Certification: Roles and responsibilities

Building Officials, Certifiers, Approved Inspectors, Building Control Surveyors/Inspectors form one element of the development process with activities linked to plans assessment, site inspection, certification and enforcement.  They act on behalf of the relevant governments and authorities to sample work, and protect society and the public...

Australia: Sydney – Build to rent?

WOBO members and fellow professionals involved in the residential property markets continuously address the fluctuating prices of development and the “boom and bust” scenarios.  Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, in a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, provided an update...

Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment

WOBO commends the actions of the Green Building Council and the intiatives and encouragement put forward by UKGBC’s Chief Executive Julie Hirigoyen. UKGBC’s, Chief Executive, Julie Hirigoyen, explains how the Commitment helps put businesses on the path to net zero One thing the pandemic hasn’t...

bsi – Mitigate the effects of the pandemic in your organization – Version 3

COVID-19; We must continue to monitor and upgrade our working practices to protect our colleagues and mitigate the effects of the pandemic.   “bsi” provides support in this area. The current COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally shifted the way people live and work. The Guidelines are a response...

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Building and Construction Sector in Australia

Neil Savery, Chief Executive, Australian Building Codes Board provided an update reflecting the impacts of COVID-19 to the Scottish Government Building Standards In many respects the building and construction sector has fared better than most, as at no stage has it been subject to closure...

UK unveils £139m fund for decarbonising industry

The built environment is a major contributor in the generation of the carbon footprint and professionals need to be focussed on the design and construction, utilising techniques that will minimise the production of CO2 and encourage its capture and storage.  In the UK this process...

A world first: 5-storey hotel made of PEFC-certified timber opened in Austria

WOBO supports the use of sustainable materials and enhanced technologies to maximise their strength and use – reflected in the developments involved in this project. MalisGarten is the world’s first 5-storey hotel made entirely of solid wood. PEFC-certified glue laminated timber (binderholz glulam) and cross...

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Building and Construction Sector in America

Judy Zakreski, Vice President of Global Services, International Code Council, America provided an update reflecting the impacts of COVID-19 to the Scottish Government Building Standards. The COVID-19 pandemic with which the world is still contending has impacted every aspect of life, and the construction and...

Australia – Earthquake 23 August 2020

A recent earthquake registering 4.9 took place in North Queensland and serves as a reminder that ground movements are taking place at all times and that individuals involved in the design, construction, inspection and the end use of buildings should incorporate adequate measures to minimise...

Solar Technology Could Increase Global Access to Drinking Water

Providing access to clean drinking water has been a challenge in some parts of the world for years. As the population grows and resources shrink, it becomes an even more pressing matter. New solar technology provides a possible solution by desalinating saltwater with minimal energy...

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