The engineering and construction industries rely as much on innovation and new forms of technology as they do experience and traditional methods.

Whether it’s a completely new form of technology designed for a specific purpose, or an improvement on existing methods, advances are making home designs more efficient and better environments for us to live in. Take a look at the following examples, which are just a sample of innovative building solutions.

Self-closing doors

It’s sad to admit, but modern homes need to be designed with stringent security features to reduce the threat of break-ins, vandalism and crime. A UK government survey found that in 2012 alone, more than 1.8 million theft offences occurred and there were more than 65,000 reported incidents of robbery – you can find the full findings of the study, here.

High-quality doors and windows with decent locks are essential design features; however, advances in engineering are now able to contribute to the increased security of our homes. Self-closing gates, doors and windows make use of gas struts in place of conventional springs, to ensure that they close after use. The technology is relatively simple and makes use of a gas filled cylinder, which exerts enough force for a door or gate to close by itself.

As well as preventing crime, this is an also an effective addition to home with children and pets. You can find a selection of gas struts and gas springs, online at WDS Ltd. This is a simple, cost-effective measure that can integrated into existing homes, as well as new building projects.

Insulation

The pressure is on for the construction industry to find new and innovative ways of making homes more efficient and friendly to the environment. One of the biggest developments in this field is insulation, which has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. And with the government suggesting that 30% of British homes do not have any insulation at all, this is a key area of improvement which could significantly reduce energy consumption throughout the country.

The material of choice nowadays is Insulating Concrete Framework (ICF) which makes use of polystyrene panels to fill in wall cavities. These panels are then filled with concrete. As well as offering an extremely efficient form of insulation, in terms of both heat and sound, this construction method creates a more solid structure that is resistant to external pressure.

Liquid and foam insulation are also becoming increasingly popular. This can be injected into existing cavities, so it’s an effective improvement to make to an existing structure, without the need for major building work. What’s more, because the insulation is initially in a liquid state, it fills the cavity fully, ensuring that the entire space of the wall is insulated.

Triple glazing

Remember the days when double glazing was the height of efficiency? Nowadays, it’s becoming increasingly popular to build homes with triple glazing. Aside from trapping an extra layer of insulation between the interior and exterior of the home, the layers between the panes of glasses are now filled with gases like argon rather than air.