FETA chairman eyes challenging times ahead for the industry
Speaking at this year’s FETA Annual Lunch on 19th April, FETA chairman John Smith highlighted challenges and opportunities for the sector.
“I doubt any of us are surprised to note that the overarching political landscape regarding EU relations is far from finalised and we continue to watch with concern how the negotiations and their related compromises are worked through,” he said in his address to over 600 guests at The Brewery in London.
FETA has been involved in helping to establish standards across its membership which covers diverse areas including ductwork, heat pumps, fans, flues and HVAC. Smith highlighted the importance of ensuring that in future, UK standards do not differ widely from those of the EU:
“We very much support the BSI’s ambition that staying within the broader European standards system should be the aim, avoiding conflicting standards being used in the UK and the rest of Europe,” he said.
The F Gas regulations are a particular area of concern for FETA members and the wider industry: “We continue to support DEFRA as they consider how best to deal with the quirks of the F-Gas quota system, said Smith”
The chairman also supported Dame Judith Hackitt’s ‘Building a safer future’ report which calls for changes across the construction industry. “There is little here that we haven’t been saying for years and it is just so sad that it takes a tragedy of such proportions to act as a catalyst for change.”
