Snagging is a necessary part of the building process to ensure any minor fault issues are dealt with, especially in new buildings. Unfortunately, there isn’t the same management structure for risk in construction as there is in other regulated industries.
The process of snagging, however, has scope to be improved exponentially. There is huge variance in the governance around the snagging process. Some developers have their own closely monitored CRM/ management tools and tracking processes. Others are still using paper records in regional offices, which won’t give them anything that collates information on what issue trends there are.
The case for accreditation
There is no professional qualification for snagging, and consequently, anyone can set up a snagging company. It is hoped that the New Homes Quality Board that has been created includes in their stipulations the need for accredited snaggers to tackle issues that face residents.
An accreditation programme is being sought with the help of the snagging companies in the UK and those who go through the programme will have access to the New Build Database software.
Of course, the role of the Clerk of Works involves tackling issues such as these, but there may still be things that get missed or need closing out at the end.
An accredited body of snaggers is the next natural step to ensure all issues are handled well before they become problems for residents to tackle. The automation inherent in the process will break down the potential conflict between the site manager, clerk of works and the customer. It will also be a way to manage conflicts and iron out any bad habits contractors take from one development to another.
A change needed in the industry
It’s important for the construction industry to collaborate and learn from each other, and there is so much to be learned from the snagging process. Developers are often seen as uncaring and disengaged from the end user, but in terms of corporate social responsibility and principles of good business - those that want to improve what they do - collaboration will have a positive impact on their business.
Data gathered will help this learning process leap forward and will inevitably mean cost savings as it will prevent the same mistakes being made over and over, only to have remedial work cost more than the original budget.
Developers and the government have an important role in improving this part of the industry. The need to listen to residents about the issues was made very clear after the Grenfell Tower fire. The Government would make much more of an impact on safety if legislation wasn’t so piecemeal. For example, the Building Safety Bill focuses on buildings over 18 metres, where it could encompass all residential buildings.
Rather than making the minimum amount of change, the government and the construction industry need to look at the issue as a whole.
“The Government would make much more of an impact on safety if legislation wasn’t so piecemeal.”
“It’s important for the construction industry to collaborate and learn from each other…”