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

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

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

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

Revamp, don’t replace

Lindsay Appleton of William Smith Group looks at how vinyl wrapping can enhance interior designs using architectural finishes, as part of the trend to reuse and recover furniture on sustainability grounds, rather than rip out and replace The trend for... View Article

Climate control

A new Canadian engineering faculty building will research and develop solutions for clean power innovation, as part of the Government’s response to climate change. ADF’s Sébastien Reed speaks to its architect Venelin Kokalov about a project that uses glazing to... 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

From Paul Cook, Häfele Business Development Manager 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... 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... View Article

Why specify a complete roof system?

Stuart Nicholson from Marley answers some of the key questions around specifying a complete roof system. With a greater focus on future liability, more frequent episodes of volatile weather and stronger British Standards safeguarding compliance, there are real benefits for... View Article

Adaptive reuse, realised

LISTEN HERE Ben Heath, principal at Grimshaw, looks at how the practice returned to the Herman Miller factory in Bath to realise its original design intent of adaptive reuse, and harness the building’s flexibility to create a new school of... View Article

Get on board with fencing trends

LISTEN HERE Fencing products are now seen as an integral part of a garden’s overall landscape, and an important aesthetic choice. Antony Reed of Birkdale looks at the latest fencing trends, and explores design choices that can garner impressive visual... View Article

Playful participation

LISTEN HERE In designing a riverside replacement for Chelmsford’s main swimming pool and gym, Pick Everard followed a brief to increase local community participation. James Parker reports In 2014, Chelmsford City Council undertook a condition survey on the only sports... View Article

A HAPPI medium

LISTEN HERE Linden Court is PRP’s response to the Greater London Authority’s call for exemplar housing designed for retirement living. Project architect Mark Walker spoke to Sébastien Reed about how the HAPPI standard was key to the project’s success The Office... View Article