Jon Behan, an inspection manager at NHBC and holder of the CIOB Faculty of Building Control and Standards Scholarship, last week delivered a presentation to industry experts on the results of his year-long research project.
Behan examined the effectiveness of installing cavity barriers in rainscreen cladding – as is necessitated by current legislation – at an event held at the Hilton London Euston.
The Scholarship, run by the Faculty of Building Control and Standards, and jointly funded by the CIOB and NHBC, offers each student a £3,000 research grant.
It is designed to recognise exceptional talent, support professional development, and improve career progression within the industry.
During the scholarship, recipients continue in full-time employment, and receive mentoring support from a panel of representatives from the CIOB’s Faculty of Building Control and Standards and the NHBC.
At the end of the year, each scholar is asked to produce a report on their research and deliver a presentation which outlines the project’s findings.
Jon Behan with CIOB chief executive Chris Blythe after his presentation
Behan, part of the first intake of scholars in 2013/2014, has a keen interest in design and is the first scholar to be sponsored by the CIOB and NHBC.
Nigel Barr, chair of the scholarship panel and managing director at BBS Building Control, said: “This research has identified real issues with the understanding of the importance of correct installation of cavity barriers among relevant trades. Although some quality assurance (QA) processes are in place, these often fall short in their effectiveness and application.
“The findings highlight the importance of including installation of barriers in QA sign off. The results indicate that only 60% of the installations were covered by a QA procedure, and a similar percentage of sites had installations in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
“The research findings will hopefully encourage the introduction of more effective training and quality control procedures through NHBC guidance and wider industry awareness.”
Saleem Akram, director of construction, innovation and development at the CIOB, said: “Jon’s research raises a number of thought-provoking questions for industry, many of which present further avenues for research. We thank Jon for his contribution to the field of research, and wish him every success in his future career.”
