Profile: Francis Archer

Topics discussed this month range from the risk in misusing software, a final word on buttress stability, seismic proofing and the danger of fracking, and having expert advice available 24-7 for when disasters strike.

The new edition of this guide to The Party Wall etc. Act will be useful both as a fund of general knowledge and as a basis for professional practice as a party wall surveyor, with the guidance on 'special foundations' alone making it worth the cover price, concludes James Sinclair Johnston.

David Brown finds the second edition of this comprehensive guide to be a valuable addition to a designer's resources, thanks in large part to the many worked examples, which are easy to identify, comprehensive and instructive.