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PROFESSIONAL

HOUSEBUILDER & PROPERTY DEVELOPER

WWW.PHPDONLINE.CO.UK

JUNE 2021

UP ON THE ROOF PHPD goes above and beyond to bring you the latest in airspace development

INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

HEATING & PLUMBING

Make sure you know how sustainable the solutions you specify are

The latest products, techniques and advice to provide warm, dry homes

LAST WORD: DO CLAY BRICKS STILL COME OUT ON TOP AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

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CONTENTS

PHPD JUNE 2021 VOLUME 15 NUMBER 5

REGULARS

First Word

News

Developments

32 General Building Products 33 Marketing Update New 34 Product Focus: West Fraser 35 Last Word: BDA

INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY 14 Q&A: Etex Stephen Hemmings, head of sustainability, talks recycling with PHPD. 17 Foil Wrap A. Proctor’s Reflectashield in action on a timber frame development in Salisbury Plain. 18 Brick to the Future Kenoteq’s K-Briq aims to square the circle of efficiency vs sustainability.

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Airspace development

20 Around the Block Why should you consider a block and infill system when looking for sustainable solutions? Longley Concrete’s Michael Longley explains. 22 Easy Assembly Sapphire Balconies guides readers through its approach to lowering carbon emissions in the industry. 23 Loss Prevention Strategy SIG’s Richard Parker examines the benefits the right insulation can bring to your development.

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Push-fit plumbing

HEATING & PLUMBING 24 The Low Down Grant UK makes the case for heat pumps in new build developments. 26 Central Heating Warmafloor’s Tony Kirby discusses district heating systems and explains how you could benefit. 29 Expert Comment Waterguard’s Claire Mason warns developers of the damage water leaks can cause. 30 Modern Solutions Up to date plumbing with RWC.

SPECIAL REPORTS 10 Up on the Roof... PHPD visits BRAC Developments on site in North London.

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Recycling gypsum

12 That Dirty Water Siltbuster’s Sam Byrne advises housebuilders on environmental compliance.

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FIRST WORD

Editor Kieran Nee phpd@hamerville.co.uk Group Advertisement Manager Craig Jowsey 07900 248102 craig@hamerville.co.uk Advertisement Manager Samuel Shannon-Tinsley 01923 237799 stinsley@hamerville.co.uk Northern Area Sales Ian Duff 07810 353 525 probuilder@sky.com Digital Group Manager Stuart Duff Digital Assistant David Molloy Design Adeel Qadri Group Production Manager Carol Padgett Production Assistant Kerri Smith Managing Editor Terry Smith Circulation Manager Kirstie Day Printer Wyndeham Group Published by: Hamerville Media Group Regal House, Regal Way, Watford, Herts, WD24 4YF. Tel: 01923 237799 Email: phpd@hamerville.co.uk Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer is a business magazine for firms and individuals involved in all aspects of the building industry. The publishers and editor do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept responsibility for any errors of translation in the subject matter in this publication. © 2021

Subscriptions to Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer are available at the following rates: UK: 1 year — £30 post paid Europe and Overseas: 1 year — £50 post paid Airmail: 1 year — £65 post paid To be removed from this magazine’s circulation please call 01923 237799 or email circulation@hamerville.co.uk

Total Average Net Distribution 13,310 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020

An Open Book… Boiling down the sum of headlines, statistics, records broken and broken again the following month and the endless barrage of analyses, you could be forgiven for thinking the portrait of the housing market in the UK this year was ripped right out of chapter one, page one, Economics 101. The demand for houses is rising, the supply of housing is lagging behind. So, house prices are rising. Simple enough so far. Add in Government incentives such as the Stamp Duty holiday and Help-to-Buy in chapter two to explain at least part of the demand. Discuss the increased cash reserves in the bank accounts of potential homebuyers due to the global pandemic in chapter four and the effects of rising population in chapter seven and you might end up with a pretty accurate picture of the demand side of the equation (please do email me with any contributing factors I’ve missed). What might be more complicated, and certainly more contentious, is an accurate assessment of why the housebuilding industry has failed consistently to meet that demand and why supply has, consequently, lagged far behind. The Government has laid the blame squarely on local councils, whose planning requirements have been deemed too rigid and complicated. Its answer to the problem has been to introduce sweeping reforms to the planning system, which will make it much easier to convert former offices into residential buildings, and will make it easier to convert former high street units into homes. Certain figures within the planning and local authority community have been spitting blood at these reforms, arguing they are one more Conservative-led step towards the creation of a country of low-quality, high rent housing which does little to improve the livelihood of inhabitants or communities. Meanwhile, any suggestion that green belt land be built on to alleviate demand and provide homes in areas where people actually want to live is portrayed as a kind of demonic crusade against everything fair England (and all other sane beings) holds dear. And why build on green when you can build on brown? Building on brownfield land seems to be the answer to everybody’s problems. Well, nearly everybody’s. It turns out that volume built homes far from towns, transport and nature isn’t exactly what most homebuyers want to spend the bulk of their life earnings on. Perhaps chapter ten of our imaginary Economics 101 (which, after all, might be better named Housing 101) would deal not with the problems or solutions facing housing supply in the UK, but rather would suggest a framework for discussing the problem itself. At the end of the day, the problem is not How to Build More Houses, it’s Where to Build More Houses and the answers given so far have been coloured more by ideology than by a genuine desire to solve a problem.

A word on our publisher, Bryan Shannon It is with much sadness that we announce the recent passing of our publisher, Bryan Shannon. In a career spanning more than 50 years, it’s no exaggeration to say that Bryan helped change the established order of trade magazine publishing in the UK. His visionary ideas on trade counter distribution, coupled with his commitment to editorial excellence, quickly established the Professional series of titles as essential reading for thousands in the construction industry. Today, the extensive portfolio includes highly regarded titles ranging from construction to motor mechanics and hairdressing, alongside the highly popular Toolfair and Elex trade shows. As well as considerable magazine success, Bryan’s other great legacy is the wonderful opportunities afforded to legions of budding journalists and advertising sales representatives to cut their teeth at Hamerville Media, many of whom have subsequently gone on to run their own successful businesses within the sector. The iconic cockerel figurehead which he chose to reflect the importance of being up first with the news will continue to have much to crow about in the years to come.

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NEWS In Brief ■ Norbord Europe has been acquired by global organisation West Fraser. The firm’s UK operations will remain unchanged, and well-known brands such as SterlingOSB Zero will stay intact. ■ Housebuilder Orbit Homes has declared its support for Mates in Mind, the mental health charity active within the construction industry. The charity aims to raise awareness and provide support to those struggling with mental health issues. ■ Zoopla has announced a new multimillion pound strategy as it reimagines its marketing proposition for its housebuilder audience. A new performance-based costing option reduces the risk of fixed and upfront marketing costs, ensuring housebuilders only pay for marketing that generates leads.

E-mail your news & views to phpd@hamerville.co.uk or tweet us at @phpdonline

Prices for materials hit new high

he Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s Construction Material Price Indices show that construction materials prices for New Housing reached a new high in March, reaching 120.7, compared to last year’s average of 112.7. Earlier in the year we reported on potential shortages of roofing materials (March, ‘Roofing Supply Shortage’), with the BMF’s CEO John Newcomb sounding the warning that Covid-related factory closures were causing materials shortages. Now, we are feeling the effect even more, with prices at the merchants continuing to rise as factories strain to meet growing global demand. According to the Construction Leadership Council, 60% of construction materials come from Europe, and some UK housebuilders are blaming current shortages on Brexit as well as Covid-19.

Joseph Daniels, CEO and founder of Etopia Group, commented on the dampening impact the shortages were having on job creation, and speculated on the real source of shortages: “A rise in business optimism and workloads in the construction sector should translate into the creation of more jobs for the economy, but the industry’s long-term performance is still being threatened by a shortage of materials as the US’ enormous market becomes more reliant on importing steel and timber from abroad. Read more at www.rdr.link/dy001

LGA renews calls to boost council powers over land supply

ecent planning reform proposals have summoned a defensive response from the Local Government Association, whose planning spokesperson, Cllr David Renard argued that “the evidence shows that planning is not the barrier to housebuilding. Councils are granting permission for 9 in 10 planning applications while over 1.1 million homes given planning permission in the past decade are yet to be built.” Latest figures show that 2,782,300 homes have been granted planning permission by councils since 2010/11, while over the same period 1,627,730 have been built to completion. The LGA wants to remedy this situation with the ability for local councils to charge developers full council tax on every unbuilt development from the expiry date of the original planning permission, backed up with compulsory purchase orders.

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Whilst SME housebuilders have complained about the difficulties of the planning system, many have also pointed towards land banking by volume housebuilders as a major obstacle to

delivery. According to Knight Frank, over 50% of respondents to a recent survey on land supply claimed that supply was limited. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy002

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Demand for rural living drives record price growth

ising prices continue to dominate housing news, with the focus this month taken away from the city and into the countryside. According to Knight Frank, strong demand for prime property outside of the capital and rural living in general, coupled with tightening supply, saw average prices increase by 2.8% in the first quarter of 2021. This was up from 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2020. The higher-value end of the market continued to perform strongly. Buyers

have continued to seek more space, greenery and privacy post-pandemic, exploring a new work/life balance that could see many working from home more often after current restrictions end in June. Country homes valued at £5m and above saw average prices increase by 7.3% in the first three months of 2021, taking the annual rate of growth to 15.8%, with tight supply a contributing factor. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy003

Facts & Figures… ■ According to the latest figures from analysts Barbour ABI, total construction contract awards increased 58% between March and April, reaching £9.1bn. Residential contracts were worth £2.5bn, up £0.5bn from March. www.rdr.link/dy004 ■ Total builders’ merchants sales in Q1 increased 8.6% compared to the previous quarter, according to the latest BMBI report. Sales in March 2021 were up 47.4% compared to the same month last year, and 23.0% up on March 2019. www.rdr.link/dy005 ■ Reaching 36,863, new build home registrations were up 10% in Q1 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, according to figures released by NHBC. 33,074 house completions were also recorded, a 4% uplift on Q1 2020. www.rdr.link/dy006 ■ The latest IHS Markit/CIPS report showed the fastest overall rate of cost inflation since the survey began in 1997, with the index leaping up to 84.6 from 77.8 between March and April. Steel, timber and transportation were among the most commonly reported items up in price. www.rdr.link/dy007

Over 40% of construction companies issued profit warning in past year

ore than 40% of the FTSE Construction and Materials sector issued a profit warning in the 12 months to the end of Q1 2021, according to the latest EYParthenon Profit Warnings Report. Between April 2020 and March 2021, 16 FTSE Construction and Materials companies issued at least one profit warning, representing 44% of the sector. Ian Marson, EY-Parthenon UK&I Construction leader, comments: “With most construction sites remaining open since the initial lockdown, the sector had a better year than expected, avoiding the repeated

shutdowns experienced by other sectors such as retail and leisure. While listed construction companies continued to issue profit warnings since the beginning of March, they have been on a downward trend since the second quarter last year. The additional costs of adapting to Covid19, alongside delayed project starts and approvals, has affected profitability. Many warnings also cited contract problems that pre-date the pandemic, such as discipline over contract selection and execution.” For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy008

Quote of the month "Whether owning a home turns you into a Tory is debatable but what's not debatable is homeownership remains the aspiration for the vast majority of Britons and it is right the government should look to prioritise getting people onto the housing ladder.” Dean Clifford, co-founder, Great Marlborough Estates

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DEVELOPMENTS

Cheltenham… Ullenwood – WWII hospital site transformed into luxury family homes. Churcham Homes has begun work on a new £45m luxury housing estate on the site of a former World War Two US military hospital. The 26 uniquely-designed family houses are coming after an agreement for £10.6million in development ﬁnance from specialist lender Together. The site, at Ullenwood Court, Coberley, near Cheltenham, was initially developed as a series of military hospital buildings in 1943 to treat American casualties from Operation Bolero – the build up to the Allied invasion in Europe – in 1943. The new development of four, ﬁve and six-bedroom contemporary homes is surrounded by Cotswolds countryside and lies in a 34-acre plot next to a once-secret underground Cold War military bunker, to be used if there was a nuclear strike on Britain. Churcham Homes employed historical and archaeological experts to document and photograph the history of the site, in recognition of its past as a military hospital. A reinforced concrete bunker backing onto the housing development site was originally used as an anti-aircraft gun base and was later intended to be the South

West regional seat of Government in the event of a Soviet nuclear missile attack. The bunker is now under private ownership. Churcham’s new luxurious new homes will include indoor ‘endless’ swimming pools and saunas, en-suite bathrooms, cinema and gym rooms, and green roof terraces. The estate will be worth more than £45million once building is complete, a spokesman for Churcham Homes said. Stuart Hall, a director at the familyowned property developer, said: “We have

now started to put in the foundations for these large family properties. “Each type of home is subtly different but all will be built to the highest speciﬁcations, with a really high-quality ﬁnish and state-of-the-art technology. They are in a superb location with great views over an area of outstanding natural beauty, and we expect them to be extremely popular when they go on the market.” For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy009

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E-mail your latest developments to phpd@hamerville.co.uk Ashlin Quarter – a housing development with a sustainable focus. The latest phase of Ashlin Quarter, created by property developer Michael Shwartz Group, is a gated development of 68 houses comprising two and three-bedroom homes. Ashlin Quarter has grown over the last six years to become a new community in the Kent village of Aylesford. Its properties utilise the government’s various Help to Buy schemes, meaning that both first time buyers and existing homeowners can purchase a house with as little as a 5% deposit. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy010

KENT

LANCASHIRE Redwood Gardens – 86 new homes in Lancashire Elan Homes has acquired its first site in the county of Lancashire. The 10.1 acre site in the southern suburbs of Blackpool forms part of a wider 422-home Redwood Point development. Phase one of the scheme is build complete and sold, with Elan set to build the second phase of 86 homes. Elan will offer a choice of three and four-bedroom homes, ranging from 972 to 1,953 sq.ft. with a high level of landscaping throughout. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy011

Trinity Quarter – long overdue homes finally underway. A long-term vacant site which once hosted the Brockworth Aerodrome and Gloucestershire Aircraft Company, is finally being developed – 30 years since outline permission to was first granted. Bluebell Homes, part of the Edenstone Group, has stepped in and been given full planning consent to build 166 new homes on the site. The 3.44 hectare site forms part of an allocation in the Tewkesbury Borough Local Plan to 2011, which provides for a mixed-use district centre For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy012

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

POWYS

Sarn – social housing meeting Passivhaus standards. The first ever social housing scheme in Powys to reach Passivhaus standard has been completed. Pave Aways Building Contractors has handed over the seven energy efficient homes in a £1.3m development it built in Sarn, to Powys County Council. The homes – four two-bedroom bungalows, two twobedroom and one three-bedroom houses – have all been certified to Passivhaus standard. The properties were built with heat recovery units to utilise the excess heat that is produced to warm the properties. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy013

The Navigator Building – one and two bedroom apartments at Brabazon. A new Bristol neighbourhood, Brabazon is now home to a new apartment building from YTL Developments. The collection of 33 flats start from £199,500 for a onebedroom apartment and £298,500 for a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment. Designed by awardwinning local architects Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, the new homes aim to address the needs of a modern lifestyle, distinguished by thoughtful design, craftsmanship and a commitment to quality. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy014

BRISTOL

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SPECIAL REPORT: TAIT HOUSE

Up on the Roof... PHPD’s Kieran Nee visits a development taking place above our heads in North London.

Happily, the “freeholders are the owners of each of the seventeen ﬂats below, and this has ensured that the whole process remains a win-win process between residents and developer.

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Inside Inside the finished flats, light is maximised by the use of ceiling height windows and glazed doors, taking full advantage of the properties’ southwest elevation. What’s more, each flat has its own narrow, but long, balcony. Restricted of course by the existing footprint, the developers have had to work to ensure the flats feel spacious and airy, something aided by underfloor heating, high ceilings and flush fitting downlights.

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pace in North London is notoriously tight, but by building upwards on existing buildings, BRAC Developments has found a way to provide new, luxury apartments that don’t get in anyone’s way. Tufnell Park’s rows of Victorian houses ranged neatly on gentle hills present little scope for enterprising developers to stake out a patch of ground and new builds remain light on the ground. Those new builds that have managed to pass muster with local planners have been of the ‘grand design’ variety, rather than apartment blocks or whole estates. It may not seem the natural fit for new, luxury apartments utilising cutting edge offsite manufacturing techniques, but that’s exactly what well-heeled locals are after. Luckily, BRAC Developments is building three new penthouse apartments atop one of the few existing apartment blocks in the area. Although relative newcomers to the development side of things, the team behind Tait House are well experienced when it comes to airspace construction. This time around, they’ve not simply been contracted to build the apartments, but have taken the reins themselves in a joint venture with the freeholders of the existing building. Happily, the freeholders are the owners of each of the seventeen flats below, and this has ensured that the whole process remains a win-win process between residents and developer.

BRAC’s Managing Director, Adam Clark took me around the rooftop development whilst the interiors of the three apartments were still being closed up, explaining some of the challenges posed by the project: “Compared to a street-level development, there was a lot more structural engineering the project had to go through. We had to design a steel ring beam that follows the outline of the building in order to spread the weight of the new structure evenly. We then fitted a secondary steel system onto that, forming the shell of the apartments.” With all the lightweight gauge steel beams and panels manufactured off-site, according to laser measurements taken on site, all that was left to do was to crane them onto the roof and assemble them – which was completed in only eight days. Adam continues: “Each piece was numbered in the factory, so we knew exactly where to put it. It’s an incredible system which, I believe, has only been used a few times in London since its invention.” The method has proven to be an ideal match for the city, however, as it’s transported easily and compactly. Unlike fully modular systems, the offloading and transport requires no extra space and disturbance to the local area is kept to a minimum. On the outside, a combination of Zinc cladding and grey aluminium window frames brings the entire building into the 21st Century, along with a high quality feel.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? To watch a video interview with Adam onsite at Tait House, where we discuss the development and the company in more depth, head to www.rdr.link/dy015 For more information on BRAC Developments go to www.rdr.link/dy016

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SPECIAL REPORT: SILTBUSTER

That dirty water Much is said these days of the importance of building in a carbon-friendly manner. However the huge impact construction sites have on the immediate surrounds and the local environment mustn’t be forgotten. Here, Sam Byrne, Technical Sales Engineer at water treatment specialists Siltbuster, shares his insights into environmental compliance within housebuilding and how it can be achieved.

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nvironmental compliance is now very much at the forefront of the housebuilding industry, both on small and large scale projects. As a result of the existing sentencing guidelines set out by the Environment Agency in England, Natural Resources Wales in Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland, sustainability must be at the forefront of minds within the housebuilding industry. It is essential to understand that managing potential waterborne contaminants on any housing project now plays a major role in keeping it environmentally compliant. It’s important to carry out a thorough environmental plan of a housing site prior to breaking ground. This provides an opportunity for potential waterborne contaminants to be identified, along with receptors – foul sewers and watercourses – and pathways that might pave the way for pollution to spread. The most common sources of waterborne pollution on UK housing sites include suspended solids, high pH (alkaline) water, hydrocarbons and metals. If released into the environment, such pollutants can have a devastating impact

on aquatic life. These impacts are punishable with serious fines. The good news is that through identifying potential issues at the planning stage of a project, measures can be put in place to mitigate any concerns. In addition to knowing the vulnerabilities of a housebuilding site when it comes to possible water contaminants, it’s also worth knowing which activities on site can cause problems. Issues can be caused by the stripping of topsoil and the creation of open excavations. These procedures allow surface and groundwater to come into contact with exposed mineral fractions within the local geology, causing solids to fall into suspension, giving waters a dirty and discoloured appearance. If left untreated prior to discharge from a site, suspended solids can smother the spawning grounds of aquatic life. Concreting activities, such as mixer chute washdowns and concrete pump washouts, can also cause problems onsite, elevating the pH of water. Lime used within cement can react with washwater to produce calcium hydroxide – a very alkaline substance that can be extremely harmful to aquatic life by causing ‘pH shocks’.

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Water Treatment In order to combat the threat of water pollution, housebuilders must consider the role that treatment systems can play for a range of applications, whether it be for treating fine, suspended solids, facilitating small and large scale pH adjustments, treating free-phase hydrocarbons, or something else. To put these decisions into a real life example, a housebuilder in the north of England recently called upon Siltbuster to treat its slow-settling clay solids in suspension. Without incorporating an active treatment system, the housebuilder would have been discharging polluting water to the nearby watercourse, putting the entire site out of environmental consent. Through analysing the treatment

requirements onsite and designing a bespoke treatment solution, the site now has a system installed that treats discoloured water with a high level of suspended solids to a standard that ensures no breach of the site permit issued by the EA. As a result of the potential consequences of releasing untreated contaminates to a sewer network or a surface watercourse, coupled with financial penalties in place for sites that aren’t environmentally compliant, decision-makers need to understand the issue of water pollution. By adopting a proactive approach to pollution prevention and through reliable treatment systems, a cost-efficient, effective approach to dealing with onsite contaminants can be pursued.

order to combat “theInthreat of water pollution, housebuilders must consider the role that treatment systems can play for a range of applications.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy017

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INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

Waste not, want not

PHPD discusses Etex’s commitment to using recycled materials with the group’s head of environment and sustainability, Stephen Hemmings.

In the UK, Etex operates under a number of different brands. Which would a housebuilder be familiar with? Our Siniat brand, which manufactures drywall products and systems for partitions, ceilings, wall linings and external sheathing purposes, will be the one most familiar to a housebuilder. Siniat products are used in millions of properties across the country, helping to make homes warmer, drier, quieter and safer.

What are some of the products Siniat offers? One of our popular products with housebuilders is our GTEC dB Board – a soundboard which provides superior acoustic performance and is commonly used in bedrooms, offices and other rooms that require noise cancellation.

Do you manufacture in the UK? Our drywall products are manufactured in our plants in Bristol and Ferrybridge in West Yorkshire. Most of the raw gypsum we use originates from Spain with additional by-product gypsum sourced from the UK and Germany. However, increasing volumes of post-consumer gypsum are being used in our products and this is all collected from UK construction sites.

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We measure our output in square metres and our annual production is around 60 million square metres. Annually we recycle over 120,000 tonnes of recovered gypsum.

So sustainability is important to Etex? Sustainability has been embedded in Etex’s history since it was founded, and remains at the heart of our company values. In terms of gypsum use specifically, we are massively increasing our recycling efforts to ensure we can use more recycled content in our products. In 2020, over 120,000 tonnes of gypsum recovered from construction were recycled into new products for our Siniat brand and we expect to achieve postconsumer gypsum content of over 20% in plasterboard supplied this year, rising to 30% by 2025. We want to encourage end users to reduce waste on site, which will have a direct impact on reducing project lifecycle carbon. There is sometimes confusion over the impact of recycling on the embodied carbon of the products we supply. Studies generally show little change with increased recycling in the manufacturing stage of the life-cycle. Our main objective for increasing the amount of recycled content in our products is to improve the circular economy.

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Q&A

In order to help us do this, we’re currently in the process of almost doubling the size of our current Bristol manufacturing plant. We also invested £2 million in a recycling installation at our Ferrybridge site in 2018.

Can you elaborate on the challenges you face in reusing gypsum in your products? One of the main challenges is the fact that installed equipment tends to be designed and optimised for handling and treating virgin or by-product gypsum. Recovered gypsum behaves differently again, depending on the type of material it is. For example, powdered gypsum rock flows well through machinery, whereas synthetic gypsum can be sticky, meaning different equipment is required to deal with it. For many manufacturers, ripping out and changing machinery would cost tens of millions of pounds, which is often not viable. So, we have invested heavily in research to ensure we have ways of blending different types of material into our products, as well as developing our capability to optimise the percentage of recycled material we can use, balanced against throughput and energy efficiency constraints. Another core challenge is contamination with other materials, which is disruptive to productivity, meaning the cleanest possible sources from well-segregated collections are preferred. Here, training and awareness is needed at site level to ensure that nothing other than plasterboard goes in the plasterboard skip. It sounds simple, but it’s quite common for things like empty sealant packages to be thrown into these skips, which then slows recyclers down when having to separate this.

Finally, the fact that reused content can come from hundreds of different sites across the country poses a challenge, as the materials can vary from site to site. Again, this creates a new challenge of blending together materials that you might not have had in the past.

How do you manage that collection process? Post-consumer plasterboard waste is most usually collected from new construction (off-cuts and damaged product) and strip-out from refurbished or end-of-life buildings. The product is collected and segregated on site in bags, bins and skips and then goes to a plasterboard reprocessor, either directly or via a waste management company. The reprocessor crushes and screens the board waste, removing the paper liner. The resulting gypsum powder is classed as a product when the quality specification PAS109 is achieved. To help streamline this process and ensure we have access to quality assured raw materials, Etex owns and operates Crucible Gypsum Recycling as a reprocessor, to provide sites with waste management solutions and Siniat plants with quality assured secondary gypsum material.

Sustainability has “been embedded in Etex’s history since it was founded, and remains at the heart of our company values.

”

Etex used 18% recycled gypsum in its gypsum products in 2020, higher than the 10% stated goal. Is this a rate the company expects to maintain or even grow? Our sights are most definitely set on huge growth in this area. We’re on track to hit over 20% of recycled gypsum in our products in 2021 and plan to further accelerate the amount we recycle as we head towards our 2025 ambition of including 30% recycled plasterboard within our products.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy018

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INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

Foil Wrap A. Proctor’s membranes have provided enhanced thermal performance for award-winning service families’ accommodation, Salisbury Plain.

eflectashield TF 0.81 breather membrane from the A. Proctor Group has been installed to ensure a highly efficient thermal performance for a series of new housing schemes on Salisbury Plain set to accommodate service personnel relocating from Germany. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation commissioned Lovell with the task of delivering a total of 917 homes, for which specialist contractor, Taylor Lane Timber Frame erected 450 of its timber frame kits. Recognition of the high standards achieved was further endorsed when the project was awarded the prestigious ‘Timber Frame Project of the Year’ at the Structural Timber Awards. Commenting on the selection of Reflectashield TF 0.81, Derek Gough,

TF 0.81 is vapour permeable, “hasReﬂectashield low emissivity and an enhanced foil surface

designed to improve the thermal resistance of timber and steel frame structures, and is ideally suited to timber frame construction.

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Senior Estimator for Taylor Lane explains: “We have been designing and manufacturing timber frame systems for over 40 years for a wide variety of sectors. All products chosen for use within the manufacturing of our homes have to be consistent with our customer’s expectations of the highest quality and performance. “For the Salisbury Plain project, our 140mm timber frame system was used with a requirement for the chosen insulation to achieve a U-value of 0.21 W/m2K. Each property was designed to have an energy performance 19% greater than Building Regulations requirements. We use Reflectashield on all of our projects and in our experience believe it to be one of the best membranes on the market. “Installed on the external face of the timber frame, foil side face out, the use of this membrane enabled us to achieve the required U-value whilst using the minimum amount of insulation. It also provides excellent tear resistance and protection for our timber frame panels.” Reflectashield TF 0.81 is vapour permeable, has low emissivity and an enhanced foil surface designed to improve the thermal resistance of timber and steel frame structures, and is ideally suited to timber frame construction. It has significant added thermal benefits to those offered by traditional breather membranes. The waterresistant, non-woven polypropylene foil faced laminate has a unique patented three-layer composition, providing breathability as well as secondary protection to the building during construction, and transportation to site.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy019

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer June

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INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

Keeping A your cool Is the need to house the population of the present in suitable homes in direct conﬂict with the need to reduce our carbon footprint and provide that same population with a better future? Professor Gabriela Medero, co-founder of Kenoteq and Professor of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering at HeriotWatt University, argues that with products such as the K-Briq, the UK can build and protect at the same time.

t present, the environmental credentials of most buildings are only considered during the late design stage. Measures taken to offset carbon footprints, such as the addition of solar panels on the roof or insulation to improve carbon efficiency are almost an afterthought. The impact of the raw materials used within the build, however, are not usually reported. We must adopt a new approach and consider how every stage of the construction process impacts our environment before building plans are finalised. Take bricks. The literal building blocks of the housebuilding industry are one of the highest contributors to CO2 during manufacture with industrial brick-making processes taking a significant toll on the environment. Clay fired bricks, while sturdy, require kiln temperatures of over 1,000°C generated by phenomenal amounts of fossil-fuel use in order to harden, emitting considerable carbon dioxide levels. The brick-making process also generates air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and oxides of sulphur through fuel burning. Fine dust generated during the manufacturing process has an additional impact on our environment and health. Waste is another issue. Across Europe, the construction industry sends 800 million tonnes of waste to landfill every year, at a huge cost to itself and the environment. Recent laws state that 70% of all construction and demolition waste in the UK must be recycled. These combined challenges present a unique opportunity to fundamentally change the raw materials we use to build our homes.

shortages in the UK drastically increase “ourMaterial carbon footprint as we transport materials from the EU and beyond. In 2019, over 600 million bricks were imported to our shores.

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It is possible to re-use valuable recycled materials from construction and demolition waste to reduce carbon emissions and limit virgin material exploitation. My team and I have developed an unfired brick called the K-Briq, made from 90% recycled demolition and construction waste materials such as high quality recycled sands/gravels, recycled gypsum from waste plasterboard, and recycled pigments processed from waste fines that would otherwise be landfilled. It produces a tenth of the CO2 emissions of a traditional fired brick and uses less than a tenth of the energy during manufacture. The K-Briq also has much reduced lead times compared to traditional clay bricks. Within 24 hours of receiving waste materials, K-Briqs are ready for use in new construction. An additional challenge faced by the housebuilding sector is the need to import building materials. Material shortages in the UK drastically increase our carbon footprint as we transport materials from the EU and beyond. In 2019, over 600 million bricks were imported to our shores. The road to decarbonising the construction sector is a long one, but we have already taken great steps toward a cleaner industry. It is by being bold and working together that we will build a better future for the generations to come.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy020

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INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

Around the block P Sustainability must be built into the very fabric of a property, starting from the ground up. Michael Longley, Managing Director at Longley Concrete, explores the wide ranging beneﬁts on offer from Longley Concrete’s block and inﬁll system.

20 June Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

re-cast concrete t-beams infilled with concrete blocks have been a popular method of ground floor structures for residential housing developments for decades. Advancements in Block and Infill continue to provide housebuilders with a sustainable, efficient and cost-effective approach to construction. Providing a quick working platform and a solid base for the continuing build, the traditional Block and Beam method of ground level flooring has been a reliable and widely used method of construction throughout the industry for many years.

However, the introduction of the Future Homes Standard in 2025 is placing developers under increasing pressure to improve thermal performance and sustainability, not only of their developments, but overall construction practices. The new Standard is encouraging housebuilders to construct properties that achieve ‘world-leading levels of energy efficiency’ through the specification and installation of ‘very high fabric standards’.

Setting the standard Exploring the role of ground level flooring in particular, on average, 10% of heat is lost through the floor of a property. As the installation of adequate insulation plays an integral role in improving the thermal efficiency of a property, advancements in Block and Infill flooring are providing housebuilders with an affordable and effective way of meeting the requirements outlined within the new standard by substantially minimising the potential transfer of heat through the floor. Whilst the initial installation of prestressed concrete beams remains the same, by replacing traditional pre-cast concrete blocks with Expanded Polystyrene insulation (EPS) panels, U Values as low as 0.10 W/m2K can be achieved, without compromising on the overall stability and longevity of the build.

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The increased “eﬃciency of installation

As the EPS panels are constructed of 98% air, it not only makes them an extremely high performing insulator when compared to concrete blocks, but also ensures they are 100% recyclable. This further supports housebuilders in achieving the most sustainable method of construction, including adherence with the Code for Sustainable Homes and the Green Guide to Specification as an A+ rating.

Improving installation Due to the lightweight nature of the EPS panels, the duration and process of installation is significantly reduced, as just one installer can handle and fit the panels using a hand saw. This results in up to 30% quicker installation on site, with up to 250 square metres being installed in a single day. The very nature of their construction also enables installation in wet conditions, whilst also allowing the finished floor to be easily monitored for quality assurance. The increased efficiency of installation also reduces the level of resources and associated costs required on site, an area that is now more important than ever for housebuilders across the nation as they continue to try and overcome the backlog in building due to the restrictions enforced by the government in response to Covid-19. While there are a range of Block and Infill variations currently available on the UK market, developers should look to procure solutions that have been

thoroughly tested and certified by industry accreditors, such as the UKEAS, whilst also accepted by the NHBC. This includes Top Sheet flooring systems that comprise prestressed concrete beams, EPS insulation units and structural concrete toppings. The shape of the panels are developed to successfully minimise thermal bridging at the critical point between the wall and floor, while the Top Sheet system forms an unbridged layer of insulation above the t-beams and infill units to maximise potential thermal performance. Alternatively, systems that feature EPS insulation panels with high density EPS rails provide substantial strength and thermal performance, without the requirement for additional sheet insulation. By installing solutions such as these, it not only ensures a trail of due diligence in relation to the improved thermal efficiency of the development, in line with the Future Homes Standard, but also gives housebuilders and their prospective buyers the confidence the systems deliver the highest standards in efficiency, quality and performance. As housebuilders across the UK continue to face increasing external and internal pressures to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of their developments, systems such as Block and Infill flooring are providing effective and affordable techniques of construction, whilst still offering the same levels of quality, durability and performance as well established methods.

also reduces the level of resources and associated costs required on site, an area that is now more important than ever for housebuilders across the nation as they continue to try and overcome the backlog in building due to the restrictions enforced by the government in response to Covid-19.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy021

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer June

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INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

Easy Assembly

Sapphire Balconies’ Head of Marketing, Nick Haughton talks us through the ﬁrm’s commitment to sustainable practices.

our Glide“OnBecause balconies arrive on site prefinished, the time spent in construction on-site and crane time is minimal.

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he impact of accumulated carbon emissions is driving climate change and biodiversity collapse and the construction industry has a significant role to play in addressing these serious issues for our planet. Sapphire believes architects, designers and builders can make a real difference by looking beyond simply offsetting with credits and the green rating tools and taking a more holistic approach to designing healthy, climate-friendly buildings that support biodiversity. Sapphire’s Glide-On Cassette balconies are delivered fully assembled, including balustrades. They are then simply craned into position and slide onto steel support arms for final attachment. Minimal further finishing is required, making this timesaving installation so fast that more than 40 balconies have been fitted in a single day. Key to the system is its lightweight, modular construction, which reduces forces on the anchors and connections that transfer the load of the balcony to the structure of the building. This is particularly important, for example, where structural elements are less rigid than reinforced concrete. The balconies themselves are made of laser cut and mechanically fixed aluminium, making them one third the weight of a comparable all-steel design. The smaller load may reduce the number of supports required, the number of façade penetrations and the risk of cold bridging or damp problems. This significantly cuts the environmental impact of the building by reducing occupational heat loss when compared to heavier balconies.

Embodied Carbon The embodied carbon of a Sapphire balcony is already lower than that of its concrete counterparts thanks to the construction material – the embodied carbon of aluminium is estimated at 2.44 tonnes per balcony, compared with 3.79 for steel and 4.23 for concrete. However, Sapphire is looking to reduce the embodied carbon still further by

22 June Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

adopting measures such as reducing unnecessary welding and further utilising intelligent delivery. Efficient transportation is a key element of reducing carbon – thanks to Sapphire’s double stacking trailers, intelligent nesting and stacking techniques the number of deliveries to site can be drastically cut. This not only reduces the emissions from transportation but also limits the number of vehicles and deliveries coordinating on site. Additionally, because our Glide-On balconies arrive on site prefinished, the time spent in construction on-site and crane time is minimal. High standards of quality control in offsite manufacturing facilities decreases the risk of errors, reducing waste and helping projects run quicker and smoother.

Recyclable Sapphire is also proud to say their aluminium balconies are almost entirely recyclable– an important consideration for architects and specifiers considering the full lifecycle of the building as well as looking to achieve increasingly stringent carbon reduction and sustainability targets. We at Sapphire have developed a plan to tackle carbon reduction at every stage of their operations and pledge to continue to find new ways to improve the sustainability of their operations and products. From minimising the embodied carbon in their balconies to cutting operational carbon by improving efficiencies, making the transition to electric/hybrid vehicles, and switching to renewable power sources, Sapphire is committed to taking a holistic approach to protect our environment. This is underpinned by Sapphire’s attainment of the ISO 14001 certification which they have maintained since 2009.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy022

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INSULATION & SUSTAINABILITY

Loss prevention strategy W SIG’s Richard Parker examines the beneﬁts specifying the right insulation can bring to your development.

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By reducing heat loss in winter and helping keep properties cool in the warmer months, insulation reduces reliance on energy-intensive central heating and air conditioning units.

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hen considering solutions for reducing heat loss, the issue of sustainability has become a key one for housebuilders and homeowners, just as important as maintaining a comfortable environment and controlling energy bills. With as much as 85% of all home heat loss from a property occurring through the roof or walls, the benefits of thermal insulation are clear. An important tool for reducing heat loss, it can also help homeowners make significant savings on utility costs – with estimates suggesting good quality insulation could shave as much as £250 per year from energy bills. However, the savings don’t stop there. High levels of insulation and air-tightness have long been associated with the carbon-efficient Passivhaus concept – a property built to stringent energy-efficient design standards to ensure it maintains an almost constant temperature, strengthening its sustainability credentials. Indeed, as is the case for the wider construction industry, sustainability is an ever-growing watchword for housebuilders. Ambitious government carbon reduction targets and increasingly environmentally conscious buyers have necessitated the rise of the so-called ‘eco-home’ – something insulation plays a vital role in. By reducing heat loss in winter and helping keep properties cool in the warmer months, insulation reduces reliance on energy-intensive central heating and air conditioning units. In the long-term, this can see the carbon footprint of individual houses shrink significantly. So, with such obvious benefits, what are some of the key things to consider when investing in insulation? Taking roofing insulation as an example, the type of

material used is perhaps the single biggest consideration and understanding the key differences – and associated benefits – can help housebuilders make an informed choice when specifying insulation for a property. Typically, the choice spans: ●

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Polyurethane/Polyisocyanurate – highly cost-effective, with high levels of compressive strength – helping it resist damage or deformation when under particular strain. This is particularly useful if the roofing is designed for pedestrian access, for example, as a terrace or green roof, which are increasingly popular in a domestic setting Polystyrene – Polystyrene insulation is a low thermal conductor, meaning it keeps properties warm in winter and cool in summer. Polystyrene is typically used in inverted roofs Stone wool – Often termed ‘mineral fibre’ or ‘rock wool’, this material is made from melted natural rock that is spun into long strands of fibre, which is then gathered and condensed into a high-density mat. Non-combustible, it offers effective fire resilience, thermal efficiency and acoustic solutions, making it a preferred insulation choice for larger-scale developments, such as gyms or shopping centres Cellular glass – A newer addition to the insulation mix, cellular glass is typically used in high-end specification projects and sees crushed glass heated to high temperatures and mixed with a cellulating agent when melted

With an extensive product range that spans acoustic to wall, floor to roof, we at SIG are committed to providing all the insulation technology and expertise housebuilders need for their next job – be it new build or redeveloping an existing structure.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy023

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer June

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HEATING & PLUMBING

The Low Down

Low carbon heating will soon be standard in all new homes. Anna Wakeﬁeld, Head of Marketing for Grant UK explains why heat pumps should be the ﬁrst choice for new builds.

recent new build in Cornwall shows why heat pumps and underfloor heating are an ideal match and is a good example of how renewable technologies can be used to meet heating and hot water demands whilst also leaving a low carbon footprint. The four-bedroom property includes a master bathroom, an en-suite shower room plus a further ground floor shower

room. An air source heat pump was selected as the main heat source alongside a new hot water cylinder and an underfloor heating system. This was all designed and installed to meet the space heating and hot water demands of this sustainably built home and provide a comfortable environment for its owners. “The clients gave us a design brief and we came up with a system to suit the needs of their property,” says Tom Smith, the installing engineer. “Being an ecofriendly build, this property needed a sustainable heating system that would help the client achieve a low carbon footprint. A Grant Monowave cylinder and

10kW Aerona³ heat pump were a perfect match with the Uflex underfloor heating.” The 10kW heat pump is one of four models within the Grant Aerona³ R32 air source heat pump range. Monobloc in design, the Aerona³ heat pumps are inverter driven units and are highly efficient, achieving an ErP rating of A+++. The 10kW model’s excellent performance is marked by its high SCOP value of 5.22, demonstrating its efficient operation even when external temperatures are low. Underfloor heating was installed across both floors of the property as the preferred method of evenly distributing heat into the living spaces of the home.

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Heat pumps are “straightforward to Preparation It is always essential to start with a full room by room heat loss calculation to determine the size of heat pump required to meet the design conditions for the property concerned. It is also critical that the heat emitters and pipework are sized to deliver the required heat output at the lower heat pump system flow temperature. Assistance with these important processes is available from Grant UK’s in-house design team and through installations taking place via the G-CERT Scheme. And finally, from the customer’s perspective, it is vital to ensure the correct handover of the heating system to ensure

they understand how to use the system both efficiently and effectively and, in particular, that they know the difference in controlling a low temperature underfloor heating system compared with a high temperature fossil fuel system using traditional radiators. This installation in Cornwall was one of three eco-houses Tom Smith Plumbing and Heating Services has completed in Perranporth and a mixture of Grant renewable heating systems have been fitted in all the properties. Judging by the changes outlined in the recent consultations, even more of the UK’s new homes will be built using heat pumps as their preferred heating solution.

install, but it is important to carry out a full room by room heat loss calculation and to have a thorough understanding of how the technology works.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information about Grant’s G-CERT scheme go to www.rdr.link/dy039

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HEATING & PLUMBING

Central Heating? I So, what are the viable alternatives to traditional gas boilers in a low-carbon future? Here, Tony Kirby, Sales Director at Warmafloor, discusses the flexibility and benefits of district heating systems, and why they should be the alternative of choice for housebuilders and developers looking to navigate changing regulations.

When looking at the “need to quickly, but safely, install more environmentallyfriendly heating systems across the market, district heating is the simplest and most costeffective for developers to implement

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26 June Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

f you’re looking for a more efficient and future-proofed method of heating your project, then district heating could be the perfect solution. It is an eco-friendly alternative for large multioccupancy developments which works by generating heat from one central boiler, then distributing it to multiple properties simultaneously through individual Heat Interface Units. The technology is already celebrated for its efficiency and low running costs by those who have made use of it, and is commonly used in apartment blocks across the UK. More developers and housebuilders are recognising that by equipping their properties with district heating, they’re able to make them more appealing to prospective tenants and buyers, as the energy bills tend to be much lower than those which use other methods. At the same time, district heating is also safer than using individual gas boilers in apartments as not every unit will need gas supplied directly to the property, reducing the risk of complications, leaks or worse. This also means that during individual installation, there’s no need for gas safety checks, simplifying the whole process. In fact, with the right training, domestic plumbers are able to install the units themselves. When looking at the need to quickly, but safely, install more environmentally-friendly heating systems across the market, district heating is the simplest and most costeffective for developers to implement – the reduced maintenance costs are an additional bonus. The shared nature of the systems means that district heating is

currently typically associated with high-rise apartment blocks and communal living. However, it isn’t exclusive to these settings, and can be used in a variety of other residential projects.

A greener future for housing The trend towards more widespread adoption of district heating has already started. As more developers look for new ways to keep properties warm, the market is growing rapidly, with 55,000 units being installed per year in the UK. This rise in demand is also due to an increase in urbanisation, and the growth of the highrise market, where the systems are currently more well-established. At present, district heating accounts for 2% of heat demand in the UK, but it’s been predicted that by 2030 this could rise to 14%. District heating systems have the potential to make great progress towards future-proofing our towns and cities too, able to help reduce the ecological impact of the built environment. They are compatible with renewable energy sources and their flexibility could enable us to switch to future energy sources quickly. By including district heating technology within a design, you can futureproof your projects against likely upcoming Government regulations, while incorporating a safer, more environmentally friendly and costefficient solution.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy024

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HEATING & PLUMBING

Water Calamity

Claire Mason, general manager at leak detection specialist, Waterguard, takes a look at water monitoring and explains why even small sites can beneﬁt from preemptive action.

ccording to some of the UK’s leading Contractors All Risks insurance underwriters, water is the new fire. Having seen the impact unexpected egress can have on the best laid plans, the industry is slowly waking up to

the importance of protecting sites from the damage caused by burst pipes and leaks. While fire and intruder systems are installed without a second thought, a leak detection system is often the first thing to be cut from project budgets, in spite of the massive knock-on effect when things go wrong. Water leak detection solutions can effectively monitor and track the flow of water through any pipeline. If at any point an abnormal flow is spotted, the system will immediately cut off the water stream to the building by closing a valve within the leak detector. Although such installations aren’t yet compulsory, the best-practice guidance issued by Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group advises UK developers to consider investing in a leak detection system if they operate within the specialist field of CAR insurance. Of course, when not stipulated as a requirement of cover, the prohibiting factor

to the installation of such devices is often the cost. However, for an average investment of £3,000 at the start of the project, developers could save thousands of pounds on the cost of their premiums. There’s an added bonus too. As well as mitigating risk in terms of building protection, the installation of a leak detection system also ticks a vital sustainability ‘box’ – counting towards BREEAM sustainability points and allowing developers to market properties as ‘sustainable builds’. While contractors that have previously fallen foul to the devastation a leak can cause will often include such a solution as standard, there is still work to be done in terms of educating the industry as a whole as to the benefits of such a precaution.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy025

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HEATING & PLUMBING

Modern Solutions D

Developers need to ensure their plumbing solutions stay up to date with current building trends. Richard Bateman, Product Marketing Manager at RWC UK, explains.

espite the growing appeal of country living due the pandemic, one of the biggest trends in construction is high-rise buildings to keep up with growing city populations. Ensuring a safe, sustainable and metered water supply for every apartment is essential in high-rise buildings. Ideally a number of valves such as a stop valve, pressure reducing valve, double check valve, and a water meter are often plumbed into airing cupboards on each floor. However, with more apartments squeezed into tighter footprints, these products must be installed in smaller spaces. This is where products such as Reliance Valves’ Tenant Valve Plus are highly beneficial. This valve combines all the above functions into one compact, self-contained unit. Keeping in mind future maintenance and servicing, all components of Tenant Valves can be easily accessed from one side and they come with an insulating cover to prevent condensation.

Keep it green Heat pumps work most efficiently when heating water only up to around 35-40°C. To make these pumps compatible with radiators sustainably, the radiators would need to be roughly six times their standard size. When a radiator’s average surface temperature is 70°C in a room heated to 20°C, there is a 50°C difference. However, if you drop the average surface temperature of the radiator to 35°C, you only have a 15°C difference. The heat then

30 June Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

becomes reluctant to leave the radiator, and the room does not heat up. Underfloor heating, then, is a great alternative for radiators, especially as it is hidden beneath the floor, offering much more living space. With wet UFH, the system only needs to run between 3540°C to heat up the water in the pipework and transfer the heat into the room. RWC’s John Guest Underfloor heating brand offers a whole suite of UFH solutions to complete any new build or retrofit installation efficiently. We also offer a free CAD design and estimation service to assist with selecting the best system for their project, sourcing the right quantity of material and helping them make the installation as efficient as possible.

Speeding up construction Working in small, confined spaces, there is even greater need to adopt smarter, time saving and reliable products to complete jobs faster. This means moving away from traditional techniques, like soldering, and towards more innovative and smarter methods like push-fit fittings and valves. At RWC, we offer a complete plastic and metal push-fit range from our JG Speedfit and SharkBite brands. Both our brass and plastic push-fit ranges complement each other, and work with copper and plastic pipe to provide a complete solution from boiler to the point of use. With the newer ways of working brought on by the pandemic, it’s important that builders and installers collaborate more with manufacturers to share their on-site challenges while adopting new technologies and practices. This can help the construction sector complete jobs quickly and efficiently while offering a futureproofed solution to their customers

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy026

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GENERAL BUILDING

ARC BUILDING SOLUTIONS – CAVITY CLOSER cut to size · thermal properties · document l compliant ARC’s Flexi-Closer is a multi-width thermal cavity closer for window and door reveals. The 25mm thick cavity closer can be simply cut to size, meaning that builders only need to buy one product to meet a range of requirements. The closer prevents cold bridging and helps to eliminate moisture, mould and staining. The rigid PVCu profile acts as an integral DPC and is insulated with expanded polystyrene.

www.rdr.link/dy027

BRETT LANDSCAPING – PAVING durable finish · four colours · range of sizes The new Invicta range from Brett Landscaping is the first of the company’s block paving product to use the new AggTech surface technology. The specially formulated surface layer creates a hard-wearing paving block with a durable but vibrant finish which shimmers in different lights. The Invicta range will be available in four complementary colours: Pearl, Moonstone, Onyx and Citrine.

MEDITE – BUILDING BOARDS breathable · high strength · vapour permeable Suitable for use in low energy buildings, Medite Vent is a high performance, breathable sheathing panel, suitable for use in timber frame structures. It features high racking strength in excess of Category 1 requirements, and high vapour permeability alongside weather resistance. Its low vapour diffusion factor helps to prevent condensation

www.rdr.link/dy032

www.rdr.link/dy028

CERAMICHE KEOPE – EXTERIOR FLOOR TILES porcelain tiles · external continuity Ceramiche Keope’s K2 system offers 20-mm thick porcelain tile solutions that introduce a new design perspective emphasising indoor and outdoor continuity. The horizon broadens and the boundary between indoor and outdoor dissolves in these spaces. The tiles of the outdoor collections can be matched to the indoor tile range.

www.rdr.link/dy029

CRANBOURNE STONE – SLIP-RESISTANT PORCELAIN sustainable · slip-resistant · mould-resistant Popular for landscaping design, Cranbourne Stone’s slipresistant porcelain is highly durable, resistant to moss and mould, and is easy to keep clean. Key characteristics of porcelain are that it is both highly sustainable and has a slip-resistant finish, making it ideal for landscaping. Because it is a man-made material there is good consistency with the patterning and colour of the stone to give a seamless finish.

www.rdr.link/dy030

OSCAR ACOUSTICS – ACOUSTIC HANGERS reduces noise transfer · bre fire rated Fast and simple to install, Oscar Acoustic’s Iso-Mount range of isolating acoustic hangers significantly reduce the transmission of noise from the room above. The Iso-Mount Type1 and Type2 are designed to tackle the problem of noise transfer between floors and ceilings in any space, including within houses and between flats and apartments. The Type1 acoustic hanger is height adjustable, allowing for flat ceilings across uneven joists and loses as little as 6mm of ceiling height.

www.rdr.link/dy033

WALKI – MEMBRANE TAPE euroclass a2 · strong Walki has developed a tape that in combination with the firm’s Wall Tight membrane renders a reaction to fire according to Euroclass A2. By adding flame-retardant adhesive to the current Euroclass A2 membrane, Walki developed a tape with a reaction to fire Euroclass B. Using a maximum of 10% of the tape, called Wall Tight FR B 215 Tape, for each membrane, the system renders a reaction to fire Euroclass A2-s1, d0, meaning without smoke nor flaming droplets.

www.rdr.link/dy031

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MARKET INSIGHT

NEW PRODUCTS

SPÄRKA – FIRE DOOR HARDWARE variety of finishes · recyclable packaging · fd 30-60 The new range of more than 150 SKUs from Spärka includes door handles, latches, locks, keyholes, thumb-turns and door closers in a range of finishes. The products are available in simple packs including bathroom lock and hinge packs as well as sash lock and hinge packs. The ranges are also available in a variety of finishes and sizes and offer end users everything they need in one recyclable package.

www.rdr.link/dy034

MARLEY ALUTEC – HOPPERS three sizes · aluminium · protects roof Building upon an existing collection, Marley Alutec has launched a new range of contemporary hoppers, which will be available in three sizes; standard, large and extended. Thanks to the new launch, the company is now able to offer the widest range of aluminium hoppers on the domestic market. The solution can help to prevent water being trapped on a roof in the event of a downpipe blockage.

www.rdr.link/dy035

ROCKWOOL – UPSTAND BOARD non-combustible · impact resistant · stone wool core In its latest step to help specifiers mitigate fire risk in the fifth façade, Rockwool has launched Hardrock UB34, a non-combustible insulation solution specially designed for parapet walls and upstands on flat roofs. The thermally efficient upstand insulation board is non-combustible in case of fire, combining a dense 50mm slab of stone wool insulation bonded to a rigid 6mm fibre cement board, the system is impact and weather resistant.

www.rdr.link/dy036

Safe as Houses Jamie Johnson, CEO, FJP Investment, speculates on the near-future of the housing market.

he UK’s property market is booming. The data speaks for itself: according to the latest ONS figures, average house prices rose by 8.6% in the year to February 2021, the largest rate of annual growth seen since 2014. There was also a 15-year peak in property transactions in March this year. The sharp uptick in prices and transactions has given rise once again to the term ‘property bubble’ The prevailing question is if, or when, the bubble will burst. Indeed, some commentators have suggested prices could come tumbling down once the stamp duty holiday – itself a key driver of market growth since July 2020 – tapers out between now and October. This seems unlikely. After all, it would be foolish to pretend that the current buoyancy of the property market is purely the result of potential tax savings. In truth, bricks and mortar is always the subject of high demand from both homebuyers and real estate investors. Economic uncertainty, which has been prevalent for some time now, tends merely to spur this on. Since June 2016, the UK has had three Prime Ministers, two general elections, the EU referendum, the turbulent Brexit process, and of course, the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet the property market has fared well throughout – understandable, given it is regarded as a safe asset. However, while it seems unlikely that the market will crash any time soon, there is no question that action must be taken to control growth and ensure the industry remains in a strong, sustainable position. State intervention, if carefully managed, can achieve this.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Jamie Johnson is the CEO of FJP Investment, specialists in UK and overseas property-based investments. For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy037

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer June

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PRODUCT FOCUS: WEST FRASER

A Strong S Argument This month we take a look at West Fraser’s SterlingOSB Zero StrongFix

terlingOSB Zero can be used for all the same structural applications that plywood can be used for and, as the panels are made in the UK, they don’t have to travel all the way from Asia or South America. This means it is competitively priced. The OSB panel is designed to be used in dry lining applications. It is simple to fit, highly versatile and ideal for fixing cabinets, radiators, wash basins, railings and other heavy fixtures to stud walls. StrongFix is cut to size to fit within c-stud sections and has a pre-groove already cut. SterlingOSB Zero is an engineered, wood-based panel made from flakes of wood mixed with a resin and then

This method of “manufacture means that the panel does not contain any defects of natural wood – such as the knots or voids that plywood would contain.

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pressed. This method of manufacture means that the panel does not contain any defects of natural wood – such as the knots or voids that plywood would contain – so fixtures can be inserted anywhere on the panel without the concern of hitting a weak spot. You do not need any additional items when purchasing the StrongFix boards to be used for pattressing. The product uses the same fixings – l-shaped steel frame, cstud self-tapping dry-wall screws. The panels can only be used with c-stud sections, not with timber frame. As the application requires it to be fitted and used behind plasterboard, the panel is not finished as it will not be seen.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? To find out more about West Fraser’s products, get in touch with Daniel Clarke, National Sales Manager, Housing Sector at daniel.clarke@norbord.net Alternatively, go to www.rdr.link/dy038 where you can order free samples.

ADVERTISEMENT INDEX A. Proctor Group Ltd ......................................................page 19

Ideal Standard International ..................outside back cover

Domus Ventilation ..........................................................page 13

Kohler Mira Ltd ..............................................................page 28

Dynamis Associates Ltd ..............................................page 29

Quickslide Ltd ..................................................................page 11

Grant Engineering (UK) Ltd ..........................................page 31

RWC (UK) Ltd ........................................................pages 24, 25

GROHE Ltd ......................................................................page 27

Sapphire Balconies Ltd ..............................inside front cover

Ibstock PLC ......................................................................page 16

Scotts of Thrapston Ltd ..................................................page 4

34 June Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer

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LAST WORD

Concrete and clay Sean Wilkins, Technical Manager with the Brick Development Association, weighs in on the debate between concrete and clay building blocks.

Generally, the “labour cost to lay bricks is the larger part of the total cost, compared to material costs.

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he UK has a long history of using bricks and mortar in housing. Almost 80% of new homes built in the UK are made from bricks and they provide a strong sense of security, beauty, and durability for the inhabitants. To most of the public a brick is a brick but look a bit deeper and the huge variety of colours and textures becomes clear. Over 90% of bricks manufactured in the UK are made from clay, which is shaped, dried, and fired in a kiln to create a hard and durable product. The small remaining section of the market includes bricks made from other materials, the largest of which is concrete bricks. Concrete bricks are made from sand and aggregates that are mixed with pigments and cement to harden into a concrete block. Concrete bricks usually imitate the appearance of classic clay bricks, which can cause issues because some of their behaviour is quite different. It is important that designers and builders are fully aware whether they are using a clay or concrete brick for the following reasons: Movement The requirement for movement joints in concrete brickwork is 6m, compared to 12m in clay brickwork. This is especially important for low rise residential construction as the use of concrete bricks will almost certainly require a movement joint, where none would be required for clay. Speed Concrete bricks tend to have lower water absorption and higher density than clay bricks. These characteristics are important because it can limit the number of bricks that can

be laid in one day. Generally, the labour cost to lay bricks is the larger part of the total cost, compared to material costs. Site trials have shown that concrete bricks are around 30% slower to lay, which can lead to a higher-than-expected overall cost with concrete brick. Longevity Clay brick has been used in the UK for thousands of years and there is a large body of evidence to show that clay brickwork will last for a minimum of 150 years, with many clay bricks lasting considerably longer. Concrete bricks are a more recent product and there many examples from the 1980s and 90s where the pigments have leached from the brick, resulting in a dull grey concrete appearance. One of the reasons that clay brick property retains value is that they tend to weather and age in an attractive way. When looking in a bit more detail it becomes easy to see the differences between clay and concrete bricks. To ensure that you maximise the benefits that we associate with historic brickwork it is important to look a bit deeper and not assume that a ‘brick is a brick’.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information go to www.rdr.link/dy039

Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer June

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