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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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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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Could the altitude clause in BS5534 leave some contractors high and dry? Better to choose your underlay very carefully…

BS5534:2014 highlights the role of a roofing underlay’s wind uplift resistance in protecting against stormy weather and preventing costly damage. The considerations it outlines (based on a combination of meteorological, geographical and building physics data) not only establish the minimum standards in the new code of practice, but are also essential to long term peace of mind.

However, while much is being made by various underlay manufacturers and suppliers of achieving BS5534:2014 compliance, the picture may not be quite so straightforward – especially when you consider that a key part of the revised standard refers to altitudes not greater than 100m – and that large areas of the UK are at often surprising heights above sea level.

For example, one might expect parts of Cumbria, Wales and Scotland to exceed that benchmark… but how about Milton Keynes? Or swathes of Essex, Surrey, Nottinghamshire and Northern Ireland? Could this factor expose some unsuspecting developers and contractors to unnecessary risk and make them vulnerable to falling short of the code – and therefore potentially liable in any insurance claims?
Many parts of the UK & N. Ireland are at an altitude that exceeds the 100m above sea level benchmark stated in the new BS5534:2014 code of practice, which may affect compliance and requires very careful choice of roofing underlay.
With world weather looking increasingly unpredictable (and litigation on the rise) anyone specifying a membrane would do well to ensure that, like their project’s roof, everything is covered by a membrane with proven reliability and compliance with all conditions, altitude included.

All underlays are required to clearly state, in literature, certification and on roll labels, the declared wind uplift of the material, and on this basis, the end user can determine the suitability of the material for the site’s location. BS5534 splits the UK (including Northern Ireland) into 5 zones, and to be “fully compliant” at a batten gauge of 345mm, the following test parameters must be met:

  • 1,600 N/M2 when a well sealed ceiling is present
  • 1,900 N/m2 when no ceiling or no well sealed ceiling is present
  • 2,350 N/M2when no ceiling or no well sealed ceiling is present and a permanent dominant opening is present on an external face of the building

But, is it that simple? The new standard also requires compliance with the following conditions:

  • Ridge height not greater than 15m
  • Roof pitch between 12.5° and 75°
  • Site altitude not greater than 100m
  • No significant site topography

Clearly, comprehensively meeting all the requirements of BS5534:2014 could prove challenging for contractors also looking for a reliable, easy-install, trouble-free solution. Fortunately, however, there are products which allow unrestricted use anywhere in the UK, in all building characteristics and under all site conditions. Unsurprisingly these come from a name well-known for over 25 years for proven quality, durability and service: DuPont™ Tyvek®.
Peace of mind: All 3 BBA approved DuPont™ Tyvek® roofing underlays are fully BS5534 compliant, allowing unrestricted use anywhere in the UK & Northern Ireland for all building types under all site conditions.
All three BBA approved underlays in the group: DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro, DuPont™ Tyvek® Supro Plus (with integral tape) and DuPont™ Tyvek® Enercor roof offer unrestricted application when tested in accordance with BS5534:2014 – and with no counter battens required in any zone. This allows contractors to be confident that they in are full compliance, not only with the code, but with all the weathering and thermal performance expectations of an advanced breather membrane.

For further information, literature is available to download at www.construction.tyvek.com and expert technical assistance is available on Tel. 01275 337 660, option 2 (in Northern Ireland and ROI please call: 087 922 2740)

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Cembrit Slating expertise now available in print

Cembrit has developed a Fibre Cement Slates guide to provide specifiers, craftsmen and trades people with the relevant information for the successful design and installation of pitched roofing with the ever popular fibre cement slates.

The book demonstrates how all forms of slating and fibre cement technology offers users peace of mind not available from other suppliers and highlights the wide range of slates and accessories the company offers. The 80-page document, entitled ‘A Guide to Double Lap Slating with Fibre Cement Slates’ provides a full explanation on technical specification, design considerations, colour availability and installation advice.

“Cembrit has been manufacturing fibre cement products for over 80 years” explains Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager of Cembrit. “The content of the brochure draws on that depth of experience to offer detailed advice to anyone wanting to specify and install fibre cement slates. Fibre cement man-made slates continue to grow in popularity due not only to the cost and installation benefits but also aesthetic advantages over concrete tiles. Our aim is to support this move by providing a useful document that covers the key aspects of fibre cement specification.

The Cembrit range of fibre cement slates has grown over the years and now includes Westerland, Moorland, Zeeland, Jutland and Diamond, all offering their own unique appearance. The slates are complemented by matching ridge, ventilation 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.

To download the brochures and to find out information on all other Cembrit products, visit www.cembrit.co.uk

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Bracknell roofing tops off new £250m Center Parcs

A stunning sustainable roof installation has been completed by roofing specialist Bracknell Roofing at Center Parcs’ new £250m Holiday Village in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire.

The team was commissioned to carry out the roof works due to its expertise in sustainable roofing solutions and the recently completed project, which was shortlisted in the Roofing Industry Awards 2015, saw the Bracknell team install Western Red Cedar Shingles as an alternative to traditional roof tiles to the site’s main centre building.

Housing a number of restaurants, the structure sits at the heart of the site’s ‘Village Square’ and the innovative roof has been installed to deliver optimum aesthetic appeal, as well as boost the building’s sustainability credentials.

Timber shingles supplied by John Brash Limited were chosen for the roof covering due to the site’s location in Woburn Forest and, being a low carbon material, met the demanding sustainability requirements.

Bowmer & Kirkland was the main contractor on the new build and appointed the specialist Bracknell Roofing team. Steve Marsh, contracts manager for Bowmer & Kirkland, comments: “On a high profile project such as this we needed a roofing expert we could rely on completely. We have worked with Bracknell Roofing before so knew it had the in-house skills to tackle a high profile project of this scale. Shingles are often a complex roofing material to work with, due to the natural variation in colour and grain, which is another reason we appointed Bracknell as a specialist partner.”

The success of the project has been reflected in its shortlisting in the Roofing Industry Awards 2015, which are led by the National Confederation for Roofing Contractors to recognise outstanding workmanship and safety across the roofing industry.

Dave Cook, regional contracts director at Bracknell Roofing, adds: “At Bracknell Roofing, we’re committed to delivering bespoke services and solutions to meet our customers’ individual needs. For this project, due to wooded surroundings at the site, it was important that we created a roof space to complement the natural vernacular, as well as deliver sustainable results. We were delighted to work alongside Bowmer & Kirkland to achieve just that.”

Bracknell Roofing is part of the Etex Group, a major European construction company, and is committed to the ongoing investment of skills and development across its national network of branches. The company works as both a principal contractor and sub-contractor, depending on customer needs.
To find out more about how a project could benefit from Bracknell Roofing’s specialist skills, call 08705 626800, or visit www.bracknellroofing.com/contactus 

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EJOT fastener creates fast installation for Standing Seam Support brackets

EJOT UK has a developed a new application-specific fastener as an addition to its highly successful EJOfast range. The new EJOT® Seamclip fastener utilises the unique EJOFAST pierce point tip and thread geometry to create a fast and efficient method of fixing stainless steel support clips for fully supported standing seam roof systems. Originally designed for installation into thin steel composite skins, trials completed during the testing and development phase also revealed that the new fastener performs exceptionally well into timber and OSB substrates, yielding maximised pull-out performance from the timber and steel substrates.

EJOfast Seamclip’s official EJOT product code is the JF3 STX2 4.8 x 25. Available in a standard 25mm length, the buttress thread has been combined with a low profile countersunk head with Torx® recess for a positively controlled installation. The new fastener is manufactured in A2 stainless steel for corrosion resistance and to provide compatibility with the clip and standing seam material. Like all products in the EJOfast range, minimal swarf is created resulting in a fast, clean and strong installation process.
The EJOfast portfolio already includes hex-head stainless, dome headed Super-SAPHIR and integral nylon headed Colorfast options. In addition to the new Seamclip fastener, EJOT is also manufacturing a carbon steel EJOfast stitcher as a further extension to the range.
For more information please visit www.ejot.co.uk

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