The Federation of Piling Specialists (FPS) Commercial Committee met in November to review and discuss industry challenges, share market insights, and discuss key initiatives driving commercial practices within piling.
Key Updates and Actions:
Digital Project Database Progress – The committee received a detailed update on the development of the digital project database, being built in collaboration with 1Spatial. The committee discussed ensuring data quality and the process of quarterly data submissions. FPS members agreed to test the platform.
EFFC Contract Working Group Update – The FPS shared its guidance document at the EFFC AGM, although no formal feedback had been received at the time of the meeting. The secretariat transition of the EFFC was also noted, with FPS continuing to monitor progress on this front.
Q3 Order Statistics for 2025 – The quarterly market statistics revealed that ground improvement projects had significantly impacted overall market figures, but the underlying market value is estimated closer to £160 million. Market conditions remain uncertain due to delays linked to the Building Safety Act, slow private investment, and inconsistent activity in sectors like rail and data centres. The committee remains cautious, awaiting more clarity following the upcoming budget announcements.
Building Safety Regulator (BSR) Update – FPS continues to engage with the Building Safety Regulator and has successfully influenced HSE expectations on phased Gateway 2 applications. Only phase-relevant fire safety information is now required for Phase 1, expediting project commencement. Additionally, FPS is actively involved in the Super Sector Skills Project, which is expanding to include 30 ground-engineering occupations under the Ground Forum. The committee raised concerns about external institutions defining competence without considering contractor perspectives, and FPS committed to ensuring proper oversight.
Collateral Warranty Working Group – The draft FPS collateral warranty has been reviewed and is deemed satisfactory. Working group members are encouraged to provide comments by the end of the year. A key issue discussed was the circulation of design information to competitors, creating liability concerns. PI insurers have flagged this as a risk, particularly in early engagement processes and the context of the Building Safety Act. FPS will engage with Build UK to address this issue.
Re-use of Piles Guidance – The finalised guidance on pile reuse has been approved by members and will be published in the Members’ Area of the FPS website. A complementary external guidance document will also be developed by the Sustainability Committee.
Working Platforms and Technical Clarifications
The revised FPS Working Platform Certificate is operating well, although confusion remains on-site regarding certain technical fields. The committee discussed the competence of temporary works designers and agreed to explore this further in future meetings. Members were also reminded of the importance of re-certifying recycled aggregates and appropriate materials in working platform design.