Fire safety and signage – what to know

An effective evacuation strategy in the event of a fire is crucial – and this requires meeting key legislation for exit signage and fire doors. Here, David Saxby, Senior Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect highlights the requirements. There are several aspects... View Article

Gas safety in 2021

Joe Beesley of CORGI explores how landlords can stay on the right side of gas safety regulations. In 2020, a new problem significantly exacerbated the age-old problem of access to residents’ homes to perform gas safety checks and repairs and... View Article
One size does not fit all

One size does not fit all

John Mellor of Glidevale Protect explains why specification matters in roofing membrane and ventilation products. Specifying pitched roofing underlays for new build or refurbishment projects is often a confusing subject with so many options available on the market, each offering... View Article

Why specify recycled plastic?

Sarah Mitchell of Goplastic explores how and why landlords and social housing providers should utilise recycled plastic in their projects. The world’s annual consumption of plastic materials has increased from around 5 million tonnes in the 1950s to nearly 100... View Article

Reducing drainage noise

LISTEN HERE Adam Cafer of Polypipe Building Services discusses how sound pollution can be reduced, especially in tall building drainage systems. With one third of the UK workforce currently working from home, issues such as noise pollution from building service... View Article

The advantages of electric heating

Bill Walters of The Electric Heating Company explores how advances in technology and new energy efficiency standards mean there’s never been a better time to invest in electric heating. Electric heating is continually becoming an increasingly viable option for heating... View Article

Driving up Standards on Fire Door Safety

Over a year ago, in October 2019, Sir Martin Moore-Bick made a number of recommendations in conclusion to Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which he chaired. His aim was for these recommendations to be adopted by owners and managers of... View Article

Remote management: sensible or intrusive?

Terri Hickman of Intergas Boilers discusses the pros and cons of remote management in the Covid-19 era. Working from home, such an alien concept at the start of lockdown, is now a much-loved (or tolerated, depending on your point of... View Article

Balcony fire safety

Richard Izzard of AliDeck explores the prevalence and causes of balcony fires. Following the Grenfell tragedy, various building regulation updates and Government initiatives have attempted to resolve the flammable cladding issue by outlawing combustible materials and mandating its replacement in... View Article

How to deliver on flat roof refurbishment projects

Clients are constantly trying to make the smartest investment, presenting surveyors with the challenge of delivering predictable project costs and providing precise technical data to enable clients to make the correct decision. Bauder explores how to deliver cost certainty and... View Article

Clarity on composite fire and security doors

Chris Flaherty of Winkhaus UK provides clarity for specifiers following a series of legislation and guidance updates covering the specification of composite fire doors. There is a lot of confusion and frustration among specifiers as to what is required and... View Article

What is IAQ and how do we measure it?

Vince House of Aereco explores what indoor air quality (IAQ) really means as residents are confined to their homes more than ever. There has been a lot of talk around Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), especially during the pandemic, but what... View Article

Taking fenestration design to new heights

Multi-story developments are a common sight in most major towns and cities across the UK, fuelled by the demand for affordable residential housing, high-quality student accommodation and versatile office space. As fenestration design is one of the most important elements... View Article

Looking up to meet new housing demand

Upward Extensions have the potential to provide a quicker and more cost-effective way of creating new affordable homes – and could be key to meeting current housing demands. Here, David Gatehouse at Langley Structures Ltd explains more about extending upwards... View Article

A property ‘MOT’

Mark Lowe of Pinacl explores how conducting a property ‘MOT’ can provide an overall view of the health of a property portfolio Everyone requires a home that is at least fit for purpose, but unfortunately that isn’t the case for... View Article

Ask the manufacturer: Adapting to change

Though the construction industry is now back on site, Covid-19 has not left it unscarred. AO.com managing director Anthony Sant speaks to HMM Features Editor Jack Wooler on how the virus has brought supply to the fore, and what the... View Article

A proactive approach to fire safety

The Regulator of Social Housing’s third temporary monthly survey found challenges around gaining physical access to properties across the UK due to the risks posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. Here, Nick Rutter of FireAngel explores what connected and cost-effective fire... View Article

The ‘new normal’ in access control

Intratone takes a look at how the latest access control technology can ensure tenant security and safety as we emerge from lockdown Tenant safety and security have always been a priority for housing and property managers – everyone has a... View Article

Presenting social value

Andrew Morrison of AM Bid explains how to present social value within your bids Social value is the benefit of a contract on the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the local community. Buyers want to see legacy from the... View Article

Legionella concerns post-lockdown

Legionnaires’ disease could be on the rise in post-lockdown properties, according to a recent report by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). HMM Features Editor Jack Wooler investigates why this is, and the actions required under law for landlords... View Article