Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462882
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 15 COMMERCIAL The Building and Construction Authority announces initiatives to improve the industry Karl, can you start by telling us a little bit more about the BCA, and its role in Malta's construc- tion industry? The BCA's remit is to regulate and monitor the construction industry, and to make provisions for the planning, management and control of the sector. Essen- tially, this means that the BCA has assumed the duties previ- ously assigned to the Building Regulations Office, Building Regulations Board, Building and Construction Agency and the Masons Board. The construction sector is a complex one, though an impor- tant contributor to our economy. However, it is still considered as being relatively attached to tra- ditional processes and practices, and is still perceived as working within an unregulated environ- ment. Now, however, important themes such as Climate Change, technological development and consumer behavioural patterns provide fertile ground for im- proving and proceeding with the implementation of a transform- ative strategy. This will include multiple staggered actions in the form of new and updated laws and regulations, as well as the enhancement and prioritising of standards and due process. Can you elaborate on the relationship between the work of the Planning Authority and the BCA with regard to the ap- proval and construction of new projects? The Planning Authority's re- mit is well established, and es- sentially focuses on shaping our urban landscape and overseeing through the relevant develop- ment policies, local plans and processes. The BCA is instead focused on the introduction and implementation of the national building and construction codes and related building standards, as well as the regulating of stake- holders, including the licensing of contractors and the introduc- tion of minimum skill require- ments for construction workers. As a result of new procedures in- troduced by the BCA, once com- pleted, a building will essentially have the equivalent of a logbook detailing the history of its con- struction, as well as certification including obligations to future maintenance and performance expectations throughout its life cycle. An equivalent example of this is a car, whereby once man- ufactured it is required to pass a certification process to ascertain whether it is fit for the intended use. What new changes does the BCA's 'Wellbeing First' initiative bring to Malta's construction industry, and how important are these for the sector? This initiative places emphasis on the notion of continuous risk assessment, as well as the impor- tance of planning ahead. This benefits developers, design teams and any third party who may be living next door to the proposed development, due to the devel- oper being obliged to produce a 'condition report' in relation to the affected third-party property as well as visibility to the method of construction being proposed. The condition report is an im- portant document that provides a snapshot of the state of repair of the adjoining properties, aim- ing to avoid doubts should any form of damage arise during the progress of works, and requires acceptance of such a document by the third party. With respect to the method statement, the third party may choose to conduct a review of this, voicing concerns of a tech- nical nature that may have not been taken into consideration by the developer. Importantly, the developer, within a capped con- text, should meet any expenses relating to the third-party review process. In essence, this will en- sure that all parties are aligned on a technical and procedural basis. It is only at this stage that the BCA will process the necessary clearances. Should the third par- ty persist with objections due to reasons beyond that of a techni- cal nature, this process allows for appeals to decisions taken by the BCA via an independent tribunal. The BCA recently announced its plans to alter the permitted hours for demolition and exca- vation works. Can you explain the reasons for these changes, and what do you believe the principal benefits of this will be? Like any regulator, the BCA continuously listens to stake- holders in order to keep abreast of societal behavioural trends. Whereas in the past, established working hours allowed work activities to continue until the late evening (including a two hour pause around noon), these changes effectively curtail such late working, ensuring activi- ties fall within standard working hours — until 4pm. We expect other positive results to occur as a result of these changes, includ- ing improved working efficiency and the reducing or limiting of associated road traffic. The BCA's new 'Irrinova Darek' initiative seeks to improve the energy efficiency of homes in Malta's Grand Harbour district. Can you explain why the pilot scheme is being initiated in this area in particular, and might this programme be extended to other areas in the future? These areas were chosen due to the relatively older nature of their buildings, compared to those peripheral to villages or those in newer urban areas, as well as their often-unique layout due to the way they may have been di- vided amongst residents earlier in their life cycle. This presents certain challenges when consid- ering possible renovation inter- ventions, and often means that the property in question requires additional support through- out this process. Given that this scheme is currently in the pilot stage of development, it is the BCA's belief that initiating such a project in these more challenging areas will lead to greater under- standing regarding the required data and subsequent improve- ments required in the future. Our intention is to extend this scheme as part of a programme of initi- atives that become an inherent and integral part of the BCA's long-term renovation strategy. This new initiative also provides for further use of renewable energy sources, including solar and heat-pump based water heaters. How do you envision the long-term role of renewable energy sources in meeting Mal- ta's future energy needs? It is important to note that the BCA is actively working to pro- mote improvements in energy ef- ficiency, changes that go beyond simply encouraging changing ap- pliances to those of a AAA+ rat- ing, or, for example, swapping ex- isting light bulbs with LED-based alternatives. Despite the useful- ness of such actions, it is also vi- tally important to promote these in tandem with what may be termed 'passive enhancements' — that is, those that work to re- duce a building's energy needs and improve efficiency. It is also important to make strides to- wards promoting green, renewa- ble sources of energy. Due to the nature of the Maltese islands, in particular regarding factors such as urban density, this pre- sents certain unique challenges. However, through collaboration with government entities and the private sector (in particular those organisations developing and bringing to market new tech- nologies), we believe this to be achievable in a way that optimis- es cost efficiency while delivering meaningful change and value to our nation. Whilst PV [photovoltaic — so- lar panel] technology has proven to be beneficial, our relatively small size as a country limits the overall effectiveness of this, even when taking into account the potential gains afforded by PVT [photovoltaic-thermal — hy- brid solar collector] technology, which might need to be based offshore. Although hydro-elec- tric and wind-based alternatives may play a role in the move to renewables, it is my belief that, in the long term, hydrogen tech- nology will ultimately emerge as the key solution to Malta's energy demands. To find out more about the Building and Construction Au- thority, visit their website at www. bca.org.mt. Last year saw the official launch of Malta's Building and Construction Authority (BCA), a new government entity tasked with improving standards and driving innovation within the construction industry. MaltaToday sat down with its CEO, Karl Azzopardi, to find out more about the BCA, and its recently announced 'Wellbeing First initiative' and 'Irrinova Darek scheme'