Penalties for late completion of construction and demolition works are now commonplace, and contractors have grown adept at planning and managing projects to ensure that they don't fall foul of these penalties.
But in the demolition industry, our ability to start work often hinges upon input from utility companies, which have an unenviable reputation for bureaucracy, inefficiency and ineptitude. These companies have to ensure that all utility services are switched off and isolated. This is something that could be arranged with a simple phone call but, in reality, it often takes weeks and even months to accomplish.
On one recent contract in south London, it took us three months and more than 80 separate phone calls, together with numerous faxes and emails, to have an electricity meter removed from site. That issue alone cost us four weeks' admin time.
The National Federation of Demolition Contractors has made numerous representations to the utility companies it has had ongoing communication with the energy ombudsman and it has entered into numerous, failed partnering agreements to facilitate a more efficient disconnection service.
And yet the problem remains.
We live in a world of instant, centralised and global communications, where business can be conducted at the flick of a mouse button. It is surely time that the utility companies entered the 21st century and allowed us to get on with our work.
David Darsey
Vice president
National Federation of Demolition Contractors