Identifying non-traditional houses in the UK 1918-75
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
Non-traditional houses: Identifying non-traditional houses in the UK 1918-75 - DIGITAL EDITION (AP 294) was written by Harry Harrison, Stephen Mullin, Barry Reeves and Alan Stevens and was published by BRE on 14 December 2012.
AP 294 was first published in 2004. The 2012 edition introduced a fully-searchable pdf format on CD ROM, giving housing professionals, building surveyors, engineers and architects access to a 1000-page reference library detailing 450 non-traditional house types.
House types are classified in AP 294 as:
- Metal framed.
- Precast concrete.
- In-situ concrete.
- Timber framed.
The comprehensive and highly-illustrated resource, brings together a wealth of information and advice from the leading experts. Each house type is accompanied by an isometric drawing giving a clear explanation of construction details. Additional notes are provided for surveyors for those housing systems investigated by BRE, and more detailed information is given for some house types in structural condition reports available at http://www.brebookshop.com/details.jsp?id=327968
Extensive background information is included on the CD ROM, as well as a search tool that identifies houses by; type, local authority area, construction class, and identifying characteristics. It also includes six government reports on prefabrication and system building from the Burt Committee in the 1940s, the Moir Committee in 1920, corrosion of steel in steel houses (1951), and prefabrication (1965).
The contents include:
- Foreword.
- The Editors.
- Preface.
- Introduction.
- Acronyms.
- How to use this book.
- Designated defective houses.
- References.
- Further reading.
- List of house types.
- Appendices.
The CD ROM includes:
- Non-traditional houses: Identifying non-traditional houses in the UK 1918-75 (digital edition).
- Search engine.
- BRE and government reports (pdf files).
[edit] Find out more.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Apartment.
- Architectural styles.
- BRE articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.
- BRE Buzz.
- Building Research Establishment.
- Bungalow.
- Dwelling
- English housing stock age.
- Household.
- Manse.
- Penthouse.
- Residential definition.
- Types of building.
- Types of dwelling
- Use class.
Featured articles and news
Apprenticeships and the responsibility we share
Perspectives from the CIOB President as National Apprentice Week comes to a close.
The first line of defence against rain, wind and snow.
Building Safety recap January, 2026
What we missed at the end of last year, and at the start of this...
National Apprenticeship Week 2026, 9-15 Feb
Shining a light on the positive impacts for businesses, their apprentices and the wider economy alike.
Applications and benefits of acoustic flooring
From commercial to retail.
From solid to sprung and ribbed to raised.
Strengthening industry collaboration in Hong Kong
Hong Kong Institute of Construction and The Chartered Institute of Building sign Memorandum of Understanding.
A detailed description from the experts at Cornish Lime.
IHBC planning for growth with corporate plan development
Grow with the Institute by volunteering and CP25 consultation.
Connecting ambition and action for designers and specifiers.
Electrical skills gap deepens as apprenticeship starts fall despite surging demand says ECA.
Built environment bodies deepen joint action on EDI
B.E.Inclusive initiative agree next phase of joint equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) action plan.
Recognising culture as key to sustainable economic growth
Creative UK Provocation paper: Culture as Growth Infrastructure.
Futurebuild and UK Construction Week London Unite
Creating the UK’s Built Environment Super Event and over 25 other key partnerships.
Welsh and Scottish 2026 elections
Manifestos for the built environment for upcoming same May day elections.
Advancing BIM education with a competency framework
“We don’t need people who can just draw in 3D. We need people who can think in data.”






















