Talk.Build

National Construction Training Services ready to boost the nation’s skills

A new organisation, the National Construction Training Services (NCTS) has recently launched with the provision of a Centre of Excellence for roofing skills. This unique, nationwide programme will enable roofing contractors to access specialist roofing lead and hard metals training more locally to ...

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Colin Felton Posted on October 1st, 2017

Flushing out school bullies

Recent reports confirm that bullying remains an issue in school washrooms and human nature being what it is; it is unlikely that such facilities will ever be completely safe, writes Sam Saunderson, Project Consultant at washroom design and refurbishment specialists, Interfix. To counteract ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 30th, 2017

Office interiors - first impressions count

There is no doubting the fact that first impressions count. Our first impressions are generated by an experience and our surrounding environment. This can all happen in the blink of an eye. Office receptions are a prime example of where first impressions count. We walk into a building and get an ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 29th, 2017

Keeping construction noise at bay

Noise accounts for most of the complaints that local councils and the Environment Agency receive about environmental pollution and is a major cause of stress. Given that construction sites generate significant levels of noise, which is always varied and changing, what noise control methods do ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 28th, 2017

Britain’s builders ready to meet the challenge in the education sector

Recent reports claim that Britain needs to build another 2,000 schools to cope with the pressure on class sizes caused by the immigration crisis. These, it is said, will be needed to teach an additional 729,000 primary and secondary school pupils by 2020. Education has always been a battleground ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 27th, 2017

Let’s hope the accident rate for falls from height continues its decline

There are over 13,000 injuries a year from fall from heights accidents on construction sites, some 30 of these are fatal, according to the latest statistics available from the Government. It is the second largest killer after “struck by moving vehicle,” but the good news is that such ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 26th, 2017

Seven years since the discovery of self-healing concrete – what’s the delay?

Self-healing concrete using bacteria to seal cracks has been talked about for more than six years. It’s a remarkable innovation which means that concrete could in theory last for ever. So why have we heard so little about it and why are we not using it on all of our buildings and ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 25th, 2017

How many more have to die before we change the regulations?

There have been consistent campaigns over many years to install smoke alarms in all buildings – and it is now standard practice on all new builds and major refurbishments - but sadly we do not appear to be taking the threat of Carbon monoxide poisoning in quite the same way. There are ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 24th, 2017

Will we ever see “Sponge Cities” in the UK?

Flooding continues to be a major problem worldwide as our population continues to grow. In the UK, Government advisors are still suggesting that homes and offices be built on flood plains in spite of the risks – so it would seem that the problem can only get worse.. The Chinese have ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 23rd, 2017

Mixed-gender toilets deliver same positive results in UK schools

The introduction of unisex toilets in UK primary and secondary schools remains a contentious issue, particularly for some parents, but there seems little doubt mixed-gender washrooms will soon be accepted as the norm. There is no official record of the number of mixed-used toilets installed ...

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Colin Felton Posted on September 22nd, 2017