The key steps to staircase safety

Kevin Underwood of the British Woodworking Federation outlines the vital importance of good staircase design when it comes to preventing injuries The risks presented by stairs are self-evident. While a homeowner may believe that this type of accident would not... View Article

Raising the standard?

Jonathan Ducker of Kingspan Insulation GB, discusses the shortcomings of the Future Homes Standard, and why a more ambitious approach is needed for the building fabric in particular to create ‘net zero ready’ homes. At the end of 2023, the... View Article

An airtight case for MVHR in new homes

Ruth MacEachern of EnviroVent explains why mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems are the key to improving energy efficiency in modern homes. Housebuilders are building to ever more stringent Building Regulations requirements for airtightness, however to ensure an energy efficient... View Article

Savvy with SuDS

Samantha Hursey of Meadfleet Open Space Management discusses the practicalities of maintaining SuDS and how they can bring amenity to new housing developments. Sustainable Drainage Systems or SuDS, not only play a key role on residential developments in mitigating the... View Article

Windows to future
sustainability

Emily Page of window fabricator Stedek, charts the evolution of energy-saving windows, from early innovations to low carbon solutions for future homes. Windows might only make up a tiny part of the average building – but when it comes to... View Article

UKCW Birmingham

01 – 03 October NEC, Birmingham UK Construction Week Birmingham (UKCW), the UK’s largest built environment trade show, will take place from 1-3 October at Birmingham’s NEC.  Continuing from the success of UK Construction Week London which included the biggest... View Article

The Industry Advocate – A new era

Labour’s election victory has ended 14 years of Conservative dominance. Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), discusses the potential impact on the housing industry and whether Labour can deliver on their promises. Labour’s general election win... View Article

One whole week focused on offsite

16 – 20 September Coventry Building Society Arena The Offsite Expo has been integrated into a week boasting educational seminars, interactive panel debates, and factory tours, as part of Offsite Construction Week. A UK-first, taking place from 16-20 September, Offsite... View Article

Combined versatility from composite

Distinction Doors’ Owen Jones explains the performance benefits of composite entrance doors, and why their versatile aesthetics make them an appealing option for small and large-scale developments. Today, customers want products which deliver return on investment while offering an improved... View Article

High performance in the frame with OSB

With the need for more sustainable building materials currently critical, Rebecca Goldsmith of MEDITE SMARTPLY explains why OSB structural panels can streamline the fabric-first approach for high performance building envelopes The updated Part F and Part L requirements of the... View Article

The wow factor of bathroom wall panels

Have you ever thought about using decorative wall panels for shower spaces, utility rooms or cloakrooms? Amanda Mills of Kinedo presents the case for using wall panels to create stunning bathroom spaces in particular. Wall panels are one of the... View Article

Breaking barriers to sustainable drainage

In the face of escalating urban flooding challenges across the UK, Richard Eddy of Polypipe Building Products looks how to break down the barriers to introducing sustainable drainage systems in housebuilding projects. With the UK’s sewerage infrastructure straining under the... View Article

Future Homes Standard is a starting point

The upcoming Future Homes Standard represents an important step towards more sustainable housing but should be viewed as a foundation rather than a ‘ceiling’ according to Simon Garbett of Wienerberger There’s little doubt that the homebuilding industry still has a... View Article

Social strength

Patrick Mooney, housing consultant and news editor of Housing, Management & Maintenance magazine asks ‘has the case for an expanded social housebuilding programme ever been stronger’? During the height of council house building in the 1950s, councils built on average... View Article

Will housing be left in a state?

Brian Berry, CEO of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) says that as the Election looms, the current Government appears to have abandoned the need for more homes, and calls for a dedicated Secretary of State for Housing. Not long... View Article

Engage science for the Biodiversity bonus

Paul Brown from Fera Science explains how developers can rise to the challenge of the Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for developments by embracing science, data and ecological expertise As a result of human activity, the UK has lost over half... View Article

Local sensitivity

Roseanne Field reports on a high-end nine house development in a small village in Kent, built by an SME developer that prides itself on its local knowledge and respectful approach to schemes. Situated just outside Maidstone in Kent, the village... View Article

Clearing the path to timber

The Government’s roadmap for increasing timber use in construction is here, but how is the industry tackling the obstacles? James Parker spoke to Andrew Carpenter, chief executive of the Structural Timber Association. How can structural timber, the ultimate sustainable material... View Article

Show of strength

25-27 June NEC, Birmingham InstallerSHOW, the UK’s biggest event focusing on the sustainable delivery of heat, water, air and energy for all those responsible for decarbonising our built environment, returns to the NEC, Birmingham from 25-27 June, bigger and better... View Article