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May 2019

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MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />

FEATURES<br />

• DON’T BE THE FALL GUY<br />

WHEN IT COMES TO FLAT ROOFING<br />

• CALL FOR REINFORCEMENTS: IS YOUR<br />

LIQUID ROOFING SYSTEM REINFORCED?<br />

• PROFIT’S IN THE PLANNING: REMEMBER,<br />

IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE A JOB PAY!<br />

Perfectly Pitched<br />

NFRC Tech Talk<br />

Contractor’s Qs<br />

>>> • SAFETY AT HEIGHT • OFF-SITE FOCUS • WORKWEAR • PRODUCT UPDATES >>>


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I<br />

V<br />

Editor’s Comment<br />

MATT DOWNS<br />

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR<br />

MATTDOWNS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK<br />

07963 330774<br />

This month’s issue is packed full of the latest product updates,<br />

interviews, advice and opinions for operatives working in the<br />

roofing and cladding sectors.<br />

COVER PIC:<br />

COURTESY OF<br />

BMI UK & IRELAND<br />

An issue that has caused concern for the pitched roofing sector in<br />

recent times is staining on gable end walls caused by water shedding<br />

from some dry verge systems. Despite the introduction of BS 8612,<br />

there is still some concern, and with this in mind, we asked Tom<br />

Woodhouse, Site Services Manager at Marley, to provide his top tips to<br />

prevent this occurring. You can read Tom’s tips on p.24.<br />

Moving to the liquid roofing sector, a key issue for many is the use of<br />

systems without a reinforcement layer. Often billed as being more cost<br />

effective and quicker to install, Sarah Spink, CEO of the LRWA, is keen<br />

to point out this is often not the case. In her article on p.40, Sarah<br />

explains the very real advantages of using a reinforced liquid roofing<br />

system, and the problems that can arise if you don’t.<br />

Elsewhere in this issue, in his latest Perfectly Pitched column, John<br />

Mercer explains the considerations that need to be made when choosing<br />

a pitched roof underlay, including his own research which throws up<br />

some interesting results (p.32); Nick Boulton of TRA provides a checklist<br />

for roofers to ensure the trussed rafters are ready for them to begin<br />

work (p.38); Andrew Bright explains why profit’s all in the planning for<br />

roofing projects (p.42); whilst Peter Johnson urges cladding installers<br />

to let his company take care of the “dirty work” (p.60).<br />

So read on for all this and so much more!<br />

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MAY <strong>2019</strong> TC 3


Contents<br />

COVER FEATURES<br />

16 DON’T BE THE FALL GUY<br />

The Inspector explains how updates in BS 6229<br />

can prevent you being the fall guy when it<br />

comes to flat roofing<br />

40 REINFORCEMENTS CALL<br />

Sarah Spink explains the advantages of<br />

utilising reinforced liquid roofing systems and<br />

what contractors should look out for<br />

42 PLANNING FOR PROFIT<br />

Andrew Bright says we all enjoy the day job but<br />

it’s important to make a job pay, and to do this<br />

remember the profit’s in the planning...<br />

16<br />

FEATURES<br />

24 GABLE END STAINING<br />

Tom Woodhouse offers his top tips to ensure gable end<br />

staining doesn’t leave its mark on your project<br />

32 PERFECTLY PITCHED<br />

John Mercer explains the importance of using the<br />

right pitched roof underlay in the right location<br />

38 SHOUT IT FROM THE RAFTERS<br />

Nick Boulton talks through the trussed rafter safety<br />

checks roofers should make before commencing work<br />

46 DRAINAGE DESIGN<br />

Brian Bell discusses what to consider when installing<br />

an efficient drainage system<br />

60 OFF-SITE INSIGHT<br />

38<br />

Peter Johnson says contractors and installers have less<br />

time and space on site, so companies like his can help...<br />

70 HARD FACTS FOR SOFTWARE<br />

Could you save time and reduce risk on your projects<br />

with the right software? Richard Boston gives his thoughts<br />

4 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


REGULARS<br />

18 NFRC TECHNICAL TALK<br />

In his latest look at the changes to BS 6229,<br />

Gary Walpole focuses on loading and drainage<br />

22 BUSINESS TALK<br />

We take a look at the issues and protocols when<br />

recruiting staff with criminal records<br />

26 CONTRACTOR’S QS<br />

Finalist in the BMI Apprentice of the Year in 2017<br />

and 2018, Ceiran Peel-Price answers our Qs<br />

74 THE APEX<br />

The response to T Levels has been mixed,<br />

Jackie Biswell gives an overview and her thoughts<br />

SECTIONS:<br />

TOTAL<br />

ROOFING<br />

24<br />

TOTAL<br />

CLADDING<br />

60<br />

INDUSTRY NEWS<br />

06 WIENERBERGER MAKES MOVE<br />

Acquisition of BPD Holdings enables Wienerberger to<br />

expand its roof accessory offering<br />

10 INNOVATION HUB FOR SFS<br />

New hub is designed to connect professionals and new<br />

entrants and enable them to network and learn<br />

TOTAL<br />

INSULATION<br />

66<br />

VEHICLES, TOOLS<br />

& WORKWEAR<br />

10<br />

70<br />

MAY <strong>2019</strong> TC 5


Industry News<br />

SIG ROOFING’S NEXT<br />

GENERATION SUPPORT<br />

Top: Kieren Stevenson; Above left: Samuel Haworth;<br />

right: Megan Boygle<br />

SIG Roofing is supporting 11 apprentices<br />

through the Re:allies Framework, an<br />

initiative which provides smart<br />

procurement to asset management<br />

solutions for social housing projects that<br />

generates efficiencies to directly support<br />

people into training and employment in<br />

their local communities.<br />

SIG Roofing, which supplies products through<br />

the Re:allies planned maintenance<br />

framework to a number of clients across the<br />

north of England, has provided starter toolkits<br />

and ongoing training and mentoring to<br />

support 11 apprentices as well as sponsoring<br />

three of these apprentices who, with SIG’s<br />

support, have overcome barriers and now<br />

gained employment for construction<br />

companies on the Procure Plus Framework.<br />

Kieren Stevenson, Samuel Howarth and<br />

Megan Boygle have been recruited through<br />

Re:vision, supported by its partnership with<br />

local employment groups in the north:<br />

Newground, Achieve and Women and Manual<br />

Trades (WaMT). Find out more at<br />

www.total-contractor.co.uk.<br />

WIENERBERGER MAKES KEY ACQUISITION<br />

Wienerberger has announced the acquisition<br />

of UK-based BPD Holdings to further expand<br />

its roof accessory offering and complement<br />

its existing roof product portfolio in the UK<br />

and Europe.<br />

As a prominent producer of roof underlays, wall<br />

and construction membranes, building ventilation<br />

systems and specialist roof products, BPD will<br />

become a centre of excellence for innovative<br />

roofing solutions within Wienerberger. BPD will<br />

reportedly be tasked with developing innovative<br />

solutions designed to be implemented and sold<br />

across the broader Wienerberger network,<br />

leveraging the combined regional strengths and<br />

product expertise. With a large product offering<br />

including the Protect, Passivent, Glidevale and<br />

Kingfisher brands, as well as a tailor-made<br />

solutions service, BPD operates two highly<br />

advanced and efficient UK production sites in<br />

Nottinghamshire and South Wales. BPD has over<br />

200 employees and most recently generated<br />

annual revenues of around £30 million.<br />

Heimo Scheuch, Wienerberger AG CEO,<br />

commented: “The UK is one of the strongest and<br />

The importance of proper planning and safe<br />

working practices has once again been<br />

highlighted after a roofing company was<br />

sentenced for safety breaches when a worker<br />

fell about three metres through a rooflight,<br />

suffering a fractured pelvis and spinal injuries.<br />

Leeds Magistrates court heard how, on 17 March<br />

2016, a self-employed roofer, working for PNR<br />

Roofing and Building Services, was on a roof<br />

laying wooden ‘lats’ and roofing felt, when he fell<br />

through a skylight that was covered with felt. PNR<br />

was subcontracted to carry out roof work at Globe<br />

Mills in Slaithwaite. An investigation by the Health<br />

and Safety Executive (HSE) found that whilst PNR<br />

initially provided air bags as a means of mitigating<br />

any falls by employees, the air bags had been<br />

Wienerberger has acquired BPD Holdings to further expand<br />

its roof accessory offering.<br />

most innovative markets for roofing products, and<br />

a key growth area for us as a business. The<br />

acquisition of BPD will strengthen our own<br />

position as a full-range roof systems supplier<br />

thanks to their reputation for innovation and<br />

production expertise. BPD’s specialist roof<br />

accessories are a perfect fit with our existing roof<br />

portfolio and we look forward to being able to<br />

promote them throughout the UK and Europe.”<br />

Wienerberger says its growth strategy is focused<br />

on advancing its market position in the roof,<br />

façade, wall and paver sectors, bringing building<br />

materials solutions for the whole building<br />

envelope to the construction industry.<br />

POOR PLANNING PUNISHED BY HSE<br />

moved to remove debris and the worker hit the<br />

floor instead.<br />

PNR Roofing and Building Services of Park View,<br />

Shafton, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to breaching<br />

Section 3 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc<br />

Act 1974 and has been fined £20,000 and<br />

ordered to pay £1,100 in costs. After the hearing,<br />

HSE inspector Chris Tilley commented: “Falls from<br />

height through fragile surfaces and skylights<br />

remain one of the most common causes of workrelated<br />

fatalities in this country and the risks<br />

associated with working at height are well known.<br />

This incident could so easily have been avoided by<br />

simply adopting reasonably practicable safe<br />

working practices such as using netting instead of<br />

relying on fall bags.”<br />

6 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Industry News<br />

TAYLOR WIMPEY ‘RECOGNISES THE WORK’ OF ITS TRADES<br />

Bracknell Roofing has been named Best Roofing<br />

Contractor by Taylor Wimpey.<br />

The housebuilder held an event for all the trades<br />

that have worked on its projects in London and the<br />

South East, and the Reading branch of Bracknell<br />

Roofing – which is part of Avonside Group Services<br />

– won the roofing contractor award.<br />

The award ceremony was unexpected, according<br />

to Contracts Manager Clive Naish, who said: “We<br />

just thought Taylor Wimpey was having an annual<br />

get-together of all the different trades that support<br />

them to build homes in London and the South East<br />

– so it came as a surprise when they started<br />

handing out awards, but it was a proud moment<br />

when Bracknell Roofing was named Best Roofing<br />

Contractor for 2018.<br />

“It is a great honour to pick up the award because<br />

we know that Taylor Wimpey work with some very<br />

good roofing contractors, who all<br />

do outstanding work – but this<br />

reflects the fact that we work to<br />

the very highest standards of<br />

workmanship and provide very<br />

responsive project management.<br />

This is something that was<br />

clearly recognised by Taylor<br />

Wimpey. The award is a huge boost for the team at<br />

the Reading branch – which is where the company<br />

was originally founded more than 40 years ago –<br />

and it is validation of the standards that we set for<br />

ourselves and how they positively benefit the<br />

customers we work with – whether that’s a small<br />

development of a few dozen homes or large<br />

developments of thousands of new homes.”<br />

The team at the Reading branch also marked the<br />

milestone by remembering their Branch Manager<br />

Kevin Mather, who passed away suddenly last year.<br />

Clive added: “Our delight was<br />

tinged with sadness, as Kevin<br />

should have been with us to<br />

celebrate, as he was well liked<br />

and respected by all those he<br />

worked with.”<br />

L-r: Tain McDonald & Clive Naish.<br />

Divisional Director Simon Smith<br />

of Bracknell Roofing explained: We applaud<br />

Taylor Wimpey for going out of its way to<br />

recognise the work of all the trades who it<br />

works with to build new homes – because it<br />

highlights the high levels of skill and<br />

professionalism right across the industry. The<br />

team at the Reading branch fully deserve this<br />

award, and in light of the difficult time around<br />

the untimely passing of a well-liked colleague, it<br />

highlights that our high standards have never<br />

slipped in supporting customers like Taylor<br />

Wimpey.”<br />

FMB: QUALITY & STANDARDS MUST BE KEY<br />

Andrew Stephenson MP, the new<br />

sector has widespread support among<br />

Construction Minister, should make it<br />

the industry and homeowners, alike. The<br />

his mission to raise quality and<br />

Government must legislate to stop the<br />

standards in the construction<br />

scourge of unprofessional behaviour<br />

industry through mandatory<br />

blighting the entire industry.”<br />

licensing, according to the Federation<br />

Berry concluded: “With the recent<br />

of Master Builders (FMB).<br />

appointment of a member of the FMB<br />

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB,<br />

onto the Construction Leadership<br />

said: “I warmly welcome Andrew<br />

Council, we also look forward to<br />

Stephenson into his new role and I look<br />

working with the Minister on<br />

forward to working with him to raise<br />

implementing the Sector Deal in a way<br />

standards, quality and professionalism<br />

that will help to unleash the potential of<br />

in the construction industry. The time is<br />

small to medium-sized construction<br />

Top: Andrew<br />

right to look at a meaningful way in Stephenson MP, Above: firms.<br />

Brian Berry.<br />

which we can purge the sector of rogue<br />

“After all, they are the bedrock of the<br />

firms and unprofessional outfits once and for all.<br />

industry, training two-thirds of all construction<br />

With the publication of the Independent Review of<br />

apprentices and forming the supply chain of<br />

Building Regulations and Fire Safety, and the<br />

larger contractors. We must tirelessly work to<br />

quality of some new build homes being called into<br />

remove barriers to SME construction companies if<br />

question, we need to act now to improve<br />

we are to deliver on the Government’s<br />

standards and increase productivity. A mandatory<br />

infrastructure targets.”<br />

licensing scheme for the whole UK construction<br />

SPRA’S TEAM GROWS<br />

SPRA Council has welcomed John McMullan<br />

from Firestone Building Products (FBP) onto<br />

the leadership team.<br />

Martyn Holloway, SPRA Chair, said “I am<br />

very pleased to welcome John onto SPRA<br />

Council. His depth of knowledge and<br />

determination to improve the sector and<br />

attract new talent will be invaluable.”<br />

Cathie Clarke, CEO, said “I am delighted that<br />

John is joining the leadership team. He will<br />

play an important role helping to drive our<br />

business plan and representing the EPDM<br />

sector on the SPRA Council. John joins Ian<br />

Muddiman (SIKA), Mike Crook (SIG D&T)<br />

and Steve Downey (DANOSA) as the four<br />

Membrane Representatives on the 12-<br />

strong SPRA Council. Their collective<br />

experience, enthusiasm & knowledge is a<br />

great asset to SPRA and has been a key<br />

element in the growth in influence of this<br />

dedicated and focussed association.”<br />

8 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Industry News<br />

LRWA APPOINTMENTS<br />

Above l-r: Stuart Hicks and Mark Flello.<br />

The Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing<br />

Association (LRWA) has appointed a new<br />

Chairman – Stuart Hicks, UK Marketing<br />

Manager at Kemper System, and Vice<br />

Chairman – Mark Flello, Managing<br />

Director of Dove Technology.<br />

Stuart and Mark, who were put forward for<br />

each of their positions by the LRWA board,<br />

were then voted-in by members at the LRWA<br />

AGM in March <strong>2019</strong>. As Chair, Stuart will<br />

help guide the delivery of significant new<br />

projects and sector developments with the<br />

support of the LRWA board, its members and<br />

the CEO, Sarah Spink, to continue to help<br />

raise the standards and awareness of the<br />

liquid roofing and waterproofing industry.<br />

Stuart explained: “We have a fantastic<br />

association that is shaping the future of not<br />

just the liquid waterproofing sector, but the<br />

entire roofing industry, which is really<br />

exciting. I’m passionate about making change<br />

for the better – so let us continue our good<br />

work and make a positive impact.”<br />

CEO of the LRWA Sarah Spink, added: “We<br />

are absolutely delighted to welcome Stuart<br />

and Mark into their new roles. Both<br />

individuals have been key players within the<br />

association for many years, and their skillset<br />

and experience complement one another<br />

in these leading roles. We have a busy and<br />

exciting year ahead with new developments<br />

and projects in the making, and having Stuart<br />

and Mark at the forefront of the association will<br />

be a real asset for the LRWA and its members.”<br />

SFS OPENS NEW INNOVATION HUB<br />

SFS opened the doors to its<br />

new construction<br />

innovation hub alongside a<br />

distinguished panel of<br />

speakers in <strong>May</strong>.<br />

The Academy is SFS’s new<br />

learning space at its UK<br />

Above: SFS’s new construction innovation hub.<br />

Directors of key companies<br />

in construction, speakers<br />

from local universities, and<br />

David Wigglesworth, MD of<br />

SFS UK.<br />

“The way buildings are<br />

designed and constructed is<br />

headquarters in Leeds. The hub is designed to<br />

connect professionals and the future generation<br />

of construction to trade knowledge, network, learn<br />

and share ideas.<br />

changing and evolving at a faster rate than ever<br />

before,” explained Wigglesworth. “Everybody from<br />

all corners of construction is facing new<br />

challenges, from 5D BIM, to solving the skills<br />

shortage problem, to working collaboratively and<br />

As part of the launch, SFS hosted an evening on<br />

bringing in much needed efficiencies.<br />

2nd <strong>May</strong> to provide key insight from leading<br />

players across a spectrum of specialities within<br />

the construction industry. Attendees had the<br />

opportunity to learn about topics such as the<br />

future of architecture, developing new talent,<br />

construction 4.0, diversification in the workforce,<br />

and women in engineering and construction.<br />

The event brought together a range of speakers<br />

and the panel included well-known architectural<br />

historian, broadcaster and writer Tom Dyckhoff.<br />

As well as Tom, the panel comprised Managing<br />

“The Academy is one of SFS’s core pillars to help<br />

the industry to focus on these challenges. The<br />

space is designed to share thought leadership<br />

initiatives and allow different professions of<br />

construction to come together.”<br />

The Academy at SFS will be the focal point for<br />

delivering CPDs, hosting networking events,<br />

engaging the next generation of professionals,<br />

while SFS experts will be on hand to provide<br />

product demonstrations and technical insight.<br />

ROOFLIGHTS MADE EASIER WITH NARM<br />

NARM, the National Association of Rooflight<br />

Manufacturers, has launched a new website<br />

which it claims “offers the most<br />

comprehensive independent source of<br />

technical information for rooflight specifiers”.<br />

The National Association of Rooflight<br />

Manufacturers is an active and influential trade<br />

NARM has launched a new website.<br />

association representing manufacturers and<br />

well as providing listings of member companies,<br />

suppliers of all types of rooflights into the UK<br />

latest news and a comprehensive rooflight gallery,<br />

market. Its purpose is to identify and promote<br />

with sector categories.<br />

best practice in rooflight specification,<br />

installation, maintenance and safety.<br />

Full membership criteria for rooflight suppliers<br />

interested in NARM membership, is also available<br />

The new site provides easy access to the<br />

on the new website:<br />

association’s complete library of technical<br />

documents, ‘quick guides’ and case studies, as www.narm.org.uk<br />

10 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


Handrails:- EasyGuard<br />

free-standing Guardrails<br />

*CurveyGuard – an aesthetically pleasing curved rail.<br />

*EasyGuard – raked or straight legs dependant on<br />

application. *FoldGuard – folding handrail.<br />

Trip hazard reduction – long thin base-plates with<br />

Counterweights used on un-secured ends only. Placed at 2m<br />

centres maximum to enable use for leading edge protection.<br />

Galvanised or powder coated finish. Protective mats 5mm<br />

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Industry News<br />

READING TECH HUB<br />

FOR BMI GROUP<br />

BMI Group has opened its new Technology<br />

Hub in Reading.<br />

The Hub marks a multi-million-pound<br />

investment in technology and people for BMI<br />

and is part of Standard Industries’ global<br />

mission to “transform the industry”.<br />

Rich Robinson, Chief Technology Officer at<br />

Standard Industries, parent company of BMI,<br />

commented: “Digital transformation is about<br />

empowering the customer by taking the<br />

friction out of buying a roofing system. The<br />

new BMI Technology Hub is part of our<br />

commitment to leverage emerging<br />

technologies and lead the way in becoming a<br />

truly tech-driven building materials and<br />

construction company.”<br />

BMI is making a major commitment to<br />

accelerate the integration of data and digital<br />

capabilities into the manufacturing of highquality<br />

roofing and waterproofing solutions. The<br />

company is also deploying machine learning to<br />

advance and automate its production and<br />

services as well as the development of a<br />

competitive, integrated solar roof.<br />

BMI says its significant investments in<br />

proprietary technologies continue to enhance<br />

the group’s roofing and waterproofing<br />

solutions and services. They enable BMI to<br />

offer innovative platforms that will make<br />

identifying, selecting, delivering and installing<br />

a roofing system a seamless and integrated<br />

process for both the customer and contractor.<br />

Shreyas Mysore, Chief Information Officer of<br />

BMI Group, expressed big ambitions for the<br />

centre’s growth: “The BMI Technology Hub<br />

will grow into a sophisticated centre for<br />

technology and IT innovation. We have many<br />

exciting opportunities for technologists, and<br />

plans to branch into sectors ripe for<br />

technological development and disruption.”<br />

SR TIMBER’S CONSTRUCTIVE BREXIT TALKS<br />

Shaun Revill, SR Timber Trading Director,<br />

joined business leaders to tell Conservative<br />

MP Nicky Morgan about the stark realities that<br />

businesses are facing as the uncertainty<br />

around Brexit continues.<br />

The group, which included the Confederation of<br />

British Industry (CBI), a high street bank and<br />

Sean Revill, SR Timber, and Conservative MP Nicky Morgan.<br />

leading business figures – spoke to Mrs Morgan at<br />

the event at Loughborough University and<br />

Referendum in 2016 was announced, the value of<br />

expressed genuine concern about how Parliament the pound had plummeted against other currencies<br />

and the government are handling what the MP and, again, this had driven up costs, which again,<br />

described as a “political and constitutional crisis”. businesses around the table said they were<br />

struggling to pass on to their customers.<br />

Mr Revill was quick to tell the MP for<br />

Loughborough about the case of SR Timber – Mr Revill took the opportunity to highlight the issue<br />

which is a leading importer of timber products of British Standards. He told Mrs Morgan about the<br />

and the UK’s largest importer of roofing batten. case of roofing batten and how there has been a<br />

rise in the amount of roofing contractors either<br />

He said that since the Referendum in 2016, he<br />

knowingly using materials which are noncompliant<br />

with current British Standards, or are<br />

has faced constant questions from suppliers – in<br />

particular those in SR Timber’s supply chain in<br />

unwittingly purchasing materials that are<br />

the Baltic states – asking what’s happening in<br />

counterfeit, in order to save money.<br />

the UK. He also said that the continued<br />

uncertainty over Brexit means his suppliers are “When I mentioned the case of battens, Mrs<br />

themselves under pressure because the UK is Morgan quite rightly asked the question about<br />

their largest market.<br />

when regulators are being pushed to enforce<br />

standards,” said Mr Revill. “The reality is that<br />

“There are rumours swirling around Europe that<br />

they’re not as robust as they should be. British<br />

the UK will grind to a halt in the days and weeks<br />

Standards have been developed for specific<br />

after Brexit – and this is making our suppliers<br />

reasons – such as the quality of materials – and<br />

understandably very nervous,” said Mr Revill.<br />

they should be adhered to, Brexit or no Brexit.”<br />

Mrs Morgan was quick to point out that the civil<br />

When asked what contingencies businesses<br />

service and government departments have lots of<br />

around the table had taken to plan for Brexit,<br />

plans and contingencies in place, but the group<br />

there was a very clear divide between FTSE<br />

criticised the government for not promoting this<br />

companies and businesses such as SR Timber.<br />

and not communicating this better to countries in<br />

the EU.<br />

“The CBI said that some of the largest businesses<br />

were spending more than £100m to prepare, and<br />

The group discussed the example of<br />

their boards were spending up to 80% of their<br />

transportation costs of distributing materials once<br />

time planning,” said Mr Revill. “If we did that, we<br />

they arrive at UK ports and many of the<br />

wouldn’t have a business left to run.”<br />

businesses said they had faced rising costs –<br />

which they had to absorb because they couldn’t Reflecting on the event, Mr Revill said that it was<br />

pass them on.<br />

a great opportunity to meet other businesses who<br />

import and share experiences around the<br />

They also discussed how, since the result of the<br />

challenges of importing.<br />

12 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Industry News<br />

PLEASING READING<br />

FOR GREEN ROOFS<br />

Shirley Rodrigues, London’s Deputy <strong>May</strong>or for<br />

the Environment, launched a report which<br />

shows the speed with which London has<br />

delivered on its drive to meet its objectives<br />

on climate resilience and biodiversity.<br />

Rodrigues led the Greater London Authority’s<br />

(GLA) Environment Team when the First<br />

green roof policy was included in the London<br />

Plan in 2008: “I have been delighted to<br />

witness the patchwork of green roofs and<br />

walls spreading across London’s skyline,<br />

alongside the establishment of a world-class<br />

industry that is working towards the greening<br />

of London,” said Rodrigues.<br />

The report, produced by the European<br />

Federation of Green Roofs and Walls (EFB),<br />

and livingroofs.org, reveals that the total area<br />

of green roofs in the Greater London area is<br />

equal to 1.5 million m² with a density of<br />

0.17m² per inhabitant, which far surpasses<br />

that of other cities in the world.<br />

Significantly, the density in the capital’s<br />

Central Activity Zone is now a remarkable<br />

1.21m² of green roof per inhabitant.<br />

The new report contains infographics<br />

detailing all the green roofs installed in the<br />

Greater London Area and the Central Activity<br />

Zone (CAZ) as of 2018, with links to<br />

infographics for all the London boroughs<br />

which are published at www.livingroofs.org;<br />

the First ever league table of green roof cities<br />

around the world including London’s CAZ to<br />

provide a snapshot of London’s comparative<br />

performance; a review of global green roof<br />

policies in cities around the world; new<br />

evidence of the benefits and economic case<br />

for green roofs and walls; an appraisal of<br />

how various London boroughs are delivering<br />

green roofs; and 17 case studies of green<br />

roofs and walls in London.<br />

www.livingroofs.org<br />

TRAINING KEY FOR FORMER BMI AOTY<br />

The BMI National Training Centre welcomed an<br />

old friend, when roofer Ceiran Peel-Price<br />

attended one of the centre’s flat roofing courses.<br />

Ceiran is no stranger to the BMI National Training<br />

Centre as he was a finalist in the pitched roof<br />

category of the annual BMI Apprentice of the Year<br />

(AOTY) competition in both 2017 and 2018. After<br />

completing his apprenticeship, and with the<br />

confidence and insight gained through the<br />

competition, Ceiran successfully set up his own<br />

business and is now seeking to add flat roofing<br />

installation to the company’s services. Of BMI’s<br />

available courses, Ceiran opted for an<br />

Introduction to Single Ply Roofing.<br />

With 2018 delivering the completion of the flat<br />

roofing training area, and the refurbishment of the<br />

existing pitched training facility, the BMI National<br />

Training Centre was an obvious choice for Ceiran<br />

when looking to improve his skillset: “Being part<br />

of the BMI Apprentice of the Year competitions<br />

really taught me a lot and meant that BMI was a<br />

natural place for me to look for training as I am<br />

expanding my business. They not only gave me a<br />

great boost to my confidence, they also really<br />

Above: Ceiran Peel-Price took part in BMI’s Apprentice of the<br />

Year and returned to BMI’s National Training Centre to carry<br />

out flat roof training as owner of his own business.<br />

inspired me to push on with the next stage of my<br />

career. The facilities here are excellent, and the<br />

quality of training is superb.”<br />

Mat Woodyatt, BMI Technical Training Manager,<br />

said: “It’s great to see Ceiran back, and I’m really<br />

proud that, not only has BMI been part of<br />

inspiring him to set up his own company; but also<br />

that he sees us as a ‘go to’ provider for new<br />

skills. Our BMI Apprentice of the Year awards are<br />

part of our commitment to help ensure that new<br />

entrants to the sector receive the necessary<br />

levels of support that they need to develop and<br />

succeed. Ceiran is absolute proof of that, and we<br />

couldn’t think of a better candidate to attend one<br />

of our flat roof training courses.”<br />

Ceiran takes part in Contractor’s Qs on p. 26.<br />

NEW APPOINTMENT AT MADE FOR TRADE<br />

Jonathan Fletcher has joined<br />

Made for Trade as Business<br />

Development Manager.<br />

Going forward, Jonathan’s<br />

appointment will help ensure the<br />

successful roll out of all MFT<br />

products. However, customer<br />

support and guidance will be<br />

Bradley Gaunt (left) welcomes<br />

Jonathan Fletcher to the team.<br />

area for Jonathan is the Midlands<br />

and he will be focusing on existing<br />

customer support, retention and<br />

growth.<br />

Jonathan explained: “I’m looking<br />

forward to increasing awareness<br />

of the Made For Trade brand<br />

through strategic marketing<br />

crucial as Made for Trade continue to invest in<br />

research and design of new systems. With over<br />

20 years of business to business experience in<br />

national sales roles, Jonathan brings a wealth of<br />

experience to the position. Alongside supporting<br />

the Made for Trade team at this year’s FIT Show,<br />

his immediate goals will be on the road visiting<br />

existing clients and offering support. The first<br />

avenues, whilst also increasing face time with<br />

our customers. I have known of Made for Trade<br />

for some years now, so as soon as the<br />

opportunity arose I was keen to get on board. The<br />

fact that Made for Trade has a strong ethos<br />

towards developing market leading products gives<br />

me confidence that this role will be an exciting<br />

and enjoyable one for me.”<br />

14 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


An Inspector Calls<br />

DON’T BE THE FALL GUY WHEN IT<br />

COMES TO FLAT ROOFING<br />

In our regular monthly column – ‘An Inspector Calls’ – Total Contractor has teamed up with<br />

the experts at BMI UK & Ireland to help you avoid the common pitfalls that can often cost<br />

you both time and money, and ultimately help you achieve roofing success.<br />

This month, the Inspector looks at how<br />

updates in BS 6229:2018 can stop you<br />

being the fall guy when it comes to flat<br />

roofing.<br />

One of the most eye-catching amendments in the<br />

revision of BS 6229:2018 was the reference to<br />

falls. This is now much clearer, stating that “all<br />

flat roof surfaces (including gutter beds) should<br />

be designed with a fall of 1:40 to ensure finished<br />

drainage falls of 1:80 are achieved. This should<br />

take account of construction tolerances,<br />

permitted deviations and deflection under load,<br />

and account for deflections/settlement.”<br />

In other words, any design should allow for all<br />

factors that could reduce or hinder the drainage,<br />

eliminating the risk of ponding on roofs. Without<br />

these considerations, it is highly likely standing<br />

water will occur. Although improvements in<br />

membrane technology and performance have<br />

increased significantly, standing water may still<br />

result in additional and unnecessary stresses in<br />

the membrane, particularly in the winter when<br />

that standing water freezes. Furthermore, in the<br />

event of a defect being present in the area of the<br />

ponding, greater water ingress will occur when<br />

compared to a well-drained roof.<br />

Accelerate the ageing process<br />

Standing water is typically defined as water that<br />

remains on the roof for longer than 48 hours, and<br />

whilst this is not an immediate threat, it can<br />

accelerate the natural ageing process and have a<br />

detrimental effect on the membrane’s lifespan.<br />

It’s possible that standing water can still occur<br />

even when the structural deck has a fall within it,<br />

as compressed insulation,<br />

blocked or faulty drainage<br />

and damaged membranes<br />

can all contribute<br />

towards this issue too.<br />

Regular maintenance<br />

can therefore reduce<br />

this risk, alongside<br />

reducing the number and<br />

weight of items permanently<br />

stored on the roof. Another<br />

contributing factor could be the<br />

sequencing of membrane laps and edge details<br />

sitting proud of the finished floor level,<br />

consequently reducing the water’s ability to<br />

navigate past the resulting water-check.<br />

The reference to falls is all the more pertinent<br />

given that, these days, there are certain thirdparty<br />

certified waterproofing and insulating<br />

Above: Ponding can shorten the life of a roof. Below:<br />

Standing water due to lack of fall.<br />

systems that have gained<br />

approval for use with zero<br />

falls. Hot melt systems<br />

in particular are<br />

popular for this area<br />

of work. For these<br />

systems, zero falls<br />

are acceptable, but<br />

negative falls are not, so<br />

should be corrected. It is<br />

not really acceptable in this<br />

day and age for any contractor to<br />

install roof decks with large depressions, back<br />

falls and non-draining areas.<br />

To ensure a zero fall finished surface i.e. one that<br />

is totally flat, a design fall of 1:80 should be<br />

used, along with a detailed structural analysis to<br />

account for construction tolerances, settlement<br />

and deflection under load.<br />

Remedial action<br />

If sites have negative falls, thereby increasing the<br />

likelihood of ponding, then remedial action has to<br />

be taken before the roof system is applied. This<br />

could be by laying a localized screed to falls and<br />

firings, fitting tapered insulation or fitting<br />

additional rainwater outlets at the lowest points.<br />

As a result, the roofing contractor should expect a<br />

flat, properly drained surface on which to lay the<br />

specified system and the finished roof should not<br />

suffer from ponding or inadequate drainage.<br />

Contact BMI National Training Centre<br />

01285 863545<br />

www.redland.co.uk/training<br />

@_Redland / @Icopal_UK<br />

16 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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NFRC Technical Talk<br />

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO BS 6229<br />

PART 2: LOADING & DRAINAGE<br />

Gary Walpole, NFRC Technical Officer, continues his review of the changes to BS 6229, the<br />

Code of Practice for flat roofs.<br />

BS 6229 (Flat roofs<br />

with continuously<br />

supported flexible<br />

waterproof coverings. Code<br />

of Practice) was last updated<br />

in 2003 and much has<br />

changed within the industry in<br />

the last 15 years. The revised<br />

BS 6629:2018 describes best<br />

current practice in the design,<br />

construction, care and<br />

maintenance of roofs with a flat or<br />

curved surface, at a pitch not<br />

greater than 10 degrees to the<br />

horizontal, with a continuously supported flexible<br />

waterproof covering.<br />

Last month I explained what the main changes<br />

were in relation to the different flat roof buildups;<br />

this month I look at loading and drainage:<br />

Loading<br />

The roof structure should be designed for the<br />

strength of the specified waterproofing and take<br />

into account any added surfacing including green<br />

roofs, paving slabs, gravel, blue roofs for<br />

rainwater retention, or any mechanical or<br />

electrical equipment which may be situated on<br />

the finished roof.<br />

Achieving drainage through roof fall<br />

Ponding water adds a dead load to the roof<br />

structure and in exposed warm roofs increased<br />

stresses in the waterproofing layer, therefore, a<br />

minimum 1:80 finished fall is recommended to<br />

both the general area of the roof and to any<br />

formed internal gutters.<br />

BS 6229 recommends that all flat roofs should be<br />

designed with a fall of 1:40 to ensure a 1:80 fall<br />

BS 6229 has been revised and there are a<br />

number of changes that roofers need to be<br />

aware of.<br />

is achieved once the<br />

roof is completed.<br />

This design criteria<br />

includes internal<br />

gutters and should<br />

take account of<br />

construction tolerances,<br />

settlement and for deflection<br />

under load, both during and<br />

post construction.<br />

Zero falls<br />

Certain third-party certified<br />

waterproofing and insulating<br />

systems are approved for use with zero falls, but<br />

back falls are not acceptable. To ensure a<br />

finished surface with a zero fall, a design fall of<br />

1:80 should be used and a detailed structural<br />

analysis should account for construction<br />

tolerances, settlement and for deflection under<br />

load. Where areas are found by a site level survey<br />

to have negative falls, ponding water will occur.<br />

This will need to be corrected through the<br />

introduction of an additional outlet or localised<br />

screed to falls.<br />

To prevent ponding caused by waterproofing<br />

system lap, build ups around rainwater outlets,<br />

rainwater outlets should be recessed into the slab<br />

/ deck or fitted in sumps when it is practicable to<br />

do so.<br />

Rainwater disposal<br />

The design of most flat roofs should ensure<br />

rainwater is drained from the roof as quickly as<br />

possible. However, some roof finishes are<br />

designed to control the disposal of rainwater from<br />

the roof. For example, green roofs are designed to<br />

support planting, and blue roofs are designed to<br />

attenuate the drainage of rainwater. These roofs<br />

Left: Gary Walpole, NFRC.<br />

may require additional rainwater<br />

design considerations. All blue<br />

roofs and roofs that drain into a<br />

single internal rainwater outlet or<br />

combined outlets connected to a single<br />

downpipe, should also be fitted with a visible<br />

overflow to drain and alert the building user of<br />

any blockages to the rainwater outlet.<br />

Door threshold and upstand details<br />

The minimum height of all upstands and<br />

abutments from the finished waterproofing<br />

system remains at 150mm. However, if level<br />

access is required from within the building, as in<br />

the case of a door opening onto a balcony or<br />

terrace:<br />

• The height of the clear upturn under the door<br />

threshold may be reduced to not less than 75mm.<br />

• The waterproofing should be fitted before fixing<br />

the door threshold.<br />

It is important that the roof is designed with the<br />

rainwater falling away from the door, and in cases<br />

where there is an internal outlet or through-wall<br />

outlet:<br />

• An overflow must be fitted a minimum 25mm<br />

below the height of the door threshold to prevent<br />

water ingress into the dwelling in situations of<br />

blockages to the outlet.<br />

• The height of the upstand must return to<br />

150mm above the finished roof level beyond the<br />

door reveals.<br />

Contact the NFRC<br />

020 7638 7663<br />

www.nfrc.co.uk<br />

@TheNFRC<br />

18 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Material Talk<br />

AT ONE WITH YOUR PROJECT<br />

The choice of roof materials for a new project is vital and there is much to consider.<br />

However, with the focus very much on the physical components of a roof, it’s all too easy to<br />

overlook its overall life expectancy and any warranties that may cover the products. Andrea<br />

Ramirez, Product Manager at SIG Roofing, discusses the benefits behind using single<br />

package warranties.<br />

When planning a project, decisions need<br />

to be made on which products to use,<br />

their colour, size and texture, along with<br />

any planning restrictions, and of course the<br />

budget. Roofs are made up of multiple products,<br />

so the choice of roof coverings, fittings, fixings,<br />

breather membrane and batten for example, will<br />

also be carefully considered.<br />

“Things do go wrong,<br />

and when they do, you<br />

need the reassurance<br />

that the manufacturer<br />

or supplier will stand<br />

by your claim”<br />

Naturally, as roofers and contractors, you want to<br />

get the roof just right, especially the aesthetic as<br />

it accounts for 20-30% of the visible exterior and<br />

will determine the appearance of the property for<br />

decades. However, if it fails to meet requirements<br />

or a fault occurs and you’re required to make any<br />

repairs necessary, you will find yourself making a<br />

claim. Things do go wrong, and when they do, you<br />

need the reassurance that your roofing products<br />

can be relied upon in the event of defect or<br />

failure, and that the manufacturer or supplier will<br />

stand by your claim. Otherwise, not only could a<br />

claim prove costly, it can seriously discredit your<br />

reputation too.<br />

Thankfully, over the years, roofing products have<br />

become more advanced, and with the quality and<br />

reliability increasing, most products come with a<br />

standard twelve-month warranty – if not longer.<br />

This said, research has shown that 70% of<br />

contractors have had to replace a roofing product<br />

through a warranty claim at some<br />

time or other. Therefore, you need<br />

to be confident that the warranties<br />

offered by the products you choose<br />

are comprehensive and robust.<br />

Whether it’s a new roof, an extension or<br />

even a repair, it’s rare that only one product<br />

will be ever used. Warranties are<br />

normally issued separately for<br />

each product, so that means<br />

several warranties to manage<br />

too. Keeping track of every<br />

warranty and storing them safely<br />

can be a job in itself. So, imagine<br />

having to deal with multiple suppliers<br />

in the event of a claim? It can be difficult, timeconsuming,<br />

and downright frustrating and can all<br />

add up to lost revenue. Single package warranties<br />

take the headache away and offer a number of<br />

valuable benefits; the key attraction is simplicity.<br />

When a single package warranty is purchased,<br />

just one warranty covers the performance of the<br />

key products involved in the build-up of a roof –<br />

in some cases up to 15 years. In the unfortunate<br />

event of a claim, there’s just one company and<br />

only one contact to deal with at any time<br />

throughout the process.<br />

In a move to provide additional support to<br />

contractors, SIG Roofing has extended its ONE<br />

Warranty scheme to provide 15-year coverage for<br />

flat roofing products as well as those for pitched<br />

roofs.<br />

Since its launch in 2015, ONE Warranty has gone<br />

from strength to strength with contractors signing<br />

up to the single package product guarantee,<br />

which is designed to support the products<br />

Left: Andrea Ramirez, Product Manager at<br />

SIG Roofing.<br />

Contact SIG Roofing<br />

0845 612 4304<br />

www.sigroofing.co.uk<br />

@SIGRoofing<br />

involved in the build-up of the roof<br />

from batten to roof coverings.<br />

Now, with coverage extended to<br />

include flat roofing products, the free-toregister<br />

product warranty gives contractors<br />

greater value and an even stronger<br />

offer to put to their customers.<br />

The simplicity of the ‘onepartner<br />

covers all’ ONE<br />

Warranty scheme takes away<br />

that inconvenience, while<br />

property owners have peace of mind<br />

knowing their roof is covered, which in turn<br />

gives them greater confidence in the contractor.<br />

“Contractors can then<br />

easily create a<br />

warranty for their<br />

project online”<br />

Contractors wishing to take advantage of ONE<br />

Warranty simply have to register online<br />

at www.sigroofing.co.uk/onewarranty. Once<br />

registered they will receive membership details<br />

and marketing materials to use with their<br />

customers. Contractors can then easily create a<br />

warranty for their project online, following the<br />

purchase and installation of products, for ONE<br />

Warranty to take effect.<br />

20 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Business Talk<br />

PROS & CONS OF RECRUITMENT<br />

We take a look at the issues and protocols when recruiting individuals with criminal<br />

convictions.<br />

Arecent study, conducted for the Scottish<br />

Centre for Crime and Justice, found that 11<br />

million people in the UK have a criminal<br />

record and that 75% of employers admit to<br />

rejecting a job applicant once a criminal<br />

conviction is disclosed.<br />

With this in mind, what is the law surrounding<br />

employees with criminal records, and what can<br />

employers do to ensure they are asking the right<br />

questions at the right time?<br />

The law<br />

According to Mark Stevens, a Senior Associate at<br />

VWV, it’s important to note that an employer can<br />

obtain information on a person’s criminal record:<br />

“They can do so in one of two ways – either by<br />

asking the candidate or employee directly, or by<br />

requesting an official criminal record check by the<br />

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).”<br />

The treatment of individuals with criminal records<br />

is set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act<br />

1974 (ROA 1974). This Act provides a system for<br />

the records of people with convictions to be<br />

cleared.<br />

Subject to certain exemptions, a person whose<br />

conviction is spent is entitled to hold themselves<br />

out as a having a clean record – only ‘unspent’<br />

convictions need to be disclosed. However, even<br />

with unspent convictions it is worth bearing in<br />

mind an applicant may not disclose this<br />

information.<br />

Stevens advises that if an individual has a spent<br />

conviction and they choose not to disclose it<br />

“A person whose<br />

conviction is spent is<br />

entitled to hold<br />

themselves out as a<br />

having a clean record”<br />

when questioned, subject to certain exemptions,<br />

“they cannot be subjected to any liability or<br />

prejudice for their failure to disclose, and this<br />

would include an employer not hiring them.<br />

Failure to disclose a spent conviction is not a<br />

lawful ground for dismissal.” An employee<br />

dismissed on these grounds may bring a claim for<br />

unfair dismissal.<br />

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974<br />

(Exceptions) Order 1975 identifies that in certain<br />

cases spent convictions should be disclosed. The<br />

Order sets out certain occupations, offices and<br />

professions where the disclosure of spent<br />

convictions can be required:<br />

• Professions such as medicine, lawyers,<br />

accountants, vets, chemist and opticians;<br />

• Those employed to uphold the law, including<br />

judges and prison officers;<br />

• Certain regulated occupations, including the<br />

financial services;<br />

• Those who work with children and vulnerable<br />

adults; and<br />

• Those whose work could pose a risk to national<br />

security.<br />

If an applicant fails to disclose a spent conviction<br />

in these circumstances, an employer will have a<br />

valid reason for withholding or withdrawing an<br />

offer of employment or dismissal.<br />

Disclosure and Barring Service<br />

As mentioned earlier, an alternative to asking an<br />

employee about their past is for an employer to<br />

obtain information on an individual’s criminal<br />

record via a DBS check which will include all<br />

spent and unspent convictions, and avoids the<br />

need to rely solely on an individual’s voluntary<br />

disclosure.<br />

22 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


There are two main types of DBS checks,<br />

standard disclosure and enhanced disclosure.<br />

Stevens reminds employers that they “should<br />

remember when considering requesting a DBS<br />

check that this can only be requested if the<br />

individual in question is to undertake a role set<br />

out in the Exceptions Order.”<br />

He explains that “if a DBS certificate discloses<br />

convictions, employers should be careful not to<br />

respond in a knee-jerk way when deciding if the<br />

individual is suitable for a role.” His reasoning is<br />

based on a recent case where, in January <strong>2019</strong>,<br />

the Supreme Court found that the way that<br />

criminal records were disclosed to employers<br />

infringed an individual’s right to private life: “It<br />

has been reported that the Supreme Court’s<br />

decision was that the criminal records disclosure<br />

scheme was disproportionate in certain respects<br />

– specifically in respect to the requirement that<br />

all previous convictions should be disclosed,<br />

(regardless of how minor they might have been),<br />

where the person has more than one conviction,<br />

and also in respect to young offenders. The<br />

repercussions of this case remain to be seen –<br />

but it could lead to significant changes to the way<br />

that the DBS system works.”<br />

Employers should keep in mind that information<br />

on a person’s criminal record is personal data<br />

and cannot be processed unless there is a lawful<br />

basis for doing so. As well as having a lawful<br />

reason for processing the data, an employer<br />

should also comply with the data protection<br />

principles which includes making sure the<br />

processing is adequate, relevant and not<br />

excessive.<br />

An applicant has a criminal record<br />

As to how to react if a conviction, spent or<br />

unspent, is disclosed, Stevens suggests that an<br />

employer's response should depend on the<br />

individual circumstances, regardless of how the<br />

information is obtained.<br />

“If the conviction is spent and the position<br />

applied for does not fall under the Exceptions<br />

Order, the employer may not refuse to employ the<br />

‘Be careful who you employ’<br />

Firms in the sector need to be careful who<br />

they employ. Take the 2007 case of roofer<br />

Anthony Robert Turner who was convicted of<br />

theft and money laundering after stealing<br />

cheques from an 80-year-old woman when<br />

working on her house.<br />

In 2012, roofer Joe Crossley was jailed after<br />

“It may not always be<br />

appropriate for an<br />

employer to ask<br />

applicants about<br />

criminal convictions”<br />

individual on the basis of the conviction. If the<br />

conviction is spent but the position falls under the<br />

Exceptions Order, then an employer may refuse to<br />

employ the individual. When dealing with<br />

positions which fall within the Exceptions Order,<br />

due regard should be given to industry and<br />

sector-specific guidance as this will often set out<br />

how an employer should proceed. If the<br />

conviction is not spent, the employer may refuse<br />

to employ the individual, but again, appropriate<br />

regard should be given to any sector specific<br />

legislation.”<br />

A current employee did not disclose<br />

Looking at the issue from the perspective of an<br />

employee, Stevens says that here too, “an<br />

employee is entitled to withhold a spent<br />

conviction, subject to the exceptions, and it is<br />

likely that if an employee with qualifying service<br />

is dismissed for this reason the dismissal will be<br />

unfair.”<br />

He adds that if a person has deceived their<br />

employer about a criminal record and they were<br />

not entitled to withhold the information, i.e they<br />

have an unspent conviction or the exceptions to<br />

ROA 1974 apply, then the employer may<br />

terminate their employment contract for<br />

breaching the implied term of mutual trust and<br />

confidence. But he offers a note of caution: “Care<br />

pleading guilty to stealing tiles from churches<br />

across Wiltshire, causing thousands of<br />

pounds worth of damage.<br />

And in 2017, roofer Richard Cakebread who<br />

stole £88,000 through VAT fraud and evaded<br />

£14,000 in income tax was jailed following an<br />

HMRC investigation. Cakebread charged VAT<br />

on invoices he sent to clients and used a VAT<br />

number which had been deregistered in 2009.<br />

should be taken where an employee has sufficient<br />

qualifying service to bring an unfair dismissal<br />

claim as an employer will need to show that<br />

dismissal was within the band of reasonable<br />

responses.” He says that in considering this an<br />

employer will want to think about the employee’s<br />

performance record as well as whether or not the<br />

conviction was relevant or particularly serious.<br />

In summary<br />

As can be seen from the recent research<br />

published and the legal considerations when<br />

requiring criminal records are disclosed, it may<br />

not always be appropriate for an employer to ask<br />

applicants about criminal convictions.<br />

If an employer chooses to continue to ask for<br />

criminal records information in their application<br />

form, it should consider writing a detailed<br />

recruitment policy with a section on the<br />

recruitment of ex-offenders that explains how the<br />

suitability of candidates with a criminal record is<br />

assessed. This could include the nature of the<br />

offence, the relevance to the role applied for, how<br />

old the offence is, and whether an individual’s<br />

circumstances have changed since it was<br />

committed.<br />

Employers can also continue to reject<br />

applications on the basis of a criminal record<br />

without taking these steps. However, giving more<br />

thought to the situation may open up a wider<br />

range of suitable candidates for a role.<br />

What are your thoughts on recruiting or working<br />

with people with criminal records? Email the<br />

Editor at mattdowns@media-now.co.uk or tweet<br />

@TotContractorUK.<br />

MAY <strong>2019</strong> TC 23


Pitched Roofing<br />

PREVENTING GABLE END STAINING<br />

By Tom Woodhouse, Site Services Manager at Marley.<br />

Despite the introduction of BS 8612, the Dry Fix Standard, there is still some concern in the<br />

industry about staining on gable end walls caused by water shedding from inferior, incompatible<br />

or incorrectly installed dry verge systems. Gable end staining not only looks unsightly, but left<br />

unchecked, saturated walls can leave the bricks at risk of frost damage.<br />

Part of the reason for BS 8612’s introduction was to eliminate this problem and the Standard includes<br />

some strict tests for dry verge products. This means that a compliant system must not allow water to<br />

discharge in one or more concentrated, continuous or intermittent streams on the wall. However,<br />

random splashes are acceptable. So, while in theory, using a BS 8612 compliant dry verge system<br />

should prevent any gable end staining, in order to do so it must be fitted in accordance with<br />

manufacturer instructions. However, it’s important to remember, even between compliant systems there<br />

will be differences in performance. For example, some will have built-in drainage features, or have<br />

batten end clips that make them easier to fix securely.<br />

Here’s Tom’s top tips to prevent gable end staining:<br />

Tom Woodhouse, Site Services Manager at Marley.<br />

“Choose a dry verge<br />

system that has an<br />

integral design feature<br />

to drain water away<br />

from the wall”<br />

1Never use a dry verge system that is not<br />

BS 8612 compliant. This means that it<br />

hasn’t been tested to meet the minimum<br />

quality required by the British Standard.<br />

2Choose a dry verge system that has an<br />

integral design feature to drain water away<br />

from the wall. For example, both our<br />

Ashmore and Universal Dry Verges have been<br />

designed and tested to protect against gable end<br />

staining, with multiple drainage channels to direct<br />

water away from the wall.<br />

3Always follow the manufacturer<br />

instructions. Even if you have fitted similar<br />

products before, check the instructions as<br />

failure to do so could lead to an inadequate fix or<br />

water shedding and invalidate any warranty. All<br />

verge tiles should be mechanically fixed in<br />

accordance with BS 5534 in addition to the use of<br />

the universal dry verge units, i.e. by nailing,<br />

clipping or screwing as appropriate.<br />

4Having a continuous bargeboard can add<br />

further protection, by making sure the<br />

verge is positioned out from the brickwork.<br />

However, as part of BS 8612 requirements, our<br />

dry verge products are tested without a<br />

bargeboard present – so contractors can have<br />

peace of mind they will drain water effectively<br />

with or without a bargeboard.<br />

5Minimise the risk of incorrect fixing by<br />

choosing a system that is simple to install<br />

to British Standards. For example, a dry<br />

verge system that includes a batten end clip<br />

makes the mechanical engagement required<br />

under BS 8612 much simpler. Our batten end clip<br />

has sharp teeth which grip into the batten,<br />

making it extremely secure, as well as being very<br />

quick to push or hammer into place. Unlike others<br />

on the market, it can be fitted after the roof has<br />

been tiled.<br />

6Take extra care with eaves closure units or<br />

starter verges, and always follow<br />

manufacturer instructions. Depending on<br />

the design, it can be particularly difficult to fix the<br />

eaves closure unit adequately. This can lead to<br />

roofers having to improvise to gain a secure<br />

mechanical fix, using things like brick ties to<br />

achieve a suitable fix into the fascia or roof<br />

substructure. To prevent this, our Universal and<br />

Ashmore Dry Verges incorporate a quick starter<br />

verge fixing method that can be installed easily,<br />

regardless of any obstructions such as gutters.<br />

This provides an easy-to-install, robust method<br />

of securing the first verge unit, even when there<br />

are no bargeboards. This also gives the site<br />

manager visual confirmation that the verge has<br />

been installed correctly.<br />

7For refurbishment work, you need to make<br />

sure there are no undulations where the<br />

dry verge will be installed. Any roof dipping<br />

at the edges can cause excessive water run-off,<br />

so you may need to adjust the battens<br />

underneath to make it flatter.<br />

8Compatibility is crucial. Many dry verge<br />

products are sold as universal but they<br />

have different levels of compatibility so it<br />

is important to check this. Our Universal Dry<br />

Verge is compatible with all three main<br />

interlocking tile types; large standard, medium<br />

format (15” by 9”) and large format thin leading<br />

edge. Our Ashmore Dry Verge has been designed<br />

to complement the Ashmore double interlocking<br />

plain tile but it is also fully compatible with other<br />

interlocking plain tiles on the market.<br />

Contact Marley<br />

01283 722588<br />

www.marley.co.uk/dryverge<br />

@MarleyLtd<br />

24 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


Contractor’s Qs<br />

“NO POINT IN HAVING THE GEAR IF<br />

YOU’VE GOT NO IDEA!”<br />

After leaving the army, Ceiran Peel-Price began renovating his own home which sparked a real<br />

interest in construction. This led to him completing an apprenticeship, including consecutive<br />

years as a finalist in BMI’s Apprenticeship of the Year competition, then ultimately establishing<br />

his own business, Peel-Price Construction. Total Contractor caught up with Ceiran to hear about the<br />

lessons he’s learned, dealing with very particular customers and why knowledge is key...<br />

10<br />

questions for Ceiran Peel-Price<br />

“I’ve asked for help and<br />

it’s always been there<br />

but if you don’t you can<br />

find yourself in a<br />

corner”<br />

TC: What was your path into roofing and<br />

to your current position?<br />

CP-P: When I came out of the army I started<br />

renovating the house we were in and it was<br />

brilliant taking things down but I wanted to learn<br />

how to rebuild them. I started off with a brickwork<br />

course while I had operations on my knees and,<br />

when my knees were healed and I’d finished the<br />

brickwork course, I started off as an apprentice with<br />

Les Perry Roofing and then I set up on my own.<br />

TC: If you had one piece of advice about<br />

starting a roofing business, what would it<br />

be?<br />

Images, clockwise from top: Ceiran Peel-Price moved into<br />

construction after serving in the army; He has been a finalist<br />

twice in BMI’s Apprentice of the Year competition which has<br />

helped provide him with the skills and confidence to set up<br />

his own roofing business.<br />

CP-P: Never be afraid to ask for help. I’ve asked<br />

for help and it’s always been there but if you<br />

don’t you can find yourself in a corner. I’ve taken<br />

on jobs where I didn’t have the full set of skills<br />

but asked people to work with me and they’ve not<br />

only done the job but taught me along the way.<br />

TC: Tell us about a current project you’re<br />

working on…<br />

CP-P: I’m on with a really big<br />

house in Heswall – nine<br />

bedrooms. It started off as<br />

just a small repair and then,<br />

when I got there, the<br />

customer said they wanted<br />

to replace all the ridge tiles,<br />

the fascias, soffits and the<br />

gutters – they didn’t like the colour. 250 metres<br />

worth – it’s huge.<br />

TC: You mentioned your apprenticeship:<br />

was that worthwhile?<br />

CP-P: Absolutely. It worked out brilliantly for me<br />

and, for example, I was a finalist in the BMI<br />

Apprentice of the Year competition twice – first in<br />

2017, and again in 2018. The<br />

competition taught me a lot and<br />

was one of the things that<br />

encouraged me to set up my<br />

own business. It also taught<br />

me the value of quality<br />

training. The facilities at BMI<br />

are excellent, and I’ve recently<br />

undertaken some of their flat<br />

26 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


oofing courses to help grow the business.<br />

TC: What about difficult customers? Any<br />

situations that stand out that you can tell<br />

us about?!<br />

CP-P: I haven’t had one that was difficult in an<br />

angry way, just one that was very particular. I had to<br />

go to nine suppliers to get the right material that<br />

they wanted and then ended back with the first one.<br />

They were trying to match into brand new windows<br />

they were installing but there was no match.<br />

TC: What’s the most frustrating thing<br />

about your job?<br />

CP-P: Fixing mistakes where people haven’t<br />

known what they’re doing. Sometimes I just don’t<br />

know how they got away with it.<br />

TC: And the most satisfying?<br />

CP-P: Helping people out because when they<br />

have problems with their roof it’s not something<br />

they can sort out themselves.<br />

Above: Ceiran Peel-Price.<br />

TC: What’s your most important tool as a<br />

roofing contractor, either in the office or<br />

on site?<br />

CP-P: Knowledge. No point in having the gear if<br />

you’ve no idea.<br />

TC: What’s the best social media platform<br />

for you as a roofing contractor?<br />

CP-P: I use Facebook. I put current jobs up there<br />

and customers leave feedback too. I’ve recently<br />

offered Bluelight discount for NHS staff and<br />

people in the forces and put that on the Facebook<br />

page and got a strong response.<br />

“When they have<br />

problems with their<br />

roof it’s not something<br />

they can sort out<br />

themselves”<br />

TC: How has the start of <strong>2019</strong> been and are<br />

there reasons to be positive for the remainder<br />

of the year?<br />

CP-P: January/February were quite quiet but I<br />

expected that and now work’s coming in thick<br />

and fast, so I’m very positive for the future.<br />

Total Contractor will keep you up-to-date with<br />

the finals of the <strong>2019</strong> BMI Apprentice of the Year<br />

which will be held at the beginning of July.<br />

Contact Peel-Price Construction<br />

07730 684784<br />

@PeelPrice<br />

For furt<br />

ther inf ormation<br />

or a hire quotation call<br />

01858 410372<br />

MAY <strong>2019</strong> TC 27


Roof Windows<br />

PART 3: SMARTER MAINTENANCE<br />

In the final instalment of our series from Dakea, Lee Griffiths looks at the maintenance<br />

advice roofing contractors should pass on to their customers.<br />

Homeowners tend to concern themselves<br />

with the upkeep of their interior space,<br />

often forgetting the importance of<br />

maintaining products that are part of the building<br />

fabric. By advising homeowners on the value of<br />

sustaining a schedule of maintenance that<br />

includes the upkeep of the glass, frame and<br />

gutter roofing, contractors can help customers<br />

avoid costly repair and replacement work.<br />

Pane-less cleaning<br />

Dirt can quickly build up on the outer pane due to<br />

a range of factors. Often blamed on rainwater,<br />

this is actually a common misconception as it<br />

contains almost no particles, which means it<br />

cannot make the window dirtier. The main<br />

contributors to a dirty window are from things<br />

such as airborne contaminants, pollen,<br />

windswept dirt from vehicles, and even from<br />

animals such as birds or squirrels.<br />

Most roof windows come with a rotating sash,<br />

which allows homeowners to easily clean the outer<br />

window from inside their house. This involves<br />

using a soft, clean, lint-free cloth, a chamois<br />

leather, non-abrasive sponge or non-metal window<br />

squeegee and water to quickly wipe down, making<br />

sure they avoid contact from silicone with the<br />

pane. For hard water areas, a small amount of<br />

detergent is recommended to soften the water or<br />

wipe off excess water after cleaning.<br />

However, thanks to continuing innovation, there<br />

are glazing units now available on the market that<br />

can provide an unparalleled reduction of dirt<br />

build-up on the external surface of the window, by<br />

using rain itself. Units of this nature have a<br />

microscopic titanium dioxide applied directly to<br />

the surface of the glass. When exposed to<br />

sunlight, the coating uses a photocatalytic<br />

process to break down and disintegrate organic<br />

dirt. Then, when it rains, instead of leaving streaks<br />

“By properly advising customers on the<br />

maintenance required, roofing contractors can<br />

reduce the lifetime cost of the product”<br />

in any settled dirt, it is simply washed away.<br />

In addition, the glazing tends to dry quicker, which<br />

reduces the chances of water streaks, leaving the<br />

customer with clear windows and no<br />

maintenance requirements.<br />

Maintain the frame<br />

It is important to make customers aware that<br />

taking care of the window frame, particularly<br />

timber ones, is important to ensure the wood<br />

does not become affected by damp. This could<br />

cause the frame to swell and become deformed –<br />

creating damage that is costly to fix and<br />

compromises the watertightness of the window.<br />

External factors that can cause this include rain,<br />

freezing temperatures and exposure to ultraviolet<br />

radiation. Internal moisture can also be a problem,<br />

as high humidity areas can cause condensation to<br />

occur on the inner surface of the window.<br />

To reduce the chance of damage to the frame,<br />

roofing contractors should make sure they select<br />

a product from a manufacturer that carries out a<br />

treatment process on the timber before<br />

installation. For example, this could be demoisturising<br />

the wood to protect against<br />

deformation of the frame, and a specialist double<br />

layer coating to help ensure a durable surface.<br />

When it does come to treating the window again,<br />

customers should be advised to apply a simple,<br />

even coat of water-based lacquer to the wood<br />

every four years and whenever additionally<br />

required. However, higher humidity areas of a<br />

property, such as bathrooms and kitchens, will<br />

require treatment every two years.<br />

If the frame at any point requires cleaning, this can<br />

be completed with warm soapy water – but it is<br />

important to advise customers that cleaning more<br />

frequently may increase the need for re-lacquering.<br />

In addition, if an electrical opener has been<br />

installed and needs to be cleaned, a damp cloth<br />

and standard detergents are fine to be used, and<br />

the chain should be greased annually to keep it<br />

working smoothly.<br />

Concerns in the gutter<br />

For the small gutter above the window, advise<br />

your customers that they do not require any extra<br />

maintenance or care. All that is required is a<br />

periodic clean to remove any blockages to allow<br />

rainwater to flow freely, which can be done at the<br />

same time the rest of the gutters on the property<br />

are cleaned. Additionally, if any external roller<br />

shutters are installed they can be cared for easily<br />

with a quick clean with soapy water.<br />

Roof windows are a significant investment in a<br />

property, and as such are expected to last for many<br />

years. While many roof windows come with lengthy<br />

guarantees, if they are kept in good condition they<br />

can often last much longer than this. By properly<br />

advising customers on the maintenance required,<br />

roofing contractors can reduce the lifetime cost of<br />

the product for the homeowner, leaving them with<br />

a high quality installation that looks good and<br />

works as intended.<br />

Contact Dakea<br />

020 3970 5080<br />

www.dakea.com<br />

@dakea_uk<br />

28 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Perfectly Pitched<br />

KNOW WHICH WAY THE WIND<br />

BLOWS: PITCHED ROOF UNDERLAYS<br />

Roofing Consultant John Mercer – writing on behalf of Edilians – explains what needs to be<br />

considered when choosing a pitched roof underlay, and the importance of getting it right.<br />

The primary functions of pitched roof<br />

underlays are to a) provide a completely<br />

waterproof barrier to prevent water from<br />

entering the building and b) take a share of the<br />

wind load to reduce the uplift forces acting on the<br />

roof tiles. Another function of vapour and airpermeable<br />

underlays is to assist in preventing<br />

harmful condensation in the roof space.<br />

In this article, I will deal with point ‘b’; i.e. how<br />

the underlay must act to share the wind uplift<br />

loads on the roof system.<br />

A barrier to reduce wind uplift<br />

BS 5534 stipulates that pitched<br />

roofing underlay should provide a<br />

barrier to reduce the wind uplift<br />

load acting on the tiles. If the<br />

underlay cannot sufficiently resist<br />

the wind uplift load, then a greater<br />

share is borne by the roof tiles, possibly<br />

resulting in dislodgement of the tiles. The share of<br />

the wind load borne by the underlay is<br />

considerable, therefore the underlay must be of<br />

suitable strength to resist these uplift forces. An<br />

“The share of the wind load borne by the underlay<br />

is considerable, therefore the underlay must be<br />

of suitable strength to resist these uplift forces”<br />

Left: John Mercer, Pitched Roofing Technical<br />

Consultant.<br />

underlay must always be<br />

specified that is appropriate for<br />

the design of building and,<br />

importantly, its location.<br />

Underlays are usually classified in<br />

accordance with their geographic location and<br />

wind zone in the form of a UK Zonal<br />

Classification Table on the packaging. The UK is<br />

divided into 5 wind zones, with lowest wind<br />

speed, Zone 1, being centred around London and<br />

the south of England, up to Zone 5 covering the<br />

very far north of Scotland (see Wind Zones map<br />

next page).<br />

When choosing an underlay, designers and<br />

When choosing a pitched roof underlay it is important to always check if a project is likely to exceed any of the Zonal Classification Table’s conditions (see table on next page).<br />

32 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Zonal Limitations<br />

• Ceiling must be well sealed<br />

• Ridge height must not be greater than 15<br />

metres<br />

• Roof pitch must be between 12.5º and 75º<br />

• Site altitude must not be greater than 100m<br />

• There should be no significant topography<br />

“If there is any doubt<br />

about the suitability of<br />

an underlay for any<br />

particular site or<br />

project, obtain the<br />

actual underlay uplift<br />

resistance value<br />

figure”<br />

installers must be mindful of the list of criteria<br />

that apply to underlay Zonal tables. These are as<br />

follows:<br />

• The ceiling must be ‘well sealed’, as defined in<br />

BS 9250 (referred to as ‘continuous’ in BS 5534)<br />

• The ridge height must not be greater than 15<br />

metres<br />

• The roof pitch must be between 12.5º and 75º<br />

• The site altitude must not be greater than 100<br />

metres<br />

• There should be no significant site topography<br />

(as defined in BS 5534)<br />

Wind uplift calculations<br />

Where a project falls outside any of these<br />

parameters, the predicted wind load may exceed<br />

the maximum declared load resistance in the<br />

Zonal Classification table for the location.<br />

In these cases, it is a requirement of BS 5534<br />

that a wind uplift calculation is performed to<br />

determine what strength the underlay needs to<br />

be.<br />

Some concerns have been raised recently that<br />

these exclusions are not always considered<br />

Above: Wind zones map.<br />

when choosing an underlay. Many roofing<br />

projects fall outside these parameters, possibly<br />

because the ceiling isn’t well-sealed or perhaps<br />

the ridge height is higher than 15 metres.<br />

Similarly, there are many areas in the UK that<br />

are much higher than the site altitude restriction<br />

of 100 metres.<br />

In view of these concerns, I ran some test wind<br />

uplift calculations for actual development sites<br />

close to where I live. The results were alarming. I<br />

live in an area where the height above sea level is<br />

much greater than 100m and many locations can<br />

be described as having significant topography due<br />

to the hills and valleys in the area.<br />

For two sites, I found that the predicted wind<br />

load far exceeded the maximum load resistance<br />

given in the Zonal Classification Table for the<br />

area. This means that, certainly for these<br />

locations, it is not possible to use an underlay<br />

that only achieves the uplift resistance given in<br />

the Zonal Classification Tables for the location.<br />

Therefore, it would be necessary to use an<br />

underlay that has a higher uplift resistance.<br />

Conclusion<br />

In summary, it is important to always check if a<br />

project is likely to exceed any of the Zonal<br />

Classification Table’s conditions. If there is any<br />

doubt about the suitability of an underlay for any<br />

particular site or project, obtain the actual<br />

underlay uplift resistance value figure.<br />

Alternatively, use an underlay that is classified for<br />

unrestricted use in all UK wind zones, such as the<br />

range of Tyvek Supro underlay systems.<br />

“For two sites, I found that the predicted wind load<br />

far exceeded the maximum load resistance given<br />

in the Zonal Classification Table for the area”<br />

Contact EDILIANS / John Mercer<br />

www.imerys-roof-tiles.com<br />

@imerys<br />

@johnmercer3<br />

34 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Fall Protection<br />

MAINTAINING/SERVICING EQUIPMENT<br />

Matthew Bailey, Divisional Manager, Inspection and Certification at HCL Safety, explains<br />

why it is essential for companies to install fall protection equipment when required and<br />

properly look after it once it’s in place.<br />

Ultimately, lives depend on height safety<br />

systems. That in itself should be reason<br />

enough to ensure that equipment is<br />

properly installed, regularly maintained and<br />

thoroughly serviced. You wouldn’t board an<br />

airplane knowing that it hasn’t been regularly<br />

checked and serviced. Why should fall protection<br />

equipment be any different? The consequences of<br />

equipment failure can be just as severe.<br />

The continued upkeep and regular maintenance of<br />

fall protection equipment are both important<br />

contributing factors that help ensure systems<br />

carry out their intended purpose when required:<br />

saving lives. Any fall protection system should be<br />

checked and maintained by experienced,<br />

competent professionals according to relevant<br />

European or British standards, as well as<br />

manufacturers’ guidelines.<br />

Factors that can affect the safety system<br />

There are a variety of factors that can potentially<br />

impact the performance of fall protection<br />

equipment, from general wear and tear to poor<br />

weather and flying objects or operative misuse.<br />

Some are somewhat expected while others are<br />

unforeseen. Either way, they all highlight the<br />

importance of regularly checking and maintaining<br />

your fall protection equipment. Failure to do so<br />

could compromise the functionality of the system<br />

and ultimately affect end-users.<br />

Responsibility for the upkeep of fall protection<br />

equipment typically lies with the building owner.<br />

They have an obligation to ensure that processes<br />

are in place to effectively maintain the<br />

equipment. This includes regular servicing and<br />

annual inspection and certification. Building<br />

owners should also educate themselves as to the<br />

legal and moral safety obligation they have for the<br />

safety of those that work at height. If in doubt or<br />

“Companies<br />

must<br />

acknowledge<br />

that it’s a<br />

human life at<br />

risk if they fail<br />

to implement a<br />

robust fall<br />

protection regime and<br />

properly look after<br />

their equipment”<br />

in need of support, consult experienced<br />

professionals like HCL Safety. Ignorance is not a<br />

valid excuse when people’s lives may be at stake.<br />

Risks faced by companies that don’t<br />

properly maintain their equipment<br />

The negative implications associated with<br />

building owners not fulfilling their fall protection<br />

safety obligation are wide and varied. Most<br />

importantly, of course, the end-user may be<br />

impacted. But so may companies’ reputations<br />

and bottom lines. If a work at height operative<br />

were to fall using poorly maintained, faulty<br />

equipment, legal proceedings will likely be<br />

brought, fines issued and the HSE would open an<br />

investigation into the company and its health and<br />

safety ethos.<br />

On occasion, operatives have been known to<br />

access roof spaces to carry out work only to<br />

discover that there is no height safety system in<br />

place. At which point – as is absolutely their right<br />

– they may refuse to carry out the work. This can<br />

prove costly and delay work that may have been<br />

urgent. Installing fall protection equipment<br />

retrospectively also tends to be more expensive<br />

than simply incorporating it into the building’s<br />

initial design. It’s worth<br />

remembering that – more often<br />

than not – at some point in<br />

the future, someone is likely<br />

to need to gain access to the<br />

roof space or within an area<br />

where eliminating, reducing or<br />

controlling risks associated with<br />

working at height is paramount. It<br />

just isn’t worth avoiding or delaying the<br />

installation of fall protection equipment.<br />

Reducing risk<br />

First and foremost, companies must fully<br />

understand what fall protection equipment is,<br />

what it does and what their height safety<br />

requirements are. If for any reason you feel that<br />

your knowledge around height safety is limited,<br />

then consult specialists.<br />

Secondly, companies need to implement a robust<br />

height safety process and ensure that they<br />

adhere to all legal requirements, including the<br />

annual inspection and certification of fall<br />

protection equipment. If you rent a building<br />

space, then you need to understand your<br />

responsibilities and make sure that you’re<br />

minimising risk and fulfilling your safety<br />

obligation. And, most importantly, remember that<br />

behind all the equipment and safety processes is<br />

the end-user. Companies must acknowledge that<br />

it’s a human life at risk if they fail to implement a<br />

robust fall protection regime and properly look<br />

after their equipment.<br />

Contact HCL Safety<br />

0845 600 0086<br />

www.hclsafety.com<br />

@HCLSafety<br />

36 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Trussed Rafters<br />

WHAT YOU NEED TO CHECK<br />

Nick Boulton, Chief Executive of the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA), talks through the<br />

Trussed Rafter safety checks that can give contractors extra protection.<br />

Perhaps you don’t need telling, yet again, about the dangers of working at height. The roofing industry<br />

is rightly obsessed with safety, and works with many other parts of the construction supply chain to<br />

share knowledge and advice on best practice.<br />

This is also what drives the Trussed Rafter Association (TRA). By working with a range of partners, including<br />

the Home Builders Federation and the HSE, we can ensure that the construction sector has access to the<br />

latest information. While TRA members design, manufacture and deliver, most trussed rafter roofs are<br />

installed by sub-contractors. But as a contractor, how can you know it is safe to proceed to the next stage?<br />

Images courtesy of Pasquill, roof trusses in place.<br />

To help in this situation, TRA members can supply a helpful checklist as a key part of the safety guidance<br />

Below: On-site installation.<br />

we provide to housebuilders. This allows you to ensure that the right protections are in place before<br />

starting work on the next phase of the roof package. As trussed rafters are load-bearing and an integral part of the overall roof structure, making sure they are<br />

safe is essential before proceeding. There are several elements that the TRA advises contractors to check:<br />

1The trussed rafters themselves The first<br />

step is to check the layout drawings<br />

provided by the trussed rafter<br />

manufacturer to ensure that the correct quantity<br />

of trussed rafters have been installed, and that<br />

they are in the right positions and orientation. It is<br />

worth double checking that the centres are not<br />

greater than specified and every truss is vertical.<br />

You also need to make sure that no unauthorised<br />

modifications have been made or accidental<br />

damage has happened, as both could lead to<br />

weak points and potential failure of a truss.<br />

In areas of high stress multiple trusses are used<br />

together to form a girder truss, where these are<br />

joined on site (rather than in the factory) it is<br />

essential the fixing schedule provided by the truss<br />

manufacturer is followed exactly in terms of the<br />

number and type of fixings used.<br />

2Bracing timbers Permanent bracing is<br />

essential to hold trusses upright and<br />

prevent buckling. The truss manufacturer<br />

will always provide a suggested bracing plan, but<br />

this needs to be approved by the Building<br />

Designer as responsibility for roof stability<br />

ultimately rests with them. The bracing also<br />

needs to be checked to ensure it is the correct<br />

size, usually 25 x 100 sawn and fully fixed to<br />

each truss, most often now with 2<br />

x 3.1mm x 90mm machine<br />

nails. Where used, valley sets<br />

need to be braced as specified<br />

and fully supported on<br />

bevelled fillets.<br />

3Loose timbers Contractors<br />

need to be sure all loose timbers<br />

used are the correct size and grade and<br />

located in the right positions, and centres are not<br />

greater than specified. All connections such as<br />

birdsmouth joints or scarfs should be accurately<br />

and correctly made.<br />

4Structural metalwork All the structural<br />

metalwork should be double-checked as it<br />

is essential to the structural integrity of the<br />

roof. Truss clips, framing anchors and other<br />

vertical restraints should be present and fully<br />

nailed. Gable restraint straps should also be<br />

correctly fixed. Where used, trussed rafters need<br />

to be properly seated into hangers which conform<br />

to the specification provided and are fully fixed as<br />

specified.<br />

5Additional elements There are other<br />

elements that are worthy of a safety check.<br />

For example, the formation of openings for<br />

“Contractors<br />

need to be<br />

sure all loose<br />

timbers used<br />

are the correct<br />

size and grade<br />

and located in the<br />

right positions, and<br />

centres are not greater<br />

than specified”<br />

the trap hatch or other purposes, and that<br />

sarking where used is exactly as specified. It is<br />

also essential that the roof tiles to be used are<br />

the correct weight as specified by the designer.<br />

Should any issues with the trusses, loose timbers<br />

or structural metalwork come to light during the<br />

checks, they must be addressed and rectified<br />

before work commences.<br />

Contact the Trussed Rafter Association<br />

020 3205 0032<br />

www.tra.org.uk<br />

@TrussedRafter<br />

38 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Liquid Roofing & Waterproofing<br />

THE REINFORCEMENT LAYER DEBATE<br />

Sarah Spink, CEO of the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA), outlines the<br />

advantages of choosing reinforced liquid waterproofing systems, as well as what contractors<br />

should look out for...<br />

There are so many liquid waterproofing<br />

systems to choose from, it can often be<br />

difficult to know which is the right solution<br />

for your job. At the LRWA, we have seen firsthand<br />

how projects have failed because the wrong<br />

product was installed. In this article, we will look<br />

at why reinforced liquid roofing systems are often<br />

the better choice in certain environments.<br />

Why use a reinforced system?<br />

Over the years, the LRWA has seen some liquid<br />

roofing manufacturers introduce systems without<br />

a reinforcement layer – claiming to be more cost<br />

effective and quicker to install. Reinforcement<br />

layers are often made up typically of either a<br />

polyester fleece material or a glass fibre mat.<br />

Cold-applied liquids are predominately used in<br />

refurbishment projects which are often installed<br />

over the top of existing roofing systems. Because<br />

of this, there is potential for more thermal<br />

movement, putting the waterproofing system<br />

under stress if reinforcement is not used.<br />

Therefore, most liquid systems require full<br />

reinforcement in refurbishment projects to offer<br />

increased strength and durability.<br />

Reinforcement also provides crack bridging<br />

capabilities, particularly if a crack on the roof or<br />

balcony substrate forms after the liquid<br />

application. To bridge any cracks which may<br />

develop, the overall strength of a full reinforced<br />

system will be significantly higher than the<br />

strength of the liquid resin alone. This means, if a<br />

crack does form, a reinforced system will offer<br />

more flexibility on either side of the crack, which<br />

will lessen the stress on the roof as a whole.<br />

However, if an unreinforced system is used, this<br />

process would create more stress than<br />

elongation, ultimately compromising the lifespan<br />

of the system and potentially<br />

causing it to fail. This can even<br />

happen if a crack wasn’t present<br />

at the time the system was<br />

installed, as no resin coating alone<br />

has infinite elongation capabilities.<br />

Contractors should also be aware that some liquid<br />

waterproofing systems sold without a reinforcement<br />

layer often advise including reinforcing strips over<br />

cracks, joints or points of stress to improve<br />

performance in these critical areas, adding more<br />

cost to a project without providing a full, seamless<br />

reinforced system. It is therefore still advisable to<br />

specify a fully reinforced system as the overall<br />

performance of the solution is then consistent<br />

throughout the entire project.<br />

Reinforcement also ensures consistent thickness<br />

of the waterproofing membrane. Having a liquidapplied<br />

top coat with good adhesion to the base<br />

layer and correct film thickness is really<br />

important. In exposed applications, this layer<br />

endures any potential foot traffic on the surface,<br />

and has to withstand the weather conditions in<br />

our varying UK climate.<br />

There is an argument to suggest that in some<br />

circumstances, reinforcement is not required.<br />

Some non-reinforced liquid systems are often<br />

used in new-build applications where structural<br />

waterproofing is applied direct to concrete or for<br />

coating metal profiled or asbestos cement sheets<br />

The LRWA says there are many advantages to choosing<br />

reinforced liquid waterproofing systems and contractors<br />

need to be aware of these.<br />

Contact the LRWA<br />

0333 987 4581<br />

www.lrwa.org.uk<br />

@LRWAssociation<br />

Left: Sarah Spink, CEO of the LRWA.<br />

for example. In these cases, it is<br />

always best to refer to a<br />

manufacturer’s guidelines on what<br />

substrate a partially or non-reinforced<br />

system has been tested on.<br />

Quality is key<br />

Contractors should be aware of the quality of the<br />

liquid product before they buy. Liquid<br />

manufacturers should have a third-party<br />

accredited quality management system such as<br />

ISO 9001, which ensures the product is<br />

manufactured to a consistent specification.<br />

It is also essential for contractors to undergo<br />

training of that particular liquid system, as every<br />

product is different and may require alternative<br />

installation techniques. Application guidelines<br />

must be readily available from the manufacturer<br />

as well as clear routes for system training for the<br />

contractor. The LRWA also offers accredited<br />

courses which are led by a specialist team.<br />

Raising standards of liquids<br />

The LRWA is committed to working with<br />

merchants to help raise standards across the<br />

industry, and we are currently working on a<br />

project which could provide merchants and other<br />

distributors with a tool enabling them to quickly<br />

and easily assess the suitability of liquid<br />

systems, including accreditations. New initiatives<br />

like this, combined with more awareness and<br />

training, will ensure that merchants, contractors<br />

and manufacturers can provide and install liquid<br />

waterproofing solutions which perform as expected.<br />

40 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Liquid Projects<br />

DON’T BE BUSY EARNING LESS:<br />

PLAN FOR PROFIT ON PROJECTS<br />

As much as we enjoy the day job, roofing contractors like to make a job pay. Profit’s all in<br />

the planning, says Andrew Bright, SIG Design & Technology’s National Business<br />

Development Manager for Liquids...<br />

Making money is about saving money,<br />

making the most of new opportunities,<br />

doing a good job on site – so you don’t<br />

get call backs for the wrong reason – and being<br />

able to relax knowing you’ve done a good job.<br />

While the internet is a wonderful thing, I’ve come<br />

across roofers that say to themselves: “I’ve<br />

downloaded a liquid waterproofing specification<br />

from the manufacturer’s website, so let’s get<br />

started!” This isn’t advisable as one size doesn’t<br />

fit all. So, do the homework on the job yourself or<br />

it can lead to misunderstandings during the<br />

tender stage or practical issues during<br />

construction.<br />

board in a warm roof has already<br />

been agreed, has it been tested and<br />

approved by both the board and<br />

liquid manufacturer?<br />

Will the building be occupied while<br />

works are in progress e.g. a school<br />

during term time or a hospital<br />

undergoing refurbishment; or again, is<br />

it a new build, greenfield site?<br />

Sometimes, the use of those liquids<br />

with higher VOCs or certain chemical<br />

Andrew Bright, SIG Design &<br />

Technology.<br />

compositions may not be permitted.<br />

If refurbishment, what state is the<br />

existing substrate in? Some<br />

planned maintenance or overlays<br />

are undertaken as a matter of<br />

course whereas many are a result<br />

of water ingress (often over a<br />

considerable period). This is likely<br />

to mean that the treatment of the<br />

existing surface coverings will be<br />

dramatically different.<br />

Below: The curved and vaulted roof to Grade II listed Plymouth Market was refurbished using the Hydrostop AH-25 Liquid<br />

Waterproofing System by DATAC contractor, Clegg & Shortman. At SIG’s request, AH-25’s manufacturers created a special<br />

colour – Weathered Silver – specifically in keeping with English Heritage’s requirements.<br />

“Don’t just rely on<br />

suppliers and<br />

manufacturers’<br />

standard specification<br />

documents on their<br />

websites”<br />

You should look to obtain or create a specification<br />

based on project-specific information. While<br />

they’re useful, don’t just rely on suppliers and<br />

manufacturers’ standard specification<br />

documents on their websites, for example J31 for<br />

liquid applied waterproof roof coatings.<br />

The key to any successful project is getting both<br />

specification and product choice right at the<br />

outset. Say it’s a job requiring a liquid system,<br />

start by asking the basics: Is the project a new<br />

build – which may be on a greenfield site – or a<br />

refurbishment? A liquid primer may be required<br />

on certain existing substrates whereas on new<br />

insulation boards it may not. If an insulation<br />

42 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


PROTAN LR20<br />

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roofing system to complement<br />

Protan’s range of single ply<br />

products.<br />

PROTAN LR20...<br />

• Ideal for use where complex detailing<br />

or difficult access restricts the use of a<br />

sheet membrane<br />

• Can be applied to most substrates on<br />

new build projects or as an overlay on<br />

existing roofs<br />

• Independently Fire Tested – conforms<br />

to BROOFT4 with zero spread of flame<br />

• A cost-effective solution that is both<br />

fast-curing and simple to install<br />

• Moisture tolerant and can be applied<br />

at low temperatures<br />

• 20 Year Warranty – can be extended<br />

after initial design period<br />

NEW<br />

PRODUCT<br />

For further details on PROTAN LR20<br />

contact: sales@protan.co.uk<br />

or call 01925 658 001


Liquid Projects<br />

Works could range from some minor basic blister<br />

repairs, caulking of splits or gaps, wholesale<br />

screeding or a full overlay with a recovery board.<br />

There might be major budget implications e.g. the<br />

state of the existing coverings could impact on<br />

both labour and coverage rates of materials. If,<br />

for instance, the existing coverings are dry,<br />

cracked and very absorbate due to UV<br />

degradation, the application of a primer where<br />

one may not be technically required may<br />

dramatically reduce over-spend on a base coat<br />

that would soak into the existing waterproofing,<br />

and always remember to do a bond check first to<br />

ensure materials are compatible.<br />

On a new build, the whole roof design needs to<br />

consider every component in the build-up and<br />

how they interface with the other building<br />

elements. Build into your planning solutions<br />

which will avoid surprises or mistakes later down<br />

the line. On a refurbishment project, a site<br />

inspection is an absolutely essential extra step.<br />

Accredited contractors’ bid support<br />

If you’re bidding for the work, make sure they<br />

know about your firm’s credentials on similar<br />

successful projects. Don’t forget to include details<br />

about the training and monitoring of your<br />

installers and other back-up that your supplier<br />

will provide.<br />

Members of SIG Design & Technology’s<br />

Accredited contractors scheme (DATAC) receive<br />

extra contract support to help them win work. For<br />

any projects over 500m², SIG D & T will produce a<br />

‘Bid Support Pack’ which they can present to<br />

their client. The pack will contain the<br />

specification required for that project, for<br />

example; NBS specifications, wind up lift<br />

calculations, technical drawings, cut to falls<br />

schemes and a SIG plc backed guarantee<br />

sample.<br />

Train to Gain<br />

The myth that; “Some systems are so simple they<br />

don’t need specialised trained operatives” or “It’s<br />

just the same as that other stuff from so and so”,<br />

are just two of the regular excuses used by some<br />

contractors who don’t want to “waste” time or<br />

money by sending their teams on training courses.<br />

Over the years, I’ve seen extremely unsuccessful<br />

installations where the accelerator has either been<br />

omitted completely or mixed at the wrong ratio; or<br />

the reinforcement has been missed out because<br />

the “other system doesn’t need it on bitumen<br />

substrates”. Clients also have a right to expect that<br />

only correctly trained operatives are employed.<br />

We offer product specific training in accordance<br />

with NFRC and SPRA approved criteria. In 2018,<br />

we delivered 85 courses (many for liquids) for 317<br />

candidates at our Shepshed Training Academy and<br />

other UK locations.<br />

Contact SIG Design & Technology<br />

01509 505714<br />

www.singleply.co.uk<br />

@SIGDesignTech<br />

ADVERTORIAL<br />

Musgrave Market Place in Dublin is<br />

enjoying a fresh lease of life following<br />

the application of a new roof<br />

waterproofing system from Britannia Advanced<br />

Coating Systems, working with approved<br />

contractor David Jameson Roofing.<br />

The project was undertaken in summer 2018 and<br />

involved the full encapsulation of the Market<br />

Place’s 8000m² corrugated asbestos six-profile<br />

sheet roof. The specified waterproofing system<br />

was Britannia’s Polyshield Liquid Coating.<br />

After a site visit and discussion between all<br />

parties, Britannia’s Roofing Manager Kevin Killen<br />

put forward a proposal of works that was<br />

approved by the client. This was followed by<br />

further discussion leading to agreed timings and<br />

application methods.<br />

After debris had been removed, a full coating of<br />

Britannia Anti-Fungal Wash was applied to all<br />

Musgrave Market Place before the application.<br />

parts of the roof. The contractors then sprayapplied<br />

a first primer coat of Polyshield to seal<br />

the roof. As specified, a second primer coat was<br />

then applied to provide the Polyshield system<br />

with extra strength.<br />

Working from secure safety platforms, the<br />

roofers’ next job was to roller apply Polyshield<br />

base coat to all vertical and horizontal laps.<br />

These were reinforced with Polyshield polyester<br />

mesh.<br />

Once the four installation crews had completed<br />

one roof section, the spraying crews then finished<br />

base coating all other parts of the roof on a<br />

conveyor-type basis. This agreed method of<br />

After Britannia’s Polyshield Liquid Coating was applied.<br />

installation reduced standing time and used man<br />

power in the most effective way.<br />

Finally, Polyshield top coat was applied, providing<br />

a seamless, watertight finish to a well planned<br />

and executed project.<br />

“Good weather meant we completed ahead of<br />

schedule, which was great,” said John<br />

Symmington, Jameson Contracts Manager.<br />

David Johnstone, Britannia Managing Director,<br />

concluded it was: “a very successful project<br />

handled well by Britannia’s Kevin Killen and<br />

everybody in the Jameson team.”<br />

www.britanniapaints.co.uk<br />

44 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


The choice for decking and paving supports<br />

With the demand for useable rooftop space ever<br />

increasing, Areco is leading the way with its range of<br />

fixed and adjustable supports for paving and decking<br />

applications. We have worked with Hotels, Landscapers,<br />

Roofing Contractors and Builders to provide attractive<br />

and practical solutions.<br />

To complement our range of supports, Areco have<br />

several ranges of Composite and PVCu Decking Systems<br />

available. New ranges of Fireproof Self-Extinguishing<br />

pedestals will soon be available along with Aluminium<br />

Decking Bearers to complete the range.<br />

With a stock of over 20,000 units, we are sure to have<br />

the right support for your project.<br />

Please contact Areco with your enquiry.<br />

• large stock range<br />

• technical knowledge and advice<br />

• nationwide express delivery<br />

• competitive rates<br />

tel: 01922 743553<br />

www.areco.co.uk<br />

t: 01922 743553 e: sales@areco.co.uk<br />

ARECO, Unit 2A Coppice Park, Coppice Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 9AA


Efficient Drainage<br />

FLAT ROOF DRAINAGE DESIGN:<br />

GET IT RIGHT FIRST TIME!<br />

For any flat roof construction, it is important to consider drainage design to avoid costly<br />

damage to the building’s fabric and structure. Brian Bell, Head of Technical Services at<br />

Marley Alutec, discusses what to consider when specifying an efficient drainage system.<br />

Flat roofs are a popular choice for large<br />

buildings such as schools, high rise<br />

residential, hospitals, commercial and<br />

retail units. When compared to a pitched roof, by<br />

far the main advantage of a flat roof is the lower<br />

initial cost of construction, installation and<br />

materials.<br />

The design of flat roofs also means that it can<br />

serve a multitude of uses other than protecting<br />

the building’s fabric and contents. They can be<br />

utilised to accommodate terrace areas, living<br />

green roofs, and plant equipment such as air<br />

conditioning units.<br />

To ensure the longevity of a building it is<br />

important that the design of a suitable flat roof<br />

rainwater drainage system is carefully considered<br />

and carried out in accordance with BS EN 12056-<br />

3:2000 and the National Annex for the UK. To do<br />

this the following factors need to be taken into<br />

consideration:<br />

Effective roof area<br />

Firstly, the effective roof area that needs to be<br />

drained must be calculated to ensure water<br />

does not gather on the roof and can be<br />

effectively drained. This is the total square plan<br />

area of the roof, plus any additional likely<br />

rainwater runoff from other roof areas and<br />

vertical surfaces.<br />

Often ignored, vertical surfaces must be<br />

considered in the overall calculation. BS EN<br />

12056 requires that 50% of the vertical<br />

surface, up to a maximum height of 10 metres<br />

from the roof, must be included in the area to<br />

be drained.<br />

Building design life<br />

While this information is usually specified by the<br />

designer or building owner, it is important to have<br />

an understanding of the design life of the building<br />

to ensure design category calculations are<br />

properly carried out. On average, the typical<br />

design life of a building is 60 years before major<br />

refurbishment.<br />

Return period design categories<br />

A return period is the theoretical frequency of<br />

occurrence, in this case the frequency of a storm<br />

event. To identify this period and level of risk, the<br />

roof rainwater drainage design standard (BS<br />

EN12056-3) proposes four design categories,<br />

these are:<br />

Category 1: Roofs where ponding can be<br />

tolerated are designed using a one-year return<br />

period. This category is typically used where the<br />

building has no parapet or upstand, as long as<br />

any overflow can fall clear of the building, and the<br />

roof structure can cope with the additional live<br />

loading. Surcharge and overflow flooding will only<br />

occur in very heavy rain.<br />

Category 2: Typically utilised for enclosed /<br />

parapet roofs where ponding depths will become<br />

excessive if the rainwater system fails to cope,<br />

should be designed for an intensity based on the<br />

building life and a 1.5 safety factor. For most<br />

buildings, a 60-year life would be the most<br />

common value chosen in absence of information.<br />

This equates to a return period of 90 years.<br />

Category 3: When a higher degree of security is<br />

desired than that provided by category 2, a return<br />

period of 4.5 x the anticipated building life is<br />

used. For a building with a 60-year life, this<br />

would equate to a return period of 270 years.<br />

Category 4: This category simply refers to<br />

“maximum probable rainfall” with no defined<br />

46 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Efficient Drainage<br />

period. It is used when there should be the<br />

highest possible security – for example, at a<br />

nuclear facility. There is a separate rainfall map<br />

for this category.<br />

Categories 3 and 4 often result<br />

in storm return periods<br />

greater than 200 years. It is<br />

worth noting that events that<br />

occur with a frequency of 200<br />

years or more are often considered<br />

catastrophic incidents by insurers.<br />

Therefore, unless there is a justifiable<br />

reason (e.g. the building is of national<br />

strategic importance) it would be impractical to<br />

design a rainwater drainage system with greater<br />

storm return period.<br />

Rainfall intensity<br />

The BS EN12056-3 document provides detailed<br />

information on rainfall intensities throughout the<br />

UK. After choosing a design category and<br />

obtaining a storm return period, the applicable<br />

rainfall intensity figure can be found using the<br />

statistical rainfall data maps provided (Figures<br />

NB.1 to NB.5). Alternatively, if a greater level of<br />

accuracy is desired, rainfall design intensities for<br />

a given return period can be obtained using the<br />

calculation set out in NB.2.2.<br />

Number and positioning of roof<br />

drainage outlets<br />

The total rainfall runoff is calculated by<br />

multiplying the effective roof area by the rainfall<br />

intensity. The total rainfall runoff can then be<br />

divided by the performance of an outlet to<br />

determine how many are required. Roof outlets<br />

should be distributed as evenly as possible<br />

across the roof area, to accept an equal<br />

proportion of rainwater runoff.<br />

Emergency overflows should be included within the<br />

design of all flat roofs and balconies with perimeter<br />

upstands greater than 50mm, as these will<br />

indicate if there is a blockage or other maintenance<br />

requirements whilst preventing rainwater from<br />

spilling into the building’s fabric and causing<br />

damage while the blockage is cleared.<br />

“Contractors should<br />

look for outlets that<br />

have been rigorously<br />

tested”<br />

Flat roof drainage design often requires prior<br />

specialist knowledge, however Marley Alutec has<br />

created a free to use, online Flat Roof Drainage<br />

Calculator to reduce time spent on this<br />

process. Designed with simplicity in mind, the<br />

tool calculates the number of outlets required<br />

based on location and specification, ensuring full<br />

compliance with the rainwater drainage design<br />

standard BS EN12056-3.<br />

Outlet compatibility<br />

There are a number of different types of roof<br />

outlets available, dependent on the type of roof<br />

construction and the waterproofing material being<br />

used. Therefore, it’s crucial to select a<br />

compatible outlet and one that will efficiently<br />

drain the water away.<br />

Outlets need to be compatible with the type of<br />

membrane being used on the roof, otherwise a<br />

watertight seal may not be achieved. With the<br />

wide range of roofing membranes available, such<br />

as bituminous, hot melt, glass reinforced<br />

polyester (GRP), asphalt and cold liquid, it means<br />

that specifying the correct outlet can often be<br />

confusing.<br />

To combat this, Marley Alutec has created the<br />

Elite range of roof and balcony outlets.<br />

Image shows the Elite range of roof and balcony outlets.<br />

Compatible with all waterproofing<br />

systems, the new range features a<br />

reliable clamping feature that ensures<br />

a water tight seal is easily achieved.<br />

Performance<br />

To allow complete peace of mind<br />

when it comes to the performance<br />

of a roof outlet, contractors should<br />

look for outlets that have been<br />

rigorously tested. Typically, within<br />

roof drainage design, the peak<br />

rainwater design depth at an outlet will not<br />

exceed 35mm. To ensure ultimate reliability and<br />

confidence, the Elite range from Marley Alutec<br />

has been rigorously tested to maintain a<br />

watertight seal with water depths surpassing 1m.<br />

Outlets with exceptional drainage performance<br />

figures such as these reduce the number of<br />

outlets required to drain an area, which will of<br />

course reduce overall costs.<br />

Maintenance<br />

The typical recommendation for maintenance on<br />

a flat roof is once every six months, though it is<br />

advised to check more often in the event of<br />

severe weather when leaves may have been<br />

blown over from nearby trees. As such, when<br />

installing the outlets, they should be clearly<br />

identifiable and accessible and the gratings<br />

should not be covered by pavers, plant material<br />

or decking.<br />

Flat roofs are becoming increasingly popular with<br />

commercial and educational establishments. By<br />

applying correct drainage design and relevant<br />

building regulation, you can ensure your<br />

installation can protect these buildings and<br />

inhabitants from the elements.<br />

Contact Marley Alutec<br />

01234 359438<br />

www.marleyalutec.co.uk<br />

@marleyalutec<br />

48 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


HIGH PERFORMANCE WATERPROOFING<br />

6 338<br />

EMERGENCY REPAIR


EPDM Roofing<br />

SPEEDING THINGS UP: ROOFING<br />

WHEN TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE<br />

John McMullan, General Manager of Firestone Building Products, discusses the speed of<br />

installation benefits which he says EPDM roofing membranes can offer.<br />

Increasingly tight programmes mean that<br />

pressure is often passed down the<br />

construction delivery chain to avoid any<br />

knock-on effects on the schedule and the risk of<br />

penalties.<br />

For roofing contractors, the impact of the weather<br />

and the need to get the building watertight makes<br />

the roofing installation amongst the most urgent<br />

and programme-critical elements of the entire<br />

build.<br />

At Firestone, we understand those challenges and<br />

work with contractors to ensure that roofing<br />

membranes can be installed quickly, with<br />

reduced resourcing requirements and labour<br />

costs, without compromising the long-term<br />

performance of the roof by rushing the job.<br />

The benefits of increased width<br />

EPDM single ply membranes allow<br />

a large expanse of roof to be<br />

covered quickly, ensuring the<br />

structure below is protected from<br />

the elements while the installation<br />

is completed. RubberGard EPDM<br />

roofing membrane is provided in larger<br />

widths than either traditional bitumen (which is<br />

typically 1m wide) or other single ply membranes<br />

(which are typically 2m wide). In fact, the<br />

smallest size for RubberGard EPDM is 3m wide x<br />

30m long, and it is usually used in this width for<br />

fully-adhered installations, or as a 6m-wide roll<br />

for mechanically-fixed installations. However, for<br />

larger roofs, it can be supplied in widths as large<br />

as 15 metres to cover huge areas very quickly.<br />

Once unrolled on the roof, the EPDM membrane is<br />

“One of the key advantages of using wider panels<br />

of membrane is the reduction in the number of<br />

seams this provides”<br />

John McMullan, General Manager of<br />

Firestone Building Products.<br />

raised at the edges to allow air<br />

underneath making it<br />

surprisingly easy to manoeuvre<br />

into position.<br />

In addition to the speed of roof<br />

coverage, one of the key advantages of using<br />

wider panels of membrane is the reduction in the<br />

number of seams this provides. Even when<br />

considering the difference between the smallest<br />

3m width of EPDM membrane and a traditional<br />

bitumen system, the x3 larger size means at least<br />

a 50% reduction in the number of seams<br />

required. If we then consider the speed and ease<br />

of taping these EPDM seams, with a 30m seam<br />

typically sealed in around 15 minutes, it is easy<br />

to see how the time savings quickly add up as<br />

compared to other single ply systems.<br />

Taping EPDM membrane seams is a fast and<br />

reliable roofer-friendly solution. The installation<br />

technique means that a consistent seam<br />

installation quality can be maintained without<br />

dependency on electrical cables or proximity to<br />

generators.<br />

Seam & detailing integrity<br />

As the joints and detailing of any roofing system<br />

are its most vulnerable points, it’s not only<br />

important that these can be installed quickly, but<br />

also that the speed of installation is matched<br />

“Taping EPDM<br />

membrane seams is a<br />

fast and reliable<br />

roofer-friendly<br />

solution”<br />

50 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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EPDM Roofing<br />

by long-term watertight performance. Like any<br />

single ply system, an EPDM<br />

membrane must be laid with<br />

laps in line with the<br />

specification and<br />

manufacturer<br />

guidelines, but the<br />

use of a selfadhesive<br />

splice<br />

tape dramatically<br />

reduces the<br />

margin for error by<br />

providing exactly the<br />

correct width and<br />

thickness of adhesive<br />

sealant. Consequently, the<br />

consistency achieved with QuickSeam Splice<br />

Tape, which forms part of the Firestone<br />

RubberGard EPDM system, requires only a<br />

visual check to monitor integrity throughout the<br />

working day, underpinning both speed and<br />

performance.<br />

Similarly, detailing can be a time-consuming<br />

element for some roofing systems, particularly<br />

where irregular or awkward details are involved.<br />

Conversely, QuickSeam FormFlash,<br />

an uncured EPDM strip that<br />

has been factorylaminated<br />

to<br />

QuickSeam Tape,<br />

enables installers<br />

to hand-mould<br />

complex, threedimensional<br />

waterproof details<br />

and the suite of<br />

QuickSeam<br />

accessories that has<br />

evolved from this technology<br />

significantly improves quality and<br />

productivity on the roof.<br />

Fix or stick?<br />

Decisions about whether to adhere or<br />

mechanically fix the membrane are usually taken<br />

as part of the technical specification, considering<br />

elements such as the type of structure, its<br />

capability for anchoring and wind load pressures.<br />

“Detailing can be a<br />

time-consuming<br />

element for some<br />

roofing systems,<br />

particularly where<br />

irregular or awkward<br />

details are involved”<br />

Fully-adhered EPDM membranes of 3-5m wide<br />

are already quick to install compared to other<br />

membrane types but, for best speed of<br />

installation, mechanical attachment of the EPDM<br />

membrane can be the fastest route to getting the<br />

building watertight, especially on large roofs with<br />

relatively few penetrations, because the largest<br />

membrane panel sizes may be utilised to fullest<br />

advantage.<br />

Contact Firestone Building Products<br />

01606 552026<br />

www.firestonebpe.co.uk<br />

@FirestonebpUK<br />

52 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


WHEN I’M FACING MY<br />

DAILY BATTLES, WHAT<br />

MATTERS IS WHO’S WITH<br />

ME IN THE TRENCHES.<br />

With products designed to get you on and off the roof faster,<br />

dedicated support, and tailored warranties, we do whatever it<br />

takes to help you succeed. Because every step of the way, and in<br />

every sense of the word, we’ve got you covered.<br />

Learn more at www.firestonebpe.co.uk<br />

© <strong>2019</strong> Firestone Building Products EMEA. All rights reserved


Safety at Height<br />

MAXIMISING THE BENEFITS OF<br />

SAFETY AT HEIGHT INSTALLATIONS<br />

Simon Mealor, from working at height experts Altus Safety, discusses the benefits of building<br />

safety at height installations into roofing projects.<br />

Whether you’re working for a main<br />

contractor or direct for the end user, the<br />

chances are that, as a roofing<br />

contractor, any edge protection or safety at height<br />

installation required for the project may be<br />

included in your package of works.<br />

In our experience, however, some roofing<br />

contractors are reluctant to take this element of<br />

the project on. This may be because it doesn’t fall<br />

within your team’s core skills, or because it keeps<br />

you on site for longer, or even because you’re<br />

nervous about the due diligence involved in<br />

getting the specification and installation right.<br />

If any of those reasons are holding you back from<br />

accepting safety equipment installation work,<br />

there are two important considerations you<br />

should bear in mind:<br />

• You can subcontract the specification and<br />

installation to an expert specialist like Altus<br />

Safety with complete confidence that the due<br />

diligence will be taken care of and your own team<br />

can focus on completing the job or moving on to<br />

the next, while our team carries out the work.<br />

• You can take advantage of the opportunity to<br />

build additional margin into the project from the<br />

safety installation, or even up-sell the client to a<br />

more expensive system.<br />

Specification considerations<br />

If you work with a safety at height specialist like<br />

Altus Safety, you simply need to provide a brief on<br />

the client’s requirements and the layout of the<br />

roof and we will advise you on the options, put<br />

together a full specification and cost it all out for<br />

you. For refurbishment projects, we’ll even visit<br />

site to complete a survey.<br />

However, it is useful to<br />

understand the types of systems<br />

available and where they fit with<br />

the safety at height hierarchy. If a<br />

collective measure is viable we<br />

would always recommend this,<br />

specifying a guardrail that fits the<br />

parameters of the brief. We<br />

reserve fall restraint systems for<br />

buildings that will only require<br />

occasional maintenance and fall<br />

arrest systems for buildings<br />

where no other option is possible.<br />

Our approach is always to ensure we understand<br />

the actual need rather than simply answering the<br />

client brief. In this way, we can be confident that the<br />

system installed answers the requirements of the<br />

building and the maintenance teams who will rely<br />

on the right level of safety being in place. Often, this<br />

may be your own team returning to the building<br />

for routine roof inspections, gutter clearing or<br />

rooflight cleaning. We look at how many people<br />

will need to access the roof at any one time, how<br />

often and with what level of safety training.<br />

Guardrail options<br />

The most likely approach to permanent safety at<br />

height solutions is the installation of a guardrail,<br />

and Altus Safety provides a complete guardrail<br />

design and installation service, assessing the<br />

site-specific loading and structural parameters to<br />

ensure the guardrail is fit for purpose and meets<br />

the specific requirements of the building and the<br />

needs of the personnel who will access the roof.<br />

Freestanding guardrails have become a popular<br />

solution as these are weighted and don’t need to<br />

be fixed to the roof. This not only makes them<br />

faster and easier to install, it also means that the<br />

Above: Atlus Safety provides roof<br />

safety equipment.<br />

warranty for the roofing system<br />

will not be compromised and<br />

there are no penetrations to<br />

increase the roof’s vulnerability to<br />

leaks. The absence of fixings also<br />

ensures that the guardrail<br />

requires no detailing, reducing site<br />

time for the roofing contractor.<br />

Where a freestanding guardrail is<br />

not viable, either due to aesthetic<br />

stipulations or space restrictions,<br />

there are a number of alternative guardrail<br />

options. A collapsible guardrail is a popular<br />

choice for buildings where the architect or end<br />

user wants to limit the visual impact of the safety<br />

protection as this can be collapsed and out of<br />

sight when not in use. A powder-coated guardrail,<br />

which effectively camouflages the edge protection<br />

against the roof surface, is another option for a<br />

more subtle approach.<br />

Where space is limited, a fixed guardrail may be<br />

necessary, and on very congested roofs, a parapet<br />

or clamped system offers a robust solution<br />

without encroaching on the actual roof area.<br />

Additional guardrail protection may also be<br />

needed for roof features such as skylights, atria<br />

and lightwells, as the danger of falling through a<br />

glazed feature is just as significant as that of<br />

falling from the edge of the roof. Here, modular<br />

guardrails can be used to create skylight<br />

protection units, creating a barrier to prevent falls.<br />

Contact Atlus Safety<br />

0330 113 0870<br />

www.altussafety.co.uk<br />

@AltusSafety<br />

54 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


...and it’s the same for your house!<br />

Cavity Ventilation now available,<br />

manufactured in Britain by<br />

Weep & Peep Vents • Telescopic Underfloor Vents • Brick Vents<br />

Vertical Extension Sleeves • Cavity Sleeves • Plus a huge range of associated products<br />

Ask for the Easy-trim range by name at your local Trade Counter<br />

t 0845 034 6008 f 0845 034 6010<br />

12B Metcalf Drive, Altham Industrial Estate, Altham,<br />

Lancashire, BB5 5TU, Great Britain<br />

www.easy-trim.co.uk


Roofing Updates<br />

For further info on all these roofing updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk<br />

COROVERGE FITS THE BILL<br />

Installers can edge ahead of the competition with the new Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system, the reengineered<br />

dry fix roofing solution from Ariel Plastics that is fast, easy-to-fit and fully compatible with an<br />

expansive range of roof tiles.<br />

An installation video of the Coroverge Universal<br />

The Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system is a 100% mortar-free, dry fix solution, offering a hard-wearing, durable Dry Verge System is available to watch on Ariel<br />

and attractive finish to the roofline without the inconvenience of using mortar bedding. The Coroverge Universal Dry Plastics’ Youtube channel.<br />

Verge system protects the roof verge from wind uplift, pest infestation and weather degradation. Available in Brown, Anthracite Grey and Terracotta, this allweather<br />

system includes Starter Piece, Verge Section, Batten Clip, and, Angled and Half-Round Ridge Caps options to suit the ridge style. Fully adjustable for<br />

installation with tiles of between 260mm-350mm gauges, the Coroverge Universal Dry Verge system is quick and easy to install, and offers a wealth of<br />

features to make life easier for the installer, giving a more superior dry verge solution for both new build and renovation projects.<br />

The temporary ‘True-Line’ guide in the Starter Piece ensures it is correctly lined up with the tiles, guaranteeing perfect alignment on the roof, whilst a handy<br />

cut out area provides the flexibility to work around existing gutters. www.arielplastics.com<br />

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA<br />

Cromar has unveiled its new, biggest ever catalogue.<br />

Cromar has launched its biggest and most comprehensive<br />

catalogue which showcases its complete range of products.<br />

The new catalogue, launched at the beginning of April combines the complete Cromar Roofing range<br />

with the new AlphaChem Builders’ range to create the company’s biggest and best catalogue yet. It<br />

is filled with key information on all the company’s products and eye-catching adverts, all delivered<br />

with a fresh and clean design celebrating a brand new era for the company. The catalogue has<br />

already been well received by customers and is not only available on request, but also available on<br />

the company website to download: www.cromar.uk.com<br />

MAXIMA BENEFIT, MINIMUM EFFORT<br />

Marley has extended its range of Maxima clay interlocking tiles with the introduction of a new<br />

Matt Black colour.<br />

Above: Marley’s new Matt Black Maxima clay<br />

interlocking tile. “The Maxima Matt Black offers a classic<br />

profile together with a modern matt black finish which<br />

can be used on a wide variety of roofing vernaculars”<br />

The new Maxima Matt Black tiles offer a modern roofing solution, while also reducing installation time<br />

due to their high coverage rate. The Maxima range features an open gauge and interlock so no specialist<br />

skills are required as installation is the same as installing any concrete interlocking tile. Furthermore,<br />

with a minimum pitch of 17.5º, the Maxima is the ideal solution for a wide variety of building projects,<br />

including one storey extensions where low pitch can be a challenge. www.marley.co.uk/maxima<br />

SITE BENEFITS FOR ROOFERS<br />

CUPA PIZARRAS has launched a new, user-friendly website featuring an installer specific<br />

platform to provide a more tailored experience that suits visitors’ needs and requirements.<br />

Julian Gomez, Director of Marketing at Cupa Pizarras: “Our<br />

hope is that the new website will provide a more relevant<br />

space for installers to browse the CUPA PIZARRAS product<br />

offering and easily locate the relevant information they<br />

need.”<br />

The new design has been structured to include more in-depth product information as well as a number of<br />

new features and tools to ease specification. Roofers visiting the website will now find a ‘Professional’<br />

specific page for their use, which includes case study examples, product and installation videos as well<br />

as an FAQs section. From the Resource Centre, roofers will also be able to access information including<br />

product brochures, datasheets and performance certifications. www.cupapizarras.com/uk/<br />

56 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


FIT IT.<br />

FORGET IT.<br />

Trust Ubbink for quality roofing products to make your life easier<br />

Call us on 01604 433000 or<br />

visit our website for more details.<br />

• VENTS • TERMINALS • NON-LEAD FLASHING • ROOFLINE PRODUCTS • & MORE<br />

www.ubbink.co.uk


Roofing Updates<br />

For further info on all these roofing updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk<br />

FLAT & PITCHED SOLUTIONS<br />

Sympathetic locally-sourced materials, technical expertise and market-leading guarantees led Vale of<br />

Glamorgan Council to choose BMI Redland and BMI Icopal materials when re-roofing a primary school.<br />

“We chose BMI because it could offer us 15-year guarantees on the products; the roof slate was made from locallysourced<br />

materials and because the pitched and flat products could work in conjunction on the details,” said Paul Cogan Primary School: For the pitched roof BMI<br />

Hynam, Consultant Building Surveyor to the project.<br />

Redland Cambrian Slate was used, a dry-fix<br />

system to cut down maintenance, and fixings<br />

on the ridge and hip system to mimic the<br />

Built in 1905, Cogan Primary School suffered from a roof that continually leaked despite being patched with various previous roof. BMI Icopal’s Firesmart SBS<br />

types of slate over the years. The roof’s deterioration was accelerated by thieves stripping lead flashings and it had modified reinforced bitumen membrane was<br />

used for the flat roof.<br />

the complexity of there being a 100m² flat roof right in the centre of the school. “The interface between pitched and<br />

flat roof can sometimes cause an issue, so it was a concern. If you have two companies responsible for each, then one can blame the other for any faults,”<br />

Paul explained. “We’d worked with BMI before using its SpecMaster service for pitched roofs and knew that it would oversee the job closely. However, as BMI<br />

supply both pitched and flat roofing solutions, we also knew that we could rely on them for all parts of the roof and they would make sure that the detailing<br />

between the two roofing systems was sufficiently robust.” www.bmigroup.com/uk<br />

LUXLITE’S CONSERVATION BENEFITS<br />

Roof Maker has launched its new rooflight, the Conservation Luxlite.<br />

The Conservation Luxlite offers outstanding U-values as<br />

low as 0.5W/m²K by featuring triple glazing as standard.<br />

This significantly improves the overall energy efficiency and<br />

thermal comfort of the living space.<br />

The conservation area-friendly rooflight has been designed to help architects and installers maintain<br />

the heritage character of their clients’ homes. Designed to replicate the original Victorian cast iron<br />

skylight, Roof Maker’s latest rooflight features a slim shaped split bar that is constructed of high quality<br />

aluminium for better weathering and aesthetics. Roof Maker’s split is structurally bonded to the glass to<br />

eliminate the presence of a cold bridge, significantly minimising the risk of condensation forming and<br />

retaining the best possible thermal performance. http://info.roof-maker.co.uk/conservation<br />

ALL THE SUPPORT YOU NEED<br />

Rainclear Systems can help with selecting, costing and buying your rainwater system.<br />

Rainclear Systems has installation guides and videos<br />

available if you are installing yourself, or they can put you in<br />

touch with an experienced local installer.<br />

They offer a free ‘Take-off’ from architect’s drawings to ensure you have a list of all the<br />

components you need, and using a rainwater flowrate calculator, they will work out what size<br />

guttering & downpipes will be required on your project in your particular geographic location.<br />

Then they can let you know the cost of buying all the components from them. If you need a<br />

special colour or a bespoke item fabricated for your project, they can help with that.<br />

www.rainclear.co.uk<br />

NEW AREA TECHNICAL MANAGER<br />

Donna Owen is Sika-Trocal’s new Area Technical Manager for the Midlands region.<br />

Donna Owen is Sika Trocal’s<br />

new Area Technical Manager for<br />

the Midlands region.<br />

Donna, who will be working with Area Technical Managers and the applications team, said: “This is<br />

an extremely exciting opportunity for me. Sika-Trocal is a leading light in the roofing industry and<br />

renowned as an innovator of high-quality solutions. I hope my experience will prove beneficial and<br />

further the company’s superb service offering.”<br />

Donna commenced her appointment with Sika-Trocal in February. www.sika.co.uk<br />

58 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


SLATE FOR ROOFING<br />

Comprehensive product range<br />

30 to 75 year market-leading warranties available<br />

Reproduction & Fibre Cement ranges<br />

Tailored ranges in stock in your area<br />

Full support & guidance<br />

Natural Slate Ranges<br />

Excellence<br />

Commercial<br />

Classic<br />

www.sigaslate.co.uk


Off-site Construction<br />

“THERE ARE SAVINGS TO BE MADE<br />

BY ENGAGING OFF-SITE SPECIALISTS”<br />

Architectural panels specialist Vivalda Group has seen a growth of around 70% in its off-site<br />

fabrication services in the last two years – a definite sign that contractors and installers have<br />

less time and less space on building sites. Peter Johnson, Vivalda Chairman, explains why<br />

more contractors are now moving processes such as machining, cutting, drilling and preassembly<br />

off-site, leaving the dirty work to companies like his…<br />

We have seen definite shift in attitude<br />

from contractors over the last few years<br />

aimed at reducing waste and increasing<br />

accuracy. When times are good, wasted offcuts<br />

and the odd mistake in cutting size can be<br />

overlooked. However, as profit margins have<br />

reduced, diligent contractors have taken a fresh look<br />

at their supply chains and realised that there are<br />

savings to be made by engaging off-site specialists.<br />

Mistakes reduced, efficiencies increased<br />

While this approach reduces costly mistakes, it also<br />

creates much greater efficiency in the supply chain,<br />

significantly reducing the time it takes to install<br />

cladding board. Traditionally, the contractor would<br />

take boards from pallets delivered to site and<br />

then cut them to size, adding brackets, screws<br />

and fixings as required. Taking the task off-site<br />

means that the process is done by a focused<br />

team of technicians, in a conducive environment<br />

and then quality checked before<br />

dispatch.<br />

This off-site approach also<br />

supports main contractors in their<br />

need to reduce the footprint of<br />

construction sites. This requirement<br />

is especially evident in urban and<br />

inner-city sites, where space is at a premium<br />

and the availability of land to store bricks, cladding<br />

and other materials is simply not there.<br />

Health and safety<br />

Finally, health and safety provides another strong<br />

argument in favour of adopting off-site<br />

fabrication. On-site dust has always been an<br />

issue, given the fact that even now more than<br />

500 construction workers a year die from inhaling<br />

silica dust. We’ve all seen site workers cutting<br />

stone, plastic and plasterboard on site – without<br />

Left: Peter Johnson, Chairman of Vivalda.<br />

a properly fitting mask. And this is<br />

an area that the HSE is really<br />

clamping down on.<br />

While there are plenty of steps<br />

contractors can take on-site to<br />

reduce risks in this area, we’re seeing<br />

more site managers export this problem to<br />

us. At all of our UK production facilities, we’ve<br />

invested in modern cutting technology, all of which<br />

is linked to extraction pumps that deal with the<br />

dust. We also use the latest CNC programmes to<br />

ensure absolute accuracy when cutting and drilling<br />

fixing locations.<br />

Growth in modular housing<br />

This emerging off-site trend is also being fuelled by<br />

the growth in modular housing which is being driven<br />

by businesses such as L&G, Pocket Living and<br />

Caledonian. We all know that the UK is suffering<br />

from a chronic lack of housing and off-site<br />

manufacturing is widely considered to be the best<br />

way of delivering this important national project.<br />

Installers need to be aware of these trends, as<br />

they will begin to affect the way that panels are<br />

delivered to site before being erected. We think<br />

this will be good news for installers as it will<br />

improve their efficiency levels while reducing<br />

costly mistakes during the pre-fixing stage.<br />

Contact Vivalda Group<br />

0121 328 9381<br />

www.vivalda.co.uk<br />

@VivaldaLimited<br />

60 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


Cladding Updates<br />

For further info on all these cladding updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk<br />

ANSWERING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS<br />

Following customer feedback and online requests, Freefoam Building Products is pleased to announce the launch<br />

of a brand new online feature – Technical Frequently Asked Questions.<br />

Louise Sanderson, Freefoam UK Marketing Manager, explained: “As our product range has increased and diversified we’ve<br />

seen a significant rise in enquires regarding product information. Customers selling and using our products are<br />

professionals who want to get it right. Freefoam products have been designed to be used in a wide variety of situations and<br />

projects and we want to ensure that installers have the right information to get the job done correctly and professionally.”<br />

Freefoam answers questions and<br />

provides information on its product<br />

range with its new facility.<br />

The database covers a wide range of technical questions that customers and fitters have asked and find most useful. Quick and easy to access from a pop up<br />

box on every web page, the tool allows site visitors to view a wide range of topics and issues covering the full Freefoam product range. From general fitting<br />

instructions and product information, to more specific fitting tips and examples of individual fitting situations the database allows users to filter by product<br />

range or simply type in their question. Accessible from PC, mobile and tablet, the tool is instantly available to customers and fitters out on the job.<br />

www.freefoam.com<br />

CEMBRIT’S STADIUM PERFORMANCE<br />

Cembrit HD (heavy duty) board has been installed in the redeveloped East Stand at<br />

Twickenham, the home of England Rugby.<br />

Cembrit HD has been installed at Twickenham Stadium.<br />

Resilient, hard wearing and with an impressive fire rating, HD is an ideal multi-use board for high<br />

traffic areas in sports stadia such as Twickenham. Supplied by the Hayes branch of Minster, the<br />

Cembrit HD board is installed in the Rose Garden itself, in the wings of the facility, as well as on the<br />

walls of the adjacent L5 concourse where impact resistance was important as crowds are moving in<br />

confined spaces. www.cembrit.co.uk<br />

FREEFOAM SPRINGS INTO ACTION<br />

Freefoam has launched the Spring edition of its Product Catalogue.<br />

Freefoam has launched its<br />

Spring Product Catalogue<br />

With an updated look and new products , the guide provides customers and users with the complete<br />

guide to the full range of Freefoam products including PVC-U and PVC-UE fascia, soffit, rainwater<br />

systems, exterior cladding, interior panelling and flooring. With over 2,000 product items, a clear and<br />

concise catalogue is essential for Freefoam stockists to promote the range. This A5 compact format<br />

is ideal for building professionals, roofline fitters and roofers to keep a copy handy whilst on the go,<br />

with all the product information they need. www.freefoam.com<br />

STOVENTEC’S A GLASS ACT<br />

The StoVentec Glass Rainscreen System supplied by Sto UK was chosen for a museum<br />

collections centre extension project in Edinburgh, thanks to its outstanding aesthetic<br />

properties and its durable nature.<br />

A StoVentec Glass Rainscreen System was chosen for<br />

this extension to the National Museums Collection<br />

Centre in Edinburgh.<br />

The black infused colour StoVentec Glass was installed on the new extension to the National Museums<br />

Collection Centre in Granton, Edinburgh. “We were looking for a rainscreen cladding system that would<br />

help harmonize the new extension with the existing building, and the StoVentec Glass system offered<br />

the perfect solution”, explained Francesco Di Domenico of Hypostyle Architects. www.sto.co.uk<br />

62 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


A NEW COMPOSITE<br />

CLADDING SYSTEM<br />

THAT’LL IMPROVE<br />

YOUR BOTTOM LINE<br />

coastline®<br />

LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE CLADDING<br />

MINIMAL EXPANSION/CONTRACTION<br />

BBA CERTIFIED SYSTEM<br />

INDEPENDENTLY FIRE TESTED (UK 2018) TO BS EN 13501-1<br />

PATENT PENDING COMPOSITE MATERIAL<br />

Find out more about the new coastline ® lightweight<br />

composite cladding range. Call us on:<br />

0800 988 7318<br />

or visit: eurocell.co.uk/coastline


Cladding Updates<br />

For further info on all these cladding updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk<br />

OFF-SITE WALL SOLUTION<br />

Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels have provided an off-site wall solution for a unique school and leisure campus in<br />

Littleport, helping the project to achieve excellent thermal performance within a tight construction deadline.<br />

The £37.5 million development, designed by SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business, co-locates a pre-school, Littleport and East<br />

Cambridgeshire Academy (LECA), Highfield Littleport Academy Special Education Needs (SEN) school and a public<br />

leisure centre. It has helped to create an inclusive community where children of all ages and abilities can develop together. To ensure the ambitious plan would<br />

be delivered in time for the new school year without compromising on the facilities’ energy performance, 142 mm-thick Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels were<br />

specified for many of the external walls. Kingspan TEK Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) were designed and factory cut to the project’s unique specifications<br />

by Kingspan Timber Solutions. This offsite production process minimised site waste and enabled the panels to be quickly installed onto the steel frame, ready<br />

for main contractors, Morgan Sindall Construction, to apply the final external finishes,<br />

The highly-insulated core of the Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels allowed the project to meet its thermal performance targets. Meanwhile, the OSB/3 facing and<br />

unique jointing system minimised air-leakage through the building envelope, helping the scheme achieve a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.<br />

www.kingspantek.co.uk<br />

MAGPLY HAS IT COVERED<br />

A residential project in Essex is making use of Magply boards for both the internal lining<br />

and exterior cladding treatment to an innovative lightweight steel framing system,<br />

demonstrating the widely specified fire resistant product’s multiple attributes.<br />

The four bedroom new-build and extensions to a neighbouring existing property are being<br />

carried out by SP&J Construction, in a joint venture with Uni-Frame and the ARG Group. The<br />

intention is to use the current project as a show-site for the rapid build MMC solution and the<br />

wide choice of finishes which will be available to future purchasers. www.magply.co.uk<br />

RCM ADDS MEG TO ITS OFFERING<br />

RCM, the complete through wall solutions supplier, is delighted to announce the<br />

addition of Abet Laminati MEG HPL façade to its already impressive portfolio.<br />

Robust, compact and long-lasting, MEG – Material Exterior Grade building façade by Abet<br />

Laminati is specifically designed for outdoor applications. This versatile and durable range is<br />

made up of a rigid core combined with a decorative surface consisting of weather-resistant<br />

thermosetting resins. The high pressure laminate (HPL) is often used as rainscreen cladding,<br />

as well as on balconies. www.buildingboards.co.uk<br />

ROUGH OPTION SHOWS ITS CLASS<br />

Cembrit has launched Patina Rough, a new through-coloured cladding board which has a<br />

sandblasted surface which gives the board an attractive, stone-effect finish.<br />

Cembrit Patina is a genuinely through-coloured, fibre<br />

cement decorative rainscreen cladding and is available<br />

in two popular and attractive shades, Flint and Sand.<br />

Patina Rough complements the original Patina, with its directional grain surface, to offer a desirable<br />

choice of premium cladding for a wide variety of external applications. Patina Rough has a surface<br />

that achieves a natural, cast, or engineered stone cladding-type finish, but at the reduced price and<br />

structural cost that is in line with lightweight rainscreen cladding,” explained Ged Ferris, Marketing<br />

Manager at Cembrit. www.cembrit.com<br />

64 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID<br />

WATERPROOFING SYSTEM<br />

BENEFITS & PRODUCT<br />

INFORMATION<br />

BBA certified for life in excess of 25 years.<br />

NHBC and Green Roof Approval.<br />

ULTRAFLEX can be used on new or existing<br />

roofs, walkways, balconies, gutters etc.<br />

Ready to use straight out of the tin, application<br />

with solvent resistant roller.<br />

Use fully reinforced with ULTRAFLEX matting<br />

ensures easy ‘wet on wet’ application.<br />

Can be used all year round – moisture curing.<br />

Fully trafficable when cured.<br />

Instantly rain resistant after application.<br />

Once installed, forms a seamless membrane.<br />

Exellent adhesion to different substrates: plywood,<br />

bitumen membranes, asphalt, metals,<br />

brick, concrete, wood etc.<br />

Fresh concrete must be cured for 28 days.<br />

On EPDM and TPO it is recommended to install<br />

patch test to check compatibility.<br />

Do not use silicone sealants. Always use PU<br />

based mastics.


The Building Envelope<br />

ADDRESSING MOISTURE MOVEMENT<br />

The experts at A Proctor Group talk through the considerations<br />

that should be made when it comes to moisture movement.<br />

Heat, air and moisture movement (HAMM)<br />

through the building envelope is a<br />

naturally occurring process that affects<br />

the integrity of building components and the<br />

health of building occupants. As an<br />

understanding of HAMM grows in the industry,<br />

designing for moisture management in all areas<br />

of the building envelope has quickly become<br />

standard practice.<br />

Construction professionals in the UK consider BS<br />

5250:2011 ‘Code of Practice for control of<br />

condensation in buildings’ the authoritative<br />

resource on this topic. As a starting point, the<br />

Standard specifies the industry must be aware of<br />

both the internal and external factors contributing<br />

to condensation control and building health,<br />

where it states:<br />

“In order to avoid the occurrence of excess<br />

condensation, which can result in mould growth<br />

and damage to the building fabric, designers<br />

should assess the amount of water vapour likely<br />

to be generated within the building … and<br />

consider the effects of the external climate.”<br />

This statement seems perfectly reasonable in<br />

theory, but how in practice can a designer deal<br />

with internal humidity levels that can change with<br />

building function, use and occupancy<br />

adaptations, as well as external conditions like<br />

weather and topography that are clearly beyond<br />

their control?<br />

Risk assessment methods<br />

Construction professionals have traditionally<br />

utilised the Glaser method to assess<br />

condensation risk. Glaser is a ‘steady state’<br />

calculator that uses average monthly<br />

temperatures, vapour pressure and heat<br />

conduction to determine if condensation occurs at<br />

critical points over the span of 12 months. While<br />

this method correctly looks at vapour diffusion, or<br />

the passage of water vapour through the building<br />

fabric, it only considers this movement in a single<br />

direction. There are other limitations with the<br />

Glaser method: the calculations do not account<br />

for additional sources of moisture such as damp<br />

soil, seasonal wet and dry cycles, or the porosity<br />

of materials used in the construction. The Glaser<br />

method is suitable for very simple, lightweight<br />

construction types, however, it is broadly<br />

considered to be inappropriate for the vast<br />

majority of projects, particularly any that use<br />

materials with the potential for absorbing water<br />

like porous brick or fibrous insulations, as well<br />

as any retrofitted buildings with solid masonry<br />

walls.<br />

WUFI (Wärme Und Feuchte Instationär) software,<br />

developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Building<br />

Physics in Germany, was a huge step forward for<br />

the industry in terms of condensation risk<br />

assessment. In contrast to the Glaser method,<br />

WUFI calculations are ‘non-steady state’<br />

simulations that constantly plot the movement of<br />

heat, air and moisture in a state of constant<br />

change relative to building usage, project aspect,<br />

and seasonality. WUFI goes much further than<br />

Glaser by including other sources of moisture<br />

such as ingress from the ground, worst-case<br />

scenario precipitation events, and the natural<br />

variation in moisture content within individual<br />

building materials over time. As the designer is<br />

able to simulate an hour-by-hour condensation<br />

risk analysis over an infinite amount of time,<br />

projects can be optimised for longevity and for the<br />

health and wellbeing of occupants.<br />

Advanced assessments,<br />

advanced materials<br />

The profession’s growing understanding of the<br />

complexities of HAMM has led to a shift in the<br />

industry in two ways. First, modeling software<br />

like WUFI is becoming increasingly<br />

Above: WUFI test: Grey – External surface; Blue – Midpoint;<br />

Black – Internal surface; Red – Temperature (Midpoint).<br />

Above Top: A Proctor’s products were used at Canalside<br />

Walk, Paddington.<br />

sophisticated to better model and assess the<br />

subtleties of building physics, and second, a<br />

new generation of construction materials are<br />

being developed to work with HAMM thereby<br />

supporting the long-term health and durability<br />

of a building.<br />

One example of these advanced materials are<br />

“intelligent” vapour control layers (VCLs) which<br />

have been designed to adapt to changing<br />

humidity circumstances. These variable<br />

permeability VCLs can change their permeability,<br />

becoming more vapour resistant during winter<br />

and more vapour permeable in the summer.<br />

Variable permeable membranes help to regulate<br />

the natural moisture-loading and drying out<br />

cycle of the building envelope by protecting the<br />

building fabric in the colder, wetter months, and<br />

allowing it to dry out effectively in warmer, drier<br />

months.<br />

Need a WUFI calculation? Contact the A. Proctor<br />

Group’s Technical Department.<br />

Contact A Proctor Group<br />

01250 872261<br />

www.proctorgroup.com<br />

@proctorgroup<br />

66 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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Insulation Updates<br />

KINGSPAN HOLDS COURT ON RENOVATION<br />

Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court and Police Station has been reinvented as a four-star boutique hotel in a<br />

Dominvs Group development. It includes the installation of a tapered roof insulation system from Kingspan<br />

Insulation – ensuring the only thing taking the fall from now on at the former court will be the rain.<br />

To raise the thermal performance of the building’s flat roof, whilst also providing effective drainage, Kingspan<br />

Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM and Kingspan Thermaroof TR27 LPC/FM were installed.<br />

Kingspan systems were used on this<br />

Dominvus Group project.<br />

Kingspan Thermataper TT47 LPC/FM provided the project team with a fast-track alternative to other drainage methods, such as structural falls. The product<br />

combines high performance insulation and drainage in a single board which can be fixed with a dry installation process, avoiding the time lost waiting for wet<br />

trades to dry. The lightweight boards can also be as little as 1.5%, or less, of the weight of a screed to fall solution, minimising the structural support<br />

requirements for the roof surface.<br />

Kingspan Insulation’s specialist tapered roofing service team created a carefully tailored scheme layout for the hotel roof, maximising cost efficiency whilst<br />

also ensuring the surface met the rainwater runoff and insulation requirements. The layout also simplified the installation process for the site team aided by<br />

the pre-mitred hip and valley boards supplied as part of the Kingspan Thermataper system. www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk<br />

SLENTEX A2 MAKES ITS MARK<br />

The A. Proctor Group has launched a new vapour permeable insulation, which offers superior<br />

thermal performance and fire protection behind cladding.<br />

With a thermal conductivity of 0.019 W/mK, Spacetherm<br />

Slentex A2’s performance credentials are said to qualify<br />

it as one of the best insulation materials available.<br />

Spacetherm Slentex A2 is the result of extensive research and development to produce a vapour<br />

permeable insulation with an A2 fire rating classification. The new insulation is classified as Class<br />

A2, s1 – d0 according to the Euroclass system, which classifies the reaction to fire performance of<br />

building products. Spacetherm Slentex A2 is available in a range of laminates utilising MgO and<br />

plasterboard as well as in a cold bridging strip format. www.proctorgroup.com<br />

KINGSPAN SHOWS ITS BOTTLE<br />

Kingspan has committed to recycling 500m plastic bottles each year by 2023 for use in its<br />

insulation with a further target of 1bn bottles each year by 2025.<br />

Kingspan has partnered with the EcoAlf Foundation and<br />

under a 3-year partnership, the company will proactively<br />

help to remove up to 150 tonnes of waste from the<br />

Mediterranean each year.<br />

This recycling initiative is part of a broader Kingspan programme, together with the company’s 2020<br />

Net Zero Energy manufacturing target, to produce its energy-saving products in a low carbon and<br />

environmentally responsible way. Kingspan is already manufacturing insulation using recycled<br />

plastic but will be adding recovered ocean plastic to this manufacturing chain, made with raw<br />

materials from its plant near Barcelona, Spain. www.kingspan.com/group/<br />

PHYSICAL & THERMAL BENEFITS<br />

An iconic residential development by Barratt London is includes the use of Marmox Multiboard<br />

for its outstanding physical performance with two walls around the 20 metre swimming pool<br />

being lined with the moisture resistant backing board.<br />

Marmox Multiboard has been used at Landmark Place<br />

which stands alongside the Tower of London.<br />

The ground floor pool and spa used close to 100 of the 2500 x 600mm Multiboards for the work, as well<br />

as six boxes of dowels to secure them and 30 rolls of Marmox Jointing Tape. Marmox Multiboards are<br />

manufactured from XPS and offer a range of positive physical characteristics, including good thermal<br />

insulation, in addition to being fully waterproof. www.marmox.co.uk<br />

68 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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COULD YOU SAVE TIME & REDUCE<br />

RISK WITH THE RIGHT SOFTWARE?<br />

By Richard Boston, Marketing Director at Eque2.<br />

Construction management software is<br />

becoming increasingly more important for<br />

contractors. Industry-specific solutions,<br />

such as Eque2’s Construct for Sage software, are<br />

equipped with the tools to manage construction<br />

businesses efficiently and securely in order to<br />

eliminate risk and protect margins.<br />

These programmes remove the need for manual<br />

spreadsheets and store important information all<br />

in one system to help with day-to-day<br />

management, job costing, subcontractor<br />

compliance and client billing. But what are the<br />

wider benefits and what difference can they make<br />

to construction businesses and the industry as a<br />

whole?<br />

According to a recent publication from the<br />

McKinsey Global Institute, the implementation of<br />

digital technologies across the construction sector<br />

will generate a 14-15% improvement to the<br />

industry’s productivity. Both large and small<br />

contractors are under a hefty amount of pressure<br />

to meet current housing demands and to build<br />

buildings for the nation’s ever-developing regions.<br />

And although this demand is keeping the industry<br />

occupied, as a whole these unwieldy pressures<br />

are stunting the industry’s overall output.<br />

Taking the McKinsey statistic into consideration, it<br />

is clear that investment in technology would<br />

increase construction projects’ efficiencies,<br />

driving the industry towards the modernisation it<br />

is yearning for.<br />

Moving towards a digital resolution<br />

As a collective, the construction industry should<br />

always be asking itself: what can we do to deliver<br />

projects more efficiently? What the industry truly<br />

needs are solutions which streamline even the<br />

slowest and arduous tasks which businesses<br />

have to complete day-in, day-out.<br />

Whether it is manual invoicing<br />

or general administrative<br />

duties, these tasks have<br />

the potential to save<br />

time and money if the<br />

right platform is<br />

selected.<br />

In this case, the right<br />

platform is digital<br />

solutions. A pivotal aspect of<br />

the UK’s current Industrial<br />

Strategy, the digitisation of the construction<br />

industry is already having a transformative<br />

impact on both the quality of construction<br />

projects and the manner in which they are<br />

managed.<br />

Direct benefits<br />

The immediate benefits of digital technology on<br />

the construction industry are multiple. For<br />

instance, a solution such as our product<br />

Construct for Sage which was created in<br />

partnership with Sage, can revolutionise the way<br />

contractors run their businesses. Providing<br />

different packages dependent on a business’s<br />

size, Construct for Sage is a comprehensive<br />

solution allowing businesses to run their company<br />

with more efficiency.<br />

With this technology, crucially the finance and<br />

commercial teams can share vital project<br />

information across a multitude of tasks without<br />

the need for duplication of effort. These digital<br />

platforms ensure all information is stored<br />

securely and can be accessed easily by those<br />

granted to acquire them, rather than sat in<br />

multiple standalone spreadsheets which are<br />

prone to errors.<br />

Not only can they ensure<br />

subcontractor compliance<br />

with CIS, manage<br />

industry-specific<br />

processes such as<br />

variations,<br />

applications and<br />

retentions, they can<br />

also see the real-time<br />

performance of a project<br />

and take action early when<br />

a contract is set to go over<br />

budget. This level of visibility into the<br />

true financial performance of projects is crucial to<br />

protecting margins and ensuring contractors keep<br />

on top of their business at all times.<br />

Wider benefits<br />

Another huge pressure on the construction<br />

industry is the skills shortage. According to<br />

statistics from the Construction Industry Training<br />

Board (CITB), 168,000 new jobs will be created<br />

over the next five years. Although it is<br />

encouraging to see new work being won, it is still<br />

an immense pressure on an industry that is<br />

already floundering; fuelled by the departure of<br />

EU workers from the UK due to Brexit.<br />

There are, however, examples of some change in<br />

action. For instance, mobile technology has been<br />

developed to connect on-site work with the back<br />

office. This modern method of working is highly<br />

attractive to younger people looking at a career in<br />

the industry.<br />

Moreover, the City of Glasgow College has<br />

implemented Eque2’s EValuate estimating<br />

software to help students working towards a<br />

career in the construction industry. This<br />

progressive college recognises the need to<br />

continually modernise and adopt new practices to<br />

70 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


“These digital platforms ensure all<br />

information is stored securely and<br />

can be accessed easily by those<br />

granted to acquire them, rather than<br />

sat in multiple standalone<br />

spreadsheets”<br />

remain relevant in today’s tough climate.<br />

The technology is fresh, innovative and exciting radically changing the<br />

erroneous perception that construction simply constitutes hammers, ‘wood’<br />

and muddy hi-vis vests. In effect, further integration of software into multiple<br />

institutions will cultivate a substantial workforce equipped with the<br />

knowledge and experience to take the industry into a digital age.<br />

On a broader spectrum, construction management software also minimises<br />

risk which is crucial in the post-Grenfell construction world. A calamity such<br />

as this truly highlighted what needed to change in industry – enhanced<br />

visibility and traceability. With digital solutions, risk can be easily identified<br />

as information can be accessed quickly and efficiently. Risk can be located<br />

throughout a building project’s entire lifecycle, to not only ensure occupant<br />

and building safety, but to preserve the industry’s credibility as a whole.<br />

For an industry that is drastically lagging behind in terms of digital adoption,<br />

straightforward, easy-to-use, innovative digital systems are the catalysts for<br />

change. The benefits of these digital solutions are two-fold; not only do they<br />

help businesses manage their day-to-day operations more efficiently, they<br />

remove risk and save money – two fundamental factors essential to the<br />

construction industry’s preservation and growth. And with digital systems<br />

already showing the fruits of its labour, it is becoming more and more<br />

difficult to identify the reasons why digital systems won’t be the industry’s<br />

saving grace.<br />

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LIMITS FOR VAN DRIVERS<br />

Tradespeople who use work vans to get to and from jobs could be hit with a fine of up to £300 if they exceed<br />

the UK daily driving hours limit, experts have warned.<br />

LeaseVan.co.uk has highlighted the law which states that drivers operating a van for commercial purposes must Those who use vans to get to and from jobs must<br />

take note of the UK daily driving hours limit.<br />

observe the same working hour restrictions and rest period requirements as professional HGV drivers. Drivers<br />

operating a work van for more than four hours per day are not permitted to be behind the wheel for more than ten hours and aren’t allowed to be on duty for<br />

more than 11 hours on any day in which they drive. Working drivers can only reach the ten-hour limit twice per week. For other days that week, they are then<br />

restricted to nine hours – or 56 hours in a week and 90 hours in any fortnight.<br />

Van drivers on the roads for business purposes must also get at least 11 hours rest daily, take breaks totalling at least 45 minutes after a maximum of four<br />

and a half hours of driving and take an unbroken rest period of 45 hours weekly. Skipping breaks and exceeding these limits could see van drivers hit with a<br />

fine of up to £300. It could also prove dangerous for both the driver and other road users, with tiredness and fatigue among the leading causes of road<br />

accidents and being potentially as deadly as drink or drug driving. The limits are suspended for the duration of emergencies, where the driver needs to take<br />

immediate preventative action to avoid danger to someone or an animal’s life or health, or serious damage to property. www.leasevan.co.uk<br />

SHORT GAME: COOL COMFORT THIS SUMMER<br />

Snickers’ FLEXIWork Stretch Shorts are designed to deliver superior comfort and freedom of movement.<br />

Above: FLEXIWork Stretch<br />

shorts from Snickers.<br />

While fabric, functionality and fit are hallmarks of Snickers Workwear, it’s the innovation and fabric technology in the design of<br />

the new FlexiWork Stretch Shorts for men and women that really set these new garments apart. Delivering superior flexibility<br />

and comfort, these lightweight work shorts come in a hi-tech body-mapping design and are made from a self-ventilating<br />

stretch fabric with Cordura reinforcements for all-round mobility and durability when you need it most. As well as being streetsmart<br />

with men’s and women’s designs, they’re packed with comfort and functionality and specially designed for the fastpaced<br />

professional who’s always on the go and always delivering top class work on site. www.snickersworkwear.co.uk<br />

LIGHT IT UP WITH LUCECO<br />

A new range of site lighting has been created by lighting experts, Luceco.<br />

The range includes a number of tripod work lights and<br />

options for single or twin heads, a plasterer’s work light,<br />

festoon kit, a portable work light and non-corrosives in<br />

both two foot and five foot.<br />

The range of robust, high performing and efficient 110V site lights have been developed based on<br />

feedback from those using similar products across a wide range of environments. The new worklights<br />

further expand Luceco’s arsenal of lighting options, joining an already broad range of lighting<br />

products aimed towards the day-to-day tradesperson. Available since April <strong>2019</strong>, the range provides<br />

a variety of site lighting options. All the lights are certified to a minimum IP rating of IP44, however,<br />

the bulk of the fittings are tested to IP65, with the plug being IP44. www.luceco.com/uk<br />

NEW CAT S61: PACKED WITH TOOLS<br />

The successor to the multi award winning Cat S60, the CAT S61 features enhanced FLIR thermal<br />

imaging capability, built-in laser assisted distance measure, and an indoor air quality sensor.<br />

The new Cat S61 is the tool to help get any job done and is available now from www.catphones.com<br />

with an MSRP of £799.<br />

The new Cat S61 is the tool to help get any job done and<br />

is available now from www.catphones.com.<br />

The Cat S61 includes an integrated thermal imaging camera, laser assisted distance measure and<br />

indoor air quality monitor to assist tradespeople with all aspects of their work. www.catphones.com<br />

72 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


The Apex<br />

WILL T LEVELS ATTRACT TALENT?<br />

Academic routes are not the only path to success, and with a shortage of new talent<br />

entering the construction industry it is more important than ever to find an alternative way of<br />

learning to bridge the gap. The introduction of T Levels – technical education programmes<br />

for young people aged 16 to 18 – have been billed as the solution. Jackie Biswell from Apex<br />

Roofing gives her view...<br />

The construction industry is facing a<br />

recruitment crisis. During one of the worst<br />

economic downturns in recent memory in<br />

2008, building contracted by 16.5%. Although the<br />

sector recovered and work was plentiful, the<br />

workforce was no longer there to carry it out.<br />

It is not only the recession that has given cause<br />

for concern. There is still uncertainty over Brexit.<br />

Whether we leave or remain, the future for<br />

existing migrant workers in the UK is unknown<br />

and employing overseas workers will no doubt be<br />

a more complicated process.<br />

Another threat to the industry is the prediction<br />

that 400,000 construction workers will retire in<br />

the next decade. And that statistic is not matched<br />

by the numbers of new talent entering the trade;<br />

essentially, the old guard will be leaving and there<br />

will not be enough new workers to fill the void.<br />

The new generation<br />

A report from the Chartered Institute of Building<br />

(CIOB) revealed that the construction industry<br />

needs to find 157,000 new recruits by 2021 to be<br />

able to keep up with the increasing demand.<br />

At a time when major national infrastructure<br />

projects are taking place and there is an evergrowing<br />

demand for skilled workers, it is crucial<br />

that a new generation of construction workers are<br />

recruited to address the skills gap.<br />

Previously, one of the key initiatives from the<br />

industry and government has been apprenticeships.<br />

In April 2017, changes in apprenticeship funding<br />

were introduced meaning the funding of new<br />

apprenticeships now comes from an<br />

apprenticeship levy rather than<br />

taxpayers.<br />

The Government’s aim was to boost<br />

productivity by investing in human<br />

capital, developing vocational skills and<br />

increasing both the quality and quantity of<br />

apprenticeships.<br />

Between August and October 2017, only 114,400<br />

young people began apprenticeships –<br />

substantially less than the 155,300 reported in<br />

the same three months in 2016.<br />

Apprenticeships are often seen as a fall back for<br />

those who cannot or do not want to study for A-<br />

levels or go for university. There needs to be a<br />

greater emphasis placed on vocational learning<br />

and that’s where the T Level comes in.<br />

What is the T Level?<br />

More than £500million a year will be spent on the<br />

new-style technical courses which provide an<br />

alternative route into work.<br />

T Levels will become one of the main choices for<br />

students after GCSEs alongside apprenticeships<br />

for students who want to learn a specific<br />

occupation on the job and A-levels for those who<br />

want to continue with academic education.<br />

The T Level, which will last for two years, will be<br />

the equivalent to three A Levels, include at least<br />

45 days of industry placement and the students<br />

will receive a grade upon completion.<br />

The qualification will be based on the same<br />

occupational standards as apprenticeships which<br />

are designed by employers.<br />

Left: Jackie Biswell, Apex Roofing.<br />

T Level panels, which consist of<br />

employers, professional bodies and<br />

providers, have worked together to<br />

develop the curriculum to ensure the<br />

content meets the needs of the industry and<br />

prepares students for the world of work.<br />

The first of the new T Level courses will start in<br />

September 2020 with construction being one of<br />

the 15 chosen sectors.<br />

It is expected that the construction T Level will be<br />

broken down into sub-categories of skills for jobs<br />

such as bricklayer, carpenter/joiner, construction<br />

supervisor and electrician.<br />

Will it be a success?<br />

The construction industry is crying out for skilled<br />

workers and the T Level has been created with<br />

the intention of garnering a new generation of<br />

young workers with valuable industry skills.<br />

The new qualification has, of course, been<br />

welcomed and criticised by various sectors, but<br />

we think it is a positive step to plug the widening<br />

skills gap by actively supporting those who do not<br />

take the A-level, apprenticeship or university<br />

route into their career.<br />

What are your thoughts on T Levels? Email<br />

mattdowns@media-now.co.uk /<br />

@TotContractorUK<br />

Contact Apex Roofing<br />

01502 537129<br />

www.apexroofinguk.com<br />

@ApexAnglia<br />

74 TC MAY <strong>2019</strong>


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JAKE ROXBOROUGH jakeroxborough@media-now.co.uk<br />

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