Modern Building Services

EDITOR’S COMMENT MODERN BUILDING SERVICES MARCH 2021 3 And we’re off… nearly! S ome positive news on the horizon, we have a roadmap! How many of you are frantically filling your diaries with activities or appointments, desperate to get in front of your customers? Or are you?! We’ve much still to get through but fortunately, on the whole, our industries have fared fairly well. This issue covers a wide reach of topics. Predictably, much on heating and sustainability as well as working buildings. What are the trends for 2021? Are there benefits for prefabrication in a COVID-19 world? Smart technology is all around us and we’ll be looking at dissecting the role of Edge AI with buildings. Do you agree that open frameworks will glue systems together? Our Letter to the Editor this month is from Peter Watson, formerly a general builder, now an architect, in response to our features on Sustainability back in November. He wonders “We could look at the overall problem with a jaundiced eye of doom and gloom, or, see it as a warning light alerting us to a viable and feasible alternative, or, we might see the challenge as one of the greatest creative opportunities facing us in mankind’s time-of- need.” Turn to page 12 to read his full letter. Please do get in touch with any stories on how your business is moving forward after the effects of COVID-19. Particularly, any positive moves you may have implemented for this brave new world. Contact: julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Editorial: Juliet Loiselle MInstR – Editor * J ulietl@warnersgroup.co.uk ✆ 01778 391067 Advertising: Robyn Teague – Sales Manage r * Robyn.teague@warnersgroup.co.uk ✆ 01778 395029 Production: Sue Ward * production@warnersgroup.co.uk ✆ 01778 392405 Circulation & Subscriptions: DavidWade * dwade@portico.uk.com ✆ 01438 759000 A compact, yet powerful heat recovery solution samsung.com/dvmseco E02578247HHSEUK_001881SEACEWindFreeAssetsACRDVM-S 188x208mm v02.indd 1 23/11/2020 15:32 MBS MARCH2021 MODERNBUILDING SERVICES The independent journal for Designers | Contractors Installers | End-users Construction FirmsClosing Huge increase in insurancepremiums addstogrowing pressureon constructionfirms TheUrban Sciences Building Ahardworking building Dissecting the RoleofEdgeAI withinaSmart 22 13 35 01_Cover_MAR.indd 1 02/03/2021 12:23 At Samsung, we focus on providing cutting-edge innovations in indoor climate comfort and being a leader in intelligent digital connectivity solutions. Samsung Electronics Air Conditioner Europe B.V. provides technology support, training and enhanced services in ways that foster an acceleration of mutual business success for its business partners across 17 European countries. M BS MODERN BUILDING SERVICES Subs c ription rate for readers not meeting our terms of control. £40 per year UK £50 per year overseas £70 per year overseas, airmail £5 single issue UK Some manufacturers and suppliers have contributed towards the cost of reproducing some photographs in this issue. The views implied or expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Editor or Publisher, neither of whom accepts responsibility from errors in articles, or for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.