The essential resource for specifying buildings
Specifier is a resource for anyone involved in the design and specification of buildings. Below you can find information on meeting specification challenges including sustainably targets and regulations and how these have been solved in original and innovative ways. There is also information on lifetime costs, standards and specification advice from experts plus all the latest products.
We welcome product information and submissions for the section. Please send these to specifier@ubm.com
Design & Specification
Kitchen design for the over 65s: Older and wiser
The number of over 65-year-olds is growing fast and kitchen designers are having to adapt fittings to meet their particular needs. Building looks at the ingredients of ‘inclusive design’
A lot to live up to: Building houses that meet predicted energy use
The gap between a house’s predicted energy use and actual performance has been comprehensively panned. Building meets three developers who reckon their projects will show that low carbon on paper can mean low carbon in practice
Quadruple glazing: Fancy a fourth layer?
It’s winter and our thoughts turn to keeping warm by any means necessary. Is quadruple glazing the solution? Thomas Lane peeks out from behind his curtains to ask the experts
Case Studies
The ArcelorMittal Orbit: Twist and shout
The ArcelorMittal Orbit in the Olympic park is being built to ‘arouse the curiosity and wonder of Londoners’. And the most curious thing of all is how this spiralling confusion of red steel actually stands up
Products
Insulated cladding system
Natural Building Technologies’ (NBT) Pavaclad building system was used in the construction of Waingels College, Reading
Solar heating system
Stokvis Energy Systems supplied an energy-efficient solar heating system for Thomas Rotherham College, South Yorkshire
Steel-framed building system
Premier Interlink (Waco UK) has recently constructed teaching facilities at four Leeds primary and nursery schools
Dorgard finishes
Fireco has launched its Dorgard Effects range of ultra high gloss finishes, including Mahogany, Beech, Oak and Ash, which are intended to blend into a fire door
Work surfaces
Bushboard has extended the range of material and design options for its Encore solid surface, Omega and Prima laminate bathroom products
Modular building
A sixth-form centre has been constructed at Wymondham High School, Norfolk, using a recycled modular building from Foremans Relocatable Building Systems
Curtain walling system
Technal supplied aluminium facade systems for the new College of Further Education in Hartlepool
Ventilation solutions
Airflow will showcase its new Loovent Eco and DV3600 Duplexvent Flexi unit at Ecobuild 2012
Fire detection system interface units
Gent by Honeywell has extended its range of fire detection system interface units, making its Vigilon system suitable for many types of buildings
What to remember
What to remember: Bathroom pods
Five steps to the perfect bathroom pod. Peter Caplehorn of Scott Brownrigg offers some advice on managing design, delivery and installation
Lifetime costs
What it costs: Flooring
Level access showers can improve quality of life for disabled users. Peter Mayer of BLP Insurance looks at the design options and lifecycle costs for retrofitting them into existing floors
Browse our extensive archive of costs, case studies and technical data
