ElectronicNewsletters

Initial Notices -ImportantInformation

Staff Updates

Seminars

Renault ClioCup - STMCSponsorship

EnergyPerformanceCertificates

BTCC Update

Energy Performance Certificates -See Page 3

Newsletter - April 2008inside

thisissue

Building ControlSTMC

SAVING THE PLANET

Does your propertymeet the latest

standards for theconservation of fuel

and power?See Page 3 for detailsELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER

If you would prefer to receive future Newsletters in electronicformat please email your request to carol.auston@stmc.co.uk

INITIAL NOTICESImportant Procedural Information

For almost five years we have been highlighting a precedent established by a high court case in 2003 whichrequires STMC to submit Initial Notices and have them accepted by the Local Authority prior to workcommencing on site.STMC appreciate that there are often commercial pressures to start a project as soon as relevant funding andappointment of a contractor are confirmed. Provided we are involved in preliminary discussions regarding designdevelopment we can identify the most appropriate time for submission of the Initial Notice.In recent months there have been a number of cases where work has started prior to STMC being providedwith any instruction or details. The result has been that we have been unable to provide Approved Inspectorservices on those projects, much to the disappointment of our clients.In a number of cases the Local Authority have decided, incorrectly in our view, that setting up on site andstripping out work constitutes the start of works. The DCLG (formerly the ODPM) has indicated theirdisagreement with the principles adopted by some Local Authorities.Therefore, in order to prevent Local Authorities from rejecting our Initial Notices, we need you to supply:

Full details of the projectFull postal addressThe name and address of the clientWhere the work involves a new building:- a location plan showing the building and/or extension- a plan showing location of, and connection to existing drainage and/or public sewers

All this information should be supplied early enough for us to deposit our Initial Notice at least one week beforework commences on site. If you have any queries please contact one of our Building Control Managers.

STMCS

T A

F F

U P

D A

T E Chris Peoples

Building Control SurveyorNorthampton

Margaret MorbeyAdministrative AssistantNorthampton

Alan DargueBuilding Control SurveyorBarnsley

Kathryn MarshAdministrative AssistantBarnsley

SEMINARSSEMINARSSTMC’S BUILDING CONTROL SERVICEThe history of Building Control and the development ofour Approved Inspector service.TIME FOR A “PART E”A guide to the latest sound insulation standards.Approved Document E explained.APPROVED DOCUMENT M AND THE DDAAn overview of the guidance on “Access to and use ofbuildings” and the relationship between ApprovedDocument M and the Disability Discrimination Act.FIRE SAFETY - A HOT TOPICA flexible approach to design for fire safety; exploring thedetails of Approved Document B.SAVING THE PLANETGuidance on the impact of the new Approved Documentssupporting Part L of the Building Regulations,“Conservation of Fuel and Power”.FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT - BS5588:PART 12A look at the responsibilities of building owners andoccupiers in the future, and the impact of the RegulatoryReform Order.

RENAULT CLIO CUPSTMC SPONSORS PHILIP GLEW

STMC is delighted to confirm that, for the 2008 season, we will be providing personal sponsorship for the youngand very talented driver, Philip Glew. Those of you who have been working with STMC over recent years will knowthat we have been supporting Philip’s career in the UK since 2004, when we sponsored him in the Soper Sport runFormula BMW team. In the inaugural Formula BMW UK Championship Philip secured 2nd place on theChampionship podium.His second year in Formula BMW took him to the World Championship in Bahrain and in 2006 STMC’s third yearof sponsorship supported Philip’s successful move to the British GT Championship where his performance ensuredhis team’s second step on the Championship podium.For 2008 Philip has moved to the Renault Clio Cup series, which is one of the top support races to the prestigeousBTCC race days, where he will be the No. 1 driver for the renowned Full Speed Racing team. Moving to a frontwheel drive car will provide a significant challenge but it is one which Philip relishes. His experience andachievements are expected to see him as a front runner. The first two race meetings of the season has seen Philipmake a great start. At Brands Hatch he secured a podium finish in his very first race. Whilst the second race wasmuch tougher, seeing Philip rebound off a tyre wall on the penultimate lap to secure fifth place.At Rockingham mixed weather conditions, and some over agrressive driving by a couple of Philip’s rivals,thwarted his attemps to get to the podium in either of the races. He did, however, finish both races and Philip isonly one point away from the Championship podium, and is looking to move forward at Donington Park.Ensure you register for your emailed copy of our August Newsletter for the latest update.

Th e n a m e f o r b u i l d i n g c o n t r o l

Manchester Andover Northampton Barnsley Newcastle0161 877 8660 01264 333995 01604 879595 01924 366296 01670 542855

STMCENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATESIn mid-March 2006 the Government published new ApprovedDocuments, L1A & B and L2A & B to support the newBuilding Regulation, Part L - Conservation of Fuel and Power,which came into force only three weeks later, on 6th April.Driven by a mandate from Europe, the new Regulation had tobe introduced. With no time to “acclimatise” to the newrequirements and guidance, the problem was exacerbated asthe Approved Documents contained a significant number oferrors and the second tier documents, to which the ApprovedDocuments referred, were not going to be published for atleast six months.To compound the problem further, the calculation software(SBEM), which was supposed to provide a method ofshowing compliance, contained a number of serious flaws. Itwas probably more than twelve months before designerswere confident in the results of the SBEM calculations.As part of the drive to raise awareness of the need toconserve energy it was generally known that there would bea requirement to provide certification for commercialbuildings which identified the energy conservationcredentials.For the construction industry it was a case of deja vu.Requirements for Energy Performance Certificates to beissued was to be staged with the larger buildings required tobe assessed and certificates issued by 6th April 2008.Medium and small buildings were to be required to havecertification from 1st June and 1st October respectively.However, again, the calculation software was not availableuntil within two weeks of the introduction date and,furthermore, it was evident that the robustness of the software was in doubt.At the eleventh hour the Government has changed its mind and it is now anticipated that all non-residential buildingswill have certification in place by 1st October 2008.The calculations are an extension of the SBEM calculation and take into account the age, size, location and use of thebuilding. The results are presented in a standardised form with which the general public will be familiar. If you have everbought a fridge or washing machine you will know what the coloured bar coding means.The Government expect market driven demands will force improvements in the design of new buildings and therefurbishment of existing buildings.

STMC works closely with Building Services andEnvironmental Engineers, Hill Lawrence, assisting clientsto understand the methods of achieving compliantconstruction and, ultimately, gaining high ratingcertification.The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is arequirement if you are to sell or rent your property. Therequirements are supposed to be fully implemented byOctober 2008.We are grateful to Hill Lawrence for assistance with theproduction of this article and in helping STMC to providecommercially orientated guidance to its clients. For SBEMcalculations and Energy Performance Certification contactDaniel Castle at Hill Lawrence on 0845 644 8119.

RACING WITHBuilding ControlSTMC

Sponsors of Team halfords RacingDOUBLE BTCC CHAMPIONS

Drivers Championship Teams ChampionshipPosition Driver Team Points1 Fabrizio Giovanardi VX Racing 632 Mat Jackson BMW Dealer Team UK 563 Gordon Shedden Team halfords 504 Matt Neal VX Racing 475 Darren Turner SEAT Sport UK 386 Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK 357 Colin Turkington Team RAC 308 Tom Chilton Team halfords 259 Adam Jones Team Air Cool 2310 Tom Onslow-Cole VX Racing 20

Position Team Points1 VX Racing 1112 Team halfords 753 SEAT Sport UK 724 BMW Dealer Team UK 525 Team RAC 316 Team Air Cool 257 John Guest Racing 158 Motorbase 109 Robertshaw Racing 410 Arkas Racing 1

The 2008 British Touring Car Championship, which is theBTCC’s Golden Anniversary season, will be the fifth year for theTeam Dynamics run Team Halfords outfit. After two successiveyears as BTCC Champions, in 2005 and 2006, the introductionof the all new S2000 specification Honda Civic Type Rpresented the Team with its greatest challenge in 2007. With nopre-season testing, developing the car race by race throughoutthe season, Team halfords led the non-works teams for much ofthe year finishing third in the Teams Championship. GordonShedden also secured third place in the Drivers Championship.With the winter period for further development and testing, andthe addition to the team of the highly experienced and successful young driver, Tom Chilton, Team Halfords will be in an even strongerposition to fight to re-take the Championship crowns. The first two race meetings of the season, at Brands Hatch and Rockingham,have seen Team Halfords make a solid start.At Brands Hatch plenty of door-to-door action saw strong performances by Gordon and Tom. They shared the misfortune with one DNFeach, but ended the day with a podium finish for Gordon and a “Shedden” style drive by Tom as he carved his way through the field,having started from 21st on the grid and crossing the line in 7th position.Following the recent plane crash in Kent, culminating in the tragic loss of fellow Scottish BTCC racing driver, David Leslie, Rockinghamwas a particularly emotional weekend for Gordon Shedden. Having qualified in pole position for the opening race, Gordon dedicatedhis “lights-out-to-flag” victory to his countryman. He went on to secure fourth place finishes in races two and three. Team-mate TomChilton fought valiantly to maintain an eight place finish in the first race and a seventh in race two. Tom ended the day on a high, witha second place, which he secured on the last lap, having battled through torrential rain and near zero visibility. Team halfords findthemselves in their rightful position, leading all the non-works teams and second overall in the Teams Championship. Gordon has leaptforward to a championship podium position in the Drivers Championship.Catch all the story in full and live on ITV4. Keep updated with the Team halfords news and photographs through the hyperlink fromSTMC’s website, www.stmc.co.uk.