Building News is an information portal for all professional building specifiers. Here you can find all of the latest construction news from around the UK and the rest of the world.

 

SFS Group Fastening Technology and Kingspan Insulation have pooled their respective expertise in rainscreen cladding support systems and insulation materials, to launch an optimum performance solution offering A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire  presenting the potential to optimise envelope design on buildings of any height.

The NVELOPE®NVS-RP range of stainless-steel brackets has been developed specifically to retain Kingspan’s latest insulation development – Kingspan AlphaCore®panel silica-based insulation which offers a thermal conductivity of just 0.020 W/mK, with a Euroclass A2-s1, d0 reaction to fire. The slimline material is available in thicknesses of 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50mm with a weight ranging from 3.6-9.0 kg/m2.  AlphaCore® Pad is also water-repellent.

Crucially, the combination has the potential to create far slimmer façades which will withstand the weather as well as optimising energy performance.  This is because, instead of compromising AlphaCore® Pad’s thermal performance with multiple fixing penetrations, SFS has completely re-imagined established components from its NVELOPE® system to absolutely minimise cold-bridging.

The NVS designation describes the range’s existing stainless-steel L-shaped bracket that is available in single or double format and adds three types of RP Retaining Plates: Single, Double and the End Plate.  Their versatility not only facilitates the retention of all the AlphaCore® Pad thicknesses, without the need for traditional fixings, but remains quick and easy to install.

David Fraser, Business Unit Manager for SFS Subframe Systems, explains, “The NVS-RP features a standard bracket any installer would recognise and know how to fix, and it is now paired with a retaining plate featuring overlapping slots so that it simply slides over the top to retain the insulation and, once you hit the sweet spot, you just put in a rivet to hold it permanently..”

 

 

 

Cameron MacBride, the National Façade Manager for Kingspan Insulation, confirms: “Kingspan AlphaCore® Pad provides a balance of both thermal and fire performance, giving designers greater freedom to achieve compliant systems in tight spaces.  Collaborating with SFS has allowed us to find a solution to maximise the thermal performance of AlphaCore® Pad. The NVS RP range avoids having to fix through the board in multiple places, which reduces thermal bridging. This combination of materials will be used where those pinch-points within a structure occur, in areas where land values are high, and the overall wall thickness becomes more important.  These solutions using newer, optimal technologies are therefore going to offer the designer more flexibility in challenging situations, and hopefully boost the lettable or saleable space to its maximum”

 

A series of technical data sheets explains the configuration and application of the different NVS-RP components, along with the non-compressible thermal pad which helps ensure the assemblies’ performance, while both the bracketry and the Kingspan AlphaCore® Pad insulation will be available to contractors through the two companies’ normal sales channels.


 

CLICK HERE

further information and to view a video case study of the project

 

 


 

Moseley Road Baths in Birmingham, still open for swimming | © Moseley Road Baths

Moseley Road Baths is one of Birmingham’s most important heritage buildings and one of only two GradeII baths predating 1914 that are still in use.

The first phase of construction works for the restoration and redevelopment of Moseley Road Baths and Balsall Heath library is to begin this month.

Moseley Road Baths is one of the oldest of six Grade II* Listed swimming baths in the UK. This first phase of the project will be in four stages, beginning with crucial roof and façade works, which will see scaffolding erected during September.

This phase will also see:

  • Introduction of a café into the Second-Class Slipper Baths
  • Reconfiguration of the visitor spaces, especially in the reception areas
  • Reinforcement works to the basement and foundations − Installation of renewable energy including air source heat pumps
  • Access improvements, including creating permanent level access on entry and installation of the first of three new lifts to the buildings

Phase 1 works have been funded by UK Government, Birmingham City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project is a partnership between Birmingham City Council and Moseley Road Baths Charitable Incorporated Organisation who took over the operation of the Baths in 2017.

This first phase is a major milestone in the campaign to save the Baths which is supported by a wider coalition of organisations: Historic England, World Monuments Fund, National Trust, and the Friends of Moseley Road Baths.

Councillor Saima Suleman, cabinet member for digital, culture, heritage and tourism, commented: “Swimming, health and wellbeing have always been at the centre of this project.

“It’s vital the future of this amazing building can be secured but as we’ve always said, the project has been about so much more than the building. This is such an exciting project that will have such a positive impact for the Balsall Heath community, which is one of the most deprived wards in the city.”

We are excited to announce that ISG has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver phase 1 building works. ISG has worked on a number of other major city-based projects including the City Council House and University of Birmingham’s global campus, with offices located in central Birmingham.

The building works have been designed by Donald Insall Associates, supported by Max Fordham, Mann Williams and Artelia, and Project Managed by global programme and project delivery consultants and construction experts Mace. Luke Arnold, Regional Director at ISG said “We are delighted to undertake phase 1 major construction work at Moseley Road Baths, an iconic landmark in South Birmingham, supporting the local and city-wide community to realise the full benefits and legacy of this exciting project for current and future generations.”

This first phase of works follows months of public engagement, enabling the community to help shape the plans. This has included widespread consultation locally through drop-in sessions to see and comment on the plans as well as feedback from national organisations and industry experts.

Four pilot activities which took place throughout last year were a major platform for official community feedback made possible through a grant of £477K from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. The pilot activities created 205 Birmingham-based freelance opportunities and featured collaborations with 33 different local organisations.

36 people had a ‘Slipper bath’. Over 4,000 people visited ‘Balsall Heath’s Living Room’.

Six young people (18-30) were employed to develop their creative and employability skills leading to a podcast series “Bathcasts” interpreting the Baths’ heritage. 6000 people visited Balsall Heath Library’s ‘Imaginarium’ whose centre piece sculpture designed by Intervention Architecture was longlisted for a RIBA McEwen award.

Phase 1 is the beginning of realising the masterplan vision for the Baths. Phase 2 is subject to further funding which will include the restoration of the iconic Gala Pool and converting Pool 2 into a permanent hireable event space.

Moseley Road Baths is one of the oldest of six Grade II* Listed swimming baths in the United Kingdom. For many years, the Baths were under threat of closure.

Faced with the potential loss of a cherished community facility, local people campaigned to keep their pool open. So significant are the Baths that the Friends of Moseley Road Baths secured the interest of World Monuments Fund, who included the Baths on the 2016 World Monuments Watch to call attention to the planned closure.

They also feature on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register. In 2016 a group of organisations came together to form a coalition, to work alongside Birmingham City Council (who owns the building) to reimagine a new future for the Baths with swimming at its heart. Working together, the coalition has developed a masterplan to restore the magnificent Grade II* Baths and Library at the heart of the Balsall Heath community.

The regeneration of both buildings will unite and transform these historic masterpieces into a heritage-led wellbeing, leisure and cultural destination run with and for local people, and open to the world. Since late 2017, the Baths have been operated by Moseley Road Baths CIO.

The coalition comprises Birmingham City Council, Moseley Road Baths CIO, Historic England, World Monuments Fund, National Trust, and the Friends of Moseley Road Baths. Working together, the ‘coalition’ has contributed over £3m of time, expertise and funding. In 2021 the coalition announced it had successfully bid for £15.6m funding from the UK government and in 2022 received £477K in a Development Phase grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Source: The Phoenix Newspaper

Externally located ductwork utilising a correctly certified PIR board and multilaminate cladding system

 

Seven years after the Grenfell Tower tragedy and two years on from the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022, members of the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) continue to report the use of Euroclass F, non-certified polyisocyanurate (PIR) board, on ductwork.

The trade body originally sounded the alarm over the use of PIR on internally located ductwork in November 2022. However, it is now also highlighting a growing issue over the use of non-certified PIR boards on externally located ductwork. 

An increasing number of TICA members have reported that they are losing work due to competitors using a cheaper non-certified alternative – a situation that is being perpetuated due to the fragmented nature of the construction sector, making it more difficult to establish a ‘golden thread’ of safety data.

Chris Ridge, TICA Technical Director said:

“There are several manufacturers of PIR board operating in the UK and TICA is aware of only one PIR product that is certified for specific use with externally located ductwork. We have witnessed the use of many different PIR brands and clearly many of these have not been certified for the required application. 

“Everyone in the supply chain must ensure that the correct products are being used. Manufacturers, distributors, and installers all have a responsibility.

He added:

“Manufacturers need to be clear and unambiguous about where their product can and can’t be used. The one manufacturer that has certified their PIR product for use with ductwork is very clear about the fact that its product is only suitable for externally located ductwork.

“The ambiguity that exists elsewhere will only increase the chances of PIR products being used in internally located ductwork applications. 

Clients also need to take responsibility and ensure that they employ only competent specialist sub-contractors to insulate ductwork.”

Railways from France, Hungary, the USA, South Korea and elsewhere have expressed interest in the prototype Adaptable Bridge & Lift System. This modular stainless steel footbridge is designed to improve the passenger experience and exploit the latest industrial techniques to lower the environmental impact of production and maintenance and provide opportunities for British manufacturing.

The bridge aims to be ‘simpler, better and greener’ than current designs, according to Hazel Needham, Associate Structural Engineer at Expedition Engineering.

Infrastructure manager Network Rail currently installs about 20 new or replacement footbridges a year, according to Professional Head of Buildings & Architecture Anthony Dewar who has been investigating ways to increase this output. He told Rail Business UK that the modular design developed by the AVA consortium offers the possibility of higher production volumes and a new approach to procurement, with modules prebuilt and stored ready for use.

Construction could begin as soon as a contract is awarded, with an estimated total site time of 15 weeks of which installation would require a 36 h track possession; it is hoped that this can be reduced to 27 h. The target is an overall footbridge project timescale of 20 months from contract award to handover.

‘We anticipate a robust demand pipeline that leverages AVA’s design and construction principles, capitalising on manufacturing efficiencies through batch procurement, economies of scale, and incremental enhancements’, said Eva MacNamara, director of Expedition Engineering.

Seeking fresh ideas

The origins of AVA lie in a Footbridge Design Ideas Competition which Network Rail organised through the Royal Institute of British. Architects in 2018 in an effort to attract some fresh ideas.

Dewar said some existing bridges offer a poor passenger experience, and there has been little innovation in footbridge procurement, design or construction until now.

Network Rail felt there was the potential to further develop the design which had been selected as the runner up in the competition. This led to a spin-off project to produce a prototype which has now been erected on an industrial site at Sittingbourne in Kent.

Modular elements

The AVA bridge is designed to offer an ‘elegant and timeless’ design and to be suitable for ‘any station anywhere’, said Bob Atherton of steel supplier Outokumpu.

The modular approach reduces the time needed on site, ensures quality, is adaptable and provides economies of scale. ‘It should be straightforward to adapt the bridge for the vast majority of station configurations’, said Dewar.

The visible parts of the bridge are the actual structure, not cladding, with the main span being assembled from standard modules made from Forta LDX 2101 high strength duplex stainless steel plates. The steel is produced by Outokumpu using low carbon electricity, and processed by its UK subsidiary in Sheffield. According to Atherton, it has double the strength of typical stainless steel, enabling the thickness to be reduced without impacting on performance and meaning smaller foundations are required.

The steel is suitable for most locations in the UK, but a higher grade such as Forta DX 2205 with higher corrosion resistance could be used in more corrosive coastal or polluted environments.

The sheet steel is laser cut and folded to shape using ‘Industry 4·0’ manufacturing processes which are now well established outside the rail sector. The steel has inherent durability without needing painting, a bead-blasted permanent anti-glare treatment and is graffiti resistant.

The 1 200 mm long modules are joined together to form a maximum span of up to 20 m, with symmetrical custom length modules at each end of the span to provide the precise length required. The stairs are similarly modular, with the span above the landing modified to provide the required height.

The bridge is bolted together with using pre-loaded bolts supplied by Bumax which will not loosen over time. Assembly does not require specialist skills, and this approach simplifies maintenance; the bridge could even be dismantled and relocated if desired.

The walking surface is aluminium, which has a 25-year warranty and 60+ year design life with the ability to be easily replaced.

Network Rail is particularly keen to ensure that all critical parts of the structure are visible or easily accessible for inspection and maintenance. There is integrated lighting, and internal cable routes with hinged access panels.

Options include a roof, not fitted to the prototype, and privacy screens if there is a need to prevent users seeing over the side of the bridge.

The consortium expects the bridge to offer lower capital and whole-life costs than the current generation of footbridges, and even greater benefits over the full life cycle. A traditional bridge needs periodic painting, but there is always a temptation to delay this into the next budgeting period, meaning major work is required when the job is eventually tackled and ultimately leading to a shorter overall life.

The AVA bridge has an expected life of at least 120 years, requiring minimal maintenance which can be undertaken without requiring a track possession. ‘What you see today is what it will look like in 100 years’, said Atherton.

Accesibility

 

The AVA bridge is intended for use at stations, where passengers increasingly expect the provision of lifts for accessibility. However, it could be built without lifts.

The lift shafts are modular units, assembled off-site by ARX and delivered complete and ready for erection. This has reduced installation time from 26 weeks to 2 weeks.

The lifts draw on experience from the industrial lift sector. Features for reliability included two motors for redundancy, and a single section door. The motors are housed at platform level, rather than on top of the structure, facilitating simpler maintenance.

There are two layout options for the lifts. The narrow variant has the lifts in line with the stairs, and is suitable for locations with restricted space on the platform. The preferred wide variant has the lifts alongside the stairs, which takes up more space but eliminates the need for a wheelchair user to change direction. The prototype has one lift of each type.

Because the lifts are separate modular structures, they could be added to an existing bridge of an alternative design; studies are underway for a potential installation at Seven Sisters.

Prototype

The prototype bridge is a ‘version 0·9’, according to the project partners. Changes have been made based on the experience gained during manufacturing and assembly, and would be incorporated into production bridges from new.

One example is the laminated glass, which is designed to provide a more open feel than high steel sides. The glass is it at a slight angle to reduce glare, but this proved complex to install, and a simplified way of achieving the correct angle was developed to reduce costs.

When Rail Business UK visited the prototype on a hot day, the sunlight reflecting from the floor was dazzling, but production bridges would have a different deck surface treatment.

The first production AVA bridge is scheduled to be installed at Stowmarket in May 2025.

 

Source: Railway Gazette

Ahead of a parliamentary debate expected in September, the House of Lords has published a briefing that examines the use of modern methods of construction (MMC) in the housing industry

Published on 9 August, the paper outlines both MMC use and how government policy towards this construction method has developed in recent years, including various strategic reports issued by parliamentary committees in the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It also details the newly elected Labour government’s position on house building and other recent developments relating to MMC.

The House of Lords Built Environment Committee was critical of the Conservative government’s approach to MMC and called for a coherent strategy to promote MMC use in housebuilding. The new Labour government has said it will publish a new long-term housing strategy in the coming months,” the briefing states.

On 5 September 2024, the House of Lords is scheduled to debate a motion “to move that this House takes note of the role of modern methods of construction in the housing construction sector.”

It follows a short inquiry by the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, which took place between October 2023 and January 2024. In the report’s conclusion, published on 26 January, committee chair, Lord Moylan said:

We believe that modern methods of construction can have an important place in UK housebuilding, especially in the context of an ageing skilled workforce and the inefficiency of traditional housebuilding methods. This is based on the evidence we have heard about its successful use in the non-housing construction sector, its widespread use in countries overseas, and its potential to drive gains in efficiency and productivity identified by Homes England and others. We welcome the Government’s wish to see these new methods of construction prosper.”

However, the committee also stated that the approach to MMC was in “disarray” and that the then government had “not set out clear objectives for the investments and funding it provided”.

There is evidence of real barriers to MMC, such as risk aversion on the part of warranty providers, insurance companies, and insufficient clarity for building regulations. However, the government appears to have made limited effort to understand and address these challenges.

“If the government wants the sector to be a success, it needs to take a step back, acquire a better understanding of how it works and the help that it needs, set achievable goals and develop a coherent strategy.”

Homes England has also acknowledged the benefits of MMC’s use in the housing sector. As part of its annual report, published on 29 July 2024, it stated: “We continue to develop a growing evidence base for MMC and the opportunity it provides to create further housing delivery capacity.”

Following Labour’s win in the general election, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner confirmed that a “new long-term housing strategy” would be published in the “coming months”. As part of its election manifesto, Labour had committed to taking steps to ensure the building of “more high-quality, well-designed, and sustainable homes”. However, it is currently unclear what this will entail in terms of MMC use.

You can access the full briefing paper here.

Source: FPA

 

Forest of Dean-based engineering group Versarien enters into a contract with national not-for-profit organisation, Building For Humanity, to assist in a major project in Lancashire by providing £200,000 worth of 3D printing services.

A huge deal worth £200,000 has been struck between advanced materials engineering group Versarien and national not-for-profit CIC, Building For Humanity, to build a village of new homes for veterans and low-income families in Lancashire using 3D printing technology.

The Forest of Dean-based group will act as a ‘print partner’ for the charity’s flagship project in Accrington, providing a full service from design to construction.

46 ‘high-quality, affordable’ homes will be developed in the project, set in five blocks alongside a community hub led by Building For Humanity for residents to access its range of supportive resources — the building of the hub and the first block will make up phase one of the project, set to commence imminently now that the contract has been signed.

Versarien will provide support to Build For Humanity’s design team, to ensure alignment with its 3DCP printing parameters, before moving on to supply staff and printing services at the construction stage.

3D construction printing (3DCP) involves using 3D printing methods including extrusion, powder bonding and additive welding to fabricate buildings or construction parts.

The method is hailed for being more environmentally-friendly than traditional building practices, as it produces less waste, while also allowing for design flexibility — if successful and properly invested in, the UK could see 3DCP being used more and more in the construction industry as a sustainable alternative that could alleviate the current housing crisis.

CEO of Versarien, Dr Stephen Hodge, said:

‘This initiative is the first 3D printing housing construction project in the UK and one ideally suited to the services we can provide.

This project is a pivotal opportunity to showcase Versarien’s capabilities in enabling low-carbon, efficient construction solutions, exemplifying our commitment to innovation and sustainability.’

 

Source: SoGlos

 

 

Construction orders in the UK surged 28% from a year earlier in Q2 of 2024, rising for the first time since the third quarter of 2022, and sharply rebounding from a revised 2.5% fall in the previous quarter.

It also marked the sharpest growth in construction orders in two-and-a-half years, as orders recovered for all new work (28% vs -2.5% in Q1), all new housing (5.4% vs -11.4%), while growth accelerated for all other work (38.6% vs 1.1%).

On a quarterly basis, construction orders advanced 16.5%, easing from a revised 17.7% jump in the prior three-month period.

Bellway said buyer confidence was improving after a drop in mortgage rates. photo: Rueters

 

UK homebuilders boosted by rate cut and promise of planning reforms

Homebuilder Bellway joined larger rivals on Friday (Aug 9) in offering an upbeat assessment of the sector’s prospects after the Bank of England cut its benchmark lending rate and the new Labour government promised planning reforms.

Bellway said buyer confidence was improving after a drop in mortgage rates.

It comes after rivals Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey also forecast annual housebuilding numbers towards the upper end of their guidance range.

“The UK housebuilding sector is, with one voice, sharing the view that the new Labour government has made a good start in trying to fix the UK’s broken housing market,” RBC Capital Markets analyst Anthony Codling said.

The sector still faces some major challenges.

Many younger potential buyers remain priced out of the market, while changes to planning rules face challenges from environmental campaigners and will take time to implement.

Persimmon has received detailed planning approvals for about 1,000 plots after the government took office in July out of the 6,000 approvals they have received so far in 2024, it said.

In June, Berkeley, which focuses on redeveloping industrial land, became the first homebuilder to boost outlook in more than two years, citing “good enquiries”.

Consumer confidence had been boosted by the Aug 1 interest rate cut and easing inflation, Bellway said after posting a smaller-than-expected fall in annual revenue.

 

Source: Business Times

 

 

It is well established that addressing climate change requires decarbonising of the construction industry. A critical aspect of this is reducing embodied carbon in new structures.

One emerging solution to this would be the wide scale adoption of bio-based construction materials. These materials come from biological sources (such as plants, animals and microorganisms) and have significantly lower embodied carbon compared to traditional fossil fuel-based materials such as concrete and steel.

However, despite their benefits, building with bio-based materials remains challenging in European countries due to strict regulations, limited availability, and widespread lack of knowledge.

So, what can we, engineers and planners, do to overcome this?

Earlier this year, participants in our Urban C:lab programme discussed this problem with external collaborators and industry experts to learn from their experiences. Joanna Hedley-Smith, Oliver Lerch and Oliver Stainton, members of the EU cohort, have summarised the following key themes.

Adapting material performance expectations

An important driver of which materials are used in construction relates to our material performance expectations. As designers, we are accustomed to the uniformity of man-made materials in terms of material properties, how they are handled on site, and the lack of significant maintenance over their lifetime.

But should we hold bio-based materials to the same standards?

Perhaps this would be inappropriate due to the inherent variability of natural materials compared to manufactured ones, meaning both our expectations of such materials and where we apply them should be carefully considered. They cannot simply be swapped like for like with conventional construction materials, Dan Maskell, senior lecturer at the Department for Architecture & Civil Engineering, University of Bath argued. It shouldn’t be a surprise to perform maintenance, or renew components of a building after their design life has passed. Instead, we should focus on accepting that the material has met the original expectations and then repair it to extend its life.

There was also consensus that market uptake of sustainable alternatives would be faster if the materials had undergone some level of standardisation rather than remaining entirely natural. Felix Wierschbitzki from raumlaborberlin and SLAB pointed out that handling of these materials on site would then be more similar to conventional ones, and significant retraining of labour forces would not be required.

Regarding material properties and structural performance, Katrine Juul, lead sustainability architect at Henning Larsen in Copenhagen, explained that she has started to see a general shift towards the acceptance of timber as an alternative to concrete in Denmark. However, there is still an expectation for the structural form of a building to remain the same as in a concrete structure, where the same structural spans should be achieved. In addition, it is essential to question whether, for example, tall timber buildings really do contribute to a more eco-friendly built environment, as ‘sustainable’ materials are always context dependent, as mentioned by Kika Brockstedt, co-founder of revalu.

The expectations of the acoustic performance of buildings were also called into question. To meet acoustic requirements, the conventional solution is to add additional mass to slabs and walls, which increases the building’s embodied carbon of a building, somewhat unnecessarily. Duncan Horswill of Ramboll explained that if we can reduce acoustic expectations in the first place, there would be a great opportunity to save carbon.

Supply and demand

Currently regarded as a niche, small-scale market, it could be difficult to meet the demand of large construction sites with the current volume of bio-based construction materials that are being produced. David Trujillo of Atelier One and the University of Coventry mentioned that even if we started by just specifying all windows and door frames to come from bio-based sources, on a country scale, this would be a huge amount.

But how can production be significantly increased?

Klaas De Ryke of Bollinger & Grohmann/University of Architecture, Versailles, The Bartlett, University College London, suggested that large-scale manufacturers of conventional materials could be the key. As the industry strives to decarbonise, there will be more demand for manufacturers to diversify and reduce the embodied carbon of their product portfolio. These companies are well established, have the resources, technical knowledge and experience to get building products certified and mass produce them, and are, therefore, in a crucial position to support small-scale manufacturers of alternative products to do the same.

Karianne Kraaijestein, from the Built by Nature prize explained that she is already seeing the demand for bio-based materials rapidly increase. This year saw the first edition of the prize, which is intended to explore the potential of bio-based materials on a global scale and to address the need for transformation within the sector. 297 applications were received from more than 50 countries, indicating that this is not just a regional problem, so perhaps the supply issue is not quite as daunting as we once assumed?

The predicted exponential population growth of urban areas in African countries could be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the suitability of bio-based materials in sustainable construction. Nyomi Roswell explained that historically, the built environment of Western countries has been regarded as a status symbol in developing counties, with an aspiration to emulate their architectural styles. It is therefore important that in the future development of urban areas in Africa, any inspiration taken from the western world focuses on the most innovative, sustainable solutions, to ensure the associated environmental impacts are as low as possible.

Detailing is critical and changing the stigma

Despite the negative reputation of bio-based construction materials, particularly concerning durability and fire safety, this perception is often misguided, according to Dan Maskell. An essential factor to consider when working with innovative construction materials is the importance of detailing and its thoroughness. Mistakes in the detailing process are frequently responsible for the issues listed above, Matthias Oppe from knippershelbig pointed out. Therefore, these problems should not be solely attributed to the novel material but rather to human error in detailing.

For centuries, natural and traditional building materials have endured, with many examples of structures still existing today. So perhaps it’s time to forget what we have learnt in the past 50 years, and instead learn from the previous 500 years, combined with modern construction practices, argued Katrine Juul.

Insurance process and profit margins

Thanks to Funké Adeosun, global transition solutions director at Allianz Commerical, we were able to delve deeper into the topic of insurance when implementing ‘novel’ building materials. A key driver behind being able to insure bio-based materials (or any new material) is the volume of data available, in particular when it comes to material failure modes. A lack of enough reliable data prevents an accurate prediction and understanding of all failure modes, which then limits the scope and availability of insurances. This affects the overall confidence in a material, as there may not be a complete understanding of the risks involved with its use. This highlights the need for further research, testing and, crucially, monitoring of building projects that have used bio-based materials.

So how can these materials be employed on construction projects today?

This relies on the alignment between the client and regulatory authorities. When these materials lack existing regulations, a unique approval procedure involving prototyping and rigorous testing is usually required. Once the material has been implemented in a project, ongoing monitoring and maintenance are typically necessary for several years post-completion, something that Patrick Teuffel of Circular Structural Design and the SRH Berlin School of Technology experienced during the construction of fibre-reinforced polymer footbridges in Almere in 2022 and Ulm in 2024.

Additionally, there appears to be a lack of interest among construction companies in investing in research for novel construction materials. According to Manfred Curbach, director at the Institute for Massivbau, Technische Universität Dresden, companies often face limited profit margins. Consequently, this financial limitation hinders their ability to allocate resources toward exploring new construction materials.

The Danish effect

Throughout the European region and the world, carbon targets and roadmaps are being introduced to drive down the construction sector’s impact on the environment. Denmark is the first EU country to affect a large change on a national level. It recently introduced more stringent carbon targets for both embodied carbon and energy over time, reducing from 12 in 2024 to 7,5kgCO2e/m²/year by 2030.

Working in Denmark, both Katrine Juul and Duncan Horswill have already noticed an increase in interest and motivation in using alternative solutions to ensure the targets can be met. Similarly, a change in focus has taken place in investment portfolios for Danish institutions, such as pension companies. Duncan explained that these companies now have an increased interest in investing in healthy and sustainable buildings, following the introduction of the new regulations. So perhaps the key to making change in the industry is the creation of regulations.

Housing is the first step to adoption

Paul Rogers of Buro Happold mentioned that with an ever-increasing demand for housing in cities, the benefits of bio-based materials could provide a driver for creating more attractive properties and investments. The health and wellbeing benefits associated with bio-based materials could be quantified and measured, then lead the design requirements of new buildings, alongside energy usage and environmental impact.

As a starting point, there could be an initial focus on implementing bio-based materials in non-load-bearing components, such as partition walls, floor build-ups, insulation, or façade elements, said Manfred Curbach, as these will be viewed as the lowest risk elements. Following this, a staggered implementation of these materials could be a key to ensure their success, allowing for the demand to gradually increase without overburdening the supply, as well as allowing for insurance and regulatory authorities to keep up, as mentioned by both David Trujillo and Funké Adeosun.

Conclusion

These insightful conversations have shown us that there is no single solution to the problem at hand. It will always be a combination of implementing a ‘material first’ approach and assessing what is actually needed for your project. Overcoming the hurdles mentioned above will not be a simple process, but so long as the demand is there and growing, we will see results, such as those that are already tangible following the implementation of the Danish embodied carbon targets.

Across Buro Happold, involvement in projects implementing natural building materials is growing, such as the Nest House, recently completed by the Copenhagen team, along with our C:lab project.

Soure: Burro Happold

AluFoldDirect shares free guide to Part L Compliance In response to customer uncertainty 

 

Leading fabricator AluFoldDirect is continuing its commitment to education and innovation with the release of a 10-page guide to compliance with Building Regulations: Part L, 2021. Available as a free download, the guide is a proactive response to customer uncertainty over the changing landscape of UK Building Regulations, and a demonstration of the expert knowledge, advice and aluminium solutions that AluFoldDirect can offer.

 

“We are hearing lots of concern over U-values and the Future Homes Standard,” explains Rhodri John, Commercial Director at AluFoldDirect. “It really is a case of ‘stay informed or be left behind’ in the glazing industry right now, and the guide is a simple, succinct round-up of what installers need to know.”

 

The AluFoldDirect Part L Compliance guide aims to empower customers and contacts by providing a clear picture of current legislation, highlighting requirements for refurbishment and new build projects, specific products, regulation differentiation in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, plus key considerations that should be understood during the planning stages of a project.

 

The download also introduces AluFoldDirect’s Solution series of quality aluminium products. Pioneered by the A-BiFold, A-Slider and A-Window, the Solution series is available to installers at passive performance 0.8 W/m²K U-value, a new build-ready 1.2 W/m²K U-value, and Building Regulation compliant Solution at 1.4 W/m²K U-value – meaning AluFoldDirect now offers ready-to-fit window and door systems that meet any thermal requirement, with delivery in two weeks.


CLICK HERE

For more information and to request the AluFoldDirect Part L Compliance guide