?August 2011
Celebrating industry's best
CONTRACTORS CONTRACTORS AWARD AWARD
The results of the 2011 AIS Contractors Awards were announced at the Association's President's Lunch on 14 June at the Dorchester hotel in London. Support for this year's awards has been tremendous, with a wide range of projects spread across the whole of the UK. In the judges' opinion the quality of projects was exceptional meaning the difference between the winning entries and those that did not receive an award is minimal. Cyril Reddan, founder of B + R Architects, who judged the Interior Fit Outs finalists commented that: 'It was a privilege to be invited to be guest judge for this year's AIS Contractors Awards. Having watched with admiration the awards ceremony last year, I knew I had a tough task ahead of me. Little did I realise just how tough it Brian Pike has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's 2011 Birthday Honours list for services to the construction industry. Brian, an AIS Board member since 2004, has over 26 years' experience with Komfort Workspace serving as its technical manager and more recently head of technical and design. Over the years this has included design, customer services, training and product research. For the last 21 years he has been continuously involved with the then Partitioning and Interiors Association (PIA) and now AIS by serving on various committees including the AIS Board, training committee, technical committee, NISTG, CITB-ConstructionSkills NVQ Industry Working Group and City & Guilds NVQ Working Group. Brian said: 'Wow! Being awarded an MBE that is a first for our sector of the construction industry is a fantastic honour that I will always hold dear. It is so very sad that my beloved Pauline, who encouraged and supported me in was going to be. The standards for all those contracts I viewed were incredibly high. Indeed as a practicing architect I would be very proud to have my firm associated with any of the shortlisted projects.' This year's winners are remarkably geographically well spread across England, Scotland and Wales and, with two Irish contractors winning awards, it signals a tangible UK involvement in the competition. The AIS Contractors Awards are held annually to promote high levels of craftsmanship and design. The architect or interior designer of the Gold award winning project also receives an award. For the winners and more on the President's Lunch turn to pages 8 and 9.AIS Board member awarded MBE
everything I have done, will not be on my arm the day I go to receive the award.' Sadly, Brian's wife Pauline passed away in May this year.AIS gets behind Ska
AIS has been formally acknowledged as a Ska Rating Development Partner. The association will play an active role in the future development of the system, which provides an environmental assessment tool for sustainable fit outs, through positions on the Ska steering and technical committees. AIS chief executive David Frise said: 'AIS has supported the Ska Rating System since its launch. It won our Eco-Innovation award in 2009 and we featured the system in Interiors Focus magazine in 2010. Ska has gained momentum with hundreds of projects going through the assessment process, which is currently being extended from offices to cover restaurants and retail. In fact, only this month in its response to the Innovation and Growth Team's (IGT) report, UK government announced that it will discuss using Ska on its fit out projects.' Led and administered by RICS, the Ska Rating System is an environmental labelling method designed to rate and compare the environmental performance of fit out. Developed by industry for industry, Ska Rating is designed to encourage good practice in fit out work and has been developed collaboratively by consultants, contractors and occupiers. Tim Robinson, RICS director of information products group, said: 'We are very pleased to welcome AIS on board. It is essential that the Ska Rating benchmark evolves in line with market needs. AIS has both significant hands on technical knowledge and a practical understanding of the commercial interiors marketplace.' www.rics.org/ska MEMCOM 'NEWSLETTER OF THE YEAR' 2010ASSOCIATION OF INTERIOR SPECIALISTS
Top fixings guide nears completion
AIS is working with the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), the Construction Fixings Association (CFA) and other interested parties to finalise a guide to the selection and installation of top fixings for suspended ceilings. Aimed at designers, manufacturers, and installers the guide will provide best practice advice to industry on the choice, design, type, installation and testing of ceiling hanger fixings. AIS technical manager Joe Cilia said: 'Through its advisory service, AIS regularly reports on issues with suspended ceilings where the incorrect selection/installation of top fixings has been a contributory factor. This guide will play a key role in educating industry and preventing dangerous ceiling collapses which can endanger lives.' AIS training manager Jeremy Clayton added: 'Competency will be at the core of the guide, so we will be consulting with CITB-ConstructionSkills on how best to deliver relevant training.' www.ais-interiors.org.uk FEATURING Workplace furniture NEC Contracts Sound test ...and more!x www.ais-interiors.org.uk
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