Batimat report, futurebuild and retension payments.

Howard Chapman, Buildingtalk Editor, reports on ending up behind bars on the opening day of Batimat, Europe’s biggest building industry trade show, plus your views invited for the Governement consultation on cash retention contracts and a preview of the Futurebuild districts planned for Ecobuild

Behind bars at Batimat in Paris

I am currently visiting Batimat in Paris. Speaking at the opening of the event, Guillaume Loizeaud, Director of Le Mondial du Bâtiment said “BATIMAT once again brings together the world’s most comprehensive range of building sector’s solutions, innovations, demonstrations and seminars. It is a unique opportunity for professionals to come together in a business-friendly atmosphere in order to respond to the new challenges facing the construction sector.”

Over 360,000 visitors are expected with 2,400 exhibitors at the exhibitions.

The size and reach of Batimat is awesome but also somewhat daunting. However, each industry sector is grouped together in a logical way, and the signage is good making it easier to navigate.

Products from around the world are on show but my first encounter at Batimat was with an Englishman, Mark Wardle who was promoting  D&D Technologies, an Australian company established in the late 1980’s, winning several design awards for ground-breaking MagnaLatch magnetic latch for pool and other child safety gates. He demonstrated the product by promptly locking me behind bars.

Many of the major exhibitors are regularly featured on Buildingtalk, including Brett Martin, SFS Intec, Velux, Saint-Gobain, AkzoNobel, Catnic, Schuco, Fakro, Geze, Knauf, Technal and others, so it is a great opportunity for me to see their new offerings at close quarters. I will have more feedback about the event when I return to the UK.

Exploiting the language….. I also noticed that there was a whole section at Batimat dedicated to 84 countries or regions where French is the common language, including exhibitors and specific conferences to help these companies develop business. It is a great source of growth. It was a reminder to me that the UK is well placed to do the same for the English speaking world which is an enormous market place for construction products and services. Great post-Brexit opportunity!

Futurebuild districts at Ecobuild

Buildingtalk is pleased to be promoting Ecobuild, not least because it is potentially the most significant UK construction event in 2018, taking place from 6^th to 8^th March at ExCel in London.

With input from their industry advisory groups, plus feedback from visitors and exhibitors, Ecobuild are creating  futurebuild districts to provide distinct curated areas to group exhibitors together, giving key industry buyers easy access to relevant products and services.

You can follow this link for more details.

Retention payments in the construction industry

The UK Government have announced a consultation on cash retention under construction contracts. The purpose of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy consultation is to seek information on the practice of cash retention under construction contracts and gather views on the findings of the supporting documentation.

The consultation is relevant to any party to a commercial construction contract as defined by the construction contracts legislation. It is also relevant to adjudicators, arbitrators and lawyers. While this consultation concerns construction specific legislation it may also be relevant for those with an interest in prompt payment more generally and to insolvency practitioners. The legislation does not apply to residential occupiers. The research report and Consultation Stage Impact Assessment are published alongside this consultation.

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