Once again there has been an unsignalled collapse of a construction company, and once again I go to my AR ledger to calculate the damage.

Recently an architect was looking at a ‘staggered stud’ wall system for an office fitout project – which was recommended by an acoustic technician to achieve a high STC-rated wall. The architect wanted some level of confidence in how this type of system goes together.

A recent fitout project for the NZ Police at Christchurch International Airport was a very good example of ‘getting it right first time’ – especially regarding seismic suspended ceiling design and installation.

In our work with painting and building contractors working on Christchurch repair work, the issue of lead paint has arisen many times.

Paint companies provide consumers and specifiers with a number of different tools to help with colour selection.

One of the functions of paint is to obliterate whatever you are painting, whether it be old patterned wallpaper, stains, or the unloved colour of a previous tenant.

Some people do not realise that storm water drains (the ones on the road edge) go straight to local waterways or the ocean.

In 2008 the New Zealand Commerce Commission issued a press release on "greenwashing".

The most common question I am asked by the specifier is that of durability. 'How long will your product last in the environment in question?' 

Over the past few years the paint industry has been working to reduce the level of VOCs in paint products.