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A brief introduction to recognising wood rot Dry wood is a naturally durable material which is resistant to most biological attacks. However, when the moisture content of the wood increases, and the damp conditions are prolonged the wood becomes vulnerable to attack. Damp wood (above 20% moisture content) becomes a perfect habitat for wood-rotting fungi, […]

A number of small scale projects utilising low impact development practices have been successfully implemented throughout the UK. With a recognised housing crisis in the UK and the need to tackle the impact of global warming, applied on a larger scale, these methods could form part of a national solution. Fairlie (1996, p.xiii) states “a […]

There is a clear issue with inspiring a new, more diverse generation of youngster into becoming building surveyors. The issue was raised at this year’s annual Building Surveying Conference with a number of senior surveyors crying out for more to be done to promote the profession. As a recent Graduate Building Surveyor I am new […]

Facilities Management (FM) has long suffered from an acute identity crisis (Tay & Ooi, 2001). The profession is considered by some individuals as having no strategic orientation encompassing middle aged men with no professional qualifications (Eltringham, 1999; Nourse, 1990).  It is believed to have taken until 1980 to gain a stronger presence within the construction […]

Only 3% of Chartered Surevyors in the 1980s were women. Over the last three decades this figure has only increased by a mere 10%, with only 13% of members of the RICS being female. With more than half of the UK population being women, the construction sector is missing out! However, it is hardly encouraging […]

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) came into force on 6 April 2015, replacing CDM 2007. It is essential that as construction professionals we understand the different roles we play and obligations under legislation as well as more widely to clients, other construction professionals and to the public wherever they may be […]