28th International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction

Posted on: 3 February 2012
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The annual symposium of the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC) has been held since 1984 with the aim of gathering world renowned researchers, academics and industrial practitioners in automation and robots in construction. Specific topics of the symposium include the construction industry, civil and building engineering design and project execution, advanced construction machinery and robotic applications in construction, information technologies for planning, design, logistics, computer-aided project management, environmental protection issues, building systems monitoring and control, safety and recovery operations, and temporary/rapid construction technologies. Proceedings of the latest Symposium, held in Soeul on 29 June -2 July 2011, are available online.

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BIM from the point of view of a small practice

Posted on: 2 February 2012
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David Miller describes his practice’s recent BIM experience in three parts; firstly describing the adoption process, then defining the costs and concluding by trying to quantify the business advantages.

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Starting points: Building surveying

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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This page directs you to the following building surveying online resources: Building surveying introduction; Qualifications and careers; Library resources including e-books and e-journals; Online building surveying resources; Other RICS web links; and Other resources.

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Building Regulations consultations

Posted on: 1 February 2012
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The government has published consultations for changes to several sections of the Building Regulations as well as proposed changes to the Building Control system. The Part L changes include proposals for tighter carbon dioxide emission standards for new homes and requirements for additional energy efficiency improvement to existing homes when extensions are built. There are also proposed changes to Part P, on electrical safety in dwellings, and Parts A, B, C. K, M and N. The draft Building Control changes are aimed at, among other areas, improving the private sector Approved Inspector arrangements and strengthening enforcement. The Part L consultation ends on 27 March 2012, one month earlier than the other consultations which run to 27 April 2012. The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a document which aims to provide an easier to read overview of the Government’s 2012 consultation on changes to the Building Regulations for England, highlighting areas the Department thinks will be of interest to consumers. It does not contain all the detail of the consultation and should be read alongside the other consultation documents which are available from the Department for Communities and Local Government web site.

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Lessons learned from the London 2012 Games construction project

Posted on: 27 January 2012
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Demolition waste management on the Olympic Park

This report from the Olympic Development Authority considers the lessons learned from the London Olympic Games 2012 construction project. A robust demolition methodology and process was developed which took account of health and safety, sustainability, stringent timescales and immovable programme (affecting time available for reclamation surveys), budget, storage space, and lack of existing buildings designed for deconstruction. This paper evaluates the methods and processes in place to meet the ODA’s key sustainability targets for two key stages: pre-demolition and during demolition.

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Sustainable Building Solutions

Posted on: 24 January 2012
By: mackene
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A new website by the Travis Perkins Group offers technical sustainability expertise for new build and refurbishment projects. Aimed at builders and specifiers, the Sustainable Building Solutions site includes standard construction details, technical advice and recommended products and services. The site also has a technical helpline for customers, which is managed by BRE.

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Retrofit Guides

Posted on: 19 January 2012
By: mackene
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To explore the business opportunities emerging from the low carbon building and retrofit market, the Institute for Sustainability has produced a series of ‘Building Opportunities for Business’ Retrofit Guides. The guides draw on leading academic and industry experts and provide practical and commercially focused advice and best practice to both trades and professions including architects, surveyors, builders, project managers, plumbers and electricians. The guides are: 1: Introduction; 2: Surveying and assessing buildings for low carbon retrofit; 3: Planning low carbon retrofit projects; 4: Funding and procurement for low carbon retrofit projects; 5: Managing low carbon retrofit projects; 6: Improving the building fabric; 7: Improving the building services; 8: Green retrofit; 9: Living in a low carbon home; 10: Identifying opportunities and promoting low carbon retrofit; 11: Promotion programmes for low carbon retrofit; 12: Skills, training and accreditation.

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Fire performance of new residential buildings

Posted on: 16 December 2011
By: mackene
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An increasing number of residential buildings are being constructed using non-traditional methods, mainly with the aim of improving construction efficiency and energy performance. But could the greater use of thermal insulating products, some of which are combustible, make buildings more susceptible to fire damage? A new NHBC Foundation guide provides information on the risks and best practice guidance for designers, builders and those involved in the fire safety of new homes.

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Guidance on fire risk management

Posted on: 6 December 2011
By: mackene
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The UK Timber Frame Association (UK) has launched guidance to building timber frame structures over 600m2, enabling the safe building of timber frame, in any location, relative to the fire risk during construction. This guidance is described as essential reading for architects, CDM co-ordinators, project managers, timber frame companies, builders, HSE inspectors, insurance inspectors and product suppliers. A 20 minute film is also available, explaining the context and background to this guidance.

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Towards Intelligent Construction Conference. London, 30 November 2011

Posted on: 30 November 2011
By: mackene
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The Conference title was chosen to reflect the need for the construction industry to adopt new and more effective ways of working, in order to offer better construction solutions and to deliver much better value for clients and customers. It is not about suppliers making minor modifications at the margins but rather the need for a fundamental reshaping of the technologies, processes and relationships that are applied within the industry. This includes smarter build solutions including the increased use of offsite solutions, the application of the principles of design for manufacture and assembly, the use of lean production techniques to eliminate process waste and the increased and intelligent use of Building Information Modelling. The Conference featured two significant Case Studies, the first being the British Land project at 122 Leadenhall Street in the City of London. Commonly referred to as the Cheese-grater, this stunning and technically challenging development is being constructed by Laing O’Rourke and will be completed 6 months ahead of schedule through the application of intelligent construction techniques, including the use of Building Information Modelling, with the use of offsite manufactured components accounting for 85% of the building. The second Case Study featured the development programme of elective surgery hospitals by Circle Health Properties. This substantial investment programme is characterised by the requirement for excellence in design, excellence in construction, excellence in use and excellence in customer experience. The expert client in collaboration with their supply chain is constantly challenging what it does and why it does it, as well as taking the learning points from each hospital project and applying the lessons to their next projects. This process ensures that tangible benefits in terms of more effective design and construction techniques, reduced cost of ownership, provision for adaptation, and the development of clinical and customer services are being achieved in a way that also ensures that waste in all its forms is being eliminated. The client’s supply chain is deploying Building Information Modelling both to manage the overall design and construction process and to drive efficiency in the building form. Presentations featuring both case studies are available online.

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