LibGuides: Architecture: Technical information

Technical and regulatory information

Photo credit: You'll Miss Me When I'm Gone © Sheffield Hallam University. Photographed by Dave Ball.

Construction Information Service This link opens in a new window
An index and summary of standards, regulatory and advisory documents for the UK construction industry plus their full-text images.
Covers documents essential to the design and construction of buildings, construction management, contract documents, health and safety and design guidance. Also includes a direct link to the Building regulations, the Metric handbook and BS 5588, Fire precautions in buildings together with a link to NBS BRAD. Updated weekly.
isurv This link opens in a new window
The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) guidance and practical commentary in the areas of building surveying, commercial property, construction, environment, planning, estate agency and valuation.
Designed to help professionals keep up to date with current practice, regulatory matters, legislation and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) guidance. Homepage includes links to The Red Book, The Blue Book and SMM7. Updated fortnightly.

Standards

Standards are documents that establish a common technical specification, so products and processes can work safely, reliably and consistently. Some standards provide a common terminology or set of symbols for a particular field, to make sure different organisations are talking about the same thing when they use a given term or symbol. Standards are very commonly used in all branches of building and construction.

Standards are published by a variety of different organisations, which often have a focus on a specific country or subject.

Standards do not have the force of law in themselves: however, laws and regulations will often require you to meet certain standards.

British Standards Online This link opens in a new window
From 19th December 2020, British Standards Online will require you to install a plug-in to read it standards. We will provide further details as we learn more.
Standards from the British Standards Institute, on a wide range of subjects.
The British Standards Institute adopt some standards from other international organisations, such as ISO or CEN: if you are looking for standards from these organisations, you may be able to find a copy on British Standards Online.
British Standards Online have recently started adding standards from other sources: we may not always have access to these; but we do have access to the British Standard Institute's own standards.
British standards are only applicable in the UK: however, some British standards have been adopted from standards produced by international bodies, such as ISO or CEN. Such standards will be indicated in their standard number - in the case of the previous example, BS ISO and BS EN respectively - and will be applicable outside the UK in the countries which belong to those bodies. Please note that the database can be searched either by standard number or by keyword, but not both: so if your search fails the first time, make sure that the right box is ticked under the search box.
ASTM Compass This link opens in a new window
Standards from the ASTM, about materials and construction.

Mapping services

Digimap Ordnance Survey Data Collection This link opens in a new window
An Edina service offering Ordnance Survey maps and map data to UK Higher Education users. Allows users to view and print maps of locations within the UK. Contains a Gazeteer facility. Maps can be dowloaded for use with GIS software. Registration info

Statistical data

Office for National Statistics This link opens in a new window
The main gateway to UK official statistics. Provides direct access to tables of data, full text publications and the latest official releases. Covers Britain's economy, population and society at national and regional levels. Updated daily.