The future of health and safety in construction
By Chris Pendrey, Regional SHEQ Advisor at Actavo Direct The current coronavirus pandemic has thrust employee health and safety into the spotlight in every industry. And with construction being one …
Viewpoint
Housing and modern methods of construction post COVID-19
By Ian Atkinson, Partner and Ryan Lavers, Solicitor, at law firm Womble Bond Dickinson The construction sector is fundamentally important to the UK economy. Often cited as the barometer of economic conditions, it …
Towns and cities to work together on home retrofit as calls for green recovery mount
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today marked a major new phase of Accelerator Cities, a project which brings together some of the most ambitious local and combined authorities and other expert stakeholders to drive action to upgrade our draughty, energy-hungry housing …
Could COVID-19 drive a rethink of outdoor space design?
The coronavirus lockdown and enforced social distancing has resulted in many of us spending much more time than ever outdoors. In addition to the increased levels of outdoor activity that many people have been …
Traditional look, modern technology
When materials technology meets classic characteristics Popular television programmes such as Escape to the Country entice many city dwellers into surrendering their high-rise apartments in favour of a cosy, country cottage. Wooden …
Modern or traditional construction?
~ Exploring the differences ~ The history of brick and mortar construction is an established one, and many consider brick laying an art form. However, modern building methods, such as …
Ventilation Plays Critical Role in Reducing Covid-19 Transmission
Vent-Axia has welcomed the Government’s Covid-19 press briefing on 29 April 2020 which cited ventilation as being critical in the fight against the virus. At the briefing Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, …
Managing health and safety on site amid COVID-19
CONSTRUCTION sites in the UK will be able to remain open during evenings and weekends to help the UK’s economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to government sources. In …
The Importance of Educational Play and the Outdoor Space
Our children are immersed and exposed to varying stressful environments, both at school and at home. It is of no surprise that we are reading negative headlines referring to the …
Non-essential construction must end to keep workers and public safe
Government must give clearer guidance on building sites says British Safety Council As the UK heads into at least three weeks of lockdown, concerns are being raised across the country …
HHIC issue updated advice to heating engineers on working during COVID-19 crisis.
The heating and plumbing industry carry out essential frontline work to maintain the supply of heating and hot water to UK homes, schools, hospitals and businesses. It still needs to …
VitrA Identifies Seven Bathroom Trends for 2020
Spring is just around the corner, so it’s prime time to focus on home improvements and with the bathroom being on the hit list for many VitrA has identified seven …
Installing an MVHR system has never been so easy
By Penny Jones, Product & Marketing Manager, Domus Ventilation Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) systems have become highly popular in residential new builds. They improve indoor air quality, making …
Steel framed rooflights – what lies beneath?
Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers an insight into steel rooflights and the issue of rust, while highlighting some of the important considerations in the specification process. It is widely …
Council leaders and Mayors call for freedom on zero carbon homes targets
Council leaders and Mayors from different political parties are calling on Government to abandon proposed restrictions on their ability to cut carbon emissions from housebuilding. In an open letter to …
VitrA Publish Third Design Update: The Water Issue.
VitrA has published its third Design Update, this time the focus is water. Arguably the most important element in bathroom design, VitrA delve into the debate on modern day water …
HS2 decision will destroy precious wild places
The Wildlife Trusts call for a redesign Today the Government gave the green light to the High Speed 2 rail project, without acknowledging the devastating impact on the hundreds of precious …
Making rooftops safe and secure
With falls from height still a substantial contributor to construction deaths, it is imperative that equipment on roofs is as safe as possible. Poorly secured cables on flat roofs are …
Vent-Axia Supports Landmark Report by Royal Colleges on Indoor Air Quality
Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia welcomes the latest joint report by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the Royal College of Physicians on the health impact …
A window to a greener world
~ How composite windows and doors can boost energy efficiency ~ As part of the tenth annual World Green Building Week, which took place in September 2019, the World Green Building …
HHIC welcomes long awaited upgrade to Building Regulations
‘A review of Building Regulations is well overdue’, says the Heating and Hotwater Industry Council, HHIC as they respond to The Future Homes Standard 2019 Consultation on changes to Part …
The dangers of asbestos roof repairs
During the 20th century, asbestos was seen as a miracle material, used across the construction industry for various projects. Prior to it being deemed a serious health hazard due to …
Trending: 2020 windows and doors
The fenestration industry was overwhelmed with the desire for coloured, smart, composite windows and doors in 2019. While these are expected to still be of importance for many homeowners in …
Vent-Axia Welcomes ‘Indoor Air Quality at Home’ Guidance from NICE
Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia has welcomed the publication of guidance on ‘Indoor Air Quality at Home’ from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Following on from …
Safety comes first
Construction work is dangerous, particularly for workers on site. However, the same thought must be taken for those using the building once it is complete. From electrical and gas provision, …
JAVAC’s Unique Spark Proof and Dual Voltage Refrigerant Recovery Unit Reaches Final at the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards
JAVAC, the number one HVAC tool supplier in the UK, is delighted to announce that it has been named as a finalist in the prestigious National ACR & Heat Pump …
Heat pumps v Oil and Gas. A complete no-brainer!
George Clarke calls for big policy change from government on sustainable heating I’ve recently moved to Gloucestershire. The reasons I’ve moved there is because it is staggeringly green, beautiful and …
UKGBC unveils sector ambition for climate resilience and nature
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today unveiled a sector ambition for climate resilience and nature in the built environment. With the climate and ecological crises rising up the …
British Safety Council: Government must adopt new approach to health and safety regulation
Grenfell inquiry shows that the regulatory regime failed – we must honour the victims by ensuring this tragedy is never repeated. The British Safety Council has today responded to the …
England is too lazy to hit recycling targets – Time to get tough
The UKs waste management agency says it’s time to start fining companies that don’t recycle their waste. Britain could quite easily hit its 50% waste recycling target overnight if only …
What are your health and safety responsibilities?
Work at height is one of the most dangerous types of work to carry out. The most recent HSE statistics shows that 40 workers suffered a fatal injury as a result of …
8 questions every housebuilder should ask their solar contractor
Article by Paul Hutchens, leading green energy advocate and CEO of solar installation specialists Eco2Solar. Brexit may have delayed the release of new building regulations, but our construction future is …
Urgent research is needed into the health of outdoor workers following new data on air pollution
British Safety Council welcomes King’s College London’s research demonstrating a direct link between air pollution and health emergencies. More work is now needed on the effects of exposure on outdoor …
The positive social and environmental impact of material specification
David Hopkins, managing director, Timber Trade Federation The role of material specification in helping designers achieve a positive social and environmental impact is something most are now beginning to understand. …
Too hot, too cold? Building managers can’t get it right and October is the worst
October’s +/- 8 degree temperature swings are causing havoc for building managers. Sharing workspaces and facilities is one thing, but office workers and building managers are at odds in deciding …
Overcoming the risks of roof obstacles
Despite the introduction of stricter, more organised design regulations over the past few decades, modern roofs remain a hotbed of hazards and obstacles. With everything from cable beds to fragile …
UKGBC responds to State of Nature 2019 report
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today reacted to the latest State of Nature report, which highlights the continuing extent of species decline across the UK. Following the previous …
UKGBC reacts to consultation on Future Homes Standard and Building Regulations
The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today reacted to the publication of Government’s much-anticipated consultation on the Future Homes Standard and changes to Building Regulations. The Government has published …
UKGBC launches Climate Commitment Platform for built environment, mobilises members for Global Climate Strike
Building on the momentum of the Global Climate Strike, the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) has today unveiled its Climate Commitment Platform, an online tool designed to profile the headline …
Digging Deep: 5 Amazing Underground Constructions
A hot topic in the construction industry today is whether building underground, rather than creating more above ground, is the way forward. According to various reports, it’s not that we’re …