Maintaining smoke control systems

Recent high-profile incidents have reaffirmed the need for regular smoke control system maintenance carried out by competent contractors. David Mowatt from the Smoke Control Association (SCA), examines the latest maintenance requirements Waiting until it is too late to find out... View Article

Effectively venting all year round

Richard Carter from EnviroVent looks at how installing effective mechanical ventilation systems can reduce the maintenance burden that some housing associations experience in the winter months, and in turn positively impact tenant health As we approach Autumn, thoughts turn towards... View Article

Help on the road to zero carbon homes

The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund could see social housing providers upgrade the energy efficiency of up to 90,000 homes. Some of these homes will be relatively straightforward to upgrade, others will require a joined-up approach as Caroline Bowler of SIG... View Article

Passive fire safety explored

Graham Laws from Siderise Insulation explores some of the ways residential building owners and managers can ensure that buildings and their occupiers are properly protected with accurate passive fire protection such as cavity barriers and firestops Ensuring the passive fire... View Article

Why wall panels are the greener option

With the environmental impact of the built environment well known to most, housing managers are always looking for new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Scott Beattie from Fibo, explores why wall panels can offer a more sustainable option for... View Article

Safer by design

Flooring plays a vital role in the safety as well as the comfort of our lives and is a critical consideration in the social housing, care and retirement sectors. Louise Walters from Designer Contracts explains Providing a comfortable and safe... View Article

Are sub-roof systems the answer?

With increased scrutiny on the state and repair of social housing, when looking at new roof specification, should landlords be thinking about a whole refit, or employing more cost-effective retrofit opportunities? Ardit Strica from Onduline Building Products asks the question... View Article

Housing 2023

Throughout the whole of the UK, the housing sector is facing unprecedented challenges. From uncertainty in government funding; new regulations; the pressing need for more homes; the equally pressing need to maintain and improve the homes we have while modernising... View Article

What progress has been made since Grenfell?

Hannah Mansell, from the Masonite group of companies in the UK, outlines findings from research into how the public sector approaches fire safety and the biggest challenges facing organisations looking to safeguard resident wellbeing in high-rise buildings In 2017, the... View Article

Good ventilation practice in social housing

Poor indoor air quality and ventilation in general current housing stock has always been a huge challenge for social housing bodies. Roy Byom from Titon explains Houses, flats and apartments built over several decades have had differing ideas and applications... View Article

Outside spaces that work

Jack Potter from Ground Control explores how the housing sector can unlock the value of green space, and help the next generation to reap the benefits of their natural world While biodiversity recovery is often seen as second in priority... View Article

Futurebuild targets retrofit at scale

With 27 million domestic buildings in the UK, the majority of which require significant energy efficiency improvements, it has been calculated by the UK Green Building Council that 1.8 homes per minute will need to be retrofitted to deliver the... View Article

Safe, inclusive bathrooms are the future

Bathrooms can be a danger zone and entirely unsuitable for disabled people in many homes across the UK. Stuart Reynolds from AKW, explores the challenges facing both landlords and tenants and considers solutions to the problem When is a house... View Article

Heating from the ground up

Craig Edwards of WMS, explains how to incorporate affordable warmth into the very fabric of a home with underfloor heating Rising energy bills in the UK are set to push even more households into fuel poverty this winter. The stakes... View Article

Setting the standard for certification and compliance

Marcus Parnham from Profab Access, discusses the importance of specifying fire integrity products to ensure the suitability and safety of a building for its entire lifecycle Focused on improving the safety of high risk residential buildings, the Building Safety Act... View Article

HOMES UK is bigger and better

An unmissable event for asset management, development and sustainability professionals, HOMES UK returns on the 23-24 November 2022 to the ExCel in London Now in its eleventh year, HOMES UK is the largest free-to-attend conference and exhibition of its kind.... View Article

Key considerations when specifying smoke vents

Mark Baird from Bilco UK discusses how NSHEVs can be utilised to ensure the highest standards of safety for social housing and the key considerations that should be addressed to ensure successful specification Natural Smoke and Heat Exhaust Ventilators (NSHEVs),... View Article

A guide to the correct paint specification

The finishing touches to a project can make all the difference to the sustainability and safety of dwellings. The Dulux Decorator Centre team looks at how the correct specification of paints and coatings can drive up building efficiency, improve fire... View Article

Closing the green skills gap

Elaine Gilligan of K Systems argues why reversing the skills shortage could quicken the race to net-zero Addressing the skills gap in the construction sector could bolster the industry’s efforts as it seeks to help the UK reduce carbon emissions.... View Article