Positive mood at 2013 LCA directory launch

An audience of some 70 architects and contractors attended the launch of the 2013 LCA Directory at the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining in London last month and heard a very upbeat message from several speakers.

Douglas Weston CBE, CEO of the Lead Sheet Association was particularly buoyant about the industry’s fight back against the general severe downturn in construction, compounded for the lead sheet sector by high London Metal Exchange prices, the high profile epidemic of lead theft and campaigns by alternative materials claiming to rival the many environmental and long term performance attributes of rolled lead sheet.

The LSA now had six regional marketing managers covering the country and had just recruited a new technical officer and marketing / admin manager. Their target was to make 3,000 professional contacts during the course of the year, double the number made in 2012, supported by 30 RIBA-approved CPD presentations to architects and specifiers every month.

Doug said the LSA was challenging the claims of so-called “lead substitute” products and said they still had some way to go to beat lead’s unrivalled longevity.

The BRE Green Guide had given lead an “A” or “A+” rating after a series of tests which proved lead sheet had the lowest carbon footprint of materials used in UK construction. Fire Research at Warrington had given lead sheet a Class 1 Certificate after establishing its excellent performance in flame spread, ignitability and toxicity tests.

The LSA were also supporting or appearing at a series of roadshows, events and exhibitions to continue the promotion of the good news about using lead sheet, including the significant drop in metal theft as the actions taken to combat this plague that had afflicted the industry over the past few years began to bite.

Doug finished his very positive presentation by summarising the extensive media and promotions assault the LSA was continuing to wage against the many negative myths raised by rivals and to put the record straight with regard to the specification and use of lead sheet, which remained the best long term value for money product available in UK construction.

Earlier, even the warning by Dr Alistair Davidson from the International Lead Association that the EC was again looking negatively at the use of lead sheet in construction was given a positive spin. LCA Secretary Ray Robertson, pointed out the potential advantages for LCA members if, on a worst case scenario, lead sheet was to be treated as a controlled substance, as LCA members could demonstrate all the quality controls and health checks necessary to qualify as authorised users.

The event concluded with the presentation of the Murdoch Award and Murdoch Sponsors Award to the respective 2012 winners. V McKee Plumbing stepped up to receive the Sponsors Award for the third time from Rod Bexson of Associated Lead Mills who had created the Award in 2006 to recognise the smaller lead project (under 5 tonnes).

The Murdoch Award itself had been sponsored by Associated Lead Mills since 2005 and they were delighted that Dick Murdoch was there in person to present the award to the 2012 winner, Northwest Lead for their restoration work on the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

For more information about the LCA and its members please visit www.leadcontractorsassociation.com