Insight

David Adams looks at industry apprenticeships and those who are about to retire, and asks if there’s a way to bridge the skills gap

The term competence recurs in building safety reports and new regulations, but what does it really mean in practice, and how will building industry professionals fair under the renewed scrutiny?

Greater fire safety knowledge is welcome, as is the rising profile of fire engineers, discovers David Adams

The Grenfell Tower tragedy was a wake-up call for the construction industry. As James Cash hears, focusing on fire safety best practice beyond basic regulations is the way forward

Colm Gribben, owner of wastewater treatment specialist Viltra, explains why his exclusive webinar for CABE members is vital viewing.

If we want to attract greater gender diversity to the field then we have to understand what the fundamental barriers are, says James Cash

Will the renewed focus on Part M move accessibility issues up the agenda? And in turn, will that raise the profile of access consultants, who have hitherto been more involved with Equalities Act compliance, asks Andrew Pearson

Dr Tony Hopkin, FCABE CEng, Head of Construction, Quality and Innovation at housing association Midland Heart, discusses Project 80: researching building to the Future Homes Standard

A better understanding of city microclimates and the complex factors that combine to raise temperatures could help town planners and local regulators manage the effects, says James Cash

Landmark building safety legislation will put more liability on designers, contractors and owners; the industry must prepare itself for a seismic shift in accountability and competency requirements says James Cash

Dr Brian Cox CEng FIMechE explains two of the most important measures – the introduction of Accountable Person status and Safety Case Reports – that will come into force when the Building Safety Bill becomes law in 2022.

CABE’s annual conference proved to be a lively forum for discussion this year. Denise Chevin reports on the views and opinions of the industry leaders who were there

Andrew Pearson takes a long, hard look at the progress of the Future Homes Standard to date and weighs up the different options

Andy Pearson takes a closer look at an experiment in bioclimatic architecture and construction to produce low-carbon homes

James Cash explores an adaptable and sustainable model in affordable housing that could help meet housing targets and revitalise forgotten plots

In its day, Mackintosh’s Hill House was a beacon of modernity, cutting-edge building materials and techniques combined with design flare and style. More than 100 years later, cutting-edge building engineering might just be able to save it, says James Cash.

A report that explores the relationship between the geometry of buildings and its effect on the behaviour of fire has significant interest for built environment professionals. James Cash speaks to the report’s author, Frances Maria Peacock MCABE Chartered Building Engineer

You could argue that product testing has been following ever-decreasing circles, but new regulation and industry efforts focused on safety are set to reform the sector and support broader changes in construction, says James Cash

Andrew Pearson offers a snapshot of some of the common themes and issues that building control bodies are having to overcome in fulfilling their professional duties.

Geoffrey Makstutis, Subject Lead for Construction and Art and Design at Pearson, offers an opinion on ethics and asks ‘Who are buildings for?’