LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

M arch has arrived with little sign of

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proctorgroup

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Roofshield

donlow.co.uk

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£9bn in developer contributions ‘unspent’

Funding provided as part of planning agreements for

Construction workforce shrinks by over 300,000

The UK construction workforce (not seasonally adjusted) shrank

Highest new home applications this decade

The number of new homes applied for in

‘Strengthen place-based retrofit’

A new report from The National Retrofit Hub

SIG roadshows complete

SIG Roofing has concluded its 2026 Roadshow series,

Specifiers ‘grapple’ with changing sustainability measures

Almost half (48%) of specifiers said they expect

British Standard needed to boost heat pumps, says EUA

Heating industry leaders are calling on government for

Consultation launched on Construction Products reform

The government has launched a far-reaching consultation on

BUILDING PERFORMANCE IN FACADES

Mark Halliday , Head of Technical-ARBO at CARLISLE Construction Materials , discusses the specification consideration for maximising façade performance.

DAIKIN PIONEERS MULTI SPLIT AIR CONDITIONING LISTING ON THE SAP DATABASE

Daikin has successfully pioneered the process for securing

BIRKDALE EXPANDS DURAPOST RANGE WITH OPTION FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

Birkdale has expanded its DuraPost range with the

MAKITA’S NEW FRAMING NAILERS ARE DRIVEN TO PERFORM

Makita has expanded its professional cordless range with

AIRTIGHT HOMES OF THE FUTURE

Neil Turner , Technical Manager at Ecological Building Systems , advises on designing airtight buildings while protecting against moisture damage.

THE RETROFIT CHALLENGE

Chris Knights, Applied Engineering Business Manager at BSRIA, explores the current state of the UK housebuilding stock and why we must ensure we meet our retrofit goals.

VASO BY ECO SELECTED TO JOIN SHED 5 FRAMEWORK

VASO by Eco – an industrialised construction company

WIENERBERGER BOOSTS SUSTAINABILITY DATA WITH EPDS

wienerberger UK and Ireland has published Environmental Product

REDUCING EMBODIED CARBON

Jonathan Lynch , UK Building Products Manager at EGGER UK, explains how specifi ers can reduce embodied carbon through smarter material selections, starting with structural fl ooring.

THE FUTURE OF SOLAR POWER IN HEALTHCARE ESTATES

Fiona Keysell , Director of Consultancy, and Jim Howlett , Business Development Manager – Public Sector at RenEnergy UK , explore the importance of solar PV to creating a net-zero healthcare sector.

STYLISH REFURB FOR SPRING GROVE

Grant Westfield’s Multipanel wall panels have created a hotel-inspired finish for a North London care home. Specify & Build reports.

PYROGUARD PROTECTS FRENCH GOODLIFE PROJECT

Pyroguard has been specified as part of the

BRUCE TOWERS GETS TOP MARKS ON SCHOOL REFIT DURING HALF TERM

Bruce Towers & Sons, based in East Anglia,

WRAPTITE MEMBRANE HELPS DELIVER BUILDING PERFORMANCE THAT’S EVERYONE’S CUP OF TEA

More than 12,000m 2 of a former tea

NEW CPD ON DESIGNING AND SPECIFYING COMMERCIAL HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

Ideal Commercial Heating has expanded its CIBSEapproved training

BIRKDALE LAUNCHES GATEMATE ADVANCED HARDWARE RANGE

Fencing and gate accessories wholesale supplier Birkdale has

FUTURE-READY ROOF MEMBRANES FOR FABRIC-FIRST CONSTRUCTION

Don & Low explains how its Roofshield roof membrane can help architects and specifiers meet new roof performance expectations.

SPECIFYING OVERHEAD GLAZING

Paul Smith , Technical Chair of The Rooflight Association , explains why specifiers should consider laminated glass as the default inner pane when specifying rooflights as part of a robust approach to design risk management.

THE NEXT CHAPTER IN BUILDING FACADES

Sam Spencer , Specification Manager at Benx Façades , explores the factors behind the growing use of colourful cladding in the modern built environment.

GLIDEVALE ROLLS OUT 100% RECYCLED PACKAGING

L-r: Glidevale Protect’s Head of Marketing and Sustainability Lead

NEW APPOINTMENT FOR ACCUROOF

Accuroof, part of SIG Roofing, has appointed Edward Cooke

THE KEY TO CREATING A SAFER BUILT ENVIRONMENT

John McComb , Technical Director at Reynaers Aluminium UK , examines how manufacturers provide the crucial support to Principal Designers required to ensure the highest levels of safety.

HOW EASY TO INSTALL ARE PITCHED ROOF UNDERLAYS?

Pamela Howat , Senior Technical Advisor at Proctor Group, reveals why it’s important for specifiers to understand the specific features that make products user friendly.

DESIGN FREEDOM FOR THE FACADE

The design of the façade plays a central role

SPECIFYING ARCHITECTURAL ALUMINIUM POWDER COATING

Chris Mansfield , Chair of QUALICOAT UK & Ireland , highlights the key factors that specifiers need to consider when choosing architectural powder coating.

NEW GUIDANCE FOR ACCESSIBLE HOMES

Stuart Reynolds , UK Marketing & Product Management Director at AKW , highlights key points from a new guide to help specifiers design inclusive spaces for people suffering from arthritis.

STRIA SINK AND TAP PACKS AVAILABLE NOW

Abode has launched six new STRIA sink and

PARTNERSHIP OFFERS WATER MANAGEMENT INNOVATION

Thomas Dudley has announced a partnership with eco-cistem, a

NATUREPANEL LAUNCHES EXTRA HIGH PANELS

Naturepanel has extended its range with new 2,700mmhigh wall

ROCA EXPANDS OPTICA COLLECTION WITH CONTEMPORARY SOLUTIONS

Roca UK has introduced its extended Optica bathroom

SANIVITE+ SOLVES LAUNDRY DRAINAGE CHALLENGE IN STAFFORDSHIRE HOME

A domestic property in Alton, Staffordshire, sits in

ESBE VALVES DELIVER HEAT PUMP PERFORMANCE

A Yorkshire-based heating and increasingly moved to fitting

SUCCESS FOR HYDROGEN BLEND TRIAL AT LINCOLNSHIRE POWER STATION

A successful 2% green hydrogen gas mixing trial

VENT-AXIA PUBLISHES EBOOK GUIDE TO ACHIEVING PART O COMPLIANCE

Vent-Axia has published the eBook ‘A Guide to

PASSIVHAUS GOES MAINSTREAM

Louise McHugh , Product Manager at Vent Axia , explores why effective ventilation is vital when dealing with Passivhaus projects.

WHY HYDRAULIC SEPARATION MATTERS

Ed Morris , Technical Manager at Altecnic , explains what hydraulic separation does, why it’s so important in modern hydronic systems, and when a hydraulic separator or low loss header is the right solution.

WORCESTER BOSCH LAUNCHES FLOORSTANDING GAS BOILER

Worcester Bosch has announced its new floorstanding boiler –

SUSTAINABLE HVAC RETROFITTING IN A LIVE OFFICE BUILDING

Victaulic has partnered with WS Swift to carry out a system upgrade at an office building in the heart of London. Specify & Build reports.

ENSURE BATTERY SAFETY

Dan Tweddle , National Account Manager at FireAngel , reveals how to help mitigate the fire risk that can be posed by lithium-ion batteries.

REDUCING COSTS AND FIRE RISKS IN HERITAGE BUILDINGS

Graham Shaw , Chief Operating Officer at AIS , reveals how to manage fire risks effectively while meeting the distinct challenges found in refurbishing heritage buildings.

CONNECTED HOME COURSE WITH CITY & GUILDS

Aico has expanded its training courses with the

SPECIFYING GLASS FOR MODERN BUILDINGS

Steve Goodburn , Business Development Director at Pyroguard , discusses what specifiers should take into account when selecting glazing to suit today’s building requirements.

RETHINKING FIRE DOOR SAFETY

Sue Corrick of Allegion UK outlines inconsistency in fire door safety and how specifiers are being supported to close knowledge gaps.

WILL NET ZERO BECOME NOT ZERO?

Rinnai Director Chris Goggin explores the politics of net zero and some of the recent challenges to climate change policy.