Leaderboard

I regard this thread as one of the most important on this discussion group. For all of us. Mid way through the discussion I had a good old moan about the poor way in which relevant information has been presented at National Level. Given my professional background, its time to put up or shut up. I intend to spend a good chunk of time over the next few days re-presenting the content of this thread in a more easily digestible format. Before I post it, I'd like to circulate the content to people who have posted in this thread to make sure I have represented their views accurately. I will also have a go at presenting the core information in a simplified graphical or other format. I'd particularly welcome constructive criticism from H+S Subject Matter Experts. If any of you read this, please PM me and I'll send you an an advanced copy of our draft text, while keeping your H+S SME status confidential. An important word on my status as Admin. The term Admin is sometimes confused with Expert. I am definitely not an expert in anything except perhaps in delivering complex content online. I am especially keen to make H+S accessible, simple and clear. Since that's exactly what I did for a variety of subjects over many years in my professional career, and as there's a slight pause in our build, I thought I ought to just do it.

I didn't realise Bucky came in cans now!

Similar here in our draughty old place. House is built on North /South line. Often warmer OUTSIDE. You need a passive heater made from beer / pop cans. Check out here and on YouTube. Silly temperatures easily achievable. http://stonehavenlife.com/7-diy-pop-can-solar-heaters/ Scorchio! DON'T make me make one!

Animal rights protesters did this to us several years ago. They pitched up at the crack of dawn and parked a scruffy Transit on our drive. Eventually the police turned up, but refused to get involved, as the vehicle was on our property. It was a damned nuisance, as the van was decorated with the usual sort of extremist stuff, plus it stopped us getting out and doing the shopping. Eventually the van was removed, but not without a lot of abuse from it's owners, complete with a loudhailer to "spread their message" to all who'd listen. Given that a lot of our neighbours were military, or former military, their message rather had the opposite result to that they had intended. There was a flurry of letters in the local paper the following week, with several stating their intent to go out shooting the following weekend, just to make a point about the protestors.................

I hope this post doesn't push us too far off topic, but...... Some of these are a bit over the top, but suitably adapted might do well in your context.... Have you considered a couple of these chained to some heavy counterweights?

It's best to think terms of liability, as really that's the key thing here, not what happens to be in a Statutory Instrument that is focussed on businesses, rather than a private individual. I'd go so far as to say that if you focus on managing the liabilities safely, then you can pretty much ignore CDM (bearing in mind that we've had CDM in one form or another for over 20 years now). Our build started with me contracting with a ground works company on the basis that they had complete control of the site and all works. I was a domestic client, they were the principal (and only) contractor. As such, our contract spelt out the breakdown of responsibilities for HSW&E, with some requirements coming direct from the local authority and some from a structural engineer. When they completed work, they handed the site to me and I took out liability insurance (something I was advised not to do whilst the site was the responsibility of the ground works contractor). A borehole company were contracted to drill a borehole to the specification provided by a hydrogeologist, and again I was a domestic client, but with responsibility for site security. The house foundation and frame supplier (MBC) came on site next, and were the third principal contractor, in CDM-speak. I was responsible for some welfare and environmental issues (toilets, hand washing, provision of skips) and was also responsible for ensuring that a competent scaffolding company was contracted to erect the scaffolding to the builder's requirements. Again I was a domestic client. The next main contractor on site was the roofing company, and again I was a domestic client, and provided them with the same services as the builder. From then on I contracted with a number of small contractors, all on a similar basis, which was that they had responsibility for ensuring that they worked in a way that was safe, not me. The main liability you have as a self builder is really making sure the site is reasonably safe and secure, with proper warning signs, plus having public liability insurance in place in the event that someone breaks in and hurts themself. That risk is far and away the greatest one, in my view, but if you can show that you have taken all reasonable measures to mitigate it then it's extremely unlikely that you would be prosecuted. There are well-proven ways to make sites secure, with officially recognised warning signage. Generally, securely fitted hoardings or Heras fencing, with plenty of warning signs, making sure scaffold ladders are hard to climb out of hours (I chained planks to ours), plus keeping the site as clear of hazards as you can, is all you can reasonably be expected to do.

So, if I'm not employing sub-contractors (sparky, plumber, joiner etc), what am I doing? A domestic client isn't classed as an employer? This is an absolute minefield! Prefer trying to sort out the heating, and I'd rather have bowel surgery than do that at the minute.

Yes its good isn't it...? However.... HSE do this as it allows them to prosecute directors etc of companies who may not themselves be contractors but have employees who are. The key word in this statement is EMPLOYS as it is the legal definition you are looking for. You do not ordinarily "employ" a contractor to build a house for you unless its entirely on a day rate under CIS, at which point you would become a business anyway so you're back to being (correctly) defined as principal contractor. A lot of this got clarified in case law when IR35 was introduced as there is a very good distinction between an employee, a contractor and a service provider... but that is for another thread !!!

I was trying to avoid runs under the slab. Probably paranoia!

@Barney12 Just one small point regarding your foul run: If you are intending using pre-formed plastic manholes then you would be better always having the main run of pipe connecting on the axis of the manhole and not on a side branch pipe connection as this sketch. The reason is that the pre-formed benching of the main axis run of the plastic manholes are set slightly lower than the branch incomers. If you don't connect to the main axis, waste will sit trapped in the dead end of the main branch run.

Another one for the database: £4,800 supplied and fitted Rehau Upvc system with 3G 44mm units using their standard (dark grey coloured) 5 chamber 70mm frame. Combined 0.8 U value. Price included for 6 'normal' windows, 2 french doors (fully glazed) and 1No front door. Total area 18.5sq.m. £259/sq.m.

Seems an ideal project for leftovers; Pex-Al-Pex and PIR / Icynene offcuts. Just bond all the bits together with gun foam in a sacrificial timber frame! No glass to clean and the "blacker" it gets the better. You could even build the frame and add the concrete over time with those odd bits left in the mixer.

Two simple sentences that sum up the pressing need for well-presented accurate, simply expressed online materials. They need to be accessible, (device agnostic) authoritative (authored by people who understand that online content and presentation needs a sophisticated, thoughtful approach), readable (people hate reading for detail online) and engaging. That last characteristic is what costs the money. That's why it won't happen.

Dai, I'd have a good tidy up , it's amazing what a couple of hours can achieve. Stack things together and put rubble in piles where you think you won't have to double handle it. It'll look better and you'll feel better about it. Invite some mates around and get a fire going and provide cold beer!