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
digital-transformation
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.
digital-transformation
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.
Continued growth for MMC and off-site construction, despite setbacks in modular housing
Introduction ‘Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)’ can have a broad meaning, with a wide range of associated terms and definitions. In the National Audit Office’s 2005 report 'Using modern methods ...
Design and SpecificationSustainability
Reduce embodied carbon from the start
Measure, compare and reduce upfront embodied carbon using trusted UK data and pre-built assemblies.
Setting things up for success by starting the specification early
Note: this article focuses on the Uniclass classification structure in its examples; however, a CAWS version of the early-stage library is also available. The broad principles of this article apply ...
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
The retrofit standards framework
While new builds are designed to be energy-efficient from the outset, most of the building stock we have existed before modern energy-efficiency home standards were introduced. This is true now and ...
Design and SpecificationSustainability
The Building Safety Act and specification
The Building Safety Act (BSA) is a crucial piece of legislation that imposes specific requirements on duty holders (building owners, managers, designers, contractors and occupants) regarding the ...
Design and SpecificationStandards and Regulations
Building Safety Act implications for mechanical and electrical engineers
Introduction The Building Safety Act (BSA) came into force in England and Wales in October this year. This new legislation directly results from the findings published within the Hackitt report and ...
Design and SpecificationStandards and Regulations
Construction Leaders’ Summit: Three Key Takeaways from Dame Judith Hackitt’s keynote speech
The UK construction industry has undergone massive change since 2017’s Grenfell Tragedy. Landmark legislation has put a stop to many outdated and irresponsible practices, ushering in a new age where ...
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
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Exporting NBS interoperable data
As part of the Government Industry Interoperability Group, NBS undertook an alignment exercise between Uniclass and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC), to support the industry in assigning ...
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
Model and specification integration
As part of the product development process at NBS, we listen carefully to customer feedback and feature enhancements that can complement and improve established internal design processes.
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
RIBA Plan of Work
The RIBA Plan of Work This is part of a series of articles looking at The Digital Plan of Work
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
Level of detail (LOD) and digital plans of work
This is part of a series of articles looking at The Digital Plan of Work
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
Specification development and digital plans of work
This is part of a series of articles looking at The Digital Plan of Work
Design and SpecificationDigital Transformation
The NBS approach to sustainable specification
What is sustainable specification? Sustainable specification is a specifying style that emphasizes responsibly selecting manufacturing and building methods, services, materials and products to align ...
