Preview 2016-18 NA Handbook -

nAtIonAl AgrEEmEntHeating VentilatingAir Conditioning Pipingand Domestic EngineeringIndustry 2016/18



Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning Piping and Domestic Engineering Industry National Agreement Working Rules and Conditions for OperativesCopyright © 1999-2016 Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) All Rights Reserved i

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NATIONAL AGREEMENTWorking Rules and Conditions for Building Services EngineeringSupervisors, Foremen, Craftsmen, Apprentices, Installers, AdultTrainees and Mateshereinafter referred to as Operative or Operatives employed in theHeating Ventilating Air ConditioningPiping and Domestic EngineeringIndustrymade betweenBuilding Engineering Services Associationhereinafter referred to as the AssociationandUnite the Unionhereinafter referred to as the Unionfirst issued in 1911incorporating amendments agreed up to 3 October 2016Further copies of this Agreement are available from the BESA PublicationsDepartment, Old Mansion House, Eamont Bridge, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2BX iii

Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning Piping and DomesticEngineering IndustryNATIONAL AGREEMENTWorking Rules and Conditions for Building Services EngineeringSupervisors, Foremen, Craftsmen, Apprentices, Installers, AdultTrainees and MatesIn order not to conflict with the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 thisNational Agreement must be interpreted so that it does not discriminate ongrounds of sex.Any terms such as job titles in the male gender, eg Foreman, apply to eithersex. Where the masculine pronoun is used the provisions apply equally tomen and women.This National Agreement is appropriate for work related to the heating,ventilating, air conditioning, piping and domestic engineering industry.The following list (which is not intended to be inclusive or exclusive)illustrates the related work for which this Agreement is appropriatealthough it is recognised that other agreements may also apply:i all forms of piping including gas installations and plastic pipeworkii all forms of boilers including oil fired installationsiii sprinkler installationsiv heated ceilingsv ductwork installationvi thermal insulationvii service and maintenance of the work covered by this National Agreement. iv

FOREWORDPreambleThe Association and the Union, hereinafter collectively referred to as theParties, have a record of good industrial relations, soundly based onmutual understanding, respect and progressive negotiation. Theytherefore set down their joint understanding on the following matters.Recognition of the PartiesThe Building Engineering Services Association recognises the exclusive rightof Unite the Union to represent the interests of Operatives covered by thisAgreement and to negotiate and enter into binding agreements governingtheir terms and conditions of employment.The Union recognises the exclusive right of the Building EngineeringServices Association to represent the interests of Employers carrying outwork and employing Operatives covered by this Agreement and enterinto binding agreements in so far as they relate to such Operativesemployed on such work.The Parties to this Agreement encourage membership of their respectiveorganisations by Operatives and Employers.Deduction of Union ContributionsA Model Agreement has been agreed between the Parties for the collectionof Union contributions by periodic deduction by Employers from the wagesof Operatives who are Union members. The consent of the Employer andthe individual Operative is necessary to implement these arrangements.Employers are advised to adhere to the guidelines set out in the ModelAgreement for the provision of this facility. (The Model Agreement is setout in Appendix A of this National Agreement).Productivity and ProfitabilityIt is accepted that sustained productivity and profitability are essential forthe progress of the industry and the benefit of all engaged in it and it isrecognised that the nature of the work frequently makes it necessary forOperatives to work with little direct supervision in co-operation with othertrades. v

The Parties jointly and severally affirm their support for efficient and safeworking procedures and methods and therefore mutually agree upon thefollowing principles:i maximum utilisation of labour through the fullest application of the Balance of Gangs Clause of this Agreementii grading of Operatives in accordance with the structure defined in this Agreementiii education and training of Operatives to the occupational standards established by the standards setting organisation for the industry, SummitSkills, and to the requirements for Apprentices for the sector also established by SummitSkills, and the parallel arrangements f o r the accreditation of prior learning and experience of mature employees, including Adult Traineesiv improvement of productivity by the application of recognised work study and similar evaluation techniques after consultation with the representatives of the Operatives concernedv provision of suitable mechanical aids by Employers and their use by Operatives trained in their safe operationvi prompt reference by the Union to the appropriate body to resolve any demarcation problems arising with other unionsvii pursuance of the objectives of Employers and Operatives and the resolution of problems jointly, avoiding the use of restrictive practicesviii continuity of production by good time keeping and proper production throughout working hours, and resolution of any disputes in accordance with the Conciliation Clause of this Agreement. vi

CONTENTS Page No.Foreword Text Notes for 1 Conditions of engagement of Rule Guidance2 Termination of employment3 Hours of work v4 Meal and refreshment breaks 1 685 Guaranteed week 4 696 Grading definitions 57 Balance of gangs 6 708 Wages and allowances 89 Overtime 10 7110 Payment for recognised holidays worked 22 7411 Night shifts and night working 23 7512 Continuous shift work 28 8113 Provision of tools 3314 Definition of centre 3515 Allowances to Operatives who travel daily 3816 Allowances to Operatives who lodge 39 8517 Weekend leaves 40 8618 Recognised holidays – entitlement and payment 41 8719 Welplan – the industry’s Welfare and Holiday 42 89 45 Scheme; and Welplan Pensions – the industry’s 47 90 Pension Scheme 50 9120 Annual holiday – entitlement21 Annual holiday – payments 52 9122 Welfare and pension benefits – entitlement and 54 91 payment 56 9123 Apprentices and Ductwork Installation Trainees24 Shop Stewards 57 9625 Conciliation 59 9726 Alteration of Agreement 6327 Commencement of Agreement 65 Welfare facilities on site 66 Bereavement Leave 98 vii 98

Deduction of Union contributions from wages Appendix A Page No Appendix B 99Operation of Target Incentive Schemes Appendix C 102Terms and Conditions of Employment of 108Operatives employed under the BESA National Appendix DAgreement engaged on Work which is undertaken Appendix E 112under the National Agreement for the Engineering Appendix F 124Construction Industry (NAECI) and ‘registered’ Appendix G 126with the National Joint Council for the Engineering Appendix H 131Construction Industry Appendix I 142 Appendix J 143Taxation of Allowances Appendix K 145 Appendix L 148Joint Statement on Site Safety and Site Safety 164Induction CoursesPoints of Guidance on the Conduct of LocalConferencesIndustry ApprenticeshipsMajor Projects AgreementPrincipal Alterations Incorporated in this Edition ofthe National AgreementNational and Local Offices of the Union and theAssociationWage Rates, Allowances and Other ProvisionsLonger-Term Pensions strategy of the Agreement– October 2016-April 2017 – Introduction ofEmployee Contributionsviii