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Coronavirus - Why We're Open

The impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has challenged every area of society. AVS Fencing are remaining operational at this time to support both our trade and retail customers and the UK economy. We are strictly enforcing social distancing and many of our staff are working from home. In our branches, we have implemented a range of measures to reduce contact with our customers - particularly around collection and deliveries. The recommended 2 metre gap between individuals is being keenly adhered to.

We understand that some people are concerned about whether certain businesses should still be operating and we are constantly reviewing our approach in association with our trade bodies and government direction.

In support of this, we have received letters from the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and also the Department of Transport. As you will see, there is clear encouragement and guidance to continue trading to the best of our ability whilst adhering to Public Health England guidelines. On April 8th we also received follow-up letters of thanks and support relating to Retail and Manufacturing sectors.

We would like to thank all of our staff and customers for their support and understanding during this difficult time and wish you and your families the very best.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of critical activity that the government advise ought to continue for issues of public safety:

  1. Make good unsafe buildings/dangerous structures –District Surveyors need powers to instruct emergency work to be done to make them safe if any occur – and a hastily abandoned site might just lead to a dangerous structure occurring.
  2. Structural inspections for subsidence / movement to determine risk
  3. Structural and roofing problems, loose tiles/chimney stacks, weathering
  4. All general building control work (both LABC and AIs) for nationally important buildings / facilities, e.g. NHS estate, GPs, etc. 
  5. Drainage works / maintenance etc – important to avoid any increased public health problems in this respect
  6. Fire safety inspection
  7. Requirement for maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment to meet Fire Safety legislation – even if buildings are not occupied.
  8. Ongoing need for Fire risk assessments, both to meet legislation and new circumstances in buildings.
  9. Remedial work required to remove unsafe ACM cladding etc.
  10. Glazing replacement
  11. Locksmithing / lock replacement
  12. Gas safety work/ Suspected gas leaks
  13. Electrical safety work/ Electrical failures
  14. Flood remediation (especially to homes hit by recent floods)
  15. Plumbing and heating failures including loss of heating/condensation problems/hot water services
  16. Emergency Leaking/ flooding
  17. Health risks associated with blocked drainage/sewerage systems
  18. Water companies – remedial / emergency work to buildings and assets that are crucial to the supply of clean water,
  19. New or business/safety critical maintenance work on establishments which are involved in supply chain of vital NHS equipment (for example where manufacturers are building units to make ventilators),
  20. Factories that are making anything required to combat the virus (e.g. a new hand sanitiser factory is under construction).
  21. Food supply chain – essential new builds or maintenance on existing buildings
  22. Extra warehouse space for food distribution by online platforms (to cope with massively increased demand)
  23. New or business/safety critical maintenance work on establishments which are involved in supply of medicines,
  24. Essential maintenance on morgues, funeral parlours, and crematoriums
  25. Essential maintenance and remediation across the health sector
  26. Installation/maintenance technicians providing services to key sectors – health, power etc
  27. Emergency callouts, safety checks and essential work in care homes?
  28. Ongoing supervision and security measures.
  29. Sites where anti-terrorism considerations need to take precedence over other concerns – e.g. Palace of Westminster.
  30. Urgent works on emergency service properties other than health - police, fire etc
  31. Unsafe infrastructure – if a lorry strikes a bridge during the shutdown, for example, then work may be needed to make safe the affected structure.
  32. Bridge inspection and maintenance
  33. Dam inspection and maintenance
  34. Maintaining key national infrastructure: power stations and grid, motorways, railways, utilities etc.
  35. Repair and maintenance of telecommunications, energy waste and water – these are vital to work from home
  36. R&D facilities, where related to vaccine development or virus treatment
  37. Work on factories that make materials that are vital to all elements on this list