Events
Our upcoming events and conferences for BESA members.
Read MoreBESA specialist groups set the standards that shape building engineering services and to contribute to the strategic development of the Association.
Read MoreFrom commercial insurance to employee benefits, or training requirements to the latest legislative updates, we’ve got you covered – and all at preferential member rates.
Read MoreMembership means more services to add value to your business and to help you make the most of the opportunities in the marketplace.
Read MoreAs a BESA member, you automatically qualify to apply for FREE Trustmark status, helping you to win domestic work.
Read MoreThe BESA Competence Assessment Scheme provides independent accreditation of our members’ technical competence and commercial capability.
Read MoreFrom commercial insurance to employee benefits, or training requirements to the latest legislative updates, we’ve got you covered – and all at preferential member rates.
Read MoreThe BESA provides practical assistance to its members in managing, developing and training their workforce and in establishing terms and conditions of employment.
Read MoreIn its role as an employers’ organisation, the BESA is responsible for ensuring the relevance to members’ needs of collective agreements with the sector’s recognised trade union.
Read MoreThe BESA is committed to ensuring that its members are fully compliant with all relevant health and safety legislation, and that they remain up-to-date with current industry best practice.
Read MoreBESA has been providing best-in-class technical guidance and standards to the building engineering services sector for over 100 years.
Read MoreThe BESA technical team is on-hand to give expert advice, guidance and practical support that address key technical issues as well as deliver access to standards, specifications and guides to good practice.
Read MoreTechnical bulletins provide the most up-to-date and relevant industry information and technical advice, ensuring that our members continue to operate as leaders within the industry.
Read MoreCertification and registration enable the demonstration of best practice to end users, as well as enabling you to remain compliant.
Read MoreAs a BESA member you have access to expert support from our experienced and knowledgeable legal & commercial team.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreContracts can be a minefield. Ensuring your company's contracts are managed efficiently can save your business not just time, but money too.
Read MoreDebts, disputes and payment issues can cause a real impact on your business' cash flow meaning the right advice and guidance can be essential.
Read MoreAs a business owner, protecting and de-risking your business from threats is essential and having plans and processes in place along with a support network is key.
Read MoreBESA has been providing best-in-class technical guidance and standards to the building engineering services sector for over 100 years.
Read MoreLatest news on the initiatives and activities being undertaken by the BESA in support of its members and the building engineering services sector.
Read MoreBESA Training has provided training and apprenticeships for the building engineering services sector and its employers for over 25 years.
Read MoreAs a BESA member you have access to expert support from our experienced and knowledgeable legal & commercial team.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreContracts can be a minefield. Ensuring your company's contracts are managed efficiently can save your business not just time, but money too.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreBESA Connect is a scheme helping those who don't have the digital equipment at home to assist them in completing their training or apprenticeship.
Read MoreUse our interactive Find A BESA Member facility to take advantage of the high competence and health and safety standards to which our members adhere.
Read MoreConstruction is a complex process. It therefore requires significant expertise to deliver the building engineering services that buildings demand.
Read MoreThe BESA Book is an annual industry directory published on behalf of the Building Engineering Services Association by Open Box Publishing.
Read MoreBringing together early career technical personnel working in our sector to learn about the industry and new technology, collaborate
Read MoreBrowse the organisations which are members of the BESA affiliation scheme.
Read MoreLatest news on the initiatives and activities being undertaken by the BESA in support of its members and the building engineering services sector.
Read MoreUp-to-date comment and thought leadership on key industry issues from our expert team.
Read MoreUp-to-date information on a range of events of interest and relevance to building engineering services contractors, attendance at many of which are free of charge.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreIt is crucial that employers understand and manage the wide range of regulatory requirements and obligations they must comply with.
Read MoreJoin us for a full programme of technical content, including an exhibition featuring innovative technical solutions.
Read MoreYour BESA magazine is an exciting new member's magazine offering valuable guidance and updates on technical, training, skills and education along with other association and industry related news.
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Read MoreThe podcast that delves deeper into the unique challenges faced by the construction and building engineering services industry.
Read MoreThe BESA helps shape the building engineering services industry, progressing key issues and keeping on top of consultations
Read MoreA dedicated area to help raise awareness on the key issues surrounding the current lack of diversity, promoting the business benefits of a diverse workforce and sharing best practice case studies and actionable resources.
Read MoreA dedicated area to help raise awareness of mental health wellbeing in the building engineering services sector, providing practical resources and tools to help companies address this important issue in their workplace
Read MoreA dedicated area to help raise awareness of the importance of indoor air quality, the conditions of air inside buildings and how our sector can work together to make buildings safe havens.
Read MoreA dedicated area to focus on how we in the building engineering services sector can learn from and improve following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Read MoreA dedicated area highlighting BESA's efforts to address the issue of retentions in the built environment.
Read MoreA dedicated area with resources and guidance for members affected by the Carillion collapse, as well as information on late payment reform.
Read MoreTuesday, November 14, 2017
The UK’s largest register for safe refrigerant handling has called for F gas emissions rules to be tightened in the wake of Brexit.
Responding to an inquiry by the parliamentary Environmental Audit Committee, Refcom called for the UK to close a number of “loopholes” that allow some operators to circumvent British laws already in place as a result of the European F gas Regulation.
“In particular, sellers of split air conditioning systems should be required to keep records of who the purchaser is and who will be installing the equipment,” said Graeme Fox, senior mechanical engineer at the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), which manages Refcom.
“The Environment Agency has told us repeatedly that its hands are effectively tied because there is currently no requirement for sellers to hold records. This makes a mockery of attempts to control the sector and keep an accurate track of F gas usage.”
Refcom has long recommended that a mandatory register of individual operatives should be set up to work alongside the company register, which was made compulsory in 2009. There is a voluntary scheme in place operated by ACRIB/SKILLcard, but Refcom now believes this should be endorsed by the government and made mandatory in order to “properly and effectively police the regulations as a whole”.
He pointed out that, as the phase down of HFC refrigerants gathers pace in line with the global reduction timetable, this will become increasingly important.
Flammable
“The scarcity of non-flammable refrigerant gases will force many more contractors to work with flammable and mildly flammable gases,” said Mr Fox. “It is, therefore, essential that the technician workforce is upskilled to reflect the additional demands of working with these gases and that the sector as a whole can demonstrate these competencies.
“Tighter controls on company registration as well as mandating the operative register will provide that evidence trail,” he added.
Refcom simplified the process for checking company registrations earlier this year with the launch of a search facility on its website (www.refcom.org.uk) that allows suppliers to check customers’ credentials by both company name and/or F Gas certificate number. It is also preparing to launch free software licenses to all its registered companies enabling them to comply more easily with log books and record keeping.
As Refcom holds more than 80% of all the company registrations in the UK, this will help the government by making it easier to collate gas usage across the country for reporting and monitoring purposes. This data will include all gas being placed on the market including amounts contained in pre-charged systems, gas supplied in bottles, recovered gas being recycled for re-use, and recovered gas being sent for destruction.
“All gas movement once it enters the UK market will be traceable from entry to destruction, which will be crucial for monitoring future progress on F gas emissions reduction,” said Mr Fox.
Refcom also urged the Brexit inquiry to recommend better resourcing of the enforcement regime managed by the Environment Agency – with the possible implementation of civil penalties. This would ensure the UK was able to meet its obligations under the Montreal Protocol and the subsequent re-inforcement of F gas targets through the 2016 Kigali Accord.
Refcom confirmed that, as part of the BESA Group, it would remain involved in the EU after Brexit through the umbrella European contractors’ body AREA and would continue to work with the European manufacturers’ association EPEE.
“This will allow us to maintain a link to the evolving legislation and guidance and means Refcom is well placed to assist the UK authorities in keeping our own regulatory framework up-to-date and relevant,” said Mr Fox.
The EAC has established that the growth in the use of refrigeration and air conditioning systems has seen the amount of F gases in circulation rising. However, it stated that if the regulations continued to work “as intended”, the UK would remain “on track” to hit its emissions reduction targets.
Thursday, March 4, 2021
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Wednesday, March 3, 2021
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Monday, March 1, 2021
With public interest in the quality of the air we breathe at an all-time high,...
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