Increasing Flood Risk and Climate Change Impacts Flooding is a natural process. It occurs when a combination of events, including overflow of riverbanks, coastal storms, and deluges on inadequate drainage systems. A flood presents a risk when the potential to damage people, property or the environment arises. Due to the growing consequences of climate change,
What is Active Travel? Active Travel is the term used to describe travelling under your own energy for a purpose. At its simplest form, it means travelling by walking and cycling. However, given the capital expenditure invested in providing increased infrastructure around motorised transport over the past 30 years, it is difficult for active travel
There are encouraging signs that the Irish planning system is edging ever more closely to a digitised submissions procedure. A planning pack can consist of thousands of pages, depending on the scale and complexity of the development. A move away from the cumbersome paper submissions process would be most welcome by designers, planners and architects
Property Condition Surveys for Road and Infrastructure Projects The ORS Building Surveying Team regularly carry out property condition surveys adjacent to upgrade works on Ireland’s road network. Clause 136 of the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) Specification document for Road Works Series 100 – CC-SPW-00100 Preliminaries states that property condition surveys must be undertaken on all
SEAI Support Scheme for SME Energy Audits The energy sector has experienced an increase in fuel costs across the board in the last 12 months, which has prompted many businesses to reevaluate their energy use to find ways to reduce energy costs. The SEAI recently launched the Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) that allows
A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a review undertaken at a facility to assess the fire risk associated with operations on site. An FRA is a requirement for compliance with EPA licenses and examines potential fire hazards against management measures implemented for the facility’s safe operation. Objectives The purpose of a Fire Risk Assessment is
Growing Global Focus on Sustainability and Corporate Environmental Responsibility In recent years there has been irrefutable global interest in environmental protection. “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”, “Carbon Footprints”, “Sustainability” were once insignificant terms but are fast becoming some of the most finely considered elements in business today. Information is now at our fingertips with the insurgence of
Mental Health and Wellbeing is now becoming a critical part of the construction industry’s safety culture. Covid-19 has further highlighted how important this is now and for the future. Minor improvements in our well being can increase our ability to lead a more fulfilling life. Keeping Active Many studies have found that being physically active
A DMURS Quality Audit (QA) is a defined process independent of the design team. However, it requires involvement through the project’s planning, design and construction stages to ensure that high-quality infrastructure or streetscapes are delivered and maintained. The DMURS Quality Audit process is applied to new highway, traffic management or public realm projects. The QA