Construction industry

Every second new-build apartment is already infested with mold during the construction phase and should not actually be occupied - this is the view of the Association of Private Builders (VPB), which has published a guide on the subject of "Mold in new builds". The causes of mold growth are manifold. In addition to the ubiquitous mold spores, moisture during the construction phase can also...

The Building Owners' Protection Association (BSB) has commissioned a short study entitled "The ten most common mistakes when building and renovating detached and semi-detached houses with heat pumps (avoid)" from the Institute for Building Research. The study shows what builders of detached and semi-detached houses need to pay particular attention to and how mistakes can be avoided. According to the BSB...

The "bauen.de" portal provides information on tile types for different living areas. Tiles have to meet different requirements. For example, tiles in the bathroom are exposed to moisture and should also be non-slip. There are even so-called slip resistance classes for this, with R13 offering the greatest possible slip resistance. Private individuals should have at least the...

Although the number of trainees in the construction industry has risen for the fifth year in a row, the German Construction Federation (ZDB) is calling on young people to apply to a construction company. According to ZDB Managing Director Felix Pakleppa, many training positions have not yet been filled and there is a shortage of personnel in the German construction industry. In many companies...

In future, heating systems are to be powered by at least 65 percent renewable energy. This is according to a press release from the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB). It is expected that from January 1, 2024, owners of new or existing properties will have to comply with this when installing/replacing heating systems. On this topic, the Federal Ministry...

The University of Göttingen has developed a process for a granulate that can be used to make panels and walls from hemp, falch and popcorn granulate. According to the responsible working group "Chemistry and Process Engineering of Composite Materials" at the Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, the material used is reusable, recyclable and compostable....

IG-Bau is calling on the real estate industry to look for alternative solutions in view of the difficult conditions for new construction, such as a shortage of materials. Among other things, the union is considering the conversion of vacant offices into living space and the addition of extra storeys to the roofs of residential buildings that were built in the post-war period up to the end of the 1990s. The...

If you are also interested in gardening in connection with building a house, the guide "The natural garden - ecological garden design made easy" published by the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district authority provides some helpful tips on the right planting and maintenance of the garden. Among other things, the guide shows that a near-natural design is advisable in order to create a small...

Experts from Fraunhofer IBP and a team of experts from the software and consulting company msg GillardonBSM AG have jointly developed a software prototype that combines the life cycle assessment and the overall economic calculation of buildings. Special software from Fraunhofer IBP will initially be used for this purpose. "The key figures of all relevant components such as...

The "Digital Prize of the Vogel Foundation Dr. Eckernkamp" has now been awarded to a team led by Prof. Dr. Christian Fischer and doctoral student Hannah Drenkard from the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (FHWS). The team is researching the resistance of concrete to chlorides from de-icing salts or seawater. Prof. Dr. Christian Fischer and Hannah Drenkard (Faculty of Architecture...