Towards Net Zero – Blinds, Best Practice Sustainability & Beyond

Though sometimes overlooked on these terms, window coverings are an important consideration for specifiers motivated by sustainability. With their capacity to control not just light and glare but also heat, the best blind and curtain fabrics have a key role to play in improving thermal efficiency. Incorporated thoughtfully, into projects of all types, high quality […]

There is something special about fireplaces. Traditional and reliable, they have a timeless capacity to create a feeling of cosiness. Beyond that, as research has shown, simply being in the presence of an open fire – contemplating its flames and accompanying sounds – can even lower your blood pressure. That said, fireplaces are not without […]

For Australian architects and specifiers, the task of navigating a way through the National Construction Code (NCC) can sometimes be difficult. Take walling systems as an example. As per the NCC, the regulations vary depending on the type of system involved – whether it’s a steel framed wall system, a timber framed wall system, a […]

Despite the best efforts of our healthcare professionals, Australian hospitals are not always the best places for sick people to be. As the NSW Government’s Clinical Excellence Commission notes, each year around 165,000 patients contract infectious diseases while receiving hospital treatment (for unrelated medical issues).​ Known as healthcare associated infections (HAIs), these include viruses (such […]

Efficient and stylish, floor to ceiling vertical cable barriers have become a popular means of ensuring fall safety on balconies, atria and so forth. While the effectiveness of such systems is clear, and their emerging popularity is welcome, specifiers should follow some basic rules to ensure the performance of the solution. Barriers that are designed […]

A versatile and durable finish that is electrostatically applied, powder coating is a commonly used option for a broad range of metal components, from car wheels to building products, and more. Because of its method of application, if applied correctly, powder coating offers superior protection to typical painted-on coatings. Within the construction sector, however, care […]

As educational authorities around the world have recognised, poor acoustics have significant negative impacts on the functioning of schools and educational facilities. Including effects on cognitive functioning, potential infringement of Discrimination, Disability & OHS Acts, and more, these effects make it clear that acoustics are as vital a design consideration as ventilation, lighting, or energy […]

Beyond more obvious comments around carbon abatement and so on, one message that emerged from the devastating floods of 2022 was that, in many cases, damage could have been avoided if the properties involved included appropriate drainage systems. It has become clear that – in these times of climate change and variable rainfall patterns – […]

Globally, it is estimated that construction is responsible for one third of the world’s waste and up to 40% of total carbon dioxide emissions. If we want to reduce the quantity of waste and emissions generated during the construction process, we need to take a closer look at the life cycle of the products we […]

While stormwater and sewage management is an essential consideration in all types of residential projects, the systems that are generally used for this purpose are not always up to the task. Conventional systems rely on gravity to move relevant materials to the sewerage network, and are therefore of little use in projects involving large catchments, […]