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.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) refers to all dispute resolution processes outside litigation where a third party assists in resolving differences. Often characterised as a quick, cheap and ...
VideoContracts and Law
Reduce embodied carbon from the start
Measure, compare and reduce upfront embodied carbon using trusted UK data and pre-built assemblies.
Commissioning and control of archaeological works in development projects
Archaeology has become an increasingly common statutory component of construction and refurbishment projects since PPG16 (Planning Policy Guidance16: Archaeology and Planning) applied the 'polluter ...
Contracts and Law
How long will components and systems last?
If you want to know how long a boiler will last, where do you start? CIBSE Guide M: Maintenance Engineering and Management is the most widely-used reference document for this topic available in the ...
Construction ProductsHeating
NBS products for 'small works' specification
NBS publishes a range of products for specification of building work. A question that is often asked is "which version of NBS should I use to specify a small (or medium, or large) building that I am ...
Design and SpecificationSpecification
NBS and BREEAM
NBS Building, NBS Landscape and NBS Engineering Services have been updated significantly during Updates 2009-3 and 2010-1 and now include extensive guidance on the BRE Environmental Assessment Method ...
Sustainability
Swimming pool surrounds
The introduction of BS EN 15288 has made a significant difference to pool surround drainage. Internationally-respected Aquatic Consultant Tom Devin of Devin Consulting discusses the implications.
Construction Products
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Biodiversity: the new challenge for architecture
The political focus on global warming has tended to reduce the importance architects attach to protecting biodiversity. Yet the impact architecture has upon ecosystems, both at the building and ...
Sustainability
Specification of plywood for exterior use: clarification
There is some confusion among specifiers concerning the properties of "exterior grade" plywood. This article by Dr Vic Kearley of TRADA seeks to clarify the situation and outline improvement actions ...
Construction ProductsSpecification
Living facade at EEA HQ
Architects generally overlook the impact their decisions have upon biodiversity. Yet at a local and global level design decisions, especially in the area of material choice and specification, have ...
Design and SpecificationGreen walls
When is water wholesome?
Guide to Part G of the Building Regulations: Sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency: 2010 edition by Nick Price is an essential reference handbook to understanding the new and ...
Standards and Regulations
Fire safety and heritage buildings
Peter Barker, Senior Consultant at Chiltern International Fire , outlines the issues and offers practical advice on managing the fire risk in historic buildings.
Standards and RegulationsFire safety
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 ...
