Launch of EFCA Sector Review 2022
The EFCA Sector Review 2022 has just been published. This report demonstrates, amongst other things, how engineering services for construction are evolving, with strategic investments, including acquisitions, that will drive change towards a more climate resilient built environment. The top companies and groups operating in Europe are identified, based on their turnover in the region for engineering services for construction and the built environment. A snapshot of recent developments shows that Covid continued to impact supply chains and workers’ mobility in 2022. More positively, trends, including digitalisation, urbanisation and sustainability are stimulating growth in the sector. Read the full report here.
Assessing the future-readiness of consulting engineers
How future-ready are consulting engineers? How prepared for disruption, from digitalisation, sustainability and evolving regulation?
To find out. EFCA Future Trends Committee is conducting a survey, in partnership with the HHL Center for Strategy and Scenario Planning. The survey will assess the ability of consulting engineers to deal with disruption as well as reasons for any potential lack of future-readiness. The results will form the basis of a “playbook”- a tool to successfully navigate the future challenges facing our industry.
All respondents will receive the survey’s results as well as the playbook.
This initiative is the last in a three-phase series. The first was in 2021: Which way to go? Strategic scenarios for consulting engineers in times of high uncertainty. Last year saw the second, Seizing opportunities in times of disruption. How the consulting engineering industry can overcome the challenges of digitisation, harmonisation, and sustainability – a disruptive scenario analysis.
Participate in the survey here.
Digitalisation and sustainability: the view of young engineers
We need to succeed with the twin green and digital transitions to secure a sustainable future for present and future generations. This demands, among other things, skilled people and the use of digital technologies. The latter requires change and adaptation of work processes, re- and upskilling, as well as the ability to seize opportunities that come with new technology and cultural change. To understand where young engineers stand on digitalisation and sustainability across Europe, EFCA Future Leaders have launched a short survey, aimed at employees under the age of 40, of engineering consultancy companies. By understanding how young consulting engineers view the current state of digitalisation and sustainability across Europe, EFCA Future Leaders also aim to:
Provide knowledge on national performance to identify areas for further improvement
Initiate Europe-wide knowledge-sharing and learning from best practice
Provide transnational intelligence to the EFCA community, to support its concrete policy action
The results will be analysed and presented to the EFCA community at the next EFCA General Assembly Meeting in June. The findings will also be shared on the Future Leaders LinkedIn channel.
Participate in the survey here.
Single Market at 30
As the Single Market turns 30, the European Commission will host a number of events throughout the year, marking the anniversary of the creation of what has become the world’s largest common trading area. Operating on the basis of four fundamental freedoms: people, goods, services and capital, the Single Market has made it easier for the 27 Member States to trade on a level playing field and for citizens to live and work anywhere within EU borders. For the consulting engineering community, public procurement remains one of the most important aspects and EFCA’s Internal Market Committee continues to advocate for contracts that are awarded on the basis of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender. EFCA would like to see further improvements in the way contracts are awarded in the EU, including a greater focus on sustainability and digitalisation, enabling a more rapid completion of the twin green and digital transitions.
Further information is available here.
The latest EFCA newsletter has recently been published, information on the following is included:
- The CACE study on the use of Dispute Board for adjudication and/or avoidance of disputes in building works and Level(s);
- ‘Engineering the New European Bauhaus’: Reframing the Bauhaus framework from theory to practice;
- ‘Making Sustainable Architecture Work’;
- Skills shortages challenges, the EU Pact for Skills and the transition pathways;
- EFCA submits a nomination to DG CONNECT to sit on the Expert Group on B2B data sharing and cloud computing contracts;
- Future Trend Report and planned research design of the 2023 Playbook;
- Webinar: ‘Boosting Project Preparation of Quality Infrastructure with MDBs’;
- Tributes paid to EFCA’s outgoing Secretary General, Jan van der Putten;
- Construction 2050 Alliance Event on Taxonomy, with speakers from the Platform for Sustainable Finance;
- European Services Forum (ESF): Policy Committee meeting addresses developments in EU trade policies;
- High Level Construction Forum webinar on innovation in construction – New ways of building;
- High Level Construction Forum webinar on innovation in construction – New ways of collecting and using data;
- EU Newsroom: Overview & timeline ‘EU response to Russia.’
The EFCA newsletter is available here.
The latest EFCA newsletter has recently been published, information on the following is included:
- EFCA Sector Review;
- Future Trends Committee: final discussion on the report ‘Seizing opportunities in times of disruption’;
- D&S meeting: presentation of the impact of the war on the Ukrainian economy and the engineering consulting industry;
- Arrangements for 30th EFCA anniversary reception on 16 November 2022 meetings;
- FIDIC-EFCA webinar on ‘Boosting Project Preparation of Quality Infrastructure with MDBs’ (11 October 2022, 10:00-11:30);
- Joint FIEC-EIC (European International Contractors) ‘Ukraine’ Task Force;
- Future Leaders Steering Committee meeting: planning of webinars with FL competition winners;
- Support Group Ukraine [SGUA] at European Commission;
- Meeting between Sue Arundale and Ilektra Papadaki (DG GROW);
- FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference – session ‘ESG – Creating social and community value and embracing a circular economy’;
- FIDIC Global Infrastructure Conference – panel discussion session on ‘Energy and technology perspectives’;
- Digitalisation and BIM Committee meeting: feedback on recent developments in digitalisation;
- European External Action, EFCA’s contribution to the ‘Toolkit on Incorporating Sustainable Tender Criteria in Procurement’;
- FIEC-EIC ‘Ukraine’ Task Force;
- Save the dates;
- EU newsroom.
The EFCA newsletter is available here.
The NBC&MSO has published its Q1 Newsletter. Information on the following is included:
- Commencement Notice Assigned Certifier Route or Commencement Notice With Declaration to “Opt Out” of Statutory Certification?
- A Guide to the marketing and use of Aggregate Concrete Blocks to EN 771-3 in Ireland (2022) What You need to know.
- S.I. 243 of 2012 Building Energy Rating EU (EPBR)
- Code of Practice for Fire Safety Assessment of Premises and Buildings
- Building Control Compliance Requirements for Commencement Notices with and without Declaration to Opt-Out of Statutory Certification- i.e., all Commencement Notices.
- Eye on IT-Standards
- Radon Risk in Ireland
- Places for People – the National Policy on Architecture
- End of Covid-19 Notices for Works or Material Change of Use Circular Letter BC02-2022
- Events, CPD & Other Notes
If you have any queries, talk to your local building control office, or contact the NBC&MSO Team at support@nbco.gov.ie.
The latest EFCA newsletter has recently been published, information on the following is included:
- European Green Deal Committee
- Board of Directors meeting with EIC (European International Contractors)
- FIDIC Europe Board meeting
- EBRD webinar on Business and Consultancy opportunities within the Sustainable Infrastructure Sector
- ISO 37101 – Sustainable cities and communities — Recommendations and requirements for project developers
- Digitalisation and BIM Committee
- Acceptance by the EC of all DigiPLACE deliverables and recognition of the project’s exceptional results
- Launch of the thirteenth edition of the 2022 EFCA Future Leaders competition
- Construction Europe (page 47): EFCA article ‘The best of times … the worst of times’
- New EFCA Policy and Communication Advisor, Stefan Weber
- Internal Market Committee: an overview of national procurement
- Forthcoming events, News updates
- EFCA WEBINAR ‘Which way to go? on 19 Jan – save the date
- Reports from FIEC, EU Science Hub, International Cost Management Standard (ICMS3), International Energy Agency (IEA): Energy Efficiency 2021 and Renewables 2021: Analysis and forecasts to 2026
The EFCA newsletter is available here.
The NBC&MSO has published its Q4 Newsletter. Information on the following is included:
- Operation and Maintenance Provisions Building Regulations Requirements
- Framework for Building Control Authorities V1.1 2016 – Under Review
- Building Control and Compliance Support
- Compliance Challenges – Ceiling downlighters, Part B and Part D of Building Regulations
If you have any queries about Part B or your buildings, talk to your local building control office or contact the NBC&MSO Team at support@nbco.gov.ie.
The latest EFCA newsletter has recently been published, information on the following is included:
- The challenges of the use of software in the construction industry,
- Report: Skol leaving a legacy – The role of Consulting in Sustainable development
- Forthcoming events, News updates
- Reports from Eurostat, ACE and the European Commission
The EFCA newsletter is available here.
The NBC&MSO has just published its Q3 Newsletter. Information on the following is included:
- Building Control, Part J of the Building Regulations relating to Heat producing Appliances
- Building Control and Compliance Support
- IS-BCMS, Construction Activity & MS
- Professionals, Education & Compliance Challenges
- Timber Marking
If you have any queries about Part J or your buildings, talk to your local building control office or contact the NBC&MSO support@nbco.gov.ie or any of our new staff members Executive Engineers, Jennifer McGinn, Éanna Boland and Assistant Staff Officer Gregory Friston.
On the 9th November 2021 the NBC&MSO and SEAI are hosting a free joint webinar, titled “Heating & Domestic Hot Water Systems for Dwellings– Achieving Compliance with Part L & Energy Performance of Buildings Regs 2019” presenter Paul Martin, Programme Manager – Technical Standards Development, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, see the Eventbrite link here for further details to register for this free event.
Since NBCO’s last quarterly Newsletter they have:
- Continued their Building Control Inspections Programme supporting the Building Control Authorities across the country
- Launched a National Market Surveillance Inspection programme on Construction Products with unannounced compliance visits commenced and scheduled for all over the country’s quarries for the remainder of 2021
- Received funding of €35,000 from DPER Innovation Fund to add Virtual Reality to their Drone ‘Big Sister Project’
- Welcomed some new staff to their team, Ronan Glynn, Senior Executive Professional (Architect), two Executive Engineers, Peter O’Sullivan and Joseph Carton, four Clerical Officer Student Interns, Hailey Yuxuan Lee, Eoghan Dunne, Aaisla Al Makhmari and Ali Alnuarni.
Page one of this Newsletter focuses on Part G of the Building Regulations which relate to Hygiene
If have any queries about Part G or your buildings talk to your local building control office and or contact the NBCO support@nbco.gov.ie
The latest EFCA newsletter has recently been published, information on the following is included:
- Insurance costs
- National Associations Best Practices
- Spring 2021 Industry Barometer
- European Green Deal
- The Internal Market Committee
- Forthcoming events, News updates
- Reports from Eurostat, ACE and the European Commission
The EFCA newsletter is available here