Futurebuild targets retrofit at scale

LISTEN HERE 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... View Article

Safe, inclusive bathrooms are the future

LISTEN HERE 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... View Article

Heating from the ground up

LISTEN HERE 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.... View Article

Setting the standard for certification and compliance

LISTEN HERE 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... View Article

HOMES UK is bigger and better

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Key considerations when specifying smoke vents

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

A guide to the correct paint specification

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Closing the green skills gap

LISTEN HERE 🔊 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... View Article

Air exchange targets

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Richard Poole from Siegenia addresses how and why housing managers should meet the new air exchange targets The updated new building regulation Approved Document F covering ventilation came into force on 15th June 2022. Part F concerns... View Article

Reducing fire risk across the entire building envelope

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Will Wigfield from ROCKWOOL UK explains why above ground level amenities such as roofs, balconies and terraces need greater consideration to mitigate fire risk Fire safety is critical in any home but has a particular significance and... View Article

Timesaving solutions for flooring installations

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Flooring installations in social housing settings often face pressure to be completed as quickly as possible. Fortunately, certain processes and combinations of innovative new products can dramatically cut the time this takes. Neil Sanders from F. Ball... View Article

Housing returns to Manchester this June

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Housing, the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference – and what is said to be Europe’s largest housing festival – returns to its usual timeline and will take place 28-30 June at Manchester Central. In 2022, there... View Article

Raising the roof for social housing retrofits

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Stuart Nicholson of Marley discusses some of the ways a full roof system, incorporating solar PV, can have a positive impact on rising energy prices. The social housing whitepaper outlined the Government’s commitment to review the Decent... View Article

Controlling Legionella

LISTEN HERE 🔊 The Legionella Control Association (LCA) discusses the control of the disease in housing, as well as its risks, and emerging trends. Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is a potentially fatal type of pneumonia, a bacterial lung infection. LD is... View Article

A best practice approach to fire safety

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Simon Jones from life safety manufacturer Kidde Safety Europe looks at upcoming changes to Scottish fire safety regulations, and how these will impact the requirements for domestic dwellings across the UK According to recent research, 27% of... View Article

Multi-generational bathrooms

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Yiota Toumba at Ideal Standard shares her thoughts on how to create residential bathrooms that cater to everyone, regardless of age or mobility The UK’s population is ageing, and around one in five people are now 65... View Article

Paving the way for nature

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Chris Hodson of Interpave discusses why concrete block permeable paving (CBPP) is a key sustainable drainage system (SuDS) technique Extensive new tree planting with provision for long-term nurturing is now a requirement for developments, with new government... View Article

Manage heating the easy way

LISTEN HERE 🔊 Nicola Martin at RadiWarm explains the simplicity and efficiency of electric pipeless radiators For landlords and housing managers, heating presents some pressing challenges; sharply rising prices and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions, to name but... View Article

The changing climate of water conservation

LISTEN HERE 🔊 In the UK, water conservation has been on the agenda for years. However, Steve Leigh of Groundbreaker Systems explains why our growing population and increased demand will result in critical water situations more regularly, especially in the... View Article

Prioritising air quality

LISTEN HERE 🔊 John Moss of EnviroVent looks at the issue of ventilation in social housing and how we may be failing a generation by not addressing it properly. Now the lockdown restrictions have been removed, employees, school pupils and social... View Article