Total Contractor

MARCH 2018
Drones & roofing
Poor payment in focus
Van insurance tips
FEATURES
• BS 8612: WHAT DOES IT MEAN
FOR ROOFING CONTRACTORS?
• MATERIAL SHORTAGES:
A CONTRACTOR’S VIEW
• WHAT WILL THE HACKITT
REVIEW MEAN FOR YOU?
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>>> • LATEST NEWS • FRAGILE ROOFS • TOP TIPS • STEP BY STEPS • >>>

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Editor’s Comment
MATT DOWNS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
MATTDOWNS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK
COVER PIC:
COURTESY OF
REDLAND
Welcome to the launch issue of Total Contractor, an exciting, new,
monthly magazine exclusively for contractors who operate in the
roofing, cladding and insulation markets.
In what has been a turbulent couple of years for these markets and the
wider construction sector in general, now, more than ever, it’s important
to not only debate the issues, share opinions and take note of the
seemingly constant updates to regulations and technology – which of
course we will do in the pages of Total Contractor – but also shine a light
on the quality work and impressive projects which contractors carry out
every day. Whether they are small residential roof refurbs, or large
commercial developments, Total Contractor will focus on the role of the
contractor and their work in completing these projects.
Above: Truro-based roofer Tom Knight, who was Highly Commended in
Redland’s Apprentice of the Year competition 2017, pictured working on site
FOLLOW US @TOTCONTRACTORUK
SIGN UP FOR YOUR WEEKLY E-BLAST AT
WWW.TOTAL-CONTRACTOR.CO.UK
Everyone likes a bit of advice from time to time – not that we always take
it onboard! – but at Total Contractor we’ll be bringing you regular top tips
for best practice both in the office and on site. In this issue, for example,
we take a look at what contractors need to consider if they’re thinking of
adding a drone to their tool-kit – and there’s a lot more to it than you
might think! (p.14); we also hear how smartphone use on site might be
more dangerous than you think (p.18); plus, we take a look at some of the
options contractors can take to reduce their van insurance costs (p.78).
So read on for all this and so much more including how the new dry-fix
Standard BS 6812 might impact you (p.20); plus we hear one
contractor’s strong views on the growing gulf between justified and
unjustified material price rises (p.82).
NEW
A PRIC
C£C£OMP£GET £AY£DA£O£T£D£ARISO £PA ON
£T
Matt
LOW PRICE
Advertising
Publishing Director: Andy Dunn:
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Email: andydunn@media-now.co.uk
Registered office: 1 Forstal Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7AU
Commercial Manager: Jake Roxborough
DD: 01892 732 047
Mob: 07956 133314
Email: jakeroxborough@media-now.co.uk
The content of Total Contractor magazine (and website) does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or publishers and
are the views of its contributors and advertisers. The digital edition may include hyperlinks to third-party content, advertising,
or websites, provided for the sake of convenience and interest. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising
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MARCH 2018 TC 3

Contents
ON THE COVER
14 DRONES TO TAKE-OFF?
Planning to use a drone on your projects?
There’s more to consider than you might think
20 STANDARD BEARER
What will BS 8612, the new dry-fix Standard,
mean for roofing contractors?
62 ALL CHANGE
How will the Hackitt Review affect roofing and
cladding projects? Roy Weghorst gives his view
76 PAYMENT PAINS
What can be done about poor payment
practices? Jackie Biswell gives her view
32
FEATURES
26 UNDER THE WEATHER
Phil Wilden provides a guide to ensuring
a weatherproof slate roof
46
32 HEAD OF THE CLASS
David Mallory talks about life in the roofing
sector and his time as a roofing tutor
46 ROLL WITH IT
Darren Tutt offers tops tips for those working
on projects involving Rolled Lead Sheet
48 A NEW LOOK
Mark Hibberd says the outdated perceptions of a
career in roofing are finally behind us
52 CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT?
Dave Cooper explains what makes a good guarantee and
why it’s so important to really understand them
70 ONE MORE QUESTION
Total Contractor puts the questions to Chris Kendall on
the EWI market, his career and so much more...
4 TC MARCH 2018

REGULARS
18 SMARTPHONE ALERT
Janine Brady asks if we should call time on the
use of smartphones on site
78 TOTAL VEHICLES
As insurance premiums soar, we outline some
top tips to save on van insurance
INDUSTRY NEWS
06 CALLS FOR CLARITY
Cladding distributor calls for greater clarity on
rainscreen cladding Standards
08 ELUSIVE ROOFERS
New Which? Trusted Traders survey says the public
often struggle to find a roofer
80 RECRUITMENT
Looking for a change of career? we’ve got a
selection of the latest jobs on offer
82 THE PRICE YOU PAY
Simon Smith says he sees a growing gulf
between justified and unjustified price rises
78
SECTIONS
WWW.TOTAL-CONTRACTOR.CO.UK
26
TOTAL
ROOFING
52 TOTAL
CLADDING
62 TOTAL
INSULATION
36
MARCH 2018 TC 5

Industry News
‘DO YOUR RESEARCH’
With the fallout from the collapse of
Carillion still having a huge impact on the
construction sector supply chain, question
marks remain over the fate of 43,000 jobs,
whilst 30,000+ small businesses are
thought to be owed money.
DISTRIBUTOR CALLS FOR CLARITY
Vivalda Group, a leading distributor of
cladding systems, has called for greater
clarity on rainscreen cladding Standards and
confirmed that it no longer promotes
aluminium composite materials (ACM) for use
on high-rise applications which fail to reach
A2 Standard.
Ben Jayes, Managing Director of Vivalda Group
So how can SMEs protect themselves against
such collapses? ArchOver CEO Angus Dent
offers his advice: “Overall, 25% of
bankruptcies are due to unpaid invoices. In
the construction industry, this figure is likely
to be even higher. This is a sector that
experiences the highest levels of insolvency
per year so SMEs need to be more mindful of
the risks they are exposed to.
“Don’t just rely on a big company’s
reputation for reassurance. Look at whether
they have a good record of paying their debts.
Do they have a strong cashflow? Have your
peers had issues with invoicing them?
Consider what would happen if a customer
were to default and ensure that you have
protection, such as credit insurance, in place.
The Carillion case shows that credit insurance
does pay off when a big contractor goes bust
– the payments to its suppliers will range
from £5,000 to several million pounds – but
not nearly enough companies took it out.
The company is concerned that contractors could
inadvertently make unintentional specification
errors, given the complexity of the UK's current
safety standards.
While the initial report on the likely causes of the
Grenfell fire is not expected until spring 2018,
Vivalda Group has stated that shortcomings in
the current ‘approved inspector’ regime have
created a confusing landscape for contractors.
This scenario has been made worse, according to
Vivalda, by the widespread adoption of complex
laboratory tests used by manufacturers to gain
approval for ‘so-called’ safe systems which are
impossible to replicate on site.
Ben Jayes, managing director of Vivalda Group,
explained: “The issue of fire safety is at the very
top of the agenda for contractors right now, but
many within the industry are not helping to build
confidence in the supply chain. We know of one
manufacturer of ACM that put out ambiguous
claims relating to how their standard material
performs at a high level. But that’s not the whole
story. It’s worth remembering that behind every
panel lies a complex web of subframes, fixings
and fire barriers, none of which this manufacturer
is prepared to detail as part of a system.
“The poor contractor is on the hook should there
be failure in even one minor component, so
confidence in the complete system’s performance
is vital. Besides, setting up a rig for a lab test is
one thing, replicating it on site, 18 metres in the
air, is quite another.
“We’ve looked closely into this and decided in the
best interest of clarity to promote only ACM
products that meet or exceed the gold standard of
A2. Despite their best endeavours, many
customers could be installing systems that may
turn out not to be safe. Thus, we’ve moved to
make the task of A2-standard aluminium
rainscreen cladding simple – by offering only fully
approved claddings and associated fixings.”
What will Hackitt Review mean for contractors? p.62
“When we trust too much in a company’s
longevity or size, we’re making an
understandable but risky mistake.
Investments and contracts can go bad but
that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to
protect yourself. Just like Carillion didn’t have
to accept tough contracts, SMEs should not
accept contracts where there’s a risk that they
won’t be paid or where there aren’t measures
in place to protect them against losses.
“Do your research, go only with sound
debtors and put protection for your deals in
place.” Payment issues, a contractor’s view: p.76
UK ROOFING AWARDS LUNCHEON 2018
It’s now just under two months
The competition, covering the full
until the UK Roofing Awards
spectrum of roofing disciplines,
Luncheon 2018.
runs from October to January every
year with judges assessing the
The Awards, which take place at
shortlisted projects on range of criteria including
the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel, on
degree of difficulty, aesthetics, problem-solving,
Friday 11th May, have established themselves
health & safety, workmanship and environmental
as a key date in the roofing sector’s calendar
qualities.
and promote best practice as well as shine a
light on the high calibre of work which is For further information and to purchase your
carried out on roofing and cladding projects ticket to the UK Roofing Awards Luncheon, visit:
throughout the UK.
www.nfrc.co.uk.
6 TC MARCH 2018

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Industry News
FUTURE PLANS
Housebuilders are reportedly investing in
modern methods of construction and
skills to address a number of industry
challenges as they look to deliver growth
and new homes for the future, according
to new research from Lloyds Bank
Commercial Banking.
The report, which surveys housebuilders and
their supply chain, analyses the state of the
industry today and the opportunities and
challenges it faces in the future.
The sector is said to be adopting modern
methods of construction that hold the
potential to boost productivity and supply.
Firms reported that they are already investing
in new building techniques, including
modular housing (68%) and panelised
systems (56%).
Housebuilders’ motivations to adopt these
methods include improved efficiency, ease of
build, better construction standards and in
some areas increased margins.
An ongoing shortage of skilled workers
continues to affect the sector with a third
(31%) of firms saying there is a skills
shortage at a national level. More than a
quarter (29%) said they have trouble
recruiting skilled workers in the regions
where they operate.
The report also found that the UK’s exit from
the EU was exacerbating the skills shortage,
with half (50%) stating that it was making
recruitment harder for specific roles, while a
quarter (26%) said that access to EU labour
is a key challenge for their business.
On a positive note, the report found a sector
tackling the skills shortage head on, as almost
seven in ten firms (69%) of respondents are
investing in staff training, and half (51%) are
setting up apprenticeship programmes.
QUALITY STANDARDS HAVE TO COUNT
As part of the Government’s Each Home
Counts recommendations, BSI has been
appointed by the Department of Business,
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to
review and revise the existing PAS 2030: 2017,
the specification for the installation of energy
efficiency measures in existing buildings, and
develop a new PAS 2035.
With this in mind, the National Insulation
Association (NIA) attended a British Standards
Institution (BSI) high level workshop in January
2018 which briefed key organisations on the work
involved in developing new quality standards for
the energy efficiency industry.
Neil Marshall, Chief Executive of the NIA,
commented: “This work is extremely important as
it will clearly set out the specifications and
Standards that will apply to the installation of
insulation measures. The existing PAS 2030 is a
little complicated and there are some aspects that
are open to interpretation, however, this project
provides the opportunity to simplify matters and
remove any ambiguity ensuring that all installers
will install to a common, uniform standard.
New research from Which? Trusted Traders has
highlighted the difficulty that members of the
public have in finding and hiring tradespeople,
with roofers proving particularly elusive.
The study, which was carried out on more than
1,000 people found that one in four (25%) had
difficulty finding a roofer, with builders (22%) and
bathroom fitters (20%) coming in closely behind.
“The NIA will be represented on the PAS 2030
and PAS 2035 Steering Groups and the
Measures Experts Groups and the intention is
for these new specifications to be introduced in
October 2018 alongside the new Energy
Company Obligation (ECO) and Each Home
Counts Quality Mark.
“At the NIA we are very supportive of Each Home
Counts as it provides a vehicle to ensure quality
installations are delivered on a constant basis
and instil confidence in policy makers, specifiers
and householders. In addition to contributing to
the development of the new specifications, we
will be ensuring that our members are kept up to
date and provide advice and guidance to help
them comply with the new Standards.
Furthermore, we are also working with the British
Electrical Allied Manufacturers Association
(BEEMA) which will clearly set out minimum
ventilation requirements when installing
insulation. We are also advising the Scottish
Government on the new quality framework they
are currently developing for Government funded
schemes.”
SURVEY: ROOFERS PROVE HARD TO FIND
In contrast, mechanics were the easiest
tradespeople to find, with almost all of those
surveyed who needed to hire a mechanic (97%)
explaining that it was easy to do so.
Heating engineers (93%) and electricians (88%)
were also among the easiest traders to find.
Raj Kakar-Clayton, MD of Which? Trusted Traders
stated that: “Consumers shouldn’t have to
struggle when trying to track down a local,
reliable tradesperson,” and advised members of
the public to “work with someone who has an
excellent reputation and who has been vetted by
an independent endorsement scheme.”
How do you promote your business to the public? Email
mattdowns@media-now.co.uk or Tweet us:
@TotContractorUK
8 TC MARCH 2018

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Industry News
COST OF COWBOYS
New research by the Federation of Master
Builders (FMB) claims the UK economy is
missing out on £10bn each year because
homeowners are so fearful of hiring a
cowboy, they simply don’t commission
building work.
Key findings from the FMB’s research into
consumer confidence in the UK’s builders
include:
• Anxiety over cowboy builders is causing the
UK to miss out on £10bn of activity each year.
• One third (32%) of homeowners are put off
doing major home improvement works
requiring a builder because they fear hiring a
dodgy builder.
• If all homeowners had full confidence in the
building industry, they would typically spend
on average £40,000 on major home
improvement projects over the next five years.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB,
explained: “A third of homeowners are so
anxious about the possibility of choosing a
builder, they don’t commission any building
work whatsoever. This means that the UK
economy could be missing out on £10bn of
activity every year. Indeed, the FMB’s latest
survey shows that on average, your typical
homeowner would spend £40,000 on major
home improvement projects over the next five
years if they could be guaranteed a positive
experience. We need to end the cowboy
builders’ reign of terror so we can give all
homeowners the confidence they need to
invest their cash in building work. The
Government should consider introducing
some form of mandatory licensing system
for domestic builders so that consumers
know that all building firms have a base
level of skill, competence and
professionalism.”
FIRST ROOFING TUTOR DAY DELIVERED
The team at the BMI National Training Centre
(NTC) have announced that an already
successful year in 2017 continued right into
Christmas week with the launch of the first
Roofing Tutor day.
This day brought together tutors from a number of
the colleges Redland supports with training
materials across the country, alongside industry
representatives from CITB and the NFRC, to
discuss best educational practice and standards
for their learners.
Mat Woodyatt and Alastair Blant of the BMI NTC
hosted a dozen representatives from key colleges
Redland supports, alongside Simon Dixon of the
NFRC who gave an update on the NFRC’s role in
the pitched roofing sector both during 2017, as
well as its plans for this year. Simon stressed that
some of the most interesting news going forward
is the Government’s plans to develop a new
Technical – or T Level – to encourage school
leavers to enter the construction industry.
The team at BMI NTC explained that the launch of
the Roofing Tutor Day marks yet further support
Following the collapse of Carillion, Findley
Roofing & Building says it has made it its
mission to help as many of Carillion’s North
East-based apprentices as possible.
The roofing company explained that hundreads of
16-18-year olds have been unable to finish their
apprenticeships following the collapse of Carillion
and have been left without answers.
A spokesperson for Findley explained: “We want
to offer a helping hand to those affected by
providing them with a place on The Findley
Academy, our apprenticeship training scheme.
“We currently have a partnership with TyneMet
College and South Tyneside College, enabling us
to offer the very best training to our apprentices.
Redland’s Roofing Tutor Day with Mat Woodyatt (front left),
Alastair Blant (front right) and Simon Dixon (top right)
for the roofing industry from the BMI Group,
following on from the Redland Apprentice of the
Year Award (APOTY) – which has grown to include
Icopal’s product offering for a Flat Roofing APOTY –
and the Group’s on-going student support network
helping “invigorate and bolster education and
training” in the pitched and flat roofing sectors.”
The decision has been taken to meet every six
months, with the next meeting due to take place
at the Apprentice of the Year competition which
will be held at the NTC in June 2018.
Look out for further updates on the Redland’s
APOTY competitions in future issues of Total
Contractor. A day in the life of a Roofing Tutor: p.32
APPRENTICE CALL AFTER CARILLION CRASH
“We have recently relocated to new headquarters
in Hartlepool, and here we have designed a brand
new training centre to ensure our apprentices
receive the very best Findley Roofing can offer. We
believe our academy offers the perfect route into a
career in roofing and building.”
The spokesperson concluded: “Any Carillion
apprentices who have been prevented from
completing their training will not need to start
their training again. With Findley you can develop
the skills you have already learnt. If you are
someone who can thrive in a dynamic
environment, we want to hear from you.”
Contact Findley Roofing and Building on
0191 417 3422 or to send a CV to:
sales@findleyroofing.co.uk
10 TC MARCH 2018

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Industry News
LANCS HOTSPOT
L-r: John Mairs and Keith Moore of Bracknell Roofing
A new site in Chorley, Lancashire, has
taken Bracknell Roofing’s number of
branches throughout the UK to nine.
The company identified Lancashire as a
“hotspot” for both new housing
developments and commercial projects, and
says it has already quoted for a raft of new
tenders and projects.
Keith Moore, Branch Manager, heads up the
new Lancashire branch, along with newly
appointed Contracts Manager John Mairs.
Keith explained: “From my time at the northwest
branch in Warrington, we knew that
there were plenty of opportunities right
across Lancashire but didn’t have the
capacity to develop them, so the
management team at Bracknell Roofing
looked at the feasibility of opening a
dedicated branch. The name and size of
Bracknell Roofing has really helped to open
doors for us in Lancashire, especially with
developers that we haven’t worked with
before.”
Simon Smith, Bracknell Roofing’s Divisional
Director, explained: “The strategic growth of
our business this year has centred on the
North of England because of the scale of
both housebuilding and commercial
developments in the region. These are
exciting times for Bracknell Roofing, and we
are well positioned to support the
Government’s commitment to building more
houses.”
REWARD SCHEME OFFERS PLUS POINTS
A new premium contractor reward scheme
has been launched by EPDM waterproofing
specialist CARLISLE CM Europe (CCM Europe).
The manufacturer says PLATINUM+ is a
premium contractor scheme to reward and enable
them to work closely with its contractors to
maximise the benefits of its HERTALAN product
range for flat roofs and façades.
The five key advantages of PLATINUM+ for
contractors are said to include an additional
discount on trade prices, exclusivity on Rhinobond
and made-to-measure sheets, project referrals
and specification service, advanced product
training and marketing. One such innovative
product included in CCM Europe’s range is the
Rhinobond induction fixing system, which is now
offered exclusively to PLATINUM+ contractors.
Duncan Kirkwood, MD of CCM Europe, said: “Over
the last year we have been expanding our
manufacturing capacity due to the increase in
demand for EPDM membranes. As a result of this
expansion, we can now benefit from production
efficiencies and improved benefits for customers.”
Find a Better Way, a charity set up by Sir
Bobby Charlton which helps civilian
landmine blast survivors, their families and
communities to ‘heal and rebuild their
lives’, has received £2,500 from the Liquid
Roofing and Waterproofing Association
(LRWA).
PLATINUM+ contractor Sam Dove, of Hub
Building Project Management, explained: “I would
like to thank CARLISLE CM Europe’s team for the
encouragement and ongoing help with our project.
I, and my team, have been very impressed both
with the product and the knowledge and advice
given. This has been invaluable as we have a
particularly awkward set of roofs to work on.”
As a special introductory offer, PLATINUM+
customers benefit from a £500 credit on total
HERTALAN spend over £10,000 (exc. VAT) within
a three month period from the date of enrolment.
To find out more about PLATINUM+ call
CARLISLE CM Europe on 01623 627 285 or email
info.uk@ccm-europe.com
LRWA HELPS ‘FIND A BETTER WAY’
L-r: Cliff Weston, LRWA Chairman, Sir Bobby Robson and
David Broom of Moy Materials
Duncan Kirkwood, MD of CARLISLE CM Europe
Cliff Weston, LRWA chairman, and David Broom,
director of LRWA manufacturer member Moy
Materials, visited the Find a Better Way
headquarters in Knutsford, Cheshire, to present a
cheque to Sir Bobby Charlton himself. The
majority of the donations were raised at last year’s
LRWA Awards and Gala, where a Manchester United
shirt signed by Sir Bobby Charlton was auctioned.
David Broom of Moy Materials’ generous bid won
the signed shirt, and he received his prize during the
cheque presentation. Cliff explained:
“We are delighted to donate to a cause which
helps towards the plight of landmine survivors
around the world. We hope our donation will help
Find a Better Way continue to support vulnerable
communities living in mine-affected areas.”
12 TC MARCH 2018

EXPANSION PLANS TO ASSIST CONTRACTORS FOR EPDM SUPPLIER
One of the UK’s largest suppliers of EPDM
materials for flat roofing is planning to open
another facility in the north of England.
Flex-R says this second UK depot will primarily be
a training hub where roofing contractors based in
the north of England can undergo training and
guidance on its range of specialist products such
as RubberBond, Sure-Weld and LQD-R.
Flex-R explained that the new facility will also
provide space to store a full complement of the
products it supplies on a next-day basis as the
sole UK distributor for US-manufactured Carlisle
SynTec single ply products.
Duncan Winter, Trading Director, explained: “We
have identified a site along the M62 corridor that
will become our centre in the north of England,
and plans are at an advanced stage for opening it
within the next few weeks.
“The new training hub is a vital part of our growth
plans because we can offer training to roofing
contractors across the north of England who
would have previously struggled to attend training
at our High Wycombe base.”
Duncan continued: “We already have strong
pent-up demand for our training courses for
products such as RubberBond, Sure-Weld and
LQD-R, which we can only supply once a
roofing contractor has completed the two-stage
training process. The first is at Flex-R and the
second is on site, working alongside
contractors.”
Flex-R has already started recruiting staff for
the new hub in a bid to increase the number of
technical support, specification and sales team
(L-R) Ben Midwinter, Duncan Winter and Danny Cole
people who support roofing contractors across
the UK.
Duncan concluded: “The strengths, and therefore
the expansion of our business, are based on great
service and back-up, particularly our technical
knowledge, which roofing contractors heavily rely
on. Everyone in the business is really excited
about what 2018 holds for Flex-R and is fully
committed to driving us forward.”
SUPPLIER AWARD
It’s been a strong start to the year for
Wienerberger following the news the provider
of roof, wall and landscaping solutions picked
up the Supplier of the Year for 2017 award
from Travis Perkins.
Paul Hodgkinson, National Accounts Director at
Wienerberger, said: “Receiving this award is a
fantastic recognition for everyone at
Wienerberger. It was a real team effort across all
areas of the business as everyone played an
important role. I’m looking forward to seeing
Wienerberger develop even further over the
upcoming year.”
The award is determined by a variety of factors
including sales growth, successful new customer
ranging, a strong charity partnership and more,
and Wienerberger was shortlisted from over a
thousand other suppliers to just 32 top
performing companies, before receiving the most
votes from the Travis Perkins senior management
teams. It is reported that throughout 2017
Wienerberger demonstrated exceptional sales
Presenter Darren Gough, Wienerberger National Account
Manager Amanda Hills, Wienerberger National Accounts
Director Paul Hodgkinson and Travis Perkins CEO Paul Tallentire
performance, maintained a high level of customer
service through friendly and polite
professionalism, and launched an initiative
resulting in double-digit sales growth for Travis
Perkins branches.
Keith Wright, Category Director at Travis Perkins,
commented: “I am delighted that Wienerberger
has been recognised as Travis Perkins’ supplier of
the year for 2017. Their focus on improving our
proposition for customers has been a real driver
in our joint success. Wienerberger have also
demonstrated a real commitment to improving the
way their products are packaged and delivered
into our business and have been a strong
supporter of our charity efforts with Macmillan.”
FUTURE PLANNING
Andrew Hayward, MD, Russell Roof Tiles
Following on from what it describes as a
record-breaking year in sales, Russell
Roof Tiles says it is looking to further its
ambitious growth plans with the
sponsorship of the Planning Awards 2018.
Russell Roof Tiles will be sponsoring the
Planning for Increased Housing Delivery
Award. Andrew Hayward, MD at Russell Roof
Tiles, said: “We have enjoyed a fantastic
year of growth at Russell Roof Tiles,
especially within the planning and social
housing sector and we want to continue this
success and build on our business
partnerships in 2018.”
MARCH 2018 TC 13

Drone Technology
WILL DRONE TECH TAKE OFF?
The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) receives regular queries from
members on safety, legislation and technical advice. In this regular feature exclusively for
Total Contractor, the Association will share some of its most frequently asked questions
along with the advice given. This month, Mike Wharton, Head of Business Development,
answers questions on drones.
Q. I’ve seen a few of my competitors have
started using drones to help them with
site inspection, panoramic overviews and
inspection of structures at height. It seems like
a good idea but I’ve no idea how to get started.
Have you got any advice?
A. You are absolutely right to pinpoint that in our
industry, drones could be particularly useful and
that this technology is already proving immensely
popular for a range of activities including site
inspection, planning and health and safety.
But getting started is not as simple as going out
and purchasing the first drone you see.
And additionally, the mantra that “drones are not
toys” has been repeated by The Civil Aviation
Authority which writes the
guidebook here.
Flying for commercial use
requires their permission and
to get the go-ahead you will
have to show you are
“sufficiently competent”.
So, what does this mean?
“Getting started is not
as simple as going out
and purchasing the
first drone you see”
Left: Mike Wharton, Head of Business
Development at the NFRC
Here at the NFRC, we have
entered into an exclusive
partnership with The
Association of Remotely Piloted
Aircraft (ARPAS-UK), the
professional body and trade
association for the fast evolving Remotely Piloted
Aircraft Systems industry, to advise our members
of the latest legislation and ensure they operate
drones safely.
ARPAS-UK works closely with the CAA to ensure
that the regulatory framework for the safe and
professional operation of remotely piloted aircraft is
fit for purpose and it has been working with the

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Drone Technology
NFRC to produce a condensed guidance
document for our members.
This details the key areas of law and legislation
that govern the use of drone technology, as well
as the training required to fly a drone and details
on how to obtain a licence known as a PFCO – a
permit for commercial operation.
To get a PFCO, you must attend a ground school
run by a Civil Aviation Authority approved
National Qualified Entity (NQE). ARPAS-UK have a
number of NQE members which, under agreement
with NFRC, now offer exclusive discounts on
training to NFRC members.
Before you consider introducing drone technology
to your operations, you would need a Pilot in
Command (PiC) who would be responsible for
flying the drone for your business.
This person will need to undertake around 30
hours of study and complete a ground school
class to get their PFCO.
Roof inspection requires a high degree of piloting
ability so this should not be taken lightly.
Once you have identified a PiC and he or she has
had the required training, you can buy a drone.
But do your homework.
Drones are either a multi-rotor or a fixed wing
aircraft. A fixed wing drone looks like a model
aircraft but is packed with sensors to enable it to
fly alone. Fixed wings are used mainly for survey,
mapping and security simply because they have a
longer endurance.
Multi-rotor drones are by far the most popular
platform flown commercially in the UK due to
their ability to land and take off vertically.
These drones can carry a wide variety of sensors
“You would need a Pilot
in Command (PiC) who
would be responsible
for flying the drone for
your business”
“Roof inspection
requires a high degree
of piloting ability so
this should not be
taken lightly”
making them incredibly versatile, but flight times
range from just 10-30 minutes.
They are, however, are an ideal choice for roof
inspection work as they can take off and operate
in contained environments.
Q. Clearly using a drone can add value to your
business but what are the start-up costs? Is it
worth the initial outlay?
In many instances, using drones mitigates the
risk of staff having to work at height and can
mean projects are completed faster and more
efficiently.
ARPAS has suggested that the vast majority of
NFRC members would find drones a useful addon
to their existing toolkit but you are right,
introducing this technology to your business costs
money.
This is why ARPAS entered into an exclusive
partnership with NFRC to offer exclusive
discounts on training to our members.
Images show drones in operation. Drones offer many
benefits for projects but there are a number of issues that
have to be addressed before operating drones on site
An average training course will cost around
£1,250; a ‘starter’ package would require a
training drone for around £200 and you would
need a specific “platform” which could cost an
additional £3,500.
A day’s worth of flying may require ten sets of
batteries at a cost of about £1,800.
The full guidance doc is available for our members
and is located in the member area of our website.
Got a question for the NFRC?
Email mattdowns@media-now.co.uk
“Multi-rotor drones are
by far the most popular
platform flown
commercially in the UK
due to their ability to
land and take off
vertically”
Contact the NFRC
020 7638 7663
www.nfrc.co.uk
@TheNFRC
16 TC MARCH 2018

Contract Talk
YOUR CALL: ARE THE DAYS OF
SMARTPHONES ON SITE NUMBERED?
The publication of two reports in recent weeks begs the question of whether smartphones
are safe to use on site. Janine Brady, SIG Roofing’s Marketing Manager, looks at whether
the fact that phones are so smart these days could actually be their undoing.
Of the nine most dangerous jobs in the UK,
roofing is in the top three according to
Adzuna – a job search engine that used
its own data along with research from the Office
for National Statistics (ONS) to compile the list.
When you look a bit closer at the figures
for roofing, you’ll find that the data
also includes scaffolding, and
the report found that the
majority of workplace deaths
are due to falls. Falling or
injuries sustained while falling
accounted for 29% of all
workplace deaths last year – and
scaffolding is one of the most dangerous
careers in the country, as 69 scaffolding-related
deaths have occurred since 2010.
It’s a stark reminder of what a challenging
profession roofing is and why there are a raft of
stringent regulations in place to keep everyone
safe at work.
Issued hot on the heels of the Adzuna study was
a completely unrelated report by Microsoft which
found that technology – such as smartphones –
is becoming increasingly distracting for workers.
The report stated that it’s due to the fact that
we’re all constantly being bombarded by a steady
stream of emails, messages and notifications
from social media sites.
Driven to distraction?
For us in roofing, the publication of these two
reports so closely together poses the question as
to whether smartphones are becoming too
distracting for use on site, and we wonder about
the dilemma this presents to
owners of roofing companies
because of the duty of care to
keep themselves, their
employees and their subbies safe
at work. On the one hand,
smartphones are an
absolute essential on site, as
they ensure we’re all
contactable. You could even
venture to say that
smartphones have boosted
productivity because of the
ability to get online when you’re
onsite and access a wealth of
information at your fingertips. It’s now
commonplace for smartphones to be used to check
the status of deliveries or to download spec sheets
from manufacturers’ websites, often simply by
tapping an app.
Attention grabbers
However, smartphones have become super-smart
in mastering the ability to grab our attention. It’s
like they’re slowly turning us into modern-day
versions of Pavlov’s dogs because we’ve all
become compelled to check our smartphones the
instant they beep or buzz because of the worry of
missing out. And even if we can’t respond to them
straight away, they do play on our minds and we
check them at the first available opportunity – and
this level of distraction isn’t always helpful when
we work in the third most dangerous job in the UK.
While their intelligence could be their undoing, it
could also be a smartphone’s saving grace – by
using their functionality to dial down their ability
to distract us. Here are a couple
of simple tips that can be used
by everyone on site.
Change the frequency of
notifications – the fewer notifications you
receive, the less likely you are to check your
smartphone. Notifications can be limited and you
can also use the phone’s Do Not Disturb mode.
Hide social media apps – a lot of people have
social media apps on the home or front pages of
their smartphones, but try putting them in folders
on the last page of your phone instead. That way,
you’re less likely to habitually click the Facebook
or Instagram icon.
Use a watch – that way, you won’t need to check
your phone to see what time it is – and then be
tempted to check updates.
Install addiction-breaking apps – counterintuitively,
you can reduce your phone use by
installing apps such as Checky, which gathers
data about your phone use, showing you how
many times you unlock your phone in a day and
logging this behaviour over time.
You’d be surprised how some simple tips can play
a small but important role in keeping everyone
safe on site through the reduction of distractions,
and we’d welcome comments on Twitter:
Contact SIG Roofing
0845 612 4304
www.sigroofing.co.uk
@SIGRoofing
Left: Janine Brady, SIG Roofing’s
Marketing Manager
18 TC MARCH 2018

Ecobuild
Stand C51
06-08 March 2018
ExCeL, London
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BS 8612
WHAT DOES THE NEW STANDARD
MEAN FOR CONTRACTORS?
January 31st finally saw the launch of BS 8612, the Dry-fixed Ridge, Hip and Verge
systems for Slating and Tiling Standard. The new Standard is a product specification which
provides minimum performance requirements for dry-fix roofing components. But what does
it mean for contractors? We asked a number of manufacturers to give their thoughts...
Roofing contractors should
welcome the changes
that the new BS 8612
Standard will bring to the
market; as it will help ensure
inadequate quality products are
designed out of roof
specifications and set a
minimum performance that can
be used to compare competing
systems.
using mortar bedded cappings.
Not only that, dry fix systems are
generally lightweight and
straightforward to work with,
equating to an easier and
quicker fitting process.
Installation is not dependent on
getting the correct mortar mix or
having to wait for dry weather.
Ged Ferris, Marketing Manager, Cembrit Other benefits of using a dry fix
system include reduced repair
To prepare for the Standard, roofing contractors costs and fewer call backs. There are tried and
should review the dry fix systems they currently tested systems backed by leading manufacturers
use and where possible, use manufacturers who that can be relied upon.
provide high quality roofing accessories, which
meet the latest standards and can demonstrate Contact Cembrit UK
01189 586 217
long-term performance and durability. Using a
www.cembrit.co.uk
dry-fix system to secure ridges, hips, and verges
@CembritUK
is easier than the time-consuming method of
Since BS 5534: 2014 – which
brought about a step change in
the requirements for fixing of
pitched roofs both for roof tiles and
ridge, hip and verges – we have seen
an acceleration in the move away from
traditional mortar fixing to modern dryfix.
Dr Kevin Ley, Technical
Manager, Redland
Unfortunately, the resulting increased demand for
dry-fix products and a lack of standardised
performance requirements allowed products of
questionable fitness for purpose to enter the
market. The resulting problems meant there was a
significant risk that past mistakes concerning
mortar fix failures would be repeated.
The publication of BS 8612, the first
ever product Standard for dry-fixed
ridge, hip and verge products in the UK,
is therefore an essential and welcome
landmark for the industry.
Not only will it ensure that dry-fix design
and installation standards are raised;
but also that developers, contractors and building
owners get the product quality and performance
they deserve.
Contact Redland
03708 702595
www.redland.co.uk
@_Redland
Richard Bishop, Wienerberger Category Marketing Manager
Wienerberger welcomes the changes that
BS 8612 bring to the market; although
not law it will help ensure an improved
standard of products used in roof specifications.
It is essential that specifiers state a compliance
to the British Standard or risk a sub standard
product being used.
For the first time, BS 8612 sets minimum
requirements for dry-fix products in a market
driven by legislation and guidelines. The use of dry
fix products has been increasing as a result and
has seen many ‘cost engineered systems’ enter
the market. It is essential that we, the chain, work
together to ensure compliant systems are used.
In short, by working together and complying to
both BS 5534 and BS 8612 we will improve the
standard of pitched roofing in the UK, and this
will mean your project is delivered to the highest
quality.
Contact Wienerberger
0845 303 2524
www.wienerberger.co.uk
@wienerbergeruk
20 TC MARCH 2018

LIQUID
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QUICK,
COST EFFECTIVE
ROOF REPORTS
A CLEARER
VISION FOR
YOUR BUSINESS
When tendering for roofing contracts, accurate
aerial measurement can be the difference between
profit and loss. With EagleView, you can have
complete confidence in the measurements you base
your tender on.
By combining multi-angle aerial images with
advanced analytics, our reports provide precise area,
pitch and length measurements. Colour coding
distinguishes every detail, from ridges, hips and
valleys to verges, eaves and flashings.
Premium Report
06/09/2017
123 Main St., Tadworth, A1B2 C3D Report: 12345678
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Fast report turnaround saves you time. High
resolution aerial views and 3D diagrams make your
bid stand out. And accurate material ordering helps
protect your profit.
To see more, visit eagleview.co.uk
or call 0800-069-8405
Images .....................................................................1
Length Diagram .........................................................4
Pitch Diagram ............................................................5
Area Diagram ............................................................6
Notes Diagram...........................................................7
Penetrations Diagram.................................................8
Report Summary........................................................9
MEASUREMENTS
Total Roof Area =467.95 sq m
Total Roof Facets =24
Predominant Pitch =45°
Number of Storeys >1
Total Ridges/Hips =84.43 m
Total Valleys =17.07 m
Total Verges =14.63 m
s =111.86 m

M25
M25
1.
Measurements provided by www.eagleview.com
www.eagleview.com/Guarantee.aspx
© 2008-2017 Eagle View Technologies, Inc. and Pictometry International Corp. – All Rights Reserved – Covered by one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,078,436; 8,145,578; 8,170,840; 8,209,152; 8,515,125; 8,825,454; 9,135,737; 8,670,961;
9,514,568; 8,818,770; 8,542,880; 9,244,589; 9,329,749. Other Patents Pending.
Premium Report
06/09/2017
Report:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Images .....................................................................1
Length Diagram .........................................................4
Pitch Diagram ............................................................5
Area Diagram ............................................................6
Notes Diagram..........................................................
...........................................................7
Penetrations Diagram...............................................
.................................................8
Report Summary.......................................................
........................................................9
MEASUREMENTS
Total Roof Area =467.95 sq m
Total Roof Facets =24
Predominant Pitch =45°
Number of Storeys >1
Total Ridges/Hips
=84.43 m
Total Valleys =17.07 m
Total Verges =14.63 m
Total Eaves =111.86 m
In this 3D model, facets appear as semi-transparent to reveal overhangs.
Total Penetrations
=14
Total Penetrations Perimeter = 34.75 m
Total Penetrations
Area = 9.48 sq m
321 King St.
London, A1 B2C
555-555-5555
Measurements provided bywww.eagleview.com
www.eagleview.com/Guarantee.aspx
International Corp. – All Rights Reserved – Covered by one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,078,436; 8,145,578;
8,170,840; 8,209,152; 8,515,125; 8,825,454; 9,135,737; 8,670,961;
9,514,568; 8,818,770; 8,542,880; 9,244,589; 9,329,749. Other Patents Pending.
EAGLEVIEW IN FOCUS
ADVERTORIAL
The hi-res imagery that’s
re-engineering roofing
By Kay Rose FIoR National Sales Director, EagleView.
If you’re a roofing professional, imagine
how much easier your job would be if
you had a full overview of the roof even
before visiting the site.
Imagine if – with just a few clicks of
your mouse – you could order a full roof
measurement report that includes high-resolution
images and precise dimensions
of all the areas. Imagine being able to
order materials without the worry of
over- or under-ordering – no need to do
a “guesstimate and
add some” to cover
yourself.
EagleView ® makes
all of this a reality.
Established in the
US in 2008 and
launched in the UK
in November 2017,
the world’s first-ever
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LONDON
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COVERAGE
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creates 3D models that
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At its core lies the
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showing the fronts and sides of
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provides oblique perspectives
from 40 to 45-degree angles as
well as an overhead view.
These images are then stored
and, when an EagleView
roofing report is requested,
advanced algorithms and data
analytics are used to translate
them into a highly accurate
model of the property in
question. These models then
enable detailed structural
measurements to be derived –
including eaves, flashing, hips,
verges, ridges and valleys. The reports are
produced quickly – in a matter of hours –
and available in a variety of file formats.
TOTAL LINE LENGTHS
Ridges 30.48 m
Hips 53.95 m
Valleys 17.07 m
Verges 14.63 m
Reducing risk, saving time
Conducting a manual roof survey involves
time travelling to and from the site,
getting safe access to the roof and taking
measurements, and then further time to create
precise dimensional drawings. By replacing
this manual approach with an EagleView
PremiumReport , that time is freed up for
managing active contracts and pursuing new
leads. And, not only does an EagleView
11.1m
4.6m
8.6m
8.6m
4.6m
2.8m
1.8m
1.8m
1.8m
5.5m
3.2m
5.5m
3.4m
5.3m
5.9m
2.8m
8.2m
3.9m
2.8m
1.8m
3.1m
6.2m
6.6m
3.0m
6.6m
6.2m
9.8m
7.1m
6.3m
1.0m
3.8m
7.1m
4.9m
6.2m
5.6m
7.0m
6.2m
18.6m
4.9m
5.0m
2.0m
MATERIALS CALCULATION
10.1m
ROOF DIAGRAMS
Premium Report
06/09/2017
123 Main St., Tadworth, A1B2 C3D Report: 12345678
In this 3D model, facets appear as semi-transparent to reveal overhangs.
PREPARED FOR
Contact:
Company:
Exteriors Company
Address:
321 King St.
London, A1 B2C
Phone: 555-555-5555
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PremiumReport accelerate workflow, its
accuracy greatly reduces the risk of costly
material miscalculations.
Wider impact
Images .....................................................................1
Length Diagram .........................................................4
Pitch Diagram ............................................................5
REPORT PREPARATION IN PROGRESS
Area Diagram ............................................................6
Notes Diagram...........................................................7
Penetrations Diagram.................................................8
Report Summary........................................................9
TOTAL LINE LENGTHS
Eaves
111.86
MEASUREMENTS
Total Roof Area =467.95 sq m
Flashing 14.63 m
Total Roof Facets =24
Predominant Pitch =45° Step flash 26.21 m
Number of Storeys >1
Total Ridges/Hips =84.43 m
Parapets 38.10 m
Total Valleys =17.07 m
Total Verges =14.63 m
Total Eaves =111.86 m
Total Penetrations =14
Total Penetrations Perimeter = 34.75 m
Total Penetrations Area = 9.48 sq m
In the few years since EagleView was first
established in the US, it has become the
industry standard in aerial roof measurements.
Roofing contractors throughout North
America have quickly caught on to the
resource and safety benefits,
and increased number of
contracts they win by using
EagleView PremiumReports.
Insurance companies and
adjusters across the US have
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PremiumReports. In fact,
following the wildfires that
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The EagleView
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like it in the UK. It’s currently available
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cities are following close behind. It’s
a truly pioneering technology that
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the roofing industry. However, as with
any successful technology, it’s the early
adopters that will gain a competitive
advantage.
To find out more about EagleView
Premium Reports go to eagleview.co.uk
or call 0800 069 8405.
CERTIFIED
ACCURATE

BS 8612
Unlike the revisions to BS 5534, BS 8612 won’t
have a huge impact on contractors but it does
mean they need to make sure that any dry-fix
systems they use that require BS 8612 compliance,
meet the requirements or have BBA certification.
Since the introduction of the revised BS 5534, there
has been a significant shift in the market towards
the use of dry-fix systems.
Stuart Nicholson, Roof
Systems Specialist at
Marley Eternit
However, the popularity of the products means that there has been a huge
increase in the amount of systems on the market. While they may look broadly
similar, we have become increasingly concerned about inconsistencies in the
durability and weather tightness of some cheaper products. We support the
introduction of BS 8612 because having specific test methods and
requirements to assess all products on an equal basis gives inferior systems
little room to hide and
should make it much Contact Marley Eternit
01283 722588
more transparent for
www.marleyeternit.co.uk
those buying and selling
@MarleyEternit
dry-fix products.
The introduction of BS 8612:
Dry-fixed Ridge, Hip and
Verge Systems for Slating and
Tiling – specification is something
that the roofing industry has been
needing for some time.
Mark Parsons, Technical Director,
Therefore, it is no surprise that it Russell Roof Tiles
has been welcomed so strongly by ourselves and other leading
manufacturers.
Following an increased demand for dry-fix solutions in recent years, a lack
of guidelines has allowed for inferior and inadequate products by some
manufacturers who have not carried out effective testing to enter into the
market, which in turn has led to sub-standard installation and failures.
Our dry-fix products have a proven track record having been used across the
UK for over 25 years and are a dedicated and not a universal fit which
ensures high performance. The materials used are of a high grade and
designed to last.
However, BS 8612 will be pivotal in guaranteeing that product specifications are
of the highest quality and standards are raised across the industry. Specifiers
will now be in more
control of their products Contact Russell Roof Tiles
as they get the assurance 01283 517070
they deserve which has
www.russellrooftiles.com
@russellrooftile
been a long-time coming.
24 TC MARCH 2018

Roof fires caused by gas torches, no maer
how minor, pose a serious threat to life,
property, the image of the roofing industry
and possibly even the long-term future
of torch-on as an accepted method of
covering a roof.
Developed in partnership with contractor
and manufacturer members of the
NFRC, the Safe2Torch campaign seeks to
significantly reduce the risk of roof fires
when using gas torches, either to dry out
roofs or when used to install torch-on
membranes.
NFRC believe that by working together,
fires of this nature can be prevented
and for this reason have launched the
Safe2Torch campaign.
Architects to Roofing Contractors can
pledge their support to the campaign
which means they are commied
to promong and implemenng the
Safe2Torch guidance.
For further informaon and
to pledge support, visit
www.nfrc.co.uk/Safe2Torch
www.nfrc.co.uk
@TheNFRC #Safe2Torch

Fibre Cement Slates
UNDER THE WEATHER? GET YOUR
FIBRE CEMENT SLATE ROOF RIGHT
To ensure a weatherproof slate roof, it is important to understand some key design and
installation details. Phil Wilden, Technical Manager at Cembrit, explains how understanding
these factors will ensure a successful installation for the long term…
When designing a slate roof, there are
several interrelated factors which must
be considered before slating starts.
These include determining the exposure of the
site to rain penetration, wind loads and wind
uplift, the pitch of the roof, the overall roof
structure, and consequently, the minimum
headlap for the size of slate selected. This
particular detail is especially important to bear in
mind when the roof verge is under consideration.
To provide a weatherproof roof, slating relies on
double cover, i.e. every part of the roof is covered
by at least two thicknesses of slate. The tails of
slates in one course overlap the heads of the
slates in the next course but one below, by an
amount commonly known as the ‘lap’ (headlap)*.
The lap provides protection against rain and snow
being driven between the joints and passing
upwards over the heads of the slates to penetrate
into the roof space. Should water run down the
roof and enter the narrow gap between the slates,
it can creep diagonally down and across the roof
slates.
The lower the roof pitch, the wider the angle of
creep, and the greater the danger of water
entering the nail holes of the slates in the course
below.
The lap is calculated according to the exposure
rating of the site wind uplift and roof pitch, taking
into account the angle of creep for the size of
slate. Recommended minimum laps and pitches
are provided in our comprehensive publication, ‘A
Guide to Double Lap Slating with Fibre Cement
Slates*.
Best practice - verge installation
One area where good practice is often
misunderstood is at the verge of the roof. This is
important to get right as the perimeter of the roof
is the most vulnerable to wind suction loading. As
Above: Slate fixing at the verge. Below: Cembrit’s Westerland
Slate project
such, the secure fixing of the verge slates will
contribute to creating a long lasting roof covering.
Years of experience of both successful slating
practice and failed roofs, is enshrined in British
Standard codes of practice; 8000 parts 0 and 6,
as well as 5534. The verge is formed from
alternate courses of slate and a half (cut from
double slates) and single slates. This is where the
confusion lies. The second under eaves course
should be a slate and a half, as should alternate
verge slates, see drawing. Rather than use a
slate and a half, many roofers will cut a normal
size slate in half and use that to create the
broken bond. This looks aesthetically pleasing,
but doesn’t give adequate wind uplift resistance.
Installation should be carried out as follows: the
first full slate will require an additional hole
(batten gauge plus 25mm from the tail) to
accommodate the rivet for the next slate and a
half. This next slate and a half will require three
26 TC MARCH 2018

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• Full support from SIG Roofing - part of a FTSE 250 company
Find out more at www.sigroofing.co.uk/onewarranty or
speak to your local SIG Roofing contact.
For more information and Terms & Conditions please visit: www.sigroofing.co.uk/onewarranty
W: www.sigroofing.co.uk/onewarranty
T: 0800 988 3349
PITCHED ROOFING
FLAT ROOFING
INDUSTRIAL ROOFING

Article Fibre Cement Slates
nail fixing holes on the batten line, two rivet holes
to hold the tail and an additional hole to
accommodate the rivet for the subsequent single
verge slate.
When trimming to verges, valleys and hips, avoid
using pieces less than 150mm wide. If possible,
use a slate and a half with the cut edges
protected to prevent cement run off due to
exposure to weather.
In practice
A recently completed five bedroom bespokedesigned
house (built on the site of an original
three bedroom bungalow) showcases the correct
method for installing verge slates. The roof was
being replaced as part of the larger project. On
the original bungalow, concrete roof tiles were
installed and the weight of the tiles had made its
roof start to dip in the middle. The typical weight
per m² of interlocking concrete tiles equals 45-
50Kg. In contrast, a m² of fibre cement slates
weighs just 20Kg making them a lighter, versatile
alternative and the perfect choice for this project.
The slates were chosen by Mid Kent Roofing and
professionally installed according to the relevant
British Standards. Particularly worthy of attention
is the verge detail, as seen in the photograph
(left) showing double slates cut to a slate and a
half. With two rivets and three nails, there is very
little chance that environmental conditions will
affect the verge slates, which, as discussed, can
be vulnerable to lifting if fitted incorrectly.
*Full details on all aspects of fibre cement slate
installation are included within the guide. Visit
Cembrit’s website to order your free copy.
Left: Correct slating at the verge
Contact Cembrit
01189 586 217
www.cembrit.co.uk
@CembritUK
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iles td
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28 TC MARCH 2018

Gutter Lining
TRAINING, GAINING & SUSTAINING
Ampteam tells Total Contractor why it feels training makes things easier for all in the
supply chain...
The series of project photographs below and
right show pre and post images of a Unifold
installation. The final result, I am sure
anyone who has seen gutter installations before
would agree, looks good – well not just good, but
very good.
As we all know, high quality installations don’t
just happen by accident.
We decided quite some time ago as company
policy not to just supply a consignment and
expect those on site – who may have never
installed Unifold before – to just get on with it!
In fact, we would never supply to anyone unless
our training programme had first been completed
to our satisfaction. This protects our system, the
installer / site operative, and ultimately the end
user customer.
Approved contractors
This particular Unifold liner (see images) was
installed by one of our approved contractors and
“We would never
supply to anyone
unless our training
programme had first
been completed to our
satisfaction”
their site operatives have
been trained to install
the system at our
factory facility.
Following
training, this
level of quality is
what we have
come to expect
from our installers.
Guarantees
We, like many system suppliers
within our industry, provide a
comprehensive training programme, free of
charge to potential installers of our Unifold Gutter
System. It is only by doing this that we can
provide a constant net result on every occasion
and support our 25 year guarantee which
Above and below, top: The completed Unifold liner
installation. Bottom, left and right the roof was not draining
correctly and ponding water was causing serious problems
includes the installation
as well as quality of
the materials and
manufacture.
Apart from
teaching the
techniques
involved with
installation and
site joint
manufacture, we feel
it is important that there
is an understanding of the
technology behind the system and why
the product, correctly installed, will perform to the
highest standard whilst at the same time
providing an installation that the installers can be
justifiably proud.
“High quality
installations don’t just
happen by accident”
The course involves practical training and a
theory presentation followed by a multiple choice
test and, when successfully completed,
candidates are awarded a numbered installer’s
card with photographic identification.
More to learn
We have found the course is beneficial for
business owners and contracts managers, as
well as site operatives to attend, as there is more
to learn than just the installation practices.
Contact Ampteam
01384 252777
www.ampteam.co.uk
30 TC MARCH 2018

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• Can be used in damp, cold weather
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Roofing Tutor Focus
“THE ROOFING IS THE EASY PART...”
David Mallory, Leeds College of Building’s roofing and tiling lecturer, tells Total Contractor
about hard work, punctuation and giving every student his personal mobile number.
07:00: I’m definitely a morning person. I
get up at ten past six and I like to get into
college at seven so that I can prepare
properly for the day. Each group I teach has their
own course file and I like to make sure that all the
paperwork is up-to-date. I have been a roofing
and tiling lecturer for 15 years. I started off, like
my students, as an apprentice roofer and worked
up to running my own company. One day I had
been arguing with a customer who didn’t want to
pay me, when I saw a job as a roofing lecturer
advertised and decided to apply. I got that job and
haven’t looked back.
At first, I worked part-time as a lecturer, parttime
as a roofer but now I teach full time. Very
occasionally, a friend from the industry will need
a difficult detail doing and I’ll help him out with
that.
Most of my time is spent teaching in the
workshop or the classroom. I also have an
increasing workload of admin, including marking
assignments, updating records and
communicating with employers, plus managing
agents such as CITB. Part of my job now is to
correct my students’ spelling, punctuation and
grammar when I’m marking written work.
Around 70% of the apprentices who come to us
don’t have GCSEs in English and Maths, so they
will have lessons in those subjects too, once a
week.
09:00: Workshop sessions start. Some days we
will have four one-and-a-half hour sessions in
the workshop, on others we have two sessions
with the rest spent in the class room.
I take a register, give a little tool box talk on any
changes that have taken place in the workshop,
any PPE they need and what else is going on. If
students don’t turn up, I have to chase them.
David Mallory, Leeds College of Building’s roofing & tiling lecturer working on the rigs and in the classroom with his apprentices.
David spent a number of years on the tools before making the move into teaching after answering an advert
Funny how their phones are often turned off
when I call them….
My three groups of apprentices are all employed
full-time and come to us in two-week-long
blocks. As well as teaching them in college, I visit
them on site to assess the work that they are
doing with their employer. There are 12 students
in my first-year group and 17 in my second-year
group, both working towards their Level 2 C-Skills
qualification. I also have 11 students studying for
a third year to get a Level 3 qualification. My
colleague, Chris, also has groups of first and
second-year students.
“One day I had been
arguing with a
customer who didn’t
want to pay me, when I
saw a job as a roofing
lecturer advertised”
Most students are aged between 16 and 24. After
that there is no grant support for apprentices. I do
have one student who is 49 who has been
working in construction for a while and wants to
train himself up.
10:30: We break for 15 minutes, and then it’s
back to the workshop. The apprentices all must
work through 22 projects over two years that will
help give them the skills to deal with all tiles,
slates and plain tiles.
The college has good links with several
manufacturers who supply us with their products.
It’s important that the apprentices get to work
with different systems and understand that no
32 TC MARCH 2018

“I force them to use
hand cutters rather
than the petrol ones
they use on site.
At first, they moan
and groan”
two products are fixed in the same way, so they
must follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
All the apprentices will be at different stages of
different projects, depending on their skill level,
their previous experience and their level of
motivation. In any group, there will be the full
spectrum of commitment from those that are
eager to learn as much as possible, to those that
wish they weren’t there at all. For those that are
keen and finish more quickly, I give them extra
projects to challenge them and keep them
interested.
Every year we put our most talented apprentices
forward to compete in the SkillBuild competition.
Last year we had two brothers winning gold and
bronze in the finals in Birmingham, which was a
proud moment for the College.
I was also proud when one of my students was
one of ten finalists in Redland’s Apprentice of the
Year Competition last year. This is a bit different
from SkillBuild in that the apprentices have to
submit a written entry and the two-day
competition involves a range of activities, not just
practical roofing skills.
At the college, the help and support we receive
from Redland is hugely appreciated. The donation
of materials, for example, enables the trainees to
not only encounter new and varied products and
materials, but also the chance to experience new
installation techniques.
One of the things I enjoy most about my job is
seeing the apprentices master new skills. For
instance, I force them to use hand cutters rather
than the petrol ones they use on site. At first, they
moan and groan because they are more difficult
to use, but by the middle of a valley they are
getting it right. It’s great to
see the satisfaction on
their faces.
We are lucky to
have really good
workshop
facilities at the
Hunslet
Campus. It was
purpose-built two
years ago and
there’s a second
building under
construction next door. The
College hopes to secure a third plot
adjacent to that which will bring all our three
campuses into one location.
“When students are
enthusiastic, my job is
easy, but as a lecturer
you have to appreciate
that some of students
will be challenging”
13:00: In the afternoon, we may continue in the
workshop or have sessions in the classroom.
Before we start a project in the workshop, I like to
give the apprentices an overview of what we will
be doing. They may only have worked with one
manufacturer’s systems or on one site, so they
often don’t appreciate that there are different
ways of doing things.
With any new group of students, I always put my
mobile number on the board and tell them to ring
me if they need any advice or information. I get
calls from lots of former students, years after
they’ve left college, who are on a job and need to
know how to do something. I’m always happy to
help. One thing I always ask now, though, is that
they call during working hours. That’s because I
once received a call at 2am from a student who
had been out celebrating gaining his
qualifications who was calling to tell me how
great I was!
Contact Redland
01285 863545
www.redland.co.uk
@_Redland
When students are
enthusiastic, my job is
easy, but as a
lecturer you
have to
appreciate
that some of
the students
will be
challenging.
Sometimes they
just need someone
to listen to them.
They often don’t have any
support at home.
The best piece of advice I ever had was from a
manager and mentor during the early part of my
teaching career, Chris Ferguson, who’s now
retired. He said: “Don’t back them into a corner.
Always give them a way out”.
16:00: The end of my day. I have two daughters,
aged nine and 12, and I spend as much time as I
can with them and my wife. We do outdoor
activities like biking and camping and until
recently I’ve been volunteering with my
daughter’s scout group; first as a parent helper
then as a scout leader. My students wouldn’t be
surprised to hear that I was presented with a
certificate at the 2017 End of Year Awards for
being the scout leader most likely to say the
phrase “It’s your time you are wasting”.
I enjoyed my first career in roofing. It was all I
ever wanted to do, even when teachers tried to
discourage me because construction was only for
the “bad lads”. If I could tell my younger self
anything, I’d want to warn myself just how hard it
was going to be. The roofing is the easy part, it’s
all the other things related to running a business,
dealing with customers and the taxman and
getting paid that’s difficult.
MARCH 2018 TC 33

Step by Step
INSTALLING CLAY INTERLOCKING
TILES TO BS 5534
Marley Eternit has put together the following general guide to help roofers install interlocking
clay tiles to the BS 5534 Standard, but advises contractors to always check the
manufacturer’s specific instructions and get a fixing specification for each project.
Large format clay interlocking tiles are
growing in popularity as roofers look for a
more cost effective, easier to fix clay tile,
that doesn’t require specialist skills. Although
they are quick to install, clay interlocking tiles
must be fixed according to BS 5534 on all new
and re-roofing projects. Below, we’ve provided a
guide to installing interlocking double roman and
interlocking clay pantiles:
Step 1 - Battens and underlay
First of all check that all battens have been pregraded
to meet BS 5534 requirements.
Underlays must also be BS 5534 compliant and
installed in line with the Standard’s
recommendations.
Step 2 - Eaves ventilation
To ventilate the
eaves, a 10mm,
25mm or eaves
vent plus system
can be used with
2 x 6m continuous rafter roll.
Step 3 - Eaves
BS 5534 requires
that all perimeter
tiles should be
fixed with a
minimum of two
mechanical fixings.
2
3
This can be achieved by head fixing each tile with
the appropriate size aluminium clout head nail,
and an eaves clip nailed to the fascia board and
located over the side lock of the tile.
Step 4 - Verges
Tiles need to have
two fixings to meet
BS 5534
requirements. They should either be head nailed
and fixed with a dry verge, or if using a traditional
mortar finish, they can be head nailed and fixed
with a verge clip.
Step 5 - Tile laying
Most clay
interlocking tiles
will have a flexible
gauge to make
installation easier.
However, there is an interlocking pantile on the
market with a fully open gauge, which means the
tiles can be laid in a similar way to concrete roof
tiles, without the need for complicated setting
out.
Step 6 - Nailing and clipping
BS 5534 requires
that all single lap
tiles should be
mechanically
fixed.
The level of fixing will depend on the roof
specification.
4
5
6
Clay interlocking tiles should be mechanically
fixed with at least one aluminium clout head nail
and / or tail clipped.
One piece clip and nails, like SoloFix, can save
up to 30% on roof clipping time.
Step 7 - Valley
The valley can be
installed with a
universal GRP
valley system and small pieces of cut tiles at the
hip and valley can be secured using retention clips.
Step 8 - Hips
Hips can be fixed with hip
fixing packs for use with
traditional mortar, or a dry
hip system to provide a low
maintenance mortar-free
mechanically fixed solution.
Step 9 - Ridges
Clay interlocking tiles will often have their own
matching or concrete ridge tiles which can be
installed with security fixings. However, a dry ridge
system has the double benefit of helping to ensure
compliance with the fixing requirements, while
providing the required continuous ventilation at
the roof apex.
Step 10 - The finished roof!
Please note that all dry-fix systems used should be
compliant with the new BS 8612 Standard.
Contact Marley Eternit
01283 722588
www.marleyeternit.co.uk
@MarleyEternit
7
8
10
34 TC MARCH 2018

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Roof Windows
ROOF WINDOW INSTALLATION:
GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME
If not selected and installed correctly, a roof window can be a potential point of leaks and
affect the thermal performance of the building. Lee Griffiths, Technical Sales Manager GBI at
Dakea, discusses the factors to consider when selecting a roof window, and provides a stepby-step
guide on how to install a roof window and get it right first time.
Establishing the customer’s exact
requirements from the outset sounds
obvious but most definitely avoids
disappointment further down the line.
Consider the size and number
of roof windows
A good starting point is establishing the size of
the roof window and the number of windows
required. Bigger windows, of course, admit more
daylight, but it is also worth considering a number
of smaller windows instead, as a better overall
effect can sometimes be achieved.
Other factors worth discussing
with your client
If thermal performance is a
priority there are roof
windows that keep houses
warm in the winter and
prevent heat build-up in
the summer. Systems that
feature double-pane
window glazing units filled
with krypton and covered in a
double low emission coating will
achieve this.
1
Reviewing how the room will be used can also
throw up questions when it comes to noise
protection. At Dakea we have introduced our
Noise Block technology - a 6mm thick, toughened
outer pane, flashing system and inner pane with
two layers of noise-reducing film. This means
external noise is reduced 50% more effectively
than comparable windows on the market.
Installing correctly first time
There are also a few challenges to combat when
installing a roof window and it depends on the
particular situation. This step-by-step guide
focuses on an outside-in sequence for the Ultima
window.
Firstly, remove the battens to the
extent of the framed area.
The aperture on the roof
must be at least 6cm
wider and 12.5cm (for tile
roofing) higher than the
outer size of the window.
Cut out the roofing underlay
and fix it with staples, cutting
away the excess.
Determine the correct height of the window
“An un-insulated gap
between the rafter and
back of the window
frame means water and
air can pass through”
installation (for tile roofing only) and fasten a
batten to support the frame – level and position
8cm above the tiles.
It is essential to repair the roofing membrane. An
un-insulated gap between the rafter and back of
the window frame means water and air can pass
through. Exposed gaps can cause interior surface
damage and colder room temperatures,
compromising energy efficiency and a resulting
rise in heating costs.
Meeting various regulation requirements is also
important. Filling the un-insulated gap between
the rafters and the roof window will ensure it is
compliant with Part L1B of the Building
Regulations.
Many installers choose to use rigid foam cut to fit
from larger, premium priced sheets. While this leads
to a secure and tight fit around the frame, it
The impact to which the window will be exposed
is also worth considering. With increasingly
extreme UK weather conditions, options that offer
storm resistance and glass protection against
impact from both the exterior and the interior are
advisable – some include a lifetime guarantee
against hail damage for the pane.
2
36 TC MARCH 2018

Complete Building
Envelope Solutions
featuring Kingspan RW
Pitched Roof System
Superior build
speed
Options for PV
integration
Precision extruded
daylighting
LPCB-approved membranelined
insulated gutters
Height safety and
fall arrest systems
Specialist support from
Kingspan Technical Services
Bespoke flashings and
fabrications for design flexibility
Kingspan’s own complete range
of structural steel products
Kingspan Insulated Panels RW Roof system is a factory-engineered single
component system for very fast installation.
The system comprises a complete range of structural steel products, high performance panels,
insulated gutters, superior polycarbonate daylighting, height-safety systems and a bespoke
range of corners and flashings. As a manufacturer of the complete roof system including all
components, we’re with you all the way with services to help save time and maximise project
value and performance.
The system can be protected by the Kingspan Warranty.
Kingspan Insulated Panels
Greenfield Business Park No.2, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 7GJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1352 716100 www.kingspanpanels.co.uk

Roof Windows
can prove troublesome and time consuming,
creating onsite debris and waste.
A product that features free installation accessories
and can address installation issues like this directly
is our Ultima roof window. This includes the Dakea
IFC Insulating Foam Collar – a rebated foam profile
manufactured to fit the window frame. It offers
superior insulation and reduces installation time to
approximately three minutes per window.
3
Once the frame is assembled, pass it through the
opening on to the support battens and check
alignment, replacing the sash to test that it opens
and closes; Secure all the brackets with screws.
After removing the sash once more, the roofing
membrane must be substituted to restrict water
and air ingress. Traditionally available as a large
underlayer sheet, the membrane must be cut to
size so it fits snuggly around the window. Using
the remaining membrane, a gutter system should
then be formed to catch any water ingress and
direct it away from the opening in the roof.
“Roof window
installations can
produce several time,
procedure and
weather-related
challenges”
Furthermore, an installer knows this process
requires a high level of accuracy to ensure a
water and airtight seal. For larger projects
containing four or more roof windows, the
complete process may take considerable time to
cut and install roofing membrane and foam. The
Dakea RUC Underfelt Foil Collar offers another
time-saving solution. The single piece of stretchable
fabric removes any need for cutting and joining
membrane material. Slide this underneath the
battens and fix securely to create a water and
airtight barrier in a simple 15-minute process.
To complete the installation, fix the flashing and
covers to the bottom, sides and top of the frame
then simply replace the tiles and the sash.
Roof window installations can produce several
time, procedure and weather-related challenges
meaning professionals must purchase additional
materials and spend considerable time onsite. By
following this guide you can be assured you’ll get
it right first time.
4
5
6
7
8
“Fix the flashing and
covers to the bottom,
sides and top of the
frame then simply
replace the tiles and
the sash”
Contact Dakea
+44 203 598 1165
www.dakea.com/professionals
@dakea_uk
38 TC MARCH 2018

Go Further with SupaLite
SupaLite design &
manufacture more
than just roofs?
It’s true, we are the market leader in lightweight replacement
conservatory roofs, but we are experts in much more.
Our revolutionary FLAT ROOF ORANGERY is installed within
hours with amazing thermal properties. Our LANTERNS are the
most stylish available, and our VERANDAS are proving to be a
very popular and extremely flexible choice.
U-Value
as low as
0.15
W/m 2 K
SupaLite Tiled Roofs
Flat Roof Orangeries
Modular
Design
Lanterns
Elegant Verandas
Every SupaLite product
is precision made to
ensure a perfect fit for
any configuration.
BUILDING CONTROL
SupaLite will optionally facilitate building control on your behalf
ENERGY EFFICIENT
Designed for ultimate performance
TRIED & TESTED
10 year guarantee as standard
01772 82 80 60
www.supaliteroof.co.uk

Living Roofs
10 Q’S TO ASK WHEN INSTALLING A
LIVING ROOF RETENTION SYSTEM
By Jonathan Brown, Fixfast
The living roof market is booming. It grew by
over 17% last year, with no sign of slowing.
This is great news for contractors able to
install living roofs, who should see a healthy
pipeline of projects.
But with this growth comes challenges; as more
living roofs are installed, the risk of underengineered
systems increases. Problems with
insufficient drainage, soil erosion or compromised
fire safety can all cause a living roof to fail
prematurely. If this becomes common, building
owners could lose their appetite for living roofs and
reduce opportunities for contractors.
Fortunately, the simple installation of a living roof
retention system can prevent these issues from
occurring. But not all retention systems are created
equal. Without carefully selected components, a
system may not extend the roof’s lifespan as hoped.
Here are 10 questions to ask yourself when
selecting products for a living roof retention
system, to ensure your client ends up with a longlasting
living roof.
Q. Have you chosen materials that don’t
rust?
A: Galvanised steel rooftop products are not
appropriate for use on living roofs as their
rustproofing is easily damaged. Use aluminium or
stainless-steel materials to prevent component
deterioration.
Q. Are the materials lightweight & durable?
A: Roof load is a factor in any rooftop
construction. To minimise the weight of
essential components, use materials such as
aluminium, which is sufficiently durable for
rooftop use. Lightweight materials also make
your life easier during installation.
Q. Are the materials non-combustible for
maximum fire protection?
A: Metal components are inflammable and offer
the best balance of durability, design flexibility
and weight. Plastics can be appropriate on a
living roof, but they must be installed correctly in
line with fire safety guidance.
Q. Do the system components have
sufficient drainage holes?
A: Drainage issues are a major cause of living
roof failures. To ensure excess water has
sufficient exit points, choose components with
large and well-spaced drainage holes.
Q. Can the drains be easily accessed for
ongoing maintenance?
A: All drains should be protected to prevent
debris causing blockages. Inspection chambers
are superior to other drain protectors as they
make it easier for the building occupier to inspect
and maintain the drains regularly.
Q. Are your retention angles tall enough to
maintain minimum substrate depth?
A: A minimum substrate depth of 80mm is
recommended best practice for fire safety. When
choosing retention angles for your system, their
edge height must exceed the substrate depth to
help preserve it over time.
Q. Could your components damage the
roof’s waterproofing?
A: You should think about keeping the membrane
intact throughout the installation, including the
impact of damage by following trades. Use L-
shaped retention angles, rather than solely vertical
edges, as this will spread the load, protecting the
waterproof membrane from potential breaches.
Q. Is your living roof protected from soil
slippage?
A: Soil slippage can cause drainage issues and
compromise fire safety. In barrel-vaulted and
pitched roofs, you should install anti-slump
products to hold the sedum blanket securely in
place.
Q. Are your firebreaks secure?
A: Unbroken fire breaks are essential for living
roof fire safety. Use retention angles to stop
plants from growing into them. To protect gravel
firebreaks from strong winds and heavy boots,
use large pebbles of between 20-40mm, and
apply a gravel adhesive to hold them in place.
Q. Is there safe access for maintenance?
A: A successful living roof requires regular
maintenance. Have you provided a safe means of
access for the occupier to reach the roof?
Permanent, collective protection (e.g. ladders and
rails) is better than a temporary or personal
system as more people can safely use it.
By asking yourself these 10 questions, and
choosing the right retention system as a result, you
can ensure your living roof installations thrive as
intended. A properly engineered living roof will last
longer, look better, and do more for the environment.
As demand for living roofs continues to rise,
those contractors with a good reputation for
delivering long-lasting living roofs – underpinned
by well-chosen retention systems – will be bestplaced
to benefit.
Contact Fixfast
01732 882387
www.fixfast.com
@fixfast_uk
40 TC MARCH 2018

NO STREAKING. NO LUMPY BITS.
NOW EVEN FASTER.
NEW RAPID DRYVERGE
Our new Rapid DryVerge looks great and is even quicker to install. The sleek design
gives a more streamlined roof and it meets the requirements of the new BS 8612,
with greater wind resistance, and unique drainage channels to help prevent nasty
streak marks on gable ends. Of course, what you get up to in your own time’s entirely
up to you, but we’ve never liked streaking on walls.
Find out more at Redland.co.uk
Part of BMI GROUP

Fragile Roofs
THE COST AND CONSEQUENCES
OF FRAGILE ROOF FALLS
A staggering number of falls from height continue to be linked with fragile roofs. Employers
are faced with harsh fines and court appearances due to unsafe working conditions and not
following the correct procedures for employees to remain safe. Soni Sheimer, General
Manager at Easi-Dec, takes a look at the range of options and solutions that are available to
contractors working at height.
According to the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE), falls from height remain
one of the most common causes of fatality
and major injury in the UK, with falls through
fragile surfaces accounting for 22% of all
accidents from height in the construction
industry. The 2016/2017 provisional figures
report that there were 25 fatalities as a result of
falls from height at work.
The key piece of legislation is the Work at Height
Regulations 2005, as amended by the Work at
Height (Amendment) Regulations 2007, which
places a legal requirement for anyone who
contracts others to access and maintain rooftop
equipment on public buildings and housing
developments to ensure proper safety precautions
are in place. Breaching these regulations can
result in a legal prosecution and either a
substantial fine or possible imprisonment.
In November 2017, a Dudley-based contractor
was fined and sentenced to 180 hours community
service and given a six-month prison sentence
suspended for 12 months after a 30-year old
labourer fell more than six metres through a
fragile roof. The man suffered numerous fractures
to his spine, pelvis and shoulder, and will now
never work as a roofer again. The HSE
investigation found that the contractor failed to
address the risk of working at height and on
fragile surfaces before undertaking this roofing
work. He also failed to ensure that fellow workers
had the adequate support to complete this work
and this resulted in it being carried out in an
unsafe manner.
Solutions for fragile roof work
Access to roof tops requires
solutions that are designed to
overcome the challenges of
working on fragile roofs and
provide the user with a safe
working position for skin
maintenance, inspection, cleaning and
re-sealing work.
It is essential that all work at
height is properly planned and
carried out by competent
members of staff.
Selecting the right equipment is
key to reducing the risk of accidents
and falls from height. It needs to be
secure, easy to access and meet
required regulations. Any of
these three types of access
systems can be considered
when accessing roof tops:
1. Mesh walkways are a great
option when access is needed to
run from the eaves to ridge. It provides
the benefit of spreading the weight across the
support battens, allowing the contractors to
confidently move along the full length of the
system. Opting for a solution that is made from
high grade aluminium ensures the structure is
robust, lightweight, and easily transportable.
2. A fully guarded rolling platform, which is
mounted on twin racks, allows contractors to
move up and down the roof on a secure and level
surface. Requiring no penetration,
the structure is easy to
assemble and take down, and
is possible to transport quickly
to other parts of the roof. The
platform moves along a linking
track which is fitted with safety
mesh and battens to provide further
support.
3. Lightweight mobile walking
frames are designed to
provide safe access for one or
two people when working
along valley gutters. The
outriggers are filled with safety
mesh and cushioned for comfort. This
system can also be used to transport
light payloads. Suitable for typical
symmetrical valleys, the system
could also be fully adjustable
to suit uneven designs.
Working with these types of
systems presents roofing
contractors with a quicker, more
cost-effective and more practical
approach to rooftop access, and will ensure that
they comply fully with the requirements of the
Work at Height Regulations.
Images, top to bottom: Board-Walk Mesh Walkway; Roof-
Walk rolling work platform; Valley-Walk mobile walking frame
Contact Easi-Dec
01767 691812
www.easi-dec.co.uk
@EasiDec
42 TC MARCH 2018

Innovative upgrade & refurbishment solutions for profiled fibre cement or metal roofs & cladding
Fragile roofs are only unsafe
if you walk on them.
Replace rooflights and sheets from below with Fixsafe.
Figures published by the Health & Safety Executive show that falls through fragile roof
materials caused over one quarter of fatal accidents in the construction industry.
Fixsafe addresses the problem and is playing a major role in reducing this statistic.
Fixsafe allows sheets to be replaced from below, eliminating the need to access fragile
roofs and thereby greatly increasing site safety. By removing the requirement for costly
safety netting, roof staging or external scaffolding, on-site time is reduced and access
equipment costs are minimised.
Replacing rooflights from below is an HSE recommended method and complies with
Regulation 9 of the Work At Height Regulations 2005. Protect your roofers and yourself and
your team by repairing or replacing rooflights and roof sheets with Fixsafe.
We also offer: • Insulated rooflights for energy-saving upgrades and refurbishment
• Lightweight over-roofing for cost-effective roof refurb with minimal disruption.
For details, please call us on 01543 687300 or visit www.filon.co.uk
Filon Fixsafe allows replacement rooflights
or roof sheets to be installed from below,
avoiding the need to access fragile roofs
Filon Products Ltd, Unit 3 Ring Road, Zone 2, Burntwood Business Park, Burntwood, Staffs WS7 3JQ

Flat Roofing: Project Focus
OVERCOMING COMPLEX DETAILS
Total Contractor takes a look at Envirotek’s work on a seven storey commercial scheme in
the centre of Cardiff’s Commercial Enterprise Zone; a project which involved some
interesting challenges...
Aseven storey landmark commercial
scheme in the centre of Cardiff’s
Commercial Enterprise Zone, Number
Three Capital Quarter will provide 77,931ft² of
high quality office space, with a central atrium
and terraces on the 6th and first floors providing
features that will ensure a pleasant and
functional workplace for occupiers.
Designed by architects Morgan 2 Hayman, for
developer JR Smart, the speculative office
building adds to the existing 200,000ft² of office
space already occupied at Capital Quarter,
providing high calibre accommodation for
occupiers.
Prestige & performance
Conveniently, located close to Cardiff’s railway
stations and within easy reach of both the city
centre and Cardiff Bay, Number Three Capital
Quarter is part of a major investment in the city’s
Central Business District. The specification of the
office building not only needs to reflect the
prestige and quality required to attract occupiers
today, but also needs to withstand the test of
time to provide an extended service life for
continued high calibre accommodation in the
future.
As a critical element of the building envelope, the
roof build up had to be aligned to this
specification philosophy and the decision to use a
RubberGard EPDM membrane from Firestone was
driven by the developer.
Gary Foster from JR Smart explained: “We had
used Firestone’s RubberGard EPDM membrane on
previous schemes on the Capital Quarter
development and had been very pleased with how
quickly and easily it could be installed with a neat
Images show Number Three Capital Quarter project. Project details: Total Roof Area: 1,300m² • Products Used: Firestone
RubberGard EPDM waterproofing membrane • Firestone QuickSeam FormFlash • Contractor: Envirotek • Client: JR Smart •
Length of Programme: 2 years
“The team had to
interface the
membrane with
abseiling hooks”
finish. The service life of the roof is very
important for these high calibre office schemes
as it will reduce maintenance requirements and
ensure the building retains its Grade A
performance.
“We’re confident the strength and durability of
RubberGard EPDM will give us a fit and forget
solution, which, as the membrane will be
obscured by the paved overlay, was a vital factor
in the specification.”
The RubberGard EPDM membrane was installed
by Firestone Licensed contractor, Envirotek, on
the main roof area at 7th floor level along with the
terraces at 6th and 1st floor level. The contractor
was involved in the project at design stage to
ensure that sufficient provision was made for
drainage in terms of the number and size of
drainage outlets to maximise roof performance
and avoid any risk of standing water.
Envirotek began the installation by priming the
concrete roof with a bonded vapour control layer.
To further aid drainage to the outlets designed
into the roof, a tapered insulation scheme was
then installed, creating a fall to the drainage
points. This was installed as a two layer
insulation system, with flat insulation board
followed by the tapered board to deliver the
required U-value.
With the insulation in place, the RubberGard EPDM
could be adhered to the roof. Firestone worked with
Envirotek to develop the specification for the
membrane, assisting with wind loading
calculations and optimisation of the membrane
material to support a safe installation process with
high standards of integrity for the finished roof.
44 TC MARCH 2018

Neil Jones from Envirotek explained: “We have
used RubberGard EPDM on many projects but the
technical support and training provided by
Firestone help to ensure that we deliver the
highest standards of quality and workmanship on
every scheme, with a team that are confident
with even the most complex of details.”
The detailing required for the fully-adhered
RubberGard EPDM membrane at Number Three
Capital Quarter was said to be considerable. The
Envirotek team had to interface the membrane
with abseiling hooks around the perimeter of the
seven storey roof, which will be used for window
cleaning purposes, along with steel columns that
support maintenance gantries, structural
steelwork installed on the roof to create visual
shielding for rooftop plant and support steelwork
for a solar PV installation.
For all the penetrations, Envirotek used
Firestone’s QuickSeam FormFlash, an uncured
EPDM flashing laminated to cured seam tape. The
tape was used to fully-encapsulate any details
and regular site visits from Firestone’s technical
support team ensured that all elements of the
installation were fully compliant to the
manufacturer’s guidelines. The building has been
designed with a 1.3m parapet wall around the
perimeter of both the main roof area and the
terraces, and the roofing scheme required a
solution that could be taken up and over the top
of these walls with a metal capping termination.
On the main roof area, Envirotek took the insulation
up the wall, followed by the fully adhered
RubberGard EPDM membrane. For the terraces, the
RubberGard EPDM was adhered directly onto the
concrete face of the parapet wall and terminated at
the top of the wall with a metal capping, before
being obscured by a 50mm cement particle board,
which was mechanically fixed to the internal face of
the wall to provide a decorative finish, visible to any
occupant standing on the terrace.
Indeed, with the installation now complete, none
of the RubberGard EPDM membrane is visible.
Both the roof and terrace areas have been
finished with 600 x 600 x 50mm paving slabs,
which have been mounted onto support pads to
protect the membrane from abrasion and aid
drainage. For the terrace areas, adjustable
support pads enabled the paving to be laid as a
flat walking surface level with access to the 6th
and 1st floor doorways, despite the falls created
by the tapered insulation.
Contact Firestone
01606 552026
www.firestonebpe.co.uk
@FirestonebpUK
EXPE ECT
MORE INNOVAT
TION
INTRODUCING THE NEW DOUBLE
The new Danelaw Double Slip Tile Vent is designed to accommodate
small cuts of machine or handm made clay and concrete plain tiles at high
or low level as an alternative to ridge or eaves ventilation.
It provides
discreet, unobtrusive ventilation through an uninterrupted roofscape on
pitches of 35º or greater. The use of Double Slip Tile Vent can meet the
BS5250 and BS5534 requirements and also provides a means of soilpipe
* THAT T’S THE DANELAW DIFFERENCE
PIT CHED ROOFING | FLASHINGS | VENTILATION
| ANCILLARIES WWW.HAMBLESIDE-DANELADANELA
AW.CO.UK
MARCH 2018 TC 45

Rolled Lead Sheet
INSTALLING ROLLED LEAD SHEET:
HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW?
Darren Tutt, Lead Sheet Association Technical Officer, offers some top tips to assist
contractors when working on projects which involve Rolled Lead Sheet.
The Lead Sheet Association has been
providing technical advice and training for
decades across the construction industry.
Using that expertise, we have put together the top
ten issues and queries we deal with on a day-today
basis to help contractors get the most out of
this material.
All the advice and guidance provided here is in
relation to Rolled Lead Sheet manufactured to BS
EN 12588 and conforming to the Standard set out
in BS 6915. More detailed information about the
following issues can be found in the LSA’s
Complete Manual, or if you want a handy guide to
basic information when you are out and about, on
our new App – search LSApp – it’s available for
Apple and Android.
We are also on the other end of the phone to
support contractors with more complex enquiries
where we handle thousands of calls a year
through our technical enquiry line. We know that
contractors have to contend with many aspects of
roofing and often bring in lead or hard metal
specialists, but by sharing the following we hope
to give you some guidance on the things to look
out for.
1. Ventilation
The consequences of installing lead sheet on an
unventilated substrate can be detrimental to the
expected longevity of the roof in question. All lead
sheet should be laid on a thoroughly ventilated
substrate. That means that under the decking
the lead sheet that actually sits on there should
be a minimum 50mm through-ventilated path
with no stagnant air pockets. Even vertical
applications should be ventilated although here
the ventilated path can be reduced to 25mm.
“All lead sheet must be
laid on a minimum fall
of 1:80 which equates
to a little under 1
degree”
2. Neoprene expansion joints
Traditionally, lead gutters incorporate steps or
‘drips’ in their design. These are intended to break
up the lengths of lead sheet used to ensure that
thermal expansion is within guidelines for
individual pieces of lead. In many instances this
works wonderfully well, but in others there simply
isn’t the height to allow for them. Our advice is
simple really – wherever possible stick to
traditional tried and tested methods and only use
neoprene expansion joints as a last resort. With
46 TC MARCH 2018

new-build design, the inclusion of drips should
always be considered first.
3. Lead sizing
Getting the thickness of the lead sheet right for a
particular application is essential. Lead comes in
a range of codes (thicknesses) yet so many times
we see the wrong codes of lead used or the
individual pieces of lead sheet installed in too
large a piece. Lead sheet is a metal of low
strength but provision for this is made by sizing
and fixing within certain parameters so that the
risk of fatigue cracking or ‘creep’ is minimised.
Check the Manual – or App – to make sure you
get the right code and the right length, lead is
incredibly reliable if you get these things right and
will last an incredible amount of time.
4. Underlays
When asked what underlay – if any – is required
the answer is quite simple. If exterior quality
plywood, penny gap softwood boarding, penny
gap oak boarding, stone, concrete or brick is
used, a building paper to BS 1521 Class A should
be used. It is only with penny gap softwood
boarding that geotextile fleece can be used as an
alternative. In all cases there must be throughventilation
present.
5. Flashing lengths
Lead flashings should nearly always be installed
in 1.5m lengths, however there are exceptions.
Lead flashings to asphalt, bituminous felt, or
single ply roof coverings are continuously bonded
along one side, therefore it is essential to limit the
lengths to 1m so that the thermal movement of
the lead sheet is not affected when exposed to
long periods of summer sun.
“We see lead flashings
or other edges of
roofing, cladding and
weatherings missing
any form of restraint to
their free edges”
6. Falls
All lead sheet must be laid on a
minimum fall of 1:80 which
equates to a little under 1
degree. Anything less may
encourage ponding water and
a build-up of debris and dust
or staining of the lead sheet
which should be avoided.
7. Clipping
There are so many instances where
we see lead flashings or other edges of
roofing, cladding and weatherings missing
any form of restraint to their free edges. All such
edges must be adequately clipped to prevent
lifting and distortion in high wind conditions, and
it is amazing to see how often these are missed
out or not considered at all. Clipping of lead sheet
varies considerably in both material used and the
distances that they are set apart – this is covered
in detail in the LSA Manual.
8. Laps
A lot of enquiries we get assume that a flashing
should lap over a pitched roof covering by 150mm.
This is true for a 30 degree slope, but what a lot of
people don’t realise is that the lap length is wholly
dependent on pitch and can vary considerably. We
usually end up referring clients to the 75mm lap
diagram that we show in the manual. Laps can
vary between 75mm to 395mm on pitched roofs or
even more if the exposure of a particular building
is considered severe. It is also worth noting that
the lap should always be taken from the lowest
row of fixings in whatever it is covering.
9. Fixing
The fixing of lead sheet is carried out in many
different ways, all of which are dependent on
the particular application. For instance, a lead
roofing bay on a roof with a small pitch of up to
3 degrees differs in the arrangement and
position of its fixings when compared to the
same roofing bay on a higher pitch. These
differences are very important to ensure correct
installation and future longevity.
Above: Lead is a contemporary building product that has
been used by architects in many different scenarios
“The consequences of
installing lead sheet on
an unventilated
substrate can be
detrimental to the
expected longevity of
the roof in question”
10. Damp Proof Courses (DPCs)
Lead DPCs and trays are designed to prevent
moisture that penetrates brick or stonework
finding its way into the building. Many of the
calls we receive regarding these centre around
mysterious staining appearing. In nearly all
cases this is caused by failure to treat the lead
that is built into the walls with bituminous
black paint on both sides prior to fitting. This
coating prevents free alkali in fresh Portland
cement mortar and sulphuric acid vapours that
are contained in the moisture in chimneys from
corroding the lead sheet.
Contact the Lead Sheet Association
01622 872 432
www.leadsheet.co.uk
@LeadSheetAssoc
MARCH 2018 TC 47

Opinion
ROOFING IS NOW A SAFE AND
DESIRABLE CAREER CHOICE
By Mark Hibberd, National Field Manager – Roofing at Sika
If I was a school leaver considering my career
options ahead of me, why would I choose to
take a job in the roofing industry? At face
value, it’s a decision that would see me spending
the best part of my working life out in all
weathers, doing a physically demanding role that
can be dirty and unsafe.
Most roofers when asked would probably not say
they always aspired to be a roofer from a young
age. Most roofers have fallen into the roofing
industry by accident or default. So how can we
encourage younger generations to embark on a
career in roofing?
Manufacturer training has improved significantly
and is backed up by Trade Associations and
national industry training boards to give each
roofing operative a qualification, meaning
recognition in the industry and the chance to
progress however far they wish. Once an
operative has a qualification and gains
experience in the installation of different roofing
systems, they become a prime target for
manufacturers looking for Field Technicians to
train in the use of their systems, products, and
inspect installations to maintain high
workmanship standards.
Some may move into site
supervision, contract management
or chance their arm at starting up their
own contracting organisation. Experienced
installation operatives are much sought after – they
do say you can’t teach experience.
Working practices
We can’t change the weather but we can change
working practices. Health and safety protocols
are at the forefront of any company’s strategy.
Sites now have excellent welfare facilities,
stringent PPE and place the emphasis on the
safety of workers at all times. Products also have
to meet or exceed strict guidelines, particularly
when it comes to installation.
“We can’t change
the weather but
we can change
working practices”
Left: Mark Hibberd, National Field Manager –
Roofing at Sika
Manufacturers, such as ourselves,
are constantly reacting to
feedback from operatives and
changing installation techniques and
products to mitigate the stress on the
applicator. New products are designed to be far
less demanding and cleaner to use than
traditional methods.
Spray technology has made major in-roads into
most manufacturers’ portfolio of products which
negates the need for site operatives to spread
adhesives with rollers, brushes or squeegees and
saving from future exo-skeletal problems. Selfadhered
membranes are seen as a progressive
way of installing single ply membranes for the
same reasons, again with Sika leading the way.
All this, combined, gives me such hope for the
future of the industry.
Long-term career opportunities
The roofing industry is now safer, cleaner and
less physically demanding than ever before and
also offers more long-term career opportunities
for young professionals than we’ve ever seen.
This has helped draw more talented professionals
into roofing, something we’re personally seeing
through the Sika apprenticeships, industrial
placements and internships. With more high
quality roofing professionals using high quality
products, the roofing industry will continue to
deliver high quality roofing results for projects of
all shapes and sizes up and down the country for
many years to come.
Contact Sika
01707 394444
gbr.sika.com
@SikaLimited
48 TC MARCH 2018

Specification
TOPHAT is the answer!
Have you signed up? It’s free and easy!
If not, find out more by calling 01992 444100
or email cpd@enviro-lead.co.uk
Hoddesdon | Barnsley | Glasgow

Roofing Updates
For further info on all these roofing updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
BATTEN END CLIP
SHOWS ITS TEETH
A new batten end clip, designed to make it easier for roofers to install dry verges in
accordance with the new BS 8612 Standard, has been launched by Marley Eternit.
Marley Eternit says its new c-shaped clip is a quick and easy way of complying with BS 8612
and provides a strong fix. The clip is designed to fit securely onto the end of the batten, with a robust metal plate for the dry verge to be fixed into, keeping the nail
locked into place. Alex Gill from Marley Eternit, explained: “Our new clip requires no nails and has sharp teeth which grip into the batten, making it extremely secure,
as well as being very quick to hammer into place.”
The new batten end clip also features a larger metal face plate, with multiple holes, to make alignment much simpler. Alex added: “There are many different dry verge
products on the market, with varying levels of performance. The new British Standard addresses some of the concerns the industry had not only about inconsistencies
between the quality of products, but also ensuring the systems are easy to fix correctly and securely.” www.marleyeternit.co.uk
A HEAVY RESEMBLANCE
Crammond Select Homes renovated the Powis Mains Farm in the village of Blairlogie, one of
Scotland’s first conservation villages, using CUPA PIZARRAS’ Heavy 3 slate due to its close
resemblance to the traditional highland slate from Ballachulish that is no longer produced.
Derek Waters of Derek Waters and Sons, the roofing contractor for this project, said: “We use
CUPA PIZARRAS frequently, as the slates are solid and can stand up to any powerful weather.
When we complete each house, it appears to have a perfect aesthetic every time and this is
thanks to this high quality product.” www.cupapizarras.com/uk
SITE SEEING WITH SR TIMBER
A revamped website has been launched by SR Timber as part of the batten
manufacturer’s drive to stay at the top of its game.
Shaun Revill, Trading Director, explained: “Websites are the public face of most companies,
ours included, and businesses in this day and age can’t afford to stand still, so it was
important that we refreshed the look of the site and improved the experience of using it. We’ve
had really good feedback from the people who have used it, and they especially like it when
they access it from their smartphone or tablet.” www.sr-timber.co.uk
A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE
ALM and Jamestown Metals are collectively said to be the UK’s leading distributors of
Rolled Lead Sheet manufactured to BS EN 12588 2006 in accordance with British
Standards and European norms for the building industry. To compliment this, they stock
the complete range of Premium Roofing ancillary products alongside Zinc and Aluminium
Soakers, Valleys and Ridges all produced to the customer’s requirements.
Furthermore, both companies are able to offer the full range of Hard Metals required for any roof
design, together with all that is required for a comprehensive package. www.associatedlead.co.uk
50 TC MARCH 2018

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS
Snickers says its new Floorlayers Work Trousers and the patented Knee Guard System combine very
effectively to deliver the ultimate solution for working safely and in comfort on your knees.
These new trousers are said to take the best features, fabrics and functionality from Snickers’ new FLEXIWork
range and combine them with the best of the classic Floorlayer trouser.
With an advanced body-mapping design, they’re made from the highly durable Ripstop fabric with a
‘mechanical stretch’, providing great flexibility, comfort and advanced functionality. What’s more, the kneepad
pockets are made of a full-stretch Armortex fabric with DuPont Kevlar aramid fibres, keeping the kneepads in the optimum, durable working
position as you move around.
Snickers says these trousers are ergonomically designed to anticipate your natural working movements. They come with an integrated belt for superior waist
fit, with easy-to-access holster pockets with zipped compartment leg pockets including knife fastener, mobile phone compartment and detachable hidden IDbadge
holder. www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
A TRULY COORDINATED DESIGN
Freefoam Building Products has launched an Anthracite Grey Round Gutter System.
The popularity of Ral 7016 Anthracite Grey for windows and doors has been phenomenal over
the last few years. Freefoam has consequentially seen sales of its Deep rainwater range in
Anthracite Grey increase over the last 18 months. The addition of a round gutter system is the
next logical step to give Freefoam customers more choice and the flexibility to meet demand
from housebuilders and specifiers. It is manufactured exactly to Ral 7016 allowing customers
to create a truly co-ordinated design. www.freefoam.com
ENERGY AND MOISTURE CONTROL
The A. Proctor Group will be showcasing its latest innovations in managing the balance between heat, air and
moisture movement within the building envelope at this year’s Ecobuild.
Architects, developers and contractors will be guided through the most effective solutions and high-specification products
designed to ensure the most energy-efficient and moisture free building envelope for both commercial and residential
projects. Innovations on show include Fireshield, the vapour permeable walling underlay with a fireproof surface;
Spacetherm which maximises thermal performance in space critical applications; plus Wraptite and Roofshield.
Visit A. Proctor Group at Ecobuild on Stand E60. www.proctorgroup.com
A FASTER FIX WITH SLATER’S TUB
Marley Eternit has launched a new Slater’s Tub to make it quicker and easier to install
fibre cement slates to BS 5534 requirements. The convenient container is designed to
sit perfectly on the battens and contains all of the fixings needed to install 1,000
slates.
Removing the need to have loose bags open on the roof, the cost-effective Slater’s Tub
contains 2,000 copper nails and 1,000 copper disc rivets in two sections ready to use, saving
time and improving safety on site. www.marleyeternit.co.uk
MARCH 2018 TC 51

Guarantees
ARE YOU GUARANTEED A NASTY
SURPRISE?
Here, Dave Cooper, Customer Technical Services Manager at Tata Steel, explores what
makes a good guarantee and explains the importance of really understanding them.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the
definition of a guarantee is ‘a promise that
something will be done or will happen,
especially a written promise by a company to
repair or change a product that develops a fault
within a particular period of time’.
Guarantees are a great way to boost customer
confidence. In fact, they are one of the most
“This often involves
navigating the supply
chain to determine the
outcome”
powerful commitments that a business can make
to demonstrate confidence in their products.
For example, a well-established company, which
has a strong track record, will provide end users
peace of mind that they will be around long
enough to honour a guarantee if required.
As such, when it comes to choosing your product
– especially pre-finished steel products – it is
important to understand what guarantees
manufacturers provide.
Indeed, for most building owners, discovering
whether the products used for their roof and wall
systems will be rectified within the parameters of
the guarantee is a time-consuming and laborious
task.
This often involves navigating the supply chain,
from contractor to contractor, right back to the
manufacturer of the product, to determine the
outcome.
For pre-finished steel products, this can be
especially frustrating if during the lifespan of the
building a single maintenance check or inspection is
missed, resulting in the guarantee being invalidated.
Also, it may be that not all features are included,
such as factory cut edges, and cover may be
limited.
52 TC MARCH 2018

More than just a
pretty fixing.
Whether it’s speed of service,
reliability of delivery or varied
product range, we know what
matters most to contractors.
Speak to our friendly team today
and let us find a complete solution
for your next project.
01242 265 100
fixingpoint.com
Roofing &
Cladding
Fixings
Roofing &
Cladding
Support
Systems
Sealing
Products
Tools &
Accessories
Flat Roof
Products

Guarantees
The details
Therefore, it’s important to delve deep into the
details of guarantees to ensure you and your
clients are getting the real deal when it comes to
promises. And there are a few items you should
keep an eye out for:
• Factory cut edges being covered for the entirety
of the guarantee.
• Cover under photovoltaic (PV) modules for the
full guarantee period.
• Fully transferable should building ownership
change.
•Flashings included, if registered for at the same
time as the roof and / or wall.
•Full rectification in the unlikely event of a claim.
“Delve deep into the
details of guarantees
to ensure you and your
clients are getting the
real deal when it
comes to promises”
Guarantees offered direct to the building owner
present fundamental advantages. Creating a
contractual relationship between the
manufacturer and the building owner will ensure
that if any problems do arise, they can be
rectified quickly and efficiently.
At Tata Steel we offer the Confidex Guarantee. The
guarantee continues to provide the most
comprehensive protection for branded pre-finished
steel products used in roof and wall cladding
applications. It also provides peace of mind for the
building owner, as well as the supply chain.
The Confidex Guarantee is the product performance
guarantee for Colorcoat HPS200 Ultra and
Colorcoat Prisma. It offers up to 40 years of
protection when used in external conventional
building envelope applications – namely roof and
wall cladding – using single skin, built-up or
composite panel construction in industrial and
commercial buildings.
Above: a Tata Steel project;
Right: Tata Steel offers the
Confidex Guarantee
Key relationships
Provided directly to the
building owner, the unique
guarantee creates a
contractual relationship
between the end client
and Tata Steel, removing
the need for a property
owner to navigate the supply
chain in the unlikely event of
a claim. And for projects
around coastal areas, the Confidex Guarantee has
also been increased from up to 25 to up to 30
years for walls with Colorcoat Prisma.
Requiring no maintenance and inspection to
remain valid, the guarantee also removes the
need to go onto the roof of a property, reducing
maintenance costs and improving safety.
Furthermore, the Confidex Guarantee ensures full
rectification in an unlikely event of a failure,
including factory cut edges, which are covered for
the duration of the guarantee.
With a simple online registration process
following installation, the guarantee is easily
transferred should building ownership change,
and is supported with a dedicated service team.
Undeniably, building material
guarantees offer building owners
reassurance of the product’s quality, lifespan
and performance. By delving into the detail of a
guarantee and choosing solutions supported by
comprehensive, market-leading guarantees,
building owners can enjoy complete peace of
mind.
“It may be that not all
features are included,
such as factory cut
edges, and cover may
be limited”
Contact Tata Steel
020 7717 4444
www.tatasteelconstruction.com
@TataSteelConstr
54 TC MARCH 2018

Timelessly beautiful facades
With the visual appeal of natural timber, simplicity of installation and resistance to rot, the
Cedral range offers an attractive, low maintenance alternative to traditional weatherboard
cladding materials.
Marley Eternit Limited Lichfield Road | Branston | Burton-upon-Trent | DE14 3HD
Request your free Cedral samples at:
www.cedralsidings.com

Walls & Roofs
UNDERSTANDING DOUBLE SKIN
GRID SUPPORT SYSTEMS
By Jason Wood, Contracts Director at Fixing Point.
Using double skin or twin skin steel
insulated cladding applications is a costeffective
way of improving the efficiency
of a building or renewing a roof covering. The
system usually consists of a profiled metal liner,
a layer of insulation, a spacer system and an
external metal sheet.
The application of this method does, however,
require consideration of a number of different
factors, all of which can impact the overall
stability and effectiveness of a building.
Understanding the installation procedures and
type of roofing and cladding system is essential in
ensuring a building is secure and performs the
way it should.
Getting this wrong could result in multiple
problems further down the line and may even
require the involvement of an additional
structural engineer to create
a solution at more cost.
Spacer systems
explained
The purpose of a spacer
system is to provide
support to the external
sheet at specific points from
the liner sheet.
It therefore needs to be strong enough to
transfer sufficient loading through to the
purlins.
The most common spacer system is the bar and
bracket, which creates a platform for the external
sheet by using steel bars.
These are then supported by steel brackets
attached to the purlins through the liner.
Left: Work at the Logistics City project.
Image courtesy of Deane Roofing
Insulation
Double skin roofing and
wall cladding panels
with a layer of
insulation in between
can provide additional
strength and efficiency
to a building.
The minimum thickness of
insulation for energy use compliance
has, however, increased considerably over the
last 30 years. This means that ensuring you have
the correct insulation at the right thickness is
essential for obtaining the optimum U-value.
It is also very important to realise that different
depths of liner sheets impact the U-value
calculations. For example, installing a 32mm liner
will mean thicker depth of construction is
required to achieve a particular U-value than
using a 19mm liner. The purlin centre spacings on
a building will also affect a U-value calculation,
for example 1.8m vs 1.4m.
Vertical vs horizontal cladding
When planning for your cladding application for
roofing or walling, the most important detail to
understand from the outset is that horizontal and
vertical cladding require different approaches for
their application.
Contractors often think they can use a standard
support system for any type of cladding, but
horizontal cladding is, in fact, much more
complicated than vertical.
With vertical cladding for walls, the steel bars are
fixed horizontally and in line with the purlins
underneath and the profile sheet is then fitted
vertically. Horizontal cladding, however, requires a
56 TC MARCH 2018

Images show the Logistics City project Fixing Point worked on with Deane Roofing, at Motherwell Way, West Thurrock, which demonstrates the use of double-skin horizontal cladding
different approach as the bars must be fixed
vertically, which can be a cause of confusion at
the application stage.
The reason for using vertical bars that span
across the purlins below is so the building can
handle the wind load more effectively. Although
the external weather sheet is designed to
protect the building from adverse weather
conditions, it does also play an important role
in the overall structure of a building. It is,
therefore, essential that it is fitted with the
appropriate support.
The corners of buildings are often more exposed
to higher wind loads, so when using vertical bars
the spacing between them is particularly
important for horizontal wall cladding sections.
At Fixing Point, we recommend the use of the
Gridtite General Purpose (GP) lightweight bar and
bracket system for horizontal cladding. It is
designed to provide a controlled space between
the inner and outer metal sheets that make up
twin skin site assembled roofing and walling
“Contractors often
think they can use a
standard support
system for any type of
cladding, but horizontal
cladding is more
complicated than
vertical”
systems and is strong and stable when sheeted
over.
Using specialist systems for horizontal cladding
might seem like an unnecessary expense at
design stage, but it could ultimately save much
more money in the long run. Because the bars are
fitted vertically, a standard support system is
unlikely to provide a sufficient level of security for
the building and would have less spanning
capabilities.
A system like Gridtite GP also provides the option
of pre-assembled bars, which removes the risk of
misalignment of fixed brackets, and uses a single
layer of quilt insulation. Contractors should,
however, always take note of the capability of any
GP system to accept wind suction and wind
pressure loads. Thermal and structural values
will also vary with every application.
Contact Fixing Point
01242 265100
www.fixingpoint.com
@FixingPoint
MARCH 2018 TC 57

Health & Wellbeing
THE 3 RS: MIND HOW YOU GO...
Total Contractor takes a look at how Willmott Dixon has been tackling ‘mental fitness’ on its
construction sites through its All Safe Minds initiative.
Willmott Dixon has a long and wellestablished
track record for
safeguarding the physical health of its
employees across the nation’s construction sites.
But as a result of some unsettling figures that
have emerged from the industry over recent
years, they are now also leading the way in
raising awareness of the mental health issues
affecting the sector.
2017 saw the launch of All Safe Minds – a
campaign to encourage mental fitness across the
UK construction sector, particularly amongst
young men who historically have found it difficult
to talk about their problems.
Recent studies commissioned by Public Health
England (PHE) found that certain groups of male
construction workers were at greatest risk of
suicide, with figures at a staggering 3.7 times
above the national average.
As one of the UK’s largest contractors, Willmott
Dixon forged ahead with the All Safe Minds
campaign to ensure that everyone working on its
many project sites across the UK is fully aware of
the support network available.
All Safe Minds aims to instil a 3-step process –
the Three Rs – into daily work culture,
encouraging all employees to:
1. RECOGNISE. Be aware if you or someone you
know is struggling to cope.
2. REACH OUT. Start the conversation. If you are
struggling, talk to someone you trust. Or if you
know a colleague is struggling, offer your support
– simply lending an ear can make all the
difference.
3. REBUILD. Use the resources available to you
to start taking back control.
The All Safe Minds infographic
As part of the All Safe Minds campaign, a hardhitting
infographic has been released, laying bare
some frightening statistics.
Mark French, Head of Health, Safety and
Environment for Willmott Dixon Group, explained:
“Although the way we deal with mental health in
the workplace is improving fast, our industry still
presents some of the most upsetting statistics.
The figures make uncomfortable reading, but we
need to break the taboo and start talking about
how serious this problem is. The infographic
immediately caught the attention of the UK trade
media, who helped it reach hundreds of
thousands of construction personnel within just a
few days of its release.”
As a direct result of the infographic, Mark was
invited to appear on a ground breaking 24-hour
non-stop broadcast for mental health hosted by
Radio City in Liverpool. The major event took
place on Monday 15th January, aka Blue Monday,
and featured contributions from many of the
region’s most respected healthcare professionals.
Mental Health First Aiders
To support the public face of All Safe Minds,
Willmott Dixon is working tirelessly behind the
scenes to increase the routes to support. All
operatives across project sites nationwide receive
an introductory presentation on mental health in
which they are made aware of the help available.
In addition, hundreds of Mental Health First Aiders
(MHFAs) are being trained and deployed to site. The
MHFAs will provide a network of support across the
entire organisation, encouraging employees and
colleagues to seek help if they have existing
problems or realise that they’re starting to struggle.
Every site office will clearly display a new
campaign poster raising awareness of the MHFAs
and making it easy for personnel to contact their
local first aider quickly and discreetly if needed.
All Safe Minds Z-Cards
The latest addition to the campaign is a new Z-
Card, which is issued to everyone attending the
initial mental health session. The discreet
business-card sized aide has been designed to fit
easily into a pocket or wallet, offering a subtle
source of reference, which can be accessed easily
if the need arises. Hundreds of Z-Cards have
already been issued, with thousands more ready
to be handed out over coming months.
Mark French concluded: “Our long-term aim is
for All Safe Minds to become a natural mind-set
for men to seek help if they become overwhelmed
by their personal situation. The Z-Card will be
handed out across our business both internally
and externally. The logo and ethos are already
commonplace across Willmott Dixon sites and
throughout 2018 we will continue to roll the
campaign out to a wider construction audience
until All Safe Minds becomes engrained into our
everyday culture.”
Contact Willmott Dixon
01462 671852
www.willmottdixon.co.uk
#AllSafeMinds
58 TC MARCH 2018

LEVATO MONO
Porcelain paver system
and coordinating internal tiling
The Deck Tile Co’s new website www.surface360.co.uk now has +150 colours and
finishes in their Levato Mono 20mm porcelain ranges plus co-ordinating internal tiling –
enabling seamless visual transition between internal and external spaces.
20mm porcelain pavers 40x80 45x90 60x60
75x75 80x80 30x120 40x120 60x120
‘Floating floor’ – installation over single ply
membranes
Eternal product - zero maintenance required
– offering massive over-life savings
Highly abrasion and stain resistant
Highly slip resistant ; R11 AB+C
Lightweight – 45kgs per m 2
High load bearing and impact resistance
Timber, stone & cementitious effects
Completely non porous
Ideal for balconies, roof terraces and piazzas,
for both commercial and residential use
Frost proof
Height adjustable/slope correcting support
system ranging from 9mm up to 550mm
INTRODUCING OUR NEW WEBSITE:
WWW.SURFACE360.CO.UK

Cladding Updates
MAKING AN
ENTRANCE!
Skyline Fascia, Soffits and Copings – part of Alumasc Water Management Solutions
(AWMS) – has supplied bespoke window and door surrounds to create a striking
new entrance and frontage for a major office refurbishment in Spitalfields, London.
For further info on all these cladding updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
The project, known as 45 Folegate Street, was led by Tatehindle Architects, who worked
closely with contractor Tetraclad to install the new window and door surrounds. Matt
Swaffer, Tetraclad Contracts Director, explained: “The drawings requested an aluminium
cladding panel which included specific detailing. I was tempted to steer away from it at
first as I had never attempted anything like it before. Some of this detailing was quite
complex but I knew Skyline would produce good fabrication drawings – a service which
other manufacturers don’t offer. It worked out very well.” www.alumascskyline.co.uk
“SOME OF THIS DETAILING WAS
QUITE COMPLEX BUT I KNEW
SKYLINE WOULD PRODUCE GOOD
FABRICATION DRAWINGS”
AHEAD OF THE CURVE
Contour North and South, two luxury housing projects located just off Chircombe Lane
near the river Torridge in Bideford, Devon, have utilised Catnic’s SSR² roof because of
its aesthetic appeal and performance capabilities.
Due to the buildings’ unique curved roof design, Catnic manufactured bespoke curved panels to
ensure an easy to assemble and flexible installation. Martin Riley, Director at Building Firm Riley
& Guy explained: “The SSR² system is extremely flexible in its design, however we had to ensure
that the panels fitted the curvature of the buildings without distorting them.” www.catnic.com
SCREEN STAR
Black Mountain has launched a new video which opens with the image – and sound – of
crackling flames, thereby vividly alluding to the purpose and the performance of its
Magply, Euroclass A1 and non-combustible Fire Protection Boards.
The manufacturer says it has made the film to emphasize Magply’s superiority over other
manufacturers’ boards, in terms of its strength, breathability and low carbon footprint and crucially
its low chloride content which negates any moisture related problems. Importantly, to ensure low
chloride content in the manufacturing process, Magply is air dried. www.magply.co.uk/video
BRONZE AGE
The £57m new Emily Wilding Davison Building at Royal Holloway, University of London’s
Egham campus, has been clad using Proteus HR TECU Bronze materials.
The east side of the striking 10,000m² building, which expands the university’s library
provision, now features the beautiful brown-red to brown-grey and ochre tones of Proteus HR’s
TECU Bronze cladding panels. The main contractor was Osborne and the Proteus HR TECU
Bronze cladding panels were installed by Colorminium who worked with Associated Architects
and Proteus Facades during the process. www.proteusfacades.com
60 TC MARCH 2018

ideal for use on conservatory
conversions, outbuildings
and commercial projects
A unique premium quality lightweight roofing
tile available in a choice of three colours
specifically developed for the UK market.
The smaller ExtraLight ridge and hips are
designed to be more aesthetically pleasing
and in-keeping with a conservatory style roof.
Priced in Kits or Pallet Quantities
Next Day Delivery in Mainland UK
Over Half a Million Pounds Worth
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Wider Range of Accessories
compared to other Lightweight
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New Range of Wall Soakers
35% Extra Superior Base Coat
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50 Year Warranty
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20 Year Warranty
on the Tile Coating
www.extralight.co.uk
Tel: 01772 80 20 22
Email: sales@extralight.co.uk
Unit 4 | Croft Street | Preston | Lancashire | PR1 8ST

Hackitt review
A CALL TO ACTION
The Hackitt Review is set to help bring change to the construction industry, and that change
should be for the better, but what does it really mean for contractors operating in the roofing
and cladding sectors? Roy Weghorst, Head of Regulatory Affairs – Fire at Kingspan, gives
Total Contractor his thoughts...
Ever since the terrible fire at Grenfell Tower
claimed the lives of 71 people in June
2017, there has been a hunger for real
change. It is hoped that the Independent Review
of the Building Regulations and Fire Safety, led by
Dame Judith Hackitt, will help to bring about that
change. The full Review is due to be published in
the next few weeks, but the construction industry
is looking for clear guidance now.
The Interim Report, which was published in
December 2017, highlights six areas where
change needs to happen:
• Regulation and Guidance
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Competence
• Process, Compliance and Enforcement
• Residents’ Voice and Raising Concerns
• Quality Assurance and Products
Each of these will have an impact on contractors
to some degree, and it is important to understand
what that might be.
Regulation and guidance
The first point to be raised is that the rules for
high-rise and complex buildings should be made
more risk-based, in proportion to how great the
risks are, and that people responsible for those
buildings should be more accountable. There is,
of course, already additional guidance for some
high-risk buildings such as hospitals and schools,
but this recommendation would take much more
account of how buildings in general are going to be
used and who is going to be using them.
A possible knock-on effect from this
recommendation could be better levels of
insurance premiums, because the balance of risk
is being managed better.
The next point is a call to action to the
construction industry to take more responsibility
for the identification and specification of safe
solutions that meet the Government “functional
standards”, rather than relying on Government
guidance being kept up to date, or on overprescription
within that guidance. This would be
an important shift – it makes the industry more
accountable, at the same time allowing for
innovative solutions, provided they meet the
requirements.
The last, and probably the most important point is
that “Regulations and guidance must be
simplified and unambiguous”. Nobody would
argue against the claim that aspects of the
current guidance are complicated and that this
may have been a factor in many of the problems
now coming to light. Making the guidance clearer
is the first step towards healing our broken
system.
Roles and responsibilities
We’ve already talked about the industry as a
whole taking more responsibility. This section
looks at the part that individuals must play. The
report states that the main responsibility rests
with “those who commission, design and build
the project”. In other words, if you are a
contractor on a project, you are responsible for
the quality of the build. This may seem like an
obvious thing, but especially on big projects with
complicated supply chains, it is all too easy to
BS 8414 test to assess system performance
assume that somebody else is checking that
nothing is being missed. It is stressed, therefore,
that this responsibility must rest with “clearly
identifiable senior individuals”. Of course, it is not
just the build stage that is coming under scrutiny,
and the next recommendation is that who is
responsible for what should be made clearer over
the whole life of the building.
Competence
Fire prevention in buildings is a complex thing.
Understanding how all the different elements
interact and being able to construct them
correctly requires specialist knowledge and skill,
especially for something like a high-rise building.
The suggestion is that we need to raise the
levels of competence for those involved in fire
prevention, whether it’s design, construction,
inspection or maintenance, and to have a
system of accreditation to demonstrate that
competence.
62 TC MARCH 2018

Delivering
training
excellence
to the
construction
industry
National Construction Training Services is
committed to providing an outstanding level of
training across all roofing disciplines.
All facets of pitched and flat roofing are included
with extra focus given to the most needed
sectors such as lead and hard metal.
Our professional and progressive course
programmes inspire and educate roofers.
Working with roofing federations, training groups,
manufacturers and employers from across the
industry we can offer a variety of training courses
designed to fit with your needs, no matter your
level of skill.
NCTS Training & Assessment
Lead & Hard Metal Slate and Tiling Flat Roofing
Apprenticeships Upskilling Programmes Liquid Waterproofing
Manufacturers Training
OSAT Qualifying the workforce
For more information on apprenticeship training contact:
training@ncts.org.uk
www.ncts.org.uk
01480 501011
National Construction Training Services
@NCTS_2017
NCTS

Hackitt review
Process, compliance and enforcement
Making sure that a building is safe in the event of
a fire doesn’t end with the original design and
construction. Most buildings are expected to last
for decades, and over that time are likely to be
altered in some way or may even undergo a
change of use. They also need maintaining. The
report talks about having a “golden thread” for
high-rise and complex buildings – a means of
keeping a record of any changes and any reviews
of the building to check whether it is still safe and
fit for purpose.
The proper use of BIM at the right level could
potentially be a way of supplying that “golden
thread” – a comprehensive log of every detail
from design to construction, which is then handed
over to the building manager to be updated
throughout the life of the building.
Secondly, these processes need to be enforced
much more rigorously than under the current
system, with proper sanctions for “the few who
do not follow the rules”.
Residents’ voice and raising concerns
All too often, the people who live in these
buildings are not consulted or listened to when
they raise concerns. Yet they are most likely to be
able to spot problems and identify risks. They
should also be able to have peace of mind that
their homes have been constructed safely. The
other steps highlighted above should help to
provide that assurance, and the report also
states that there should be a “clear, quick and
effective route for residents’ concerns to be
addressed”.
Quality assurance and products
Specifiers and contractors rely on manufacturers
to supply good information about the performance
of their products. It is essential that this
information is based on proper testing and
certification. One of the issues highlighted in the
report is that individual products are being used
as part of systems, when those systems have not
been fully tested. In other words, the
performance of individual components should
Changing the way that health and safety is managed on site has greatly reduced risks to construction workers
The installation of the system is every bit as important as the
product performance
not be taken in isolation, but in relation to how
they are installed and how they interact with
each other – something that can only be
assessed through large-scale system testing
such as BS 8414.
From a contractor’s point of view, the
installation of the system is every bit as
important as the product performance, with the
report stating that:
“The integrity and efficacy of product and system
classifications are highly dependent on correct
installation by competent and knowledgeable
persons”.
The report therefore calls for products to be
marketed in a way that is “clear and easy to
interpret” – there must be no ambiguity. It also
highlights the need for the quality of the
“In other words, if you
are a contractor on a
project, you are
responsible for the
quality of the build”
installation work to be overseen. Even the best
performing products and systems can fail if
they are improperly installed.
A call to action
The summary of the report concludes “this is a
call to action for an entire industry”. The
responsibility to bring about real change rests
with all of us to step up and play our part.
Dame Judith reminds us that we have made
such a major shift in culture before; for
example, changing the way that health and
safety is managed on site has greatly reduced
risks to construction workers over the last
decade. Now it is time to make our buildings
safer for those who live and work in them.
We know the direction of travel. The next step is
to look at how we go about transforming the
regulatory system and delivering the quality of
buildings we know we are capable of.
Contact Kingspan Insulation
01544 387 384
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
@KingspanIns_UK
64 TC MARCH 2018

HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID
WATERPROOFING SYSTEM
BENEFITS & PRODUCT
INFORMATION
BBA certified for life in excess of 25 years.
NHBC and Green Roof Approval.
ULTRAFLEX can be used on new or existing
roofs, walkways, balconies, gutters etc.
Ready to use straight out of the tin, application
with solvent resistant roller.
Use fully reinforced with ULTRAFLEX matting
ensures easy ‘wet on wet’ application.
Can be used all year round – moisture curing.
Fully trafficable when cured.
Instantly rain resistant after application.
Once installed, forms a seamless membrane.
Exellent adhesion to different substrates: plywood,
bitumen membranes, asphalt, metals,
brick, concrete, wood etc.
Fresh concrete must be cured for 28 days.
On EPDM and TPO it is recommended to install
patch test to check compatibility.
Do not use silicone sealants. Always use PU
based mastics.

Stone Wool
BRINGING CLARITY TO FIRE SAFETY
By Tim Vincent, Head of Technical at ROCKWOOL.
Back in July 2017, the Government
announced an independent review of
Building Regulations and fire safety and a
final report is expected no later than Spring 2018.
As we await these findings, it’s important and
helpful to establish clarity in language and
definitions, specifically, the terms noncombustible
and combustible and how these
apply to building materials such as insulation and
cladding.
We can start with basic definitions. Here’s what
the Oxford English Dictionary has to say:
Non-combustible: Made of material that does not
burn if exposed to fire.
Combustible: Able to catch fire and burn easily.
But, how do these terms combustible and noncombustible
relate to building materials?
The European Reaction to Fire classification system
(Euroclasses) is the EU harmonised standard for
assessing the qualities of building materials in the
event of exposure to fire. This standard is a legal
requirement for CE marked construction products
and relevant for both the United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland.
As the name suggests, this classification system
assesses and rates the ‘reaction to fire’
performance of construction products, providing a
clear and simple method for comparing the
performance of products when exposed to fire.
When products are tested according to the
Euroclass system, a range of factors are
investigated: ignitability, flame spread, heat release,
smoke production and propensity for producing
flaming droplets / particles. The Euroclass system is
accepted by all European Union States (and is
mandatory where there is a Harmonised Product
Standard) and includes seven classification levels,
from A1 to F.
Understanding these Euroclass classifications is
vitally important.
The Euroclass system states that products
achieving A1 classification are defined as
non-combustible under these Regulations.
Products achieving an A2 classification are
recognised as products of limited
combustibility, offering “no significant contribution
to fire growth”.
Products achieving a rating of B-F are deemed to be
combustible. Where a product has not been
measured for fire safety under the Euroclass system
then it will be classed as F, meaning no
performance declared (NPD).
So, in short, non-combustible equals non
combustible.
Other terms typically used by the industry to
describe product performance, such as, fire safe,
fire proof, fire retardant or flame proof do not
necessarily define that the product is noncombustible.
“Non-combustible” is a legally defined
term within the Building Regulations.
So, how can you determine the Euroclass rating of a
product’s combustibility? In the case of thermal
insulation, all products should be CE marked
against the appropriate harmonised standard. The
Harmonised Product Standard for mineral wool is
BS EN 13162:2012.
Whichever harmonised standard is applicable, by
law, all manufacturers must have their products
independently tested to verify performance claims.
Once a product has been CE marked, the
manufacturer must make publicly available a
Declaration of Performance (DoP). The DoP is a legal
document in which the manufacturer identifies the
product and its intended use, indicating compliance
in relation to the relevant Harmonised Product
Standard and performance in relation to specified
“essential characteristics”.
It’s in the DoP that
you can determine a
product’s Euroclass
rating. The declared
value on the DoP will
match one of the
Euroclasses. For
ROCKWOOL stone wool
insulation, you will find an A1
rating, meaning non-combustible.
So, how is this information of use when considering
building products?
When we consider the fact that more than 95% of
buildings screened and covered by the recent
Government BS 8414 testing program failed to meet
current fire safety standards, it’s clear that
ambiguity, complexity, and confusion exists. This
leaves many people asking: “is there a simple way
to ensure a high rise building is compliant?”
An “obvious solution” was stated by the DCLG on
the 2nd August 2017 in their Advice to Landlords:
“to ensure that the cladding system adequately
resists external fire spread…replace the system
with one where all of the elements of the wall are of
limited combustibility. For example, a wall system
which includes an ACM panel with limited
combustibility filler (category 1) and limited
combustibility insulation, such as, stone wool.“
ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation withstands
temperatures of up to 1000°C and has achieved the
highest possible Euroclass rating: A1 noncombustible.
The Rainscreen DuoSlab, designed
and manufactured specifically for this kind of
application, is already an established choice within
the market and installed on many high rise projects.
Contact ROCKWOOL
01656 862 621
www.rockwool.co.uk
@ROCKWOOLUK
66 TC MARCH 2018

ICB TRAINING
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Rafter Level
THERMAL & ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES:
A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN
Chris Roughneen, Technical Manager at Isover, explains the importance of finding the
balance between the acoustic and thermal performance of building insulation – especially
when it comes to installing it within pitched roof rafters.
Over the last decade, there has been much
scrutiny on the energy efficiency of
homes, with the focus being placed highly
on the thermal performance of insulation.
However, as the agenda shifts towards achieving
a deeper understanding of how our environment
affects our health and well-being, the emphasis
is starting to be placed on how products can
actually enhance the lives of building occupants.
As such, when it comes to choosing insulation for
any application, you must take into account all of
its properties, including its thermal conductivity
and acoustic performance, as well as its ease of
installation to ensure you can complete the job
quickly and with minimal waste.
Everyone knows that the thermal performance of
insulation is important, but not many people
understand the impact of installing poorly
performing acoustic insulation.
In fact, according to the World Health Organisation,
being exposed to excessive noise can seriously
harm human health and interfere with people’s
daily activities at school, work and at home.
Therefore, when it comes to rafter-level insulation
for pitched roofs, it is important to ensure that not
only is it Building Regulations compliant, but that
it also enhances the general comfort of
occupants. After all, a quarter of the heat in a
building can be lost through an uninsulated roof,
while unwanted outside noise can disturb those
that use the space.
For these applications, I feel a high-performance
glass mineral wool is the best option as there are
many benefits to installing it within the rafter
zone of a pitched roof.
Firstly, it is a very cost effective solution
compared to other materials and some products,
such as our Metac range, can provide an
excellent thermal conductivity of 0.034 W/mK and
possess impressive acoustic properties.
What’s more, it’s also quick and easy to install,
as it’s lightweight and can easily be friction-fitted
between the rafters when cut accurately, which
will result in no slumping or air gaps. If you do
decide to install insulation within the rafters of a
pitched roof, you’ll also have to install a vapour
control layer. However, as many UK properties have
become better insulated and more airtight, moisture
management has risen as a key area of concern
across the market.
If not managed correctly, moisture build-up within
the building fabric can give rise to damp and rot,
potentially damaging the structure of the building
and affecting the day-to-day comfort levels of the
building’s occupants.
As such, a smart vapour control layer (VCL)
should be chosen. Vario XtraSafe is the latest
development in airtightness and moisture
management from Isover. It reacts to changes
within the internal environment, allowing the
membrane to permit trapped moisture to escape
from the structure in summer, whilst preventing
moisture accumulation over the winter months.
With the above in mind, it is vital that you liaise with
a reputable manufacturer to ensure that the correct
insulation is chosen for pitched roofs – or any
application – to not only comply with Building Regs,
but to provide occupants with a warm, comfortable
and peaceful environment to enjoy.
A quick guide to installing Metac, a range designed specifically for pitched roof rafters:
1) Measure and record both the vertical depth of the rafters and the horizontal widths of the gap
between the rafters.
2) Measure and cut the Metac roll with an insulation saw or knife to fit the horizontal width of the
gap between the rafters – adding an extra 10mm width to the measurement to allow for a snug fit.
3) Slit the packaging on the cut section to allow Metac to unroll and wait for the full thickness to
recover. Measure and cut the roll to the required length with a straight edge and sharp insulation knife.
4) Push and friction fit Metac between the rafters, keeping the lower face of Metac flush with the
bottom edge of the rafters.
Contact Isover
0800 032 2555
www.isover.co.uk
@IsoverUK
68 TC MARCH 2018

weather
The proof is
in the detail
When it comes to waterproofing any kind of
penetration – it’s the detail that counts. Which is
why aperture, a seamless cold applied system, is
one of the most successful products of its kind.
aperture benefits:
• High Elongation
• Permanent Elasticity
• Cold Applied, Using Hand Lay Process
• Durable Finish
• Reinforced With Chopstand Matting
• Can be Applied During or After Construction
• Minimal Disruption
• Maintenance Free
• 10 Year Guarantee Available
For further information call us on: 0161 772 1750
or email: iweston@aperturesp.co.uk
www.aperturesp.co.uk

EWI: Q&A
“GOOD IDEAS CAN FALL FOUL OF
POOR EXECUTION”
Chris Kendall, Field Engineer for Baumit, answers Total Contractor’s questions on his role,
the market in general, training and funding for the energy efficiency sector
TC: Could you tell us a bit about Baumit
and its offering for contractors and
installers…
CK: Baumit offers a wide range of innovative,
tested products from external wall insulation
systems to façade renders, paints and healthy
living indoor plasters. Our brand was created in
1988, following collaboration between two
Austrian building materials companies. Since
then we’ve become one of Europe’s leading
brands with a presence in more than 30
countries.
Images: Baumit has recently opened an EWI training facility in Kent. Email: contact@baumit.co.uk for more information
TC: You’re a Field Engineer at Baumit, can
you describe what this role involves...
CK: Dealing with customers and helping them
overcome on-site installation issues and offering
support where necessary.
TC: What was your path into construction
and your current position?
CK: I was introduced to construction through my
father’s business. I went to Germany in 1991 and
worked there for nine years on external wall
insulation and internal renders and plasters.
When I returned to the UK, I branched-out into
site management, then after a number of years
moved into contract management. From there, I
was offered a field engineer’s position at Baumit.
TC: There still seems to be some outdated
perceptions regarding a career in
construction; how have you found your
time in the construction sector?
CK: Construction is a fantastic trade to be in. It’s
given me a great career path and I’ve always
been in work. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people at
all levels, and no two working days are the same
- there’s always something to learn.
TC: Baumit has recently opened a new
training facility in Kent – what prompted
this decision? Was it because the market
is buoyant, or is it to bridge the skills gap
when installing EWI?
CK: A bit of both, really. With the Government
focused on improving the UK’s energy-deficient
housing stock, the EWI market is undoubtedly
buoyant. Yet, according to contractors, architects
and the like in response to a recent industry-wide
survey, a lack of insulation installation experience
is seen as a major obstacle in bridging the
current skills gap.
TC: Who are you looking to attract to the
new training facility?
It’s open to those within the industry who are
looking to gain further theoretical and practical
experience in a range of EWI systems and
practices. Our experts are fully-equipped to
ensure clients come away better informed of the
processes and systems involved.
TC: What are the different courses on offer?
CK: Three course levels are available – bronze,
silver and gold – offering the following:
Bronze is for those with minimal experience in EWI
systems. It’s mainly theory-based and ideal for site
managers, site supervisors and contract managers
looking to extend their knowledge of external
70 TC MARCH 2018

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Flat Roofing Solutions

EWI: Q&A
rendering. Silver caters for those who want to
become Baumit-approved. Practical sessions
include fixing base profiles, boarding and
beading. Course-completion results in Baumit
onsite support, reports for clients and a Baumitapproved
installer card. Gold is for those
experienced in EWI systems and competent in
rendering. Trainees who complete this course will
become a Baumit-approved partner. A host of
additional benefits include access to Baumit
product marketing materials, and OSCAR Onsite
overview and approval.
TC: How easy is it for someone operating
in the construction sector to diversify into
EWI installation? What sort of skills will
they require?
CK: Anyone with a plastering skillset who wants
to move from internal to the external method
should be able to diversify. A bit of building
knowledge and some trowel skills are a perfect
base from which to branch out into EWI.
TC: What are some of the challenges that
contractors and installers face on EWI
projects?
CK: The challenge is to be as focused on the
minor details as you would the major ones. I’ve
seen many an EWI project fail in the hands of an
experienced installer because they failed to
address a seemingly minor issue.
TC: How is the EWI market performing
currently?
CK: While it is extensively used in Europe, EWI is
still a relatively little known technology in the UK
but the market is growing gradually as architects,
clients and homeowners start to better
understand the benefits. In the mid-2010s, the
market was driven almost exclusively by funding
but became overstretched, and the quality of
workmanship dropped as some companies saw
an opportunity to make a quick buck. Now that
funding has reduced to a much lower level, the
market has contracted but as a consequence,
quality has increased in the main.
“I recently saw a
contractor working on
top of a 30ft-high
pitched roof without
the aid of a roof ladder.
It was terrifying to
watch”
TC: Is the Government doing enough to
incentivise the market and drive take-up
of energy efficiency measures?
CK: Funding is a very delicate topic. As we have
seen with the Green Deal, good ideas can fall
foul of bad execution and the main challenge
with funded work is making sure that the work
is not only completed, but completed to the
right standard. We are trying to help with this
by what we are doing with the academy. My
personal opinion is that the Government could
do more but some clear structure is required
about what energy efficiency measures should
be used and when. The ‘fabric first’ approach
is a simple concept to understand – i.e.
upgrade the thermal performance of the
building so you need to put less energy in in the
first place – but when there are more pressing
needs such as a dilapidated boiler, and funding
is limited, priorities often change.
TC: How do you feel the construction
sector is shaping up in 2018? Are there
reasons to be positive?
CK: The Government’s pledge to address the UK’s
energy-deficient housing stock through subsidies
and the like gives us very good reason to be
positive.
TC: Can you describe some of the more
interesting projects or jobs you’ve worked
on…
CK: Our products supplied a 230mm thick render
for the building of a ‘hyper-modern country
pavilion’ in rural Kent. It looks as spectacular as
it sounds, and we were delighted to be involved in
the creation of a house that stands as a
testament to modern architecture and interior
comfort.
TC: What about some of the funnier or
perhaps alarming things you’ve seen on
site?
TC: I recently saw a contractor working on top of
a 30ft-high pitched roof without the aid of a roof
ladder. It was terrifying to watch. Thankfully, he
lived to tell the tale.
Contact Baumit
01622 710 763
www.baumit.co.uk
@BaumitUKLtd
72 TC MARCH 2018

FROM THE GROUND UP
Karen Everitt at RAVATHERM UK – manufacturer of POLYFOAM XPS insulation –
explains the key considerations to make during installation of ground floor insulation.
During the construction on any new build or
major refurbishment project, careful
attention must be paid to the ground floor
insulation. Understanding the correct installation
methods and why a certain insulation material
has been specified ensures the correct thermal
efficiency of the finished building, whilst providing
a durable and robust solution.
The insulation market
The recent shortage of polyisocyanurate (PIR)
insulation has impacted many construction
projects. Caused by insufficient supply of
Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate (MDI), the main
constituent of PIR, severe production delays have
resulted in a market-wide shortage and extended
lead times – not to mention price increases –
leading to contractors and specifiers seeking
viable alternative insulation products.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation is one of
those alternatives, and there are some key
considerations for installers to make if XPS is
specified. In housing projects for instance, slightly
thicker XPS board will likely be required, meaning a
little more digging out at the start of construction.
As when using any unfamiliar construction
product, it is recommended that contractors and
specifiers liaise with a reputable XPS
manufacturer with a knowledgeable technical
team to ensure the key differences of an
alternative material against the original
specification can be explained.
Insulation specification
On some projects, contractors may need to be
aware why a certain insulation product has been
chosen, as factors such as the applied floor loading
and the position of the installed insulation need to
be taken into consideration prior to installation.
Ground bearing floors, for example, can include
insulation either below or above the concrete slab.
Insulation installed below the slab increases the
thermal capacity of the building, helping to
maintain steady internal temperatures. If insulation
is installed above the slab, the building responds
more quickly to an intermittent heating system.
Compressive strength of insulation
Insulation materials used under slabs, screeds
and chipboard should be capable of
accommodating the applied loads with the
minimum of compression. The loads in a
domestic property, for example, are not likely to
be significant compared to the requirements for a
warehouse or factory whereby the floor will
endure heavily trafficked areas on a daily basis.
In housing developments, however, some
circumstances such as basement constructions or
swimming pools do impose greater loads, and
benefit from the insulation being laid directly on the
ground. Basement projects are increasingly
popular in London where many people are
‘building down’ due to space restrictions to build
around the home.
In these instances, XPS insulation really comes
into its own and delivers a durable solution
thanks to its compressive strength and low
moisture absorption.
Our floorboard range, for example, has a moisture
absorption of 0.6% by volume when tested in
accordance with EN 12087, and can be laid in
standing water or up against wet concrete with
negligible impact on the performance of the
product.
The material is also available with both 200 and
300 kPa (Kilopascal) compressive strength –
ideal for domestic projects requiring high
compressive strength.
The position of the insulation
As briefly mentioned earlier, the position of the
insulation in the floor has an influence over the
thermal characteristics the floor brings to the
building. Ground bearing floors can include
insulation either below or above the concrete slab,
and there are factors when choosing either method.
Where the insulation is below a slab, screed or
timber boards for example, the entire load is
acting on the insulation. Point loads are spread by
the layers above the insulation so that the load
acting on the insulation is lower than the load
applied to the floor surface.
For instance in most domestic projects, an ‘over
slab, under screed’ insulation solution is ideal for
intermittent heating regimes, where a homeowner
may only turn on the heating twice a day. In this
scenario, the insulation should be installed with a
vapour control layer over it. Ideally, the insulation
should be positioned above the damp proof
membrane. Yet in some circumstances this is not
always the case. However, if installation doesn’t
accord with best practice, the durable qualities of
XPS insulation means it is resilient enough to still
perform as expected.
The versatility of XPS insulation means it’s ideal
for a wide range of projects including domestic
properties, and even when installed below a damp
proof membrane, it can still offer its declared
thermal performance, which is reassuring for
specifiers and contractors considering switching
specifications for future projects.
Please contact us for further information:
01429 855100
www.ravatherm.com
@RavathermUK
MARCH 2018 TC 73

Insulation Updates
For further info on all these insulation updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
TIME TO TAKE A
BREATHER
RG Leverett, a family-run roofing company, has switched to using BreatherQuilt from
YBS as it says it finds it more cost-effective to install and offers superior
performance compared to rival products. The first project where RG Leverett
trialled YBS BreatherQuilt was a 1950’s bungalow in Norwich, where the original
roof covering of concrete tiles was at the end of its life.
Rob Leverett, owner of RG Leverett, explained: “We carry out a lot of work like this for the
owners of older properties and decided to try YBS BreatherQuilt because it is not only
cheaper than the other products we were using, but it offers better insulation as well. It is
straightforward to install – we had absolutely no problems with it – and I am sure we will
be purchasing BreatherQuilt for more projects in the future.” www.ybsinsulation.com
“IT IS STRAIGHTFORWARD TO
INSTALL – WE HAD ABSOLUTELY
NO PROBLEMS WITH IT”
SAWING TOOLS MAKE THE CUT
Hultafors now offers a new range of cutting and sawing tools that include Bow Saws,
general purpose Short Hand Saws, Hack Saws, a Jab Saw, a Concrete Saw, plus a superb
Japanese Ryoba Saw.
So, what makes these saws really different? Hultafors points to the blade tips which offer an
easier start and ongoing sawing motion control; the easy-to-use blade exchange system; the
extra stable precision blades and the ergonomics which make sawing an easier and more
precise experience. www.hultafors.co.uk
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS
David Allsopp has been appointed Business Development Manager (BDM) for the South
East at RAVATHERM UK, the POLYFOAM XPS insulation manufacturer.
Speaking about his new role, David explained: “I’m really enjoying working with the
RAVATHERM UK team. It is a fantastic company and what encouraged me to the role was
how innovative the business is. RAVATHERM UK is always looking at ways to improve its
service and will make investment where needed to ensure the needs of customers are
met.” www.ravatherm.co.uk
INSPIRE AND EDUCATE
National Construction Training Services (NCTS) is a provider of training for the roofing
industry. It is dedicated to ensuring an outstanding level of training across the many
roofing disciplines in metal, flat and pitched roofing. Its program of courses are
designed to inspire and educate roofers across the country.
Working with roofing federations, roofing training groups, manufacturers and employers from
across the industry, NCTS can offer a variety of comprehensive training courses designed to fit
with your needs, no matter your level of skill. www.ncts.org.uk
74 TC MARCH 2018

Lincoln.
A classic
clay pantile
Lincoln’s flexible, open gauge technology, now offers
an easier way to create beautiful clay pantile roofs.
A flat batten locator on the reverse of the tiles makes
installation even faster and simpler still.
Combining the elegance of an s-curve profile, with
a thin leading edge, it has a groundbreaking 17.5º
minimum pitch making design even more versatile.
The Lincoln range is available in beautiful,
multi-toned Rustic Red as well as Natural Red.
Talk to us about your needs, or order your
free Lincoln pantile sample today.
Call us on 01283 722588
or visit marleyeternit.co.uk/lincoln

Payment Issues
THE IMPACT OF POOR PAYMENT
PRACTICES ON CONTRACTORS
The collapse of Carillion left thousands of suppliers and subcontractors owed money. Jackie
Biswell, of Apex Roofing, examines how late payment practices have exacerbated the
damage experienced by these small businesses.
Small suppliers have always suffered at
the hands of big businesses – but when
those giants go under, the fallout can spell
utter disaster.
As the news spread over the past weeks of
Carillion’s £1.3 billion debt, work on many
construction sites across the UK came to a
standstill and analysts warned that many
businesses were unlikely to be paid, throwing
their viability into doubt.
Carillion is holding up to £800m in retention
payments – the commonplace practice of holding
back part of a contractor’s payment as security to
ensure work is carried out.
It had also failed to pay on time for a number of
contracts – perpetuating the unacceptable levels
of slow payer ethic commonplace in our industry.
“With the aftermath of
the Carillion collapse
causing widespread
devastation, we need
to ensure that late
payment is seen as
totally unacceptable”
All contractors would prefer to be paid within a
month of invoicing but, when dealing with large
companies, they are rarely in a position to argue if
they don’t like the terms on offer.
In the current climate, many large firms demand
60-day payment terms. But almost 20% of
specialist building contractors admit to paying
between 60 and 90 days after invoices have been
received, and some admit to pushing this beyond
120 days.
As a result, contractors and sub-contractors –
which represent the backbone of our economy –
are always battling to make ends meet.
In December 2008, the Prompt Payment Code was
established to help small suppliers recover the
£30.2 billion owed to them by some of the UK’s
largest companies.
Jackie Biswell, Apex Roofing
But the scheme was blasted as a failure after many
firms ignored the terms and suppliers were cut out
of future business dealings if they kicked up a fuss.
In January, Richard Beresford, chief executive of
the National Federation of Builders, released a
statement saying that late payment was still a
huge problem. He said: “When you factor in some
main contractors imposing 120-day payment
terms, £10.5 billion withheld in retention
payments, and around £22 billion in annual SME
turnover is paid late, it becomes clear why so
many SMEs are in a precarious situation.”
With the aftermath of the Carillion collapse causing
widespread devastation, we need to ensure that
late payment is seen as totally unacceptable. We
should start by ensuring that public sector
contracts are not awarded to companies known for
their poor payment practices.
We also need the Construction Leadership
Council, which has promised to launch a
construction payment charter introducing 30-day
payment terms by 2025, to ensure this is
monitored and enforced properly.
Contact Apex Roofing
01502 537129
www.apexroofinguk.com
@ApexAnglia
76 TC MARCH 2018

Contractor’s Day 2018
coming soon!

Van Insurance
MAKING INROADS ON VAN
INSURANCE: TOP TIPS
Van insurance premiums reportedly hit a three-year high in 2017, so Total Contractor
decided to take a look at some of the simple tips that might help contractors cut their
insurance costs...
In its October 2017 Van Insurance Index,
Consumer Intelligence, an insurance market
analyst, found that average premiums were
at a three-year high of £1,214 after prices had
risen 31.7% in the year to September.
There are a number of reasons for this rise –
an Insurance Premium Tax hike, a cut in the
Ogden rate (which governs pay-outs for major
personal injury claims), rising claims and
fraud, the post-Brexit weak pound and the cost
of repairing more technologically advanced
vans.
With this in mind, the natural question for most
is how to cut insurance costs?
“Look at the miles you
drive because you
should only pay for
those driven, and the
more you insure for,
the higher the
premium”
1. Don’t make a claim!
The most obvious solution is to not make a
claim and the more years of no claims bonus
(NCB) acquired, the greater the discount
applied to the insurance. Only claiming for
catastrophic losses that you cannot afford to
cover or protecting your NCB at extra cost are
the only options.
2. Safety in numbers
For those with more than one van, a thought
might be fleet insurance; it’s easier to
administrate and policyholders will benefit from
the effect of multi-buy.
3. Appropriate action
Next comes insuring vehicles appropriately.
Anything other than third party fire and theft, or
third-party cover is wasted on an old van, while
clearly comprehensive insurance should be
78 TC MARCH 2018

taken for more valuable vehicles. Third party is
the legal minimum but some form of
commercial van insurance to cover either
carriage of own goods (tools and materials
between jobs), carriage of goods for hire or
reward (for those delivering goods), or haulage
(‘single’ deliveries over long distances) should
be taken; always confirm if the contents are
covered.
4. Added extras
Consider also the optional extras. Do you need
breakdown cover, legal expenses insurance,
trailer insurance, courtesy van cover or
overseas cover?
5. Mile markers
Look at the miles you drive because you should
only pay for those driven, and the more you
insure for, the higher the premium. Be realistic
– if there’s a claim, insurers can seek proof of
mileage through servicing and MOT documents.
6. Excess baggage
Also, be careful when setting the excess. The
higher the excess, the lower the premium, but
set it too high and you’ll never make a claim.
Ensure that the policy and claims are
affordable. You could also make drivers pay the
excesses, but this requires them to agree to
this beforehand or you risk a claim for
unauthorised deductions from wages.
7. Training and gaining
Is additional driver training an option to lower
the odds that your insurer will have to pay out?
If so, the key will be to find training that is
provided by a firm approved of by your insurer.
8. Monitor your progress
Look also at fitting trackers and on-board
cameras; these devices effectively put drivers on
notice that their activities are being monitored
while providing defence backup in case of a
claim. Also look at offering bonuses based on the
driving record of employees.
Vehicles are an essential tool of any contractor’s trade, but insurance can prove costly
“The higher the
excess, the lower the
premium, but set it too
high and you’ll never
make a claim”
9. Size matters
How big is your van? The larger the vehicle the
greater the premium, so if you don’t need a
large vehicle, trade it down for something
smaller. Not only could it release capital, it’ll
have a smaller engine and will be cheaper to
run and may cost less to insure.
10. Parking practice
And just as with your car at night, where you
keep a van after hours will have a bearing on
the premium. Garaged, on a drive or behind
locked gates will lower the risk and therefore
the premium. By the same token, keeping the
van empty at night will help reduce the risk of a
claim. At the same time, consider retro-fitting
security devices such as an immobiliser,
tracker, alarm, or stronger door locks which
have been approved by insurers.
11. Modify your behaviour
Lastly, vehicle modifications increase
premiums so make sure you steer clear of
those that boost performance or alter the
aesthetics. That said, van wraps or logos
appear to be cost neutral as they make a
vehicle more readily identifiable and so perhaps
less attractive to thieves. Also, insurers believe
liveried van drivers to be more careful because
they can be identified and complained about.
Below we’ve listed a selection of useful online
comparison sites:
www.thevaninsurer.co.uk
www.moneysupermarket.com/van-insurance
www.confused.com/van-insurance
www.gocompare.com/van-insurance
www.mustard.co.uk/van-insurance
MARCH 2018 TC 79

taken for more valuable vehicles. Third party is
the legal minimum but some form of
commercial van insurance to cover either
carriage of own goods (tools and materials
between jobs), carriage of goods for hire or
reward (for those delivering goods), or haulage
(‘single’ deliveries over long distances) should
be taken; always confirm if the contents are
covered.
4. Added extras
Consider also the optional extras. Do you need
breakdown cover, legal expenses insurance,
trailer insurance, courtesy van cover or
overseas cover?
5. Mile markers
Look at the miles you drive because you should
only pay for those driven, and the more you
insure for, the higher the premium. Be realistic
– if there’s a claim, insurers can seek proof of
mileage through servicing and MOT documents.
6. Excess baggage
Also, be careful when setting the excess. The
higher the excess, the lower the premium, but
set it too high and you’ll never make a claim.
Ensure that the policy and claims are
affordable. You could also make drivers pay the
excesses, but this requires them to agree to
this beforehand or you risk a claim for
unauthorised deductions from wages.
7. Training and gaining
Is additional driver training an option to lower
the odds that your insurer will have to pay out?
If so, the key will be to find training that is
provided by a firm approved of by your insurer.
8. Monitor your progress
Look also at fitting trackers and on-board
cameras; these devices effectively put drivers on
notice that their activities are being monitored
while providing defence backup in case of a
claim. Also look at offering bonuses based on the
driving record of employees.
Vehicles are an essential tool of any contractor’s trade, but insurance can prove costly
“The higher the
excess, the lower the
premium, but set it too
high and you’ll never
make a claim”
9. Size matters
How big is your van? The larger the vehicle the
greater the premium, so if you don’t need a
large vehicle, trade it down for something
smaller. Not only could it release capital, it’ll
have a smaller engine and will be cheaper to
run and may cost less to insure.
10. Parking practice
And just as with your car at night, where you
keep a van after hours will have a bearing on
the premium. Garaged, on a drive or behind
locked gates will lower the risk and therefore
the premium. By the same token, keeping the
van empty at night will help reduce the risk of a
claim. At the same time, consider retro-fitting
security devices such as an immobiliser,
tracker, alarm, or stronger door locks which
have been approved by insurers.
11. Modify your behaviour
Lastly, vehicle modifications increase
premiums so make sure you steer clear of
those that boost performance or alter the
aesthetics. That said, van wraps or logos
appear to be cost neutral as they make a
vehicle more readily identifiable and so perhaps
less attractive to thieves. Also, insurers believe
liveried van drivers to be more careful because
they can be identified and complained about.
Below we’ve listed a selection of useful online
comparison sites:
www.thevaninsurer.co.uk
www.moneysupermarket.com/van-insurance
www.confused.com/van-insurance
www.gocompare.com/van-insurance
www.mustard.co.uk/van-insurance
MARCH 2018 TC 79

Total Events
80 TC MARCH 2018

Total Recruitment
To promote your vacancy, contact Andy or Jake on: 01892 732047
Technical Secretary
Part-time
Based from home, this role offers an exciting and challenging
opportunity to work at a high level developing industry best
practice, producing technical guidance and influencing future
legislation.
The ideal candidate will have proven experience in roofing &
liquid waterproofing, with the inter-personal skills to
communicate and represent the association at relevant
industry meetings or events.
Working closely with the Board, CEO and other LRWA
personnel you will oversee all technical association activity
therefore you will need to work on your own initiative.
For more information and a job specification please contact
info@lrwa.org.uk
Closing Date: 31 st March 2018
www.lrwa.org.uk
MARCH 2018 TC 81

Material Prices
THE PRICE IS RIGHT? MATERIAL
COSTS AND CONTRACTORS
The issue of rising material costs is becoming an even thornier one than usual for roofing
contractors according to Simon Smith, Divisional Director at Bracknell Roofing. In the first of
a new, regular column, Simon says he sees a growing gulf between price rises that are
justified and ones that feel like they are a step too far.
Brexit, currency fluctuations and global
demand for raw materials are just some of
the reasons why we have seen price rises
across all of the staple materials we need to
construct a roof.
In the last couple of years, we know that some of
our suppliers have worked really hard to manage
costs at their end and in turn to minimise price
increases to their customers. For that they should
be applauded because it demonstrates the
importance placed by some on trust and positive
working relations between contractors and
suppliers. So, when prices have gone up, we know
that these suppliers have made all reasonable
endeavour to prevent this. Whilst nobody likes
price rises, sometimes fair and reasonable
increases are unavoidable.
A double-whammy
However, what does stick in the throat is the fact
that there are some sections of the supply chain
that are hitting us with a double-whammy. In
some cases, prices are rising well above historical
trends experienced over the past ten years and
beyond, yet without reasonable validation of the
input cost impacts driving this approach. The
effect of this is compounded for contractors,
particularly in slating and tiling, where the
availability and service level in some product
sectors has been acutely strained over an
extended period, resulting in significant impact to
resource and material costs.
I know everyone is in business to make money but
there’s a fine line between putting prices up
because you have to, and putting them up to
capitalise on market conditions. Of
course that’s a matter of opinion,
but it doesn’t sit well with me to
know that we have suppliers that
work with our customer base to
get their products specified (fair
enough) to the point of agreeing prices
with them for extended periods, only to leave it to
the last minute to advise us of significant price
increases agreed with our customers without
reference to us, which we are usually expected to
start paying immediately and left to absorb the
increased costs for weeks or months, until our
contract next permits price renegotiation. To say
this practice is unfair on contractors would be a
massive understatement. This leaves me with the
question: “do some manufacturers view roofing
contractors as a valued customer, or merely a
transactional link within the supply-chain?”
Notwithstanding my previous point, our business
understands that the prices of some commodities
like timber and metals are much more volatile
and, as much as we are able to, we factor this
volatility into our forecasting and projections. We
also have a good bellwether on insulation and
waterproofing – but roof tiles is one product
segment that confounds me.
The supply of some roof tiles over recent-times
has been worse than the market has seen at any
other point in my 30-something years in this
industry. The availability of materials such as
concrete roof tiles has been severely stretched,
with supply lead times reaching up to six-months
in some cases. Although there appears to have
been some improvement over the past few weeks,
it’s too early to say whether this
will be sustained and whilst I
hope it will, the fact remains that
contractors will continue to suffer
the cost effects of this period of
dysfunctional supply-chain
performance for some time to come.
Rock and a hard place
I think the most galling part is that roofing
contractors are stuck between a rock and a hard
place. Yes, we can express our dissatisfaction but
ultimately we have to work with these suppliers
because of specifications, third party supply-chain
agreements or due to the simple reality that we have
projects that need completing to time and budget.
What about passing on these rising costs? As
most contractors will appreciate, this is a
completely different ball game because in most
cases our hands are tied under contractual pricing
periods. We don’t have the luxury of continually
renegotiating terms with builders and
housebuilders. They just won’t stand for it.
For us, reviewing our costs is like a military
operation because we may only get one chance a
year to negotiate with our customers – so every
aspect of our costs are scrutinised and justified. And
no matter how prepared and well organised we are,
we have to work very hard to ensure we are not left
to absorb the burden of the pricing strategies and
performance of the roofing material supply chain.
Contact Bracknell Roofing
08705 626800
www.bracknellroofing.com
@BracknellUK
82 TC MARCH 2018

Technical Secretary
Part-time
Based from home, this role offers an exciting and challenging
opportunity to work at a high level developing industry best
practice, producing technical guidance and influencing future
legislation.
The ideal candidate will have proven experience in roofing &
liquid waterproofing, with the inter-personal skills to
communicate and represent the association at relevant
industry meetings or events.
Working closely with the Board, CEO and other LRWA
personnel you will oversee all technical association activity
therefore you will need to work on your own initiative.
For more information and a job specification please contact
info@lrwa.org.uk
Closing Date: 31 st March 2018
www.lrwa.org.uk

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