Lead times: Jan-Mar 2013

01 / Going up

• Roof finishes - asphalt/membrane

02 / Staying Level

• Piling (rotary)
• Piling (pre-cast)
• Concrete works
• Cladding - natural materials
• Cladding - metal panellised
• Cladding - curtain walling systems
• Atrium roofs
• Roof finishes - asphalt/membrane
• Roof finishes - profiled metal
• Facade cleaning equipment
• Brickwork
• Blockwork
• Metal doors
• Dry lining
• Demountable partitions
• General joinery
• Specialist bespoke joinery
• Raised floors
• Suspended ceilings
• Architectural metalwork
• Decorative wall coverings
• Internal stone floor and wall finishes
• Soft floor finishes
• Passenger lifts (non-standard)
• Escalators
• Mechanical package
• Ductwork
• Sprinklers
• Electrical package
• Security systems
• Controls
• Data and voice cabling
• Hard landscaping
• Logistics services

03 / Going down

• Structural steel frames

04 / Lead times summary

Rotary piling ▶ lead times have remained at seven weeks for the past nine months. Pre-cast piling ▶ has remained stable at five weeks since 2008.

Concrete works ▶ lead times have remained at eight weeks for a year. Contractors are not forecasting any change to this, with workload and enquiries remaining stable.

Structural steel frames ▼ lead times have reduced by one week to 14 weeks due to increased capacity in the manufacturing workshop.

Cladding - natural material ▶ lead times have remained at 28 weeks since the beginning of 2011.

Cladding - metal panellised system ▶ lead times have remained at 27 weeks since Q1 2010 and no change is forecast by contractors.

Cladding - curtain walling system ▶ The increased workload last quarter appears to have diminished with no change in lead times, which remain at 43 weeks with no change forecast.

Atrium roof ▶ lead times have remained stable at 27 weeks since Q2 2008 with no change forecast.

Roof finishes - asphalt / membrane ▲ lead times have increased by two weeks to seven weeks, the first increase since 2009.

Roof finish - profiled metal ▶ lead times have remained at 12 weeks since mid 2009 and there is no change expected for the next six months.

Facade cleaning equipment ▶ Following the reduction by two weeks last quarter, lead times remain at 33 weeks, but workload is increasing.

Brickwork ▶ lead times remain at five weeks. Most companies report that workload has stabilised.

Blockwork ▶ lead times remain at six weeks and no change is forecast in the next six months.

Drylining ▶ lead times remain stable at eight weeks and contractors report more enquiries.

Demountable partitions ▶ lead times have remained level at six weeks since the end of 2009. Despite being busier, no change is forecast.

General joinery ▶ lead times remain at 12 weeks with no change forecast in the next six months. Specialist joinery ▶ has remained at 23 weeks following last quarter’s increase.

Raised floors ▶ lead times remain static at six weeks with no change since 2007. Contractors’ enquiries have reduced but no change is forecast for the next six months.

Suspended ceiling ▶ lead times remain at 16 weeks with no increase anticipated for six months.
Architectural metalwork ▶ lead times have remained static at 12 weeks for more than a year. Enquiries continue to rise but workload is the same.

Decorative wall covering ▶ lead times remain at four weeks with no change anticipated.

Internal stone floor and wall finish ▶ lead times remain at 23 weeks for the second quarter following the previous increase. No change is anticipated for the next six months.

Soft floor finish ▶ lead times have remained at eight weeks since the end of 2010.

Passenger lift - non standard ▶ lead times remain at 26 weeks. Workload and enquiries remain consistent with no change in lead times forecast.

Escalator ▶ workload and enquiries remain at 21 weeks with no change forecast.

Electrical package ▶ lead times have remained at 14 weeks since mid-2009. Contractors are busier with projects and enquiries.

Mechanical packages ▶ lead times remain at 16 weeks to reflect current feedback. Contractors are anticipating an increase next quarter as a result of increased enquiries and workload.

Ductwork ▶ The lead time for ductwork remains at eight weeks with no change to lead times forecast for the next six months.

Sprinklers ▶ lead times remain at eight weeks. There are no changes to lead times forecast for the next six months despite enquiries and workload being on the increase.

Security systems ▶ times have remained static at five weeks for over two years.

Controls ▶ lead times remain at seven weeks with no change forecast.

IT infrastructure equipment ▶ lead times are six weeks with no change forecast.

Data and voice cabling ▶ lead times have remained at 11 weeks with an increase forecast in the next six months.

Hard landscaping ▶ lead times remain at eight weeks with no change forecast. Workload and enquiries continue to rise.

Logistics services ▶ lead times remain at five weeks with no change forecast in the next six months.

05 / Changes in Q1 2013

There continues to be very little movement in the lead times this quarter. Only two trades are reporting change.

Structural steel frames lead times have decreased by one week, which is due to a reduction in workload creating more capacity in manufacturing workshops.

Asphalt roof finishes have gone up by two weeks as a result of increases in the procurement of materials and mobilisation on site.

Asphalt roofing lead times have remained stable since 2009; it is noted that there has been a relatively high level of failure of companies in this sector during the recession and this reduction in capacity may be a factor in the increased lead times.