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For new dwellings and extensions, a popular method of providing ventilation has been to follow the principles of intermittent extract and background ventilation, known as ‘system 1’ in Approved Document F England or Wales. Although installation should be undertaken in accordance with the approved…
Building control surveyors and building control officers make sure that building regulations are followed during construction.
The building regulations cover areas such as fire safety, public health, energy conservation and accessibility. If you want to use your knowledge of safe construction to…
Clay bricks have been in use for many years. In Britain, bricks were first used by the Roman Empire in the 1st century. Nowadays, bricks are prevalent across the built environment and continue to be a fundamental ingredient in modern architecture. So, why after 2000 years are we still debating how…
You'll need a regularisation certificate for any unauthorised building work. This is a retrospective application that your local authority will issue.
You'll find further details in No building regulations approval? What's the solution?
Acoustics can be a real nuisance on a conversion project where there is a material change of use (MCOU). Being unsure of differences between material properties could lead to pitfalls; for example, knowing which plasterboard product has the required mass of 10kg/m² as opposed to a 8kg/m² board…
Getting the design of a level threshold right can be tricky. Convenience and accessibility are the main focus, but this can cause water penetration or damp.
The external landing should be large and level enough for easy wheelchair access, but there’s a risk of standing water or surface water…
Timber windows aren’t a thing of the past. Their quality and engineering means they’re available pre-finished, double or triple glazed, with enhanced security and comprehensive warranties to give your customers peace of mind.
Windows can be delivered to site fully finished - coated, glazed and…
Regional Winners
Aaron Simpson
Region: South East
Local Authority: Southern Building Control Partnership
Ashley King
Region: London…
To mark the start of National Apprentice Week, The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) hosted Industry Minister Lee Rowley on a tour of Ideal Standard where he met with apprentices from all parts of the repair, maintenance, and home improvement sector.
Among those apprentices was…
Of the many upsetting things you’ll find in last October’s report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, perhaps the most painful is the timeline.
Minute by minute, in the sort of bureaucratic language you’d find in a council planning document, the report documents both the spread of the fire that…