Citation
(2012), "Internet review", Structural Survey, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2012.11030aaa.004
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Internet review
Internet review
Article Type: Internet review From: Structural Survey, Volume 30, Issue 1.
Stephen Todd, 13 February 2012
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
Building research establishment
The current “homepage” includes links to:
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About us
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Breadth and diversity of services
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Business sectors
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Ninety Years of BRE
The “News headlines” section includes information on:
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New guidance on life cycle assessment (LCA) of energy efficiency technologies. A European Commission-funded project is producing expert guidance on using LCA methods to assess and compare the performance of new energy efficiency measures developed under the Energy Efficient Building (EeB) Initiative. The EeB Initiative provides a framework for research projects aiming to develop innovations that help to improve energy efficiency in buildings. LCA is used to assess the environmental benefits of the new measures, but LCA methods and metric can vary considerably, making accurate comparisons difficult. Under the European Commission's Seventh Framework Programme, a consortium of six partner organisations is developing the “EeBGuide” – an operational guidance manual for conducting LCA studies – along with related training material and courses for practitioners in industry and research. The aim is to provide a common methodology that will allow reliable assessment and comparison of energy efficiency initiatives. The six partners are the Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik (FhG-IBP), PE International, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB), Escola Superior de Comerc International (ESCI), Prof Ch Sjöström Consultancy, and BRE Global which has an expert technical review role in the production of the EeBGuide and other material. The guidance being developed will be based on – and in line with – the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) Handbook, co-developed by the European Commission's JRC-IES. To help maximise acceptance of the new guidance by stakeholders, the ILCD requirements will be combined with the new CEN/TC 350 standards, such as EN 15804 (Environmental Performance at the product level) and FprEN 15978 (Environmental Performance at the building level). The EeBGuide will focus on two core components, a full explanation of the issues to be considered when using LCA as part of the EeB Initiative, and detailed advice on addressing these issues. It will include case study examples and operational guidance on how to conduct appropriate, high-quality LCA studies.
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Chiron's range of IRIS Touch Supervised Premises Transceivers approved to LPS 1277. Chiron Security Communications Ltd. has achieved LPCB approval for its IRIS Touch range of supervised premises transceivers. Chiron has had nine product variants undergo, and pass, the rigorous testing programme of LPS 1277 Issue 3.0. These include the IRIS Touch 200, 220, 240, 400, 420, 440, 440R, 620 and 640 alarm transmission diallers, offering a selection of single and dual path solutions for use with both fire and intruder alarm and hold-up installations. The Chiron IRIS Touch connects to the notification outputs of an intruder alarm or a fire alarm control panel and in the event of an alarm, transmits messages to an alarm-receiving centre enabling the key holder to be contacted or the appropriate response (e.g. Police or Fire Service) dispatched. The LPS 1277 approval scheme brings together the various alarm transmission system (ATS) requirements relevant to the UK fire and intruder alarm market. LPS 1277 addresses the requirements of the insurance industry and other stakeholders on key issues such as ensuring faults are reported in a more appropriate timescale and providing guidelines for installers. More information about the benefits of using LPS 1277 can be found at www.redbooklive.com. The requirements of LPS 1277 Issue 3.0 are based on the BS EN 50136, BS EN 50131 and BS EN 54 series of European standards. While it builds on and clarifies these standards, typically in areas relating to intrusion and hold-up alarm systems, LPS 1277 does not in any way undermine their use or future development. In addition to outlining clear performance requirements, LPS 1277 contains (in ANNEX C) guidance for equipment installers, which the suppliers of LPS 1277 Issue 3.0 approved equipment are required to include in their installation instructions.
The royal institution of chartered surveyors
The UK section of the main menu is structured as:
UK regions
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England
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Northern Ireland
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Scotland
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Wales
The “What's New on Site” provides information on:
News The “News section” includes:
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RICS announces Inaugural Dispute Board Register and Training Programme
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RICS has today announced its Inaugural Dispute Board Register aimed internationally at pre-empting and resolving contractual disputes on major construction projects. Individuals across the professions are now invited to train as accredited dispute board members. Dispute board panels of neutral experts work alongside the contracting parties in major construction works to pre-empt and resolve disputes cheaply, quickly and without resorting to the courts. Dispute board members carry out regular site visits, review project documentation, work with the individuals involved and make recommendations to both clients and contractors. The RICS Dispute Board Training, Assessment and Accreditation Programme is designed to meet the well-established need in the international and increasingly UK construction sectors for a comprehensive dispute avoidance and resolution mechanism.
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RICS Renewable Energy Strategy Response
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The European Commission's Directorate-General for the Environment launched an open consultation on the renewable energy strategy on 6 December 2011. The main purpose of the DG Environment's communication on renewable energy was to examine the conditions that might be necessary for a further development of renewable energy until 2030. It covered the three pillars of energy policy (sustainability, security of supply and competitiveness), and was consistent with the long-term decarbonisation scenarios presented in the Energy Roadmap 2050, which all point to a substantially increased share of renewable energy sources.
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Updated Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive approved by European Parliament
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RICS mineral and waste surveyors should be aware that the EU's WEEE directive was revamped in January. The WEEE directive, adopted by the European Parliament on 19 January after months of tough negotiations, will raise the recycling targets by up to 85 per cent in 2019 and calls for a common EU standard (EN) on recycling of WEEE. One year ago, RICS called for recycling targets for rare earth elements, which are needed to produce green energy. The legislation will not necessarily remove the weight target. The target is currently based on weights per capita and it is changing to per weight unit (2016 it will be 45 tonnes, by 2019 it will be increased to 65 tonnes) to be collected per 100 tonnes put on the market in the three preceding years. Alternatively, it will be based on total of e-waste generated where 85 per cent of total e-waste will have to be collected. Each member state will choose between these options upon transposition. Small e-waste, such as smart phones, can be brought back to an electronics store (larger than 400 m2) where the retailer is obliged to accept it – until now, this type of waste only had to be taken in exchange for a new purchase. Larger items of e-waste (such as refrigerators) will still have to be given back to the manufacturer. The directive will also introduce a new requirement aimed at preventing European companies from illegally exporting and dumping potentially hazardous goods outside the EU. The “burden of proof” has been reversed, and exporters will now have to prove, through a new certificate, that electronic appliances exported to the third world are effectively in a working state or intended to be repaired and reused. Rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz stated that this requirement is intended, for example, to prevent out-of-order computers being shipped to Africa, where Chinese companies would collect them. Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik and Swedish MEP Marita Ulvskog see the new text as a boost to efforts to improve efficiency and the recycling of raw materials like gold, silver, copper and rare metals.
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Documents
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Forms
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Downloads
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Events
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Press releases
Rockwool
This web site main menu is structured as:
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Products
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Professional
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Homeowner
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Safer buildings
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Stockists
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News
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Case studies
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Sustainability
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About us
The “Professional” section gives details of the “RockShell Wall system”. RockShell is an innovative, low energy solution for the construction of load-bearing walls in low-rise buildings. The patented RockShell system is a unique combination of Steel I-Profiles, dense Rockwool Insulation and an interior OSB lining. It has been designed to accept all standard building components. Rockwool has developed a suite of standard interface details to enable specifiers to assess the suitability of the system. RockShell integrates high levels of insulation, improvements in airtightness and minimal thermal bridges to achieve U-values of 0.14 W/m2K. The standard details cover various commonly used facade and foundation interfaces, roof designs and door and window details for used in buildings up to 2(1/2) storeys high.
Clearview
The main menu includes access to:
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Home
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The Clearview difference
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The Clearview stoves range
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Wood as a fuel
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Caring for our environment
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Technical help
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Maintaining your stove
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Dinham House – showroom
The web site also gives details of the main features of Clearview stoves which include:
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Clean burning (cleaner chimney, less air pollution).
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Clean glass, and more lively fire.
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More airtight construction.
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Doors adjustable to maintain air tightness.
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More usable firebox space.
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Stainless steel ash pan for easy ash removal.
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Separate wood and coal air controls.
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More solid and durable construction.
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Firebox refractory lined
Mitsubishi electric
domesticheating.mitsubishielectric.co.uk
In 2007, a dedicated Heating Department was introduced to offer the “Ecodan” air source heat pump system to the UK's housing sector. The main menu includes access to:
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Home
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About us
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About Ecodan
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For building professionals
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For homeowners
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For installers
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For social housing
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CERT funding
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Information
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Products
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Case studies
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Ecodan dashboard
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Whole house solution – Ecodan and PV
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News
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Contacts
The Ecodan dashboard (www.dashboard.mitsubishielectric.co.uk); demonstrates the effectiveness of the Ecodan domestic air source heat pump in the UK. For each monitored site, the dashboard gives an overview of the system, detailing the age and type of property. It is possible to drill down further and see how the unit is performing at any time of the day, week, month or year, and see the running costs, CO2 emissions and energy consumed, when compared to gas and oil systems. The dashboard currently gives an overview of four properties:
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three-bed semi-detached home in Bedfordshire, built in 2008;
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three-bed semi-detached home in Hertfordshire, built in 1955;
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four-bed detached home in Bedfordshire, built in 2000; and
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five-bed detached home in Northumberland, built in 1999.
The properties use a mixture of the three Ecodan models (5 kW, 8.5 kW and 14 kW) working with both radiators and under-floor heating to demonstrate how the systems perform. Advanced access will also be given to Mitsubishi's partners, for example housing associations, who have allowed their properties to be monitored.
British lead
The main menu includes access to:
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Home
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About us
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Products
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Basic fitting guides
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Depot locations
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Contact us
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Health and safety
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Technical and training
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World's largest lead recyclers
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The greenest building material
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Download PDFs
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Links
The “Download PDFs” gives access to the following information:
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User guides
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Weight chart
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Sizing chart
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Fixing flashings
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Imperial measurement conversion chart
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Basic fixing guides
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Brochures
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Lead products brochure
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Recycling
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European Lead Sheet Industry Association (ELSIA)
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Metals for building – essential and fully recyclable
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Product data sheets
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Patination oil
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Lead-cote
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Hall clips
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Lead pointing sealant
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Quickslate
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Unislate
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Standard underlay
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Grade 1F building paper
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Wood roll
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T-Pren expansion joint
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T-Pren plus
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Permastrip
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Lead dot set
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Health and safety data sheets
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Metallic lead
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Patination oil
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Lead-cote
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REACH
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Lead pointing sealant
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Leadworkers safety guide
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Quality certificates
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ISO 9001
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BLM OHSAS 18001
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ISO 14001
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