A whole host of factors need to be considered when it comes to the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of large commercial projects. With the growing pressure on developers to select products capable of maximising the performance and durability of the buildings they work on; windows have been looked to for those marginal gains. Steve Tonkiss, Commercial Manager at REHAU Windows, discusses the vital role windows play in commercial project design and the key factors that need to be considered for those tasked with selecting the best windows for their commercial build project.
For the last few years, the construction sector has been high on the Government’s agenda, particularly around the subjects of fire and building safety. Recently thrown into sharper focus through the publication of the Hackitt Report and industry reaction, 2020 has seen an assertive drive towards the establishment of new laws and a dedicated regulator to improve building safety. Importantly, the new legislation will also act as a much-needed catalyst in the move to digital transformation, which has started to stagnate following an initial flurry of activity, writes Richard Waterhouse, Chief Strategy Officer at NBS.
Senior Architectural Systems’ slimline SF52 aluminium curtain walling system proved just the ticket to create the bright and modern façade of the new-look bus station in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.
An architect led refurbishment project on a private residential property near Exmoor has included the specification of cut-to-falls Marmox Multiboard, chosen for the versatile product’s highly beneficial physical properties, together with the practical considerations to their inclusion.
A development of two and three bedroom terraced homes on a brownfield site in South London is making use of Magply boards’ fire resistance and other physical benefits: receiving a special polymer based, purple coloured membrane finish to provide excellent airtightness as part of an ‘Eco-homes’ energy specification.
Verksbyen, a new green neighbourhood in Fredrikstad, Norway, showcases the future of sustainable living. As part of the project, construction company Arca Nova Bolig is building five, five-storey apartment buildings situated in Capjon Park area in Verskbyen. The buildings are being constructed using Metsä Wood’s Kerto LVL (laminated veneer lumber) products – making the construction fast, light and green.
The building and construction sectors have come under fire for their contributions to climate change, with the industry churning out 39% of the world’s carbon emissions – with operational emissions accounting for 28% and the remaining 11% from embodied or upfront carbon (from materials and construction processes), writes Sam Tracey, Regional SHEQ Advisor at Actavo Direct.
With sustainability high on the corporate agenda, many construction businesses are looking at ways to reduce their carbon footprint by choosing greener building materials, some even made from waste carbon dioxide. But could they be doing more?
As one of the UK's leading providers of rainscreen systems, metal fabrications and bespoke full envelope solutions - quality is at the core of the PSP Group's operation. Here, Chairman Heath Hindmarch explains why they made a vast investment to provide a single point of procurement for the entire building envelope.
The engineered timber industry has been founded on the principles of advancing sustainable building technology. Led by innovators such as B&K Structures, the use of timber technology in UK construction has undergone a renaissance in recent years which has greatly increased the use of ground-breaking products such as cross laminated timber (CLT). Here Managing Director of B&K Structures, Andy Goodwin discusses the proposed building restrictions and the unintended consequences.
