Archive for category: Building News

Cladmate Cladding Support Systems are a long term manufacturer of Aluminium & Steel Rainscreen cladding support systems. Family owned since its conception, the family has been involved in the construction industry stretching back 3 generations. Cladmate are part of a larger group of companies called KNT Group, who specialise in a variety of building materials & building chemicals.
Cladmate currently offers a variety of Rainscreen Cladding Support Systems which can be teamed with materials such as Aluminium, Terracotta, Zinc and Brick to name just a few. They also offer systems that compliment your desired design intent including face fixed, structurally bonded and secret fixed.

Brick facades are brought into 21st century with innovative modern lightweight solutions utilising their extensive knowledge of the cladding industry. Cladmate offers two systems; CMS30: Adhesively bonded brick slip system, and CMS40: Mechanically fixed brick slip system – both of which are aimed at the professional cladding market.
The flagship brick product is their CWCT certified CMS40 Mechanically fixed brick slip system, where A1 Fire Rated Aluminium brackets and rails (vertical & horizontal) are fixed to your desired substrate, and grooved brick slip of your choice is slid onto the rails. As brackets and rails are fixed to the substrate mechanically, CMS40 can be used at any height. Pointing is then carried out using the excellent Terrabond T-Point high performance flexible pointing mortar. Though any brick slip can be used with this system, Cladmate also offers a standard range of brick slips, information of which is available upon request.

As mentioned Cladmate are part of a larger form of companies, thus granting access to innovative building products such as the latest in Insulation Technology, Building Chemicals, Bricks and Bricks Slips. There is also a stockist of industry recognised names such as Sika & Ejot, all of which are available to buy on their new online shop (shop.cladmate.co.uk). With the ability to provide their customers with all things Rainscreen, Cladmate is fast becoming the go-to for all your cladding needs.

Cladmate offers full static calculations along with Wind and U-value calculations, all of which are free of charge. Register your project on their website and they will ensure a 5 working day turnaround on calculations to avoid delays in your project. All calculations are backed by a warranty, information of which is available upon request.
Over the coming year, the focus will be to continue developing existing customer relationships and look to increase current manufacturing capacity to meet the pipeline at present. They will also be developing new technologies to ensure that they continue to be at the forefront of the exciting Rainscreen Cladding market.
After working throughout Europe, the Middle East & Africa over the past 20 years, 2 years ago the company decided to enter the UK market. Since then, Cladmate have gone from strength to strength and are fast becoming a major player within the cladding industry. Cladmate have worked on multiple projects around the UK, and have worked hard to gain industry accreditation and all relevant testing. They have deliberately taken their time to become familiar with the UK market in order to understand the needs within the cladding sector. Their aim is to create a company that is sustainable in the years to come – meeting both the needs of their clients, and industry regulations.

NON-COMBUSTIBLE STONE WOOL INSULATION

TERRAWOOL
Terrawool are one of the main brands of Terra Building Materials and is proud of being a part of the group companies. Having been in the construction industry for three generations, they have an excellent track record.
Terrawool stone wool slabs are premium insulation board composed of mineral wool and made up of thousands of fibres. Terrawool is made from volcanic basalt rock. Simplified recreation starts with reheated and melted volcanic rock within a large furnace of up to 1,500˚C (2,700˚F). The liquid rock is channelled into a chamber where it is spun into fibrous strands. Balance density systems are highly engineered throughout its design, accommodating slight imperfections on substructures, while allowing robust fixing. The breathable open-cell structure of Terrawool stone wool slabs allows water vapour to pass through, while factory-applied water repellent fibres on Rainclad and Dimclad prevent water transmission through the insulation layer.
All Terrawool insulation boards have achieved a Euroclass rating of A1 for non-combustibility. Terrawool insulation goes the extra mile to offer complete assurance against the threat of fire. With its ability to withstand temperatures of up to 1,000˚C (1,800˚F) Terrawool insulation helps to effectively contain and prevent the spread of fire. Likewise, the stonewool will not produce any toxic smoke or emissions.
Terrawool insulation is the superior choice for all construction needs, especially for high-rise structures. It offers high thermal insulation as well as acoustic performance. The open porous structure of Terrawool insulation absorbs and reduces the impact of sound, while providing a high thermal performance.

RAINCLAD

High Performance non-combustible thermal and acoustic insulation for cladding applications.
Rainclad is non-combustible cladding insulation designed and developed by our highly experienced engineers for best performance for all cladding applications. Rainclad is designed for use of ventilated or non-ventilated cladding systems as well as sealed systems such as curtain walling, external wall insulations at any height. With the factory-applied water repelling agent, Rainclad prevents water ingress during construction.
Rainclad is an A1 rated non-combustible product suitable for use on any type of building including those over 18m – giving a significant acoustic performance to a project. Rainclad insulation boards are made of stone wool fibres with special water repelling agent – this does not effect the breathability of the walls thus limiting condensation. The densitiy of Rainclad is 60kg/m3 and it has a 0,035W/mK thermal conductivity level (available in different thicknesses and densities

DIMCLAD
High Performance non-combustible thermal and acoustic insulation with black tissue facing for open-joint cladding systems and shadow gaps at any height.
Dimclad cladding insulation has been specifically engineered to promote fire safety and overall high performance. Along with being compatible with a number of different cladding attachment systems, Dimclad provides extra wind protection for optimal efficiency on high-rise buildings.
For open-joint cladding systems, Dimclad is the perfect solution due to its black mineral fibre facing. This feature is engineered to deliver UV stability in the long-term thus increasing its thermal performance.
In the event of being directly exposed to fire, Dimclads non-combustible feature reduces the risk of toxic gas emissions and spreading flames, therefore protecting the building. The factory-applied water repelling agent promotes Dimclad for use in construction during rainy weather, which prevents water ingress and avoids delays. Dimclad’s moisture resistance helps maintain an adequate insulating value for an extended period of time. The densitiy of Dimclad is 60kg/m3 and it has a 0.039W/mK thermal conductivity level (available in different thicknesses and densities).
For more information on Rainclad and Dimclad high-performance external insulation slabs, along with insights to the full range of Terrawool non-combustible solutions for any kind of stone wool insulation, please visit

www.terrawool.co.uk

VORTICE LAUNCHES THE UVLOGIKA ENVIRONMENTAL SANITISER

Never before has there been so much emphasis on the sanitisation and disinfection of surfaces we come into contact with. The ongoing battle against COVID-19 means it is essential for our health and wellbeing that surfaces are sanitised efficiently, especially in public spaces.

VORTICE has now introduced the UVLOGIKA – an environmental sanitiser suitable for the disinfection of surfaces in domestic, commercial and industrial environments.

The UVLOGIKA system is a UV-C lamp which eliminates up to 99% of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms without any emission of ozone. Its compact dimensions make the unit discreet enough to be installed in a variety of applications such as classrooms, lifts and hospital waiting rooms.

Tests have shown that in just 8 minutes of exposure, 99% of bacteria and viruses tested and present on a surface located 2 metres from the lamp were eliminated, including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

VORTICE Technical and Marketing Manager Jennifer Quinn said “VORTICE believes the three fundamental factors in tackling COVID-19 are ventilation, purification and sanitisation. We are delighted we can offer a portfolio of products that can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and the UVLOGIKA is a great addition.”

All the technical details about the UVLOGIKA system and the viruses it can eliminate are available on our website along with other purification and sanitisation products.

www.vortice.ltd.uk

HUSK SECURES FIRST PATENT FOR INNOVATIVE GARAGE BASED AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONCEPT

A house designer has been awarded a UK patent for its innovative approach to transforming unwanted and disused garage sites into affordable new homes.

The patent covers HUSK’s ground-breaking solution for the design and build of one and two bedroomed homes on previously undevelopable brownfield sites, using a modular concept that could help to change the way people live in urban areas.

Enabling residents to stay living in bungalows in their local communities, the firm’s Homes England compliant house type, which meets new NDSS (National Described Space Standard) requirements, could also play a part in tackling the UK’s chronic housing shortage.

This concept sees frameworks and structures engineered and built offsite before being erected on sites in towns and cities across the UK, where they are fully finished, kitted out and connected to local services as part of a local turnkey redevelopment project.

Because they are created around existing garage structures, the properties are classed as refurbishments and are highly energy efficient, taking advantage of the latest high-performance building materials in their construction.

Newcastle-based HUSK is the first to develop the concept and is currently working with a number of the UK’s leading social housing providers to bring forward schemes using its method. Several sites, including a project in Peterborough in County Durham, are already under development with several others expected to come on stream soon.

It’s estimated that only 15% of current garage infill sites can be redeveloped using traditional methods. This means that often the only option is to knock down those garages earmarked for demolition, leaving a tract of unusable wasteland in their wake.

Awarded by intellectual property specialists IP-Archer, the patent is another step forward in unleashing the potential to transform thousands of sites across the country using the construction approach, according to Russell Edwards, managing director of HUSK.

He said: “We are delighted to secure this patent. There’s a huge shortage of decent affordable housing in this country and we believe that innovative approaches such as ours can contribute significantly to meeting the need and creating great places for people to live in and build new communities.

“Our designs take advantage of existing sites that have fallen in to decline and are intended to make it easier and more cost-effective for developers to deliver environmentally efficient homes with a unique look and contemporary feel.”

The HUSK concept has been developed by Russell Edwards, who also runs Newcastle architectural practice, Edwards Architecture. HUSK utilises the existing garage structure and erects a new part offsite fabricated building within to form a new spacious, efficient and space compliant bungalow. More at http://husk-uk.com/

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The UK Government has announced a new air tightness technique can be used as an official compliance measurement tool in the UK’s recently-revised Building Regulations.

The low-pressure Pulse test is now an approved alternative method to the standard blower door test to measure the air tightness of buildings. The technological innovation was extensively researched and developed by The University of, and is now commercially-licensed to tech start-up, Build Test Solutions (BTS).

Dr Chris Wood, one of the investigators at the University behind the Pulse test believes its inclusion in the latest Building Regulations represents a “significant step in the journey” towards delivering the new leakage measurement tool to the UK construction industry.

“After many years in development it is fantastic to see our research translated into a product not only fit-for-industry, but that has ministerial approval for use under the UK Building Regulations. The tool has massive potential to support the Government’s plans to deliver a sustainable, low-carbon built environment.”

While Dr Xiaofeng Zheng, a fellow researcher in the University team, believes its acceptance by the UK government and industries will potentially catalyse its wider impact in the world; driven by the need to decarbonise the global building sector.

Making houses more energy efficient is part of government plans to ‘radically improve’ the energy performance of new homes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. As a first step, from 2022 all new homes will be expected to produce 31 per cent less CO2 emissions compared to current standards.

The testing of airtightness is vital to establish and minimise the infiltration rate of cold air into buildings and the loss of heated air out through gaps, holes and cracks in the building fabric. Accurate testing can help eliminate draughts, improve energy efficiency and reduce heating bills. Testing is also required to determine if a building is suitably ventilated; strict airtightness but inadequate ventilation can lead to poor indoor air quality, which in turn can cause adverse health effects for occupants.

Following a public consultation on its Future Homes Standard (proposed changes to both Parts L (energy) and F (ventilation) of existing Building Regulations), the Ministry of Housing recently confirmed that:

All new dwellings should have an air tightness test (effectively removing the existing sampling approach)

Pulse technology, under Part L1a, is an accepted alternative method of air tightness testing, including for use in very air tight dwellings

“We are delighted with this outcome, which is testament to the extensive field trial testing, product development and third-party validation that has taken place over the years. It has been quite the journey but to reach this milestone and see the positive responses made by so many industry respondents is fantastic. “We firmly believe that PULSE delivers a pioneering approach to fabric air permeability measurement; not only allowing the industry to more readily step up to the new requirement for 100 per cent sample testing but perhaps most importantly of all, providing greater choice to clients and testers alike.”

Pulse is a new easy-to-use technique that is complimentary to the existing blower door fan pressurisation method. Each offer a specific range of features and benefits to the operative, with Pulse specifically developed to enable the measurement of air leakage directly at pressures representative of ordinary conditions – typically 4 Pascal (Pa), whereas a blower door fan will usually test in the 30 to 60 Pascal range.

The Pulse test is placed centrally in a dwelling and a burst of air is released over a 1.5 second period. The background pressure is sampled at high frequency and the signature that the burst of air creates provides a representation of the air leakage characteristics of the property under test.

The test offers accurate and repeatable results by measuring at typical infiltration pressures and accounting for changes in background pressure levels caused by the wind or outside temperature.

The latest version of the device comprises an air receiver unit, a small control module and a compressor which is compact and portable enough to be carried by a single person. Pulse is quick and easy enough for construction workers to perform themselves multiple times prior to completion, saving time and test costs later on. The testing unit is self-contained and has no need to penetrate the building fabric or block up any doorways, so there is minimal disruption to construction work or building occupants.

Rather than a direct replacement to the blower door technique, Pulse offers a solution for providing new metrics as well as an improved means of testing other types of buildings and enclosures such as existing homes, non-residential buildings (through tethering of multiple Pulse devices), laboratories, health care environments and gaseous fire suppression facilities such as data centres, server rooms and stores.

An additional UK Government ‘Future Buildings Standard’ consultation is open until 13 April 2021, which is also considering adoption of Pulse in the testing of non-residential buildings.

Development of the Pulse technology was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Accounts fund.

Source: Mirage News