Congratulations to Joe Fulton on passing your CSSW!

This is what Joe has to say: “I am really pleased I passed the exams. Lots of reading paid off! I have done most things waterproofing related since the start of my career and I really enjoy what I do.”

Huge congratulations to our technician Joe Fulton on passing CSSW examinations!

Joe has many years’ experience in the industry working on site. He started labouring at 16 years old for a damp proofing company. A few years later he moved on to another company in London installing waterproofing systems. Three and a half years ago he started working with us at MacLennan installing and supervising the installation of waterproofing systems. Joe has had to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical side including BS8102, all codes of practice and health and safety to pass the exams. The exams are important. Insurance companies insist on CSSW surveyors. We also attach a huge amount of value to Joe’s experience working on and supervising of our huge technically challenging basement installations.

BS8102:2022 is now very strong with the need for qualified surveyors and qualified and insured site staff carrying out the work. Joe is now on the path to being a surveyor or contracts manager. Well done Joe for the effort and time you put in to passing your exams on becoming a Certified Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing!

A design meeting at MacLennan Headquarters

Why experience matters

Can your waterproofing expert understand the project constraints, construction, and all-important sequencing? Or at least do they have extensive site experience?

It is not a statutory requirement that the standard is followed, or a waterproofing specialist is on the design team however, if there is a legal dispute and it is found that there wasn’t a waterproofing expert on the design team as per the standards BS812:2022 recommendation - the Design team could be found culpable. The expert needs to be suitably experienced.

But WHY??

It is not just the recommendation from the Code of Practice. We speak on experience, from our own experience.

"Experience is everything. You can teach someone the theory in a classroom environment, but that all goes out the window when you get onto a live building site.You have to interact with other trades, Architects and Engineers, to understand their requirements.You have to understand how a building is put together, not just the bit you understand (waterproofing), as otherwise solutions are often not practical to construct.Having experience also educates you on what actually works in real life rather than just working on a drawing.Experience can also be relevant to a type or size of project. Just because you have worked on a small project doesn’t automatically mean you can successfully deliver the same on a large project". CSSW WDS ACABE Ian Scoggins MacLennan’s senior surveyor

As with the 2009 version of the standard the 2022 revision does recommend the inclusion of a Waterproofing Specialist in the design team. The change is the requirement that a waterproofing specialist is appointed. They also need to be capable of devising solutions that accommodate the various project constraints and needs with an understanding of construction forms and sequencing.

“That the waterproofing specialist is Suitably qualified as well as experienced with the type and size of project. “ “That the waterproofing specialist is appointed before technical design stage at the latest.” “Be suitably qualified and experienced, commensurate with the type and size of the proposed project.” (BS8102:2022)

Third party warranty holders such as NHBC, Premier and LABC will insist that the Waterproofing specialist is qualified CSSW Certificated Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing and WDS Waterproofing Design Specialist. The design specialist must have Professional indemnity insurance and if the designer is not the installer, then the installer must A accept the design in full in writing and B have PI Insurance. We recommend that the PI insurance should be 10 million to cover all eventualities and protect the client.

MacLennan have the above-mentioned insurance and have been guaranteeing work for over 30 years in London and across the UK. We have built up a reputation for supplying an honest and professional service. We have a very strong team of experienced surveyors designing waterproofing for multimillion pound projects ranging from multilevel residential basements in high end properties to extremely complicated commercial projects. You simply can’t beat the experience, because there are potential issues, you can see arising which no book has taught you. You have to have the experience and knowledge to predict what is around the corner – crucial for designing waterproofing. Same goes for the team of technicians. Continuous support and training needs to be provided and your professional standards as a team will only become higher. We are extremely proud of the team we have created.

Request full BS8102: 2022 Technical overview Document

Back to work, back to training!

Today some of our staff were retrained in First aid and we rolled out our online training program, starting with Health & Safety. We are hoping for a respite from lockdown by the spring, once Vaccinations have protected the vulnerable and alleviated the pressure on hospitals, but we are planning for Covid awareness and precaution for the long term, just in case it is the new normal. Training is one of the key principles for success so we have put all of our ongoing training online apart from the first aid ( you cannot kiss a virtual dummy ) and the practical training that requires hands-on learning like spraying waterproof coatings and applying products. Our staff are trained, Covid aware and we have the capacity for new projects of any size, which we can and will deliver promptly and professionally even in these difficult times.

Posts Tagged ‘training’

Congratulations to Joe Fulton on passing your CSSW!

Why experience matters

Back to work, back to training!

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