A wide range of interesting articles that help you make informed decisions and deliver the best projects for your clients authored by our team of NBS subject specialists and construction industry contributors.
Sustainability
NBS Guide: Embodied Carbon Calculations
Learn how to align your carbon assessments with BIM workflows. This guide to Embodied Carbon Calculations, developed by NBS and Circular Ecology, sets out a practical, standardised approach to calculating the embodied carbon of building materials and products, and how to apply this data to BIM objects.
Must Reads
The hidden cost of compliance: why architects are demanding a new era of product transparency
Few pieces of legislation have reshaped the UK construction industry as significantly as the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA). Introduced to improve accountability, traceability and safety standards ...
Design and Specification
Brick slip cladding systems – the need for robust specification
This article from the NBS technical team outlines specification for brick slip technology, including history, technology, design, safety and testing.
When product data creates risk, AluK delivers the clarity and support architects need
The need to build more homes, more quickly, has not changed. If anything, the pressure has intensified. However, the conversation around Modern Methods of Construction has evolved.
Co-ordinating Common Arrangement, Uniclass, NBS and Rules of Measurement
NBS Technical Author, Roland Finch, sheds light on changes to classification and rules of measurement. Are we heading for coordination or conflict?
UniclassClassification
Reduce embodied carbon from the start
Measure, compare and reduce upfront embodied carbon using trusted UK data and pre-built assemblies.
"Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours..." ...according to the theme tune of a popular TV programme. Never is this maxim more relevant than when construction work is proposed. The UK ...
Contracts and Law
Why would I need a building contract?
We are regularly asked at NBS: "Do I need a contract for my project"?
Contracts and LawProcurement
Tendering for construction projects
Tendering is the process by which bids are invited from interested contractors to carry out specific packages of construction work. It should adopt and observe the key values of fairness, clarity, ...
Contracts and LawTendering
Why is there so much paperwork?
One of the criticisms regularly aimed at contract administration is that there are so many forms to fill in and so much paperwork generated. Indeed, in one former job I had we used to joke that it ...
Contracts and LawTendering
Construction Health and Safety
In 2001 the Government promised to look at construction health and safety. A document was produced called Revitalising health and safety, which produced some challenging targets, including:
SustainabilityGovernment policy
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Cover pricing
In September 2009, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) handed out fines totalling almost £130 million to a number of construction companies in the UK. The OFT found that these firms had engaged in ...
Contracts and LawTendering
The Construction Act review
It is generally accepted that Part II of the Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 has brought about significant change to practices in the construction industry, since it came into ...
Government policyContracts and Law
JCT Constructing Excellence Contract
The JCT Constructing Excellence Contract (JCT/CE) was launched by Sir Michael Latham on 1 March 2007. He described it as "highly readable", "user friendly" and "practical".
Contracts and Law
JCT Major Project Construction Contract
NBS Preliminaries includes sets of clauses for use with the JCT Major Project Construction Contract. NBS Technical Author Roland Finch explains some of the main features.
