Shoddy workmanship and uncontrolled value engineering are bigger safety risks than cladding fires, according to product manufacturers. Their response to a British Board of Agrément consultation on how to make construction materials safer, as reported in Building last week, resonated strongly.

The consultation response highlights that high-quality, high-performance materials and components can become hazardous due to value engineering or bad installation. This can often be as simple as manufacturers’ instructions not being followed. As we’ve seen, this can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Rightly, product manufacturers raised concerns regarding the skills of the repair and maintenance sector. Fundamentally, this points to a lack of understanding within the industry of a systems-based approach, backed by the “golden thread of information” which requires a complete record of digital fingerprints to be effective across the lifespan of a building.

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