Silica is found in rocks, sands, stones, and clay. Exposure is commonplace in construction, especially with those working with products like brick and cement. While there are established health and safety rules concerning exposure, silica dust is still one of the most prevalent causes of respiratory disease, which tells us that there is more that needs to be done.
The UK construction industry has been championing lean construction for a few years now. While the uptake hasn’t been what was hoped for, as we continue to move towards a more collaborative way of working, adoption of lean should increase, as collaboration is at its core.
A Health and Safety File is a repository of health and safety information that serves as a legal record, benefiting both clients and end users – from initial construction through use, cleaning, maintenance, alterations and refurbishment, and demolition.
Windows are one of the most important elements of a building’s thermal envelope; providing aesthetics, letting in light, helping control sound, and serving as a means of natural ventilation. The history of windows is enmeshed in the history of architecture, and their evolving design is a tribute to not only architectural advancement, but to the progression of framing materials and glass manufacturing.
The future of construction is driven by information but what do we mean by 'information' when it comes to BIM? We explore the realities of digital construction and the information powering the revolution.
For the designer, BIM provides more than just a technological change in the way they work; it’s a complete refit of the entire design process. We explore what making the switch to BIM really means.
Most of a building’s problems can be traced to moisture. It causes wood to decay, concrete to crack, fungus to grow, metals to corrode, pipes to burst (from the cycle of freezing and thawing), and it damages and discolours interior finishes. Understand moisture and you can prevent damp occuring.
Harnessing the power of the sun to cut energy costs seems to make good sense. Jess Sharman explores a new generation of polymer photovoltaics and explores the pros and cons of the new wave...
The essential guide to risk management planning - vital not only for business and financial purposes, but for health and safety reasons too.
Retentions have traditionally been imposed to ensure that the contractor properly completes the activities required of them under the contract. We explore how retentions are administered and how they manifest across various forms of contract.
The idea behind biomimicry is simple: Nature has already solved a myriad of the problems that we are facing now, so why not use that to our advantage?
The cities of tomorrow are smart - technologically-connected, sustainable and reactive. But what does this actually mean? We seek clarity on definitions, look at the importance of emerging models and standards and ask whether inhabitants can expect a better quality of life.
