Features Articles

Flooring in education must balance safety, durability and acoustics over time. Melissa Heath from leading manufacturer Amtico explores why long-term performance needs to be more effectively considered during specification. Education environments are among the most demanding interior settings. From primary... View Article

Kate Jones of Ahmarra outlines the key pointers for safe specification of fire doors for education settings – balancing life safety, compliance and performance with the practical demands of busy learning environments. Specifying fire doors can be one of the... View Article

Rob Firman at Polyfoam XPS looks at new recommendations for inverted roof buildups under the revised British Standard, and reflects on how specifiers’ decisions on roofing systems have ramifications through a building’s life. The revised code of practice BS 6229:2025... View Article

Richard Brown at Ideal Commercial Heating explores key pointers for specifiers looking to transition projects from gas boilers to heat pumps. The electrification of heat is now firmly embedded in the future of the UK’s built environment. Yet successful deployment... View Article

The industry has focused on the speed and sustainability credentials of building with timber, but some of its most compelling advantages are commercial, as Paul Newman at the Structural Timber Association explains. The Government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new... View Article

Ashley Cooper at WMS Underfloor Heating explains why the provision of heating is not just a technical decision, but a design choice that shapes how a home feels. When we think about home heating, the conversation often centres on performance... View Article

Graham Mears at Stannah Lifts explains the different types of lift solutions designed for improving accessibility, and advises on the best options for a variety of scenarios. Passenger lifts are the most common type of lift found in residential and... View Article

Marvyn Candler at Lignacite explores why Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are now under increasing scrutiny – and how robust, independently verified data supports evidence-based specification and credible carbon reduction in architectural design. Environmental claims in construction are increasingly questioned by... View Article

Dave Harding of Gilberts Blackpool looks at the raised profile of ventilation systems, which is leading to a better appreciation by architects of their importance. It’s refreshing to see how the means of heating and cooling a space are now... View Article

Amanda Mills at SFA Saniflo discusses how lifting stations can prove an effective method for discharging waste from buildings in change of use projects. One of the most crucial elements of reconfiguring an existing building for a new purpose is... View Article

Samuel Sturgiss at offsite specialist Wernick explores how modular construction is influencing early-stage architectural design, procurement strategy, and sustainability outcomes across a pressurised UK built environment. The UK construction sector is facing a convergence of pressures that are redefining how... View Article

Robert Flello at the Brick Development Association explores how clay bricks combine tradition with design flexibility, offering architects greater freedom. Few materials have shaped the built environment as profoundly as clay brick. Recognisable across centuries of construction, it embodies continuity,... View Article