NFDC goes pillion for Demolition Day

Open to members and non-members of the Federation alike, the venue for the October NFDC Demolition Day is the National Motorcycle Museum, which is recognised as being one of the finest collections of vintage motorcycles to be found anywhere in the world, on 11 October. The Museum was the victim of a major fire in 2003, when it was largely destroyed. It has now been rebuilt and refreshed and the NFDC is making use of its revamped conference facilities to host its second Demolition day of 2011.

The National Motorcycle Museum is at the hub of the country's motorway system and rail network, with Birmingham International railway station just a five minute taxi ride away. The Museum is situated in the centre of the Midlands close to Solihull, Birmingham, and Coventry. Access from everywhere within the UK is direct and Birmingham Airport is less than two miles in distance away. The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is also near the Museum complex and vast car parking facilities are on offer.

The Day will open at 9.30 with a welcome address from new NFDC president Gary Bishop, managing director of Bromley Demolition, who will be followed by chief executive Howard Button, who will give an overview of the NFDC, covering such topics as the Site Audit Scheme and the CHAS partnership [of particular interest to non-members in the audience].

Edward Strong, from the United Kingdom Asbestos Training Association (UKATA), will then make a presentation on the changes to the UK's Asbestos Regulations, with Joy Jones, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), will follow on with a paper entitled 'Demolition Commitment to Improving Standards'. The first morning session will then be brought to a close by a Q&A session chaired by NFDC vice president William Sinclair of Safedem.

A short break will then allow attendees to circulate among the various sponsors' stands.

Proceedings will begin again with the men behind the NFDC's High Reach Guidance Notes, Howard Button and Paul Brown of Tilley and Barrett, taking the floor to explain the current revision of the Notes. Of particular concern to the pair are the ultra-high reach machines currently entering service across Europe, for which the current published guidance notes make no provision - that will change in the revised edition, D&Ri understands.

National Demolition Training group manager Sophie Francis will then present recent developments in the NDTG's efforts, with IDE president John Woodward following on with an outline of CDM Appendix 4 and its impact on demolition contractors. The final speaker of the morning session will be Richard Harwood who will look at demolition planning law. A final Q&A session, chaired by NFDC Midlands and Wales region chairman John Lynch, will round off the morning's activities.

The afternoon session will have a more hands-on feel. Peter Johnson from Kier Group will explore the Halving Waste to Landfill Strategic Waste Forum, and he will be followed by a sequence of practical demolition case studies from, in turn, Coleman and Company, Lawson Demolition and finally Cuddy Group. William Sinclair will then chair a Tabled Discussion Topical Issues session, with Howard Button then chairing a final Q&A session.

Events will then be brought to a formal close with a final address from NFDC president Gary Bishop.

D&Ri will report on highlights from this rewarding and informative programme in subsequent issues.