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Scaffolding News Roundup: Storm Austen, CISRS Cards and CAS Changes

Storm Austen, the CISRS card talks and Build UK's CAS update: what this week's scaffolding news means for customers in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Dorset.

10/26/20263 min read

Welcome to our weekly look at what's happening in scaffolding and construction, and what it actually means for you if you're planning work on your home or business. It's been a blustery week, so let's start with the weather.

Red-brick English house with scaffolding, boards, guardrails and a ladder across the front, under st
Red-brick English house with scaffolding, boards, guardrails and a ladder across the front, under st

1. Storm Austen kicks off the storm season

Storm Austen was the first named storm of the 2026/27 season, with Met Office yellow wind warnings across southern England and Wales and gusts of 50–60mph forecast widely (Construction Magazine). Storm Boelo followed in the north over the weekend. Even the biggest projects felt it: HS2 postponed viaduct works over the M42, and work at Hinkley Point C in Somerset was paused overnight on Friday because of local road conditions (Construction News).

Our take: Under the Work at Height Regulations, a scaffold must be inspected after exceptional circumstances such as severe weather, before anyone uses it again. If you've got one of our scaffolds up across Wiltshire, Hampshire or Dorset, we'll make sure it's checked. If you spot loose sheeting, a lifted board or anything that doesn't look right, please don't climb it. Give us a ring and we'll come out and check it.

Scaffolder in a hard hat and hi-vis vest, seen from behind, checking a scaffold coupler with a clipb
Scaffolder in a hard hat and hi-vis vest, seen from behind, checking a scaffold coupler with a clipb

2. CISRS and CSCS: talks continue on scaffolders' cards

CISRS, the scheme behind scaffolders' competence cards, has given notice that it plans to stop carrying the CSCS logo on its cards from June 2027, and talks between the organisations are still under way (ScaffSkills). CISRS has postponed its October webinar while those "meaningful and delicate discussions" continue, and existing cards carrying the CSCS logo remain valid until they expire (Scaffmag).

Our take: Nothing changes for our customers. Our scaffolders are CISRS-trained, and the training and standards behind the card aren't changing, whatever logo ends up on the front. We'll keep an eye on it and let you know if it ever affects site access on your project.

3. Common Assessment Standard Version 6 arrives on 1 November

Build UK will publish Version 6 of its Common Assessment Standard, the industry's shared pre-qualification check, on 1 November 2026. It has also issued a statement on how scaffolding and temporary works suppliers should complete the Building Safety section in the meantime (Build UK).

Our take: For contractors and commercial clients, this is good news: it means less duplicated paperwork when you're vetting your supply chain. We're CHAS accredited, and CHAS is one of Build UK's Recognised Assessment Bodies, so if you need our health and safety credentials for a tender or framework, just ask.

Three-storey commercial building wrapped in scaffolding with white debris netting and site hoarding
Three-storey commercial building wrapped in scaffolding with white debris netting and site hoarding

Planning a project this winter?

Autumn and winter are a great time to get scaffolding booked for roof, chimney, guttering and render repairs before the worst of the weather. Whether it's a single house in Salisbury or a commercial building anywhere in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset or the surrounding counties, our friendly team will give you honest advice and a clear quote.

Call us on 01980 619 114, email info@sonicscaffolding2000.co.uk, or visit sonicscaffolding.co.uk.

Sources: Construction Magazine (https://www.constructionmagazine.uk/2026/10/storm-austen-boelo-construction-site-checks.html), Construction News (https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/civils/hs2-and-hinkley-work-halted-by-weekend-storms-26-10-2026/), ScaffSkills (https://scaffskills.com/industry/cisrs-card-renewal-cscs-dispute-2026-10), Scaffmag (https://scaffmag.com/scaffolding-news/uk/cisrs-webinar-postponed-cscs-licence-talks/), Build UK (https://builduk.org/information/common-assessment-standard/).