Basement
Contractors Registration Scheme Launched
 In
order to meet the growing demand for reputable basement construction
contractors, The Concrete Centre, The Basement Information
Centre and SpeCC - the Registration Scheme for Specialist Concrete
Contractors - have developed an Accredited Basement Contractors scheme
for members who are fully able to offer complete water-resistant
basements with a ten-year insurance-backed guarantee. A key feature
of the scheme is the comprehensive approach to providing a “complete” package,
whilst reducing risk.
Basements are already popular with self-builders and, increasingly,
speculative house builders are examining the inclusion of basements
as part of their standard designs. The Government fully supports
the building of modern basements. Basements are energy efficient
and provide more living space without the need for more land, thereby
meeting the demand for high-density sustainable communities.
Under the SpeCC registration scheme, two tiers of contractors exist.
Whilst Tier 2 covers smaller contractors mainly focusing on residential
basement construction, Tier 1 includes larger frame contractors who
are also capable of delivering major substructure and large residential
basement construction. Contractors are vetted for technical and construction
capability, health, safety and environmental competence, their financial
gearing and their commitment to both quality and training.
On attaining accreditation by SpeCC, the successful contractors
will be able to offer insurance cover to clients covering the complete
basement installation, including both structural and waterproofing
requirements. The insurance cover is offered by Guarantee Protection
Ltd. It will operate from hand-over of the basement and run for the
first ten years of the building’s occupation. The insurance
cover remains in place for the current property owner, irrespective
of a change of ownership during the ten-year period. During that
period any structural or watertight defect will be remedied. As the
insurance is indemnity-based, the owner does not have to prove negligence
for the insurance to ‘kick in’ and it remains in effect
even if the Contractor were to go out of business.
It is hoped that SpeCC will offer a list of over 30 accredited basement
contractors by the end of the year and it is expected that other
accreditation schemes for underpinning for retro-fit and some new
build and waterproofing may follow suit.
“There is a growing interest in basements as homeowners welcome
the extra living space, house builders wish to give their developments
a marketing edge and government wants to see optimum use of building
land”, said Alan Tovey, Director of The Basement Information
Centre. “This initiative will do much to provide peace of mind
with regard to basement construction”.
His comments were echoed by Martin Hardwick, Director of SpeCC who
said: “The availability of the SpeCC Accredited Basement Contractors
list will provide clients and housing developers with assurance of
the levels of competence of these basement contractors and will provide
the reputable basement contractor with proof of his own competence
and professionalism”. The house owner will benefit from knowing
the basement beneath the property has been constructed by trained
experts with the added benefit of an insurance policy running alongside
the chosen warranty scheme for the property (NHBC or similar).
- For information on The Concrete Centre see: www.concretecentre.com
- For information on SpeCC see: www.specc.co.uk
- For information on the Basement Information Centre see: www.basements.org.uk
- For information on Guaranteed Protection Ltd see: www.gptprotection.co.uk
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