ACO Water Management has supplied two bespoke attenuation tanks to keep a major new data centre running smoothly and safe from flooding. With data centres becoming critical pieces of infrastructure in an ever-more digitalised world, these gigantic buildings are now emerging across the globe, and, given their purpose, avoiding failure or damage to is non-negotiable. However, as part of one data centre construction project in Ireland, it was found that existing surface water

Josh Owen of the Rinnai Technical Design looks at some possibilities coming out of the forthcoming EPC scheme. Plans to ensure that all rented properties across the UK will have a minimum EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating of C by 2030 are underway. Presently, just over 2.5 million rented properties maintain a rating in between D and G. This could offer a major business boost to the UK HVAC industry with an unprecedented commercial opportunity that could stimulate

Andy Sutton, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Sero, shares his outlook on the key developments that will shape social housing retrofit in 2026. 2026: Time to get on the right boat I believe 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the UK’s journey to Net Zero. Right now, the energy and construction sectors are moving on different trajectories, and unless we bring them together, we risk losing impact. The energy sector is already out at sea, accelerating toward

The most recent government data shows that the UK is monitoring more high-rise buildings with potential cladding risks than ever before, yet fewer are actually entering remediation. Property Inspect UK is now warning that the widening gap between identification and action reflects a persistent structural issue in how remediation is managed, verified, and delivered. As of October 2025 (latest available data), a total of 5,570 residential buildings over 11 metres tall are b

SmartThings Pro is a software solution suitable for commercial buildings and any multi-site residential or retail space, designed to control multiple devices and monitor energy usage from a single dashboard. At first glance, the application proves that Samsung has put action into words when designing the platform. With its user-friendly interface, SmartThings Pro enables users to manage multiple sites and review the operating status of various HVAC and IoT devices across d

Abode , award-winning designer and distributor of market leading kitchen sinks and mixer taps, boiling water taps, bathroom taps and showering solutions provide expert advice on the most popular bathroom trends influencing both home and lifestyle in 2026. Dave Boddy, Product Manager at Abode has identified three top trends for the basin, bath and shower zone next year, and these include: 1. Off-white: Move over all-white sanitaryware as next year, the bath and basin will

TerraQuest , the operator of Planning Portal, says an agile footing will continue to be critical to property industry success as it unveils a report distilling the key real estate trends built environment professionals need to know for 2026. The report brings together insights from across land, property and planning to give an overview of the state of the residential and commercial markets. Coming at a pivotal moment for the UK real estate sector as the government’s planni

Shoreham Beach House is a private development in Sussex designed using Passivhaus principlies and the Schöck Isokorb T type S. Specify & Build reports. Shoreham Beach House is a private residential development at Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex. Jim Miller Design, a leading architectural practice based in Hove, has designed the project using Passivhaus principles. One of the challenges of the project involved the extensive number of connections between the internal and external ste

CARLISLE Construction Materials is celebrating success at the 2025 NFRC Scottish Roofing Awards, after project partner Site Group won the Green Roofing category for the Tynecastle Student Accommodation project in Edinburgh, which features CARLISLE’s high-performance RESITRIX waterproofing system. The winners were revealed at a ceremony held at The Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow, recognising outstanding achievements and innovation across Scotland’s roofing industry. The redeve

Limescale within commercial heating and hot water systems is a common problem associated with hardwater areas. About 60% of mains water supplied in the UK is classified as ‘hard’ and this produces limescale deposits that reduce the efficiency of heating and water-heating appliances and systems. This means increased operating costs, as just 1.6mm of scale can reduce system efficiency by 12%, in turn increasing the amount of energy needed to meet hot water demands. Limescale in

South London interior design studio Tailored Living Interiors has brought bespoke luxury to Oakley House and Pico House; two properties nestled in the repurposed Grade II-listed Battersea Power Station development. This development was introduced to Tailored Living Interiors through its exclusive collaboration with Kingdom International Real Estate. Oakley and Pico House offer a collection of one, two and three-bed apartments, with two luxury homes featuring bespoke interior

Carl Thompson, Technical Manager for CA Group, explores how fire performance testing is vital to achieve compliance, safety and clarity in specification. In the construction and building materials industry, few topics are as critical, and often as misunderstood, as fire performance testing. Two of the most frequently referenced issues in the UK are ‘fire resistance’ and ‘reaction to fire’. While both address fire safety, they do so from very different perspectives. Understand

Tom Roche, Secretary at the Business Sprinkler Alliance, considers whether fire safety standards for hotels go far enough. Recent high-profile hotel fires have brought renewed attention to fire safety standards across the hospitality sector. A major incident in a hotel in Turkey earlier this year resulted in the deaths of 78 people and prompted global concern. Meanwhile, in the UK, the 2017 fire at the Cameron House Hotel near Loch Lomond, which claimed two lives, highlighte

Daniel Grimsdell, Regional Account Manager (Trade) at FireAngel, explores why testing, commissioning, and a thorough handover are essential in delivering fully compliant domestic fire alarm systems. When it comes to domestic fire detection and alarm systems, compliance is often considered complete once devices are installed. But as any experienced specifier knows, genuine compliance extends far beyond simply fitting alarms to walls or ceilings. It’s an ongoing process that in

Passive fire protection specialist Promat has won a series of leading industry awards for its work to drive up awareness of testing standards and the correct application of protection for structural steel. Promat was named as the winner of two prestigious Construction Marketing Award’s (CMA’s) for ‘Best Mid-Range Budget Campaign’ and ‘Best Go-To-Market (GTM)’ in collaboration with marketing and PR agency Lesniak Swann, in addition to taking a gold award in The Dru