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.
Writing clear and concise specifications is crucial on construction projects. A well-structured specification is not only essential for design success but can also prevent delays, unexpected costs and disputes. Here are five essential tips to help you get it right, from our Best Practice Guide to Specification Writing.
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Typical concrete comprises cement, water, gravel and sand. While this mixture makes the substance hard and strong, it does not promote flexibility. Thus concrete is brittle and prone to cracks if too much weight is applied. What if it could be more bendable?
Don't let fear stop you from reaping the benefits of adopting an organisational approach to Building Information Modelling (BIM). Here we explore how to get started when it comes to auditing and implementing new workflows to better support digital construction.
Revisions to BS 5266 have been made to better align the document with national and European standards and to reflect the fact that, in some scenarios, such as hospitals or care homes, occupants may need to remain on the premises in safety.
The volume of natural resources used in buildings and transport infrastructure increased 23-fold between 1900 and 2010. Globally, there are now 800 billion tonnes of natural resource “stock” tied up in these constructions, two-thirds of it in industrialised nations alone.
Building successful UK sectors in smart cities, cyber and physical security and realising the potential of the Internet of Things (IoT) is at the heart of the Digital Built Britain initiative. But what is the IoT and how can construction make the most of the opportunities it affords?
NBS research has found that Approved Documents are valued by users and are essential in making sure people comply with the building regulations. There is, however, work to be done to make them fit for digital construction.
The green agenda has moved on. So, what does it mean to build sustainably today? Regenerative Development and Design: A Framework for Evolving Sustainability attempts to reconnect the wider environmental ecosystem and drive change.
Are electric highways the answer to the range problem? Harry Hoster explores the potential for electric vehicle charging without the wires and muses on a dense network of roads that can charge vehicles on the move.
What is the difference between an ordinary door and a fire door? This article provides some insight into the use of fire doors in passive fire protection, how they should be specified correctly and who is responsible for their maintenance.
Is the green belt a sustainable idea in a time of housing crisis? Alister Scott, Professor of Environment and Spatial Planning at Northumbria University and puts the case for greater strategic cross-boundary planning.
Information is now another key material to consider when it comes to the design of public spaces. Silvio Carta from the University of Hertfordshire explores street smarts and the potential of big data for designers.
