BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – CDM 2015 with Peter Caplehorn

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April 6 2015 saw the launch of the new Construction (Design and management) Regulations, and if the truth is acknowledged also saw a bit of a wake up of the construction design professions, who, hitherto had been able to keep the CDM 2007 Regulations at arms length, filtering it all through the CDM-C. But now the CDM-C no longer exists construction design professionals are being asked, or even forced, to grasp the nettle; and its stinging some more than others.

This week’s guest makes a welcome return visit to the podcast. In our fist podcast chat he touched upon what was then the forthcoming CDM Regulations 2015, promising to come back and discuss the how these new regulations had bedded in over the HSE’s six month transition period. Was it enough? Are the new Regulations achieving what they set out to? and Where do we go from here?

Peter Caplehorn is an Architect and an Honorary Member of CIAT – His day job is as Deputy CEO and Policy Director of the Construction Products Association, as well as being Chair of the RIBA’s Regulations and Standards Committee, amongst other things. This is one busy construction professional who we were delighted to welcome back.

This podcast is approximately 62 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

The new CDM Regulations 2015 are based around a single document (L153) – This is the ‘bible’ for all Contractors, Designers and Clients involved on a construction project.

Further really useful Free publications:

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Principal designers: roles and responsibilities

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Principal contractors: roles and responsibilities

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Are you a Designer?

* Need building work done? – A short guide for clients on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

* F10 Notification of construction project

* Summary of duties under Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – FAQs

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Domestic clients: roles and responsibilities

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – Commercial clients: roles and responsibilities

* Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 – 

BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Energy saving on the next level

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You don’t have to be a highly qualified construction professional to get on in the world of construction. Cathy Debenham is a journalist; nothing wrong with that – But she is one with a mission. Having moved into a new house, and clutching her clean sweeping broom, it was time and a good opportunity to grab some of the energy/carbon saving initiatives on offer. At the time there was little or no information available, and as a consequence this particular field was strewn with mines just waiting for her next wrong step.

After many careful steps she reached the other side of that field much the wiser and with a need to share her route and all the things she had learned on the way. The YouGen website was born and that is where we start this week’s podcast interview

This podcast is approximately 40 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

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BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – In Conversation with Peter Caplehorn

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It is very common for professionals and tradespersons alike, to underline their careers with a reference to how long that career has lasted, and how long they have been doing what they do. I have have been an Architectural Technologist for 30 yrs. for example, and involved in the construction industry for over 36 yrs. But how valuable a piece of information is that? We all like to think that the more years we have been doing what we do will add value to our credibility.

My experience is that for most that’s true, but not for all. I started off by asking Peter Caplehorn that question. If you click on the player below, or download this episode you can hear his answer, along with a very interesting hour or so that covers a good part of his career, and how he has managed to achieve what he has so far; because I don’t think he has finished yet.

This podcast is approximately 70 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

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BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Carbon Free Concrete with David Ball

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A carbon free world is something that perhaps we can only aspire to in our dreams, as one way or another we are going to have CO2 generating energy sources.  It’s a little like asking a lifetime smoker to cut down to four a day – and stay there. It might happen for a while, but things happen and change, and it all starts creeping back up again.

We have tried carbon reduction; even carbon capture. Somehow you get the impression that we are just nipping and tucking here and there, with no real meaningful impact on that big, and getting bigger picture.

The production of cement is the third highest producer of CO2, behind Transport and Energy production. So just imagine what zeroing that CO2 contribution overnight would do for us, and indeed the world.

It is possible, but the arguments against are screamed loudly by all the usual suspects, including the governments of the western world. To do so would render many large organisations bankrupt, with all the associated knock on effects to employees and their families.

The David Ball Group have pioneered the development of carbon free cement, via a process that uses a by-product of the huge energy used in the production of steel. The argument is that the energy used in the production of a material that is so fundamental to mankind, is, in effect used twice, with the second time being for free.

We talk to David Ball, the group founder, for his in depth explanation of how his product ‘Cemfree’ works and a bit about the science behind it. Check out the podcast and see what you think. Please leave any comments, questions or observations at the bottom of the page.

This podcast is approximately 45 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

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BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Construction Social Media with Su Butcher

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Some would argue, and others may reluctantly concede that social media, to one extent or another has taken over our lives. That is, if we have let it. But would you like more control? Would you like it to work for you rather than just seem to control you?

Su Butcher is widely regarded as a leading expert in social media; and we are not simply limiting this to Linked-In and Twitter, although these are undoubtedly areas where she excels.

Su trained as an architect, but then couldn’t find a job. She tells us her story in this podcast, and what has led her to be able to earn her living from advising others how to gain their best advantage from choosing the social media platform that suits them and putting it to work in their business marketing. A common sense approach to tweeting and linking and the rest

This podcast is approximately 51 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

Subscribe to: Building Design Expert Podcast

If you want to find out more about Su Butcher you can visit her website at Just Practising

If you have any questions for Su, please post them below

BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Passivhaus with Elrond Burrell and Chris Herring

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Architype Architects are based in Hereford and have a passion for sustainable architecture. Hand in glover with sustainable building design is the need to reduce energy use. Architype have achieved this by adopting the Passivhaus design and building standard; with a growing reputation for use of the standard on a commercial scale with offices and school buildings, in addition to large scale and one off housing projects.

The Green Building Store represents Passivhaus design development from the contracting side of the industry, and their reputation has grown around not only their on site attention to detail with their ability to successfully implement the Passivhaus standard, but their sourcing of products and technology that will meet the rigorous performance requirements that the standard demands.

We bring together Elrond Burrell from Architype, and Chris Herring who is the founding director of the Green Building Store; in a unique interview that explores the entire process of Passivhaus, that is the Design and the Build.

This podcast is approximately 54 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

Subscribe to: Building Design Expert Podcast

This podcast was brought about by Constructing Excellence Yorkshire and Humber  – follow them on Twitter @cexcellenceYH

To find out more about Constructing Excellence please contact Claire Bowles – E: [email protected] M: 07585795478

BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Unstabilised Rammed Earth pt.1

This is part 2 and the final part of my interview with Roland Keable and we are talking “Unstabilised Rammed Earth wall construction”. How do you ‘stabilise’ Rammed Earth Wall construction? What would you call a rammed earth wall matrix that contained cement? and what are the processes involved during the design and construction process? To find out the answers to these questions you must listen to the podcast.

This podcast is approximately 36 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

Subscribe to: Building Design Expert Podcast

You can view the “Unstabilised Rammed Earth video” by clicking the link

The use of compacted earth as a building material is common in many countries, but despite its apparent abundance, use of earth as a building material remains relatively rare in the UK. As well as looking at the properties of rammed earth, or pise, this programme asks whether concrete should be added as a stabiliser, the issue of cost, and along the way we look at some high-profile failures and successes.

Key learning points:

* Explains the changes and the reason for the changes… and when they come into force

* What are the properties of rammed earth walls and how are they constructed

* What codes and standards are there for rammed earth construction?

* Why is rammed earth construction comparatively expensive?

* What causes some rammed earth walls to fail?

About the contributors

Rowland Keable, founder Rammed Earth Consulting CIC has been building with rammed earth since 1985, across Africa and Australia, and in the UK since 1999 including walls at The Eden Project and the UK’s tallest at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.

As well as building, he has co-authored a couple of books and a BRE guide for rammed earth construction, taught in schools of architecture, engineering and surveying, and run workshops for a wide range of people.

Pat Borer, architect with over 35 years’ experience in designing and constructing ‘green’ buildings. He has been closely involved with the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales with the design and development of ultra-low energy buildings, passive and active solar heating systems, photovoltaic roofs, benign building materials and technologies, co-operative ways of building and healthy internal environments.

Elsewhere in the country, Pat has been developing ecological timber frame designs for the self-build housing sector.

Text and video courtesy NBS TV

BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Unstabilised Rammed Earth pt.1

In my introduction to this podcast I describe this type of walling as a “niche” construction. How many times have you seen “rammed Earth Walling” in your recent travels around any building site? – I thought so – not too many then!! Rowland Keable is one of the few exponents of the art. I say Art, because like very many of the traditional construction techniques resurrected from yesteryear, Rammed Earth has been brought very much into the 21st century in its execution. If you want beauty, the aesthetic is there to be had, but listening to Rowland, it’s the shear simplicity of the technique providing a truly greater sustainable solution, coupled with the advantages and consistency provided by current technology that is the real bonus.

You can listen to Rowland on this podcast and watch the NBS video for a more complete over-view of the pros and cons of the tightly compacting selected earth into temporary formwork. – Formwork!!? Isn’t that for concrete? sure, but this is where old meets new providing a surprising result.

This podcast is approximately 31 minutes long

incidental music by AlexanderWilson

Subscribe to: Building Design Expert Podcast

You can view the “Unstabilised Rammed Earth video” by clicking the link

The use of compacted earth as a building material is common in many countries, but despite its apparent abundance, use of earth as a building material remains relatively rare in the UK. As well as looking at the properties of rammed earth, or pise, this programme asks whether concrete should be added as a stabiliser, the issue of cost, and along the way we look at some high-profile failures and successes.

Key learning points:

* Explains the changes and the reason for the changes… and when they come into force

* What are the properties of rammed earth walls and how are they constructed

* What codes and standards are there for rammed earth construction?

* Why is rammed earth construction comparatively expensive?

* What causes some rammed earth walls to fail?

About the contributors

Rowland Keable, founder Rammed Earth Consulting CIC has been building with rammed earth since 1985, across Africa and Australia, and in the UK since 1999 including walls at The Eden Project and the UK’s tallest at the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales.

As well as building, he has co-authored a couple of books and a BRE guide for rammed earth construction, taught in schools of architecture, engineering and surveying, and run workshops for a wide range of people.

Pat Borer, architect with over 35 years’ experience in designing and constructing ‘green’ buildings. He has been closely involved with the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales with the design and development of ultra-low energy buildings, passive and active solar heating systems, photovoltaic roofs, benign building materials and technologies, co-operative ways of building and healthy internal environments.

Elsewhere in the country, Pat has been developing ecological timber frame designs for the self-build housing sector.

Text and video courtesy NBS TV

BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Approved Inspector

Some would say that the construction industry’s greatest achievement, never to happen, was the devolution of the planning system to private companies. After all they did it with Building Control and it has worked seamlessly for decades. We spoke with Doug Basen of LABC in a recent podcast, and there is no doubt, from his perspective, that local authority Building Control is out of the woods and running through the fields. There has proven to be room for both them and the Approved Inspector. So this time we turn the same coin to reveal the face and perspective that belongs to that of the Approved Inspector. We chat with Geoff Wilkinson, and he shares his thoughts on the current Building Regulations, their value and some of their short-comings, and a lot more besides.

This podcast is approximately 43 minutes long

intro / outro music by AlexanderWilson

BuildingDesignExpert Podcast – Concrete eating Robot pt.2

Every now and again someone, somewhere has, what on the face of it sounds like a delusional idea that they will revolutionise the world. Look up a year or so later, and this one just might have. Well at least the world in which this podcast dares to trouble – Construction, or well actually demolition. We have already learned a little of modern day demolition syntax: “deconstruct”, “erase the building” and the premise of ERO’s inherent abilities; that of “hydro-demolition”. In the concluding podcast interview with Omer Haciomeroglu, we talk about how his whole concept may be taken forward; about prototyping, funding and indeed who might be able to pick up that particular gauntlet, because there are a lot of challenges still remanning, even though the interest has been huge. This podcast is approximately 18 minutes long

intro / outro music by AlexanderWilson

  ‘EVO’ – the process