Retaining Walls for Gardens: Do You Need a Structural Design?
This article details the structural, legal, and safety requirements for building retaining walls in UK gardens, highlighting regulations, design thresholds, cost considerations, material options, drainage needs, and regional enforcement variations to help homeowners ensure compliance and long-term wall performance.
Net-Zero Construction: Structural Strategies for Low-Carbon Buildings
This article examines the UK’s shift toward net-zero carbon construction, detailing regulatory frameworks, material innovations like CLT and hempcrete, embodied carbon assessment, market growth, and the skills gap. It highlights the impact of the Future Homes Standard and strategies for sustainable, compliant building practices.
Designing for Modular Construction: Structural Considerations for Prefab Buildings
This article examines the structural and regulatory considerations for modular construction in the UK. It covers module types, fire safety compliance, transportation constraints, approval processes, and the performance benefits driving modular methods as a solution for housing, commercial, and public sector needs.
AI in Structural Engineering: How Automation is Changing Design and Analysis
This article examines how artificial intelligence is transforming UK structural engineering, focusing on AI-driven design, compliance checking, safety improvements, and workforce skills. It explores the regulatory landscape, economic impact, and the importance of balancing automation with professional expertise.
Adaptive Reuse: Structural Engineering Challenges in Converting Old Buildings
This article examines the structural engineering challenges of adaptive reuse for historic UK buildings, focusing on regulatory frameworks, heritage preservation, innovative strengthening techniques, fire safety, skills shortages, economic realities, and emerging technologies for climate resilience and sustainable retrofit.
Removing a Chimney Breast? Structural Steps to Do It Safely
This article provides a comprehensive guide to safely removing a chimney breast, covering structural implications, legal requirements such as building regulations and the Party Wall Act, the importance of professional input, support solutions, project costs, and insurance considerations for UK homeowners.
Common Structural Issues in Older Homes – and How We Fix Them
This article discusses the most common structural issues encountered in older UK homes, including dampness, foundation problems, structural movement, and roof challenges. It covers repair costs, insurance difficulties, building regulations, and emphasizes the importance of specialist expertise for proper maintenance and preservation.
Drones & 3D Scanning: Tech Revolutionizing Structural Inspections
This article examines how drone technology and 3D scanning are revolutionising structural inspections in the UK. It explores advancements like LiDAR, AI-powered defect detection, regulatory changes enabling BVLOS operations, and their impact on safety, sustainability, cost savings, and maintenance efficiency.
3D-Printed Buildings: A Structural Engineer’s Take on Printed Concrete Construction
This article examines the rapid expansion of 3D-printed concrete construction in the UK, highlighting innovations in structural systems, sustainable materials, regulatory compliance, and seismic testing. Case studies illustrate industry partnerships and practical adoption, addressing challenges and opportunities in structural safety and market growth.
Building Green and Buying Smart: 2025 Construction Rules on Sustainability and Procurement
UK construction faces sweeping change as new sustainability laws and the Procurement Act 2023 reshape the industry. Tighter energy standards, biodiversity mandates, and a unified public procurement regime mean contractors must deliver lower-carbon, nature-positive buildings and meet new criteria for public sector work from 2024 to 2025.