Archives: CPD Modules

Sponsored by Glazing Vision, this module will discuss rooflights as a key component of the building envelope, and the vital role they play in balancing energy efficiency requirements with providing thermal comfort, natural light and a connection to nature for building occupants. Deadline for completion Friday 30 August 2024. As a new government takes office …

CPD 09 2024: The role of rooflights within the Future Homes Standard and beyond Read More »

Sponsored by Brett Martin, this module will discuss the role of daylight in building design, alongside the specification considerations for polycarbonate facades and their applications in the built environment. Deadline for completion Friday 30 August 2024. Buildings consume far more energy than needed, and there is an increasing responsibility to design buildings that operate sustainably. …

CPD 08 2024: Polycarbonate facades for sustainability Read More »

Sponsored by Ability by Dimplex, this module will outline the considerations to be made when specifying fan-coil unit technology in development fit-outs, exploring what the technology encompasses, the various systems available and how careful consideration can reduce waste. Deadline for completion Friday 23 August 2024. It is well documented that the built environment is responsible …

CPD 07 2024: Reducing waste in development fit-outs through fan coil solution design Read More »

Sponsored by MSA Safety, this CPD will explore the elements to consider when specifying a fall protection system and how best to integrate it within the building design in order to achieve compliance with the relevant standards and regulations. Deadline for completion Friday 26 July 2024. Falls from height are still one of the largest …

CPD 06 2024: Ensuring safety for working at height Read More »

Although terrorist attacks are rare, public spaces are being increasingly viewed as attractive targets for terrorist organisations. This module – sponsored by Marshalls – will explore designing for security and the installation considerations for mitigating hostile vehicle attacks. Deadline for completion Friday 19 July 2024. Targeting innocent people to inflict large-scale damage and loss of …

CPD 05 2024: An introduction to hostile vehicle mitigation Read More »

This JLA-sponsored module explores the benefits of using ozone for decontamination, alongside the adverse health effects associated with the gas and considerations needed to mitigate them Around 1.6 times heavier than air, ozone is a bluish gas whose molecules are made up of three oxygen atoms (O3). Its odour resembles newly mown hay and the …

CPD 04 2024: Using ozone for decontamination Read More »

This Rockwool-sponsored CPD module examines the A to Z Essential Principles relating to passive fire safety by RISCAuthority, highlighting the importance of going above and beyond the Building Regulations to better protect buildings and their occupants RISCAuthority is an annually funded research scheme supported by a group of UK insurers. Underpinned by extensive research and …

CPD 03 2024: Exploring the A to Z Essential Principles Read More »

Sponsored by Cupa Pizarras, this CPD will examine the considerations for specifying natural slate rainscreen cladding systems, including the material’s sustainable credentials, responsible sourcing and installation guidance A smooth, fine-grained metamorphic rock that can be split into layers, natural slate is formed under great pressure and heat. Using a process that began 400-500 million years …

CPD 02 2024: Specifying natural slate rainscreen cladding systems Read More »

This latest CPD module, sponsored by Rockwool, considers the roof as a building’s fifth facade, examining its functional uses and its vital role in fire safety, and explaining the relevant regulations and what needs to be done to require to comply with them In recent years, a lot of focus has been placed on the …

CPD 01 2024: The Fifth Facade: Regulations on Roofs Read More »

This CPD module, sponsored by Kingspan, explores the benefits and processes involved when seeking third-party certification from FM Approvals We must construct our buildings to stand the test of time and to perform well — both in everyday operations and in case of events such as fire. Insurer-approved third-party certification is a good way of …

CPD 09 2023: Understanding third-party certification processes for insulated panels Read More »

This CPD, sponsored by Knauf Insulation, takes an in-depth look at the systems that lie behind the rainscreen facades of buildings and sets out the regulations and relevant guidance that should be considered to ensure the specification of safe, healthy and sustainable structures High-performance rainscreen facade systems contain a number of key elements that combined …

CPD 08 2023: Rainscreen facade system regulations Read More »

This Catnic-sponsored CPD module looks at the use of steel standing seam systems, exploring their design features, advantages and limitations in residential applications, as well as relevant guidelines considerations during installation Modern standing seam roofs were first developed in the 1960s, using metal instead of asphalt, tile or slate. Known for their durability and resistance …

CPD 07 2023: Specifying steel standing seam systems for residential projects Read More »

This CPD module, sponsored by Rockwool, looks at the latest version of BS 5422, the British Standard for thermal insulation of pipework and equipment, exploring recommendations and key updates for 2023 The British Standards Institution (BSI) has published the latest version of BS 5422, the standard that forms the foundation of UK thermal insulation standards …

CPD 06 2023: Introducing BS 5422 on pipework insulation Read More »

This CPD module, sponsored by Vandersanden, explores the innovations in brick manufacturing, with a focus on the material’s green credentials A brief history Bricks are, without doubt, one of the oldest known building materials. The earliest bricks discovered are estimated to be from 7,000 BC. Uncovered around the ancient city of Jericho in modern-day Turkey, …

CPD 05 2023: Brick circularity, sustainability and innovation Read More »

Designed to give you a better understanding of specifying metal web joists in your projects, this MiTek-sponsored CPD module will discuss the material’s properties, alongside possible applications, relevant regulations and various design considerations Popular among architects, specifiers, housebuilders and contractors, metal web joists (MWJ) have long been used in the UK construction industry. Prior to …

CPD 04 2023: Specifying metal web joists Read More »

This CPD module, sponsored by ROCKWOOL, explores the importance of designing for effective compartmentation and the legal liability regarding the provision of fire protection Fire stopping is a vital component for successful passive fire protection strategies. By helping to contain the spread of flames and smoke, investing time and resources into fire stopping can make …

CPD 03 2023: Understanding fire stopping and liability Read More »

This CPD, sponsored by Steel for Life, examines the central role sustainability plays in procurement strategies and explains the key recommendations for procuring sustainable structural steelwork Sustainable procurement is set to become an increasingly important part of the drive towards net zero carbon within the construction industry. This will mean that sustainability considerations are given …

CPD 02 2023: Sustainable steelwork procurement Read More »

This CPD sponsored by RIW explains the latest requirements on waterproofing structures such as basements as provided in the updated British Standard, BS 8102: 2022 The code of practice for the protection of below-ground structures against water ingress; BS 8102: 2022, has recently been updated to reflect new practices and materials, provide increased clarity and …

CPD 01 2023: Waterproofing techniques Read More »

This Eurocell sponsored CPD examines the specification options for refurbishing or replacing window units in social housing alongside the best practice methodologies for ensuring they are fit for purpose Introduction Windows play an integral part in keeping homes warm, dry and secure. They must be well made, installed correctly and able to provide enough light, …

CPD 16 2022: Ensuring social housing windows are fit for purpose Read More »

This CPD module, sponsored by Eurocell, will explore the scope of value engineering, its application and how utilisation can benefit a production process Introduction Widely used in the construction industry, value engineering (VE) is a conscious and explicit set of disciplined procedures designed to seek out optimum value for both initial and long-term investment. The …

CPD 15 2022: Utilising value engineering Read More »

This CPD sponsored by TG Escapes Modular Eco-Buildings explains the issues around biodiversity and how buildings can help restore an environmental balance by including biophilic features IntroductionThose delivering the built environment are fully aware that their projects need to enhance the wellbeing of occupants. Encompassing aspects of nature within the design of buildings – including …

CPD 14 2022: Incorporating biophilia and biodiversity Read More »

This CPD sponsored by ROCKWOOL examines the issues around acoustic performance in schools, sets out the relevant regulations and standards, and explains some of the solutions available Why does it matter where we learn? The value of education and the merits of investing in learning are undeniable. But many studies have shown that the quality …

CPD 13 2022: Designing acoustics for learning environments Read More »

This CPD sponsored by Vandersanden explores the benefits of specifying clay brick, alongside the types and causes of movement in brickwork and how to design to accommodate movement There are many advantages to specifying clay brick. It is a highly durable and frost-resistant material, and it adds to the thermal mass of a building. It …

CPD 12 2022: Movement in brickwork  Read More »

This CPD sponsored by Rockwool explains how rainscreen cladding can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to upgrade a building, and the specification factors to consider A brief history of rainscreen cladding Situated on a promontory in the Sognefjord on the west coast of Norway, the 12th-century Urnes Stave church is one of the …

CPD 11 2022: Rainscreen insulation and cladding retrofit Read More »

This CPD, sponsored by Georgia-Pacific, looks at how roof cover boards are used in flat roofs, between the outer waterproofing layer and the insulation layer Introduction  Roof cover boards are thin substrates, made from various materials, that sit between the insulation and waterproof membrane layers in a flat roof system. They can be used with …

CPD 10 2022: Specifying roof cover boards  Read More »

This J&W sponsored CPD explains how modular buildings benefit from a different kind of weatherproofing and how to specify the appropriate materials This CPD sets out a roadmap to a new weatherproofing approach, one designed for modular building and reflecting the materials used to take advantage of the technology’s flexibility, from manufacturing and construction to …

CPD 08 2022: Streamlining Weatherproofing In Modular Construction   Read More »

This CPD feature, sponsored by Darren Evans, will look at the challenges facing the construction industry as it seeks to respond to the climate emergency and deliver buildings that will meet net zero criteria Introduction  The signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 represented a decisive shift in awareness and understanding of the nature of …

CPD 06 2022: Achieving Net Zero Carbon in the Built Environment Read More »

This Steel for Life sponsored CPD introduces the first edition of a new Sustainability Specification for structural steelwork and sets out requirements and practices for achieving environmentally sustainable steelwork building construction, including maximal efficiency and minimal waste Introduction The British Constructional Steelwork Association (BCSA) has published the first edition of the Sustainability Specification for structural …

CPD 05 2022: Sustainable Steelwork Specification Read More »