Materials sector feels heat from government

The materials industry is becoming increasingly frustrated over a lack of communication from the government on insulation and heating regulations.

Contractors and manufacturers claim they will not have enough time to prepare for the new rules, particularly on commercial buildings, after the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) continued to stall on changes to Part L of the Building Regulations.

Construction Products Assoc-iation industry affairs director John Tebbitt told CJ: "We've been waiting for a statement since before the election, but we're into September, and still nothing. It's been a complete abdication of responsibility by the ODPM in getting decisions out."

The new rules will come into force in April 2006 and Tebbitt is concerned that the sector will run out of time to test new software. He said: "We will be given four-to-six weeks to try it out and give our feedback, before that is fed into the final version. Even if the regulations are delayed until April, that only gives us four months to get everybody to understand it and to train people to change their products and designs."

Tebbitt said small contractors, which rely heavily on information from manufacturers, will be hit the hardest. He added: "The level of compliance will be abysmal. People won't know what to do, or will just ignore the new regulations."

Tebbitt believes insulation manufacturers will have problems deciding when to invest in new machinery. One firm has even delayed recruiting new technical staff until it hears what the new rules will be.

He said: "The chickens are coming home to roost now and there are no right decisions any more. The less open the government is, the greater the unhappiness and the less the level of compliance "

An ODPM spokeswoman told CJ: "The regulations are coming in two years earlier than the originally planned start date of 2008, but we're on track for spring. There's no question on the start date."

She added that ministers will make an announcement on Part L in the next few weeks, but could not give details.