InstallerSHOW 2023

Retur ning to the NEC in June with a packed content programme and an even bigger exhibtion, InstallerSHOW is a key event for installers and specifiers of heat, water, air and energy technology. Here, we explore what’s on offer for local authority and housing association specifiers.

Taking place at the NEC on 2729th June, this year ’ s event is set to be even bigger with 400+ exhibitors set to welcome 15,000 industry professionals Building on the success of its Birmingham debut last year, the 2023 show will feature an expanded offering for visitors to reflect the growing momentum towards net zero solutions

The event offers a great opportunity to network with industry peers, make new connections, gain insights, debate current challenges and engage in lively discussions on key issues, as well as see the latest sustainable technology innovations and discover new solutions

The elemental content theatres, BEAMA’s Net Zero by Design, Solar Innovations and the Wates Innovation Zone are just some of the highlights for local authority and housing association specifiers at this year ’ s show

Elemental Content Theatres

The speaker line up in the elemental content theatres includes ex-footballer Gary Neville and former Housing Minister Esther McVey, with the discussions taking place in two areas the Housing Hub and the Decarbonising Buildings Theatre

Sessions in the Decarbonising Buildings theatre include: The case for mandatory solar; The business case for sustainable buildings; Strategies for achieving net zero buildings; Energy generation for local authorities; The electrification of heat in buildings; Delivering energy security with low-carbon fuels & hydrogen micro-CHP; The unsung heroes of energy saving; Bristol City Leap: A blueprint for decarbonisation at city-scale; Keynote: Gary Neville; Balancing ventilation, IAQ and energy savings; Improving heat network efficiency; and Sustainable supply chains for building retrofit

Housing Hub highlights include: National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) Home Upgrades Conference; Who is going to buy a heat pump?; Getting retrofit right first time; The most effective ways to tackle fuel poverty; The future of housing retrofit; ECO funding and decarbonisation; Retrofitting hard-to-treat homes; and Overcoming barriers to low-carbon tech

Net Zero by Design

BEAMA, the UK trade association for manufacturers and providers of energy infrastructure technologies and systems, will be hosting the Net Zero by Design feature theatre with a full timetable of live events

Session highlights include: Electric Vehicle Charging; The health risk of poor indoor air quality; Heat pumps and electric heating; Building for Net Zero; What’s next for new-build after the 2025 fossil fuel ‘ban’?; Maximising Efficiency From Gas Central Heating Systems; and Retrofit for Net Zero

Sustainable technology

Solar Innovations, supported by Solar Energy UK and MCS, will incorporate interactive demo sessions to boost knowledge of solar technology, battery storage, inverters, finance for the market, and upskilling opportunities

Wates Innovation Zone

Featuring exclusive product demos and an actionable, insights-led speaker schedule, don’t miss the Wates Innovation Zone, which will showcase a host of extensively vetted suppliers who can offer genuine, market-leading sustainable technology to help in the design, construction, maintenance and use of buildings

Confirmed participants include: Altecnic; Advanced Bacterial Sciences; Veritherm; Eurocell; Lumi Plugin; EVC; Ambion Heating; Cercula; Blygold UK

InstallerSHOW

l NEC Birmingham from 27-29th June l Packed exhibition with 400+ exhibitors l Comprehensive content programme featuring live debates, panel discussions and hands-on product demos l Free entry and free parking n More information about the show here www.rdr.link/lak006

Register for a free visitor pass here www.rdr.link/lak007

B u i l d i n g a c o n c r e t e f u t u r e

Concrete bricks are often overlooked in the selection process, with clay bricks usually being favoured, even though they are comparative in many ways There are also specific benefits of concrete bricks, including their sustainability credentials, which are becoming more important in building project considerations

A recent project where concrete bricks were extensively used is the North Gate Development in Glasgow Designed by Architects Page\Park and built by contractor CCG, the North Gate Development in the Gorbals area of Glasgow is among the latest projects for

New Gorbals Housing Association The

aim of the project was to transform a constrained brownfield site into highquality social housing and create a new landmark within the area that also blended with the existing architecture

A carefully designed series of interconnected towers, the seven-storey North Gate Development, provides a mix of one- and two-bedroomed flats designed to meet the needs of older residents

The shape of the building means that all 31 flats have dual or triple aspects to maximise natural light and provide views across the city, to create a sense of belonging With sustainability a core

Here, Fiona Coyle, from Marshalls Br icks & Masonr y explains how Marshalls’ concrete facing br icks met with the perfor mance, sustainability and affordability demands of the aesthetically celebrated Nor th Gate Development, a high quality social housing project in Glasgow consideration for this development a high-performance building envelope was incorporated, which included a mix of double and triple glazing as well as 72 photovoltaic (PV) panels discretely integrated into the roof The building’s location and design are also intended to encourage active travel and the use of public transport

Brick selection process

With brick work featuring prominently, both internally and externally, finding the correct brick for the project was essential The contractor CCG approached Glasgow Brick Yards (GBY), one of the largest brick stockists and distributers in Scotland, for help finding a suitable product GBY, CCG, Page/Park and New Gorbals Housing Association were all involved in the selection process Several Marshalls bricks were identified as possible options

To help facilitate the final selection, Marshalls and GBY built several test walls at the GBY site nearby Ultimately, the Marshalls Glencoe Vintage Stock Facing Brick was chosen for its light brown and grey tonal variations, which evokes the traditional blonde sandstone used throughout Glasgow

The Marshalls facing brick lent itself to this project for several reasons Firstly, the range of colours available meant that the project team was able to select one that met the requirements of the building and reflected the architectural styles and influences of that area of Glasgow

Sustainable option

Secondly, for a development where sustainability was at its core, the use of concrete bricks became especially advantageous Marshalls facing bricks are manufactured using raw materials that are generally sourced from suppliers within a 50-mile radius of the manufacturing site, and use minimal cement in the mix design

The manufacturing of the concrete bricks also creates minimal C02 emissions The natural exothermic reaction that takes place is usually sufficient to cure the product This contrasts with the energy intensive production of clay bricks, which need to be fired in kilns at temperatures between 700 and 1,110˚C

Further to this, concrete facing bricks can sequestrate carbon once in situ, meaning choosing a concrete brick over a clay brick results in a 49 1% carbon saving Concrete bricks can also be crushed and recycled at the end of their life, diverting construction waste away from landfill

Concrete solution

Cost-effectiveness was another important consideration for the New Gorbals Housing Association on this project There is often a misconception that concrete bricks cannot be laid as quickly as clay bricks, and therefore leading to higher labour costs However, this persistent belief is not supported by evidence and is the result of a misunderstanding about the product For the North Gate Development, the information provided by Marshalls, in addition to CCG’s experience with concrete bricks, reassured the client that the building could be completed on time and to budget

Despite the numerous similarities to clay and in addition to the lower environmental impact, concrete bricks are still often overlooked The North Gate Development demonstrates how concrete bricks can be used in a way that supports the aesthetic, environmental and budgetary requirements of a modern social housing development