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

The creative spark in boilers

Adam Taylor from Beesley & Fildes, discusses the potential of electric boilers as an affordable, easy to install alternative to both gas and air source heat pumps The energy cap for domestic properties is due to rise on 1 April... 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

The perils of inexperience in heat network maintenance

Employing non-specialist contractors to maintain heat networks is problematic, argues Steve Morris of Insite Energy. Unless correctly monitored and maintained, heat networks become less efficient over time. A host of serious problems can result, including higher energy costs. This can... View Article

Subfloor preparation for refurbishments

Neil Sanders, technical director at F. Ball and Co. Ltd., the UK’s leading manufacturer of subfloor preparation products and adhesives for floorcoverings, advises on preliminary work to achieve optimum results when installing floorcoverings as part of a refurbishment. The first... 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

A smart approach to the energy crisis

Could smart metering technology help ease the financial pain of rising living costs? Insite Energy’s Gareth Copland, considers the pros and cons Navigating a disaster pile-up of a global pandemic followed by worsening energy and cost-of-living crises is proving increasingly... 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

Design out crime

Matthew McTighe from CAME UK discusses the importance of Secured By Design (SBD) and their role in securing developments around the UK Established in 1989, SBD plays a significant crime prevention role in the planning process to design out crime... 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

Closing the door on fire

Each year, Fire Door Safety Week raises awareness of the vital role that fire doors play in keeping building occupants across the country safe. Helen Hewitt from the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) explores why the campaign remains as important as... View Article

Air exchange targets

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 construction projects that... View Article

Reducing fire risk across the entire building envelope

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 complexity when it... View Article

How retrofits can help solve the fuel poverty crisis

Rocketing energy prices and record-breaking temperatures are keen reminders that the UK is facing crises in fuel poverty and climate change. For local authorities, housing associations and the energy consultants working on their behalf, there is an increasingly urgent need... View Article

Effective passive fire protection

Playing a fundamental role in the long-term safety of their properties and their occupiers, building managers have a clear responsibility to ensure effective passive fire protection methods are in place, as Graham Laws of Siderise Insulation explains. Just over a... View Article

Connected housing

James Gray of Videx Security explores the role that the internet of things (IoT) plays in social housing access control and door entry. The Internet of Things (IoT) has moved on from a new phenomenon to an everyday technology with... View Article