NHBC Foundation Facts 26/11/06
Launched in January this year in partnership with the BRE Trust and chaired by former Housing Minister Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford MP, the NHBC Foundation was established to facilitate research and development, technology and knowledge sharing and the capture of industry best practice. Following on from the success of its inaugural project, a web-based resource tool on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), the NHBC Foundation is shortly due to publish a comprehensive guide on the same topic.
The Foundation has also been involved in a programme of positive engagements with Government, Development Agencies and other key stakeholders, focusing on the development of the new build sector and has an exciting range of projects underway.
Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford MP said: "The Foundation has devoted its efforts to pragmatic, delivery-based research and has focused on innovation and sustainability in the first instance. Its launch project looked at Modern Methods of Construction, a key topic as housing targets and issues around delivery continue to dominate the agenda.
"More recently the Foundation has branched out to promote dialogue between housebuilders, regional development agencies and government on meeting housing and infrastructure needs.
"Moving forwards I am pleased that the partnership between NHBC and the BRE is being extended to create the National Centre for Excellence in Housing, which I will also chair. The Centre will be launched in December and is designed to further develop the scope of the work being carried out by the Foundation."
ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
In response to the industry¿s need for clarity on issues such as the adaptability, durability and long-term insurability of MMCs, the first major body of work the NHBC Foundation undertook was the launch of a collaborative website - www.homein.org - dedicated to the best practice use of innovative and non-conventional housing systems, components and technologies.
The website will pool all available research on MMC and become a valuable resource for contractors, developers, lenders and suppliers to the industry, providing a breadth of information and advice on the very latest building techniques.
Stakeholder Dinners
During the year the Foundation has hosted a series of events facilitating dialogue between industry stakeholders concerned with regeneration and the delivery of new housing in the UK.
These included:
- Treasury Cross Cutting Review Dinner which brought together officials from the DCLG, HM Treasury, Regional Development Agencies, builders and developers and social housing organisations, to discuss the key financial issues involved in delivering infrastructure for new homes and communities.
- EEDA (East of England Development Agency) and the Foundation hosted a policy dinner to enable key figures in the public, private and voluntary sectors to exchange views on development and regeneration in the East of England.
- SEEDA (South East of England Development Agency) and the Foundation facilitated a discussion on the regulatory framework and environmental impact of the delivery of more and better homes in the South East.
NHBC FOUNDATION - THE FUTURE
As part of the Foundation's aim to deliver practical workable solutions, the NHBC Foundation will issue a comprehensive guide to Modern Methods of Construction in December. The guide will provide detailed information on how to approach and implement MMC projects, drawing on expertise from within NHBC and external specialists in construction systems.
Early next year the Foundation will publish two further manuals, firstly a guide on the impact of regulations relating to energy waste and water management and secondly, a guide for lenders, to enable lenders and insurers to evaluate the changing risk patterns associated with MMCs.
In addition, there are a range of projects underway for 2007 to help the industry meet the various challenges it faces in delivering higher volumes of new homes.
These include:
- Hydraulic lime mortars in new build - a review of the structural performance of walls in new builds that are constructed from hydraulic lime mortars. This is with a view to producing best practice guidance on this type of mortar's use and its compliance with regulations, codes and standards.
- Domestic basement construction - with the recent rise in the construction of basements in new homes, the Foundation will undertake a project to review current design guidance as well as regulatory, performance and planning issues, in order to identify the key risks and benefits of basement construction.
- Ground source energy systems in housing developments - the aim of this project is to identify the benefits and barriers associated with ground source energy systems in housing developments. It will involve research into the current state of technology for both single houses and developments, how it is applied in Europe and what is available in the UK. The Foundation will facilitate workshops to enable builders to learn more about the technology and to provide appropriate guidance on how to incorporate it into schemes
- Site Waste Management Plans (SWMPs) - in line with legislative changes which come into force next year, the Foundation is developing a checklist and toolbox talk on SWMPs for builders providing important guidance on how to implement an effective site waste management plan.
- Drainage provision for sustainable development - a project is currently underway to improve drainage provision for sustainable developments. As well as looking at simple design and construction guidance for soakaways and the feasibility of providing drainage and ground treatment for building at the same time, the project will examine the provision of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) for small developments.
- CABE and BRE Housing Research - the Foundation will support CABE and BRE's joint research on housing design by providing detailed information on present and historical issues affecting the new house-building industry. This work aims to support CABE¿s series of regional housing audits and to allow placement of results within a wider context.
- Micro-generation and renewable energy - the Foundation is seeking to develop a resource to help identify the most appropriate technologies and to help speed up the adoption of those technologies that will be most effective in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
For further information on the work of NHBC Foundation visit www.nhbcfoundation.org
