The return of Buying British is innovation in itself
Tom Barnes of Vastern Timber discusses the many advantages of choosing British timber and takes a look at three areas where Britain leads the way. It is widely understood that …
Viewpoint
Of sound design
Based on findings from its dedicated acoustics laboratory, Victoria Willis, Product Manager for Geberit, explains the importance of taking a complete system approach to designing out the nuisance sound of …
Building Better with BIM
By-lined Article by Steve Thompson, MD of EOS Facades The digital age is evolving. We are constantly adapting technology in order to enhance all aspects of the modern world. We …
High Performance Building is not a ‘Back of an Envelope’ Calculation
By-lined article by Ian Loughnane, Business Unit Director for Kingspan Timber Solutions. Following government calls for faster delivery, lower costs and increased sustainability from the industry, timber and offsite construction …
Is Offsite Construction the Perfectly Timed Solution for the Construction Industry?
The call for a quick and sustainable solution to the current housing shortage has created an opportunity for offsite construction to become a key building method to meet the demand …
MD of RCM Offers Guidance When Specifying Building Specification Products
At the forefront of industry research and development, RCM constantly strive to innovate and develop their range of building boards and facades. Finding the latest technology is an ethos which …
Why do I need my guardrail inspecting?
By Steve Kilpin, Recertification Manager, Safesite Limited When speaking to customers about the need to have their fall protection systems inspected annually, most understand why fall arrest systems such as …
Value Engineering – What is it all about?
As the construction industry strives to provide the optimum building solution, just how can companies today differentiate themselves and ensure they are offering best value? Steve Thompson, Managing Director of …
Thought Leadership
Steeling the Spotlight in the Education Sector As the government continues to set ambitious goals for the education sector, there is a growing demand to construct higher volumes of school …
Safety on Green Roofs
Jason Godfrey, General Manager at Safesite, explains the importance of safety solutions on green roofs. As we become increasingly conscious about the environment and green issues, the demand for sustainable …
The Real Benefits of English Oak – The most iconic of British woods
Oak remains the most iconic of British hardwoods, but how does English oak fare against imported oak, and do designers and specifiers fully understand and appreciate the available choices and …
Thought leadership – Building to Enhance Education
The Priority School Building Programme (PSBP) was launched in May 2012 with the promise to address the needs of schools across the country. In May 2014 plans were announced for …
Swinging or sliding entrance doors?
By Julie Jarvis, Technical Director, DR Services Architects and interior designers, as well as the housebuilders or developers on whose projects they are involved make many judgements based on price, …
Bathrooms for all your building’s visitors
Buildings in the public sector have to cater for a range of visitors, including those with mobility issues, and, with an ageing population, this requirements is only set to increase. …
Controlling Indoor Air Quality – A Modern Phenomenon
Article by Alan Macklin – Elta Group Technical Director As a leading provider of ventilation solutions, one of Elta Fans’ greatest priorities is to provide, through its products, excellent indoor …
Is The Heritage Sector Exempt From CE Marking?
CE Marking expert Richard Bate, technical director of Build Check, UKAS accredited laboratory and Notified body for CE marking for windows and doors, says companies looking for exemptions for historic …
Assessing Glass in Fire
By Mike Wood, for Pilkington UK Ltd Fire safety risk assessments cannot sensibly be carried out without considering the use of glass in compartmentation and escape ways. Mike Wood on …
MVHR Set to Soar
Housebuilders have been set tough efficiency goals to meet in new build properties. Ian Mitchell, Product Marketing Manager – New Build Residential at Vent-Axia, explains how ventilation is central to …
Healthcare facilities are warming to prefabricated heating systems
Jeff House, Marketing & Applications Manager, Baxi Commercial, considers the heating options available to healthcare facilities and the increasing interest in prefabricated solutions Healthcare buildings come in all shapes and …
Think in £s not kWhs
While energy saving initiatives can enhance an organisation’s carbon reduction status they also have significant economic benefits. Steve Browning, Marketing Manager of Trend Controls, explains how Building Energy Management Systems …
Pushing the boundaries with composite panels
Danny Phelan, Sales Manager of Panel Systems, looks at how architectural panels are increasingly being selected for their aesthetics, as part of creating iconic buildings. “Innovation in materials and fabrication …
Partnership Pays
Ian Bailey, Managing Director of Bailey Artform, specialists in design-led street furniture, talks about the need for architects and suppliers to work in partnership to overcome the challenges of the …
Rainwater Systems – Repair or Replace?
In this article, Mark Bruchez, Technical Director at roof waterproofing specialists Kemper System, argues that failed guttering can usually be repaired rather than replaced – and that the result is …
Pitched Green Roofs – A Modern Design Element
More and more frequently pitched green roofs are being seen as providing an important visual design element for modern buildings. There are widespread advantages in specifying green roofs, such as …
Working towards safer solar panel installation
After several months of uncertainty, the Feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme has now started to provide the solar industry with some sense of stability. This certainty is likely to bring back …
Why rainwater harvesting is becoming a necessity
Author: Marcus Bicknell Of Rainwater Harvesting Ltd With The Environment Agency And Defra Declaring Much Of Southern And Eastern England Officially In A State Of Drought, There Has Never Been …
Learning a lesson
Mark Glitherow of Trend Controls explains how obtaining the financial resources to install a building energy management system (BEMS) in an educational establishment may be easier than you think. With …
The definitive guide to rooflights
Paul Trace from Lumen Rooflight offers some practical guidance to help you choose the right product for your project. Choosing the right rooflight for your property The rooflight, or skylight …
The Great Slate Debate
Roofing material matters and the specification issues can be confusing, so Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager at slates and cladding specialist, Cembrit, is on hand to offer guidance. As many architects …
Shedding new light on door design
Glazed interior doors can make a real difference to rooms and corridors, whether by providing clear visibility for safe access or to add a touch of designer flare to an …
PVC-U recycling in windows
The ‘R’ Word VEKA plc Sales & Marketing Director Colin Torley says the road to acceptance of recycled windows was not an easy one. Not many years ago, no prestige …
The built environment – biodiversity and ecosystems – A guide for planners, architects and businesses
Biodiversity loss is a greater threat to the world, right now, than climate change. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) claims that the loss and extinction of species …
The shape of things to come
With its cost and time saving attributes, off-site modular construction has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Andrew Dickinson of Hochiki Europe examines how the fire detection industry …