Barrett takes up BCSA presidency

At its AGM on 19 June 2007, the BCSA elected Richard Barrett, Managing Director of Barrett Steel Buildings as its new President and Jack Sanderson, Managing Director of Cairnhill Structures was elected Deputy President.

Richard Barrett

Donal McCormack

Speaking at the AGM retiring BCSA President Donal McCormack commented on steel’s improving market share.

“Steel’s market share has grown to record levels and members’ order books are in a healthy situation. The latest independent market research has confirmed steel as the material of choice for architects, engineers and contractors.

“Last year steel broke the record for the market share of multi storey buildings with a 71.8% share, up by 3.7%, while in the key offices market steel’s dominance rose from 71.9% in 2005 to a record 73% in 2006.” The industry’s production in 2006 stood at just over 1.3M/tonnes, up 3.6% on the previous year and this is forecast to increase a further 1.4% this year, with continued growth in 2008 and 2009.

Mr McCormack said the industry has made the improvement of health and safety a top priority and during the past year the BCSA published further new guides to its health and safety series. Accident statistics, which are monitored by BCSA, show that the reportable injury frequency rate has fallen from 1.2 in 2005 to 1.0 in 2006.