LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
A s we move into the second half

Recovery delayed as project starts fall sharply
Construction activity across the UK weakened further during

New CIBSE guidance to tackle overheating in homes
CIBSE has updated its TM59 Overheating risk in

‘AI can’t build a house’, warns MP
Sarah Edwards MP has urged the Government to

Rental homes fail thermal comfort standards
An estimated 441,000 private rented homes in England

One Equity Partners acquires Leviat
Leviat, a global leader in engineered connection, fastening

Uncertainty and rising costs sees confidence collapse
There has been a sharp deterioration in confidence

Housing completions set to miss target
Housing delivery in England is set to remain

Glidevale Protect supports the next generation
Glidevale Protect has lent its support to five

A VERSATILE PANEL SOLUTION
As builders face growing pressure to balance performance,

PROCTOR GROUP LAUNCHES NEW FIRE-RATED EXTERNAL WALL MEMBRANE
Facadeshield FR Class B is the latest addition

COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMPS COULD BE THE FUTURE
Rinnai Director Chris Goggin looks at current domestic energy policy and the movement towards widespread electrification.

ESBE ENGAGES WITH INSTALLD FOR FACTORY VISIT
Eight golden tickets took a group of installers

A HEAT PUMP BUILT FOR THE REAL WORLD
Alpha has expanded its renewable heating technology range

WELLINGTON BOOT IT WITH CAVITY TRAYS
It’s a damp protection approach used by many

MAXIMISING EFFICIENCY IN FACADE PROJECT DELIVERY
Jon Knaggs, Technical Manager for Industrial Lightweight Construction at EJOT UK, explains why the ETA is crucial for compliance and key to faster, lower-risk project delivery.

WORKING BLOCK BY BLOCK
Ian Dean, Managing Director, Concrete Products at Holcim UK, explains why early collaboration is key to Future Homes Standard success.

TACKLING URBAN HEATING CHALLENGES
Specify & Build met with Qvantum UK to learn why its water-to-water heat pump has been created for apartment developments.

ARE UK HOMES READY FOR THE NEXT WATER REALITY?
Ed Morris , Technical Manager at Altecnic , explores what water scarcity means in practical terms, and what future regulation changes could mean for residential system design and specification.

SUPPORTING HIGH-QUALITY STUDENT LIVING IN NOTTINGHAM
Vent-Axia has delivered high-performance ventilation across Centre Court,

GET THE MEASURE OF ROOF SAFETY
Matthew Sexton, Technical and Compliance Director at BMI UK & Ireland , explores the technology reducing risks while working at height.

DELIVERING CERTIFIED PASSIVE HOUSE FACADES AT SCALE
Metal Technology has become a trusted partner for certified Passive House facade systems in the UK and Ireland.

STEP-BY-STEP ROOFING SOLUTIONS
Building products manufacturer Glidevale Protect has supplied a range of roofing and ventilation solutions to the refurbishment of a mixed-use residential scheme in Bristol.

MAKING COLOUR COUNT
Elaine Gilligan at K Rend examines the role of colour in external facades and how the right render can elevate a building’s aesthetic.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT
Keira Proctor, Managing Director at Proctor Group , looks at how manufacturers can better support projects from the design stage to the construction phase.

LOW-PITCH SOLUTION KEEPS PAVILLION ON TRACK
A new community sports pavillion in Milton Keynes highlights how adaptable roofing design can help resolve low-pitch specification challenges without delaying construction.

CLOSING THE EVIDENCE GAP
W ith the Future Homes Standard expected to

HARNESSING THE LATEST TECH TO PROVE CARBON REDUCTION CREDENTIALS
Stuart Nicholson , Managing Director of Marley , highlights how a groundbreaking concrete tile is setting a new standard in the UK roofing industry.

THE GROWING CHALLENGE OF SCHOOL FLAT ROOFS
Justin Pitman , Sales Director at Proteus Waterproofing , explains why understanding the condition of thousands of ageing flat roofs in schools will soon be important for specifiers.

MANAGING PROFESSIONAL RISK
Valcan and Consort Insurance explain what the recent changes in Professional Indemnity insurance means for building design risk.

SPECIFY ONCE, SPECIFY RIGHT
Gary Doxey , Commercial Manager at Eurocell , explains why he believes PVC-U is still the best material choice to achieve net zero.

REPLICATING 1910 STYLE
Silent View Windows Commercial has won an award for the restoration of a former NatWest Bank using Residence 9 windows.

MODERN SPECIFICATION
With pressure on specifiers to deliver projects that balance performance, compliance and design, VIAL Doors & Windows is a specialist provider of aluminium doors and windows.

NEW SMARTACCESS MULTISCAN BIOMETRIC SOLUTION
FUHR has expanded its smart access control range

PROTECTING COASTAL VIEWS
Stunning riverside location needed coastal grade protection from Reynaers Aluminium while delivering expansive views.

THE KEY TO SPECIFYING AI
Tom Planck , Managing Director of John Planck , discusses the key architectural ironmongery factors to consider with any project.

THE FRONT LINE OF INNOVATION
Vicaima doors have brought new life to a former military HQ transformed into contemporary apartments and cottages.

CARBON CLAIMS NEED CLARITY
Senior Architectural Systems is calling on the fenestration industry to move beyond top-line figures to a more evidence-based approach that gives specifiers more accurate data.

SENSE BY MACO WINS TWO AWARDS
MACO was awarded Gold in the German Innovation

GARDEN VILLAGE WELCOMES WINDOW WIDGETS
Window Widgets will soon see a selection of

LUXURY ALUMINIUM AND STEEL ENTRANCE DOORS
Alunet Systems and JD Door Systems, part of

REDEFINING EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR DESIGN
Robust UK, a leading UK manufacturer of steel

A COST-EFFECTIVE ROUTE TO COMPLIANCE
Rinnai Director Chris Goggin explores the financial and ecological benefits of hybrid technology in heating and hot water delivery.

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR CHANGE
Rekha Thawrani OBE , Global Director at NEC Contracts, explores the findings of recent research and what it means for future projects.

SPECIFYING FOR RISK
Simon Hemmings , CEO of Pinpoint , explains how specifying the right systems can help protect healthcare staff against violence.

WHY THE BSI KITEMARK MATTERS IN FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY
AICO’s Andy Speake explains why the BSI Kitemark remains a vital symbol of quality for the industry.

NEW PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION FOR PRECAST CONCRETE FACADES
Siderise has launched its new PC-FS Firestop and

FIRE DAMPERS - THE HIDDEN SAVIOUR
Gary Nicholls , Managing Director at Swift Fire Compliance , explains where projects can fall short and what specifiers should do to ensure compliance and safety.

TEXTURED FINISHES ENHANCE STYLISH RANGE
Daikin has expanded its award-winning Stylish air-to-air heat

KINGFISHER LOUVRES PRODUCTS NOW ON NBS PLATFORM
Specialist aluminium architectural louvre manufacturer Kingfisher Louvres has

LPG CONVERSION KIT AVAILABLE FOR GREENSTAR 1000
Worcester Bosch has increased the accessibility of its

BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH PASSIVHAUS LEISURE CENTRE
The brief for Eclipse Leisure Centre was unprecedented:

RESTORING THE LIGHT AT SWANSEA STADIUM
The refurbishment of the roof on the east

FOREST SCHOOL RECEIVES SUSTAINABLE CLADDING SOLUTION
CUPACLAD 101 Logic has been specified by Lungfish

SHAPING A REFINED WORKSPACE THROUGH FLOORING
Tucked away in a green pocket of London

WHEN TWO SOURCES ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Rinnai’s Pete Sneddon reviews the benefits of purchasing a low-carbon hybrid heating and hot water system.