Building materials

In England more than 600,000 properties face flooding in the future without investment in drainage, a report from the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has found.

English Heritage cares for more than 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites – from world-famous prehistoric sites to medieval castles. To help overcome the geographical challenges of managing large estates, it has opted to trial Aico’s HomeLINK Connected Home Solution which consists of Aico’s Ei1000G Gateway, smoke alarms and Ei1025 Environmental Sensors at one of their sites in Yorkshire, Pickering Castle.

The largest retrospective of Norman Foster’s work over the past six decades has opened at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Kyriakos Papanagiotou, Founder and Director of KP Acoustics Group, discusses the increasing demand for acoustic solutions in construction to shield from the adverse effects of noise and vibration.

Raj Somal, Director of sustainable engineering consultancy Dice, says investment in sustainable drainage systems by property developers and planners is the only thing that will alleviate the drainage strain.

John Wallace, Solicitor and Managing Director of Ridgemont, says the incidence of cladding subcontractor SD Samuels going into administration mid-contract raises the possibility of its directors facing legal action

Laing O’Rourke announced it has switched to low-carbon concrete on all of its new UK projects from April.

St Sidwell’s Point in Exeter is the first leisure and swimming pool complex in the UK to be built to the Passivhaus international building standard. We speak to Joe O’Connell, Senior Project Manager at Kier Group, which oversaw the delivery of the multi-award winning design using sustainable construction technology.

We speak to recent CABE Webinar Wednesday expert Michael Vernon about the new recommendations found in BS8102:2022 for waterproofing basements.

Ed Hiam, Technical Manager at Lime Green, explains how incorporating natural biocides can protect materials with chemistry rather than chemicals

US-based Exel Composites’ Francesco Ierullo considers if composite materials can replace steel for strengthening seaside infrastructure

Glass produced by some processors has not been properly heat-soaked and is, therefore, much more likely to shatter in use

An innovative educational programme aimed at preserving traditional building skills needed for protecting our historical built environment has today reopened for applications. 

BSIF CEO Alan Murray explains why 2023 will see a greater focus on product safety, including increased scrutiny of goods sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces

The absence of a complete continuous cladding support system may have contributed towards a repeated failure of modern cladding in severe – but not exceptional – winds, that caused a hazard to public safety when the panels fell to the street below.

We speak to recent CABE Webinar Wednesday expert Douglas Masterson about how the right architectural ironmongery on fire doors can be the difference between life and death

A structural retrofit of a 1960s London tower has extended the building upwards by 70% to create new work and retail space as well as social housing. We speak to the structural engineers behind the innovative and sustainable design

Since February, low-rise developments seeking structural warranty cover are required to meet new and updated guidance on parapet walls, balconies and basements.