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 ...

CAWS content updates for alteration, refurbishment and retrofit work

In 2024, over 50,000 refurbishment projects were undertaken in the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (see the breakdown of sectors below). This constitutes around a third of all ...

Design and SpecificationResources
NBS-LCA

Reduce embodied carbon from the start

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

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

Heritage Open Days return for 2017

From 7 to 10 September 2017, a host of places and spaces – many of which are usually off limits – will be free for visitors to explore.

Historic BuildingsMuseums

100 years 100 buildings

100 Years 100 Buildings John Hill

Design and SpecificationSustainability

Alternative housing: a different approach to materials, styles and community thinking (Part two)

Great Britain is in a housing crisis. Everywhere you look, some version of that headline is making the rounds. In some places, it’s a daily conversation. Of course, as we all know, it’s not just a ...

Design and SpecificationConstruction Products

Alternative housing: a different approach to materials, styles and community thinking (Part one)

Great Britain is in a housing crisis. Everywhere you look, some version of that headline is making the rounds. In some places, it’s a daily conversation. Of course, as we all know, it’s not just a ...

Design and SpecificationConstruction Products

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Heritage Open Days set to celebrate England's architecture

The doors to some of England’s most interesting and unique buildings are set to be thrown open next month as part of the annual Heritage Open Days festival.

Design and SpecificationHistoric Buildings

A palace unfit for the Queen?

When you think of a palace your mind likely pictures high ceilinged rooms and the very finest finishings – a picture of opulence and grandeur. Pity then, poor Queen Elizabeth II whose London abode ...

Design and SpecificationHistoric Buildings

Parliament restoration: Options tabled for overhaul of Palace of Westminster

A report has set out possible options for the restoration of the Palace of Westminster at significant cost to the taxpayer. We explore some of the options.

Design and SpecificationHistoric Buildings

An historic building day (2/2)

In the concluding part of a two part series Emma Humphrey shares her experience as a budding building detective...

Design and SpecificationHistoric Buildings

An historic building day (1/2)

In the first of a two part series Emma Humphrey shares her experience as a budding building detective...

Design and SpecificationHistoric Buildings

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
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