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
roofing
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.
roofing
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.
Feed-in tariffs: Solar scheme changes from January 2016
The government has moved to slash renewable energy subsidies with a significant cut to the feed-in-tariff (FIT) from January 2016.
SustainabilityHeating
Reduce embodied carbon from the start
Measure, compare and reduce upfront embodied carbon using trusted UK data and pre-built assemblies.
This time, we investigate the performance of the façade greening systems mentioned in previous parts, with reference to a range of recent research projects.
Design and SpecificationSustainability
The NBS guide to façade greening (2/3)
This time we continue our exploration of systems available and their likely benefits and detractions in more detail.
Design and SpecificationSustainability
The NBS guide to façade greening (1/3)
This time we clarify some core concepts and terminology, ahead of an exploration of systems available and their likely benefits.
Design and SpecificationSustainability
What is a U-value?
Although the main focus of environmental performance of buildings is now on carbon usage, there is still a need to consider thermal performance of the building fabric as a contributing factor. ...
Construction ProductsVentilation
Learning lessons
One of the most important aspects of getting to understand how BIM works is to see what happens when you use it on a real project. Obviously, there are quite a few jobs that are now up and running ...
Digital TransformationVentilation
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Vapour permeable underlays for sltae and tile roofing
NBS Technical Author, Charles Stirling, passes on his knowledge of vapour permeable membranes. Not forgetting their application in Scottish rigid sarking constructions gained in his experience north ...
Construction ProductsVentilation
Roof insulation
The ever increasing levels of thermal insulation required by thermal regulations can result in a higher risk of condensation forming on those elements not enclosed by this insulation, e.g. roofing ...
Construction ProductsVentilation
Thatch roofing
An erstwhile colleague once commented: “Why would you want to specify a roofing material which makes perfect nesting material for most of the local wildlife and could go up like a two bob rocket if a ...
