Citation
Todd, S. (2007), "Internet review", Structural Survey, Vol. 25 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2007.11025eag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Internet review
The web site information included below includes two key and other informative sites. If there are any other interesting sites or sources of information that you have found useful, please e-mail me at s.todd@salford.ac.uk
The Building Research Establishmentwww.bre.co.uk
The main menu of BRE’s web site includes:
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Home.
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About BRE.
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BRE by sector.
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A-Z of services.
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News.
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Training and events.
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Job opportunities.
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Contact us.
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Search site.
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E-newsletter.
The latest news section from the BRE includes information on:
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The Green Book Live is a new and unique source of reference information for specifiers and users of environmental products and services. It can be accessed at www.greenbooklive.com Green Book Live is a free online database designed to help specifiers and end users identify products and services that can help to reduce their impact on the environment. It brings together listings from a number of organisations and delivers comprehensive information on “green” products and services, some approved to stringent environmental requirements and others based on information provided by manufacturers and trade bodies. Specifiers and end users can select products and services which demonstrate their commitment to environmental best practice. A wide range of products and services, from commercial building products and services to domestic energy efficiency products can be found within Green Book Live:
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BREEAM Assessors – BRE Environmental Assessment Method.
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Clear Skies (Microgeneration) – Energy generation products and installers.
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Competent Persons for Building CO2 Emission Rate Calculation.
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Energy Saving Recommended – Domestic energy saving products.
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Environmental Profiles – Construction product life cycle assessment.
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ISO 14001 Certified companies – Environmental management systems.
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Recycled Building Products Network.
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SMARTWaste – Tools for better waste management.The introductions to each section explain what (if any) approval processes have been applied in order for the products or services to be listed. It is strongly recommended that where possible, specifiers select on the basis of an independent third party approval or ensure that they communicate directly with manufacturers and suppliers to verify claims relating to performance and/or environmental benefit.
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BRE’s Innovation Park. There are five demonstration houses on the BRE Innovation Park that are world leading in sustainable design and construction. Using some of the very latest innovations in construction technologies and materials, these buildings all address the “zero carbon” challenge making them amongst the most sustainable buildings in the world. Four of the houses on the BRE Innovation Park by Stewart Milne Group, Kingspan, ecoTECH and Hanson have been built to the Government’s new Code for Sustainable Homes, introduced in April this year. These houses are the first to be assessed under the new voluntary regulation. They represent the most significant examples of “zero carbon” and “holistic sustainable” homes not only in the UK but in the world.
Kingspan’s Lighthouse
Kingspan Off-site revealed its innovative LightHouse net-zero carbon home at OFFSITE2007. With impressive levels of efficiency in terms of the construction method, energy use, CO2 emissions and carbon footprint, this high performance, sustainable two bedroom home by architects Sheppard Robson aims to achieve the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 6.
Stewart Milne’s Sigma Home
The Stewart Milne Group have constructed one of the UK’s first Level 5 near zero carbon houses that is commercially viable to build. Leading-edge in design and highly energy efficient, the house will push the boundaries of sustainability and will work towards a zero carbon rating.
The Hanson Eco-House
The Hanson House brings together many of the latest developments in sustainable construction using modern masonry materials. Designed as a three bed detached dwelling, it will show all the benefits of offsite fabrication that together with thermal mass and natural ventilation assists in the achievement of a near zero carbon home. It is aiming to achieve Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Hanson’s earlier house, built for OFFSITE2005 remains on the Innovation Park.
Osborne’s demonstration house
The Osborne Demonstration house was built on the BRE Innovation Park in June 2006. An ideal family home with a very modern feel, it has pushed the boundaries of sustainable affordable housing and supply chain integration. Constructed in just one and a half days using the Jabhouse Structural Insulated Panel System, it exceeds current Part L requirements for carbon emissions by 40 per cent. It is ten times more airtight than the regulations require. The house needs two-thirds less energy for heating and cooling than a house constructed to 2006 Building Regulations. Osborne aim to achieve Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
Eco-TECH’s Swedish “Organics” home
The Organics modular home on display is a Swedish modern home designed for clean, simple living in collaboration with nature and aims to make thoughtful, sustainable homes accessible to more people. It offers an affordable, low-maintenance, well-designed green housing alternative that is mass produced.
School of the future
The two classroom school section by Willmott Dixon’s Re-Thinking and a number of partners including White Design and Max Fordham aims to demonstrate how an inspirational school design, that is both sustainable and affordable, can meet the needs of students and teachers. Although not as big as a real school, its innovative design will demonstrate principles that would be incorporated into a full-size school.
The school aims to be carbon neutral and will be built from a recycled solid timber system supplied by Eurban, a new product in the UK. The inherent thermal mass of the Eurban system coupled with secure night ventilation will keep internal temperatures constant in the summer. During mid season and winter, the highly insulated envelope will retain heat gained through passive solar gain. The school will also feature natural ventilation and daylighting.
It is also possible to sign up to receive:
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BRE’s monthly e-newsletter;
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a copy of “Constructing the Future”;
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The Red Book e-newsletter (Information about BRE certification).
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyorswww.rics.org.uk
The main menu of the RICS web site includes:
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About RICS.
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Built environment.
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Property.
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Environment.
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Management.
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Training.
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RICS services.
There is also information is on:
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RICS News:
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RICS UK Housing Market Survey.
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HIPS update for Domestic Energy Assessors and Estate Agents.
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Carsberg to chair residential review.
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Helpful guides:
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Buying a home.
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Selling your home.
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Antiques at auction.
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Compulsory purchase.
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Home buyer/owner advice.
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RICS Opinion:
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RICS Briefing – HIPS and EPC.
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Surveying sustainability.
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Law reform programme.
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Public affairs brief.
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Regulating RICS members:
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Update on HIP redress application.
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New rules of conduct for members.
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Regulatory reform.
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Complaints procedures.
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There are also quick links to:
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About RICs.
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What is surveying?
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Find a surveyor.
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RICS library.
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BCIS.
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RICS books.
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Contact Us.
TRADAwww.trada.co.uk
The main menu of this web site includes the following information:
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Technical Information.
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Library.
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Timber Species Database.
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Research.
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Request Advice.
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Software Toolbox.
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Detail Drawings.
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Model Specification Clauses.
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Business Information Sheets.
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TimberSTATS.
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Regulations and Codes.
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Case Studies.
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Membership.
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Bookshop.
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Training.
Information is also given on the following interesting case studies:
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Greenwich Millenium School and Health Centre.
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“Opus One” Building, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.
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David Douglas Pavilion, Pitlochry.
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Outdoor Activities Centre, Langstone Harbour.
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The Winter Garden, Sheffield.
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White Scar Caves, nr Ingleton.
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March Library, Cambridgeshire.
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Black Rubber Beach House, Kent.
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The Old Woodyard, Hargham Estate Norfolk.
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The Black House, Prickwillow.
Land Registrywww.landregistry.co.uk
The Land Registry:
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registers title to land in England and Wales; and
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records dealings (e.g. sales and mortgages) with registered land).
Their principal aims are:
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to maintain and develop a stable and effective land registration system throughout England and Wales;
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to guarantee title to registered estates and interests in land for the whole of England and Wales;
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to provide ready access to up-to-date and guaranteed land information so enabling confident dealings in property and security of title; and
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to achieve progressively improving performance targets set by the Lord Chancellor.
The main menu is structured as:
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About us.
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House prices.
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Registering your land.
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E-conveyancing.
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Chain matrix.
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Education and training.
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Your information rights.
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Practice.
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Property information.
There are links to:
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Our strategy.
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Press office.
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Management structure.
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Careers information.
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Current vacancies.
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International unit.
FSUW Fire Safe Use of Woodwww.fsuw.com
FSUW is a network of leading European experts for fire safety has been created. Members of the network are representatives of forest, wood industries, fire regulators and researchers from the fire safe sector.
The Key tasks for FSUW are enlargement of fire safe use of wood based products by:
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wider and more similar acceptance leading to less barriers in Europe;
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collecting state of the art data base concerning research results is on-going;
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exchange of experience an new knowledge for basis of more harmonised regulations and guidance;
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further understanding and development of design tools (design fires, FSE, Eurocode 5, risk analysis);
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creating a web site for exchange of information for better understanding.
The main menu includes:
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Wood.
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FSUW about us.
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Members.
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Data project.
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Links.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)www.nwda.co.uk
The Northwest Regional Development Agency leads the economic development and regeneration of England’s Northwest and is responsible for:
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supporting business growth and encouraging investment;
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matching skills provision to employer needs;
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creating the conditions for economic growth;
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connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure; and
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promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life.
NWDA five key priorities and areas of work are:
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business;
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skills and education;
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people and jobs;
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infrastructure; and
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quality of life.
Stephen Todd