article thumbnail

Secrets of Environmental Permitting Solar Farms

Civil + Structural Engineer

By Ken MacDonald, Regional Director of Environmental Permitting and Compliance with UES First, a secret is only a secret if one doesn’t know it. However, between a proposal to harness the sun’s power and throwing the switch lies the complexity of environmental permitting. Spoiler alert: There are no real “secrets.”

Permits 130
article thumbnail

Barrier breakthroughs: Achieving airtightness in modern construction

Construction Specifier

Photo courtesy Intertek As building codes and standards evolve, the demand for airtight, environmentally friendly building enclosures increases among building owners, insurers, and design professionals. Within the AEC industry, research focuses on predicting and quantifying the impact of air leakage. By Matthew Ridgway, P.E.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Inside Out: Building Resilient Infrastructure to Safeguard Against Natural Disasters  

Civil + Structural Engineer

With their exceptional strength, ability to withstand substantial forces, inherent fire resistance, and corrosion-resistant options, HSS offer reliable protection for structures required to endure and recover from the impacts of natural disasters involving wind, flooding, fire, and seismic activity. Approximately 1.5

article thumbnail

High-Rise Maintenance: Innovative Solutions for Building Care

CCR Magazine

From drones that inspect hard-to-reach places to smart systems that predict equipment failure, the options available today are both fascinating and practical. You might wonder if implementing these technologies will impact costs. Electrical and Plumbing Systems Review Maintaining a high-rise’s internal systems is essential.

article thumbnail

Renovate or Extend? How to Choose the Right Home Improvement for Your Budget & Needs

UK Construction Blog

For many UK homeowners, this decision represents a significant crossroads that impacts not just your living space but also your budget, lifestyle, and property value. Each approach comes with unique benefits, challenges, and environmental implications that must be carefully evaluated before making your decision. You’re not alone.

article thumbnail

Top 10 Construction Defects: Prevent These Costly Building Mistakes

UK Construction Blog

The most dangerous defects include structural issues (foundation cracks, wall collapses), water infiltration, electrical/plumbing failures and HVAC system problems, which often remain hidden for years. Impact of Construction Defects Construction defects significantly affect buildings and their occupants.

article thumbnail

Refine versus shine: Defining and defending design intent with refined concrete

Construction Specifier

Owners and design teams are not protected by todays inadequate and vague polished concrete specifications. Contractors and design teams will continue to pay out contingencies without understanding what went wrong and how to protect themselves in the future. The refinement differences are clearly visible in this polished concrete image.