Installing trust

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Adrian Pavey of Nationwide Windows and Doors argues that social housing professionals need to think about more than just the final product. It’s easy for installation companies who work in the private sector to have a tunnel-vision... View Article

Put cladding to the test

As members of the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT), Aneira Beament of Ash & Lacy discusses standard test methods for rainscreen cladding systems. In recent years, the construction industry has stepped up its scrutiny of testing, quality, certification... View Article

The importance of boiler specification

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Martyn Bridges of Worcester Bosch outlines the future of safety and sustainability in the boiler market. Over the last 20 to 30 years, boilers have become extremely safe appliances to have in your home, particularly since the... View Article

Ventilation in hospitals: how to address the new guidance

by Roy Jones, Technical Director @ Gilberts Blackpool Creation, refurbishment and upgrading of healthcare facilities is facing interesting times. The Government has ramped up plans to build new hospitals and now announced additional funding  for operating theatres, to increase their... View Article

Stoves and chimneys working as one

Dennis Milligan of The British Flue & Chimney Manufacturers Association (BFCMA) explores the upcoming requirements for stoves, and the best design, installation and maintenance techniques to ensure their best performance. Next year will see Defra introduce the requirement for Ecodesign... View Article

The road to ‘levelling up’

Patrick Mooney says that the number of new homes needed across the North and Midlands to deliver the Government’s ‘levelling up’ agenda runs to hundreds of thousands, every year. The Government’s housebuilding policies have been ‘on hold’ ever since the... View Article

A heated debate

The department for business, energy and Industrial Strategy has released a paper outlining how Britain can cost-effectively electrify its heating system. Nick Gander and Rod Davies of Energy Carbon argue that Ministers are missing a trick. At the time of... View Article

The case for SIPs

Jim Nolan at hemsec Manufacturing discusses the case for adopting structural insulated panels (SIPs) to create more thermally-efficient superstructures in the housebuilding sector. The superstructure of a building – the frame, or its load-bearing framework including walls, main floor and... View Article

A tough year for SME builders

Brian Berry of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), takes a look at the barriers SME housebuilders have overcome in 2021, and the challenges that face them moving forwards. The industry closes out another year with enquiries still high and... View Article

Cornish past and future

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Intended to perfectly synthesise the historical and contemporary, The Nest is a boutique development that has just been launched in a picturesque Cornish village. Jack Wooler spoke to Paul Stephens of Stephens + Stephens on the design... View Article

Quintain wins at Wembley

LISTEN HERE 🔊 The 743-home Canada Gardens development – the latest step in Wembley Park’s major regeneration journey – is now occupied. ​​Julian Tollast at Quintain Living explores the lessons from the project so far with Jack Wooler, plus the... View Article

MMC: The only way to meet demand

LISTEN HERE 🔊 With UK housing targets yet to be met, Chris Williams of Green Life Buildings (GLB) discusses how Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are the smart solution to pick up the shortfall. If we are going to hit... View Article

Futureproofing windows and doors

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Adrian Pavey of Nationwide Windows and Doors discusses the importance of housebuilders and developers ensuring their properties’ fenestration meets the standards of tomorrow as well as today It is a pivotal time for the construction industry at... View Article

Water savings in the balance

Richard Bateman at RWC UK looks at how thermal balancing valves help minimise water waste in larger buildings, as the pressure grows to save resources Wasting water is a particular problem in big buildings that use recirculating hot water systems... View Article

Traditional is the new modern

Tom Wright of George Barnsdale explores the use of timber in ‘minimalist’ designs “We must recognise the importance of timber in overcoming our climate challenge,” David Warburton wrote to his fellow MPs recently. On paper, politicians are making the right... View Article

Access best practice

Alastair Stannah from Lifts Distribution & Service (UK) discusses best practice specification for making public buildings fully accessible for all users Driving best practice for accessibility in commercial and public buildings are the legal framework; the Building Regulations, Part M... View Article

Test data in the frame

Steve Griffiths of Taylor Lane Timber Frame and the Structural Timber Association looks at the latest developments on fire test data in the timber frame industry, post-Grenfell For many years, the construction industry – not least the timber frame sector –... View Article

Passivhaus goes large

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Agar Grove is set to become the UK’s largest Passivhaus scheme, with its housing tenants already seeing the benefits from the first completed phase. James Woodward, architect at Hawkins\Brown, tells Roseanne Field why the practice decided to... View Article

Practice Profile: White Ink Architects

LISTEN HERE 🔊 James Parker spoke to a Belfast practice founded at the start of the 21st century, which expanded to specialise in “difficult” mixed use schemes, and is now the first in Northern Ireland to be completely employee owned... View Article

Opening a new volume in NYC

LISTEN HERE 🔊 A renovation project on 5th Avenue opens up a public library facility and resolves the functional anomalies of a former department store to provide high quality spaces for all users. James Parker reports on a fruitful collaboration... View Article