Structural fire safety when responding to the climate emergency

The IStructE Safety, Health and Wellbeing Panel considers the safety implications when aspiring to a lean design.

Will Arnold, Jenny Burridge, David Moore, Keerthi Ranasinghe and Sean Wilkins argue that engineers should always look to specify the most suitable material for a particular project, and offer advice on how to use materials efficiently once a choice is made.

Can very low-carbon buildings be constructed cheaply enough to suit the pockets of private-sector commercial developers? Yes, says Professor John French, who has set himself that target in his new role as director of sustainability for Cambridge Innovation Parks. But to do so involves overhauling approaches to procurement, contracting, materials and risk.