Recent publications

Structural Survey

ISSN: 0263-080X

Article publication date: 30 August 2010

124

Citation

(2010), "Recent publications", Structural Survey, Vol. 28 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2010.11028dae.001

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Recent publications

Article Type: Recent publications From: Structural Survey, Volume 28, Issue 4

Surveying for engineers

The fifth edition of this book written by J. Uren and W.F. Price has just been published by Palgrave Macmillan. The text takes the reader through everything they need to know, from traditional methods through to the very latest technological developments. Ideal whether students are studying surveying as a separate discipline or as part of a civil engineering, building or construction course. The book is accessible, well illustrated and comprehensive. Priced at £40.99 for the 816 page paperback (ISBN 9780230221574).

Managing construction projects

Project management is of critical importance in construction, yet its execution poses major challenges. In order to keep a project on track, decisions often have to be made before all the necessary information is available. Drawing on a wide range of research, managing construction projects proposes new ways of thinking about project management in construction, exploring the skills required to manage uncertainty and offering techniques for thinking about the challenges involved. The second edition takes the information processing perspective introduced in the first edition and develops it further. In particular, this approach deepens the reader’s understanding of the dynamics in the construction project process – from the value proposition inherent in the project mission, to the functioning asset that generates value for its owners and users. Managing construction projects will be of particular benefit to advanced students of construction and construction project management, as well as contractors and quantity surveyors. The book is written by Graham M. Winch, published in paperback (544 pages) by Wiley-Blackwell. It is priced at £39.99 (ISBN: 978-1-4051-8457-1).

RICS APC: 20 top tips for supervisors and counselors – DVD

This DVD contains all the latest information about the RICS assessment of professional competence and is aimed at employers, supervisors and counselors who would like to gain a better understanding of the process, or are unsure of what is expected of them in supporting their candidates, or are uncertain about how to determine when a candidate is competent, or may not have been through the APC process themselves. The DVD comes with a copy of the timeline wall chart and covers: key tips and guidance on fundamental elements of the supervisor and counselor role throughout the APC process; the latest updates and an explanation of the new RICS final assessment templates; how to test and assess a candidate’s competency; overview of the final assessment and rules of conduct; and key information about the ongoing support and resources for supervisors and counselors. The DVD is priced at £49.99+vat and is available from RICS books. The running time is approximately 70 minutes.

Produce and implement a site waste management plan – free guide

A site waste management plan (SWMP) provides details of how waste will be handled and disposed of at all stages during a construction project. It should help to encourage efficient use of materials and resources, improve management of waste, cut costs and reduce fly-tipping. SWMPs are now a legal requirement for all projects costing more than £300,000 in England. This guide explains how to prepare an SWMP and how to put it into action. It describes what the SWMP should contain, how to identify waste and what the options are for reducing and managing it. The guide is available at: www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1083024579

Red Book update in effect from 1 April 2010

RICS valuation standards (The Red Book) contains mandatory rules, best practice guidance and related commentary for all RICS members undertaking asset valuations. The Red Book has been recently updated with the changes coming into effect from 1 April. The Red Book was first published in 1980 and the current edition (sixth edition) was first published in 2007 and most recently amended with effect from 1 April 2010. For a summary of the update and for more information on RICS valuation, visit: www.rics.org/redbook

NHBC Foundation advice on piling, water efficiency and sustainable drainage

Piled foundations guidance

Traditionally piled foundations have been considered the preserve of high-rise buildings. However, with the continuing drive to build on brownfield land and a potential increase in the use of offsite construction as we come out of recession, housebuilders may look to the use of piled foundation systems for low-rise developments to take advantage of the benefits they can provide in greater consistency and reducing risk. The NHBC Foundation has recently launched its latest guidance Efficient Design of Piled Foundations for Low-rise Housing that examines the most efficient design approaches to piled foundations which can speed up production, decrease costs and increase accuracy on site. It also considers the environmental aspects of the use of piles.

Achieving water efficiency

Specifically, aimed at the smaller builder, the NHBC Foundation’s guide Water Efficiency in New Homes – An Introductory Guide for Housebuilders provides an introduction to water conservation in new homes. It outlines the standards being encouraged by The Code for Sustainable Homes and Building Regulations Part G (England and Wales). The technologies used to achieve water efficiency – ranging from simple tap flow restrictors all the way through to greywater recycling systems – are described, together with some key issues associated with each.

Introducing sustainable drainage

Water management measures all work towards achieving sustainable development as well as much needed points to gain the required code rating. The next NHBC Foundation guide will focus on sustainable drainage options (SUDS). A General Guide to SUDS for Housing introduces the concept of SUDS and raises awareness of government policies and regulation in this area. The zero carbon agenda is driving the reduction in water usage and treatment via The Code for Sustainable Homes, and this area will be further influenced by legislation such as the Floods and Water Management Bill.

All of this advice is available free of charge from: www.nhbcfoundation.org/Researchpublications/tabid/339/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

How to cost-effectively retrofit existing housing stock

Typically, an existing home gives off more than double the carbon emissions (and has twice the fuel costs) of a new house. Retrofitting existing housing gives better energy and carbon savings per pound spent than any new build measure or renewable technology. Key energy saving retrofit measures include: controlling ventilation by draught proofing; blocking up unused chimneys; filling cavity walls; and installing new highly efficient gas condensing boilers with thermostats and programmers and thermostatic radiator valves. However, a good retrofit will look at much more than these physical changes to an individual house. This free article details five essential strategic considerations of a retrofit and is available at: www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6506224

Managing asbestos in communal areas of domestic premises

If you own, occupy, manage or have responsibilities for non-domestic premises which may contain asbestos, or if you are responsible for the non-private, i.e. common parts of domestic premises like hall and lift areas in flats, you will either have a legal duty to manage the risk from this material or a duty to co-operate with whoever manages that risk. This free guide will help you decide how to identify, assess and manage any asbestos-containing materials on your premises. The guide is available at: www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/INDG223.pdf

Best practice video interview online @ BNE-TV

BNE TV, the UWE Built and Natural Environment’s online TV service has just made available another best practice interview. Best practice interview 4: MI-Space on low carbon housing. The interview addresses the following questions:

  • What are the barriers/drivers to our thinking on climate change?

  • Are there any incentives to make our buildings consume less CO2?

  • How easily can we marry affordability with sustainability?

  • Is there a standard for the retro fit of existing homes?

Lex Cumber from MI-Space, a division of the Midas group, answers these questions and others in discussion with John Savage, Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England, on the opportunities and challenges of reducing CO2 emissions in the social housing sector. The programme is available at: www.bne.uwe.ac.uk/cpe/bnetv/mispace/default.asp

RICS energy efficiency and value report

RICS and communities and local government have been working together in relation to energy efficiency and value since May 2009. The project was initiated as part of the UK Government’s Heat and Energy Savings Strategy to explore why investments in energy efficiency were not being valued as part of the home buying process, and what could be done to address this. The first phase of the project examined how the home buying and selling process works (England and Wales) and the barriers and drivers around energy efficiency. This work was carried out by a steering group comprising RICS members and staff with expertise in a range of disciplines relating to the domestic sector. The initial findings showed that value is inextricably tied to demand. There is currently little demand for energy efficiency, therefore valuers can struggle to assign value to it, because their role is to reflect the market, not to drive it. This sets up a vicious circle where the market does not supply energy efficiency as there is no demand, and buyers do not demand it because there is no supply. The barriers to demand are much stronger than the drivers for it and are largely behavioural and financial. There is the lack of a reasonable return on capital and an unwillingness to pay high upfront costs for longer term benefits. In addition, many professionals who operate across the property sector lack the skills and guidance necessary to advise on energy efficiency. Following on from these initial findings, phase 2 of the project set out with the objective of establishing how to improve the link between energy efficiency and value. To view the full report, see: www.rics.org/site/scripts/news_article.aspx?newsID=1347

HOUSES! Newsletter

The April 2010, fourth edition of HOUSES! the online property newsletter includes features on:

  • the 2009/2010 recession and its impact on the property market;

  • house price indices: how and why they differ; and

  • an overview the three levels of domestic survey and valuation.

HOUSES! is written by property management and development specialists from the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University and from Nottingham Economics, a consultancy centre in the Economics Division of Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University.

The HOUSES! Newsletter is available at: www.ntu.ac.uk/adbe/news_events/residential_property_advice/index.html

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