Making a hole in a building wall to fit ventilation services.

Does anyone think this is not 'construction' as defined in CDM? If so - on what grounds?

Kate

After all the recent debates about what is construction, maintenance and so on, I think there may be a reluctance for anyone to commit for fear of being shot down in flames.

Not one to sit on the fence - given the brevity of information I believe it is construction work and falls under either 2.-1(a) or (e) of the definition of construction work.

Getting prepared to be shot.

Ray

This is the link you want.
http://forum.iosh.co.uk/...spx?g=posts&t=116362

Yes I think it is construction as described by CDM, provided this is work not being done in house.

It is not just the hole in the wall, the whole thing ( LEV) is construction. IMHO

Chris

Well after reading the replies, is it so hard to say yea or nea to 'is it under CDM?' without thinking about it. I hope Kate has an answer because I'd be saying yea but planned and potentially non-complex element of the overall job which may be anything but non-complex.

Please excuse the newbie answer here.

If it involves more than 1 sub contractor at any one point in the project then it is CDM 2015.

I think Jo is bang on there. Yes it is construction as you are affecting the fabric of the building and so CDM will apply. How exactly you apply it is a whole other question...

The question isn't whether it is notifiable or whether the CDM 2015 appointments (PD & PC) need to be made.

It is perfectly possible to have a CDM project that is of short duration and with only one contractor to which neither of these things is therefore applicable - that doesn't stop the other requirements of CDM applying.

I am surprised by the lack of consensus.

Incidentally why would in-house construction work not be CDM? In this case isn't it just that the client and the contractor are the same entity?

Kate is correct with in-house construction works.

I work for a housing assassination and our repairs team complete construction work on our properties by themselves as well as using contractor (scaffolders etc.). We have a PD, PC, contractors all in place to manage the CDM 2015.

...housing assassination - sounds like a dangerous role.

But that was dynamite

Yes of course CDM would apply, isn't putting the hole in the wall part of a bigger project to install a new ventilation system?
In any case even if as a job on its own I would state CDM applies, albeit likely to be in the simplest of forms. Isn't the word 'proportionality' one of the key words being banded around at the moment for CDM...

The regs stat that Construction work is...

(a)
the construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration or other maintenance (including cleaning which involves the use of water or an abrasive at high pressure, or the use of corrosive or toxic substances), de-commissioning, demolition or dismantling of a structure;
(b)
the preparation for an intended structure, including site clearance, exploration, investigation (but not site survey) and excavation (but not pre-construction archaeological investigations), and the clearance or preparation of the site or structure for use or occupation at its conclusion;
(c)
the assembly on site of prefabricated elements to form a structure or the disassembly on site of the prefabricated elements which, immediately before such disassembly, formed a structure;
(d)
the removal of a structure, or of any product or waste resulting from demolition or dismantling of a structure, or from disassembly of prefabricated elements which immediately before such disassembly formed such a structure;
(e)
the installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair or removal of mechanical, electrical, gas, compressed air, hydraulic, telecommunications, computer or similar services which are normally fixed within or to a structure,

So almost everything you do with a building or structure apart from use it!