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.

When building a real estate structure, there are various materials that one can use to make the beams. One of the most popular among these is oak. This material has been used to build structures throughout the UK for centuries and that is unlikely to change any time soon. This is because it offers builders a wide array of benefits that are unmatched by any other material. Some of these are mentioned in this post.

STABILITY
For any structure to be stable, then it must have strong beams. Without these, the structure poses a great danger to the occupants and may lead to losses as should they collapse. One of the things that make beams made from oak such an attractive building material is the fact that they offer a huge amount of stability. This is because they are structurally strong and can be able to support strong forces. This means that they can be able to bear the weight of roofs and other heavy structures without collapsing.

Continue reading Advantages of Oak Beams →

When working on a construction project there are usually many builders on site. All of which require some sort of accommodation. Many companies will house workers directly on site, a strategy which has many advantages.

Building companies often uses temporary structures to solve this need. Of which there are many designs available. Stackable buildings, large open plan spaces, the type of buildings you can use will vary depending on the amount of people and the site you are working on. Temporary structures also offer a versatile area of space that can be used for storage, meetings, workshop space and many of the other requirements a building site has.

Temporary accommodation is especially useful for companies that work with a regular team or who work abroad. This is because housing all of the team together can alleviate many of the issues associated with keeping a regular work force. It is a great way to keep track of the work team and encourages a sense of belonging and work effort.