Interview with Paul Martin, director of the Spanish Association of manufacturers of light facades and Windows (Asefave)
on February 20, 2011
I suppose that it was not a good year 2010, as in most sectors of the Spanish economy. How they see what is coming ahead?
The past year 2010 was still a year for the sector, not as sharp as in 2009, but certainly still severe economic slowdown. In general, short-term perspective is nothing promising. The residential construction activity, which concentrates the greater demand for our sector, can finally touch Fund during 2011 but, probably, be stagnant in a flat line for the next 2 or 3 years.
What today is the engine of the sector of enclosures?
To the sharp fall in the new work - of 90% in the residential new work visas from 2007 - sector is shifting toward the rehabilitation works and try to exit towards the outside, looking for new markets demand. We recognize the momentum at the moment are assuming the Renove Windows the majority of the autonomous communities are developing, while they may not compensate the loss of market by the 'break' of the new building plans.
Do they have employment data in the sector in 2010 and 2009?
We do not have employment data in the sector. However, the first strong templates in the business setting occurred during 2009. By consulting the data of Cepco (Confederation Española of manufacturers of construction products), can be seen that the 'break' in the whole of the manufacturers of construction products was lower in 2010 than in 2009, made also extrapolated to our partners.
How has it affected their partners the decline in employment in construction in 2010? Some say that the recovery will come in 2012, some say that by 2013, later than in the rest of Europe...
As I mentioned before, probably activity in residential work stagnate at minimum levels, achieved during the current year, a couple of more years. To this we must add the fact that our sector is among the last that installs its products on the work, from one year to two years from the boot of the same, so the 'break' is can prolong something beyond the start of the recovery itself.
2010 157 Workers died by accident in the construction and 72 were wounded seriously, according to data from Fecoma-CC OO. How they affect these statistics to the sector of fences and Windows?
Not available in the Association of data thereon. Point out that the majority of our partners for their main activity takes place in workshop, away from construction sites.
The fact that the sector is the last to speak at work will also make its recovery from the crisis later.
The environmental regulation against noise, for energy saving, solar use... encourages or discourages its sector?
The new regulations, in general, account development, in many cases from the innovation, which always serves to improve the sector. They can also result in new market niches.
What do easy small and large enterprises to adapt to the laws?
Due to the industrial structure of our sector, SMEs majority and with a high degree of micro-enterprises, the first technological steps almost always come hand in hand with big business. Rather than the technical complexity, the development of the sector meets the disadvantage of the knowledge and information on policy developments that hardly reach these micro-enterprises. That is why one of the main tasks of our Association is that of disclosure.
What influence the different Renove plans throughout the Spanish? Extent to which they stimulate activity?
The importance that the Renove plans are taking in these times of low activity have already been mentioned earlier. But the sector is aware that the objectives of these plans are for energy savings for the user and not a revival for the sector, the effect of totally cyclical nature.
Do you have data on the impact of these plans?
No official data, but making a shallow approach to what you are assuming the Renove plans for the sector, you could encrypt in a production of 200,000 units a year. This should be added other actions that may be outside the scope of the plans (documentary defects, applications after the deadline,...), but that the user decides to carry them out anyway.
What require, broadly speaking, with the rules when it comes to rehabilitate enclosures and light facades?
In order to achieve this greater efficiency in existing buildings, the IDAE Institute for diversification of energy saving) requested requirements of thermal transmittance, which according to the percentage of voids in facades and orientation of the building, in general are more demanding than the values contained in the technical building code.
What trends are there Windows and cladding materials?
Since ASEFAVE we understand that in a medium term our products, more and more, will be defined by their performance in the whole of the building, more than its own characteristics for materials that are made up.
The horizon of 2020, with the requirements of that from that moment the buildings to be built in the European Union are of energy consumption close to zero, leads us to think in the above line. Any of the materials used today in the manufacture of Windows and light facades already offers such demand benefits of energy-efficient.
Currently it is possible to generate energy, even set of greenhouse gases, through the glass walls of the buildings. It will be adding other benefits comfort, acoustic, even aesthetic to make solutions or other to be chosen for each project.
The Spanish Association of manufacturers of Windows and facades light is defined as a body of national level open to manufacturers of Windows of all kinds of material with troop components for processing. Its main objective is together in defence of the quality of the product (Windows, facades, light, blinds and their components) and be a coordinating body to vindicate the interests of the sector and associated companies.
Asefave is a founding member of the Federation of European associations of manufacturers of Windows and façades (FAECF) and participated in the creation of Aenor (Spanish Association of normalization and certification) - belongs to its Board of Directors since 1986. The entity works as a technical partner with the Ministry of industry, tourism and trade and the Ministry of development, for the elaboration of regulations and rules (technical building code, instruction for the implementation of the CE marking of Windows and external pedestrian doors)(, etc.). Also, it collaborates in the Renove plans of Windows with the various autonomous communities and professional associations of architects, as well as the Superior Council of colleges of architects in the work of training technicians.
Asefave promotes the international lounge of the window and the glass enclosure (Veteco) since 1990.
