Designing Buildings - User contributions [en]

Housing Strategy for England

2015-03-10T16:07:02Z

Mustafa Pasha:

[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laying-the-foundations-a-housing-strategy-for-england--2 Laying the foundations: a housing strategy for England] was published by the government in November 2011 to promote choice, flexibility and affordability in housing. The aim of the strategy was; to get Britain building again; laying the foundations for a more responsive, effective and stable housing market; supporting choice and quality for tenants; improving environmental standards and design quality.

The strategy suggested that ‘…In 2009/10, there were 115,000 new build housing completions in England. Meanwhile, the latest household projections suggest that the number of households will grow by 232,000 per year (average annual figure until 2033).’

The initiatives set out in the Housing Strategy for England included:
*Investing £400 million in new developments, supporting house builders requiring finance, including small and medium sized builders.
*Supporting 100,000 households through the mortgage indemnity scheme designed with the Home Builders Federation and Council of Mortgage Lenders to offer 95% loan value mortgages for new build projects in England.
*Freeing up public sector land with build now pay later schemes for developers, releasing enough land to construct 100,000 new homes and creating up to 200,000 new jobs in the construction industry.
*Implementing a new £500 million Growing Places fund in order to support infrastructure.
*Helping first time buyers by earmarking £400 million for First Buy, to help buyers by offering an equity loan of up to 20%.
*Consultations with local authorities to rethink plans where developments have stalled.
*Providing £30 million in a Custom Homes programme to encourage self-build homes.
*Committing to the New Homes Bonus and simplifying planning through the National Planning Policy Framework.
*Reforming the Housing Revenue Act and social housing management through the Localism Act.
*Offering discounts to Right to buy owners.
*Introducing HomeSwap Direct, to enable social tenants to manage moving homes themselves.
*Focussing on value for money with social housing and councils not obliged to have open waiting lists.
*Giving social landlords the power to identify and recover fraudulently used properties.
*Allowing social landlords to charge market orientated rents from people earning very high salaries.
*Preventing people seeking social housing who already have suitable homes.
*Encouraging competition and innovation between landlords.
*Reviewing barriers to investing in private rented properties and offering financial incentives.
*Reforming stamp duty land tax and real estate investment trusts.
*Encouraging build to let schemes.
*Working with local authorities to tackle the worst properties.
*Helping private landlords understand basic requirements of managing rental properties.
*Funding £100 million to bring empty homes back into use.
*Consultations on premiums added to council tax if homes are left unattended for over two years.
*Awarding the New Homes Bonus to empty homes brought back into use.
*A new deal for older people’s housing and £51 million in handyperson schemes for repairs and adaptations.
*Allocating £400 million to prevent homelessness.
*Offering service personnel priority for social housing.
*Funding the Design Council to support local communities.
*Ensuring new homes will meet the Zero Carbon Homes standard from 2016.
*Reviewing the building regulations to improve energy efficiency and carbon emissions standards for new buildings.
*Committing to the Green Deal for renovations and boosting energy efficiency.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Affordable housing.
*Affordable rented housing.
*Draft London Housing Strategy (blog November 2013).
*GLA Housing Design SPG.
*Green deal.
*Help to buy.
*Housing associations.
*Housing standards review.
*Intermediate housing.
*Localism act.
*National Planning Policy Framework.
*Real estate investment trusts.
*Rent to buy.
*Right to buy.
*Social rented housing.
*Stamp duty land tax.
*The London Plan.
*Zero carbon homes.

[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]
[[Category:Policy]]

Carbon trust

2015-03-02T15:12:12Z

Mustafa Pasha:

The [http://www.carbontrust.com/ Carbon Trust] is an independent organisation that supports leading companies and businesses worldwide. It is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. It has more than 150 experts working around the world from offices in the UK, USA, China, Mexico and South Africa.

Created in the year 2001, its mission is to accelerate the move towards a sustainable and low-carbon economy. It highlights the need for change and for action to be taken by businesses, governments and society and has developed into a world-leading and expert organisation on low-carbon issues, sustainable strategies, environmental foot printing and low-carbon technology development and deployment.

The Carbon Trust publishes a number of tools, guides and reports to help organisations address climate change and harness the economic benefits from the move to a low-carbon economy. It forms partnerships with a number of organisations to help them contribute to and benefit from a more sustainable future through carbon reduction, resource efficiency strategies and promoting low carbon technologies.

It suggests that green goals can include:
*Lowering carbon emissions.
*Developing low carbon businesses.
*Increasing energy security.
*Creating new jobs.

The Carbon Trust can offer services tailored to the needs of individual organisations, and can offer advice and guidance on opportunities for low-carbon, sustainable strategies, and can measure and certify organisations environmental footprints from their supply chains to their products.

The Carbon Trust Standard can provide benchmarking for organisations undergoing certification and assessment. The standard recognises an organisation’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions. It can supply tangible proof to consumers, employees and shareholders of a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint. Having the standard can be seen as a mark of excellence which demonstrates that steps have been taken to become more sustainable.

In 2015, they suggest that they had saved their clients £5.5 billion in energy costs and cut customers' carbon emissions by 60Mt.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Construction industry institutes and associations.
*Ecological impact assessment.
*Emission rates.
*Energy Act.
*Energy targets.
*Environmental consultant.
*Environmental plan.
*Environmental policy.
*Environmental impact assessment.
*National Planning Policy Framework.
*Passivhaus.
*Renewable energy.
*Sustainability.
*Sustainable materials.
*The Carbon Plan: Delivering our low carbon future.
*Zero carbon homes.
*Zero carbon non-domestic buildings.

[[Category:Organisations]] [[Category:DCN_Organisation]]

National House Building Council NHBC

2015-02-27T15:35:36Z

Mustafa Pasha:

The National House Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) was established in 1936. It was originally created to tackle poor building practices during the inter-war years in the belief that an increase in professionalism and care amongst home builders would lead to an improved built product. It was a voluntary venture into self-regulation, with a motto ‘Cavendo tutus’ - ‘be safe by taking care’.

The NHBRC was renamed the [http://www.nhbc.co.uk/ National House Building Council] (NHBC) in 1973. The NHBC independently regulates the new homes industry. It is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

NHBC invests in raising standards and activities to advance the quality of UK house building. It aims to help the housebuilding industry construct high quality new homes that meet the requirements and expectations of modern day homebuyers. It is now the UK’s leading standard-setting body and provider of insurance and warranties for newly-built homes. It is also the largest single approved inspector for the building regulations.

NHBC have a number of roles and responsibilities working with the house-building industry:
*Registering house builders.
*Setting and raising standards for construction.
*Inspecting homes independently during construction and after completion.
*Promoting best practice.
*Providing cover for new and newly-converted homes.
*Providing research, analysis, feedback and practical guidance.
*Protecting consumers through the Buildmark warranty.

The NHBC business strategy sets out four main pillars:
*Customer – researching the industry to provide homeowners with better access to information to help manage their homes. Understanding consumer needs to develop products that better meet these needs.
*Financial – ensuring the capital position is be sufficient to support the organisations objectives.
*Reputation – working closely with the government to help shape the future of the house building industry.
*Standards – investing in changes to house building standards frameworks to reduce the potential for defects in newly-constructed homes. Conducting ongoing analysis of overall build quality.

A board of directors runs the NHBC on a day-to-day basis. They are accountable to a council of members consisting of groups who have an interest in improving UK house building. Representatives can include architects, consumer groups, house builders, law societies, mortgage lenders, surveyors and so on.

The council commissions research and works with the government and key stakeholders in order to help shape housing policy.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Approved inspector.
*Building regulations.
*Construction industry institutes and associations.
*Defective premises - liability and measure of damages.
*Defective Premises Act.
*Performance gap.

[[Category:Organisations]]

Heat rejection

2015-02-24T16:33:55Z

Mustafa Pasha:

To help develop this article, click ‘Edit this article’ above.

= Introduction =

Waste heat can be produced by any process that uses energy. In buildings, this might include::
*Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems (HVAC).
*Refrigeration.
*Machinery, equipment and industrial processes.

Where this waste heat is at a low-temperature, it may have limited useful capacity for work and so it may be rejected to the environment. However, if it is suitable for use in another process, a portion of heat that would otherwise be wasted might be reused. This is known as heat recovery.

Heat rejection methods include, air cooing, evaporative cooling, and ground coupling.

= Air cooling =

Air cooling can be as simple as using mechanical or natural ventilation to reject excess heat to the outside.

Typically in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, air cooling rejects heat to the outside air by circulating 'outside' air over coils containing ‘hot’ fluid returning from the building. Heat is transferred from the coil to the air which is then rejected to the outside. See cooling for more information.

= Evaporative cooling =

When water evaporates, it absorbs significant amounts of heat energy (latent heat), which produces a cooling effect in its surroundings.

Direct evaporative coolers (sometimes referred to as sump coolers, swamp coolers, or desert coolers) draw hot, dry air through a continually dampened pad and supply cool, humid air.

Indirect evaporative cooling can be achieved by using a heat exchanger to cool supply air, by spraying water over the cooling coils of a conventional chiller or by cooling towers.

Cooling towers reject heat through the evaporation of water in a moving air stream within the cooling tower. The temperature and humidity of the air stream increases through contact with the warm water, and this air is then discharged. The cooled water is collected at the bottom of the tower. This process can achieve lower temperatures than air-cooled heat rejection systems. See Cooling towers for more information.

= Ground coupling =

Earth-to-air heat exchangers draw air through buried ducts or tubes (sometimes referred to as earth tubes). As the temperature of the ground below 3m is practically constant, it can be used to substantially reduce air temperatures. See Earth-to-air heat exchanger for more information.

Open or closed loop water to air heat exchangers, similarly exploit the relatively stable temperature of the earth to provide cool water. See Ground energy options for more information.

= Heat recovery =

Heat recovery is the process of collecting and re-using heat that would otherwise be lost. This can help reduce the energy consumption of the process or the heat can be used elsewhere, reducing running costs and carbon emissions. See Heat recovery for more information.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Absorption refrigeration.
*Air conditioning.
*Air handling unit.
*Chilled water.
*Chiller unit.
*Cooling tower.
*Cooling.
*Heat pump.
*Heating.
*Heat recovery.
*HVAC.
*Mechanical ventilation.
*Night-time purging.
*Passive ventilation.
*Refrigerants.
*Thermal labyrinth.
*Thermal storage for cooling.

[[Category:Sustainability]]
[[Category:Design]]
[[Category:Products_/_components]]

File:CCTV Camera.JPG

2015-02-19T10:12:41Z

Mustafa Pasha: A CCTV camera observing roads and traffic. Closed-circuit television, commonly known as CCTV, is a video monitoring system in which all of the circuits are closed and all of the elements are directly connected.

A CCTV camera observing roads and traffic. Closed-circuit television, commonly known as CCTV, is a video monitoring system in which all of the circuits are closed and all of the elements are directly connected.

File:CCTV Enforcement Car.JPG

2015-02-19T10:08:38Z

Mustafa Pasha: A parked CCTV enforcement car.

A parked CCTV enforcement car.

File:School Safety Vehicle.JPG

2015-02-19T10:05:01Z

Mustafa Pasha: A parked safety vehicle with CCTV cameras to observe a busy junction close to schools.

A parked safety vehicle with CCTV cameras to observe a busy junction close to schools.

File:St Paul's Detail.JPG

2015-02-18T16:00:43Z

Mustafa Pasha: Detail of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Detail of St Paul's Cathedral in London.

File:Somerset House Detail.JPG

2015-02-18T15:55:37Z

Mustafa Pasha: Detail of Somerset House in London.

Detail of Somerset House in London.

File:Hayward Gallery.JPG

2015-02-18T15:53:53Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Hayward Gallery, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. Built in the Brutalist architectural style.

The Hayward Gallery, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. Built in the Brutalist architectural style.

File:Tate Modern.JPG

2015-02-18T15:48:56Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Tate Modern art gallery in London. Was once Bankside Power Station.

The Tate Modern art gallery in London. Was once Bankside Power Station.

File:Bridge Over River Thames.JPG

2015-02-18T15:44:51Z

Mustafa Pasha: A bridge over the River Thames, London.

A bridge over the River Thames, London.

File:Bridge.JPG

2015-02-18T15:42:54Z

Mustafa Pasha: A bridge over the River Thames.

A bridge over the River Thames.

Minimum energy efficiency standard regulations for domestic and non-domestic buildings

2015-02-18T11:09:24Z

Mustafa Pasha:

The Climate Change Act 2008 legally bound the government to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 and 80% by 2050, against a 1990 baseline. The December 2011 Carbon Plan highlighted that 38% of emissions in the UK come from buildings and the government aims to reduce these emissions to close to zero by the year 2050.

The Energy Act 2011 placed a duty on the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to bring into force regulations that would improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the domestic and non-domestic private rented sector in England and Wales. 

On 5 February 2015 the Government published a response to a consultation on the private rented sector minimum energy efficiency standard regulations for [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401381/Dom_PRS_Energy_Efficiency_Regulations_-_Gov_Response_FINAL__04_02_15_.pdf domestic] and [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/401378/Non_Dom_PRS_Energy_Efficiency_Regulations_-_Gov_Response__FINAL_1_1__04_02_15_.pdf non-domestic buildings] in England and Wales. The consultation ran from 22 July 2014 to 2 September 2014 and engaged with a range of stakeholders, including landlords, tenants, environmental groups and property organisations.

They propose that the regulations will:
*Require landlords to improve the energy efficiency of domestic properties to at least band ‘E’ Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating by 2018 otherwise they will not be able to lease the property to new or renewing tenants.
*The new rules will be extended to cover all domestic leases by the year 2020 and all non-domestic leases by 2023.
*Residential tenants will have the right to request consent for necessary improvement works to properties they are already occupying from 1 April 2016. The improvements must not entail upfront costs to the landlords, which would mean that improvements might be funded through the Green Deal or Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Landlords will not be able to unreasonably withhold consent. The First-tier Tribunal General Regulatory Chamber will hear and determine applications from tenants where the tenant considers that the landlord has not complied with the regulations.
*Some property types will be exempt, for example listed buildings.

The regulations will be enforced by local authorities, who will be able to issue penalties for not complying with the regulations. Renting out a non-compliant property might incur a penalty of up to £4,000 for domestic properties and up to £150,000 for non-domestic properties. 

Amber Rudd MP said, “improving the energy efficiency...will enhance the quality of living and cut the energy bills for the millions of people who rent their homes”.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Betterment.
*Climate change act.
*Energy company obligation.
*Energy performance certificate.
*Green deal.
*Ground rent.
*Leasehold.
*Peppercorn rent.
*Rent free period.
*Rent in administration.
*Rent review.
*Rent to buy.

[[Category:Property_law]]
[[Category:Sustainability]]

File:King's College.JPG

2015-02-17T16:02:57Z

Mustafa Pasha: King's College in London.

King's College in London.

File:St Paul's Entrance.JPG

2015-02-17T16:00:11Z

Mustafa Pasha: Entrance to St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Entrance to St Paul's Cathedral in London.

File:OXO Tower.JPG

2015-02-17T15:53:38Z

Mustafa Pasha: The OXO Tower seen from across the River Thames.

The OXO Tower seen from across the River Thames.

File:Pub Seating.JPG

2015-02-17T15:40:33Z

Mustafa Pasha: Outdoors seating area for the Halfway 2 Heaven Pub in London.

Outdoors seating area for the Halfway 2 Heaven Pub in London.

File:Pub Exterior.JPG

2015-02-17T15:38:41Z

Mustafa Pasha: Exterior of the Halfway 2 Heaven Pub in London.

Exterior of the Halfway 2 Heaven Pub in London.

File:Golden Jubilee Bridge.JPG

2015-02-17T15:36:13Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Queen's Golden Jubilee Footbridges are either side of the Hungerford Railway Bridge.

The Queen's Golden Jubilee Footbridges are either side of the Hungerford Railway Bridge.

File:The Millennium Bridge.JPG

2015-02-17T15:31:04Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge.

The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge.

File:Millennium Bridge View.JPG

2015-02-17T15:29:06Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Millennium Bridge is aligned so that a clear view of the south facade of St Paul's Cathedral is presented, framed by the bridge supports.

The Millennium Bridge is aligned so that a clear view of the south facade of St Paul's Cathedral is presented, framed by the bridge supports.

File:Millennium Bridge.JPG

2015-02-17T15:25:12Z

Mustafa Pasha: Millennium Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that allows pedestrians to cross the River Thames.

Millennium Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that allows pedestrians to cross the River Thames.

File:Doggett's Pub.JPG

2015-02-17T15:18:08Z

Mustafa Pasha: Doggett's Pub main entrance in London.

Doggett's Pub main entrance in London.

File:Cannon Street Station.JPG

2015-02-17T15:15:31Z

Mustafa Pasha: London Cannon Street Railway Station entrance.

London Cannon Street Railway Station entrance.

File:Anchor Pub.JPG

2015-02-17T15:12:57Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Anchor Pub in London.

The Anchor Pub in London.

File:Pub Detail.JPG

2015-02-17T15:11:36Z

Mustafa Pasha: Detail of the Anchor Pub in London.

Detail of the Anchor Pub in London.

File:Pub Entrance.JPG

2015-02-17T15:08:52Z

Mustafa Pasha: The entrance to the Anchor Pub in London.

The entrance to the Anchor Pub in London.

File:Cafe Rouge.JPG

2015-02-17T15:05:31Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Cafe Rouge in London. Close to St Paul's Cathedral.

The Cafe Rouge in London. Close to St Paul's Cathedral.

File:St Paul's Cathedral.JPG

2015-02-17T15:02:14Z

Mustafa Pasha: St Paul's Cathedral in London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the English Baroque style.

St Paul's Cathedral in London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the English Baroque style.

File:The Centre Page Pub.JPG

2015-02-12T15:57:51Z

Mustafa Pasha: Entrance to the Centre Page Pub in London.

Entrance to the Centre Page Pub in London.

File:Construction Site.JPG

2015-02-12T15:54:48Z

Mustafa Pasha: A construction site in London. Plans for a residential block of towers.

A construction site in London. Plans for a residential block of towers.

File:National Theatre.JPG

2015-02-12T15:51:28Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Royal National Theatre in London. Generally known as the National Theatre.

The Royal National Theatre in London. Generally known as the National Theatre.

File:Bridge Detail.JPG

2015-02-12T15:47:24Z

Mustafa Pasha: Structural detail of a bridge.

Structural detail of a bridge.

File:National Gallery.JPG

2015-02-12T15:44:24Z

Mustafa Pasha: The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London.

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London.

File:The National Gallery.JPG

2015-02-12T15:42:14Z

Mustafa Pasha: The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London.

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London.

File:Globe.JPG

2015-02-12T15:38:01Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Globe Theatre in London. Associated with William Shakespeare.

The Globe Theatre in London. Associated with William Shakespeare.

File:Wood Green Crown Court.JPG

2015-02-12T15:33:51Z

Mustafa Pasha: Wood Green Crown Court.

Wood Green Crown Court.

Acoustic consultant

2015-02-12T12:35:31Z

Mustafa Pasha:

To help develop this article, click ‘Edit this article’ above.

----

An acoustic consultant can help to design, assess, manage and control sound and vibrations in the built environment. They might provide consultancy for the design or assessment of acoustics in homes, workplaces, leisure facilities, the outdoor environment and so on. They may also be described as acousticians or acoustic engineers.

The duties undertaken by acoustic consultants might include:
*Offering advice to architects and other designers.
*Noise assessments of existing buildings.
*Compliance testing.
*Vibration monitoring.
*Construction site surveys.
*Assessing industrial sites.
*Assessing noise levels and noise nuisance and providing noise mitigation advice.
*Assessing problem spaces and equipment and proposing mitigation strategies.
*Assessing intelligibility and reverberation time.
*Carrying out acoustic analysis and design using specialist modelling software.
*Assessing how changes in design affect sound levels and quality.
*Technical report writing.
*Preparing proposals.
*Liaising with clients, project managers, designers and contractors.
*Designing and working on specialist facilities and equipment such as recording studio and broadcast equipment.
*Developing acoustic environments for specialist spaces such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, teaching spaces, arenas and so on.
*Assessing the impact of developments such as airports and roads.
*Assessing environmental noise and carrying out noise surveys.
*Expert witness services.

Acoustic consultants tend to be practical people and creative problem solvers. They require a broad knowledge of the subject, legislation and standards and will generally hold a relevant degree-level qualification and a diploma or post graduate qualification in acoustics. They can become members of the [http://www.ioa.org.uk/ Institute of Acoustics] (IOA). Consultancy practices and businesses can join the [http://www.association-of-noise-consultants.co.uk/ Association of Noise Consultants] (ANC).

They can choose to specialise in specific areas of acoustics, such as; audio and hi-fi design, auditorium and concert hall design, broadcasting and telecommunications, teaching spaces, laboratory design and so on.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Airborne sound.
*British standards.
*Building acoustics.
*Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
*Building regulations.
*Flanking sound.
*Impact sound.
*Noise nuisance.
*Reverberation time.
*Sound absorption.
*Sound insulation.
*Sound v noise.
*Structure-borne sound.

[[Category:Roles_/_services]]

Articles required

2015-02-10T15:45:55Z

Mustafa Pasha:

Here's a list of some articles we know are needed on Designing Buildings Wiki. Why not write an article and help fill in the gaps? To get started, just click the big orange button 'CREATE AN ARTICLE' above. You can also have a look at our list of [http://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Category:Articles_needing_more_work existing articles that need more work].

[[Why%20write%20an%20article|Find out why it's in your interest to write an article]].

----
*Accessibility
*Accounts
*Accredited construction details
*Acquisitions
*Air change rates
*Air infiltration
*Air quality
*Appliances
*Approved Document M
*Approved document P
*Arbitration Act
*Archaeologist / archaeological consultant
*Articles of agreement
*As built
*Assets of Community Value
*Association of Consultant Architects
*Audit
*Balance sheet
*Base line designs for schools
*Basements
*BES 6001 Responsible sourcing of construction products
*Best value
*Bidding
*Bridging finance
*Building automation
*Building regulations - main article exists, but articles are required on each of the different parts,(Part L exists)
*Building survey 
*Buildings archaeology (buildings not sites) 
*Build-to-Rent – A ULI UK Best Practice Guide 
*Business management consultant 
*Business Premises Renovation Allowance (BPRA) 
*Cantilever 
*Carbon Buzz 
*Carbon trust 
*Certificate of lawfulness 
*CGI 
*Chartered Institute of Housing 
*Civil procedure rules
*Code of Measurement Practice
*Co-heating tests
*Commissioning Report (Approved document L)
*Common law
*Commons Act
*Community right to challenge
*Community rights inquiry
*Concrete
*Condition surveys
*Conservation
*Constraints
*Construction cost
*Construction Environmental Management Plan (Environmental Plan exists)
*Consumer Contracts Regulations
*Contract particulars
*Corporate finance
*Cost indices (and tender price indices)
*Cost of building
*Cost Value Reconciliation (CVR)
*Covenant
*Crown build
*Debt and equity
*Derogations
*Design coordination / management 
*Design co-ordinator
*Design data
*Design for deconstruction
*Design intent
*Design team meeting
*Detailed services design
*Detailed structural design
*Determination
*Development Management Procedure Order
*Devolution
*Discharge of conditions
*Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
*Disposal
*Domestic Building Services Compliance Guide
*Ductwork
*Due diligence (technical due diligence exists)
*Ecology
*Economic development
*Emmerson Report
*Energy / energy efficiency
*Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
*Environmental health
*Environmental impairment liability insurance
*Environmental Liability Directive
*Environmental Statement
*Equal opportunities
*Equal opportunities policy
*European Union
*Expert witnesses
*Fabric structures (history and fabrics exist)
*Factories Act
*Fairclough Report, Rethinking Construction Research and Innovation: A Review of Government Policies and Practices
*Faster Building for Commerce, National Economic Development Office (NEDO) Report
*Faster Building for Industry, National Economic Development Office (NEDO) Report
*Financing structure options
*Fire engineering
*Fire engineering consultant
*Flexibility 
*Flood risk
*Floor loading
*Freedom of Information Act
*Furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) consultant
*Future water
*Garden cities
*Glazing
*Green building
*Green leases
*Green rating systems
*Ground conditions
*Growth deals
*Guarantees
*Hazardous substances
*Health and safety consultant
*Health and safety policy
*Heat rejection 
*Hedging
*High street (planning and policy)
*Historic buildings inspectors
*Housing shortage
*Housing standards
*Housing Strategy for England
*Hydro-electric power
*Indoor air quality
*Inflation (fluctuations exists)
*Information and communications technology (ICT) consultant
*Innovate UK (TSB)
*Integrated transport systems
*Intellectual property
*Interim valuation
*Intermediate building contract
*Investment
*iso
*ISO 10845: Construction procurement
*ISO 50001:2011
*Key dates (in NEC construction contract)
*Knowledge management
*Landlord
*Landlord and Tenant Act
*Landscape design
*Landscape designer
*Landscape officer
*Large Industrial Sites, National Economic Development Council (Report)
*Leasebacks
*Leases
*Legal agreements (article exists, but needs more on property)
*Legal indemnity insurance
*Liability
*Lifts
*Light obstruction notices
*Light pollution
*Lighting
*Lighting designer
*Limited Liability Partnership
*Listed Building Consent Orders (LBCO)
*Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreements (LBHPA)
*Loads (types)
*Loan criteria
*Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act
*Local development framework
*Local Green Space designation
*Local Listed Building Consent Orders (LLBCO)
*London Housing Design Guide
*Main contractor
*Maintenance
*Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Work (MCHW) 
*Material Management Plan
*Material procurement
*MBEKTN
*Measurement (quantities)
*Mezzanine finance
*Micro combined heat and power
*Milestones
*Minor material amendment to a planning application
*Montreal Protocol
*Mortgage
*Mould growth
*National housing space standards
*National Process Improvement Project (planning)
*Negotiated contract
*Net Present Value (NPV)
*Non-Disclosure Agreement
*Non-Material Amendment application process
*Non-negligent liability insurance
*Northern Ireland building regulations 
*Northern Ireland planning policy
*Operational policy
*Other approvals (home office …environmental health etc)
*Parent company guarantee
*Patents
*Pathology
*PD 7503:2003 Introduction to knowledge management in construction
*Phillips Report
*Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd v Oscar Faber & Partners
*Planning act
*Plant
*Post completion insurance
*PPC 2000
*Practice management
*Price
*Priced bill of quantities
*PRINCE 2
*Priority Schools Building Programme
*Private developer scheme
*Profit and loss accounts
*Programme consultant
*Progress (regular and diligent)
*Project-based funding
*Property / land valuation
*Property investment market
*Proprietary information
*Protection of bowling greens
*Public contracts regulations
*Public health consultant
*Public health engineering
*Quality
*Quality assurance (quality control exists)
*Quality plan
*Radiant heating
*Recast European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
*Reduce, reuse and recycle
*Refurbishment
*Regulation 7 direction
*Relocation
*Remediation
*Renovation
*Rent
*Retrofitting
*Re-use / recycling
*Right of light indemnity insurance
*Right to challenge
*Right to manage
*Rights of light surveyor
*Scope of work
*Section 96A 'Non material changes to planning permission'
*Security consultant
*Service charges
*Site meeting
*Site rules
*Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
*Sources of finance
*Space planning
*Special licences
*Special parliamentary procedure
*Statutory fees
*Statutory instruments
*Steel
*Structures
*Subsidence
*Summary judgement
*Surety
*Suspension (of the works)
*Tenants
*Tender evaluation
*Tender settlement meeting
*Testing (commissioning v testing)
*Tolerances
*Transport / traffic
*Transport/traffic engineer
*UK Climate Change Risk Assessment
*Unfair contract terms act
*Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations
*Urban designer
*Valuation
*Vendor surveys
*Warranties (collateral warranties exists)
*Water Bill
*Water Framework Directive
*Welsh building regulations
*Welsh planning policy
*Wildlife and Countryside Act
*Wood Report
*Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
*WRAP
*Yield

[[Category:Do_not_autolink]]
[[Category:Site_Information]]

Construction industry acronyms - I

2015-02-10T14:14:45Z

Mustafa Pasha:

This article presents a list of construction industry acronyms beginning with 'I'. For other letters go to the [[Construction%20industry%20acronyms|main alphabet list]].

= I =

IA - Impact Assessment.

IBA - Industrial Building Allowances (tax)

IC - Inspection Chamber.

IC - Inspection Cover.

ICA - Independent Client Adviser.

ICC - Infrastructure Conditions of Contract

ICE - Institution of Civil Engineers

ICF - Insulating Concrete Formwork

IChemE - Institute of Chemical Engineers

ICT - Information and Communications Technology

ICT - Institute of Concrete Technology

ICWCI - [http://www.icwgb.org Institute of Clerks of Works and Construction Inspectorate].

ID - Inside Diameter

IDM - Investment Decision Maker

IDM - Information Delivery Manual

IET - Institute of Engineering and Technology

IFC - Intermediate form of building contract (JCT)

IFC - Industry Foundation Classes - the open and neutral data format for Open BIM.

IGT - Innovation and Growth Team

IHBC - Institute of Historic Building Conservation

IHT - Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation

IIE - Institute of Industrial Engineers

IIP - Investors in People

IL - Invert Level

IMD - Interactive Modal Analysis

IMechE - Institution of Mechanical Engineers

IMP - Information Management Process.

IOA - Institute of Acoustics

IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPPC - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control

IPT - Insurance Premium Tax

IPT - Integrated Project Team

IRC - Internal reflected component

IRF - Iron Railing Fence

IROPI - Imperative Reasons of Overriding Public Interest

IRR - Internal Rate of Return

ISM - Integrated Service Module.

IST - Integrated Supply Team

ISO - International Organization for Standardization

ISP - Information Strategy Planning

ITT - Invitation to Tender

IV - Isolating Valve.

IVA - Individual Voluntary Agreement (See insolvency)

IWF - Interwovern Fence

[[Category:News]]

Building acoustics

2015-02-05T12:50:31Z

Mustafa Pasha:

To help develop this article, click ‘Edit this article’ above.

= Introduction =

Building acoustics is the complex science of controlling noise in buildings. This includes the minimisation of noise transmission from one space to another and the control of the characteristics of sound within spaces themselves.

Building acoustics are an important consideration in the design, operation and construction of most buildings, and can have a significant impact on health, communication and productivity. They can be particularly significant in spaces such as concert halls, recording studios, lecture theatres and so on, where the quality of sound and its intelligibility are very important.

Building acoustics can be influenced by:
*The geometry and volume of a space.
*The sound absorption, transmission and reflection characteristics of surfaces enclosing the space and within the space.
*The sound absorption, transmission and reflection characteristics of materials separating spaces.
*The generation of sound inside or outside the space.
*Airborne sound transmission.
*Impact noise.

= Characteristics of sound =

Sound intensity is measured in Decibels (dB). This is a logarithmic scale in which an increase of 10 dB gives an apparent doubling of loudness.

Sound pitch is measured in Hertz (Hz), the standard unit for the measurement for frequency. The audible range of sound for humans is typically from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, although, through ageing and exposure to loud sounds the upper limit will generally decrease.

As well as intensity and frequency, sound also transmits information. For example, music or speech, transmit information which people may perceive differently from other sounds.

= Reverberation time =

The ‘reverberation time’ of a space changes the way the space ‘sounds’ and can affect the intelligibility acoustic information. A high reverberation time can make a room sound muffled, loud and noisy. Rooms designed for speech typically have a low reverberation time, whereas a higher reverberation time can add depth, richness and warmth to music.

The reverberation time of a room is defined as the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB after an abrupt termination. It is linked to the total quantity of soft treatments and the volume of the room.

See reverberation time for more information.

= Sound absorption =

Sound absorption is the loss of sound energy when sound waves come into contact with an absorbent material such as ceilings, walls, floors and other objects, as a result of which, the sound is not reflected back into the space. Acoustic absorption can be used to reduce reverberation times.

Absorbent materials are sometimes categorised from A to E, where A is highly absorbent and E is almost fully reflective.

Sound absorbers can be divided into three main categories:
*Porous absorbents, such as fibrous materials or open-celled foam.
*Resonance absorbents, which consist of a mechanical or acoustic oscillation system, such as membrane absorbers.
*Single absorbers such as tables, chairs or other objects.

See sound absorption for more information

= Sound insulation =

Sound transmission paths can be interrupted by sound insulation and by blocking air paths. The sound insulation of a single leaf of a material is governed by its mass, stiffening and damping.

The sound insulation across a good conventional, lightweight, office to office construction is typically in the order of 45 dB Dw. This means that if the sound level in the source room is around 65 dB, (a typical level for speech) the sound level in the adjacent room, the receiver room, will be approximately 20 dB (barely audible). If sound levels are increased in the source room however, to 75 dB (raised voice), sound levels within the adjacent room will also increase to around 30 dB (audible). Sound insulation therefore describes the level of sound lost across a partition and not the level of sound within an adjacent room.

Dw represents the sound insulation between rooms on-site. Rw represents the lab tested sound insulation of an element making up a partition wall/floor type. Standards achieved in labs may not be possible on site because of the quality of workmanship and due to sound ‘flanking’ acoustic elements, that is, travelling around them through an easier path, rather than only directly through them as under lab conditions.

The building regulations part E sets minimum standards for design and construction in relation to the resistance to the passage of sound.

See sound insulation for more information.

= Noise nuisance =

Building acoustics can help to mitigate the effects of noise disturbance which can have negative effects on health, wellbeing and general quality of life.

The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) defines noise pollution as:
*Environmental noise – which includes noise from transportation sources.
*Neighbour noise – which includes noise from inside and outside buildings.
*Neighbourhood noise – which includes noise arising from industrial and entertainment premises, trade and businesses, construction sites and noise in the street.

This can be an important consideration for the location, design and construction of new developments.

See noise nuisance for more information.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
*Building regulations.
*Noise nuisance.
*Reverberation.
*Sound absorption.
*Sound insulation.

Sound absorption

2015-02-05T11:00:29Z

Mustafa Pasha:

To help develop this article, click ‘Edit this article’ above.

----

Sound absorption is the loss of sound energy when sound waves comes into contact with an absorbent material such as ceilings, walls, floors and other objects, as a result of which, the sound is not reflected back into the space.

Sound absorbent materials can be used to create a suitable acoustic environment within a space by reducing the ‘reverberation time’. Reverberation affects the way a space 'sounds'. A long reverberation time can make a room sound loud and noisy and causes speech to sound muffled and muddy. Rooms designed for speech therefore typically have a short reverberation time of less than 1 second. Conversely, a longer reverberation time can enhance a music hall by adding richness, depth and warmth to music. 

Sound absorption can be a particularly important factor for spaces such as: 
*Sports halls. 
*Schools. 
*Recording studios. 
*Lecture theatres. 
*Concert venues, cinemas and theatres. 

Generally, sound absorption is applied in the form of treatment to floors, walls, ceilings, partition surfaces and objects such as chairs or bookshelves. The use of sound absorbing screens is also becoming more common.

Sound absorbers can be divided into three main categories: 
*Porous absorbents.
*Resonance absorbents.
*Single absorbents.

Porous absorbents conventionally take two forms; fibrous materials or open-celled foam. Fibrous materials absorb sound as sound waves force the fibres to bend and this bending of the fibres generates heat. The conversion of acoustic energy into heat energy results in the sound effectively being absorbed. In the case of open-celled foam, the air movement resulting from sound waves pushes air particles through the narrow passages which in turn generate a viscous loss along with heat. 

Usually a materials thickness has the greatest impact on its sound absorbing qualities. The thickness of materials can be compensated for with air space behind a wall panel or acoustic ceiling to improve performance at lower frequencies. 

It is generally better to not include an airtight layer on the surface, such as a vapour barrier or paint layer, as this may reduce the sound absorbing qualities. However, architecturally, fibrous materials and open celled foams are not always considered attractive or robust. It is common therefore to cover these materials with an acoustically transparent finish such as a tissue, cloth or slatted wood, or with perforated materials such as wood, metal, plasterboard and so on. 

Resonance absorbents consist of a mechanical or acoustic oscillation system, such as membrane absorbers, where there is a solid plate with a tight air space behind. Absorption reaches its maximum at the resonance frequency. The cavity can be filled with a porous material, to broaden the absorption over the range of frequency. 

Single absorbers can be tables, chairs or other objects. 

The sound absorbing characteristics of acoustical materials varies significantly with frequency. Low frequency sounds, below 500 Hz, tend to be more difficult to absorb whereas high frequencies sounds, above 500 Hz, are easier to absorb. 

A material's sound absorbing properties can be expressed by the sound absorption coefficient, alpha, as a function of frequency. Alpha ranges from 0 (total reflection) to 1.00 (total absorption). 

NB Sound absorption is not the same as sound insulation which is used to prevent sound travelling between separate spaces across a partition such as a wall, ceiling or floor. Sound absorbing materials can convert some of the absorbed sound energy into heat, rather than transmitting it, which improve sound insulation, but it should not be seen as a substitute for adequate sound insulation. 

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Building acoustics.
*Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
*Reverberation time.
*Sound insulation.
*Noise nuisance.

[[Category:Theory]]
[[Category:Design]]

Building acoustics

2015-02-05T10:54:28Z

Mustafa Pasha:

To help develop this article, click ‘Edit this article’ above.

= Introduction =

Building acoustics is the complex science of controlling noise in buildings. This includes the minimisation of noise transmission from one space to another and the control of the characteristics of sound within spaces themselves.

Building acoustics are an important consideration in the design, operation and construction of most buildings, and can have a significant impact on health, communication and productivity. They can be particularly significant in spaces such as concert halls, recording studios, lecture theatres and so on, where the quality of sound and its intelligibility are very important.

Building acoustics can be influenced by:
*The geometry and volume of a space.
*The sound absorption, transmission and reflection characteristics of surfaces enclosing the space and within the space.
*The sound absorption, transmission and reflection characteristics of materials separating spaces.
*The generation of sound inside or outside the space.
*Airborne sound transmission.
*Impact noise.

= Characteristics of sound =

Sound intensity is measured in Decibels (dB). This is a logarithmic scale in which an increase of 10 dB gives an apparent doubling of loudness.

Sound pitch is measured in Hertz (Hz), the standard unit for the measurement for frequency. The audible range of sound for humans is typically from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, although, through ageing and exposure to loud sounds the upper limit will generally decrease.

As well as intensity and frequency, sound also transmits information. For example, music or speech, transmit information which people may perceive differently from other sounds.

= Reverberation time =

The ‘reverberation time’ of a space changes the way the space ‘sounds’ and can affect the intelligibility acoustic information. A high reverberation time can make a room sound muffled, loud and noisy. Rooms designed for speech typically have a low reverberation time, whereas a higher reverberation time can add depth, richness and warmth to music.

The reverberation time of a room is defined as the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB after an abrupt termination. It is linked to the total quantity of soft treatments and the volume of the room.

See reverberation time for more information.

= Sound absorption =

Sound absorption is the loss of sound energy when sound waves come into contact with an absorbent material such as ceilings, walls, floors and other objects, as a result of which, the sound is not reflected back into the space. Acoustic absorption can be used to reduce reverberation times.

Absorbent materials are sometimes categorised from A to E, where A is highly absorbent and E is almost fully reflective.

Sound absorbers can be divided into three main categories:
*Porous absorbents, such as fibrous materials or open-celled foam.
*Resonance absorbents, which consist of a mechanical or acoustic oscillation system, such as membrane absorbers.
*Single absorbers such as tables, chairs or other objects.

See sound absorption for more information

= Sound insulation =

Sound transmission paths can be interrupted by sound insulation and by blocking air paths. The sound insulation of a single leaf of a material is governed by its mass, stiffening and damping.

The sound insulation across a good conventional, lightweight, office to office construction is typically in the order of 45 dB Dw. This means that if the sound level in the source room is around 65 dB, (a typical level for speech) the sound level in the adjacent room, the receiver room, will be approximately 20 dB (barely audible). If sound levels are increased in the source room however, to 75 dB (raised voice), sound levels within the adjacent room will also increase to around 30 dB (audible). Sound insulation therefore describes the level of sound lost across a partition and not the level of sound within an adjacent room.

Dw represents the sound insulation between rooms on-site. Rw represents the lab tested sound insulation of an element making up a partition wall/floor type. Standards achieved in labs may not be possible of site because of the quality of workmanship and due to sound ‘flanking’ acoustic elements, that is, travelling around them through an easier path, rather than only directly through them as under lab conditions.

The building regulations part E sets minimum standards for design and construction in relation to the resistance to the passage of sound.

See sound insulation for more information.

= Noise nuisance =

Building acoustics can help to mitigate the effects of noise disturbance which can have negative effects on health, wellbeing and general quality of life.

The Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE) defines noise pollution as:
*Environmental noise – which includes noise from transportation sources.
*Neighbour noise – which includes noise from inside and outside buildings.
*Neighbourhood noise – which includes noise arising from industrial and entertainment premises, trade and businesses, construction sites and noise in the street.

This can be an important consideration for the location, design and construction of new developments.

See noise nuisance for more information.

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Building Bulletin 93: acoustic design of schools.
*Building regulations.
*Noise nuisance.
*Reverberation.
*Sound absorption.
*Sound insulation.

File:Hôtel des Invalides Viewed From Eiffel Tower.JPG

2015-02-04T15:52:02Z

Mustafa Pasha: View of Hôtel des Invalides from the Eiffel Tower viewing platform in Paris, France.

View of Hôtel des Invalides from the Eiffel Tower viewing platform in Paris, France.

File:Louvre Museum Interior.JPG

2015-02-04T15:49:11Z

Mustafa Pasha: The interior of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

The interior of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

File:Louvre Museum.JPG

2015-02-04T15:47:46Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Louvre Palace and Louvre Museum, glass pyramid in Paris, France.

The Louvre Palace and Louvre Museum, glass pyramid in Paris, France.

File:Montparnasse Tower From Sacre Coeur.JPG

2015-02-04T15:42:28Z

Mustafa Pasha: Montparnasse Tower viewed from the steps of Sacre Coeur in Paris, France.

Montparnasse Tower viewed from the steps of Sacre Coeur in Paris, France.

File:Eiffel Tower.JPG

2015-02-04T15:37:22Z

Mustafa Pasha: The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

File:Eiffel Tower Detail.JPG

2015-02-04T15:34:21Z

Mustafa Pasha: uploaded a new version of "File:Eiffel Tower Detail.JPG": Detail of the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.

Detail of the Eiffel Tower, Paris, France.

Construction industry acronyms - M

2015-02-04T10:26:50Z

Mustafa Pasha:

This article presents a list of construction industry acronyms beginning with 'M'. For other letters go to the [[Construction%20industry%20acronyms|main alphabet list]].

= M =

m - Metre

M&E - Mechanical and Electrical

M&V - Measurement and Verification

MAC - Managing Agent and Contractor

MC - Management Contract / Management Contractor

MC - Mass Concrete

MCHW - Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Work

MCM - Modern Construction Methods

MCS - Microgeneration Certification Scheme

MCW - Mains Cold Water

MCZ - Marine Conservation Zones

MDF - Medium Density Fibreboard

Med-Ad - Mediation-adjudication

Med-Arb - Mediation-arbitration

MENA - Middle East and North Africa

MEP - Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing

MEWP - Mobile Elevated Work Platform

MFA - Material Flow Accounting / Material Flow Analysis

MFC - Melamine Faced Chipboard

MH - Manhole

MHSW - Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

MICE - Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers

MIDP - Master Information Delivery Plan

MIPIM - Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier (real estate event)

MIStructE - Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers

mm - Millimetre

MMMF - Man Made Mineral Fibres

MP - Member of Parliament

MPA - Major Projects Authority

MPDT - Model Production and Delivery Table

MRT - Mean Radiant Temperature

MS - Mild Steel

MSCB - Multi-Service Chilled Beams

MT - Material Throughputs

MVHR - Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery

[[Category:News]]