When selecting a lead acid battery its recommended that you purchase a battery with the greatest reserve capacity or amp hour rating possible. The physical size, cable hook up and terminal type should also be taken into consideration.

Be sure to purchase the correct type of battery for the job it must do. Remember an engine starting battery and deep cycle batteries are different. ‘Freshness’ of a new battery is also very important as the longer a battery sits and is not re-charged the more damaging sulfation build up on the internal plates.

Remember to check the date of the battery. Most batteries have a date of manufacture code on them. The month is indicated by a letter ‘A’ being January and a number ‘4’ being 2004. C4 would tell us the battery was manufactured in March 2004. Remember the fresher the better. The letter “i” is not used because it can be confused with #1.

 

Building regulations are put in place to ensure a standard is adhered to regarding the construction and improvement of buildings. The regulations are in place to protect members of the public, as well as the occupiers of the building. They govern health and safety standards, energy usage standards and accessibility standards for disabled persons.

Many construction companies and designers consider the regulations, including how they will be put into place, in the early stages of construction. This allows them to be adhered to and built upon without unnecessarily breaking them during construction.

Areas Of Regulation

There are many regulations, categorised into different sub-sections. These include: Structural safety, fire safety, drainage and waste disposal, conservation of fuel and power, amongst others.

As an example; Structural safety concerns the structural stability of roofs, walls, floors, foundations, and considers the implications of loading, ground movement and disproportionate collapse.

 

Over time, as a result of the many buildings constructed over the generations, building methods have evolved. Using a rug to keep the floor warm has turned into full blown under floor heating. Single pane windows, which used to be a luxury, are now double or triple glazed windows. In general, functionality has improved a great deal over time.

The speed of construction and use of materials has also drastically improved. In bygone days, a home would of been constructed out of a great deal of wood, with a lot of that wood being wasted. Now buildings can be created from weaker wood and using less, to do the same job to the same standard. All because of the evolution of building methods.

This drastic improvement has seen many traditional methods phase out of existence. Traditional masonry is far less commonly used in construction along with old plastering techniques which traditionally left the walls thicker with better sound insulation.

When planning a construction project, one of the most important aspects of the design process is in establishing feel of the completed site. This is not often considered by construction companies, but it can make a huge difference in the finished build.

One way this is achieved is in the theme of the project. A large housing estate for example, would have a theme attached to it in the form of the style and look of the adjacent houses. This would be reflected in the feeling the estate gives to visitors and residents. For a housing estate, a theme of serenity and well-being is a common theme companies aim for.

This is especially important on projects that occupy a multi-construction area, with many varying buildings. A theme will help to bring the buildings together, not in a functional way but in a way that reflects the immediate and local area as a whole.