Gang-Nail System’s roof trusses and Ecojoist floor beams are being used as components in a new energy efficient scheme in Kent.

BSW Alouette, a timber engineering company specialising in modern methods of construction, is supplying and erecting Super E closed panel timber-framed houses to Berekely Homes’ Holborough Development in Kent. The Super E system uses Ecojoist floor beams and Gang-Nail roof trusses.

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EcoLEDLighting has announced that tests carried out by the British Standards Institute on its range of LED downlights, confirm they are the first BSI-tested luminaries of their type to fully comply with Part L 1 (A & B) and 2 (A & B) of the UK Building Regulations.

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Planet has launched a new range of sash windows – ensuring homeowners are wrapped up warm this winter.

With an average home losing between 10 to 20 per cent of its heat through window space alone, the new u-pvc double glazed sash window range combines energy efficiency with a traditional look and feel of a sash – a key feature of British period homes.

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Grab adhesives can be an invaluable tool for all sorts of jobs. Some provide quick and effective fixing on their own, while others just don't stand up. In the first in a series of product recommendations BuildersBox puts a number of the best known brands through their paces.

We've come up with our top five but if you think there's anything missing, or we have made a recommendation that just doesn't stick, then let us know.

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The Sika Solid Wood Floor Installation Kit provides tradesmen with everything they will need to fit a 20m2 floor, in one handy pack. The kit includes SikaBond T53 adhesive, which makes light work of fixing solid or engineered wood planks, boards or industrial parquet.

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Travelodge is using modified shipping containers to build a new hotel in Uxbridge town centre.

The budget hotel chain claims the new construction method will cut millions of pounds from the cost of its hotel development strategy. It is predicting that its new strategy will enable it to cut 10% from the cost of each build, and improve construction speed by 25%. The Uxbridge Travelodge will be the first hotel in Europe to be constructed in this way.

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The British Board of Agrément has issued its first-ever Certificate for a renewable energy technology - the Clearline range of roof integrated solar water heating panels from Viridian Solar (Certificate No 07/4474).

Clearline is roof integrated, meaning that it replaces tiles and sits lower in the roof. The resulting aesthetic is a great improvement on the standard installation of solar panels above the tiles. In common with other quality solar panels, Clearline has passed tests to the European standard for solar panels (EN 12975- 2 : 2006).

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Finnforest has launched a professional timber frame system to provide a time saving solution for garage and carport buildings.

Made from engineered precision cut timber, the system offers the look and nostalgia of a traditional oak style framed building, but benefits from the Beamlock system, an adjustable post support fixing which helps reduce installation time, and therefore cost.

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Opting for energy saving lamps is now simpler with the launch of a new extensive range of Halogen Energy Savers from Osram.

Osram claims it is the first manufacturer to offer a complete range of halogen lamps, in both mains and low voltage, that consume up to 30% less energy than standard halogen or ordinary incandescent light bulbs, meaning switching to low energy alternatives is no longer a logistical nightmare.

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Velux has launched a solar hot water system, developed to deal with the growing demand for environmentally friendly energy solutions in UK homes.

The manufacturer, known for its roof windows, has now branched out into the energy market, offering homeowners a system designed to be easily integrated into a home. It says that energy produced by the system can provide up to 70% of a home's hot water requirements.

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