Clients and material specifiers alike need to consider context, environmental impact and legislative enactments in selecting materials in construction. The latest BCO Guide Good Practice in the Selection of Construction Materials 2011 shines a further light on this sometimes grey and often contentious area.

The British Council for Offices (“BCO”) has published an updated Guide Good Practice in the Selection of Construction Materials 2011. It has been welcomed by the industry and like its predecessor will shape industry practices in years to come.

The Guide updates the original Good Practice in the Selection of Construction Materials” (1997: Ove Arup & Partners) which is widely referred to in specifications, professional consultants appointments (including those of civil engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers and architects), building contracts, development agreements and agreements for leases.

Background
During the 1980’s and 1990s it became common practice for construction contracts and warranties to incorporate prohibitions on the specification or use of certain materials, generally in the form of an excluded materials list. Such “blacklisted” materials stemmed from concerns over building structures and health and safety issues and included materials that often, if used properly or in the right context, would cause little or no risks to arise.

These deleterious materials lists lengthened with the passing of time and the industry consensus was that such lists were not technically justifiable and that a different approach was required. Indeed the application of such lists had previously been considered by the Courts, e.g. selection of silicon bricks (e.g. the Scottish case of Kirkforthar Brick v West Lothian District Council 1995 ) and in the EU Courts. As a result the use of calcium silicate brick has been severely restricted although it continues to be specified widely in Europe.
Indeed a poorly worded deleterious materials clause can result in perfectly good materials being banned and can lead to substantial additional costs as substituted materials have to be sourced.

As a result, the BCO and the British Property Federation commissioned Ove Arup & Partners to publish a report on the good practice of selecting these materials. The intent was to encourage a change in emphasis from excluding materials to ensuring good practice in their selection. The Ove Arup report issued in 1997 put an end to the confusion surrounding what constitutes deleterious materials. Consequentially there was a move from material exclusion lists to referring to the Ove Arup report in industry specifications and contracts. Such an approach was also accepted by the industry’s insurers.

Key Points – British Council for Offices 2011 Guide
The British Council for Offices has published an updated Guide “Good Practice in the Selection of Construction Materials 2011” prepared by Hoare Lea & Partners which follows on from the 1997 Guide. This recent Guide reflects both changing standards and the growing importance and focus on environmental issues. Additionally the categorisation of most commonly used materials and material groups have been updated and broadened. 

In summary the Guide is made up of the following 3 sections

• Section 1 – General Considerations: This highlights the general issues associated with the use of construction materials, their relevance to environmental concerns and health & safety issues and an overview of the material selection process
• Section 2 – Guidance Note: Provides information on the selection of 12 commonly used building materials. For each material the document provides a description, typical applications in the industry, environmental points of consideration, points of caution and suggestions of good practice; and
• Section 3 – Further Information: Provides a list and summary of suggested references for further information on topics highlighted by the report

The document stipulates that those professionals and contractors involved in specifying materials should follow the good practice outlined in Section 1 and Section 2 of the Guide. The key materials include metals, glass, plastics, timber, stone, brick, cement, aggregates, admixtures, insulants, adhesives/volatile organic compounds and asbestos.

The list of materials noted above does not include all the issues or problems that may be associated with a particular material. Only the more obvious points of concerns are highlighted to assist in arriving at a informed decision. The Guide cautions that the list doesn’t dispense with the need to consult manufacturers and key contacts as appropriate. A common thread running through the Guide is that all materials have the potential to create risks and reference to the Guide, together with reference to relevant statutory provisions, ought to be made to mitigate that risk.

The Green Lantern 
In relation to the environmental considerations, the Guide focuses on the product lifecycle of construction material. It illustrates that throughout the material lifecycle there are environmental considerations starting from when the material is created to its disposal and subsequent recycling. The Guide also emphasises how the interphasing between materials and lifecycle contributes to a building’s overall environmental impact. Therefore in specifying materials environmental factors are as important as functionality and financial cost.

The Guide in tackling health risks arising from materials also takes into account compliance requirements arising from the Control of Substance Hazards to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and the CDM Regulations 2007. Non statutory guidance should also be considered in the selection of materials including manufacture data sheets and CE marking etc.

The UK’s and Ireland’s zero carbon commitment coupled with heavy government support for sustainable building in the form of green regulations (such as the new Building Regulations, Energy Efficiency Schemes etc) have steered the construction industry to embrace the green. 

Whilst significant benefits may arise in the long term the costs implications of green material specifications are likely to meet resistance in these financially challenged times. Nevertheless end users are insisting on the specification of green materials as part of the green economy drive within the sustainable building industry. It would appear that the powers of the green lantern will be a force for change.

Points of Awareness
When dealing with new projects, it is important to ensure that any new development documents, specifications or contracts (including collateral warranties) entered into refer to the 2011 Guide. Any contract references to the 1997 Guide should now be updated.

For existing agreements and contracts whilst it should be considered on a project by project basis it may not be consistent to change standards at a relatively advanced stage of the project. Material specifiers will need to familiar themselves with the 2011 Guide. 

Conclusion
The 2011 Guide on Good Practice in the Selection of Construction Materials incorporates current industry thinking and relevant legislative developments. It constitutes a major step from the original 1997 Guide and further still from the blacklists of certain construction materials.

The context in which a material is to be used is critical in assessing its hazards, environmental profile, durability and use. The appropriate balance of factors influencing selection of materials will need to be considered for every project and for each material.

Contributed by Jarleth Heneghan and Cassandra Byrne. This article was published in the July/August 2011 edition of Civil Engineering Surveyor, the Journal of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.