Laying down a significant marker for their trade, roofing specialists in traditional hard metals (copper, stainless steel and zinc) now have their own Traditional / Heritage Roofing CSCS card.

Launched on the 1st June 2013, the Traditional / Heritage Roofing – Hard Metals CSCS card will identify those craftsmen experienced in traditional metal roofing design and installation.

Following in the footsteps of a similar card created to identify experienced specialist leadworkers, the Traditional / Heritage hard metals card will have a Managed Industry Accreditation (“Grandfather Rights”) period of twelve months, during which any suitably experienced metal roofing contractor can apply to be issued with the card. At the end of twelve months (i.e. 31st May 2014) this route will be closed and then applicants will need an NVQ3 in heritage metal roofing or have to undergo a practical / theory assessment process in order to get their card.

Although whilst available the Managed Industry Accreditation route will be a cheaper and more convenient process in getting the card, they will not just be simply given away to every applicant.

The purpose of the card is to identify roofing contractors experienced in traditional / heritage metal roofing and separate them from the many other contractors involved in the industry that have neither the experience nor the appropriate skills in this specialist sector.

This will in turn enable clients and specifiers to regard the Traditional / Heritage Roofing cardholders as having the skills and experience they require when looking to deliver a traditional building project.

All applicants will therefore be required to provide information on their background and experience, supported by photographs of their work and referees, which will be processed through the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors who are working in partnership with CSCS in this initiative. FTMRC see this development as a significant next step in their efforts to raise quality standards in the metal roofing sector.

Applications made direct to CSCS will simply be referred back to the FTMRC, in an effort to ensure that only those contractors with the appropriate skills and competence are issued with the card.

Applicants will need to have passed the CITB Health & Safety (Working at Heights) test within the last two years to have their application approved. Further details and application forms are available from the FTMRC (info@ftmrc.co.uk) telephone 01342 301627.

Significant client endorsement for the leadworkers card has recently come in the form of the announcement from English Heritage that the upcoming Audley End project will include a specification that only holders of the Heritage Skills Specialist Leadworker card will be considered for the substantial lead installation work required and it is hoped the hard metals card will quickly receive the same level of status and credibility among the major heritage and traditional roofing client groups.