It’s time for timber!

Despite being commonly used within a wide range of building projects, timber still fights against the misconception that it’s too flammable for use as a construction material. Whilst timber does burn, the material is able to provide the highest levels... View Article

Keeping safe with passive fire protection

Despite its importance, there’s considerable evidence to show passive fire protection solutions are being ineffectively designed, specified and installed in buildings. In this article, Craig Wells, Sales Director at Quelfire discusses the benefits of passive fire protection and how specifiers... View Article

Slate: the perfect material for every architectural design

Slate is becoming more widely recognised for its vast design versatility, above and beyond traditional build and ideal for use across an array of modern roofing and cladding projects. Here Julian Gomez, Director of Marketing at CUPA PIZARRAS looks at the features and... View Article

Firestopping and the design of penetration seals

A service penetration through a fire-separating element may well be viewed as a minor element of a compartment wall or floor, but their importance cannot be understated. We talk to Bob Westcombe, UK Fire Protection Manager at ROCKWOOL about mechanical... View Article

Extinguishing fire safety myths

Fire Safety has and always will be a well-documented subject, with various experts and regulatory bodies sharing key insights that save lives. Despite this, practical knowledge can sometimes be overshadowed by false information and myth. Karen Trigg of Allegion UK... View Article

Care Homes – time for a change

‘Care Homes should be seen very much places to go to live rather than places to die, their design should reflect this and we shouldn’t assume anything when anticipating tastes and preferences of older generations.’ James Potter of WGP Architects. When... View Article

Glass; so much more than just a window

By Chris Davis, composites manager at H B Fuller:Kommerling and Vice Chairman of the GGF Laminators and Tougheners committee Look at any international city’s newest buildings and they will undoubtedly be architectural wonders, built predominantly from glass, with a steel... View Article

Mind the gap: specifying window sealants

Andrew Swift, sales and operations manager, UK and Ireland – ISO-Chemie, offers advice for architects and designers specifying sealant tapes for windows and doors in residential homes and commercial buildings. Issues around airtightness and energy efficiency remain top of the... View Article

Increased fire standards call for informed specifications

Are efforts to improve the fire performance of residential high-rise buildings creating a risk that fully tested, quality – but not future compliant – building solutions may be replaced by seemingly compliant but lower performance products? We believe so and... View Article

Conserving the nation’s history

Adrian Attwood, Executive Director at DBR Ltd, explains the nuances of conservation construction and the pitfalls to avoid From palaces to places of worship, the UK is filled with a plethora of centuries-old landmarks taught about in schools and visited... View Article

Have you tested your metal?

A HVAC system is only as good as the pipes and components that hold it together so choosing the right material for this important job is essential. The wrong choice could compromise a specifier’s design requirements, leaving the whole system... View Article

Putting lighting central to housing design

Our homes constantly evolve, in terms of their functionality, feel and style. Recently, we’ve seen an increase in multiple generations living together, home working and consumers creating activity-specific spaces within their properties such as gyms and playrooms. As homeowners seek... View Article

SAP 10.1 Changes the Heating Industry

From Ross Harrold, Marketing & PR, Electric Heating Company A large challenge faced by the Heating Industry was the methodology for SAP 2012, which was written six years ago. SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) is the methodology used to determine a... View Article

Skellefteå Cultural Centre Q+A | White Arkitekten

ADF speaks with Robert Schmitz of White Arkitekten on the practice’s Skellefteå Cultural Centre project Context 1. How did you first get involved in the work on Skellefteå Cultural Centre? “It was an open international competition announced by the municipality... View Article

Waterproofing historic builds

Specialists must collaborate when preserving historic buildings. Richard Walker of Peter Cox explains Historic Buildings Almost half a million buildings in the UK have heritage protection. This status is awarded to buildings of historical interest across the country, either for... View Article

The wellness factor

Sophie Weston at Geberit explains the role that architects and designers can play in improving wellbeing, by helping create a sensory ‘sanctuary’ in the bathroom Wellbeing. We all know what it is – but just how many of us truly... View Article
Office design – placing nature in the mix

Office design – placing nature in the mix

Biophilic design has become firmly entrenched in the modern office psyche in recent years as the office evolves and we take on a more people-focused approach to its design. Cyril Parsons of Office Principles, considers the various means in which... View Article