Knauf Insulation has launched Rocksilk® RainScreen Cavity Systems, a range of complete tested systems designed to simplify specification and support compliance in cladding and masonry façades. The systems consist of sheathing insulation, fixings, and cavity barriers.

Last December, Part B (Fire safety) of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) banned the use of combustible materials in certain build-ups, such as rainscreen façade systems, of residential buildings between 11m and 18m.

The updated Part L (Conservation of fuel and power) Building Regulations for England came into full force this June and there’s a lot for the housebuilding industry to adapt to.

Showing a strong commitment to both sustainability and supply chain collaboration, leading insulation, drywall and ceiling product distributor CCF has joined forces with Knauf Insulation to identify some of the most common issues surrounding meeting Part L and achieving lower U-values to understand how best to support customers through changing regulations.

From increasing thermal efficiency and airtightness to reducing carbon emissions and minimising the risk of condensation, building homes that tick all these boxes can be a real balancing act. Here, John Mellor, Senior Product Manager from Glidevale Protect, discusses the benefits of taking a fabric-first approach and explains why collaboration and compliance go hand in hand.

Writing in the Times last month, Architect Norman Foster relates how he was asked in a BBC documentary to name his favourite building. Without hesitation, he cited the now disappearing Jumbo 747. Six storeys high at the tail, with about 3000ft2 of space, five lavatories, three kitchens and room for 367 guests, he believes the 747 is genuinely architectural both in its design and its thinking. And, what’s more, it flies!