Safety, Competence and Sustainability Top Agenda at 2025 MCRMA Conference

TOPPING THE agenda at the 2025 MCRMA Technical Conference were key issues of building safety, competence and sustainability affecting the metal cladding and roofing sector.

More than 80 MCRMA members gathered in Telford for the two-day conference, sponsored by Firth Steels, Fixing Point, Hambleside Danelaw and Steadmans.

The conference combined strategic insight from leading construction figures with practical technical guidance from specialists across the membership.

‘From the Shed to the Shard’

Welcoming members, MCRMA Chair, Adrian Whitefoot introduced a presentation from Neville Grunwald, Director of Facades at Wates, on competency across the supply chain. Supporting change in construction through his work with the Joint Competence Initiative (JCI), Neville tackled the myth of the Building Safety Act only applying to higher risk buildings (HRBs).

He stressed the new safety requirements apply to all construction – “from the shed to the Shard” – at all stages of all projects.

Andy Crooks, MD of Planet Building Control, spoke about competence and compliance from a building control perspective. He outlined the obligations of dutyholders—clients, designers, principal contractors and contractors—and clarified the competence requirements now expected across the metal cladding and roofing supply chain. He identified four key competence pillars: behavioural, legal and regulatory, management and technical. While many practitioners already possess the necessary skills, he noted that the challenge lies in documenting these correctly under the new safety regime.

Updates on the CCPI

The conference then turned to construction product information with an update from Amanda Long, Chief Executive of the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI). Long reiterated the code’s purpose of eliminating misleading performance claims and informed delegates that CCPI certification has expanded beyond manufacturers to now include merchants, distributors, Tier 1 contractors and insurers—reflecting growing market expectation for clarity, accuracy and verified data.

Contractual vs Regulatory Risk

The second afternoon session by Gavin Hoccom, Construction Partner at Browne Jacobson, provided clarity on how “manufacturers as designers” are regulated under the Building Safety Act. He highlighted the distinction between contractual risk and regulatory risk and the potential consequences for businesses who fail to comply under both aspects of the regulations.

The first day concluded with a panel discussion, allowing members to ask questions on regulations, compliance and competence.

The speakers from day one of the MCRMA technical conference took part in a Q&A session to take questions from members on topics associated with Building Safety Act and building regulations compliance and competence.

Learning from Failures

Day two shifted to the technical aspects of metal building envelope systems and sustainability. Independent inspectors Barry Jackson and Nick Selves opened with a joint session titled What happens when things go wrong?, drawing on real case studies to illustrate systemic weaknesses across the supply chain.

Barry presented an industrial unit metal roof project that had failed with severe water ingress due to installation errors—ranging from failures to follow manufacturer guidance and inadequate perimeter sealing to insufficient and poor fixing patterns and rooflight failings.

Nick highlighted “incompetency in the supply chain” citing a rainscreen cladding project where a combination of poor design and workmanship had resulted in a significant claim. He also discussed an award winning multi-faceted building design project that needed to be significantly altered at the design detailing stage due to the original architect’s failure to consider practical issues of drainage, buildability and future maintainability.

Structural Performance, Sustainability and Fastening Best Practice

Next, Martin Heywood, Director of Newton Launch Systems, addressed the structural performance of metal cladding systems. Emphasising the role of laboratory based testing, he argued that a systems-based approach can offer valuable performance assurance—aligning with the compliance demands highlighted across the two days.

Concluding, Barry Rust, Head of Market and Business Development at Tata Steel, explained the company’s move to carbon neutral steelmaking through its investment in an electric arc furnace (EAF) at Port Talbot. He also explained the Tata Steel’s process for providing environmental product declarations (EPDs), as well as the sector of EPD consistency and carbon reporting.

Sustainabilty was a key topic on day two of the MCRMA conference, which included a panel discussion covering topics such as EPDs and the road to net zero.

Two panel sessions rounded off the afternoon. The sustainability panel, involving Firth Steels, Tata Steel and UKWS, invited questions on carbon reduction strategies, market challenges and the implications of future regulatory tightening.

A final Q&A session on fastening and fixings, from three MCRMA member companies – Fixing Point, Fixfast and SFS Group Fastening Technology discussed fasteners in refurbishment projects, installers using impact drivers instead of recommended screw guns and the extent of fastener supplier involvement in cladding and roof design.

The fixings panel wrapped up the MCRMA Technical Conference, a Q&A tackling the numerous technical considerations around roofing and cladding fastening best practice.

Supporting Members at the 2025 MCRMA Conference

Reflecting on the event, MCRMA Chair Adrian Whitefoot thanked members, speakers and sponsors for contributing to two days of open discussion and shared learning.

He added: “With so much change in the construction sector currently, it is no surprise that there are as many questions raised as answers provided. This is why events like this can be so valuable.

“The MCRMA looks forward to continuing our support for the industry throughout 2026 through our new guidance documents, updates to existing resources and CPDs, as well as facilitating easier access to training. I look forward to us regrouping at the next Technical Conference, details of which will be announced next year.”

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