Building Regulations News Roundup - April 2007

A brief synopsis of some of the key news items related to technical guidance, construction practice, and new regulations that you might have missed in the press.

Bound to cut carbon
The UK has become the first country to propose legally binding national limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The draft Climate Change bill requires cuts in carbon dioxide emissions of 60 per cent by 2050, relative to 1990 levels.
New Scientist, 17 March 2007, p.7

Building bonanza
According to The Financial Times (5 March 2007) Britain is expected to experience a building bonanza over the next five years, placing an increasing strain on the availability of skilled labour. Construction output, already on a high, is predicted to grow by almost 11% cent by 2011 led by a surge in schools construction, increased spending on transport and projects for the London Olympics.

CEM II cements in the UK
To many people involved in the UK building and construction industry, the term ‘cement’ is almost synonymous with Portland cement (CEM I). This article argues that this long-standing and comfortable state of affairs is becoming increasingly outdated.
Concrete, March 2007, pp.36-38

China calls for halt
European architects will no longer be able to flex their experimental muscles in China after the state issued a crackdown on the growing number of extravagant and expensive buildings. The Chinese Construction Ministry has announced new guidelines which aim to deter government officials from sanctioning public buildings that needlessly waste money and electricity.  
AJ Plus, 5 March 2007

Construction growth
Construction growth is set to outpace that of the UK economy over the next three years, according to the Construction Products Association. Though public sector work is picking up after a couple of disappointing years. It is the private sector that is forecast to be the main driver for this growth. However, a cooling in the housing market is forecast to hold back new house building activity.
What’s New In Building, March 2007, p.6

Construction Industry output and employment: Fourth Quarter 2006
The total volume of construction output in 2006 rose by one per cent compared to 2005. Overall new work rose over the same period, despite decreases in the infrastructure and public non-housing sectors. Repair and maintenance fell, with decreases in nearly all sectors. Output in the fourth quarter of 2006 rose by one per cent compared to the third quarter in volume terms and by 2 per cent in current prices. The total volume of new work in 2006 was five per cent higher compared with the previous year and rose by one per cent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter. The total volume of repair and maintenance work fell by three per cent in 2006 compared with the previous year, but was one per cent higher in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared to the previous quarter.  For further details see: www.gnn.gov.uk.

Utilisation of thermal mass in non-residential buildings
Air-conditioning can be a major contributor to the operational CO₂ emissions of a building. Use of a building’s thermal mass can significantly reduce or even remove the need for air-conditioning and therefore its CO₂ emissions. New technical design guidance from The Concrete Centre explains how.
Concrete, March 2007, p.24

Z-squared
The latest in green building – is happening on Old Almaden Road in San Jose where a 1960s-era bank building is becoming one of the first commercial structures in the country to supply all its own energy while emitting no greenhouse gases. Coined by scientists, z-squared means zero carbon-dioxide emissions and zero energy use from the grid. For further details visit www.mercurynews.com/ci_5424146.
ArchNewsNow.com, 13th March 2007

Quality of life
A study has found that the best quality of life in the world can be found in France. “The French economy has lots of things going for it - including ultra-modern transport and communications systems [and] competitive energy costs,” says the International Living report, which also argued that that US had the best infrastructure and Italy was best for culture. Australia came 2nd in the study – Iraq last. http://www.internationalliving.com/issues/2007/2007_article.html.