Discover the future of roofing, cladding and insulation at UKCW Birmingham

From building envelope solutions to solar solutions, weatherproofing to working at height, Roofing, Cladding & Insulation (RCI) at UK Construction Week Birmingham (NEC, September 29 to October 1) brings everything from the sector under one roof.

[edit] Visitors to Roofing, Cladding & Insulation at UKCW will be able to discover the latest in weatherproofing, façades, and design-led roofing innovation; compare the latest products, meet leading manufacturers and suppliers, and discover the solutions shaping the future of roofs and building envelopes.

Aimed at everyone from roofing contractors, installers and specialists to architects and building surveyors, visitors to Roofing, Cladding & Insulation will also be able to benefit from a wealth of related talks and seminars, with highlights including:

Tuesday September 29th

Building Envelope Stage (sponsored by SolarEdge), 11.30am to 12.15pm

Seeing Risk Differently: Using Wearable Cameras to Improve Safety at Height

This session will explore how purpose-built wearable camera technology can give safety professionals greater visibility into real working conditions, fall-protection practices and potential hazards.

Speaker: Paul Spies (AcuSaif by Smart Safety Solutions and co-founder of IronHead Roofing)

Building Safety & Occupational Safety Stage , 10.30am to 11.15am

Getting It Right First Time: The Future of Membrane Suitability

This panel, led by the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI), will explore how its research into error causation, project case studies and collaborative learning is helping the industry reduce defects, improve competence, and embed a culture of getting it right first time.

Speakers: Alison Kilby (Arup); Jack Smith (Platform); James York (Morgan Sindall); Lindsey Ions (Urban & Civic)

Wednesday September 30th

Building Safety & Occupational Safety Stage , 10.30am to 11.15am

Solar Safety Under Pressure: Are We Installing PV and Storage Safely Enough?

This technical session led by the Energy Storage Association will examine best practice for safely installing solar PV and battery systems, focusing on mitigating risks to building structure, fire safety and occupant protection.

Speakers: Andrew Bailey (Alpha ESS UK); Claire Enstone (Eco2Solar); John Southern (Energy Storage Association); Michael Collinge (Certi-fi Schemes)

Building Envelope Stage (sponsored by SolarEdge), 3.30pm to 4.15pm

Beyond Sedum: The Next Generation of Green Roofs

The panel will explore the technical and practical considerations of designing, specifying and maintaining roofs that respond to local vernaculars, support Biodiversity Net Gain objectives and function as genuine nature-based solutions rather than compliance measures.

Speakers: Chris Bridgman (Bridgman & Bridgman and Chair, Green Roof Organisation (GRO), Vice President, European Federation of Green Roof and Wall Associations and Founder, World Green Roof Day); Keith Hills (Eco Green Group); Luke Rootham (Axter Ltd); Maggie Fennel Wells (The Environment Partnership (TEP) Ltd)

Thursday, October 1st

Building Envelope Stage (sponsored by SolarEdge), 10.30am to 11.15am

Solar, Storage and Heat Pumps: What New Build and Retrofit Mean for Your Business

This session will explore how the Future Homes Standard and the Warm Homes Plan are shaping demand for solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps, and what businesses need to do now to prepare.

Speakers: Jason Howlett (Energy Storage Association); Neil Evans (GoodWe); Nigel Banks (Octopus Energy); Tom Woolley (SMS)

Building Safety & Occupational Safety Stage, 12.30pm to 1.15pm

Working at Height: Why Are We Still Falling Short?

Falls from height remain one of construction’s biggest causes of serious and fatal injury, so what needs to change to make working at height genuinely safer? This panel will bring together contractors, safety professionals and independent experts to look beyond compliance and examine the practical issues around planning, competence, equipment, supervision and safety culture.

Speaker: Josh McNicholas (Evalu-8 Software Ltd)

Martin Hurn, UKCW Birmingham Editorial Director, said: “The building envelope is being asked to do far more than simply keep the weather out. From improving energy performance and supporting renewable technologies to delivering biodiversity, resilience and safer working practices, the demands on roofing and cladding are changing rapidly.

“UKCW brings these issues together in one place, giving visitors the opportunity to see the latest solutions, challenge established thinking and understand what these changes mean for their businesses. It’s a key destination at UKCW for anyone involved in designing, specifying, installing or maintaining the buildings of the future.”

Sponsored by Barbour ABI, Wyre, HotelPlanner, Zutec and Build Warranty and SolarEdge, UKCW Birmingham will feature over 200 leading brands; 200 speakers and over 150 hours of CPD accredited seminars across four stages, alongside a series of built-for-purpose sections. Architect, TV presenter and UKCW ambassador, George Clarke will officially open the show and also host discussions on the Construction Reset Stage on Day One (September 29th).

To register free for UKCW Birmingham, visit https://register.visitcloud.com/survey/0hcnqiudc1lrv?actioncode=1000.