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#1 Posted : 10 December 2007 18:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By warren
If we have a team of people whom are assembling and disassembling a prefabricated structure (modular building), would this be classed as "construction work" under CDM interpretation and is it therefore bound by The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007?.

The prefab building is never to be a working building, it is being put up for research purposes and will be disassembled in the near future.

The assembling and dissembly of the prefab structure is to take place inside a very large workshop.

Is this project therefore not classed as 'a construction project' under CDM?.

Any help would be much appreciated.
Many Thanks
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#2 Posted : 10 December 2007 18:57:00(UTC)
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Posted By SJA
Yes.

Refer to CDM 2007 Regulation 2 "Construction Work" ... includes:

(c) the assembly on site of prefabricated elements to form a structure or the disassembly on site of prefabricated elements which, immediately before such disassembly, formed a structure;
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#3 Posted : 10 December 2007 23:56:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Hmmmm.........but this isn't going "on site" is it? It never leaves the indoor workshop.

In that context would the fabrication of the seperate elements be classed as "construction work"? I think not. (Factory manufacture of roof trusses (for example) isn't construction work.

So a trial (or other temporary) assembly and disassembly in the factory of a collection of prefabricated elements (which may or may not add up to form the 'complete' structure) needn't be construction work either?

That said,I think this is a moot point. The methods and controls are what is important. There will be a design, probably a suggested sequence or method, and no doubt manual handling & work at height issues to think about.
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#4 Posted : 11 December 2007 08:36:00(UTC)
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Posted By Michael
I wouldn't expect this project to last more than 30 days or be more than 500 persons days.

Is it??
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#5 Posted : 11 December 2007 11:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By SJA
Ron

Warren has made reference to a prefabricated structure (building), not a component such as a roof truss! So my above response is valid.

Michael

CDM applies regardless of the duration/man hours worked, the duration will only determine if it is a notifiable project, not whether or not CDM applies.



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#6 Posted : 11 December 2007 11:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Michael
SJA

Sorry thats my mis reading original post.

I thought at first the question was is it notifiable?



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#7 Posted : 11 December 2007 13:29:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Warren, your question is only arising because what you are building up and taking down again within your workshop is recognisable as a temporary building. If it were a collection of components making up something else (e.g. an item of machinery) what would you do?
The people involved here may well need "construction skills", but then so do engineers, and I still don't think that CDM is intended to apply to this sort of work. I certainly don't see this as a "Construction Project".
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#8 Posted : 11 December 2007 13:36:00(UTC)
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Posted By warren
Sorry to cause such confusion.


Just to hopefully help clear up a few things...

I am confused as to whether this would be classed as a Construction project and whether notifiable.
The project will last more than 30 days.

I'm in a general state of confusionv regarding this matter - I suspect this is another grey area.

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#9 Posted : 11 December 2007 13:55:00(UTC)
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Posted By Michael Battman
Whether or not the project falls under CDM or not; to ensure the best chance of a successful and well planned project ... follow the ethos of CDM.

Don't try to avoid it, H&S Plans, co-operation and communication, etc make sense - just do it.
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#10 Posted : 11 December 2007 15:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By SJA
Hi Warren

This is not a grey area, it is in effect very clear, you are erecting and building a structure over reasonable time period, this is classed as construction work under CDM, furthermore as the work is lasting more than 30 days, it would also be notifiable.

Even work such as cable installation and painting is classed as construction work under CDM so I see no reason at all why this should not be classed as construction work, particularly given the definition of construction that I posted earlier.

Furthermore the client needs to appoint a competent CDM-C who should also be able to advise you on these issues.
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#11 Posted : 11 December 2007 16:28:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Oh yes, and a nice fat fee for an external CDM-C appointment! I wonder where the H&S File will be kept once you take down the Structure..................
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#12 Posted : 11 December 2007 19:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By SJA
Ron

I said competent not external!
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#13 Posted : 12 December 2007 13:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Yes, SJA - I was being a bit tongue in cheek, but I still don't think the work described falls within intended scope of CDM.
Do the people who build portakabins and addacabins worry about this? I don't think so.
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