BESA - the Building Engineering Services Association

The Building Engineering Services Association is the UK's leading trade organisation for building engineering services contractors – representing the interests of firms active in the design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, control and management of engineering systems and services in buildings.

The BESA has a proud heritage, having been established in 1904 as the National Association of Master Heating and Domestic Engineers. BESA has been known by several names through the years, most notably as the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) for nearly 50 years. We have evolved to reflect the changing needs of our members and the sector, and in 2012 we rebranded to the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) to reflect the growing range of specialisms covered by our members. Now trading as BESA, our name highlights the fact that first and foremost we are an association, and our members will always be our primary focus.

BESA’s headquarters are in London, but we are active throughout the UK. We have a separate presence in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as eight regional offices across England. This regional presence facilitates member networking and sharing of best practice, business opportunities and advice on local and national developments.

[edit] OUR MEMBERS

One of the key requirements of membership is the demonstration of technical competence, commercial capability and adherence to health and safety best practice.This is assessed through regular, third-party inspection and auditing.

BESA membership means that clients can be sure they are employing firms who work to the highest standards, giving reassurance that their project is in safe hands.

The online Find a Member facility allows clients who require the services of a building engineering services contractor to identify and select members of the BESA according to the range of services they provide and their geographical location.

[edit] OUR ROLE IN INDUSTRY

BESA is committed to lobbying on behalf of its members on a wide range of issues that affect their businesses and the commercial environment in which they operate.

Priority topics of current concern include:

• promoting digital business;
• improving indoor air quality;
• implementing apprenticeship reform;
• replacing Part L of the Building Regulations.

BESA has been providing best-in-class technical guidance and standards to the building engineering services sector for over 100 years. Whether it is health and safety advice, a copy of the latest standards, or support with a risk assessment, the BESA technical team are on hand to help.

[edit] TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE

[edit] Building Information Modelling (BIM)

The BESA activity relating to BIM is centred on how contractors can use the process to remove non value adding activity and how they can apply the principles of BIM without incurring high additional hardware and software costs. The focus is on practical solutions that provide immediate benefit.

[edit] Tall Buildings

BESA aim to create a unified and agreed set of guidelines for architects, engineers, contractors and FM on the specific issues around buildings where the engineering changes due to the height.

[edit] Indoor Air Quality

BESA formed an IAQ Action Group two years ago with a view to providing clearer technical guidance for members and the industry at large on this important topic and also to raise awareness at government level; with the general public; and across the sector through its marketing and PR departments.