Current Campaigns

Quality assurance

As with any building process, quality is critical. To ensure the highest standards of manufacture, the UKTFA requires its members to comply with one of two independently-assessed quality assurance schemes: Q-Mark and Q-Mark Plus.

Further details on both these schemes are available from the UKTFA website.

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Training and qualifications

Unique in the construction industry, the UKTFA's training and qualification programme is designed to be vertically integrated - targeting design, offsite manufacture and onsite erection.

Modules covering the design of timber frame systems and offsite manufacture are currently under development.

In the meantime, the first pilots are underway in Scotland of an innovative training initiative, run by UKTFA in collaboration with City & Guilds, which delivers the highest level of qualification anywhere in Europe for timber frame erectors.

It supports UKTFA's stated objectives to have a recognised and qualified workforce for timber frame site erection across the UK, to ensure an increasingly high quality product and to build confidence throughout the supply chain.

The site-based training programme offers timber frame erectors the opportunity to gain a City & Guilds qualification at one of three levels:

• Bronze - serves as the induction programme for those new to the industry.
  
• Silver - represents a qualification achievable by the vast majority of site erectors, and covers all the essential elements in erecting buildings.
  
• Gold - includes site supervisory skills and complex buildings essential for today's challenges as timber frame grows into ever increasing new markets.
  
  

The qualification covers issues such as health and safety, onsite technical skills and knowledge.

By 2006, a full set of 27 training modules will be available from the UKTFA (plus additional assessment modules). For further information, please contact us.

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Reducing vandalism on housing sites

Theft, arson and vandalism are serious problems on building sites. The losses from theft and vandalism suffered by the construction industry have been estimated at around £400 million a year - over £1 million every day.

All housing developments are vulnerable, regardless of the construction type, although the scheduled 'just in time' delivery of timber frame systems and its fast construction time can help to reduce the window of opportunity for criminal gangs and random acts of vandalism.

Working with its member companies, the UKTFA is developing new initiatives to help improve site security and reduce the risk of arson. This includes new risk assessment processes, proportional to the size of site, its location and proximity to well-known problem areas, time and speed of build. Recommendations can then be given on a range of security solutions, from the safe storage of materials and site staff training, to CCTV and overnight lighting.

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