Kevin Thomas explains the significance of its AGM and its new steering committee and highlights some other key industry developments
THE Flowing Screeds Association held its AGM in May, which set the FSA’s direction for the coming year and heralded the formation of a new steering committee.
Here I’ll elaborate on the significance of this for the industry as a whole and also highlight other key industry developments.
The Flowing Screeds Association (FSA) is the trade association for all screed installers, representing the industry and promoting flowing screeds throughout the construction sector. Membership is open to binder and system manufacturers, screed contractors and applicators.
Driving up training standards across the sector, through the establishment of practical training courses is a core aim of FSA, and the setting up of a special steering committee is an important element of that process.
The aim is to have at least one member from each working team who has completed online training with the FSA, showing they meet a minimum standard as a starting point, with the intention to build and improve on this foundation over time. It’s also an important goal to recruit more active members from right across the industry.
As one member said after the AGM: ‘The screed industry has long needed some regulation and the FSA will be the driving force to make that happen.’
We’re now committed to setting up a steering committee which will drive forward our work on standards and training, between AGMs and meetings of the board. The aim of the steering committee will be to assist the FSA with its growth plans, leading on the recruitment of new members, reviewing member benefits and working towards the achievement of recognised status.
As well as formal training offered by the FSA, it’s important to remember the technical datasheets and other material which we provide, all of which are designed to raise and uphold industry standards, boosting awareness of flowing screeds and the issues around their installation.
These documents are available through the members area of our website. This section contains some 19 documents covering diverse topics of interest to companies in the screeding sector ranging from procedures for sanding and drying through to batching guidelines and datasheets for different product types and applications.
This wealth of information is available to all members of the FSA.
Alongside these resources is the technical query service which has been launched this year and which is available to members and non-members. We aim to provide appropriate information, within five working days, to any member who has a query or needs further information about a product or project involving flowing screeds.
For non-members our commitment is to reply within 10 days.
To submit a technical query, email membership@flowingscreedsassociation.com, ensuring you provide us with all the necessary information, including your full contact details and photographs where appropriate. Also use the same email address for any queries about membership or for more information on training or technical support provided by the FSA.
Meanwhile current industry developments represent important new opportunities for FSA members. An example is The Building Safety Act. This will enable architects and specifiers to have greater authority over material selection, and since they will probably be looking for ‘safe’ specifications, specifying an FSA member will be more attractive than ever, as this provides a mark of reassurance and reliability.
FSA is also represented on the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Group project which was formed in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster. This aims to identify a consistent approach to training and ensure that the correct skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours are delivered and maintained.
As such, the FSA is helping set the competence required and will work towards FSA membership being viewed as an appropriate ‘route to competency’.
Join the FSA to gain representation on these and other key policy matters and to take advantage of benefits which are available to members only. For instance all FSA members have access to a free listing on the website at www.flowingscreedsassociation.com, as well as free advertising through FSA channels, networking opportunities and use of the FSA logo on vehicles and marketing materials.
membership@flowingscreedsassociation.com
www.flowingscreedsassociation.com
Kevin Thomas, FSA board member
