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Bauder delivers first class roofing solution for British Airways

British Airways i360 is the world’s tallest moving observation tower and first vertical cable car. At the entrance of the attraction on Brighton Seafront is an accessible roof terrace area that features over 1,500m2 of Bauder’s reinforced, inverted hot melt waterproofing system with hard landscaping.

The futuristic British Airways i360 is a 531 foot tall structure located at the landward end of Brighton’s historic former West Pier. Eleven years in the making, British Airways i360 is the brainchild of architect-entrepreneurs David Marks and Julia Barfield of Marks Barfield Architects, best known as the practice that conceived and designed the world-famous London Eye. Groups of up to 200 visitors will glide gently upwards to a height of 138 metres in a futuristic, fully enclosed, hand-crafted glass viewing pod to admire 360-degree views across Regency Brighton and Hove, the South Downs, the English Channel and the south coast east to Beachy Head.

Passengers board each flight via the alluring outside terrace deck, which features reconstructed tollbooths of the original iconic West Pier that now serve as a ticket office and café, where people can relax and socialise. Understandably this roof top area will experience significant amounts of foot traffic all throughout the year, so the client wanted to install a waterproofing system that was both robust and of the highest quality. Given these requirements, Bauder’s hot melt structural waterproofing system with hard landscaping was a natural choice. The system is designed to last the lifespan of the building and provides a monolithic, fully bonded membrane that is self-healing to minor punctures and ideal for use on protected roof areas. As part of the system approved contractor Accurate Roofing also installed inverted insulation, to deliver high thermal performance in exposed conditions and help retain heat within the beachfront building below that houses a brasserie, café and gift shop.

This new landmark is an exceptional example of how modern architecture and roof landscaping can revive a historical monument, which is expertly and intricately intertwined with over 150 years of history. British Airways i360 has already attracted significant interest and proven extremely popular, welcoming its 100,000th visitor just three weeks after it was opened to the general public in August 2016. The attraction was given a Royal opening by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in October.

For more information please visit www.bauder.co.uk.
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SIG Roofing announces regional winners in its competition to find Britain’s Best Cafe

With tens of thousands of public votes cast and 500 cafes entering, SIG Roofing’s hugely popular competition to find Britain’s Best Cafe is approaching its final stage with the announcement of its 14 regional winners.

The lucky proprietors and staff now head to London for a grand celebration lunch where the national winner will be announced, with the top prize of a fabulous 4-night trip to New York City and a visit to the famous Ellen’s Diner on Broadway.

The competition has been run to recognise the outstanding job local cafes do in the working lives of SIG Roofing customers and the local community and to underline the ‘local accent’ of the company’s services through its national network of 120 branches.

SIG Roofing’s Marketing Manager, Janine Brady, explains. “Roofing and building contractors are some of the most loyal and regular customers of Britain’s cafes. For many they are a daily place to meet, eat and enjoy both great food and service with a smile. Our branches offer a local service that’s very different in content – but with the same type of engagement and good humour. Running this competition to find Britain’s Best Cafe is our way of recognising and thanking the cafes for all that they do feeding their hungry customers and those in the local area!”

With the 14 regional winners announced, tension is now mounting as all the hopefuls head for the culmination of the competition in London this November. Voting, both online and in SIG Roofing branches, has outdone expectations and there has been hot competition for the top spot.

You can find out who the regional winner is in your area by visiting www.britainsbestcafe.co.uk.
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Marley Eternit adds underlays to create unparalleled roof systems offer

Manufacturer Marley Eternit has launched its own easy-to-install Vapour Permeable and Non Breathable underlays, further enhancing its position as the leading roof systems provider in the UK.

Following the acquisition of John Brash, the latest announcement means Marley Eternit now offers the most comprehensive roof system in the market, including roof coverings, fittings and accessories, roofing battens and underlays. This allows specifiers, merchants and contractors to benefit from buying a whole roof system from a single source.

The new Universal lightweight underlays incorporate a range of useful features to ensure installation is compliant with the latest requirements of BS 5534. As well as being designed for use in all five UK wind zones, the underlays are marked with guide lines for straight laying and to correspond with the different overlap lengths set out by the British Standard, making it easier for contractors to comply.

To meet the British Standard, securing underlay can either involve wastage by requiring larger laps to coincide with a naturally occurring batten course or introduce a health and safety risk with the use of a dangerous fly batten. To overcome these challenges, Marley Eternit’s Vapour Permeable and Non Breathable underlays come with integrated tape to seal and secure the laps. This provides an effective and easy-to-install solution capable of resisting problems associated with wind uplift, whilst meeting the British Standard.

Gavin White, product manager from Marley Eternit, explains: “Following our integration with John Brash, the launch of our own range of underlays is the final piece of the jigsaw, meaning we are now the only UK manufacturer to offer as many elements of the roof within one system package. This is particularly important given many specifiers are now looking for a total roof solution and it gives advantages in terms of a single point of accountability and technical support, all underpinned by the peace of mind that comes with our system warranty.”

The high performance Universal underlays have been manufactured using the latest materials and processes. They have been designed either to integrate as part of a complete Marley Eternit roof system, or for use in conjunction with a range of roof coverings – regardless of manufacturer.

Gavin White adds: “Most breathable underlays have a significant role to play when used as part of an integrated ventilation system. Our new Vapour Permeable underlay is a complementary means of ventilation when used in conjunction with traditional low and high level ventilation products. We feel this is the most effective way of meeting the requirements of BS 5250 and is a tried and tested approach which avoids placing the heavy burden of roof ventilation on one single element. We are also launching a Non Breathable underlay for use when traditional ventilation methods are preferred. Both underlays provide an ultra strong, durable and easy-to-install under-tile layer suitable for warm or cold roof applications.

“Choosing a full roof system from Marley Eternit gives peace of mind that all elements meet the highest level of quality and sustainability and have been designed and tested to meet stringent standards, with ease of fitting in mind.”

For more information about Marley Eternit’s new Universal underlays, visit www.marleyeternit.co.uk/underlays.
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Using Cembrit Alpina natural roof slates is a breeze on the Devon coast

Cembrit’s Alpina natural slates have been used to great effect in the redevelopment of an award-winning holiday park in North Devon. The aesthetically pleasing material harmonises seamlessly with the coastal surroundings.

Located on the coast of North Devon, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village is a seaside resort which lies at the mouth of a valley in the parish of Mortehoe. Voted as Britain’s Best Holiday Park in 2015, the development is a popular destination for family holidays. A recent construction project saw £4m redevelopment and extension of the resort’s entertainment complex. This included a brand new roof with the Cembrit Alpina slates providing an impressive, stylish roof covering.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village welcomes thousands of visitors every year, many attracted by its close proximity to the Tarka Trail and Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. The old entertainment complex was a listed, low rise (single storey) deep plan, flat roof, brick building constructed in the 1970s. Designed by Peregrine Mears Architects, the project presented an interesting design challenge – how to create a large building that is a suitable extension to a listed building. This called for a sensitive, imaginative design approach. In order to break up the mass of the building and at the same time, reflect something of the form of the original structure, a series of pitched roofs was created, with the form being influenced by the beach huts on nearby Woolacombe Beach.

Cembrit’s Alpina natural slates have been chosen due to their attractive appearance and long-lasting benefits. Barnstaple-based Roofing Contractor, DJT Roofing, specified and installed approximately 35,000 Grey/Green Cembrit Alpina natural slates on the multi-pitched roof. The company used the hook fixing method to secure the slates and lock them together tightly to achieve a neat finish.

“Being close to the coastline, resistance to wind lift was a major performance criterion for this substantial project,” comments Darren Todd, Owner, DJT Roofing. “Cembrit Alpina natural slates can withstand the most severe weather conditions and are unaffected by sunlight making them the perfect product for this type of coastal development. The design was also complicated and the Alpina slates were a joy to install, despite the challenges posed by the many pitches of the roof. The finished roof is also attractive and blends into the surroundings perfectly.”

Alpina is a Brazilian natural slate, selected from the finest deposits and produced at some of the best facilities in Papagaios, Brazil. It is available in two colours, graphite and grey green and in a variety of sizes. With its flat surface and pleasing shade variations, Alpina slate can be relied upon to create an attractive, high-performance roof.
Alpina slate is a tough natural material which has been tested to ensure it meets the current national standard, BS EN 12326-1:2004. Alpina slate has virtually no unstable minerals such as pyrites, graphite, carbon and un-oxidised irons and will withstand the most severe weather conditions: they are unaffected by sunlight, ultraviolet light and even acid rain. Laid correctly Alpina slate will last the lifetime of a building and are ideal for use on any type of project.

For further information on Cembrit, visit: www.cembrit.co.uk, email: sales@cembrit.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 8301 8900.
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The search for Britain’s best cafe is on!

Local cafes around the UK are vying for the title of Britain’s Best Cafe, in a national competition where everyone will get the chance to vote for their favourite.

With thousands of cafes in the UK helping the nation to get to work every morning courtesy of the famous morning cuppa, Bacon Buttie or the legendary British Breakfast every vote will count.

The national competition is being organised by SIG Roofing and its 120 local branches will be supporting the cafes in their bid to win the title. When votes are counted at the end of October this year, 14 regional winners will be announced and cafe owners and their guest will be on their way to a celebratory lunch in London’s famous Chiswell Street Brewery in November.

There, SIG Roofing Managing Director Andrew Wakelin will announce the national title holder of Britain’s Best Cafe and the winning cafe proprietor, together with their guest, will be heading for a four-day trip to New York City – including a taste of New York’s finest breakfast at Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway and 51st Street, just off the legendary Times Square.

SIG Roofing supplies more than 40,000 products across pitched, flat roofing and industrial roofing and cladding and the competition is a sign of commitment to its customers, along with its determination to preserve the long-term relationship that the local SIG Roofing branches have built with them over the years.

Marketing Manager Janine Brady explains how their branches, their customers and the local cafes have important links – all playing a part in each other’s day to day lives, with valuable relationships built up over many years. Britain’s Best Cafe is SIG Roofing’s way of recognising and thanking the cafes for all that they do feeding their hungry customers and those in the local area!

“Our customers are at the centre of all that we do and we believe the roofers and contractors who make up our loyal customers are the best people to judge what makes a great British Breakfast – many of them have a regular cafe which not only provides a great British Breakfast but it’s also a place they can meet and relax before a hard day’s work. For SIG Roofing the competition is a thank you to our customers, a renewal of the relationship with the local branch, and a chance for the general public to join in the fun.”

As part of the competition, customers, contractors from all trades and the general public can visit their local SIG Roofing branch to cast their vote in-branch.

Thousands of cafes throughout the UK were invited to register for the competition, with many of them having signed up for their chance to win! To find out if your local cafe has registered just visit www.britainsbestcafe.co.uk. Registered cafes will also be displaying posters, voting forms and till ‘wobblers’ – all ready to encourage their customers to cast their vote too.

SIG Roofing will also be running a number of PR stunts from the start of voting on 5th September to the close on 28th October, together with local media involvement and a full range of social media support… so be sure to watch out for more coming soon and see how you can get involved.

Complete details can be found at www.britainsbestcafe.co.uk and anyone who wants to support their cafe in the bid for the title Britain’s Best Cafe can vote in any branch of SIG Roofing or online via the dedicated website.

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Young roofers to compete on National stage

From April to July, roofing apprentices from around the UK demonstrated their skills at regional heats to gain a place at this year’s SkillBuild Final, taking place on the 17th-19th November, at NEC Birmingham.

The competition, organised by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), saw fifty-five competitors taking part in one of eight heats, which were overseen by three judges, Matt Timby, Simon Dixon and Bob Coutts, who’s vast experience of roofing competitions range from a past SkillBuild winner to a recognised mentor for the international competition: World Championship for Young Roofers.

NFRC are pleased to announce that the following eight young roofers, who secured highest marks from across all the regional heats, will be heading to the final:

  • Andrew Emerton – Emerton Roofing (Western) Ltd
  • Harry Hillam – Thompson – Timby Traditional Roofing
  • Harry Pennock – J Chillingsworth Roofing Contractor
  • Lee Dowding – Dylan Faber Roofing Ltd
  • Liam Watson – West Country Tiling Co.
  • Sam Blount Graham – Barker Roofing Services
  • Tom Knight – Wheeler Roofing Services Limited
  • William Emerton – Emerton Roofing (Western) Ltd

The competition forms a part of the Skills Show, the nation’s largest skills and careers event, giving the competitors and the roofing industry a greater platform in which to showcase roofing.

Looking ahead to the final, Livia Williams, Head of Training for NFRC, said, “We are looking forward to this year’s final, where the best roof slating and tiling apprentices across the UK will be going head to head, to deliver the highest level of skill to claim the Gold Medal and to secure a coveted place in the UK Team for the Young Roofer World competition (IFD).”

“Over the years, NFRC has taken a leading role in organising the national SkillBuild roofing competition and working closely with roofing colleges, employers, Supplier manufacturing members and CITB. We have seen an immense value in encouraging and showcasing our best young talent and creating role models to inspire the next generation.”

“The Skills Show is, therefore, a great opportunity for the roofing industry, with the support from the regional roof training groups, in engaging with Year 11 school leavers, and their parents, in helping to address industry image, recruitment of new entrants and promoting careers in roofing.”

Throughout the heats, and for the final, special thanks must go to the three NFRC Supplier Members who have kindly provided materials; John Brash & Co. Limited, Klober Ltd and Wienerberger Ltd.

We wish all competitors the very best of luck for the final. Those interested in supporting the competitors, and to gain a better understanding of the competition, can book free tickets at www.worldskillsuk.org.

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Cembrit expands its sales team

Cembrit, the leading roofing and cladding specialist, has strengthened its UK sales force, with the appointment of two new regional sales managers. With experience in the roofing sector, Andrew Moore and Richard Evans will join the pitch roofing sales team, selling natural and fibre cement slates in the London and North Wales respectively.

Andrew Moore brings with him over thirty years of construction industry experience, having spent almost three years working with Monier Redland as an Account Manager and ten years with Jewsons as a National Account Manager. This wealth of experience will stand Andrew in good stead to increase Cembrit’s presence in the South East.

“Working for a company that has such a diverse product range is a great opportunity,” says Andrew Moore, Regional Sales Manager, Cembrit. “This vast product range means that Cembrit has a suitable solution for all building types. I look forward to meeting customers to explain the benefits of Cembrit roofing products and supporting them on new and existing projects.”

Richard joins the Cembrit team with over fifteen years of roofing experience. Having worked at Gordon H Richards, Clydesdale Roofing and SIG Roofing Supplies in the past, Richard understands the challenges that merchants and contractors face, and can bring this knowledge to Cembrit, to ensure we continue providing our customers with industry-leading products and services.

“I am excited to join a dynamic and well-established company,” says Richard Evans. “Cembrit has a fantastic range of natural and fibre cement slate products, so I look forward to discussing the benefits of these materials with existing customers and potential new clients. I am confident that I can use my industry knowledge to support the Cembrit team, and strengthen sales in the North Wales region.

For further information visit www.cembrit.co.uk, email sales@cembrit.co.uk or tel: +44 (0)20 8301 8900.
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Flat roof manufacturer Bauder extends BIM library

Following the arrival of the UK government’s BIM mandate back in April, which requires all centrally procured public sector building projects to be BIM Level 2 compliant, flat roof manufacturer Bauder has extended its BIM offering with the creation of 19 new waterproofing system objects that are available now for free download on its website.

The launch of Bauder’s new generic BIM models means its comprehensive library now includes objects for its bituminous, single ply, cold liquid applied, hot melt and green roof system options, which can easily be dropped into 3D models and plans. This allows architects, designers, specifiers and contractors to easily access and share all of the object information needed at the concept and design stage of a project. All of these BIM objects are available in Revit format, which according to NBS’ 2016 National BIM Report is by far the most popular tool used for producing drawings. In order to ensure that your BIM object meets the exact requirements of your building you will need to register your project with Bauder, who can in turn provide you with all the necessary technical support and resources.

Bauder’s Technical Director Nigel Blacklock commented: “A lot of the ideals that BIM is based upon, such as promoting the use of quality, long-lasting materials that deliver life-time value and getting things done properly first time on a project, align with our own principals as a market-leading manufacturer of flat roofing products. As a result, we will continue to invest our time and resources into BIM in order to extend our offering, as we see it as an integral part of the future of the built environment both in the public and private sector.”

For more information on BIM and to download your free objects now visit: www.bauder.co.uk.
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GRP or polycarbonate rooflights for industrial buildings?

Will you see the light?

Since the late 1950’s GRP has been a feature of many commercial, industrial and agricultural buildings across the UK, bringing the free resource of natural daylight into the workplace.
GRP is a strong thermoset material with good impact resistance and consists of, among other components, polyester resin which is reinforced by a glass strand mat.

The success of Filon rooflights resulted in several UK based manufacturers continuously producing GRP. Eventually, this involved the use of alternative plastic materials such as PVC. As a brittle material, this was at times subject to damage due to storms, foot traffic on the roof and UV degradation.

This didn’t stop the efforts of thermoplastic manufacturers to try to compete with ‘Filons’ and other GRP rooflights though and polycarbonate in-plane rooflights were born and have since steadily encroached on the GRP rooflight market. There are many positive attributes to polycarbonate such as it providing high levels of light transmission, being very strong and having a good fire rating. There are however, many aspects that should be considered in rooflight material choice for profiled roof applications and we shall discuss them now.

Thermal movement

A thermoplastic material such as polycarbonate has much greater thermal movement than GRP and over 5 times more than the surrounding steel sheets.

If no allowance has been made for this movement such as oversized fixing holes, it could create some problems particularly around the fasteners such as the sheet cracking and at the end laps with seals potentially failing. It is also possible for rooflights with an insulating box detail, such as those used in composite panel roofs, for the rooflight to expand but find resistance. The material will have no room to move as it will be constrained by the surrounding metal roof panels and so could belly out – bulge out of shape between the purlins.

Light Distribution

Another significant consideration is the type of illumination required in the building. GRP has high levels of light transmission and is also a naturally diffusing product. It will provide an even distribution of natural daylight across the area to create a balanced illumination reducing bright spots, shadows and hot spots.

Thermoplastics like polycarbonate, when used as in-plane rooflights however, tend to be clear or colour tinted. They are much less diffusing and allow more light to pass directly through the rooflight. This can create localised bright spots with solar glare and also hotspots due to the nature of direct sunlight.

The first images show two very similarly constructed equestrian centres but one is fitted with polycarbonate rooflights and the other with Filon GRP rooflights. The images clearly show a very different lighting pattern: the polycarbonate rooflights allow light to pass directly through so that their position is clearly replicated on the floor – even the purlins are casting shadows on the ground; the GRP rooflights in comparison provide a very even light distribution, so much so that there are not even any shadows visible around the horse and rider – the perfect conditions for easily spooked horses.

The second pair of photographs show a supermarket distribution centre, firstly with polycarbonate rooflights and secondly after the rooflights have been replaced with Filon GRP. Again, in the first picture, the position of the rooflights is clearly visible by the bright spots on the floor. The picture with new GRP rooflights has eliminated all of the bright spots and reduced localised internal temperatures without compromising lux levels – much more suitable conditions for storing some supermarket goods and foodstuffs.

The example projects highlight the importance of selecting the appropriate rooflight material. For your next industrial, commercial or agricultural building, please give careful consideration about the type of light distribution required. If an even spread of diffused light, without shafts of light, hotspots or dark corners is preferred, then GRP is likely to be the most appropriate choice.

Written by Mark Wilcox, Sales Director, Filon Products Ltd
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Sika provides long-lasting solution to long-standing 
college roof drainage problem

The exceptional waterproofing and durability properties of Sika-Trocal single ply roofing membrane has proved its worth on a highly challenging project to refurbish a number of roofs at a busy college campus.

MidKent College is one of the largest further education and training providers in the South East with an estimated 8,500 students enrolled at its Maidstone and Medway-based campuses. The roofs on five buildings at its Maidstone campus, housing classrooms, workshops, kitchens, TV studios and staff rooms had reached a state of disrepair due to wear and tear.

With water ponding on the roofs, leading to water ingress, a solution was required. Sika-Trocal S provided the solution. A total of 4,200m2 of 2mm thick Sika-Trocal S was specified by contractor K&S Construction for the project which was carried out during term-time and with minimum disruption to buildings on site.

The application of Sika-Trocal S was designed to minimise the standing water risk and ensure correct falls towards appropriate outlets and hoppers. This was achieved by over-roofing existing roofs consisting of a number of different bases including felt and asphalt.

Sika-Trocal’s vapour permeable membrane was mechanically fastened at the perimeters and around penetrations using the product’s innovative laminated metal disc system. This system sees the membrane fixed to the roof in a single process, ensuring a fast installation, minimising components required and reducing overall project costs. A 120mm thick, high performance rigid thermoset insulation was also applied to improve the thermal efficiency of the buildings. 

Stuart Marris, Manager at K&S Construction commented: “The MidKent College project is one of the biggest in the firm’s history so it was imperative we specified the most reliable product for the job. Because Sika-Trocal S is amazingly versatile and easy to apply it meant we could carry out the work with little disruption and without the need for people to move out of the building.

“Of its many outstanding features, Sika Trocal’s reliability scores most highly with us.

It is vapour permeable so if there is any water trapped in the system it is possible to over-roof the building without having to worry about things such as condensation.”

Offering exceptional waterproofing, durability and a simple installation process, the cold-applied Type S roofing membrane from Sika-Trocal is approved by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) to have a life expectancy of up to 30 years. As well as providing a single, comprehensive solution to the roofs’ drainage issue, it has brought a pleasing, aesthetic uniformity to the campus buildings. 

Combined with an efficient installation that ensures an improved seal, the Type S waterproofing membrane delivers excellent performance and will provide buildings at MidKent College with safe, reliable all-weather protection for many years to come.

For more information please visit http://gbr.sika.com/.
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