Features
Each Build offers in-depth insights into two topics of interest to the building and construction industry.
Feature section: Commercial buildings
Challenges abound for commercial buildings. High energy and water use are issues, and weathertightness has caused plenty of problems. But there are also reasons to celebrate as exciting New Zealand innovations help push timber structures higher.
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Feature section: Safety
The inherent safety of a building starts with choices made by the designer, such as the building location, materials used and design. For builders, site hazards need to be managed for the safety of people on site and passing by.
Feature section: Industry roles
An industry as diverse as building and construction has many players involved. Knowing who does what and how the puzzle fits together is a good place to start in understanding how the industry works.
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Feature section: Timber
Timber has been widely used in New Zealand buildings for many years due to its versatility, diversity and aesthetic properties. Keeping up with the changes in its use, grades and treatment is important for all practitioners.
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Feature section: Steel
While steel is used extensively in buildings as a roof cladding, steel framing has until recently been mainly limited to non-residential buildings.
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Feature section: Weathertightness
The leaky building crisis and its impacts will be with us for years to come. While there are many unanswered questions, there are important principles and basic advice designers and builders should take note of so future disasters are avoided.
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Feature section: Claddings
That first impression is all important and the choice of building cladding is a key component. However, claddings have a more serious role to play in keeping water out and allowing any that gets in to drain away and dry out.
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Feature section: Innovation and the future
With every new building project comes the opportunity to do things better, to improve what's being built and how it's being built. Innovative approaches, especially using technology, have huge potential to bring about change.
Feature section: Building controls
Building controls are constantly evolving. A natural disaster, findings from new research or innovative new products or processes can all prompt changes to the legislative framework that controls the building industry.
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Feature section: Buildings and health
The built environment can be dangerous to our health. On site, workers face various hazards, while the actual fabric of our homes can negatively impact on our wellbeing. Now there's evidence of the links between good design and healthy minds and bodies.
