Improving Building Investigation Efficiency with Targeted Survey Systems
Sometimes building owners, asset managers or maintenance teams have to face a harsh reality when it comes to managing, maintaining and monitoring their assets. For example, what if a Housing Association has discovered cracking in the render of the external wall insulation system on some of their 1000+ properties? If the cracking is caught at an early stage, it could be easy and inexpensive to repair, but if left exposed to the elements unchecked, the repair bills could be costly. A different example could be a portfolio manager who has just acquired hundreds of properties across a low-medium seismicity zone (i.e. risk of earthquake). Could it still be considered negligent to not assess the risk of these buildings collapsing during a foreseeable earthquake? In some situations, it would not be acceptable to simply survey a sample of the buildings, as it is possible that these surveys could miss the buildings with the most significant damage. With these types of investigations only a review of every building will suffice; however, sometimes resources, availability and costs are limited so a full investigation cannot be carried out on every single building or asset.
Looking into Glazing Failures
Looking into Glazing Failures: Glass isn’t traditionally seen as structural. Glazing failures can stem from construction, damage, or design flaws.
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) Pipework: The Problems
CPVC is a type of thermoplastic that was introduced for potable plumbing in 1959 and is now also extensively used in fire suppression systems.
As Bold As Brass
As Bold As Brass: Brasses have been used for many thousands of years and can be used for decorative structures or, more recently, for architectural uses and for plumbing applications.
Under Control: The Challenges of Designing for the Submarine Environment
Control systems are an intrinsic and abundant part of modern life; they control everything from personal aspects of our lives, such as our central heating and the engines of our cars, to massive industrial automation, in industries like factories, distribution warehouses and transportation links. They are responsible for not only completing a task, but ensuring that it is done quickly, efficiently and safely. This article will discuss the constraints imposed on a control system with huge responsibilities, which must function within a challenging, underwater environment.
The Importance of Understanding the Starting Acceleration of Cars in Everyday Traffic
On UK roads in 2018, a total of 160,597 personal-injury road traffic collisions were reported to the Police, with at least one fatality recorded in 1,784 of those collisions.
An Analysis of Failed Biomaterials
An Analysis of Failed Biomaterials: Biomaterials replace bone or heart valves. Types include polymers, ceramics, stainless steels, and titanium alloys.
Contamination: An Interruption That Means Business
Even a small fire can cause smoke contamination throughout a much larger area, including as the result of spread through sealed doors in some circumstances. Water damage related to fire-fighting activities can also cause mould to contaminate and damage stock as well as the building structure. Hawkins has investigated many fires from small to large scale incidents, which have started in one building and spread to affect neighbouring businesses.
Open at Your Own Risk: Business Email Compromise
Have you heard about Business Email Compromise? If it hasn’t happened to your company yet, you’re one of the lucky ones.
The development of the Internet and email in the last few decades has had a profound impact on businesses and the way they operate. As industry has shifted to using electronic communication, we are hearing about Business Email Compromises (BEC) more and more. From our clients to news reports, BEC is growing as one of the largest compromise categories under the Cyber Security umbrella. According to the latest report by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), since 2016 32,000 BECs have been reported, totalling approximately 9 Billon US Dollars stolen from companies in America alone. Between 2013 and 2018 a combined total of 12 Billion US Dollars was estimated lost due to this fraud internationally. However, these numbers are based only on the losses that are actually reported to government organisations, meaning many more businesses have been, and could be, at risk.
Thatch Fires and Wood Burning Stoves
Fires involving thatched roofs are normally devastating, resulting in significant emotional distress for homeowners and substantial financial losses for insurers.