Building Down Barriers (PDF)

The construction industry's latent potential for integrating and improving its procurement processes has long been recognized in most developed countries. Numerous government level reports insist that full integration of the design and construction supply chain can result in substantial gains in efficiency, morale and quality. New methods of working, such as partnering and prime contracting, give sophisticated opportunities for clients, end users and the design and construction supply-side to work in a more effective and collaborative way.

In the UK, the Latham and Egan reports have spurred further initiatives from the demand-side of the industry to speed the pace of reform, such as those seen in the launch of three radical best practice standards for construction procurement: the Confederation of Construction Clients' "Charter Handbook", the National Audit Office report "Modernising Construction" and the Department of Media, Culture and Sport report "Better Public Buildings".

Building Down Barriers, a guide to construction best practice explains and compares, simply and clearly, the main aspects of the three standards and also compares them with similar developments in countries such as the USA and Singapore. It goes on to examine not only the fundamental culture changes they necessitate in each sector of the UK construction industry, but also the consequences of ignoring them. The book is aimed at all members of the design and construction supply chain, including the client and end users, and it is a valuable guide for students in all design and construction courses.