Bruce Kirtley & Jonny Wilson from the Mechanical department at HLA Services Ltd.

Mark Charlton from the Mechanical department at HLA Services Ltd.

Over the next couple of months we’re opening up our doors and sharing one-to-one interviews with our team, the people who deliver our thirteen services and this week we’re talking Pipework with the Mechanical team. We hope you enjoy the interviews and find them useful. Any thoughts or comments please get in touch info@hlaservices.co.uk

What role does the Pipework department perform as part of HLA services?
Our Pipework service is delivered by the Mechanical department. We work with end users or with a Main Contractor. We also deal with specialist suppliers like BMS Controls (Building Management Systems), insulation specialists, medical gases and design consultants.

We design, supply, install and test all Pipework including; heating, domestics, plumbing, above ground drainage, compressed air, deionised water and gas.

From initial estimating to procuring, ordering, cost control and delivering Pipework on site.
We’re also responsible for hiring in scaffolding, cherry pickers and access equipment for all jobs in progress.

Is there such a thing as a typical day in the HLA Pipework team?
(laughing), No – every day can be very different.

Good communication with our operatives like plumbers and heating engineers who are on site is so important. As a team we could be on the phone at the beginning and end of the day.

Although we have a department at our Boldon office, you’ll often find us on site pricing a new job or supervising work on a site.

What sort/any new types of legislation should Facilities, Maintenance and Procurement Managers be aware of when it comes to Pipework?
There are lots of Gas regulations which businesses need to ensure they are up to date with when it comes to gas safety. All HLA’s mobile engineers are Gas Safe and OFTEC Registered.

We are responsible for the HLA team having up to date CSCS cards. CSCS is the leading skills certification scheme within the UK construction industry. CSCS cards provide proof that individuals working on construction sites have the required training and qualifications for the type of work they carry out.

All of our plumbers are WRAS approved which means we can say with confidence that our installations comply with the appropriate regulations no matter who has installed the work.
Businesses should be aware of CDM (Construction Design Maintenance Regulations). CDM aims to improve health and safety in the industry by helping businesses to sensibly plan the work so the risks involved are managed from start to finish and through the entire maintenance life cycle.

We are responsible for RAMS (Risk assessment and method statements).
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people and weigh up if you have enough precautions in place. Safety method statements are most often found in the construction sector. They are particularly helpful for: higher-risk, complex or unusual work.

With this in mind we continue to develop our skills and training around Asbestos Awareness and Working at Height.

If you could use 3 words to describe HLA Services Ltd to someone who didn’t know them what would they be?
Consistent, quality, reliable.

Sunderland FC or Newcastle United?
The whole team supports Newcastle.