An architect recently approached Potters Interiors expressing concerns of ‘live loads’ in the new multi-floor buildings they were designing. 

We are encouraged to insulate and double glaze our homes and even to add thermal mass.  While a bare minimum of each is not good, how much and in what proportion is best? 

Professional indemnity policies have a number of key elements that make them slightly different from other kinds of professional insurance.  

ALF (Annual Loss Factor) thermal simulation software, used to show compliance with NZBC-H1, was developed to analyse stand-alone houses, not for dwellings with party walls or within multi-unit developments. 

This month we introduce Harvey Kerr to Detailed.  Harvey has been in the insurance industry for over 30 years and will be providing insights into professional indemnity for construction professionals. Harvey specialises in insurance programmes for designers. 

A two-day short course on one of the industry's most important topics – sustainable building – will be running in Auckland and Christchurch in June, held by Otago Polytechnic.

The first call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for working with the Crown on the development of housing within Christchurch's new Central and Eastern frames has been released this week.

Introducing a new Detailed blog covering the many aspects of passive thermal design relating to the built environment.

See above for exclusive videos of Minister of Housing Hon. Dr Nick Smith and Auckland Mayor Len Brown speaking at EBOSS's Specified 2013 event. Dr Smith and Mayor Brown addressed the challenges facing architects, designers and construction professionals in the building industry, including the large growth projections and government approaches (both central and local) to meet these.

Finally Nick Smith gets support from Auckland City regarding the Auckland Housing Accord.