improvement

Awareness of the potential health problems caused by lead in the water supply, particularly in infants and children is growing.  Houses built before 1970 would have been constructed with lead water supply pipes and if still in place can be causing developmental harm to young tenants.

Burst pipes are the most common cause of home insurance claims in the UK (1) and cost an average of £3,500 in damage to property and contents.  The expense is not the worst of it, months of disruption follows as the property is dried out and repaired.
Frost is the greatest threat to water services throughout the winter.  UK Water Regulations require any fitting or apparatus to be correctly insulated to prevent frost, unless in a location that is heated for more than 12 hours a day (2). It seems obvious when you are scraping the ice from the car on a frosty morning. However, the insurance claims show that many homeowners, landlords and occupiers seem to be unaware of this requirement.

By Dr Gavin Dunn, Chief Executive of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)

The construction industry has long grappled with the challenges of closing the performance gap between as-designed and as-built building performance. From air quality to ventilation, fire safety to occupant wellbeing; how can we improve buildings and ensure we are getting the best performing building both now and in the long-term?