2017 – A busy and challenging
year for CAB
December 2017

Our sector has experienced an incredibly busy and challenging year in 2017. UK construction must change following the tragic events that took place at Grenfell Tower. CAB represents the aluminium in building sector on the Construction Products Association Technical Expert Panel which links directly to the DCLG Industry Response Group. We are particularly grateful to all those members who have contributed and to the work of the CAB Fire Safety Working Group.

We must ensure that positives emanate from this tragedy in the form of clearer regulations, improved guidance, increased levels of training and robust compliance procedures.

While the Construction Products Association forecast that construction output will show only a nominal increase in 2017 and no growth in 2018, our own CAB State of the Market Surveys have consistently been more positive. Our Q3 2017 Survey highlighted that 56% net balance of members see growth over the next 12 months.

In addition to the vital work that our Technical team undertake with standards and regulations, we have also worked on other important areas including BIM, Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and carbon embedded in building products.

Our events, seminars and training programmes were attended by over 700 members and their guests during the year. We were particularly pleased to see the high level of member engagement in our 500m2 CAB Aluminium Pavilion at the FIT Show 2017 and the opportunity it provided to highlight and promote our entire membership. The success of the event is just one of the reasons that CAB membership increased yet again in 2017.

The FIT Show also saw the launch of our CAB Fabricator/Installer Training Days which aim is to promote basic competency amongst fabricators and installers through one day assessed training courses. Successful candidates can then apply for the CAB Skills Card. Training remains a key area that we will be looking to develop further in 2018.

Finally, I would like to wish all the readers of Aluminium in Architecture a very happy and prosperous New Year!