Knowledge

This programme explores the reality behind the hype, explaining how LEDs work, outlining their history and providing a detailed discussion of the qualities of LEDs within six key categories.

The changes to the CDM Regulations have been in force since April 2007. This programme examines what these changes mean for designers.

Just over a year ago, the updated and revised CDM Regulations came into force. The aim of the change was to provide more clarification and detail, leaving less room for debate! In this programme we’re going to look at whether they’ve been a success and following on from that how designers can use the regulations as a springboard to achieve better, innovative and indeed, safer designs.

The programme looks at who counts as a contractor, their responsibilities under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and under other health and safety legislation. Allison Connick, Director of Safety and Environment for CB Richard Ellis, talks us through the issues.

Competence in health, safety and welfare risk management issues is a key part of becoming a chartered civil engineer. This studio-based discussion shows how these key requirements can be met by the aspiring chartered civil engineer.

With rising damp almost eliminated in English housing, condensation is now the major source of unwanted dampness in homes. It can lead to mould growth, health issues for occupants and additional maintenance costs. This programme looks at the conditions that give rise to condensation, its impact upon dwellings, and what can be done to rectify its negative effects. It also addresses different forms of condensation, discussing surface and interstitial condensation.

Whether you are a client, designer, engineer or contractor, your CDM responsibilities are about to change. New regulations, effective from April 2007, update the 1994 version of the Construction Design and Management Regulations. This programme looks at the main changes from the perspective of client, designer, principal contractor and the new role of CDM co-ordinator.

We’ll be looking at the legal duties that employees could use as a basis for a stress claim against their employer and in particular the law relating to bullying and harassment. This will include an update on the recent changes to the Sex Discrimination Act concerning harassment.

Under its Rainbow Standards initiative, the RICS has created a suite of colour-coded guidebooks that provide a set of minimum professional standards: red for estate managers, blue for residential surveyors, purple for facilities managers and now, a Black Book for QSs. This programme explains the reasoning behind the Black Book.

The UK’s long industrial history means that there is a substantial legacy of former industrial land ripe for regeneration. South Wales was once an area synonymous with heavy industry – with the plant at Ebbw Vale once the largest steelworks in Europe. The plant survived until closure five years ago – and today the site is home to one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects. This programme looks at the project to prepare the site for development.

TRADA Technology's Dr John Williams looks at historic timbers and the methods used to inspect them. There are, he argues, a number of good reasons to recycle and re-use our heritage buildings.

Dr John Williams, Senior Technical Consultant, TRADA Technology explains some of the options for non-destructive assessment of timber strength and condition in historic building.