Operations and maintenance

This report relates to punching shear assessments of flat slabs used as transfer slabs to support transferred columns (ie columns above the transfer slab that are misaligned with the columns below). The reporter is concerned some design engineers erroneously use the principles of uniformly loaded slabs to assess punching shear.

The Independent Water Commission has published its interim report, which sets out the scale of change needed to reform the water sector.

All eyes are on preventing falls, but the role of riser shafts in reducing fires is woefully misunderstood, say Ambar Kelly’s Alex Bardett and Nick Atkinson.

Mike Brodie, Managing Director of Chemstore UK, which provides hazardous storage solutions, offers insight into recent guidance on the safe storage of lithium-ion batteries in the UK.

The Door & Hardware Federation has created a new Level 3 Award in Compliance & Safety of Fire Resisting Roller Shutter Doors training course.

The Association for Project Management (APM) has released the third edition of its Project Risk Analysis and Management Guide.

A new competence framework for construction procurement professionals has been published.

BAFSA provides an overview of the technology, standards and applications of water-mist fire protection systems.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has announced it is introducing a new membership category.

The Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) is looking for additional End Point Assessors to support the development of apprentice BEMS Controls Engineers.

Howarth Timber’s Emily Green has compiled a short guide on the importance of properly specified, fitted and maintained fire doors.

CABE member Kabbe Njie, Principal Engineer Fire & Life Safety Systems at Heathrow Airport, discusses the growing fire risks of lithium-ion batteries in residential buildings.

CABE welcomes new President Zoe Cox at the House of Lords in front of family and colleagues.

The National House Building Council (NHBC) has backed the government’s £600m Construction Skills Package. It is also committing £100m to training programmes and encouraging people from all backgrounds to now consider a career in housebuilding.

A local authority has partnered with Duraproducts to trial its recycled plastic kerbing for both durability and safety purposes.

Action Sustainability’s Operational Toolkit: Combatting Slavery in the Built Environment aims to keep modern slavery off sites and out of the construction industry supply chain

Construction company ProjectPay has released its Global Economic Impact Report, which has found that 98% of the construction sector is constituted by SMEs, and both these companies and tier-one contractors consider it challenging to offer projects due to many organisations collapsing.

The UK construction product industry is facing a new era of regulatory and standards challenges. Huw Morris outlines everything you need to know about digital product passports.

Building managers are well versed in dealing with issues of bricks and mortar, fixtures and fittings, but what about residents? How do you do a resident engagement strategy, asks Matt Lamy.

CABE Members who are also registered building surveyors in Ireland will note that the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) Statutory Boards and Committees is to hold its elections on 19 May 2025.