Abet Laminati’s exterior grade MEG high pressure laminate is still going strong on two developments of B3Living’s housing portfolio..

With an open Government-led consultation to review the ban on the use of combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings, Paul Richards, Managing Director of Aquarian Cladding Systems, discusses why a balanced explanation is needed to enable stakeholders to make an informed decision on materials – and why everyone should respond before the deadline on 13th April 2020.

Aluminium decking specialists AliDeck have announced the launch of a new addition to their range of non-combustible metal decking products; the AliDeck Lite Board.

Many listed buildings across the UK require interventions to bring them up to 21st-century standards; one quick win, with three beneficial outcomes, is to install secondary glazing. By retrofitting an internal window, you will almost eliminate draughts and heat loss, provide noise insulation and give an added layer of security at the windows, writes Zoe Williams, Head of Marketing at Selectaglaze.

Deciding on the windows is an important part of a building project. The decision not only affects the look of the property but also affects the thermal efficiency, says Richard Dollar, Managing Director at The Sash Window Workshop.

Offering flexibility and freedom, it is unsurprising that the popularity of open-plan buildings has increased. However, these spaces pose numerous challenges for fire protection in building design. David Cerquella, Managing Director at Coopers Fire, explains the growing importance of passive fire specification and which considerations need to be made by architects and building engineers alike.

Last month’s report from Government-funded research group, Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), should serve as a wake-up call for UK business and industry. The ambition to go carbon-neutral by 2050 is, as the document concedes, achievable, but only if we act dynamically and radically, writes Charlie Ayers, Managing Director & Founder at SureCav.

The Shed is a non-profit cultural organisation that commissions, develops and presents original works of art across all disciplines for all audiences. Its building – an innovative 200,000ft2 (18,500m²) structure designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro as lead architect, and Rockwell Group as collaborating architect – can physically transform to support artists’ most ambitious ideas.

As Associate Director at gpad london, David Walker has had a colourful and varied career. Graduating from Sheffield University during a recession, he then moved to Budapest for a couple of years and Berlin for three more, working for Daniel Libeskind. Here, David talks to FC&A about his diverse career.

Mapeguard UM 35 is the new decoupling waterproofing membrane. Suitable for use with cracked, damp and imperfectly cured substrates, when installing ceramic, porcelain and stone material to interior and external floors. It is used by laying the membrane between two applications of a Mapei adhesive, in order to accommodate any potential stresses and improve the bond strength of adhesive applied on both sides.