R&R 8954 52 Nov '15 cc

Roofing, Cladding & Insulation|
Getting some fibre in your diet
R&R Magazine examines the technical and aesthetic attributes to a comprehensive collection of fibre cement slates available from a
manufacturer with a reputation for quality and reliability.
Slate is a roofing material which unites the many
architectural styles found around the country, as
well as regional differences in building
techniques. Indeed it can be found weathering
the pitched roofs of everything from centuries
old granite cottages in Devon to the pebbledashed
tenements of Glasgow.
It remains a favourite covering for all types of
contemporary development: including schools,
hospitals and public buildings as well as housing.
Yet the fact that it is a natural material which has
to be quarried or mined – usually requiring the
movement of huge quantities of soil and rock–
has a massive influence on its cost.
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Which is a reason why modern fibre cement slate
products are becoming increasingly popular with
social housing providers who are always seeking
to control cost while also considering the
durability of their stock and the surroundings
where their residents have to live.
As a manufacturer whose name is synonymous
with the supply of high quality fibre cement, as
well as natural slate and other roofing products,
Cembrit has been involved in facilitating
countless successful new build and refurbishment
contracts across the country.
A spokesperson for Cembrit told HA Magazine:
“We are a dedicated manufacturer of fibre
cement products and are effectively offering a
complete system for fibre cement roof
installations, supported by comprehensive
technical guidance and on- site support where
necessary. We also have our five distribution
depots around the country where customers can
access advice and in some view displays of the
slates.”
The five varieties within Cembrit’s Fibre Cement
range are Jutland, Zealand, Westerland, Moorland
and the distinctive Diamond Fibre Cement Slate.
All of them are covered by current British Board
of Agrement (BBA) Certificates: a vital
endorsement of the fibre cement products being
fit for purpose, which offers the necessary
confidence to specifiers: especially when
considering their use in new-build applications.
To assist them further Cembrit also makes
available a comprehensive specification design
guide covering the use of its Fibre Cement Slate
Range: explaining everything from specification
and design through to fixing requirements,
permissible pitch and exposure conditions to the
use of matching ridge vents and other
accessories from the range.
refurb| RENEW November2O15 issue 8954
Cembrit Fibre Cement
Slates carry full certification
including recognition by
Birmingham City Council
Cembrit’s Fibre Cement Range
already enjoys the coveted
endorsement of being accepted
by Birmingham City Council – the
UK’s largest provider of social
housing and a client which
demands the highest
performance standards
Cembrit’s Fibre Cement Range already enjoys the
coveted endorsement of being accepted by
Birmingham City Council – the UK’s largest
provider of social housing and a client which
demands the highest performance standards. As
part of this Birmingham puts roofing and other
products through the rigours of its own
laboratory tests and extended weathering trials.
Significantly, the Birmingham City Council
assessments cover Cembrit’s complete range of
Fibre Cement Slates, all of which appear on BCC’s
approved list.
As a company with a long track record for its
service standards as well as the quality of its very
diverse product portfolio, Cembrit is additionally
an associate supplier member of the National
Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) which
represents approximately 60 per cent of the
roofing industry by value.
RIBA meanwhile has been recruited to create and
host BIM objects for the entire range of fibre
cement slate products: simplifying the specification
and site management process; and ensuring
Cembrit is ready for the Government’s upcoming
deadline for adopting BIM across all public sector
contracts.
One stand-out public sector project where
Cembrit’s Fibre Cement Slates have been employed
is the Princess Lodge Care Centre in Swindon; built
on the site of the former Princess Margaret
Hospital. The Blue/Black colouration of the Jutland
range was considered an ideal complement to the
red brickwork elevations, while the ease of cutting
and fixing the slates facilitated the completion of
the turrets and other roof features atop the
multiple bay windows.
For more information on the potential of
Cembrit’s Fibre Cement Range visit
www.cembrit.co.uk