Latest innovations and products in the building fabric section of the construction industry.

Cembrit to invest in natural slate

Cembrit is pleased to announce the creation of a dedicated natural slates division to offer the UK’s specifiers and slaters greater choice of top end material for prestigious roofing contracts. The philosophy will be to enhance the existing range with additional high quality slates. The new brands will offer reliable, long term availability. This will be supported by dedicated personnel and focused marketing. As a start of the investment and long term commitment to Natural Slate, the group has decided to dedicate a specific person to this product group, Sales Director, Rob Wallace.

Cembrit’s ancestry in the UK begins with Alan Blunn Ltd, one of the UK’s original natural slate agents, set up in 1924, offering customer service and technical expertise to all involved in pitched roofing. Acquired by Cembrit in 2000, the reputation and sales of the combined company has continued to grow, to the extent that Cembrit’s natural slates activities became an attractive proposition for others seeking to enhance their position in the UK market.

Encouraged by this, Cembrit has realized that there is a responsibility as well as huge potential to provide durable, verifiable, high quality natural slates to the British market. The new division will be headed by Rob Wallace, who has 18 years of experience in growing Cembrit’s business from its Welsh depot in Llandow. Cembrit’s growth has been achieved through unbeatable customer service.

“We have seen continued growth in the demand for natural slate, particularly with proven origin and consistent supply,” comments Rob Wallace, Sales Director, Cembrit. “Our stance will be one of honesty and transparency as this is important to clients but not always available in our complex market”.

Marketing Manager Ged Ferris adds “This marks the beginning of a new phase in Cembrit’s commitment to natural slate. Cembrit will be making substantial investments in this environmentally attractive material. Look out for more news as the division takes shape”.

For more information, and to download the fibre cement slate guide, visit www.cembrit.co.uk

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Second Queen’s Award presentation in three years for Ancon

Just three years after its first Queen’s Award for Enterprise presentation in 2012, Ancon Building Products officially received its second award on Thursday 15th October at a special ceremony at its manufacturing site in Deeside, North Wales.

The 2015 Award for International Trade recognises Ancon’s outstanding success in growing sales across new and existing export markets. It follows the company’s previous Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation for its ground-breaking Lockable Dowel, a system that has since revolutionised post-tensioned concrete construction.

The prestigious award, the highest accolade that any UK business can achieve for export growth, was presented to Ancon by the Lord Lieutenant of Clwyd, Mr Henry George Fetherstonhaugh OBE, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.

The ceremony at the Deeside facility, the largest and most advanced Wall Tie manufacturing operation in the UK, was attended by 36 employees who proudly watched Ancon’s Export Team Leader, Angela Reeve, accept the ceremonial scroll from the Lord Lieutenant. Her colleague Lynn Forster, Deeside’s Purchasing Manager and longest-serving employee at the site, who has been part of the Ancon team there for the last 32 years, received the commemorative Queen’s Award crystal bowl on behalf of the company.

The Lord Lieutenant said “Ancon represents the very best of British innovation and technology, and this dynamic company, which has trebled its exports in the last ten years, has led the way in its field.”

“To win one award is pretty spectacular; to win two awards in three years is absolutely amazing.”

“It is very gratifying to present this award here in Deeside, where Ancon provides 92 much needed jobs and I wish the company every continued success in the future.”

In addition to its headquarters and two manufacturing sites in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Ancon has operated production facilities in North Wales since 1983. The Lord Lieutenant met several employees as he toured the site on Deeside Industrial Park, where the company has been based since 2008 when they outgrew previous sites in Flint and Greenfield.

Speaking after the ceremony, Managing Director, Stuart Maxwell said “It’s another very proud day for the Ancon business. We now hold Queen’s Awards for both Innovation and International Trade, confirming that we are successfully combining the development of market-specific solutions with effective worldwide distribution strategies. Our UK-manufactured products are now exported across the globe from the USA, Russia, throughout the far east and into the Asian pacific regions.”

“Our outstanding achievements over the last few years are down to the knowledge, hard work and commitment of our employees, as well as our distributors around the world. My sincere thanks and congratulations go out to everyone.”

“With a number of major construction projects and new product launches in the pipeline, I am certain the business will continue to go from strength-to strength.”

For more information please visit www.ancon.co.uk

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Realising the design potential of Tilebrick

Ibstock, the UK’s largest brickmaker, has launched a new guide for its innovative Tilebrick range to showcase both the creative and contemporary designs achievable and provide specifiers with greater insight into the unique portfolio.

As well as examples of stand-out projects which incorporate Tilebrick – a novel brick which can simulate a traditional tile-hung wall elevation as well striking contemporary facades – the guide includes a step-by-step section, providing effective application advice and tips.

In addition, it provides a detailed breakdown of the technical aspects of the range, outlining the new profiles available. These include Planar, which gives a crisp and defined finish, Banded, for a strong linear definition and Curved, which delivers a more traditional finish with a softer appeal. Measurements and the wide range of colour and texture options available are also detailed in the guide.

Tilebrick’s unique design means it can be used to provide a monolithic appearance without the visual disruption of mortar joints and can still be laid using traditional standard mortars. As such, it is contributing to the creation of original and contemporary architecture across the UK.

The Tilebrick is supported by a range of accessories to satisfy any design requirement, details for which can also be found in the new brochure.

Andrew Halstead-Smith, Group Marketing Manager at Ibstock, comments “Thanks to its flexible design capabilities and ability to give a new dimension to facades, Tilebrick is proving to be an increasingly popular range. The new guide has been developed so that specifiers can explore the portfolio’s full potential and confidently specify this innovative brick product, knowing it can bring any architectural vision to life.”

For more information and for a copy of the new guide, visit www.ibstock.com or call 0844 800 4575.

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Fabric First Principles – Delivering Optimum Performance

With rising energy costs and a growing requirement for more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings, Fabric First principles are now being widely adopted, particularly within the structural timber sectors.

For the last decade innovators in the construction sector have been developing solutions to address areas of thermal bridging which occur when there is a gap between materials and the structural surfaces. By improving the airtightness of the building fabric and the thermal performance of the structure – cold bridging can be eliminated and thermal performance enhanced – reducing heat loss, carbon emissions and ultimately, offering vast savings on energy consumption.

Numerous technologies looking to maximise offsite manufacturing, have embraced the Fabric First building principles, are now gaining traction with the end users – home owners and developers – particularly in the self-build, education, health care and social housing sectors, where sustainability and ‘whole life costs’ of the building are crucial to the specifying decision process.

The latest technologies will be on show at the Fabric First Event, being held on 18 November 2015 at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, 99 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AX. Tickets cost just £95+VAT and include entry to the conference and exhibition, plus lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

The event brings together distinguished and pioneering speakers from a broad spectrum of the industry drawing upon their considerable experience to deliver a comprehensive programme of policy and regulation presentations, technology and project case studies.

Speakers include:

  • Steve Hornblow – A2 Dominion
  • Douglas Drewniak – Bio Regional
  • Ian Loughnane – Kingspan Timber Solutions
  • Christopher Jofeh – Arup
  • Shaun Fitzgerald – Breathing Buildings
  • David Alderson – Climate Energy Homes
  • Paul Rogatzki – Hanson Group
  • Stewart Dalgarno – Stewart Milne
  • Gordon Evans – YOOP Architectural Practice
  • Ross Holleron – Zero Carbon Hub
  • Jon Bootland – Passivhaus Trust
  • Alasdair Donn – Willmott Dixon

To book your place, simply go to: www.fabricfirstevent.co.uk/book.

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Think security, think Document Q with Mumford & Wood

Mumford & Wood Conservation™ sliding sash windows are now SBD certificated to meet Approved Document Q – Security. Recognised as Britain’s leading manufacturer of high performance, tried and tested timber windows and doors, Conservation™ sash windows now carry additional security features that meet the requirements of Document Q Building Regulations, for the new build housing sector, which comes into effect 1 October 2015.
“To the untrained eye the Conservation Secure™ sash window looks no different to its predecessor, so much so that even burglars won’t see this until they have struggled with the security features and, of course, timber offers better strength to weight ratios than any other frame material,” says Frank Buckley, managing director, Mumford & Wood. “High levels of thermal, acoustic and air tightness come as standard and our products surpass the requirements of Part L Building Regulations.”
The technicians at Mumford & Wood have innovated improvements to the existing and coordinated products in the Conservation™ range enabling a new higher level of security without any visible difference. These windows and doors join a certificated line up in the Conservation Secure™ collection which includes SBD certificated casement windows, French doorsets, bi-folding and entrance doors.
The security standard demanded by Building Regulations, to which products are tested, is known as PAS24 but prior to this all products must be tested and rated for weather and air tightness to meet BS6375 (Parts 1 & 2). “It is pointless having safe and secure windows and doors if you cannot keep the weather at bay,” continues Buckley.
“While the requirement to meet Part Q will apply for new buildings only, existing home owners will want these security benefits applied to replacement products for the upkeep and maintenance of their properties as well as for major refurbishments and extensions.”
Independent research carried out on behalf of the British Woodworking Federation’s Wood Window Alliance (WWA) scheme, of which Mumford & Wood is a leading member, has proven that timber windows and doors made in accordance with their standards will last for 60 years or more and that, over time, will be carbon negative. Conservation™ products are manufactured from engineered Siberian Larch wood components that provide ultimate levels of strength and stability. With the benefits of double glazing, and optional glass specification, these products offer ultimate levels of thermal and acoustic performance with peace-of-mind security.
Further information about products in the Conservation Secure collection is available on 01621 818155, or please visit the website www.mumfordwood.com.
Follow us on Twitter @mumfordwood or facebook.com/mumfordwood for the latest company news and updates. Visitors are welcome at the company’s showroom in Tiptree, Essex and at The Building Centre, Store, Street, London.

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The Slate Effect: Edgemere becomes a top choice for housing associations

Arcon Housing Association has specified Riven Edgemere tiles from Marley Eternit for its new housing development in Manchester. The slate effect concrete interlocking tiles are currently in high demand from housing associations looking for a natural slate aesthetic on a budget.

The tiles have been used on Arcon’s new development of ten properties on the site of the former St George’s Church in Gorton, in the south east of Manchester. The new two and three-bedroom homes, located on Abbey Hey Lane, Abbey Close and Union Street, are part of the Housing Association’s rapidly expanding new build programme

Arcon Housing Association had previously used slate effect clay interlocking tiles but decided to switch to Riven Edgemere in Smooth Grey for this development because they were more cost effective.

David Hutchinson, senior building surveyor at Arcon Housing Association, comments “We wanted to achieve a slate aesthetic to give a contemporary feel to the new homes but there was certainly no room in the budget for natural slate. The riven surface and thin leading edge of the Edgemere tiles offered us a cost effective close appearance to slate. They look very impressive on the finished houses and blend well with surrounding properties.”

Charlotte Hughes, product manager from Marley Eternit, adds “We have seen a significant increase in the number of housing associations using our Edgemere tiles because they want to achieve a slate look but are faced with growing budgetary pressures. We have also seen some movement away from slate effect clay interlocking tiles towards products like Edgemere, which still offer a high aesthetic but are often more cost effective. The Riven version is particularly popular because it has a textured slate like surface but is the same price as the rest of the Edgemere range and is a good option when planners require a closer match to the look of natural slate.”

Arcon Housing Association’s new build properties must meet high sustainability and Lifetime Homes standards. Charlotte Hughes adds “The environmental credentials of Edgemere interlocking tiles are another reason why they are in such high demand for social housing projects, with independent carbon certification, the ability to achieve an A+ rating in the BRE’s Green Guide to Specification and certification to the BES 6001 standard for Responsible Sourcing.”

Marley Eternit’s Edgemere’s large format concrete interlocking tiles come with a thin leading edge for a slate like appearance at a more attractive price. With only 9.7 tiles per square metre, Edgemere is a single lap solution that is quicker and easier to install than natural slate and 40% thinner than standard concrete interlocking tiles. With the ability to perform at pitches as low as 17.5°, Edgemere has the versatility to be used on a wide range of roof types and is now available in three variants, standard, riven and duo.

For more information or literature, please visit www.marleyeternit.co.uk/edgemere.

For further information on our range of products and services just ask ME at www.marleyeternit.co.uk or call ME on 01283 722588. You can also follow ME on Twitter @MarleyEternit. If it matters to you it matters to us, that’s why with ME it’s all about you.

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NVELOPE provides the right support to Sterte Court

NVELOPE cladding support systems have been installed on Sterte Court, a development of high rise and low rise flats in Poole, which has received a facelift that has not only improved the visual appearance and sustainable factors, but also extended the buildings’ life for at least 30 years.

Sterte Court is a residential building in Poole, which dates back to the 1960s. When originally built, the two 10 storey and two 4 storey tower blocks consisted of 134 one and two-bedroom flats. Constructed with rendered concrete wall panels on a concrete frame, the buildings were poorly insulated. A project to upgrade the development began in 2013, when Poole Housing Partnership, an Arms Length Management Organisation, which was set up under the Government scheme to bring investment for improvements to homes across the Borough of Poole, got involved.

Poole Housing Partnership appointed Keepmoat as the main contractor for this £6.7 million project. With the aim being to improve the residents’ living conditions, reduce fuel poverty, and update the visual appearance of the four blocks, the project would take around 18 months to complete. When it came to focussing the attention on the new façade, NVELOPE’s NV1 cladding support system was specified to hold the vertical cladding in place, and fitted by Kent-based façade installer, Teiko Ltd.

“The project benefited from ECO (Energy Company Obligation) funding, which requires the systems used to be BBA certified, and for the installer to be PAS 2030 certified” comments Adrian Buckmaster, Technical Manager, Teiko Ltd. “NVELOPE is BBA certified and Teiko Ltd is the only installer to be certified for Rainscreen Cladding to PAS 2030 standard.”

A key requirement for this project was to improve the thermal bridging. Thermal bridges cause increased flow of heat and need to be considered in the design and installation of a façade system. Since the fixing of ventilated cladding must go through the thermal insulation into the substrate, it cannot be avoided. It’s therefore important to achieve a thermal decoupling of the substructure from the ventilated façade through thermal separation layers. NVELOPE’s N1 brackets are pre-assembled with thermal isolators which help reduce thermal bridging and also prevent a chemical reaction which could occur between the aluminium bracket and the lime in a concrete frame.

NVELOPE’s NV1 flexible point brackets were well suited for this project as they allow for expansion and contraction of the cladding when under strain from various weather conditions including strong winds. The NV ranges provides a secure fixing solution for façade materials including high pressure laminate (HPL), timber, weatherboard, fibre cement, fibre concrete, ceramic, thin stone, aluminium composite material (ACM) and many other metals. Stand-off sizes for the vertical ranges are from 40 – 300 mm.

NVELOPE holds extensive stock to ensure orders can always be met and where necessary, immediate delivery can be provided. All NVELOPE cladding systems can be engineered to project specific requirements thanks to the expertise of its technical design support service. This provides architects and specifiers freedom with an almost infinite range of façade appearance and layout options.

Manufactured in the UK and developed using the highest specification alloys, NVELOPE products and systems are ideal for supporting a wide variety of façade materials.

For more information please visit www.nvelope.com

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Cembrit provides architects with BBA Certified slates

The importance of BBA (British Board of Agrément) certification is well-known as an independent mark of approval for suppliers to the construction industry, and Cembrit has the distinction of having its complete range of fibre cement fully accredited by the organisation.

The BBA is the UK’s major authority offering approval and certification services to manufacturers and installers supplying the construction industry. BBA certification is a sought after accreditation, and one which is incredibly important to architects. Cembrit holds five BBA Certificates for its fibre cement slate range, ensuring that whichever system is chosen, architects can be confident in the specified product. To achieve this status, Cembrit fibre cement slates completed a comprehensive testing process and successfully met all the requirements set out by the BBA.

“BBA certification enables architects to specify Cembrit fibre cement slates with confidence,” says Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager of Cembrit. “Our fibre cement slates range provides a high quality roofing finish that is both attractive and long lasting. Architects specify the slates for use on both residential and commercial properties, and have in the past, praised the product for delivering the desired results.”

The Cembrit range of fibre cement slates includes Westerland, Moorland, Zeeland, Jutland and Diamond, all offering their own unique appearance. The slates are ideal for use on conventional pitched timber roofs with a rafter pitch of 20° and over, or hung vertically as cladding on external walls. The slates are complemented by matching fibre cement ridges, ventilation solutions and fixings.

Manufactured to the highest European standards using Portland cement together with a formulation of superior blended synthetic and cellulose fibres, Cembrit fibre cement slates are finished with a high quality, semi-matt acrylic coloured coating to the face and edges and a tinted, high performance binder to the back face. Cembrit fibre cement slates are the most accredited on the UK market.

For further information visit www.cembrit.co.uk, or email sales@cembrit.co.uk

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Bauder BioSOLAR Generates Green Roof and PV Synergy

Flat roof manufacturer Bauder launched its revolutionary solar PV mounting system for biodiverse or extensive green roofs, Bauder BioSOLAR, at the inaugural ‘European Biosolar Roof Conference’ that took place in September at City Hall in London. Designed primarily for new build applications where environmentally friendly solutions are required to meet planning and BREEAM requirements; this integrated system addresses the misconception that green roof and PV technologies are mutually exclusive options.

The construction industry has long been calling for rooftop solutions that include a duality of technologies for environmental advantage, and a biosolar roof delivers just that providing reciprocal benefits in terms of maximising the energy output from the PV module and the footprint for the green roof. Bauder’s innovative BioSOLAR system uses the substrate and vegetation to provide the ballasted installation mechanism, removing the need to penetrate the waterproofing to secure the mounting units to the roof and making the most of the available area for vegetation, enabling the entire roof to qualify as a biodiverse green roof.

A key feature of Bauder’s unique system is that the front edge of the polycrystalline PV panel is raised 300mm above the finished green roof level, allowing light and moisture to reach beneath the panels whilst ensuring the mature vegetation will not shade the panels and can be easily maintained. The mixture of sunny, shaded and sheltered areas together with a variable depth of FLL compliant extensive substrate gives a matrix of different habitats that allow a broader range of plant species to thrive, and a rich foraging environment for bees and insects.
The biosolar solution also delivers advantages to the building, as the cooling effect of the vegetation and water held within the green roof system preserves the ambient temperature around the PV array, which in turn increases the solar output by over 5%. The PV mounting frame features a 100% recycled high-density polyethylene base board and consists of just three components – a quick fix angle support, profile module rail and module fixings – that make for an extremely quick and simple installation process.
Although well suited to new build applications, the Bauder BioSOLAR system can also be retrofitted on many existing roofs without the need for any structural modification to the building; and with Bauder able to supply and install all of the waterproofing, green roof and PV elements you can be confident of the significant synergy effects created by this energy efficient and cohesive system.
For more information please visit www.bauder.co.uk

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The story of Keymer roof tiles

Since it’s conception in 1588 Keymer has supplied quintessentially English, handmade clay roof tiles to specifiers, architects and roofers across the UK. Now in its 427th year, Keymer’s heritage and traditional attitude towards roof tiles and ornaments is now under the protection of Wienerberger – the leading supplier of wall, roof and landscape innovations. Whilst Wienerberger continues in its mission to develop new and innovative ways to manufacture construction materials, Keymer’s identity, and reputation for traditional manufacturing techniques is being robustly maintained. To explain more Richard Bishop, Category Marketing Manager for Roof at Wienerberger, told us more about Keymer’s past, present, future and why Keymer is perfect for restoration projects.

Keymer’s enduring success has been the quality of its tiles, and the beauty it has afforded projects across the country and the world.”

Keymer as it stands today

“The actual process of creating a handmade tile has hardly changed in the 400 years since Keymer’s birth. For example, all the tiles are still made out of Wealdon clay, which is native to the area and is a material employed by generations of roof tile artisans. Once the clay has been extracted, and allowed to weather naturally for a year, the clay is wire cut and is supplied to the tile makers that still apply sand by hand to give the tiles their distinct colour. Different amounts of Manganese Oxide in the sand give the different tones for Red, Antique and Elizabethan tiles – a process which a maker from 400 years ago would recognise.

“Even today the clay is then manually inserted into the mould, the excess is cut away with wire – in the same way cheese is cut – and the punch is finally brought down to insert the nibs, holes and maker’s mark. These tiles can be found on a huge range of both new and old properties and buildings and are identifiable by the handprints left on the underneath of the tile from the clay being slapped into the mould. Because the process of manufacture has remained almost unchanged for the past 400 years, Keymer tiles continue to be specified for restoration projects and new builds as they bring class and individuality to any roof.”

Brand protection and innovation

“The key to Keymer’s achievements has been its ability to evolve and innovate as times change – as one can imagine, in a lifespan covering six centuries, there has been ample room to adapt and improve. For instance, following the Clean Air Act the tall brick chimneys at the site were demolished meaning the company had to alter its manufacturing process. This was altered but without compromising on the quality of the finished product.

“At its core, the Keymer philosophy has always been to create, by hand, high quality roof tiles that stand the test of time alongside bespoke finials – the final furnishing to heritage roofs. For only the fourth time in its history, Keymer moved once again in 2015 to its new home at Wienerberger’s Ewhurst factory – a site that houses two of the original four clay phoenixes that stood guard at the four corners of each of Keymer’s previous homes – where its philosophy continues.”

The restoration

“The process behind the manufacture of Keymer roof tiles affords a vital advantage for restoration projects – flexibility. If a particular project has a distinct roof that needs new tiles to replace its unique cladding, without detracting from the overall aesthetic feel of the roof, Keymer can recreate tiles that match those that need replacing. This can be achieved through its time-tested techniques including the application of varying levels of Manganese Oxide, which make available a wide range of colours, alongside the hand made nature of tiles allowing for interesting and unique shapes to also be recreated. In short, the heritage nurtured by Keymer allows designers to rest sound in the knowledge that almost any roof – regardless of age, or design – can be renovated to an extremely high standard.

The products in practice

“Keymer tiles have been specified for a whole host of projects of different scales and budgets. Bewley Homes for example, in South Warnborough, specified Keymer’s Shire Tiles to ensure it was in keeping with the local, quaint village feel. Although the properties are not as old some projects using Keymer tiles – the Shire roof tiles link the homes with the local surroundings by adding a sense of heritage and timeless class. That said, Keymer tiles have also been specified for the regeneration of particularly prestigious projects including the birthplace of Shakespeare in Stratford upon Avon and Leeds Castle in Kent. These incredibly important heritage sites specified Keymer tiles to protect their individual histories without compromising on the aesthetics of the buildings. Such is the beauty of Keymer tiles that the Aston Martin Owners Club selected Traditional Antique tiles to roof its headquarters whilst the Anglo-Catholic Church specified tiles in Antique / Elizabethan mix to roof the awe-inspiring Tewkesbury Abbey, a building that was close to destruction only 48 years before the creation of Keymer during the dissolution of the monasteries.

“These case studies prove that the specification of Keymer tiles is in no way limited to properties of a particular age, or architectural school, as they sit upon the roofs of buildings built from before 1588 to 2015. They have been involved in church regenerations, the refurbishment of ancestral homes to the aristocracy and private new build homes.

“We are really excited for the future of Keymer. We have recently launched the latest Keymer Specification Guide, which includes a wealth of design and technical information and will, I hope, inspire future generations of architects and home builders.”

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