Knowledge

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

Sustainable Futures UK Report 2026

Explore the current state of sustainability in the UK construction industry based on the results from a comprehensive survey conducted by NBS.

Must Reads

  • Construction Products

    Siderise: Helping to bridge the gap between Gateway 2 approval and on-site fire protection

    While the new building safety regime hasn’t fundamentally changed what requirements higher-risk buildings (HRBs) must meet to comply with the Building Regulations, it has significantly increased the ...

  • RIBA CPD

    RIBA CPD for Architects: Understanding Flooring Specification and Detailing

    For architects and specifiers, flooring details can have a significant impact on the safety, accessibility, durability and overall performance of a building. Yet the technical considerations ...

  • Sponsored

    Designing sustainability into construction – proof over promises in sustainable construction

    With tightening regulations and growing client demand, the construction industry is under increasing pressure to demonstrate measurable progress against carbon reduction targets. For specifiers, that ...

Who manages BIM? Do we need a BIM Manager?

The NBS BIM Research Report found an industry awash with different opinions on what BIM actually is, and what change it could mean for the architecture and construction industries. Following the ...

Digital TransformationVideo
NBS-LCA

Reduce embodied carbon from the start

Measure, compare and reduce upfront embodied carbon using trusted UK data and pre-built assemblies.

Interview with Alistair Kell, Director of Information and Technology, BDP

The NBS BIM Research Report found an industry awash with different opinions on what BIM actually is, and what change it could mean for the architecture and construction industries. Following the ...

Digital TransformationVideo

Building pathology: moisture conditions within traditionally insulated pitched roofs

Emerging from his loft space, NBS Technical Author, Charles Stirling, discusses the problems arising when building physics does not receive adequate attention in pitched roof construction or ...

BIM as a mindset

Modelling Six years ago I saw BIM as a technology, another program like Revit, Archicad and Microstation, or merely a piece of software to be learned, implemented and harvested. While in essence this ...

Digital Transformation

Standards in construction

Whether or not one accepts that waste and inefficiency accounts for 30% of the turnover of our sector, there are statistics that indicate that we replace only 1% of our building stock annually, ...

Standards and RegulationsDigital Transformation

Why do we need BIM?

John Lorimer, Capital Programme Director, Corporate Services, at Manchester City Council explores the advantages of Business Information Modelling...

Digital Transformation

Subscribe

What does Building Information Modelling (BIM) mean for specifications?

How many articles and posts do you read that include a definition along the lines of "BIM provides a 3D model of a building"? BIM is driving change but we should improve industry understanding of ...

Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation

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

Building limes: an introduction

The programme explains the properties of lime (including how it differs from Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)) and how it is used in today's construction industry, particularly in mortars, renders and ...

SustainabilityVideo

'Quantum change' needed to achieve low carbon construction

Construction leaders have spoken: lack of clear leadership, over-complexity in carbon reduction policies, and a failure of government departments and the building industry to work together, are ...

Sustainability

BIM - The long view from architectural and design practice

Since Studio Klaschka was formed in 2001 most practices have started to consider or are already beginning to use one of the various flavours of BIM software that are now available. When Studio ...

Digital Transformation

Timber frame design - low energy, high performance

Author Geoffrey C Pitts B.Arch (Hons) M.Phil and advisory editor TRADA Technology's Robin Lancashire offer an extract from TRADA Technology's new best practice guide, Low energy timber frame ...

Construction ProductsBook extract