The Farmers Mart Dec/Jan 2015 - Issue 37 | Page 19
farm buildings
Trading Standards
cracking down on
‘illegal’ farm building
contractors
The overall FAB Award winner 2013
was Simpson & Allinson Ltd for
Cross Lanes Organic Farm Ltd.
Farmers could face a shortage of
building contractors if a crackdown
on CE Marking weeds out those who
are supplying steel frames illegally.
That is the warning from RIDBA (the
Rural and Industrial Design and Building
Association) which has campaigned to
help steel frame contractors meet the
requirements of CE Marking legislation.
This was introduced six months ago when
it became a criminal offence, punishable
by a prison sentence, for a steel framed
building (which most agricultural buildings
are) to be supplied without a CE Mark.
Some Trading Standards departments
are now contacting businesses subject to
CE Marking to establish what steps they
have taken to achieve compliance with the
new legislation under the Construction
Products Regulations 2011.
CE Marking demonstrates, among other
things, that the building is fit for purpose
under BS EN 1090-1:2009 ‘Execution of
Steel Structures and Aluminium Structures’.
Recent winters appear to have shown that
many farm buildings may not have been fit
for purpose since they have collapsed under
the weight of snow because they were
either not correctly designed or fabricated.
Farmers can ensure the new buildings
they are investing in are correctly
designed and fabricated to CE Marking
standards by engaging a steel-framed
building manufacturer member of RIDBA,
see www.ridba.org.uk/cemarking.htm
RIDBA is holding the 2015 FAB Award
Ceremony in York on Friday 24th April
2015 in the Royal Hotel.
This competition recognises excellence
in farm buildings and aims to recognise
and reward contractors and clients who
have taken the time and effort to ensure
their new building is sympathetic to, and
even complements the local landscape,
while ensuring it is fit for purpose and
has been designed with sustainability in
mind.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning
contractors and clients and presented by
Tom Heap.
More details: www.ridba.org.uk
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ALL PURPOSE
MANUFACTURER OF
TIMBER BUILDINGS
• COW KENNELS • HOUSE & FEED
• COMPLETE DAIRY UNITS • ANY LIVESTOCK BUILDING
Farmplus Constructions Limited, Shay Lane, Longridge, Preston PR3 3BT
A talent for timber buildings
Tel: 01772 785252 Fax: 01772 782944 Email: sales@farmplus.co.uk Web: www.farmplus.co.uk
TRADITIONAL
To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk
LIVESTOCK
EQUESTRIAN
FarmersMart Dec/Jan 2015
19