Saint Gobain: Isover Reveals CPD Research

Although all of the respondents to a questionnaire on Isover’s behalf by the Construction CPD Certification Service requested multiple subjects, this was the only category that every single one of them expressed an interest in.



Respondents represented a range of specifying organisations such as housebuilders, housing associations, local authorities, private architectural practices and clients. More than 3% of those mailed with the questionnaire responded to it within a couple of weeks which is higher than normal for this kind of survey.



Close behind the Part L issue, with 92% of the respondents, was CPD information on the Part E (2003) acoustic regulations and Robust Details, on which Isover is best placed to respond, having achieved Robust Detail approval on its own masonry wall construction type based on its RD35 system.



This system positions acoustic slabs in the party wall cavity in conjunction with plasterboard-on-dabs dry lining which is housebuilders’ preferred method of construction. It enables them to meet the new Part E building regulations without reverting to wet trades and is unique in that it is the only approved alternative to cement-based solutions.



Robust Detail statistics show there have been almost 10,000 plot registrations to use this system in the past 12 months. Isover RD35 can also be used in external walls as a thermal solution to the Part L regulations to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions.



Environmental and sustainability issues associated with insulation specifications was the third most popular subject with 84% of respondents, followed closely by the fire performance of insulation materials (77%), and design details for timber frame (72%) and steel frame (57%) construction.



Other CPD topics requested without prompt were acoustic performance, new product updates, the recycling of waste and reducing waste, pitched and flat-roof condition surveys, the Scottish regulations, and current IEE regulations.



When it came to the format of CPDs, the respondents expressed a preference (84%) for in-house seminars and a massive majority (68%) preferred lunchtime over any other time. Written guidance documents were preferred by 46%, CD-ROMs by 35%, online by 26% and external demonstrations by 22%.



Isover marketing manager Gerry Mitchell said: “The research did not throw up any particular surprises in relation to what subjects the respondents were interested in. We were confident that the CPD programme we are developing was relevant.



“But what the pleasing response level did show was how willing specifiers are to learn and how reliant they are on manufacturers such as Isover to help them do that effectively.”