, and Approved Document L2B covers existing buildings other than dwellings.

The bottom line of Part L is that all new homes must produce 31% less carbon emissions than previous Part L regulations stated.

In this blog, we’ll focus on Part L1A.

What is being assessed?

Part L focuses on [https://www.gov.uk/guidance/standard-assessment-procedure#:~:text=SAP%20works%20by%20assessing%20how,like%20comparison%20of%20dwelling%20performance. how much energy a dwelling will consume] when delivering a standard rate of comfort and service, such as hot water and heating. The assessor will use standardised assumptions for who will occupy the dwelling and the behaviour that will define the usage. Other factors, such as fuel costs, are also considered.

This is then divided into energy use per floor, but the bottom line will be all dwellings are checked to gauge the annual energy consumption for space heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation – as well as appliance usage and odds of seasonal overheating. Photographic evidence will be taken during installation and in situ to provide evidence that these measures have been successfully implemented.

How will I be assessed?

To evidence that the building is constructed using the correct material and in line with projected emission levels, photographic evidence must be taken to exhibit that the materials, designs and construction take into account and deliver the 31% reduction on emissions compared to previous Part L limitations.

Photographs can be taken by anyone on site, but each instance must have a separate photo record acquired. On a typical project, these photos will accumulate quickly and will total hundreds, if not thousands of separate images. Ideally this will be securely stored and easily sharable with multiple stakeholders. Also, this will need to be located simply so the SAP assessor can proceed with their testing in an efficient manner – reducing the chance of wasted hours on-site.

All details and instances where photo evidence should be captured can be found [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099626/ADL1.pdf here].

The images should be digital and of enough resolution to ensure a qualitive assessment. Where a longer shot is taken and sufficient detail isn’t present, a further close-up will be required.

This test is a pass/fail scenario, with a score out of 100. The SAP assessor has many more variables to consider and to arrive at a reasonable verdict, much more data will be necessary.

At the design stage, SAP calculations are made, which result in a Predicted Energy Assessment (PEA). This provides a rating of energy performance based on the design of the dwelling and shows the building inspector that the home will meet the requirements under Building Regulation 40, Part L.

The SAP assessor will create an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate), which is required for homes when built, sold or let. Authorised SAP assessors are necessary to produce these calculations and the completed home’s EPC.

That means you will need a consultant – which is another resource.

Don’t forget…

All images should be enabled with geo-location.

This means that every image should have the location and time added. The reference to the part of the building the image refers to, as well as the plot number, must also be included.

[[File:Untitled-1280-%C3%97-673-px-1280-%C3%97-900-px-1024x720.png|700px]]

What happens if you fail the SAP Test?

The result of a failed SAP test primarily means rising costs. To remedy a failed SAP test will normally demand a more energy efficient or greener solution is required – the installation of which will demand invasive work that will cause significant project delays.

At worst, budgets will be stretched or entirely rewritten thanks to extra, unplanned work to ensure a passed SAP test.

Without a pass, the building will not be signed off for completion.

SaaS – a solution built for purpose

The uplifted Part L regulation will ensure that your project produces a dwelling that is less harmful to the environment and crucially, can achieve sign-off.

The added data and evidence required to comply with these regulations can be another drain on resources however.

With so much information that needs to be shared, viewed and assessed for compliance, a central platform that provides a single source of truth and the catalyst to efficiency on-site is essential. Something that stores, files, labels, geo-locates, time stamps and enables the sharing of thousands of photos and supporting documentation per project, would cut out unnecessary time wasted by doing so manually, or with a sub-standard, ambiguous platform.

Construction and quality management SaaS is purpose-built to not only provide these solutions, but also enhance workflows and allow seamless sharing of data. A configurable solution designed to overcome the data requirements that all projects are required to meet.

The answer to all your Part L quandaries might just fit into the palm of your hand. [https://www.zutec.com/knowledge-hub/part-l-whitepaper/ Click here] to discover a simpler way to overcome your Part L hurdles.

[[Category:Property_law]] [[Category:Regulations]] [[Category:Sustainability]]

Software as a Service for cladding remediation

2022-09-20T09:36:52Z

Zutec: Created page with "Cladding remediation is pressing housebuilders and developers to begin an introspective examination of not only their buildings but their construction processes, explains Mike Wh..."

Cladding remediation is pressing housebuilders and developers to begin an introspective examination of not only their buildings but their construction processes, explains Mike White, CTO at Zutec.

So far, 49 housebuilders in England have [https://www.ifsecglobal.com/fire-news/major-uk-housebuilders-commit-funds-to-fire-safety-works/ pledged to action the critical remediation of dangerous cladding]. Contracts have now been sent out to ensure commitment.

It means that work has already begun across the country to remedy the situation that puts tens of thousands of lives at risk. Time is of the essence. The combined cost is expected to be around the £8 billion mark – which may prove to be the biggest hurdle in resolving the cladding crisis.

Clearly, a more efficient approach embracing digital processes can construction technology can help to mitigate unnecessary costs and time.

=== An insular industry ===

The construction industry is notorious for sticking to tried and trusted methods. So much so, that the [https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/imagining-constructions-digital-future sector is second only to agriculture as the least digitised sector in the world]. Excel sheets, pdfs and paper copies still form the backbone of many construction sites and maintained buildings. Important documentation can reside in dusty boxes and fade with time. Documents are lost, damaged and prone to error, meaning intrusive tests may be required on cladding inspections due to a lack of credible building information. Clearly, a better process is required.

These documents and records are constantly referred to during all phases of the building lifecycle – and the cladding remediation process requires a better method.

Photographic evidence may also be required to prove compliance and that the correct materials have been used to release the all-important EWS1 forms. This is unchartered territory for many involved in the process. Housebuilders and developers new build pipelines must be maintained to ensure balance sheets remain in the black. How will cladding remediation fit in around their packed itineraries? And how will resources be stretched as more work gets underway?

Duty holders, contractors and inspectors will need to embrace digitisation to bring efficiency to the process, especially for photo-based evidence.

=== Digitised data to drive forward cladding remediation ===

Guaranteeing properties are fire-safe in the most efficient way – this is at the heart of cladding remediation.

An archaic system for data collection and storage is not the most efficient path to obtain and maintain the safety of legacy buildings. Data must be quickly available, legible, clear and instantly sharable between contractors and assessors. Records, plans, blueprints – they need to be readily available whenever the need arises to refer to them.

To ensure cladding remediation can be completed quickly, a centralised solution to assess, track and record all work, which can be shared to all relevant stakeholders, is something all housebuilders and developers should consider before work commences.

Without this, a contravention of regulations, alongside missing deadlines and increased costs are all distinct possibilities.

=== Clarity and compliance ===

The remediation of cladding requires inspection, extensive rework, assessment and approval to release the all-important EWS1 form as each stage demands robust records and painstaking attention to detail.

A quality management SaaS solution should therefore be quick to implement, configurable to individual business needs and intuitive and user friendly in the field. The right platform should optimise on-site hours and guarantee that the right materials are being used in the right place – so when the time comes to submit to assessors – the chance of sign off is quicker and costly re-assessment is dramatically reduced.

It should also encompass photographic evidence which can be compiled, stored and geo-tagged.

In short, with so much data to be collated, shared, evidenced and assessed – a single platform to successfully achieve this for each in scope building would not only speed up processes and control costs which had previously been manual tasks – but would be a driver to a higher rate of success.

With the EWS1 Form being valid for five years before reassessment, storing them in a central, cloud-based location also has obvious benefits.

=== All bases covered for building safety ===

Using one out the box platform for all these activities ensures compliance by following systematic, digital processes to make fire safety and building risk management simple and painless.

Zutec’s cladding remediation solution ensures clients not only provide evidence of cladding work remediated but that the data is authentic and auditable, which can be used for other quality management and assurance purposes further down the lifecycle of the building. Embracing construction tech to take the next step will ensure remediation work is not only done – but done correctly.

-----
[https://www.zutec.com/product/quality-management/cladding-and-remediation/ Find out more about Zutec’s remediation solution.]

Zutec, is part of the BuildData Group, alongside Createmaster and Bond Bryan Digital. A suite of companies that help property developers, asset owners, contractors and facility management teams derive meaningful value from data throughout the entire building lifecycle.

[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Regulations]]

How information digitisation is transforming the residential sector

2022-09-07T14:33:22Z

Zutec: Created page with "== The use of digital technology and innovative processes has been propelled since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the move towards better information management and automation for p..."

== The use of digital technology and innovative processes has been propelled since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the move towards better information management and automation for planning, design, construction and handover, as well as operations and maintenance, for the residential sector, [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/stakeholders/zutec-construction-management-software-and-cde-for-the-entire-building-lifecycle/114378/ Zutec] explains ==

We are seeing a sector that is realising the benefits that digital technology brings to information, and embracing it to build a better, more efficient built environment for all. The residential sector.

[https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/publications/bim-today-september-2022/114877/ Building Information Modelling (BIM)] has been an important enabler for digital transformation in construction and across the built environment for many years. The UK BIM Framework has provided the current approach to implementing BIM. However, the journey to get there is evolving from a sole focus around BIM to one that now encompasses thinking around the exchange of information requirements – not just model deliverables.

BIM tends to come into its own for larger projects with scale, providing a holistic and comprehensive approach to highly structured data for managing information, with the added advantages of multiple use for standard designs, allowing it to be part of a broader standardisation and automation process for a build and across projects.

However, the future represents an opportunity to take stock and set out information requirements that are aligned to current processes and standards, delivering robust information that will truly benefit the project and team, and make the most of technology to improve the robustness of these requirements and the move to more automated workflows.

=== How can digital technology aid the residential sector? ===

Looking back, the benefits of BIM have always been harder to realise for smaller- scale residential projects, low plot count housing, for example, where the size and individuality of each project is different and variations in design layouts are greater. CAD models in residential builds can also be treated as a statement of intent rather than with rigidity as changes are often needed along the way.

With this mindset, the residential sector has taken a different (and maybe slower) approach to digitisation and while BIM may be part of the solution, there have been other information requirements, with technology now taking a lead role in their delivery.

Not only can technology help set out those information requirements, providing a greater ability to improve the quality of the information being produced and shared, it addresses wider information management needs such as information centralisation, processing, workflows and exchange, which is vital for this sector.

Harnessing data and information in the right way provides greater insight into each residential project and asset, which ultimately improves building safety, performance and sustainability – and is where Zutec comes into play.

From housebuilder, developer, contractor and property owner and manager, Zutec enables BIM and beyond in one configurable platform, providing broader and better building information management that is accessible, available, accurate and compliant all the time.

=== Why Zutec for the residential sector? From BIM to better information management ===

As we see requirements for information getting more extensive and complex, a cloud- based database with automated workflows within a common data environment (CDE) can simplify processes while removing errors and ambiguities, and providing a greater connection between the requirements, the project delivery and the stakeholders.

This standardisation of construction processes, as well as centralising and visualising information, data and reporting, has become an essential requirement. Ensuing the right people have the right visibility of the right information across a project at the right time to make the best decisions is critical – driving efficiencies, productivity and cost savings.

As one of the first construction technology companies in the world to be awarded the BSI KitemarkTM certification for BIM software, which represents the international standard for ISO 19650, Zutec not only brings structure to data but also can bring structure to inspections and workflows, centralising information, project management and streamlining digital handover all in one platform.

As a BIM-enabled CDE, it brings 3D models, structured data (IFC/COBie) and project documentation under one roof, providing a unique visual index of information and documents to form the “as-built” record of a built environment to achieve ISO 19650 compliance… but that’s not all.

Whether a team is in the office to coordinate clash detection in models, in the field gathering photographic evidence of work done for inspections, or responsible for planning maintenance activities from the asset register and digital handover, Zutec will provide a visual index (in 3D) to support a project team – supporting the full lifecycle information gathering of a project or asset and delivering a single source of truth.

=== Zutec BIM-enabled CDE and Beyond ===

The Zutec BIM solution, for example, offers great advantages in the planning stage and ensures work onsite progresses more smoothly and efficiently. With a comprehensive view of a project (as a digital twin), teams can fully visualise and monitor progress, as well as plan maintenance when needed and highlight changes or concerns.

Information can also be managed, captured and updated in the field and attributed to 3D models, using real-time tools for greater accuracy. Data can be viewed directly on site using any device or in the office providing convenience. And with a complete history of all assets troubleshooting problems can be made easy.

Teams can directly enrich data directly and easily provide location information for inspections, update BIM objects with field data such as serial numbers and add in photographic evidence, which are geo- located to plots, of products and materials used. Real-time data feeds also mean teams can continuously monitor asset performance to get complete knowledge and control across the building lifecycle.

As a fully configurable platform, it is easy to maintain a digital golden thread of information across construction projects and capture the exact information and data needed to make informed, and effective, decisions as a construction project progresses. Centralising information, teams can manage their entire project portfolio, from operational efficiency and productivity to configurable analytics to interrogation and reports on asset data.

Zutec also offers out-of-the-box quality management [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/zutec-digital-cladding-remediation-solution-launches-for-housebuilders-developers-and-owners/114440/ solutions for cladding remediation] to [https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/building-control-news/zutec-releases-photographic-digital-solution-for-part-l-compliance/114463/ Part L compliance]. Now housebuilders and developers need to demonstrate that new builds and refurbished dwellings are constructed using the right materials, methods and technology that meet standards with photographic evidence, Zutec can ensure teams stay ahead of the curve by having the right processes in place for compliance.

To complement Zutec, our sister company Bond Bryan Digital can simplify information management requirements. As a leading information management and BIM consultancy, work is centred around best practice (including the UK BIM Framework and ISO19650) – setting out detailed information requirements that clients want, when they want it, removing the complexity to deliver reliable, robust and reusable information.

Additionally, Createmaster, another sister company under the BuildData group can provide a comprehensive Digital Handover service on top of the Zutec platform to allow your team to focus on high-value activities and not chasing sub-contractors for information.

So, whatever the scale of your project, Zutec has an information and quality management solution for you. Get in touch today [http://contact@zutec.com/ contact@zutec.com].

Maria Hudson

CMO

Zutec

[http://maria.hudson@zutec.com/ maria.hudson@zutec.com]

[http://www.zutec.com/ www.zutec.com]

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