Getting on top of Document Q

Jamie Johnson of IronmongeryDirect discusses the importance of door and window security in the context of complying with Approved Document Q According to the Office for National Statistics, between January and September 2018 there were over 200,000 residential burglaries recorded... View Article

The fledgling market for bird-safe glass

Birds colliding with glass on building facades is one of the leading causes of avian mortality across the globe, however despite this fact it’s an issue that has often flown under the radar in the UK. Here Leo Pyrah of... View Article

Extraordinary ensuites

Chris Tranter of Bristan explores how housebuilders can harness the possibilities in ensuites using showers to entice prospective buyers. According to Direct Line, an ensuite can add as much as 5 per cent to the value of a house, with... View Article

Raising the bar with fire and CO alarms

Wide ranging new requirements recently confirmed by the Scottish Government call for a consistently high level of smoke, heat and CO alarm provision to be applied across all housing, and a review of Building Regulations should improve standards in England... View Article

Fit for purpose

Ian Napier of Switchee explains why the Fitness for Human Habitation Bill is important for those managing private and social housing On 20 December last year – the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 received royal assent and it... View Article

Safety matters

What does safety really mean when it comes to heating appliances in the home? Christian Hadley of Glen Dimplex Heating & Ventilation examines the real value of safety testing, the issue of self-declaration – and why external certification can be... View Article

Housing maintenance procurement – a menu of options

AM Bid’s Andrew Morrison examines procurement and bidding trends including the outsourced service versus in-house delivery debate, in order to help housing clients, buyers and bidders pause and reflect about what will work best for them As we begin a... View Article

A breath of fresh air

Wendy Thomas of Nuaire discusses the importance of filtering the air in existing homes, particularly when the occupants are some of society’s most vulnerable The Chief Medical Officer’s 2017 report, released in 2018, focused on air pollution as a major... View Article

Architectural copper for the long term

There is more to architectural copper than meets the eye, with an unrivalled lifespan counted in hundreds of years, no maintenance and full recyclability as Graeme Bell of Aurubis explains Despite its heritage, roofing some of our oldest buildings, continuing... View Article

Putting students’ safety first

David Hoyle of Hoyles Electronic Developments discusses the fire risks in student accommodation, as well the possible solutions including combatting false alarms The last thing students off to university will be thinking of is fire safety. Shared accommodation such as university... View Article

Decking decisions

Laura Keily of Accsys Group summarises three of the most common materials when planning an outdoor deck and discusses some of the factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing your preferred route In January 2019, the Global... View Article

A lesson in underfloor heating

Mark Crowsley of Cellecta discusses the continued need for large new schools to install underfloor heating floating floor solutions that achieve excellent acoustic performance as well as efficiency Schools can be noisy environments – excessive background noise, loud corridors, and... View Article

That’s a wrap

With eco-friendly materials fast becoming rising stars in the world of interiors, Lindsay Appleton of Architextural discusses the many benefits of using architectural films and how they can refurbish existing surfaces Gone are the days when wrapping was exclusive to... View Article

Natural remedies for learning

It’s a given that schools need good quality daylight for good learning environments; Tony Isaac of Brett Martin explains why enabling natural light to enter has never been more important Good quality daylight is a readily available and sustainable natural... View Article

A breath of fresh air

Eliot Warrington of Solarcrest explains how airtightness will affect any building, whether clients want to build a certified Passivhaus or just meet Building Regulations UK Building Regulations are really promoting airtightness and it’s now mandatory to pressure test every new... View Article

Designed to please the eye as well as the ears

Architects are under increasing pressure to ensure the comfort of building occupants – particularly regarding acoustics. Will Jones of Ecophon discusses how acoustic solutions can be included within the design of the building without sacrificing the aesthetic From sales of... View Article

High rise not high risk!

Danny Birrel of Kawneer advises on how to design curtain wall facades to accommodate building movement Land-pressed developers are increasingly turning to high-rise buildings to deliver best footprint value but the interaction between the facade of a building, particularly a tall... View Article

An academic approach to comfort

Adrian Pargeter of Kingspan Insulation looks at the new guidance underpinning an increased focus on wellness in education environments, and the overall impact that thermal comfort has on students’ learning Keeping students focused on the task in hand is a... View Article

Higher student expectations, driving better design responses

David Strong of consultancy Curtins discusses how education institutions are responding to increased student expectations, and the current trends which are driving the design of education facilities It’s no secret that to be popular with students and therefore be considered... View Article

View Point – Michael Barker of Stephen George + Partners

Michael Barker of Stephen George + Partners discusses why architects need to have a better understanding of the requirements of developers, contractors and tenants As architects, Stephen George + Partners has decades of experience designing offices – sometimes we do... View Article