The LABC Building Excellence Awards Grand Finals 2021 took place at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London on Friday 28 January 2022. Over 750 guests attended the black tie event.
This was our first Awards event since 2019 and we were all excited to plan the Grand Finals 2021 and see submissions from amazing projects and people. What a great way to start the year!
The way we live and interact with spaces has constantly evolved as our needs, priorities and lifestyles have changed. Housing design and layout is less likely to fit standard conventions and expected patterns as it adapts to our needs. However, some basic requirements still need to be met for building regulation compliance, in particular provision for sanitation should be achieved in accordance with requirements G4-G6.
Article updated on 31 January 2024
All building materials are subject to movement. This movement is due to several reasons however, two are particularly influential on vertical movement in loadbearing masonry. These are thermal expansion and contraction due to temperature changes and moisture movement.
We recently wrote about good installation of cavity wall ties in masonry walls in relation to moisture ingress and structural failure. There are some additional areas where the specification of a wall tie is critical, including their correct specification and installation to resist sound in separating walls between dwellings.
Over 2 days, 15 Guest speakers, 40 exhibitor representatives, 50 online delegates and 250 in person made the 2021 LABC conference one of the most successful ever. With the 2020 event being cancelled due to the covid pandemic this was the first time in more than 18 months that public service building control could come together to discuss the profession and the changes taking place to the whole construction industry.
- Read more about LABC welcome ‘renewed partnership’ with LABC Warranty after HSB acquisition
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LABC has welcomed the recent announcement by HSB(UK) of its agreement to purchase the MD Group of companies including the well-known structural warranties specialist brand LABC Warranty.
An important design consideration for new houses, flats or dwellings attached to one another is how to resist sound from travelling between them. Regulation 41 requires the sound performance of separating walls or floors to be demonstrated by pre-completion testing or by using design details published by Robust Details Ltd. But do you know the requirements and process for registration of plots with Robust Details and the type of information you need to provide to the local authority?
Cavity trays are an important feature in external cavity walls to assist in ensuring any water is directed outside the building. Incorrect specification or installation can lead to defects in the wall and water damage that might be expensive or needlessly destructive to rectify.
Heat through the walls of fireplaces or masonry flues can be transferred to other materials. This can lead to the possibility of fire in combustible materials that are close to the fireplace or flue and measures need to be taken to reduce this risk.