The Plant Room of the Future
By Chris Caton, Product Director – Commercial, Hamworthy Heating “The only certainty is that nothing is certain”; so wrote Roman author Pliny the Elder some 2,000 years ago. How apt …
Viewpoint
Creating bespoke shower solutions
The increase in the number of showers in UK homes, coupled with the decrease in floor space within them, calls for bespoke solutions that create a minimal, high end finish. …
Where did the idea for rooflights come from?
Rooflights, those ingenious structures that allow natural light to pour into our living spaces, have become an integral part of modern architecture. But have you ever wondered where the idea …
Prioritising Employees: Safety and Welfare in Construction
We all want to feel safe in the workplace, both physically and mentally. Whether you manage a site or own your own construction business, both the safety and welfare of …
Create a luxurious, hardwearing finish with ceramic in the kitchen
Kitchen worktops have a dual role to play; always on show and often in use, they need to work practically and stylistically. Here, Simon Boocock, Managing Director of CRL Europe, …
Future Homes Standard and beyond: A new era for new builds
Dan Love, Head of Commercial at Polypipe Building Products Housing design and construction methods have completely transformed over time, with significant changes occurring roughly every 20-30 years and being largely …
Inta’s Legionella-Busting Valves: A Solution for Safer Residential Water Systems
At Inta, we aren’t experts in barges or asylum seeking, but we are experts in managing water supplies and in our opinion there is no need for the operators of …
Renewable technologies will make us warmer and richer
Martin Fahey, Head of Sustainability at Mitsubishi Electric The headline above should make you stop and think as it goes against current thinking from some quarters that the road to …
Taking to the floor with wood
Interior design trends come and go, but one material that has a timeless appeal is wood. Oak floors can add a sense of character and warmth to any space, with …
Rooflights and planning permission – What you need to know
Rooflights add a lot to a home, including style, light and value down the line. But one of the most commonly asked questions is whether installing a rooflight requires planning …
Why we should include green roofs as an integral part of sustainable development
Sustainable development aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Green roofs, also known as living roofs, …
Biophilic Design: Embracing Nature’s Light
Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight discusses the importance of effectively introducing light into home design for wellbeing, health and productivity In an era marked by technological advancements and urbanisation, the …
The importance of ventilating your home to avoid mould
Article by Paul Trace, Stella Rooflight As the weather grows colder, the risk of mould in your home grows greater. Besides being unsightly, mould can cause real issues within your …
Fit for purpose: Specification challenges to keep in mind to design future-proof homes and buildings
Eric Winter, Director of Product Development at RWC, explores how long-term performance, safety and sustainability can be specified into domestic plumbing and heating systems. The population of the UK is …
Importance of indoor air quality in energy-efficient homes
By Stephen Glass, Technical Sales Engineer at Nuaire The report by the Royal College of Physicians, published in February 2016, highlighted to risks posed by poor indoor air quality, and …
An Introduction to Lime Mortar as a Sustainable Building Material
Lime mortar offers a range of environmental benefits that make it a valuable component in sustainable architecture. Here are some key advantages: REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT Lime mortar has a significantly …
The Future of Refrigerants
Written by John Hammond, NPD Heat Pump Manager Whether in the form of air conditioning in offices, shops, and cars, or even keeping our food cold, refrigerants are everywhere. But …
A guide to conservation rooflights
There’s a huge variety of choice in the conservation rooflight market and selecting the right product can be confusing. Paul Trace from Stella Rooflight offers some advice on things to …
Do Living Roofs Improve Air Quality?
Good air quality plays a major role in the health of people living in urban environments. People who live in concentrated urban areas are often exposed to high levels of …
The history of lime as a building material
Lime has been used as a building material for thousands of years. Its versatility and durability have made it a popular choice for construction projects throughout history, from ancient times …
How upskilling is vital to hitting the UK’s essential Net Zero targets for heating
Lance Hitchins, Head of Customer Training at Mitsubishi Electric UK The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) sector is playing – and will continue to play – a vital role …
Five top tips for achieving good indoor air quality
Oliver Collins, Channel Marketing Manager at Mitsubishi Electric Now more than ever, people understand the benefits of clean, fresh air inside a building as well as outside, as the Covid-19 …
5 key steps for an energy efficient summer of shopping
James Harman from Mitsubishi Electric looks at how to marry the twin aims of shopper comfort and energy efficiency As we approach the warmer months, retailers should be thinking about …
Heat Pumps Play a Vital Role in the UK’s Decarbonisation Goals: How Can We Accelerate the Transition to These Highly Sustainable Systems?
The environmental benefits of heat pumps are certainly not news to anyone – or at least, they shouldn’t be, least of all for businesses looking to both reduce costs and …
Why choose lime over synthetic building materials?
Lime is a natural building material that has been used for centuries and offers several advantages over synthetic building materials. Unlike synthetic materials that are often made from non-renewable resources, …
What are the best methods for building decarbonisation in the UK?
The UK government has a net zero goal in place for 2050, which requires greenhouse emissions to be reduced to as close to zero as possible. Following the introduction of …
Why we love sedum roofs in the UK
With 100s of varieties across the World, it is surprising how little we know about sedum and why we like them on our roofs. When people think of green roofs, …
World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Expert fire safety advice for tradespeople
A fire safety expert has shared advice for tradespeople on protecting themselves from different types of hazards in the workplace on World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Recent …
Specifying Efficient Water Systems for Residential New Build Developments
Water is our most precious natural resource, which is why sustainable water practices should be at the forefront of every building design project. With recent global crises highlighting how fleeting …
Decarbonising our homes: A network of sustainable solutions
Authored by Stuart Wood, Product Manager – Sustainable Heating, at Polypipe Building Products. According to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the heating sector in the UK …
Improving the health of our towns and cities with green roofs
With increased urbanisation and loss of natural spaces there must be a sustainable approach to urban development. In this article, the technical manager at Riefa Green Roofs explores how green …
Are expansion loops and expansion joints obsolete?
Dealing with thermal movement in riser pipes Supporting pipe risers subject to thermal expansion and contraction in multistorey buildings can present major challenges for design engineers. The traditional methods for …
Lime’s contribution to indoor air quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a significant concern, and it can impact our health and well-being in various ways. There are several tools and techniques that can improve IAQ, and …
The ultimate guide to Hybrid air conditioning
Jobin Varghese from Mitsubishi Electric focuses on a unique water-based VRF solution If you know anything about air conditioning then you will know that today’s modern buildings are highly likely …
What is the garage door for?
Is the garage door largely a functional product that simply fills an opening in the building envelope to provide access to the internal garage space? Or could it/should it be …
Reaching net zero: Don’t let your building get left behind
Article by Chris Newman, Zero Carbon Design Manager, Mitsubishi Electric There is a growing body of legislation focused on reducing energy consumption and decarbonising heating in the UK’s commercial building …
Asking the right questions on fire system specification
When specifying fire systems, it’s essential that all fire industry legislation and regulations are met. This brings peace of mind to all parties – both now and in the future. …
Pushing the green agenda: Creating greener homes with push-fit technology
General inflation and the seemingly ever-increasing energy prices are meaning many are looking to employ more cost-effective facilities in their homes. The plumbing system is one such area that, when …
Putting Passivhaus in the frame
Constructing to Passivhaus standards is becoming increasingly commonplace in the UK, but by focussing purely on this standard are we missing out on other important factors when it comes to …
The public sector must prepare now for the next round of Salix Finance
Article by Dave Archer, National M&E Manager at Mitsubishi Electric The UK has ambitious plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, and both the public and private sector …