Newton Aycliffe firm urges safer steelwork methods
Gary Finley, managing director at Newton Aycliffe-based SCH Site Services, said off-site application of protective coatings can help contractors achieve safer, more compliant results, avoid costly problems on site, and meet the demands of recent regulatory changes.
He said: “The UK construction industry has undergone a radical transformation, moving from a system focused on broad compliance to one prioritising accountability, competence, and a safety-focused culture throughout a building’s entire lifecycle.
“The recent regulatory changes have fundamentally altered the requirements around fire protection for structural steel, particularly for Higher-Risk Buildings.
“The focus has shifted from simply applying a product to ensuring its compliance, quality of application, and lifelong accountability.”
Changes in fire safety regulations, largely stemming from the Building Safety Act 2022, have led to increased demands for proof of compliance, higher standards, and clearer routes of accountability across the construction supply chain.
The 2022 Act was introduced in response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
It targets systemic failures in how buildings are designed, constructed, and managedβespecially for Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs), defined as residential buildings that are at least 18 metres high or have at least seven storeys and contain at least two residential units.
Mr Finley said this has direct implications for the use of fire protective paint, especially intumescent coatings used on exposed steelwork.
He said: “While intumescent paint remains the predominant method for fire protection of exposed structural steelwork in the UK (over 70% of applications), the burden of proof and accountability on everyone involved in its specification and application has increased exponentially.
“This is where the new legislation hits the sub-contractor directly and powerfully.
“The responsibility for ensuring the correct application of fire protective paint (intumescent coatings) is no longer solely pushed up to the main contractor, but is firmly placed on the specialist sub-contractor through the new Dutyholder Regime and the requirement for Competence.”
Mr Finley said: “All Projects, especially HRBs, face longer design and approval periods due to the stringent Gateway requirements and the need for detailed, compliant documentation from the outset.
“There is a heightened focus on competence, quality assurance, and transparency.
“Companies are investing more in training and supply chain auditing to ensure materials and workmanship meet the new, rigorous standards.
“But more than that liability periods for defective construction work have been significantly extended (up to 30 years retrospectively), dramatically increasing the risk and responsibility for designers, contractors, and product manufacturers.
“Thatβs why we have specialists in in this area to help ensure exact paint requirements are all met complete with the necessary paperwork to meet these strict regulations.”
SCH Site Services operates a dedicated industrial paint shop as part of its “all under one roof” business model.
The company also provides steel fabrication, welding, and installation services to the construction sector, serving clients nationwide but with a strong focus on the North East.
Operating from a 39,000 sq ft facility in Newton Aycliffe, the firm employs 42 staff.
Mr Finley said: “We are determined to make sure we keep the business strong and if the opportunity comes along to expand our work force then this will be done organically through a strong order book and demand.
“We will continue to look for, and recruit, the most experienced people in our industry as it’s our expertise and knowledge that I believe makes us stand out from the rest.
“This is what our clients expect from us, a well organised and professional company that delivers a highly skilled service from day one to the end of a project.”