Pyrite information page.

My question, is there no regulation on quarries?

Pyrite testing should be done at  the source, quarries.

Surly test intermittently would be better than NO testing at all.

How can builders test on site, before they use filling blockwork?

I have put together a few useful links on Pyrite: 

Department of Environment link on Pyrite  

Pyrite report June 2012

Pyrite Registers of Chartered Engineers

The Pyrite Resolution Board

NSAI publish two new Standards on Pyrite I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material 

One Private Company specialising in Pyrite problems.

Overview of Regulations for an Average Dwelling

The Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 came into effect from 1st March 2014.

This is an RIAI architect's view of what is now needed for a typical dwellings construction, as advice for a Client (Building Owner).

Now more than ever the building of a dwelling is a team effort were various professionals must work together to achieve compliance.

Based on

> Many years of practical experience designing and supervising Home building.

 > The Code of Practice  for Inspecting and Certifying

Buildings and Works Building Control Regulations 2014 February, 2014

> Statutory Instruments S.I. No. 9 of 2014 -

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014

> Guide for Homeowners New responsibilities for homeowners under

Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013

 This Overview  may be reproduced if credit is given to Winkens Architecture.

Down load sheet here:

Overview reg ave dwelling v2.pdf

Winkens Architecture  are delighted  to provide the services of the Dwelling designer.

We would be happy to provide the services of PSDP,  ‘Design Certifier’ and ‘Assigned Certifier’  for projects on which we are involved from the beginning.  

Whatever happed to specialists?

Specialist refers to an expert in a profession. 

Here are three specialists, their definitions I found on the internet.

Architect
An architect is a person trained and licensed to plan, design, and oversee the construction of buildings.

Engineers
a person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures.

Building Surveyor
Chartered Building Surveyors is a type of Chartered Surveyor involved in all aspects of property and construction, from supervising large mixed-use developments to planning domestic extensions

With the new Building Control (Amended) Regulations S.I.9 2014 the building owner now must choose one of the above professional to become an assigned certifier for their project.
I am an architect and as such I love to design spaces to live and work in. More and more red tape and regulations are making my job more difficult. I do not mind responsibility, if it is shared equally.
At this stage I am afraid that good design will suffer. Not with me and my clients but in general. As the paper work seems to take centre stage. For me most important is liveability in my dwellings.
If getting the paper work right is more important than the building being built then that is a sad state of affairs. There more to a well designed building then filling out the proper forms.

Be warned anybody can still submit a planning application but only one of the professionals mentioned can submit a Commencement notice at the start of build and sign a Certificate of compliance at the end of build.

If you already have a assigned certifier in mind look them up:

Is your Architect registered? 
The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI)


Is your Engineer registered? 
Engineers Ireland (EI) 
The Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI)


Is your Building Surveyor registered?
The Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland (SCSI)

International Saint-Gobain ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards 20th March 2014, Dublin. One Winners perspective.

The Energy Efficiency Awards have been created to reward Europe’s most successful energy efficient building renovation and innovative construction projects, both in residential and non-residential sectors

Every two years, Saint-Gobain ISOVER launches a competition among the building professionals to encourage environmental-friendly construction techniques with substantial energy savings and rewards creativity and expertise through the EEAs. ISOVER welcomes the winners to join the ceremony that takes place in a different European capital for each edition. This year’s Energy Efficiency Awards ceremony was  held in Dublin, Ireland, on March 20th, 2014.

All expenses for this 24 hours celebration were paid including flight tickets !

The luxurious Shelbourne 5* Hotel overlooking St. Stephen's Green  Dublin was the Home of the international Award Winners.

Archie O'Donnell, Zeno & Karen Winkens in the Gravity Bar

All was well organized from the registration to the welcome lunch buffet, architectural Dublin City tour to Departure to the Guinness Storehouse for the evening ceremony. Through the Guinness history exhibition we made our way to the roof top bar. The Gravity Bar was back drop for cocktails and of course Guinness.

This event was a celebration of all Worldwide Saint-Gobain ISOVER Award Winners. There was no overall winner, just 39 winners from 19 countries.

The presentations were slick - Country mentioned with flag, photo of build with name of project, name of winners, awards given, next please. Sile Seoige was Master of Ceremonies.

The award is a lovely brass sculpture on glass base, I shall keep this award next to my 2012 Residential Green Award.

A lovely dinner was followed by live music with plenty of dancing. Our table had two sets of Bulgarian Winners. And our Winning team my wife Karen @MizzWinkens, Archie@Beyondpassive,  Chris @gr8developments and wife Vamessa @vanessaboconnor. Unfortunatly the clients Francis  @fclauson and Brigid @clausonb could not make it.

At the end of the successful night all celebrants got a well produced full colour hard back book 127 pages with all winning projects and teams.

Thank you The ISOVER International Marketing team.

Especially Valérie Saint-Mleux who was very attentive and welcoming.             

The Best of Book 2013 - page 94/95

2013 ISOVER Energy Efficiency Awards Link

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014

 The new Building Control (Amendment) Regulation 2014

 S.I-9 (replacing S.I-80) will come into force on 1st of March 2014.

This is in relation to the Commencement notice that needs to be sent in before construction can start.

This is quite a heated subject currently with architects, engineers and building surveyors as all the information on these new regulations are not in yet.

This is not widely publicized yet, but it will have quiet an impact on all in the building process from the 1st of March 2014.

E.G. As a self builder, you will not be able to nominate yourself to be the builder after 1st of March 2014 when the new regulations comes into effect.

Read IAOSB

More info on this forum

And on Linkedin