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Good suggestion. On a fire engineering course they explained how long a timber takes to burn through, as the outer faces first become charcoal which protect the core. Hence we see the skeletons of timber house fires, not a pile of ash. And even in a bonfire a 4 x 2 will last a long time. So are you suggesting that above 11m the whole structure gets more protection. Eg 1 hour fire protection gets 90 minutes?

Maybe this would be a good 'ub tool loan machine.

I'm interested - will it handle woodfibre?

If one assumed that a window is at 10m, then the fall time is 1.43 seconds. The velocity will be around 14 m/s (50 kmph). An 80 kg (12.5 stone) person will impart 7845 J on impact, which is a force of 1.12 kN. One could argue that the height should be lower. It would be easier to draft legislation that says all building materials are non combustible (and fumes must be taken into account as well) and must still be rated at 150% of the elements designed capabilities after 2 hours of temperatures above 320°C. That way, any material can be used, just that it has to be designed better. I am a great believer that safety legislation can improve quality and reduce costs. Industry has never liked 'being told what to do', but they always step up and have creative solutions in the end.

Environment Europe’s heatwave is the hottest and most humid ever The current temperatures in western and central Europe would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, and unprecedented humidity levels make this heatwave especially dangerous Alec Luhn26 June 2026, updated 29 June 2026 Extreme heat was felt across much of Europe on 24 June Sylvie HUSSON/AFP via Getty Images This week’s heatwave is the hottest ever recorded in Europe, as well as the most humid, and it is likely to cause thousands of deaths. Although a potential “super El Niño” is forming in the Pacific Ocean, this didn’t play a role in the heatwave, a study by the World Weather Attribution network of scientists has found. Instead, global warming is clearly to blame. The study analysed how likely the average daily maximum temperature projected for 26 to 28 June in western and central Europe would have been in the cooler climates of 1976 and of 2003. While the weather pattern – a low-pressure heat dome that is trapping hot air from the south – isn’t unusual, the temperatures are. Fifty years ago, a typical June heatwave would have been about 3.5°C cooler, and the temperatures seen over the next three days would have been a less-than-one-in-10,000-year occurrence. Daytime temperatures have exceeded 44°C (111°F) in one French town, and nighttime temperatures have remained above 30°C (86°F) in parts of Spain. “This event would not have been possible in June without climate change,” Theodore Keeping at Imperial College London said at a media briefing on 25 June. “The three-day nighttime temperatures would not have been possible at any time of year without climate change.” The humidity has also been unprecedented, reaching more than 50 per cent in many British cities. Dew-point temperatures have been in the low 20s, as compared to the single digits during the July 2022 heatwave that set the UK’s temperature record. The wet-bulb globe temperature, which measures not just air temperature but also humidity, heat radiation and air movement, has broken or is expected to break records in almost half of European cities, the study found. Humidity amplifies health risks because it slows evaporation, making sweating less effective. While older people or those who have a chronic illness are in particular danger, so are migrants and people experiencing homelessness. “What we see very clearly… is how unequal the effects of this heatwave are and how that really demonstrates the inequality that widens due to climate change,” said Friederike Otto, also at Imperial College London. “Because it’s of course people who are particularly vulnerable who are most likely to lose their lives.” While it is too soon to look at excess mortality, a previous study found a smaller heatwave in June and July 2025 killed 2300 people in London and 11 other European cities. “The health impacts of this heatwave are likely to be extremely high across large parts of northern and central Europe,” said Keeping. Heatwaves will become even more intense and frequent unless we rapidly cut fossil fuel emissions, the researchers stressed. And Europe, the fastest warming continent, is not ready, as it has an ageing, urban population living in cities built for a cooler era. In the UK, only 5 per cent of homes have air conditioning. Besides AC, Europe should invest in passive cooling like building insulation, ventilation, green roofs and walls and trees along streets, they said. It should also expand its heat response to include oft-forgotten groups like people with mental health conditions and those who are pregnant, said Carolina Pereira Marghidan at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. “Europe has heat action plans, but research has also shown that sometimes they do not cover all the groups that may be vulnerable,” she said.

This from the Timber Development Association. A number of changes have been proposed to Approved Document B – the UK’s statutory guidance on how to meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations. These changes affect the use of combustible materials – including timber – in buildings. We welcome some of the proposed changes, but there are others that we strongly disagree with. One change, for example, is to apply a height threshold of 11 metres upon any building containing timber in its elements of structure. Other changes require higher fire ratings for cladding, membranes and sheathing in external wall systems – which we consider disproportionate. I haven't read it yet but will do., and will respond if I see the need... which seems likely. Responses from individuals like us should have some weight as we have done it, or are about to do it. I have had most of my career in steel, but strongly support timber where appropriate. I've had a couple of run-ins with bco's on timber being 'combustible'. Even when completely encased in plasterboard, it is wood, and wood burns, so you can't use it, went the argument. These are not flexible people and are becoming ever less so., so ambiguity and global statements must be avoided. Plus I've met the sort of people who make these proposed reports and I wouldn't have given any a job. They tend not to be practical or fully understand the whole issue. In a domestic situation what is magic about 11m? as long as there is easy exit. I expect this all follows Grenfell which is fair enough, but common sense may not prevail. 'Something has to be done'. Pursue the guilty parties? Or reduce the use of a material which was not remotely implicated? https://timberdevelopment.uk/approved-document-b-you-have-until-wednesday-july-1-to-submit-your-response/?utm_source=TDUK+Contacts&utm_campaign=2eb47531a6-Designer+Update_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4619f835bd-2eb47531a6-223169024

So I was able to cut a narrow 19mm piece of Habito plasterboard and trim/shape it to fit nicely into the gap. It is actually amazing how the Habito can be ‘sculpted’ with a multi tool. As it is super strong with reinforcing fibres in, it still holds together where standard plasterboard would have crumbled to dust.

Impact noise or airborne? For both, if you can spare a bit more wall width (how much do you have?) Studs twice, staggered to face each room with plasterboard only on one set of studs, so that you have physical discontinity. That deals with bumps and some loud noise, especially bass. eg a 100mm sole plate but 75mm studs lining up alternately with only one room or the other.. @ 600mm cc, twice, so actually every 300mm Then fill the void with any mineral wool, and you can even put some between studs and the 'other' side. It will snake. One sheet pb each side, possibly upgrade to the denser blue faced grade. for dB figures see the Knauff catalogue. That will be stunningly good, with the weaknesses being at plates to floor, ceiling and existing walls, so you'll still hear the vacuum bumping at skirtings.

With the empty void even with 2x plasterboard each side, its still a drum. Air is a great way to carry noise.

This is exactly what I have done in the house. im just thinking plasterboard is cheap if I buy a pack, and double boarding is easy if I’m already doing it and the screw gun is out.

90mm studs 50mm dense mineral wool I used rock wool Flexi - zero issues and normal 12.5mm plasterboard on each side.

Stud wall between a bedroom and an en-suite bathroom. 90mm timber studs. insulate inbetween studs or double plasterboard both sides. this is a holiday lodge we have so the only noise will be hearing the wife dropping the kids off at school. I think bang for my buck double boarding is cheaper.

Why not a retractable canopy? Less faff than shutters or brise soleil. Need about 300mm above windows to allow fixings which you have. Rollar shutters fitted external to the opening and above the reveal shouldn't block access for a leaning ladder (gutter access) either. If you are set on using shutters, why not fit strips of a less reactive timber either side of the windows and flush with the existing trim. Screw non-stainless into these? (with stainless screws right through into cladding). This would also spread the weight accross the Chessnut boards that already have visible shakes/splits

Its worth doing a @markc above anyway because stainless set screws reduce the annoyance of lifting the I/C cover when - several years later - you're in a hurry to get it lifted . And, of course, the slot for the screw driver has been buggered. Might be worth a Torx screw head (?)

Cut some EPDM gaskets to fit between the hardware and the boards? And use double dipped galvenised hinges to stop any ferrous run-off (not the so called 'galvenised' stuff sold in the big sheds). If using stainless screws it is also wise to pilot dill the boards before screwing them in, as stailness has a habit of rounding off or snapping the heads off - nearly always when they are 7/8 of the way in so a PITTA to remove again!

100% . It does the task in a crap inefficient way but it works . You then say some technical term and instantly it jumps on it and you’re off in a much more technical direction . I designed my project such that 90% just editing 1 file i.e deliberately modular . If you don’t ( like my terrain , weather and other experiments ) it lashes it up like shite . I asked it how Minecraft generates its procedural landscapes . It gave a basic overview . I tried to use its understanding of it . Poor results - it then complains it can’t do the tuning and perhaps we leave it for now !!! . I read up for 10 minutes . Then give it a cohesive structured prompt on exactly what we’re doing and the techniques to use and it then stuns me ! .

Keeps on coming back to this doesn't it? Domain knowledge is first key, second is then how to translate that into useful prompts. I was playing with DeepSeek this morning and pretty blown away by how far it's come in a few months. It was fascinating that after inputing some questions, I explained I had domain knowledge and it they said that totally changed the situation and provided a much more complex and deep answer that someone without the knowledge or experience wouldn't understand. It's crazy this. I now want to go explore the smaller, more efficient models that are designed for particular tasks as that really seems like the way to go.

Ours is less than half of that, similar 'non standard' construction. We used Homeprotect

Hi folks We have just received a quote from Adrian Flux for House and Contents insurance. We have just finished a timber framed house which is 70% block and render and 30% composite cladding outer skin. Getting a quote was straight forward until we started to talk about the cladding which is 60% wood, 30% HDPE and 10% chemical additives (Neotimber). Apparently the Adrian Flux system doesn't have the sophistication to add details of the actual cladding specification or fire rating. The quote determines the cladding as "wood and plastic". The quote was £854/year which is more than 4x the amount I am used to paying for a traditional brick and block house. Does this quote sound about right for this type of house, or maybe someone can suggest an alternative broker. Thanks

The screws are pants, in the past I have drilled the holes and tapped M8 then used M8 stainless countersunk set screws with head for hex key. You could probably get away with M6 but I just had some M8 available.

I bought a couple of these, the accuracy is pretty pants, was running around 4 degs dT. My return was reading higher than the flow, so consigned to the useless parts bin.

my manifold has something similar to these and i found/find them useful if not vital for the setup. But obviously to retrofit would be a draindown so maybe a clip on would be better. https://www.theunderfloorheatingcompany.co.uk/product/1-isolation-valve-set-with-temperature-gauge/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22542092802&gbraid=0AAAAAD1Ow65gAx_VRbI9JILR8ijckwR5x&gclid=Cj0KCQjwr4jSBhCSARIsAOX1E-L8qu9NDV9_uDuhPT8w_ldVaAL7Rx7GMn_L-Z1GmznWEmXsUsFOWAoaAm9OEALw_wcB

Hiya I have quiet a few Wavin inspection chamber cover screws which are damaged. Does anyone know where I can get some replacements. Groundworkers long gone. Thanks

Can be used to take a lot of the guess work out of it. Could also be useful for controlling UFH in cooling mode, especially when you consider the statistical nature of thermodynamics.

Thanks @SteamyTea . yes, it is useful Ian