October 2019

OCTOBER 2019
An Inspector Calls
Perfectly Pitched
NFRC Tech Talk
FEATURES
• WHAT A DAY: ROOFING SECTOR
SHINES AT OLD TRAFFORD
• THE REAL COST OF SICK LEAVE:
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR EARNINGS
• ACCREDITATION’S WHAT WE NEED:
THE BIG ROOFCERT INTERVIEW
>>> • GREEN ROOFS • TOOLS • PROJECT PLANNING • HERITAGE • UPDATES • >>>

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Matt Black
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I
V
Editor’s Comment
MATT DOWNS
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
MATTDOWNS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK
07963 330774
Last month I got the chance to sit down with Jon Vanstone, Chair of
RoofCERT, to talk about the new accreditation scheme for the roofing
sector and find out where it’s currently at, discuss the impact it could
potentially have on the sector, plus hear how they will drive up-take.
After a soft launch in 2017, the term RoofCERT has been about for some
time, but up until recently it’s fair to say a real understanding of what it is
or how it will work has been at best patchy. But as Jon explained, the
stakes were too high to rush and risk getting such a colossal undertaking
like this wrong. He explained: “We’d loved to have solved it overnight, but
the fact is by taking time, talking to people and by continuously looking at
what we are doing, we’ve got a better product.”
FOLLOW US @TOTCONTRACTORUK
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COVER PIC:
COURTESY OF
SIG DESIGN &
TECHNOLOGY
Above: Paul Jacobs, SIG Design & Technology’s Installation and Training
Manager, explains how project planning can help you avoid surprises – p60.
From the outside looking in, it’s easy to expect RoofCERT to be the silver
bullet that will remedy all the ills that the sector faces, but we need to be
realistic and appreciate this will be a gradual process, but over time
RoofCERT can undoubtedly help address the issues around recruitment of
skilled workers, perception both within construction and externally, help
improve working practices and ultimately place the roofing operative and
wider sector in a stronger position to tackle the many challenges
construction continues to face. No matter what level you’re at in your
roofing career, RoofCERT is something worth getting behind. As Jon
explained: “We have a number of issues as a sector – and it’s not unique
to roofing – but roofing has actually put its name to this and said we’re
going to do something about this.” Let’s make sure that it is something
that has a positive, long-term impact on the sector going forward. Read
the full interview with Jon from p26.
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OCTOBER 2019 TC 3

Contents
COVER FEATURES
16 ROOFING SECTOR SHINES
Couldn’t make it to Old Trafford for
Contractor’s Day? Well see what you missed
out on in our review of this great day
22 THE COST OF SICK LEAVE
Vicki Leslie asks if as a business or sole trader
you can really afford to ignore health care
packages and private medical schemes
26 ACCREDITATION PUSH
Matt Downs talks all things RoofCERT with Jon
Vanstone and hears where we’re at with the
scheme, and what it really means for roofing
36
FEATURES
32 COMMON PANTILE QUERIES
Tom Woodhouse answers some common contractor
queries when it comes to installing pantiles
34 PITCHED ROOF MEMBRANES
A Proctor Group talk through some of the key
considerations to make when choosing membranes
54 LIQUID GREEN ROOF GAINS
Victoria Ramwell explains how liquid systems can
provide real benefits for waterproofing green roofs
60 WHAT’S THE PLAN?
Paul Jacobs offers advice on how best to plan your
project and ensure you avoid the nasty surprises
32
70 THE SECRET’S OUT...
James Butler talks secret fix systems for facade and
cladding projects and how communication can save cost
85 QI INSULATION FACTS
In their latest column, the QI team discuss the myths
about non-combustible insulation in inverted roofs
4 TC OCTOBER 2019

REGULARS
18 NFRC TECH TALK
In the second part of his Safe2Torch focus,
Gary Walpole looks at safe gas torch use
30 MARKETING TALK
George Stewart explains why he feels you are
your brand and how to make a success of it
36 AN INSPECTOR CALLS
This month the inspector nails down the issue
of repairing ridge and hip tiles
40 PERFECTLY PITCHED
John Mercer says supervision is key if we’re going
to tackle poor installation practice on projects
SECTIONS:
TOTAL
ROOFING
32
TOTAL
CLADDING
70
INDUSTRY NEWS
08 LRWA FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Find out who’s up for which award at this year’s LRWA
Awards which takes place next month in Liverpool
10 COST OF TOOL THEFTS GROWS
Reports say the cost of claims for theft of tools from vans
has increased by more than half in the past year
TOTAL
INSULATION
80
X
VEHICLES, TOOLS
& WORKWEAR
86
OCTOBER 2019 TC 5

Industry News
UPDATES FOR SIG
ROOFING BRANCHES
SIG Roofing is modernising its branches
across the UK, following an exciting major
investment in its UK network, offering
roofers improved facilities and an
increased product offering.
The series of refurbishments, taking place
across the remainder of this year, will see a
total of 17 branches transformed in 2019
and a further seven into 2020. SIG Roofing
says roofers will benefit from more
availability on leading products in stores,
such as everyday essentials, as well as
improved services in branch.
In store, a refreshed design will offer an
organised layout, allowing roofers to find
what they need quickly and efficiently
allowing more time to be spent on the job
with the reassurance they can get the
products they need when they need them.
What’s more, branches will offer new and
innovative products on top of their extensive
range to provide roofers with even more
diversity in their offering, and to make the
time in branch that bit more enjoyable there
will a dedicated space to serve refreshments
to maximise comfort.
Stuart Base, Marketing Director for SIG
Roofing, commented: “We’re hugely excited
to offer our customers new and improved
facilities ensuring an excelling in-branch
experience. We have taken customer
feedback on board and will deliver services
that really matter to them. We are confident
that these refurbishments will enable us to
be even more efficient, and take our offering
to the next level.”
The first phase of refurbishments launch this
month, encompassing branches in Woking,
Leatherhead, Bristol Barton Hill, Eastbourne,
Milford and Tunbridge Wells.
FURTHER FALL IN NEW STARTS FOR HOMES
New government figures show
• Most local authority areas in
the number of new build homes
London – where a lack of housing
under construction has
is most acute – showed a
decreased, putting a further
decrease in starts and
squeeze on the housing crisis.
completions of new builds between
June 2018 and June 2019.
According to the Ministry of
Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Clive Docwra, Managing Director of leading
new build dwellings figures should be regarded as construction consulting and design agency
a leading indicator of overall housing supply, but McBains, said: “Today’s figures show the amount
the new figures show that:
of new homes being started or completed are still
nowhere near the number required to meet the
• New build dwelling starts in England were
government’s target of building 300,000 homes a
estimated at 37,220 in the latest quarter (Aprilyear
by the mid 2020s.
June 2019), a 2% decrease compared to the
previous 3 months and an 8% decrease on a year “Brexit uncertainty continues to bite, with many
earlier;
housebuilding projects on hold until the picture
on the UK withdrawal from the EU becomes
• Annual new build dwelling starts totalled
clearer, while the weak pound means the high
160,640 in the year to June 2019, a 1% decrease
cost of imported materials is holding back
compared with the year to June 2018.
construction.
• During the same period, completions totalled
“Demand for housing is far outstripping supply,
173,660 an increase of 8% compared with last
but today’s figures prove there is still no light at
year – but still a long way behind the rate needed
the end of the tunnel in terms of solving the
to meet the government target for new homes.
housing crisis.”
CLC ACQUISITION FOR HULTAFORS GROUP
The Hultafors Group, which owns Snickers
Workwear has acquired CLC.
The leading brand in the USA since 1983, CLC is
North America’s premier designer, developer and
marketer of ‘work gear’ for professional
tradesmen and women. It’s a product range that Group UK said: “We are delighted with this
includes softside tool carriers, nail bags, tool acquisition given that the CLC ‘work gear’ range
pouches plus personal protective equipment. complements the Snickers Workwear, Hellberg
Safety, Hultafors Tools, Solid Gear and Toe Guard
Custom LeatherCraft, or CLC as the brand is more
safety footwear product portfolios perfectly.
commonly know in the USA – and as the Kuny’s
Leather brand in Canada – prides itself on “We will now be able to offer the discerning
developing high quality ‘work gear’ that combines tradesman and woman an even more extensive
innovative design and functionality as well as range of top quality premium brand products,
great value for money.
ideally suited to the work they do on site.”
Peter Dumigan, Managing Director of the Hultafors More on Vehicles,Tools & Workwear p86
6 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Industry News
2019 LRWA FINALISTS HIGHLIGHT THE VERSATILITY OF LIQUIDS
The finalists of the Liquid Roofing and
Waterproofing Association (LRWA) Awards
2019 have been revealed.
Now in their third year, the awards showcase
outstanding workmanship and technical
excellence across the liquid roofing and
waterproofing sector.
Entries were judged by an independent panel,
including specifiers and technical experts. Each
project was scored in line with strict criteria,
including project complexity, standard of
workmanship, evidence of problem solving and
aesthetics.
A total of 20 projects have been shortlisted across
four categories, including Liquid Roofing Project of
the Year under 1,000m², Liquid Roofing Project of
the Year over 1,000m², Liquid Roofing Project of
the Year in a Buried Application, and Liquid
Waterproofing Project of the Year – covering nonroofing
applications such as car parks, bridges
and balconies.
Three people are also in the running to be
crowned Trainer of the Year.
The winners will be announced at the LRWA
Awards and Gala Dinner on Wednesday, 6th
November 2019. At the event there will also be an
award for Student of the Year and a Chairman’s
Recognition Award for an individual who has
made a special contribution to the liquid roofing
and waterproofing industry.
Sarah Spink, CEO of the LRWA, commented: “The
quality and diversity of this year’s entries has
been extremely impressive. The shortlisted
projects feature a vast range of different buildings
and structures in a variety of sectors including
residential, commercial, rail, heritage, utilities,
and healthcare.
“These projects clearly demonstrate the versatility
of liquids and shine a light on the complex
workmanship that is so often required in the sector
as well as the need for effective problem solving.
The winners will be announced at the LRWA Awards and
Gala Dinner which takes place at the Titanic hotel in
Liverpool’s Stanley Dock, on Wednesday, 6th November
2019.
“We look forward to celebrating with the finalists
and representatives from across our sector at the
awards dinner in November.”
Moy Materials is the headline sponsor for the
LRWA Awards 2019, which will return to the
Titanic hotel in Liverpool’s Stanley Dock and is on
target to attract more than 200 guests.
Finalists for the 2019 LRWA Awards are:
Liquid Roofing Project of the Year 1000m²:
• Aberdeen Railway Station: Sika Liquid Plastics
& Everlast Rail
• ADM Erith: Kemper System & Capital Roofing
• Fleetwood Hospital: Centaur Technologies &
Gables UK
• Hull Interchange Station: Sika Liquid Plastics &
Orchard Roofing & Building
• Southern Water: Polyroof & Williams Roofing
Contractors
Liquid Roofing Project of the Year in a Buried
Application:
• 80 George Street: Mars Construct & Tor
Coatings
• Holbrook House: Moy Materials & Plan
Construction Solutions
• Chapter House: Kemper System & Exterior
HomeCare
• Hangar Lane: Moy Materials & Plan
Construction Solutions
• Wellington Street Offices: Bauder & Protech
(Leeds)
Liquid Waterproofing Project of the Year:
• Coptfold Road Multi-storey Car Park: Makers
Construction & Sika
• 99 High Street Kensington: Axter & AMG
Waterproofing
• Queens Crescent: Polyroof & Emperor Roofing
• Sun Pavilion: Mars Construct & Sika Liquid
Plastics
• The Water Gardens: Makers Construction &
Triflex
Trainer of the Year:
• Will Russell – Moy Materials
• Steve Mercer - Filon
• Ross Smith – Kemper System
For ticket information, please visit:
www.lrwa.org.uk
8 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Industry News
WORKERS: TIME TO
BREATHE MORE EASILY
The British Safety Council says news that
London’s homebuyers are being offered 20%
discounts for homes in polluted streets is a
wakeup call for us all.
It says this reflects the magnitude of the
problem and the extent to which it affects
every aspect of our lives.
Matthew Holder, Head of Campaigns, British
Safety Council, said: “If air pollution is
damaging house prices, imagine how it’s
affecting the health of people who work
outside in the most polluted parts of our
cities. Thousands of people, from
construction workers to couriers, work in
illegal levels of air pollution day after day.”
In March 2019, the British Safety Council
launched the Time to Breathe campaign to
reduce outdoor workers’ exposure to ambient
air pollution. The cornerstone of the
campaign is Canairy, a unique free mobile
app that calculates an individual’s exposure
to ambient air pollution based on the London
Air Quality Network (LAQN) data and
emissions modelling by King’s College
London. The employers supporting the app
have been using it since March 2019 to
collect the air pollution data of their
workforce. Very shortly the British Safety
Council will release the results of the first
phase of this research.
Matthew Holder added: “The Canairy data
suggests that employers might need to adjust
the ways they manage their outdoor staff to
reduce their exposure to harmful levels of
ambient air pollution. The British Safety
Council would like to work with employers to
help them do this. We also believe that a
great leap forward on this issue will be made
when the government and the regulators
recognise that exposure to ambient air
pollution is an occupational health hazard.”
INCREASE IN TOOL THEFTS FROM VANS
The cost of insurance claims for
commitments, and insurance costs.
theft of tools from vans have
At ECIC we always find ways to pay
increased by more than half –
claims but some contractors may find
55% – in the past year according
themselves facing an uphill battle if
to analysis by ECIC, the specialist
their insurer feels they have not
insurer for the building services
taken enough precautions to protect
sector.
their property from theft.
With recent reports of increased keyless entry “Ideally tools will be removed from vehicles and
vehicle thefts, including vans, and the average stored securely elsewhere over night or between
theft of tools claim reaching £2,685, ECIC is jobs, or within a secure box fixed inside the van.
warning contractors that keeping tools in a locked Not only will this reduce the chances of the tools
van is not enough to protect them from
being stolen, and disrupting the work schedule,
determined thieves.
but it will also mean insurance covering the tools
is not invalidated in the event that a determined
ECIC’s analysis has also revealed that while the
thief still manages to get away with the tools.
number claims for theft of tools from vans has
remained largely static H1 2019 vs H1 2018, the “When it comes to insurance, contractors’ tools
claims costs resulting from theft of tools have are often covered as standard within a
already surpassed 2018’s total figure. This Contractors’ All Risks insurance policy. However,
suggests thieves are specifically targeting higher some policies may require cover extensions for
value tools and making away with a larger haul tools hired, and for tools belonging to employees
through brazen measures such as peel and steal, rather than the insured company. Goods in Transit
whereby the side of the van is cut open and cover will provide protection only when the tools
ransacked.
are in transit, sometimes with a limited sum
insured. With such a huge increase in theft of
Ian Hollingworth, of ECIC, commented: “The
tools over the past 6 months we would urge
increase of van thefts is widely recognised but
contractors to review their insurance policies to
showing no signs of abating. It is hugely
check tools are covered, and to add extensions
disruptive to contractors, impacting work
where necessary.”
FMB: VAT CHANGE DELAY MAKES SENSE
The Government’s decision to delay by one Brian Berry of the FMB explained: “It is
year the implementation of potentially
reassuring that the Government has listened to
damaging VAT changes for construction the construction industry, which has come
companies is a victory for common sense, together to make clear to the Government that
says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). sticking to the October 2019 timetable could lead
to a loss of productivity, reduced cashflow and in
Reverse charge VAT was due to come into force
the worst cases, lead to a hit on jobs, tipping
from 1st October 2019, but the Government has
some companies over the edge. What’s required
delayed implementation until 1st October 2020 after
now is for the Government and industry to work
a coalition of construction organisations wrote to the
together to deliver a sector-wide communications
Government to point out the damaging impact this
campaign, which must include plain English
badly-timed policy would have on the sector.
guidance on the changes.”
10 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Industry News
OLD TOOLS BUILD
BRIGHT FUTURES
RGB Building Supplies and Devon-based
charity Amigos are thanking the
communities local to RGB’s branches for
the amazing response received to their
recent appeal to donate preloved tools.
These will all now go on to help young
people in Africa lift themselves and their
families out of poverty.
Amigos has been working in Uganda for
nearly 20 years and for the last nine it has
been providing vocational training in
construction skills. Throughout June and July,
a total of 33 ‘dumpy bags’ of tools were
collected across the RGB network and in
some cases, instead of donating preloved
tools, RGB customers purchased brand new
items to leave at the drop zones.
Amigos Chief Executive Phil Pugsley said:
“This was a fantastic campaign and we are
so grateful both to RGB and their staff for the
wonderful support they provided, but even
more so to their generous customers who
have given tools. The impact these tools will
make in Africa is beyond measure.
“Everyone who has supported this campaign
has played a big part in changing many
people’s lives, and for that we can’t thank
you enough. Tools not only help make and
repair things, but they also put food on the
table, send kids to school, repair boreholes
and bicycles, and even help put roofs on
people’s mud huts so they can keep dry!”
Kevin Fenlon, CEO at RGB Building Supplies,
commented: “We’re thrilled with the
response we had to the appeal. Something
that may have been gathering dust in a
garage or shed will now go on to make a real
difference to young people’s lives, and we’d
like to say a huge thank you to our customers
and the big-hearted communities for their
fantastic support.”
LANGLEY’S A TRAINING TRAILBLAZER
As the exclusive flat roofing
supplier with CITB Approved
Training Organisation (ATO)
status, Langley Waterproofing
has been announced as the
only flat roofing systems
provider for the new
Waterproof Membrane
Installer course.
The course is based at the Advance Technical
Engineering and Construction Centre (TECC) in
Leyton, and will be delivered by Langley’s training
team. The Advance TECC is a partnership
between Dudley College of Technology, the London
Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF), Simian and
NOCN Group.
Apprentices will spend the 18-24 month course
learning how to interpret drawings, measure and
calculate the amount of materials required for
roofing work, as well as learning how to install
vapour control layers, and maintain flat or pitched
roofs.
For building company owner Mark Lintott,
winning the £1,000 prize on offer for taking
part in an SIG Roofing customer satisfaction
survey could not have come at a better time.
For he and his wife Jo were about to celebrate their
10th wedding anniversary and thanks to his good
fortune he was able to put some of the windfall
towards a romantic celebratory holiday in Spain.
Mark, whose business Lintott Building Solutions
is based in Leigh-on-Sea, does not normally
Dean Wincott, Managing Director at Langley
Waterproofing Systems, and Neel Bidessie,
Centre Director at Advance TECC.
Mark Dunn, Head of Training at Langley, said:
“With the skills gap increasing as more workers
retire and less young people join the construction
industry, it’s crucial that comprehensive and
accessible training is available to installers of all
ages. This course, which covers reinforced
bituminous membrane (RBM), liquid and singleply
roofing, and will be assessed
by an independent assessor,
allows the trainee to build up
their portfolio as evidence is
collected through video,
photographs, professional
discussions and method
statements.”
The Trailblazer Roofing
Apprenticeship is a government-backed initiative
designed to support further training within the
construction industry. For non-apprenticeship
levy payers, the apprentices will have 95% of
their course funded. The course is also supported
by two attendance grants and an achievement
grant for those companies that are CITB
registered.
Neel Bidessie, centre director at Advance TECC,
said: “It is an accessible solution to ensuring new
workers in the industry are able to develop their
skills, while existing workers of any age are able to
enhance their service offerings. We are delighted
to be working in partnership with Langley to
deliver this apprentice standard, designed by
employers for employers. This will impact
positively to meet the needs of the construction
industry and to find a solution to the acute skills
shortage. We look forward to welcoming the
apprentices to the Centre very soon.”
SURVEY GAINS FOR SIG ROOFING ROOFER
respond to surveys. But, he said: “The lady who
called me was very polite and so I went along
with it. I don’t normally win anything, this was a
big surprise and a welcome slice of luck.”
Mark’s local SIG outlet is the Leigh-on-Sea
branch in Progress Road, from where he
purchases mainly roofing materials for contracts
across the Essex area. He said: “The staff are
always helpful. If they haven’t got what I’m
looking for in stock they will order it in and ensure
it is available quickly.”
12 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Industry News
ROOFER’S TRAGIC
SCAFFOLD FALL
An Aberdeen-based roofing contractor
has been fined after an employee fell to
his death from a ladder while exiting a
scaffold at Jute Street in the city.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that on 21st
September 2016, Joseph Kane, an employee
of Henderson and Aitken fell from the top
rungs of a ladder when it slipped sideways
on the scaffold. Mr Kane died of multiple
injuries.
The scaffolding had been erected by
Henderson and Aitken employees and the
ladder was tied, using a blue nylon cord, to
the scaffold ledger at only the left stile.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
specialist inspector that carried out the
investigation estimated the lateral
movement of the ladder due to the lack of
fixity was approximately 20cm.
HSE found a Henderson and Aitken
employee had erected the scaffold even
though he was not a qualified or competent
scaffolder. He had been asked to do this by
the company Director who was aware he
was unqualified. The Director then allowed
three people to access the scaffold. The
scaffold was not erected to the correct
standard.
Henderson and Aitken pleaded guilty to
breaching Regulation 4 of Work at Height
Regulations 2005 and Section 33(1)(c) of
HSWA and was fined £53,000.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Principal
Inspector Niall Miller, said: “This tragic and
preventable death highlights the need for
those undertaking work at height to ensure
that it is carried out safely, that industry
guidance is followed and that the relevant
regulations are complied with.”
SHARMANS’ NEW TOOLS FOR CONTRACTORS
Sharmans has launched two contractor
support tools to make life easier: a Budget
Quote tool and a Surveying & Fitting Guide.
Its new Plygene Gutterline Surveying & Fitting
Guide is an interactive digital system that is easy
to access on mobile or desktop and provides upto-date
installation and support information for Budget Quote and Survey & Fitting Guide from Sharmans.
use on site. It has been developed to give a survey details and specification are achieved and
reference point to ensure the liner is both
ensures that the system that arrives on site can
surveyed and installed quickly and easily. be fitted with accuracy.”
Simple to navigate, it takes the pressure off the Sharmans Budget Quote is an online pricing tool
surveyor by ensuring that he has selected the that is quick and easy to use and provides
correct watertight finishing detail, no matter the accurate quotes for all Sharmans gutter and roof
type of roof. For every metal or asbestos roof refurbishment systems. It is a mobile and tablet
build-up, there is an easily identifiable solution friendly interface, intuitive and provides a guided,
which can be selected at survey stage so that step-by-step process that instantly generates an
instructions can be passed to the installer, accurate estimate along with a breakdown of
minimising errors on-site. The step-by-step guide materials needed for any project.
also includes images and fitting instructions for
Steve continued: “If you’re an Approved
bespoke moulded components, a guide for when
Contractor and need to get a quick estimate – our
and where to install wind uplift restraints and
online quoting system will allow you to do this
maintenance instructions.
instantly inclusive of a bill of quantities. It has
Sharmans Technical Director Steve Cookson said: been designed to allow our customers to provide
“We firmly believe that our Plygene gutterline budget quotes for all our gutter and roof
system is the best solution when it comes to the refurbishment systems, including Plygene
industrial gutter network. It is simple to specify gutterline, Delcote gutter and roof coatings,
and install. Using this new Surveying & Fitting Seamsil cut edge corrosion and Delglaze
Guide will help contractors to ensure that correct rooflight.”
FMB: THREAT OF NO DEAL CAUSING ISSUES
The Government must bring an end to the in an industry notorious for tight margins. If we
threat of ‘no deal’ and give clarity to UK want local builders to deliver the high-quality
businesses by securing a new deal with the homes our country needs, to upgrade people’s
EU, according to the Federation of Master homes to modern standards and to form the
Builders (FMB).
supply chain for key national infrastructure
projects that are essential to helping our economy
The data shows construction output has
move forward, then we certainly can’t afford for
contracted again in August for the fourth month in
building companies to go to the wall due to
a row, and new orders fell at the fastest pace for
uncertainty. The Government must secure a new
over ten years. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the
deal with the EU which Parliament can accept to
FMB, said: “A sustained decline in construction
deliver certainty, and give an injection of
output risks small firms leaving construction
confidence to the sector.”
altogether, as they struggle to absorb higher costs
14 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Contractor’s Day 2019
MANCHESTER EVENT SHINES A LIGHT
ON ROOFING’S ISSUES & SOLUTIONS
Over 50 of the leading players in the roofing, cladding and associated sectors came together
alongside expert speakers to showcase what’s new in the market, and to tackle the issues
individuals and businesses face through product demos, expert advice and seminars...
Old Trafford Football Club, Manchester,
played host to the North West instalment
of Contractor’s Day, sponsored by
Quantum Insulation, which brought together over
50 of the leading manufacturers, suppliers and
associations from the roofing, cladding and
associated sectors.
Visitors were able to get up close to the latest
solutions from the leading players, see demos of
new tools and systems to assist them on projects
plus pick the brains of the experts on stands.
answered and take part in demos including
EJOT’s hands-on advice regarding screw guns
and best installation techniques to prevent overscrewing.
Visitors to the RoofCERT Technical Hub were able
to test their knowledge and sample some of the
questions roofers will have to answer to gain
accreditation, as well as find out what’s involved
in becoming accredited and how it will impact
them as individuals and businesses going
forward. Roofer Darren McGhee, of DMG Roofing
and recently crowned Screwfix Tradesperson of
the Year 2019, was up for testing his skills again
and tweeted a pic of him taking the test at
Contractor’s Day, saying: “Here’s myself and
Kevin trying to test ourselves on all aspects of
roofing.”
Another key attraction for visitors was the
Kingspan Skills Zone where members of Kingspan
Insulated Panels’ Field Services team were
demonstrating the installation enhancements for
the RW and DLTR products. Visitors were able to
This year’s regional event also featured three
Technical Hubs; EJOT’s Cladding & Sheeting
Technical Hub; Brett Martin’s Rooflights Technical
Hub and the RoofCERT Technical Hub. The Hubs
were a hive of activity and provided an invaluable
opportunity for visitors to get their queries
“Have to say it was the best one of these I’ve ever
been to. Good to catch up with everyone and
some really interesting discussions going on”
Aaron Hepworth, Primeseal Roofing
“Thanks for another
great event bringing
people from across the
#roofing
#construction sector
together”
Midland Lead @MidlandLead
16 TC OCTOBER 2019

“A very informative day.
Well worth the visit.
Many thanks”
Holfords Roofing
@holfordsroof
get up close to the products and quiz the Field
Services team on all aspects of project
installations.
Alongside the exhibitors, demo / skills zones and
Technical Hubs, visitors were also able to hear
from a brilliant speaker line-up from across the
roofing and wider construction industry in the SIG
Roofing seminar theatre. Topics up for discussion
included product advice on modular rooflights
from Brett Martin, as well as Innovation in the
inverted roof insulation market from Headline
sponsor Quantum Insulation, business advice
including guidance on issues such as Reverse
charge VAT from the joint Tax committee, winning
business through great marketing from SIG
Roofing, and an informative talk on top tips for
tendering and procurement from Lancashire Bids.
Visitors were also able to get updates and advice
on the latest working practices with talks from
NASC on what roofers should look for in a
scaffolding company, the NFRC gave an update
on reducing risk in hot works through Safe2Torch,
and SPRA outlined their latest guidance on
windload protocol.
Undoubtedly the key presentation was from Jon
Vanstone and Richard Miller from RoofCERT
which attracted a large crowd. The team outlined
how roofers can become accredited and showed
how far the accreditation scheme has come since
“It was a great day.
Thanks to everyone we
spoke with!”
Avenir Roofing
@Avenir_Roofing
their talk at last year’s Southern Contractor’s Day
event at Twickenham.
We all know how difficult it is to justify time away
from site, but with the challenges the roofing,
cladding and wider construction sector continues
to face, from time to time it’s vital to step back
and take a look at the developments within your
market, network, talk to like-minded individuals
and look at where you can perhaps make slight
“Our Head of Design & Technical Neil Talmage
thoroughly enjoyed #ContractorsDay2019 We
value and utilise these opportunities for
networking within the flat roofing market and it
gives us a fantastic insight into new products &
developments within our sector”
Tapered Plus @TaperedPlus
Above and left: Visitors were able to sit in and listen to a
number of seminars on a wide range of topics including new
working practices, updates to regulations, business advice
and guidance, plus an exclusive talk on where the RoofCERT
accreditation scheme is currently at and how it will impact
both roofers and businesses.
Below, left: Visitors were able to get in front of over 50
leading manufacturers and suppliers and see the latest
offerings and solutions to assist them on projects, plus have
their queries answered by technical experts and see
products in action and take part in demos.
changes, develop your offering or find that
solution that can assist you on site or as a
business going forward.
Contractor’s Day offers all this and so much
more – as visitor Aaron Hepworth, Senior
Estimator at Primeseal Roofing, stated: “Had a
day off today and took myself down to the
Contractor’s Day at Old Trafford. Have to say it
was the best one of these I’ve ever been to. Good
to catch up with everyone and some really
interesting discussions going on.”
So next time Contractor’s Day is in your area,
take a break from your normal working day and
don’t miss out on this invaluable opportunity to
get to grips with the future of your industry.
We’d like to say a big thank you to
Headline sponsor Quantum Insulation,
Technical Hub sponsors Brett Martin
Daylight Systems, EJOT and RoofCERT,
plus our Skills sponsor Kingspan
Insulated Panels, as well as all the
speakers and of course the visitors who
took time out of their busy schedules to
help make the North West instalment of
Contractor’s Day such a success.
OCTOBER 2019 TC 17

NFRC Tech Talk
SAFE2TORCH: TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
In the second part of his Safe2Torch focus for contractors, Gary Walpole, NFRC’s Health,
Safety and Environment Officer, outlines how to use gas torches safely.
The NFRC and partners have recently developed the Safe2Torch Safe System of Work and a pictorial checklist to help carry out hot works safely.
Available to download for free from www.nfrc.co.uk/safe2torch, the documents support a new Safe2Torch training module. Below are key points that
every contractor should follow when working with hot works equipment.
Connections
The regulator should be a left-hand threaded for
fuel gases, with the hexagonal nut on the union
connections notched to aid identification. It
should also have a safety cut-off valve that stops
the gas supply to the hose should the hose
become damaged during use.
After attaching the gas torch to the LPG cylinder,
you should check all connections for leakage,
using an approved leak detection solution. If there
are leaks which cannot easily be stopped:
1. Isolate the gas supply: you should isolate the
gas supply before the leaking components are
taken out of service.
2. Avoid excessive force: Never use excessive
force on cylinder valve spindles or hexagon
regulator connection nuts to stop a leak.
3. Avoid using sealing tape: Never use sealing
tape or other jointing materials because they are
not suitable for preventing leaks between metalto-metal
surfaces that are designed to be gas
tight.
Hoses
LPG hoses should be orange in colour and of a
suitable length. Hoses are relatively vulnerable
pieces of equipment, which are vital to ensuring a
flow of gas to your torch. You should therefore
select and store them with care:
1. Keep in good condition: ensure you keep your
hoses and tubing in tip-top condition by keeping
them away from bright sunlight, dampness,
abrasion and excessive loading.
2. Check manufacturer details: hoses should
also include the year and
name of the
manufacturer.
3. Check service
life: the normal
useful service
life for a hose is
approximately
five years, so do
remember to
replace them at the
end of their life-span.
4. Avoid misuse: demanding
operating conditions or misuse can
reduce the lifetime of a hose.
5. Carry out routine checks: routinely check for
visual signs of cuts, cracks, fading, brittleness,
hot spots.
“Gas torches should be
fitted with a stand to
ensure the hot burner
does not come into
contact with the roof
surface”
Torches
Gas torches should be fitted with a stand to
ensure the hot burner does not come into contact
with the roof surface or materials within the work
area. Torches that self-ignite and extinguish by
using an electronic ignition system are safer and
use less gas. Gas torches that are manually lit
must be extinguished after use; never leave a gas
torch running on a pilot flame.
Gas torches must be
used correctly, and
be cleaned and
maintained at
regular intervals:
1. Use correct
gasses and
pressures: do not
use the torch with
gases and pressures
other than those for which
it is intended.
2. Use only with propane fuel gas.
3. Inspect all equipment before use: do not use
damaged, defective or improperly adjusted
equipment.
4. Ensure valves work: make sure valves work
properly; threads on equipment are clean (no
grease or oil) and not deformed; and fittings are
properly sized for the cylinder.
5. Ensure torch is clean: make sure torches are
clean (no grease or oil) and manufacturer’s
maintenance instructions are followed.
6. Ensure all connections are tight.
7. Check for leaks: do not use torch if you smell
gas. Check system for leaks with an approved
leak detection solution or leak detector.
Contact the NFRC
020 7638 7663
www.nfrc.co.uk
@TheNFRC
18 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Business Talk
COMPANIES HOUSE REFORMS –
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW...
Total Contractor takes a look at the recent reforms at Companies House and what they
mean for business owners.
The United Kingdom is thought of as being at
the vanguard of the rule of law, good
governance, and best business practice.
However, the registration and administration of
corporates within the UK is behind that of its
overseas rivals. Before the 1844 Joint Stock
Companies Act, companies could only form by
royal charter or act of parliament. However, the
1844 act provided for firms to be incorporated so
long as they were recorded on a public register –
Companies House – where the public could
understand the entities they were dealing with.
Of course, being on a public register is one thing,
having recorded information fact checked is quite
another and it surprises many that Companies
House is merely a repository for what is lodged
with it. It only checks that returns are made on
time and appropriate fees are paid. Other than
that, to an extent, directors and companies can
post whatever they like. And some do!
But there’s a move to change this and a
consultation on the subject (just search for
Corporate Transparency and Register Reform on
gov.uk) closed on 5th August.
Government consults
Jason Piper, Policy Lead, Tax and Business Law at
the ACCA, an accounting professional body, says
that there is widespread concern about abuse of
corporate structures, “whether through the kinds
of wrongdoing highlighted by the Panama Papers,
or in large scale money laundering operations.”
Accountancy is one side of the corporate story,
insolvency is the other and Duncan Swift,
president of insolvency and restructuring trade
body R3, is pleased that progress is being made.
He’s bothered by the “difficulty of tracking
beneficial ownership and money flows through
opaque corporates.”
There is also pressure from Europe for change in
the form of proposals in the EU Company Law
Package of 25th April 2018 with measures around
digital tools for company law, including online
registers. As Piper points out, “in other EU
countries the registries only include checked and
verified information which can be relied upon as a
matter of law; this hasn’t been the case in the
UK.”
It also helps that Companies House has
embarked on a large programme of change to
processing systems; it makes sense to change
things now.
But there is one more benefit, says Peter Windatt,
an accountant and licensed insolvency
practitioner at BRI Business Recovery and
Insolvency – “the government will get the ability
to cross check information across its
departments giving regulators [even] more
opportunity to ensure that data is accurate and
true.”
Systemic abuse
Companies House estimates that the accuracy of
its records is generally between 90% and 99%
accurate. Law enforcement and journalists have
shown that certain structures are very attractive
to criminals and are easy to abuse. Consider the
example of John Vincent Cable Services Ltd,
incorporated in 2013. It listed the then business
secretary Vince Cable, former Liberal Democrat
leader, as a Director and shareholder - without
his knowledge.
But there are plenty of other areas ripe for abuse
says Swift and he points out a number: Directors
using multiple versions of their name and/or
different dates of birth to prevent a full picture of
their activities being captured. “This,” he says,
“makes it easier for bad actors and fraudsters to
avoid scrutiny, and to hoodwink other businesses
entering into contracts with them in good faith.”
Other examples he notes are UK companies with
only overseas registered corporates registered as
Directors, beneficial owners ‘parking’ unlawfully
obtained personal assets into UK companies with
friends or underage children named as directors,
and the widespread use of individuals ‘fronting’
for owners or controlling directors.
Windatt, from experience, has seen the same. He
knows that “there are no ‘fuzzy logic’ matching
techniques currently in use which means that
Jon, John, Jonathan, Jonathon, JG and J. G. Smith,
all the same people in reality, are treated as
unique individuals.”
For Richard Naish, a Partner in the Corporate
Department at law firm Walker Morris LLP, any
system that was developed nearly 200 years ago
will be open to abuse and reform is probably due:
“You could say that it has not managed to keep
up with the changes in the way businesses are
run and the complex ownership structures that
are in place.”
The main area to address is the reliability of the
information. Historically, Companies House
simply collates submitted forms and makes
available certain details as required by the
Companies Acts. But, as Naish explains, the
Companies Register is totally dependent on
Directors providing accurate information in the
first place. He says that “there is no way of
20 TC OCTOBER 2019

checking the accuracy of the register. If a
company files incorrect information at Companies
House, that is reflected in the entry on the
register.”
Of the proposals, the biggest relates to
identification and verification of Directors and
Persons of Significant Control (PSC) and of those
filing information on their behalf. Naish thinks
that the proposal to extend the powers of
Companies House to query and seek
corroboration of information before it is entered
on the register: “is good and should give people
looking at the information available greater
comfort that it can be substantiated.”
Veracity of information is important also to Swift
who offers a blunt view: “Anyone who wants to
benefit from limited liability as a company
Director should be required to prove they are who
they say they are, and all their corporate
affiliations and roles should be collected in one
place.”
One big problem is one that Piper points out –
while there should be a zero tolerance for
‘mistakes’, there is a huge volume of historic
data, much of which is perfectly accurate.
Further, there is also the resource issue at
Companies House itself to consider – even with
automation – in updating systems.
But to prevent breaches occurring, Naish wants
to see Companies House given sufficient powers
to maintain standards. He says that “if the new
proposals are really going to catch economic
criminals, Companies House is going to have to
be given the resources and manpower to catch
those corporate entities attempting to abuse the
system.” Like Piper he sees staffing and
resourcing issues and expects “that Companies
House will adopt some form of risk-based
enforcement.”
Effect on businesses
As to what effect the proposals will have on
Directors and businesses, Piper knows that there
will always be those who game the system.
However, he says that “the suite of measures in
“Anyone who wants to benefit from limited
liability as a company Director should be
required to prove they are who they say they are”
the consultation go a long way towards making it
much harder for the criminals without, in most
cases, imposing a significant burden on Directors,
business or their agents.”
Naish has a similar outlook. He reckons that “any
new requirements will quickly become the norm
just like the introduction of the confirmation
statement and PSC register.” In the meantime,
his advice to users of Companies House wanting
to check the accuracy of a filing – “contact the
company itself to corroborate the information.”
Windatt suggests the same, adding that if he
were making background checks on a company,
he’d look at other material available “and check
that the same names, postcodes, company
numbers etc. were consistent.” From his
standpoint, he would like Companies House to
use a unique Director ID number so that “a
Director with many fingers in many pies can more
easily be identified with a higher degree of
confidence along with a list of their many and
various interests.” As he puts it, directors have
the benefit of limited liability (in most cases),
their ready identification is a modest price to pay
for such protection.
To finish
But there is a balance to be struck for the biggest
challenge Companies House faces is not that it
needs to make the system better than it currently
is now, it also needs to make it more attractive
than the alternatives. If the proposals make
incorporation too difficult then legitimate
businesses as well as criminals will simply
bypass the company structure and use
unregulated platforms.
OCTOBER 2019 TC 21

Insurance
CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO PUT THE
HEALTH IN HEALTH & SAFETY?
By Vicki Leslie, Client Relationship Manager, ECIS.
For small businesses, having a member of
staff on sick leave can have serious
consequences. What would happen to your
business if you suddenly had an employee out of
action for a period of time? Loss of earnings due
to sickness absence, presenteeism and downtime
could be a real risk to your business.
As a sole trader, the risk becomes even more real
as your earnings could disappear completely
during times of ill health.
Act quickly
Take something as simple as a slipped disc for
instance. Through the NHS you may need to wait
for a GP referral, with a potential further delay
before a consultant is assigned and
treatment can start. This
could lead to months
before the situation is
resolved.
Early intervention
is key when it
comes to our
health with
experts stating
that early
diagnosis plays a
key factor in survival
rates. The sooner the
problem is identified, the
earlier you get help, the better the
prognosis and outcome.
This can be demonstrated using bowel cancer as
an example. When diagnosed at
its earliest stage, more than 9
in 10 people with bowel cancer
will survive their disease for
five years or more, compared
with less than 1 in 10 people
when diagnosed at the latest stage.
Getting help, treatment and support as early as
possible is absolutely key with any medical
condition, from a basic injury to a more serious
disease.
Healthcare
If you employ staff, why not consider a healthcare
package for your business? The quicker your
employee is seen and treated, the
quicker they can return to
work and back to being a
productive member of
the team.
“I can’t afford
employee
healthcare,” is
a statement we
hear a lot.
However, it
doesn’t have to be
at an out-of-reach
cost. Private medical
schemes might not be as
expensive as you think and a
choice of private medical insurance schemes
means cover can be tailored to your budget. There
are a variety of options available, from
Left: Vicki Leslie, Client Relationship
Manager, ECIS.
comprehensive cover which
includes direct access to
specialists without GP referral
meaning staff do not need to take
time off to see their GP, to plans that
focus on treatment for conditions that
frequently have a long NHS waiting time.
There are also options that allow your staff to
receive cash back against the cost of everyday
health expenses from as little as £1 per week,
which enables them to see a physiotherapist, for
example, sooner than they would have done
otherwise.
“Any time lost to ill
health can have a
serious impact on the
bottom line”
Rapid access
For sole traders there are also a variety of
healthcare options and private medical schemes
that will allow you to access consultants and
treatment more rapidly than via the NHS.
For a small business, any time lost to ill health
can have a serious impact on the bottom line.
By putting healthcare measures in place, it can
help to minimise the effect of sickness
absence, reduced capacity and ultimately your
profits.
“As a sole trader, the risk becomes even more
real as your earnings could disappear
completely during times of ill health”
Contact ECIS
0330 221 0241
www.ecins.co.uk
22 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Viewpoint
A DESIGNER ROOF
MINUS THE PRICE TAG
Daniel Redfern from Marley explains how you can get a
slate look without the cost.
Over the past few years, both the new build
and refurb sector have seen a growing
design trend towards pitched roofs with a
sleek, slate appearance. This has led to a huge
increase in demand for cost effective, timesaving
slate alternatives that replicate the look of
natural slate for a much lower price.
In particular, thin leading-edge interlocking
concrete slates, like our Edgemere range, have
experienced a huge growth in sales. So, why are
they so popular and how can they help you
achieve a quicker and more cost-effective slate
roof?
Aesthetics
While inevitably there will be some
heritage projects where only a
natural slate will be permitted by
planning, advances in
manufacturing mean that some
thin leading-edge concrete
slates are able to replicate the
look of slate very effectively. For
example, our Edgemere slates are 40% thinner
than a standard concrete roof tile and resemble
natural slate in their depth and tone. They have
been used on thousands of new homes across the
country where housebuilders want to achieve a
designer slate roof without the price tag.
“Advances in
manufacturing mean
that some thin leadingedge
concrete slates
are able to replicate
the look of slate”
Left: Daniel Redfern, Marley.
In addition to the standard
Edgemere, there is also Duo,
which has a mock bond down
the centre of the tile to create
the appearance of a small
format slate and Riven, which has
a textured surface to give a closer
match to a natural slate.
Lower material and labour costs
If you take material costs alone, natural slate can
cost between £70 and £100 per m², whereas a
concrete slate like Edgemere can be as little as a
Like your favourite
beer garden,
without the wasps.
24 TC OCTOBER 2019

third to half the price. This is partly because of
the high coverage rates of Edgemere, with just
9.7 tiles per m², compared to around 13.4 per m²
for fibre cement slates and as high as 18 per m²
for natural slate. This also has an impact on
labour time and cost.
Ease of installation
Natural slates are double lapped and need to be
installed by highly skilled roofers with many years
of experience. However, as a single lap
interlocking tile, our Edgemere slates are very
quick and easy to install, require no specialist
slating skills and can be fitted by any roofer. They
do need to be fixed to BS 5534 but, by using a
SoloFix one-piece clip and nail, you can reduce
clipping time by around 30%.
graduating to smaller and thinner slates towards
the apex. This requires time, skill and experience.
However, Edgemere slates are uniform in size, so
they can be used straight from the pallet with no
sorting time and without years of roofing
expertise. This consistency also makes them
much easier to install, as the slates simply
interlock together.
down to a low minimum pitch of 17.5 degrees
means it has less limitations than natural slate
and it has the versatility to be used on a wide
range of projects in any geographical area (when
fixed according to BS 5534). It can also be
installed using standardised and uniform
supports, which means that its weight loading is
more predictable.
As contractors continue to face growing skills and
cost challenges, Edgemere interlocking concrete
slates offer the positives of natural slate with none
of the negatives – like being in your favourite beer
garden without the wasps! All of the Edgemere
slates are also available to purchase as part of a
complete Marley roof system, including battens,
underlay, fixings and accessories, all backed up by
a 15-year guarantee.
Consistency
The variation of thickness of natural slates means
they require extensive sorting on site. The thickest
and biggest slates are used for lower courses,
Lower minimum pitch
In low pitch projects, natural slate can be limited
by geography because driving rain has to be
considered. The fact that Edgemere can be used
Contact Marley
01283 722588
www.marley.co.uk/slates
@MarleyLtd
The positives of slate.
With none of the negatives.
EDGEMERE INTERLOCKING CONCRETE SLATES
Take the sting out of slate. Find out more at marley.co.uk/slates
OCTOBER 2019 TC 25

RoofCERT Interview
ACCREDITATION’S WHAT WE NEED ...
Matt Downs sat down with Jon Vanstone, Chair of RoofCERT, to hear where the new
accreditation is at, and what implications it will have for roofers and the wider sector...
“We don’t want to launch just
another badge into the market,”
Jon Vanstone, Chair of RoofCERT,
tells me as we sit down to discuss RoofCERT –
the accreditation scheme for roofing that looks
set to shape the way the sector works and is
perceived in the future. He’s well aware what’s at
stake with this colossal undertaking: “There’s
been too many failures at making these sort of
things work in other areas of construction – if you
do it, you do it right or you don’t do it all.”
After a soft launch in late 2017, RoofCERT has
been around for some time, but up until recently
it’s fair to say a real understanding in the market
of what it is or what it means has been at best
patchy. I put this to Jon: “We’d love to have
solved it overnight, but the fact is by taking time,
talking to people and by continuously looking at
what we’re doing, we’ve got a better product.”
Identify as RoofCERT accredited
I ask Jon how roofers will be able to identify as
RoofCERT accredited, is it a badge, is it a
certificate, is it your name on a database? “It’s
all those things,” explained Jon. “The database is
the access to the CPD learning which is crucial.”
Jon explained that the card is currently under
development and the team are “working with
other construction sectors to see what has
worked and what has failed,” but the card will be
key to “helping roofers identify as RoofCERT
accredited” and building that trust with
customers.
As Jon pointed out, collaboration has been key to
getting the accreditation to where it is today. He
explained that RoofCERT will test and accredit
across all the major disciplines including, slating,
slating and tiling, tiling, single ply with the
assistance of SPRA, liquids with the assistance of
LRWA, felt/RBM, whilst metals alongside FTMRC
“There’s been
too many
failures – you
do it right or
you don’t do it
all”
and Mastic Asphalt with MAC will launch in the
coming months: “The fact that other trade
associations have got involved and helped is very,
very important. Nothing RoofCERT has decided has
been decided behind closed doors – it’s been
decided by people in the industry and replayed
which naturally takes time, but it’s time well spent.”
Whilst not unique to roofing, the issues around
skills, image and perception are at the heart of what
RoofCERT wants to tackle. The tragedy at Grenfell
has shone a light on operatives and the uncertainty
around Brexit has thrown up some real challenges
for the sector, not least skilled workers leaving – but
as Jon explained, RoofCERT can help address some
of these concerns: “We have a number of issues as
a sector – and it’s not unique to roofing – but
roofing has actually put its name to this and said
we’re going to do something about this.”
Jon continued: “If you create a professional
industry – and I’m not saying there aren’t
professional workers in the industry today – but a
professional structure that says ‘you join here,
here’s the accreditation programme, here’s the
learning for the journey and here’s the path
afterwards – there’s a path to running my own
business that provides for my family’, it’s a more
attractive proposition.”
However, saying you’re going ‘professionalise’
something, or overhaul a sector can quite rightly
alarm some and may be met with some
resistance: “When you say you’re going to
‘professionalise’ people think I have
to go to an exam centre and I
have to sit all this stuff, and
it’s very nerve wracking – You
cannot enforce an industry to
suddenly qualify and we know
this from history where an
industry has said ‘well we think you
should all be qualified’ and the workforce
has said: ‘well you know what, maybe I should
leave, maybe it’s time to retire’, so you have to
get it right.”
As such, RoofCERT caters for both qualified roofers
who have a National / Scottish Vocational
Qualification and three years’ experience – and
experienced roofers who don’t have a Vocational
Qualification but have five years’ experience that
they can prove. As much as it’s for the individual,
RoofCERT recognises that it needs employers to
buy into the importance of the scheme so they look
to continuously upskill their workforce – a crucial
aspect of maintaining standards in the sector.
Knowledge tests – an active pipeline
As Jon and I talk there are a number of participants
carrying out their knowledge tests in the next room
at Roofing House in London. You can see there’s a
real camaraderie between the participants who
have clearly embraced the tests and staff report
back they enjoy the competitive element and the
idea they can further demonstrate their skills to the
wider industry. Jon explained: “We’ve got an active
pipeline going through – we’re doing testing every
week as you can see, and we’re about to launch the
Roof Training Group element where they can do
testing on our behalf which increases the volume of
candidates progressing through.”
Jon pointed out that the various Workshop Groups
they’ve held have been an invaluable source of
information in terms of getting RoofCERT to where
26 TC OCTOBER 2019

it is today, and it has taught them to listen rather
than to dictate: “We gave a lot of answers early
on – with the workshops, in the beginning we
designed them to tell people ‘this is RoofCERT’
but we realised very quickly a better use of time
was to take a collective view, listen to what
people had to say and adapt – we are listening to
what people are saying – so actually for once it is
by industry, for industry.”
Cost of accreditation and driving uptake
Despite its grand aspirations and the long-term
benefits it will offer both the individual and wider
industry, as always, cost will be a real factor for
uptake of RoofCERT. Jon explained: “The first
5,000 accreditations for a single discipline are
free and they last for 3 years – there will be a
sustainable element to the programme coming
which will tell more about the cost in the future –
so whereas I can’t tell you an exact price, I can
tell you it will be highly competitive, particularly
compared to other areas of construction.”
As one of the goals of RoofCERT is to clean up the
sector and address ‘rogue roofers’, I touch on the
idea of RoofCERT being mandatory, much like Gas
Safe has worked in the plumbing sector; is that a
goal? Jon explained: “To get to a mandatory
position is a long way off – as it is for any sector
– Gas is mandatory because it’s under Health &
Safety Executive and delivers a list of legally
qualified gas engineers throughout the UK.”
Jon explained that it’s more about creating
relationships in the supply chain and with external
stakeholders such as Main Contractors, Housing
Associations, Housebuilders, Insurance suppliers,
Financiers, that will drive take-up and recognition of
RoofCERT: “The mandatory element isn’t required –
it needs to be seen that RoofCERT is a solution to
certain things – so from a commercial element in
your requirements you know that wherever you are
in the country, if they are RoofCERT accredited they
can do that job – using a RoofCERT accredited
roofer will reduce onsite issues, they’ll be up to date
and can provide that confidence.” Jon feels this will
then filter through to the homeowner: “The
homeowner – who will often be the last tier – will
“We cannot kill the
cowboy, we can simply
reduce the shadows
they hide in”
say ‘well, we see it (RoofCERT) elsewhere and we
need these people and I can trust them and they
know what they’re doing.” He continued: “You get
that chicken and egg environment which RoofCERT
is all about. RoofCERT funds the first 5,000
accredited because it proves the model – we’ve
actually proved the model already with 300 people
going through the process – but what it will do is
start gaining that critical mass that enables people
to write it in because the moment you have national
coverage, people (housebuilders, Main Contractors
etc.) can start specifying and demanding it.”
Jon continued: “Much as we’re talking to some big
housebuilders – Taylor Wimpey have given a lot of
good time and advice into our programme – they
can’t currently specify it because if they did, there’s
not enough RoofCERT accredited roofers to fulfil
projects currently”, but Jon hopes this will come.
Playing devil’s advocate I ask Jon why, if I’m a
successful roofer doing things correctly, would I
spend the time and cost to get accredited? surely
there’s always going to be cowboys and rogue
roofers around to give the sector a bad name? Jon
explained: “’We cannot kill the cowboy, we can
simply reduce the shadows they hide in’ is the
phrase I’d use.” He continued: “There are a lot of
roofers out there doing incredibly good work, and
because of the way they find their work through
recommendations or contacts, they don’t need it to
survive, but RoofCERT could become the difference
between winning a job and not, simply because the
other person is accredited, even though you’re as
competent as they are. And those are the people we
really want on our funded element to say ‘look, this
is my evidence that I’m good at what I’m doing’
because if you can attract those ones in, they are
the shining beacons that attract others.”
So where is RoofCERT now, and what’s still to do?
Jon said: “It’s done a lot more work than I
originally thought it had to do, but it has turned
out well and I like the engagement we’ve got with
people, with bodies – I think it’s great people like
NHBC, Taylor Wimpey are talking to us about the
positive aspects of the scheme, how they can get
involved and how they can help.
“The fact we’ve got roofers doing testing every week
is great; the fact that we’re expanding the scope of
what we can test is great (Jon told me talks are
underway to look at Rainscreen Cladding as a
discipline, but there are wider issues to resolve
before that can happen); I think the fact we’re
getting positive feed-back as well as comments on
how we can evolve is great. We’re taking these on
board and making sure we communicate it well.”
Jon concluded: “What we’re interested in
finding out now is what people are worried
about; what are you thinking and what worries
you? Particularly given the path construction is
taking – what other issues can RoofCERT get
involved in and be part of the solution?”
My conclusion
When you start talking about professionalising an
industry, quite rightly those operating within the
sector can become quite protective. It implies
changing the way things are done – and sure there
is an element of this with RoofCERT, but I’d say it’s
more about taking what’s positive in the sector,
adapting this and putting in place a professional
structure that sets roofers on a level with others
such as electricians and plumbers – and moves the
sector and operatives away from the handyman /
general builder image that those outside of roofing
often label it with. An accreditation will help roofing
present itself as a positive career option for new
entrants, whilst still attracting workers from the
traditional routes, pitch it as a specialist skill in the
eyes of the supply chain and customers, and
ultimately raise standards and enable operatives to
command higher prices on projects – all positives
that will help secure the future of roofing and
position it well for the many challenges the wider
construction industry continues to face.
For further info on RoofCERT and becoming an
accredited roofer visit: www.roofcert.co.uk
OCTOBER 2019 TC 27

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Marketing Talk
‘YOU ARE YOUR BRAND’
George Stewart, Regional Manager for SIG Roofing, explains why ‘you are your brand’
and how to make a success of it...
Someone once said ‘you never get a second
chance to make a first impression’. It’s a
simplistic way of looking at things, but it’s
true, and in business it’s essential you get that
first encounter right as its widely accepted people
make their mind up about what sort of person
they are dealing with within the first seven
seconds.
But before you win that first meeting there’s work
to be done.
Let’s assume you have a business plan and
you’ve taken soundings, perhaps from fellow
roofing professionals, to establish there’s
potential demand for your services.
Now you have to think about how you will present
yourself to your customers. I don’t mean the
channels you choose for your marketing, although
that’s important. I’m talking about the need to
decide what sort of business you want to be
perceived as.
Putting it in retailing terms, are you a discount
store, a mid-range supermarket, something more
upmarket or a top end department store?
Influencing expectations
Where you position yourself will influence customer
expectations. At the lower end they will still expect
a good job but at a ‘budget’ price. This will be
reflected in the service provided and materials
used, and ultimately the rate you can charge.
It almost goes without saying that at the premium
end of the scale, expectations will be higher.
The customer will expect to see the best quality
materials being applied by highly skilled
craftsmen and absolutely first class levels of
service. And they will be anticipating an
appropriately sized bill to cover the cost.
Your brand identity, or logo, can convey an
“Reliable?
Professional? Expert?
Friendly? Responsive?
They all contribute to
your reputation or
brand”
impression of your style of business. Bold,
blocked lettering in brash colours will suggest a
competitively-priced offering, while something
more subtle and style-focused will point towards
upper-end quality.
So you’ve decided on your market, but it’s
crowded out there with 63,000 other roofing
professionals working in the industry. So what
else do you want to be known as?
Reliable? Professional? Expert? Friendly?
Responsive? Probably all of these. They all
contribute to your reputation or brand.
Be your own ambassador
As a small business, it’s almost certain that it
will be you that the customer will be dealing with.
It will be a very ‘personal’ service and you will be
your own ambassador.
So it’s vital to remember that word-of-mouth and
recommendation are potentially your most
powerful marketing tools.
How you are and what you do can follow you
around, and even go before you. Here I’m talking
not only about personal recommendation but also
review sites.
The public are increasingly scrolling through
online reviews before they make their purchasing
decisions.
Do you leave a job neat and tidy? How easy are
you to do business with? Are you readily available
when a customer has a query or do you send a
junior member of the team?
What is your telephone manner like? If someone
leaves a message, how quickly do you respond?
Is your pricing accurate and transparent? All of
these will impact on what customers think and
whether they put your name forward to friends
and family.
Worth the time and effort
Remember, it can take a good deal of time and
effort to build your profile and create a successful
brand. But it can be lost very quickly, particularly
in these days of social media. So there’s a lot to
think about as you prepare the ground for that
first encounter, but it will be worth it.
Of course, you should also put an appropriate
amount of time aside for advertising, updating
your website if you have one, leaflet drops and for
spreading the word on social platforms.
Your van will be an excellent mobile advertising
hoarding, and when you’re on a job a simple board
with your carefully designed logo on it at the front
of the property will put the name of your business
and contact details in front of passers-by.
But remember, when they make that call it’s down
to you and how you respond. You are your brand.
Contact SIG Roofing
0845 612 4304
www.sigroofing.co.uk
@SIGRoofing
30 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Clay Pantiles
TECHNICAL Q & A
Tom Woodhouse, Site Services Manager at Marley, answers
contractor queries about pantiles.
Pantile roofs are a beautiful and iconic part of British architecture, particularly in certain parts of
the country such as Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Norfolk, Yorkshire, Humberside, the South West
and some parts of Eastern Scotland. However, despite their good looks, traditional pantiles do
have a reputation for being tricky to install to modern fixing standards.
Below, we answer some common pantile queries:
Above and below: The Eden pantile from Marley.
1What is the minimum pitch for a clay
pantile? It really does depend on what tile
you are using. Traditional machine-made
clay pantiles tend to have a minimum pitch of
around 30 degrees, while handmade pantiles can
be even steeper. However, our new Eden pantile
can be used down to a low pitch of just 22.5
degrees, giving contractors a low pitch traditional
option, where up until now there hasn’t been one.
If you need a lower pitch than this, there are
several interlocking clay pantiles on the market
that could be suitable. For example, our rustic
Lincoln interlocking pantile can be used down to
17.5 degrees and our Melodie interlocking pantile
has a very low minimum pitch of 12.5 degrees.
So, there are a number of options for low pitch
projects and if you need advice, our technical
team can advise you on the best solution.
2Can I use a dry fix system with a
pantile? Again, it depends on the tile you
are using. Some handmade and traditional
machine-made pantiles aren’t suitable for use
with dry fix systems because they have deep and
sweeping rolls, with natural variations in size,
which means there can be gaps. However, both of
our clay interlocking pantiles and our new
traditional pantile, Eden, have been specially
designed to be compatible with our Dry Fix
systems.
While BS 5534 requires all ridges and hips to be
mechanically fixed, this doesn’t have to be dry fix.
For some pantile projects, particularly sensitive
refurbishments or projects in conservation areas,
sometimes dry fix isn’t the right option
aesthetically. In these cases, we offer a
mechanical fixing kit to ensure BS 5534
compliance while maintaining traditional
aesthetics.
3Do I have to install to BS 5534? The short
answer is yes but, actually there are some
special exceptions for heritage and
historical projects, in which case you need to
check with your local planning office first.
However, for the majority of new and
refurbishment projects, pantile roofs will have to
meet BS 5534 fixing requirements, which means
all pantiles have to be mechanically fixed with
nails and / or clips depending on location and
exposure.
Some modern machine-made traditional pantiles
do have nail holes drilled into them to make this
a bit easier. However, our new Eden traditional
pantile has been specially designed with subtle
features to make it much quicker and easier for
contractors to install it to BS 5534 requirements,
including a specially designed SoloFix channel to
make BS 5534’s two point fixing easier, a flat
back on the rear of the tile so it doesn’t rock
during installation and an enlarged nib for easier
nailing.
Whether you’re using an interlocking pantile, or
the new Eden, using a one-piece clip and nail like
SoloFix can save up to 30% on roof clipping time.
4Will an interlocking pantile be accepted
by planning? It depends on the area and
on what type of project you are working on.
Our Lincoln interlocking pantiles have been
approved for barn conversions in conservation
areas and many planning departments across the
country are happy for them to be used. However,
inevitably there will be some projects, particularly
heritage developments or sensitive
refurbishments, where an interlocking tile won’t
be accepted either by planning or for aesthetic
reasons.
Our Eden tile has been designed for these very
situations. It is a traditional pantile, which even
comes in a reclaimed colour for heritage projects,
but it has some clever features which make it
quicker and easier to install to modern standards.
Yet, the design improvements are so subtle that it
doesn’t compromise on the traditional character
of the pantile, so it is suitable for use on all
projects.
Contact Marley
01283 722588
www.marley.co.uk
@MarleyLtd
32 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Membrane Choice
PITCHED ROOF MEMBRANES:
CONTRACTOR CONSIDERATIONS
The experts at A Proctor Group outline some of the key
considerations when choosing pitched roof membranes.
Choosing the right roofing membrane depends on the roof you are covering. Finding a membrane
that is best suited to your project can be a straight-forward process after answering a few basic
questions:
Pitched vs. flat roofs
While the shape of the roof should make this
point obvious, it’s important to emphasise that
flat and pitched roof membranes are not
interchangeable. Pitched roof membranes differ
from those used on flat roofs in many ways
including their material properties, the type of
protection they provide, and the roof functions
they are designed to support.
While this article will cover considerations for
pitched roof membranes only, a good starting
point is to make sure you’re shopping in the right
aisle to begin with.
HR vs. LR membranes
BS 5534 broadly divides pitched roof membranes
into two categories: Type HR (high water vapour
resistance) and Type LR (low water vapour
resistance) which are also often air permeable.
The Standard describes exact values of air and
vapour permeability that HR and LR membranes
must conform with in order to be classified as such.
The primary function of both HR and LR
membranes is to be water resistant. This property
enables the membrane to protect vulnerable
materials beneath it such as the insulation and
roofing timbers, and helps prevent water ingress
into the roof space for the lifetime of the building.
Selecting a membrane with the correct level of
water resistance is especially important over the
period of time when the primary roof covering has
not yet been installed (i.e. tiles, slates).
The main difference between HR and LR
membranes is in the role they play in preventing
condensation in the roof space. LR membranes
are sometimes called “breathable” because they
allow air and water vapour to pass through them
easily, thereby preventing moisture building up
and condensation from forming. Conversely, HR
membranes are called “non-breathable” because
they block air and moisture movement. Roofs that
use Type HR membranes will require additional
measures to allow moisture to escape from the
roof space.
Vents or no vents?
Water vapour is continuously formed in all
buildings by inhabitants and everyday processes,
and must be ventilated outside. Water vapour
that is allowed to accumulate in building spaces
risks cooling and condensing into liquid water.
The resulting dampness can cause problems like
mold and mildew growth and even structural
damage over time.
HR membranes by definition do not allow water
vapour to pass through them so, if they are used
on a pitched roof, additional roof &/or soffit vents
must be installed to provide ventilating capacity
and avoid condensation problems. Any vents that
penetrate through the roof / roofing membrane
must be sealed carefully to prevent potential
water leakage. Adequate gaps in the membrane
along roof ridges and appropriate tile batten gaps
must also be observed, all adding extra time and
extra costs to a project.
On the other hand, LR membranes prevent
condensation by allowing moisture to move easily
through them and not accumulate in roof spaces.
Roofshield: the complete solution
BBA certified: For both cold- and warm-pitched roofs.
Water resistant: With the highest rating for water
resistance (W1), Roofshield can be left exposed to provide
effective temporary weather protection on roofs for up to 3
months.
Vapour permeable: Roofshield is one of the highestperforming
vapour permeable membranes on the market
(vapour resistance = 0.065 MNs/g, Sd = 0.013m).
Air permeable: By being fully air permeable and providing
a more uniform level of ventilation than conventional
vents, high-level ventilation is not required on NHBCapproved
projects.
Suitable for wind zones 1-5: Third-party testing confirms
that Roofshield is suitable to be installed on projects
across the UK in every wind zone.
LR membranes that are also air permeable can
save on material costs by making additional roof
and soffit ventilation unnecessary. This means
installing the membrane will be faster and
simpler with less elaborate detailing, plus the
integrity of the roof will be better preserved by not
having vents creating points of weakness through
the fabric. Using the right LR membrane could
even take away the need for an internal VCL,
further simplifying the job on the inside as well as
the outside.
Wind uplift zones
Contractors should understand the effect that
geography can have on a roofing membrane
specification. The UK is divided into five wind
zones, where Zones 1-3 cover most of England
and Wales, whilst 3-5 covers Scotland and the
outlying islands. All roofing membranes have a
“wind-uplift” classification which determines
which wind zone they are suitable for. It is
important to look for this rating as not all pitched
roof membranes can be used in all wind zones.
Contact A. Proctor Group
01250 872 261
www.proctorgroup.com
@proctorgroup
34 TC OCTOBER 2019

Focus...
on results
When you need a reliable solution, you need a team behind you with
experience, dedication and quality unrivalled in the delivery of industry
leading products. At SR Timber we FOCUS on:
n Product quality and distribution
n Sustainability, Certification and British Standards
n Continued investment and ranges
With decades of experience, our team is more
passionate than ever, offering you expertise,
independent advice, experience and industry support.
TEL: 01623 446 800
sales@sr-timber.co.uk
www.sr-timber.co.uk

An Inspector Calls
RIDGES AND HIPS: HOW TO AVOID
THE WORST CASE SCENARIO
In our regular monthly column – ‘An Inspector calls’ – Total Contractor has teamed up
with the experts at BMI UK & Ireland, leaders in pitched and flat roofing solutions, to
help you avoid the common pitfalls that can often cost you both time and money and
ultimately help you achieve roofing success.
This month the Inspector nails
down the question of
repairing ridge or hip
tiles.
It’s a pretty common
sight on roofs across
the UK; ridge tiles, as
shown in the image
(right), that have
effectively lost all the mortar
bedding – front, bottom, back (no
doubt) and sides. Consequently, it’s only
a matter of time before one or more departs the
roof and makes its way down to the ground in a
damaging and potentially injurious – even lethal
– way.
Repairing a bedded ridge or
hip tile such as this is
one of the most
common minor
repairs undertaken on
a pitched roof, and
prior to 2014 the
solution was a simple
one. Remove the tile,
clear the old mortar before
mixing new and re-bedding the
fitting alongside its counterparts. Job done!
However, all that changed with the introduction a
few years ago of BS 5534:2014 the Code of
Practice for Slating and Tiling in the UK and then
subsequently the amended version BS 5534:2014
+A2:2018. It applies to all pitched roofing,
whether new build, re-roofing or repair work, and
although not legally
mandatory, compliance
with it is considered
not only best
practice, but also
provides the best
defence in the event
of failures or
disputes.
The revised code of
practice states that the use of
mortar alone can no longer be relied
on as a method of fixing, as it has been deemed
to provide no reliable adhesion. Mortar can still
be used but only if accompanied by mechanical
fixings. This means if mortar is used
then additional materials are
needed including a
ridge/hip batten with
fixings to rafters, and
mechanical fixings for
securing the ridge/hip
tiles to the ridge/hip
batten.
Remove the risk
While the above secures the
ridge/hip tiles it does not eliminate
the risk of mortar failure, resulting in roof leakage
and subsequent repair work as the mortar can
still crack and drop out of the mortar bed. A
simple way of avoiding all the hassle associated
with mortar is to use the alternative of modern
dry-fix ridge/hip solutions instead.
“Worst case scenario
is that the tile may fail
and cause injury or
damage when it drops
from the roof”
Images: top – Ridge tile in need of repair; bottom – Dry fixed
ridge installation.
So now we need to consider how we secure a
ridge batten beneath the pre-existing tiles to
achieve the mechanical fix, which inevitably
leads us to the stripping of more ridge tiles. In
fact, the argument for replacing the entire ridge is
now quite compelling given that the visible
degradation of this one tile will most likely be
followed with the failure of the rest. Why waste
money making multiple minor repairs when you
can strip and re-fix in one go?
Either way a supporting timber must be installed,
and a mechanical fix or dry fix system must be
employed to properly secure the tile. If not, then
worst case scenario is that the tile may fail and
cause injury or damage when it drops from the
roof. This situation is not as rare as you might
think and the consequences for the roofer could
be quite severe, so it’s well worth brushing up on
your standards and ditching that old reliance on
mortar.
Contact BMI National Training Centre
01285 863545
www.bmigroup.com/uk
@_Redland / @Icopal_UK
36 TC OCTOBER 2019

Grade 2 Listed Property – Northamptonshire
Re-Roof Your Home
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different tile moulds make sure that your roof has a natural, non-repeated look, just like natural slate, but at a quarter of the weight –
saving costs on materials and installation times. We put our Classic Slate through extremely rigorous testing so that you can rest easy
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BRE testing for wind-driven rain found
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Natural Slate: Advice
NATURAL SLATE: MAKING THE GRADE
Time-pressured roofers often overlook grading, sorting and correct holing techniques when
carrying out a natural slate roofing project. To do so is a mistake, says Ged Ferris of Cembrit.
Good workmanship is the foundation of a
successful natural slate roofing project. A
project that is well planned and executed
will prove rewarding for the contractor and client
alike. However, a project that is ill thought-out and
hurriedly executed is likely to generate disputes,
both in the short and the long-term. Taking a little
extra time to do the work according to the codes of
practise can quite literally pay dividends.
An area that needs particular attention on natural
slate projects, is the process of grading and
sorting. A common misconception is that preholed
slates are already graded and sorted. This
is definitely not the case.
There is excellent guidance readily available to
anyone who is in any doubt as to the correct
procedures to follow when grading and sorting.
The best guidance is contained in “Workmanship
on Building Sites BS 8000:1990 Part 6 Code of
Practice for slating and tiling of roofs and
claddings”, Clause 4.3 parts (a) to (c), and has
recently been updated and is easy to understand.
This standard applies to all types of natural slate,
regardless of origin or grade. It has two main
recommendations:
• Sort slates into 3 or 4 groups of equal
thickness.
• Lay slates of equal thickness in any
one course, with the thicker end (if
any) at the tail. Slate the roof
with the thicker slates in the
lower courses and the thinner
slates in the upper course.
Making sure to follow these two
steps will go a long way to preventing
problems further down the line. If these steps
are ignored, there will be a knock-on effect and
problems such as ‘bird-mouthing’ may occur. So, a
good grading and sorting session prior to laying any
slates will be time well spent.
It is also important to ensure that slates are holed
correctly, if the slates are not pre-holed. The
correct method is to hole the slates by either
drilling or boring from the underside with each
slate holed to the specific headlap. They must
also be holed at the thin end (which is overlapped
by subsequent courses of slate). On large roofs,
where several thousand slates – supplied in
several crates – are to be used, the quantity
required for one slope should be sorted at any
one time before the slating starts on that slope.
Mounting holes should be 20-25mm in from the
side of the slate and for head-nailing the holes
are usually around 25mm from the slate head. In
the past, when slates were supplied unholed, it
was the roofer’s job to hole the slates
on site prior to fixing. The process
of removing the slate from the
crate, ascertaining which was
the thin end (i.e. which end
had to be covered by the next
course and hence from which
side to strike the nail hole) and
consequently handling each slate
individually, meant that the roofer was
simultaneously feeling the weight and thickness
of the slate. It was then just a matter of putting
the holed slate into one of 3 or 4 consistent
batches prior to hauling the slates onto the roof.
This process automatically ensured that the
slates lay flat and gave an even appearance to
the finished roof.
At the Glendyne slate quarry in Canada, slates
are bevelled, holed if necessary, and then
inspected and graded for thickness, surface
texture and flatness before being packed into
pallets for shipment. Quality assurance checks
are undertaken on crated slates prior to
despatch. The focus on quality management,
application of the latest techniques and an
experienced workforce – where approximately 1/3
are involved in sorting and quality checking –
creates a top-quality product. Cembrit is proud to
state that Glendyne is only available in first
quality grade. The result is a regular, high
performing roof slate, popular with slaters and
comparable with the best renowned natural
slates available in the UK. The tightly controlled
production gives a consistent thickness and
means that the finished roof will be uniform, neat
and authentic.
Contact Cembrit
0203 372 2300
www.cembrit.co.uk
@CembritUK
38 TC OCTOBER 2019

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OCTOBER 2019 TC 39

Perfectly Pitched
SITE SUPERVISION IS CRUCIAL FOR
TODAY’S ROOFING PROJECTS
Pitched roofing consultant John Mercer – writing on behalf of Edilians – says supervision is
key if we’re going to tackle poor installation practice on roofing projects.
Irecently carried out a roof survey on a new
housing development at the request of the
housebuilder to determine how the roof tiles
had been fixed; i.e nailed and/or clipped.
The calculated roof tile fixing specification for this
site is to nail and clip perimeter tiles, clip all tiles
in the Local Areas and nail all tiles in the General
Areas (see illustration). The specification had
been supplied by the roof tile manufacturer to the
housebuilder who, in turn, had supplied it to the
roofing contractor. During the inspection, it
became clear that the roof tiles were not fixed in
accordance with the fixing specification nor in
accordance with the recommendations of BS
5534. Tile and eaves clips had not been used and
many tiles were not fixed at all.
Following the introduction of the 2014 edition of
BS 5534: British Standard Code of practice for
slating and tiling, there were widespread PR
campaigns by organisations such as the NFRC,
NHBC and many product manufacturers. With the
widespread promotion, surely there cannot be
anyone left in this industry who doesn’t know that
all single lap tiles must be mechanically fixed and
that all perimeter tiles must be twice fixed?
In my example above, the housebuilder
acknowledges that it does not closely supervise
subcontracted trades such as roofing. The
various trades are contracted to carry out work
fully in accordance with the specification and all
relevant Standards and that is what they
expected to happen. Similarly, the roofing
subcontracting company has clearly not provided
adequate supervision of its operatives on the site.
I must point out that, in my example, both the
housebuilder and the roofing subcontractor are
well-respected and responsible companies.
Unfortunately, in this case, the estimated costs
involved in
rectifying the roofs
and bringing them
into full compliance
are so large that
the subcontractor
and possibly even
the housebuilder could potentially be forced out
of business.
On the right road?
It is often said that a home is usually the most
expensive purchase most people will make in
their lives, with a car possibly being the next
most expensive item. The car industry has
improved and innovated considerably in my
lifetime – I can remember a time when the
quality of new cars varied greatly, but now the
vast majority, regardless of their make or price
range, are built to an exceptional level of quality
and reliability. Every component is carefully
specified by the car manufacturers and quality
control is closely scrutinised.
Sadly, the same cannot always be said of new
houses. In theory, there is nothing wrong in
leaving the finer points of the specification to
each sub-contractor – after all, they should be
the experts in their field – but in the present
method of construction of new homes, there are
clearly problems. It seems that the current onsite
building model we have, in which much of
the responsibility for specification, compliance
with Standards and standards of workmanship
are largely left up to subcontractors, simply does
not work nor provide the end customer with a
good quality product.
Of course, many new homes are built to a high
standard and with no problems for the
homeowners, but
the increasing
incidence of
defects is
becoming a major
Image: Fixing spec for a house. concern. This
problem has even
been the subject of several major television
programmes and newspaper articles, with one
national newspaper recently describing it as “a
crisis of quality in new-build homes”.
Unless ways of ensuring that the correct
materials are used and specifications are being
followed on building sites improve, builders are
likely to turn to off-site construction methods,
which is a threat to many traditional building
materials as well as to the contractors who work
every day on building sites. In a factory
environment, each construction process can be
carried out by non-skilled personnel who are
trained to simply repeat set functions, rather than
being undertaken by skilled tradesmen. No doubt
many operations can be automated in a factory
too, just like the car industry.
Certainly, in this age of housing shortages, off-site
home construction will continue to increase as
people become aware of the advantages of modular
construction – however let’s not forget there are
disadvantages also. So, if on-site construction is
to continue, with all the benefits it brings, then
closer supervision must surely be top of the
housebuilders’ list of areas to improve. That said,
subcontractors must also improve their own
supervision if they are to avoid costly call backs.
Contact Edilians / John Mercer
www.imerys-roof-tiles.com
@imerys
@johnmercer3
40 TC OCTOBER 2019

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

Heritage Roofs
REPLACING ROOFING MATERIALS
ON HERITAGE BUILDINGS
The team at Burton Roofing Merchants look at the considerations that need to be made
when replacing roofing materials on buildings of national importance.
Likely to be the oldest and least altered part
of a historic building, the roof is often the
most original part and the first stage in any
historic roof work is to observe and record what
is there. Traditional roofing materials including
stone, slate, clay, copper, lead, mortar mixes etc.
all combine with the detail, style and the
structure of the roof to make it unique.
An understanding of what is there is essential
when there’s a need to replace roofing materials
on buildings of historic importance. Natural
England state the emphasis should always be on
matching details appropriate for the locality and
age of the building. The fact that a historic roof
has survived for so long is a testimony to the
design, materials and craftsperson’s skill. Whilst
it might be tempting to introduce modern
products, it’s important not to dilute
regional distinctiveness and replicate
the roof as closely as possible,
allowing it to continue to perform
for centuries to come.
Wentworth Woodhouse: Aura
Conservation
An example is the heritage roofing work
currently taking place at Wentworth Woodhouse.
Built between 1725 and 1750 and Grade I listed,
the mansion was purchased for £7million by the
Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust in
2017, following a five-year campaign with SAVE.
Its Grade I listed stables and riding school were
built from 1766 and the riding school roof is being
repaired as part of a major restoration project
undertaken by Aura Conservation who specialise
heritage restoration and builds. Dave Anderson,
the company’s Contract Manager, recently invited
us to visit the prestigious project and witness
how our roofing materials are being used.
The slate roof is being replaced ‘like for like’ with
Burlington’s Slate from Cumbria. Quality slates
probably have an indefinite life, but once the roof
starts to suffer, whether it be the loss of pegs or
‘nail tiredness’ it’s better to strip and re-nail it.
Whilst battens and nails would have originally
been attached with oak pegs, today, unless the
pegs are still in existence, broad-shanked copper
nails are often an acceptable alternative.
Even the best materials lose their character if
they are used without understanding and skill
and it’s essential that heritage work is carried out
by true craftspeople.
Bench axes and slaters axes
Aura’s team are shaping and holing the slate on
site using traditional tools including the
bench iron and slaters axes. It’s
estimated 75% of the original
slate can be salvaged and
wherever possible the old slate
will be reused elsewhere on the
roof.
Slates can be supplied in a sized format
(fixed lengths with random widths) which help to
retain a traditional random element to the roof
design, whilst speeding up the laying process to
reduce installation costs.
Roof timbers were made of English oak and pitch
pine. The latter is used to waterproof ships
because the sap produced by the timber acts as
waterproofing. Felt would obviously not have been
in use when the main house was originally roofed
in 1720. Its evidence reveals that sections have
been re-roofed fairly recently.
Above: Aura Conservation carried out works at Wentworth
Woodhouse which was originally built between 1725 – 1750.
Bat considerations
Over the last 100 years, some species of UK bat
have now come to rely predominantly on manmade
structures for shelter and roosting. Natural
England always specifies 1F bitumen felt
underlay. Simple to install and heavy enough to
help prevent wind uplift, the traditional Hessian
weave 1F felt is still manufactured in virtually the
same way as it was 100 years ago. Even when no
bats are thought to be present, a modern
breather membrane is considered a potentially
fatal future trap bats can get tangled in, but the
1F felt has a rough surface bats can grip onto.
Working with the Bat Conservation Trust, Burton
Roofing Merchants have a national press
campaign to raise awareness of the decline in the
bat population.
Contact Burton Roofing Merchants
0800 124 4431
www.burtonroofing.co.uk
@Burton_Roofing
42 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Head Protection
ECONOMY-PRICED PPE CAN COST
MORE THAN YOU THINK...
MSA Safety says it’s not what you spend – it’s what you get.
With PPE, there’s a monumental
difference between buying cheaper hard
hats and face protection and investing
in high-quality helmets like the MSA V-Gard and
complete above-the-neck safety solutions.
Purchasing head, eye, face, and hearing
protection (HEFH) from a value-added safety
partner lets you maximize your PPE budget. That
means you get a better, more consistent return on
the budget you spend, saving you between 20
and 80%. MSA has developed thousands of
products, owns hundreds of patents, and has a
global reach in the millions – all to keep in motion
the mission of worker safety that started more
than 100 years ago.
So, what does this mean for you?
Look at the total value of your purchase instead
of only the per-item cost. You’ll realize the money
you invest with MSA, including V-Gard Hard Hats
and accessories, can pay you back in ways that
spending on discount hard hats never could:
• Purpose-built for the type of work
• Tested to perform in some of the toughest
environments imaginable
• Engineered for increased service life
• Designed to meet MSA’s strict safety, function,
durability, and usability criteria.
HEFH PPE purchasing checklist
Even if you factor in the initial savings provided
through bargain brand PPE, it may in fact equate
to larger and potentially extreme costs over the
life of the hard hat. Use this pre-purchase
checklist when selecting your PPE.
EXAMINE THE QUALITY There’s a reason MSA is
known worldwide as “The Safety Company.” It’s
because we harness precision engineering to
craft high-quality safety products to help people
across the world work safely in their
environments. Quality materials and construction
mean better durability and a longer wear life. The
MSA V-Gard Hard Hat is the #1 Hard Hat for a
reason.
WHAT IS IT TESTED TO? MSA V-Gard Hard Hat is
certified to every optional criteria available – it is
100% lot tested. As evidence of our commitment
to quality, MSA also maintains ISO 9001 quality
management system registrations at major
production and service locations.
WILL WORKERS WEAR IT CONSISTENTLY? If it’s
not comfortable, workers will find an excuse not
to wear it. That’s unsafe and not compliant and
could lead to serious injuries. The MSA V-Gard
Hard Hat provides superior comfort through our
Fas-Trac III Suspension, in fact, in a blind study
conducted by MSA, the Fas-Trac III Suspension
was chosen 92% of the time over the
competition. With features like an adjustable
nape strap for increased balance and stability,
flush suspension tabs to help eliminate
compression headaches, integrated perforated
sweatband for added cushioning and sweat
management, nape strap cushioning to increase
airflow, retention and prevent hair pulling, the
Fas-Trac III Suspension helps to keep the worker
comfortable while getting the job done.
LOOK AT TYPE & SIZING OPTIONS The MSA V-
Gard Hard Hat offers the widest range of options
on the market; 3 different shell sizes; 3 different
suspension sizes; and 5 different suspension
types helping to ensure a proper fit for a wider
range of head sizes in a wider range of
applications. Our suspensions also feature
continuous weave webbing that self-adjusts to
the contours of the wearer’s head providing a
custom fit. Plus, we offer 13 different styles of
shell including Type I and Type II, front brim and
full brim, plus the V-Gard GREEN Hard Hat – the
world’s first and only hard hat made from
renewable resources, venting options to help
reduce heat stress, and more.
CHECK ITS PERFORMANCE RATING: Every
application is different, so every piece of safety
equipment must be, too. Whether it’s welding,
grinding, cutting, or operating heavy machinery,
MSA has a range of solutions that helps you
protect the worker for the job at hand.
DETERMINE THE “COOL FACTOR”: Today’s
workers want to look as good as they feel in their
PPE. The MSA V-Gard Hard Hat offers 27 gloss
colour options, 10 matte colour options and can
colour match thousands of others. We offer Logo
Express and personalization capabilities with
second to none turnaround and quality.
LOOK UNDER THE PROVERBIAL HOOD: PPE
needs to work, and it needs to last, even in tough
environments. UV inhibitors in our colorant are
designed for and tested against some of the
harshest environments, for five years of
outstanding performance.
EXTRAS, EXTRAS? Alone, a hard hat is good,
including accessories for the job at hand, even
better. MSA offers more than 100 accessories
designed and tested specifically to attach to
our V-Gard Hard Hat to ensure optimal
performance.
Contact MSA Safety
https://gb.msasafety.com
@MSAsafety
44 TC OCTOBER 2019

100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion neurons enable your brain to make
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Five since you looked at this advert…
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Advertorial: Crest Top-2000 S Finish
CONTRACTORS EMBRACE THE
NEW PROTECTIVE TOP-2000 S FINISH
Crest Nelskamp high quality concrete Double Roman and Double Pantile roof tiles provide
brilliant durability and longevity.
Crest Nelskamp Top-2000 S finish and
micro concrete surface technology is
available on the Double Roman and
Double Pantile, giving the roof tiles a clean,
smooth and round trimmed edges. The high
quality and workmanship set new standards for
concrete roof tiles. All concrete roof tiles have a
durability guarantee for 30 years, so whatever
style and finish, you have complete peace of
mind.
The range of Double Roman and Double Pantile
concrete roof tiles are specially crafted and
engineered by Nelskamp, a leading German
manufacturer. With the most up-to-date
manufacturing plants and special preparation
treatments, Crest Nelskamp roof
tiles are recognised for their
use of high quality
robust materials and
proven
manufacturing
techniques.
An energy
conscious
production
processes, as well as
a recycling concept,
enhances our contribution
towards a clean environment.
Nelskamp concrete tiles are produced according
to DIN EN 490/491 and
DIN18338. The deep side
interlock provides
optimal protection
against wind driven
rain, snow and
dust particles.
The popularity is
not simply due to
their quality and the
variety of colours, but
also “pore free” edges
and smooth surface, when
choosing a concrete roof tile. They
are becoming the preferred choice for the
discerning specifier and contractor, and are being
used on a considerable amount of properties
across the UK.
Rodney Hogg Crest National Roofing Manager,
said the feedback when speaking to roofing
contractors has been very positive with
comments like; “Working with these products we
have found we are completing the installations
faster and we can move onto the next project
quicker”; “it’s easy to handle”; they have “low
breakage” and “the two nail holes offering a
wider scope to fix and secure the roof tile to
comply with BS 5534, this gives us an
economical advantage.”
Images above and left show Crest Nelskamp’s Double
Pantile roof tiles in rustic, which are available with the Top-
2000 S finish.
Graphic shows a breakdown of the Top 2000 S Finish.
Contact Crest
01430 432 667
www.crest-bst.co.uk
@crestBuildProd
46 TC OCTOBER 2019

BMI Centenary Focus
FURTHER GROWTH IN SWINGING 6OS
Late 2019 marks the centenary of concrete tile manufacture in the UK through BMI UK &
Ireland’s Redland brand. The build-up to this milestone of 100 years of concrete tile
manufacture is being marked by the company acknowledging not only its rich heritage and
experience reaching back 180 years, but also the achievements, innovations and
philosophy that has led it to be the largest manufacturer of flat and pitched roofing and
waterproofing solutions in the UK and Europe.
When the Redhill Tile Company was
founded in Surrey in 1919, it was the
start of a journey that would end in the
concrete tile maker being part of a business that
now spans the entire spectrum of roofing
solutions: from concrete, clay and metal tiles and
reconstituted slate, through to reinforced bitumen
membranes, hot melt, single-ply and liquid
waterproofing systems.
The modern story of BMI UK & Ireland starts in
the ‘Swinging Sixties’. In the first three years of
the 1960s, Redland enjoyed tremendous growth
as it opened or acquired seven new factories –
including the Grovebury Tile Works in Leighton
Buzzard, replaced by the nearby Vandyke Works,
and Shawell, near Lutterworth. The Grovebury
site continued until 1979, when a modern, fullyautomated
factory was built just under two miles
away.
Shawell – which makes the popular plain tile
appearance Duo-Plain
concrete tile – recently
benefited from a
multimillion-pound
investment in a new
DuoPlain manufacturing line
that will help secure supply
of these important products
into a market that is
currently experiencing great
demand and extensive lead
times.
In 1963, Redland launched
Stonewold II. Used on
BMI Redland’s Duoplain
thousands of roofs across
the country, Stonewold II is
the original flat-profile
concrete slate with
interlocking edges.
Imperially-sized and suited
to larger roofs with pitches
as low as 17.5º, it is ideal for
achieving a cost-effective
slated roof effect.
Impressively, the original tile
line is still in use.
Two major achievements
Always focussed on innovation and pioneering
technologies, 1965 and 1966 marked two major
achievements for the company. First, in 1965, in
Horsham, Sussex, Redland built the construction
industry's first wind tunnel dedicated to the
testing of roof systems in the harshest weather
conditions. The wind tunnel's power came from a
mighty Merlin engine, the
WW2 legend, which remained
in place until the tunnel was
rebuilt at a cost of
£2,000,000 in 1990.
Stonewold Slate on the front cover of The National
Builder, March 1961.
Second, in 1966, Redland
invented the concept of dry fix
roofing, with its first patent
for a dry verge system. Dry fix
has now become a norm,
with the latest development
being BMI’s introduction of
two new dry verges to meet
the requirements of BS 8612:
Dry-fixed ridge, hip and verge
systems for slating and tiling.
Such innovations in the
1960s required a new level
of technical understanding,
and towards the end of the
decade Redland produced its
first technical manual – the
Redland Red Book, described
as the go-to literature
resource for the roofing
sector for decades.
Finally, the decade closed
with Redland purchasing a large holding in an
Australian company, Monier, a name which – like
1950s investment in Braas – was destined to
dominate the future direction of the company.
With a heritage in concrete tile manufacture going
back a century, not to mention 180 years in clay,
BMI – formed in 2017 following the coming
together of Icopal and Monier Redland – will be
celebrating the advent of the tiles in the UK later
this year. In the run-up to the celebrations, the
company will continue to share more about its
superb pedigree, major milestones – and
enviable history of pioneering and innovating new
materials and methods.
Contact BMI National Training Centre
01285 863545
www.bmigroup.com/uk
@_Redland / @Icopal_UK
48 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Advice: Green Roofs
A GUIDE TO GREEN ROOFS: GET THE
MOST OUT OF EVERY PROJECT
The experts at Blackdown Greenroofs outline some of the key issues to consider when
installing and working on green roof projects.
Green roofs are becoming increasingly on-trend as the construction and landscaping industries recognise their potential in helping cities adapt to the
effects of climate change. By reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling in changing weather, providing new habitats to replace the ones lost
through urbanisation and reducing rainwater run-off, green roofs can only hold positive things for the future. However, we are only able to enjoy these
environmental benefits of green roofs if the right green roof system is chosen for your project and then properly designed and installed. Below, Blackdown
Greenroofs has provided its green roofs guide to help you best advise your client and get the most out of every installation.
What is a green roof?
Agreen roof, also sometimes called a living
roof, is a deck or other structure onto
which vegetation is intentionally grown.
Traditionally, there are three broad classifications
of green roof.
Intensive green roofs
Intensive roofs can offer the benefits of an urban
amenity space. They can support a range of
planting types including trees, shrubs and lawns,
similar to a regular, ground-level gardens, as well
as the integration of play and recreation areas,
due to increased substrate depth.
Intensive green roofs have higher maintenance
requirements than other types of green roofs.
Permanent irrigation systems incorporated into
the scheme will also have maintenance
schedules, but allow opportunities for blue roof
installations, which can be valuable in areas
which must deal with heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Build-up height and weight will depend very
much on the type of planting specified, however,
300 to 1500mm are the typical depths, and
weights could be in the region of 400kg to over a
tonne per sqm.
Semi-intensive green roofs
These systems are characterised by small
herbaceous plants, ground covers, grasses and
small shrubs, requiring moderate maintenance
and occasional irrigation.
Semi-intensive green roofs are low maintenance,
but some procedures are recommended to ensure
the long-term success of the plants.
Beneath a semi intensive green roof, a drainage
layer and 100-170mm of semi-intensive
substrate will be installed. Plant materials such
as turf, seed, grasses or wildflowers are planted,
completing the installation. A weight of
approximately 150-220kg per sqm must be taken
into consideration.
Extensive green roofs
These systems are ideal for improving air and
water quality as well as lowering carbon
emissions and airborne particles. Designed to
replicate the benefits of open green spaces,
extensive living roofs are virtually self-sustaining
and require no irrigation. They are lightweight and
require little maintenance and are perfect for both
new build installations and retrofitting.
A variety of hardy sedums, both native and nonnative
are typically installed in Extensive green
roofs, providing aesthetic interest and diversity.
Blackdown Greenroofs can offer this complete as
a NatureMat, which offers 95% coverage, or Plug
Plants, offering 5-10% coverage upon
installation, which will then self-populate.
Typically, the total depth of an Extensive green roof
would be 85-100mm, consisting of a 12-
50 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Advice: Green Roofs
Above: Semi-intensive build-up.
“Before any green roof can be installed, the roof
itself must be in good condition and watertight”
Above: Intensive green roof build-up.
20mm drainage layer and 70mm of substrate. It
will have a saturated weight of around 86-100kg
per sqm.
Biodiverse green roofs
Those in the industry also may hear of Biodiverse
green roofs, which, for all intents and purposes
are usually considered a subcategory of Extensive
green roofs, which have been tailored specifically
to create or replicate a particular habitat.
Biodiverse green roofs are low maintenance.
Once established, they don’t require additional
irrigation and will continue to grow into a selfsustaining
plant community. This community can
include a wide variety of succulents, grasses,
herbaceous perennials, wildflowers, alpines and
bulbs, which are typically initially installed as
plug plants or pre-determined seed mixes.
Typically, in Biodiverse roof installation, the
substrate is mounded to offer localised habitat
variation across the whole roof. This means that
the depth of a Biodiverse roof could vary between
92-170mm and have a saturated weight of
approx. 115-215kg per sqm, depending on the
depths of the substrate.
Brown roofs
A variation of Biodiverse roof, a Brown roof is
installed without vegetation, allowing the
installation to self-populate with plant life either
blown in or brought in by birds, and carrys the
same properties as any Biodiverse roof.
Installation best practice tip
Before any green roof can be installed, the roof
itself must be in good condition and watertight. If
installing a green roof over a flat roof that is
already quite old and showing signs of wear, it
will not yield a successful green roof.
Alumasc recommends the highest quality
watertight roofing be applied under a new green
roof, for example Derbigum flat roofing
membranes.
Derbigum has the longest British Board of
Agrément (BBA) certification of any leading flat
roofing membrane brand, which is up to 40 years
durability along with use at zero falls. Derbigum
membranes offer enhanced performance
properties including flexibility, excellent fire
ratings, stronger reinforcement and ease of
application.
Above: Extensive sedum build-up
Above: Extensive biodiverse build-up.
Above: Brown roof.
Contact Blackdown Greenroofs
01460 234 582
https://blackdown.co.uk
@blackdownroofs
52 TC OCTOBER 2019

TRAINING & GAINING WITH GLIDEVALE
Insulation technicians from energy efficiency
easiest way to provide controlled
and property improvement firm Aran
ventilation and combat harmful
Services have been brushing up their
condensation that would otherwise form within
skills in fitting Glidevale tile ventilators at
the roof space.
Glidevale’s sister company BPD
“We are pleased to add Glidevale tile
Manufacturing Solutions.
Left to right: Insulation technicians George Roberts, Dalan
ventilation to our range of improvements that Johnson and Martin Adaskiewicz from Aran Services together
Working with local authorities and
we are able to offer homes and
with Glidevale’s Technical Officer Thomas Brookes.
housing associations across the UK to
make homes more energy efficient, Aran
is installing Glidevale roof tile
businesses nationwide”, said
Alan Phillips, Aran Contracts
Manager.
Surveys and training are just two
complimentary support services
that Glidevale’s Technical Team
ventilators for a number of social
provides. Regulations guidance,
As part of its service to Aran,
housing providers’
toolbox talks, CPD presentations,
Glidevale’s
refurbishment programmes. Above: Glidevale Universal In-line tile vents
site take offs, plot by plot
Technical Team
Where additional insulation is
delivery, CAD detailing and
has undertaken site surveys and
installed during roofing insulation upgrades,
U-value calculations are also
given guidance across various
ventilation requirements change and should
available.
Above: Glidevale Versatile G5 tile vents.
housing developments throughout
conform to standards set out in BS 5250. When
the UK, to ascertain the type of tile vents required Call 0161 905 5700 or email
retrofitting, slate and tile ventilators are the
for the different roofs.
technical@glidevale.com for more information.
FIT IT.FORGET IT.
Trust Ubbink for
quality roofing
products to make
your life easier
Call us on 01604 433000 or visit
our website for more details.
• VENTS • TERMINALS • NON-LEAD FLASHING
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OCTOBER 2019 TC 53

Advice: Green Roofs
WATERPROOFING GREEN ROOFS:
BEST PRACTICE ADVICE...
Victoria Ramwell, from Kemper System, discusses specification and installation best practice
for waterproofing green roofs and the benefits of liquid waterproofing solutions.
Market research has predicted that by
2022 the global green roofs market will
have grown by more than £8bn within
four years. The analysis, carried out by market
research company Technavio, revealed that one
of the biggest drivers is the role green roofs can
play in reducing global warming.
solution can be installed either below or above
the insulation, depending on the type of insulation
used. This is because a number of these systems
are FLL certified as root resistant, so there is no
risk of root damage to the integrity of the
waterproofing membrane, even as plants mature
and their root size increases.
A green roof absorbs heat and adds mass which
reduces heating and air conditioning
requirements making them ideal for properties of
all kinds. For new homes, they can also provide
habitats for nature, reduce noise, manage storm
water and provide a striking addition that
matures to enhance the structure’s character.
With demand rising, contractors must consider a
number of factors to ensure a green roof is
installed correctly, paying particular attention to
the choice of waterproofing membrane, which is
a crucial specification element.
Membrane considerations
Selecting the right waterproofing membrane
between the roof substrate and the green roof
system is vital. The membrane should be flexible
enough to cope with any post-build settlement,
durable enough to cope with the planting’s loadbearing
requirements and have a sufficiently long
service life to make the green roof viable.
A common green roof design would typically
consist of an inverted warm roof build-up with
the waterproofing system applied to the roof
substrate, followed by the insulation, and then
the green roof elements. This can add an extra
layer of protection for the waterproofing
membrane as it is cushioned underneath the
insulation.
However, a cold-applied liquid waterproofing
Liquid waterproofing benefits
The recent construction of an impressive selfbuild
property in Surrey (see right) highlights the
benefits of using a cold-applied liquid
waterproofing solution in a domestic setting.
Featuring two green roofs, the detached self-build
property spans 258m² and has been designed by
an architectural practice headed by former head
of RIBA, Jane Duncan. Positioned to make the
most of the views, daylight and sunshine, it has
been built using a range of natural materials,
including timber cladding and Scandinavian
bricks.
Homeowner and former builder Nigel Warnes
helped to specify Kemper System’s Kemperol
V210 liquid waterproofing resin for the project.
The product was required for a sedum roof above
the main living area and another above the new
garage.
The liquid was installed ‘wet on wet’ in a single
process using a reinforcement fleece. The resin
was applied until the fleece was no longer
visible which indicated it was fully saturated
and enabled the contractor to obtain a
consistent depth and coverage. Once cured, the
liquid resin formed a seamless and elastomeric
membrane.
As the Kemperol is liquid applied, this also
ensured it could be easily and quickly installed
This self-build property in Surrey features two green roofs.
around any detailing, including two large
rooflights.
On the upper elevation of the property, the
contractor installed the Stratex Warm Roof
System which comprises all the elements needed
for a warm roof specification including the air and
vapour control layer (AVCL), insulation and
waterproofing.
The liquid waterproofing membrane has
guaranteed a watertight barrier between the roof
substrate and the green roof systems, and is also
root resistant. Its strength and flexibility provide
the homeowner with the assurance that the
sedum roof will remain viable for at least 20
years.
Specialist advice
Whether you’re installing a green roof for a family
home or city centre building, it is important to
seek technical advice from waterproofing and
green roof specialists. Their knowledge will help
you to install a green roof effectively, ensuring it
performs to the required specification and meets
climatic, aesthetic and biodiversity requirements.
Contact Kemper System
01925 445532
www.kempersystem.co.uk
@KemperSystemUK
54 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Height Safety
NEW HEIGHTS FOR DESIGN & SAFETY
While everyone understands the dangers of working at height, not everybody is familiar with
the challenges or solutions on offer. Understanding how protection works and what’s best
for each situation can improve the safety of workers, the aesthetics of the building, and the
efficiency of the build. Below, James Gooder of SFS explains how.
Most architects and construction
contractors commit people to working at
height – either during the building
phase, or in maintenance and repair. An essential
part of any building project, it’s also fraught with
risk – from exposed edges and damaged tiles,
through to open lift-shafts and fragile skylights to
potentially fall through. Then there’s worker
fatigue and the weather with high winds, rain and
ice presenting particular challenges.
Add in slippery algae and moss, plus the sheer
range of roof coverings, types and designs and
it’s clear that there’s an issue. Roofing
specifiers and contractors are sending out
people to work at height with
countless variables, where any
slip, trip or fall could have
disastrous consequences.
Clearly, with human
life at stake,
there is a large
amount of legislation in place to protect workers.
In addition to the Working at Height Regulations
2005, the 2015 CDM (Construction Design and
Management) regulations stipulate that any new
building which has guttering that needs servicing
must have a protective lifeline system installed.
CDM has also established RAMS – Risk
Assessment Method Statements. RAMS are
designed to ensure that health and safety risks
are fully considered and identified in order to
‘reduce the risk of those who build, maintain or
use structures’. Generally, best practice advice
says avoid working at height if at all possible.
If not, measures must be installed to
minimise risk.
Already quite stringent – in the
UK at least – regulations will
only become tighter. Right
now, a new standard,
BS EN 17235, is
being drafted
to co-ordinate the efforts of companies that
manufacture systems for roofing and safety
systems, so there’s a concerted industry-wide
effort to improve safety standards. Anyone
involved with working at height therefore has a
responsibility – moral and legal – to stop people
from coming to harm.
Despite this, specifying the optimum fall
protection systems isn’t always front of mind.
Many architects, for example, are primarily
focussed on aesthetics and using new materials
to push the boundaries of design. While they’re
aware of the need for protective systems, the
detail often isn’t specified out and is left to the
contractor’s discretion.
However, faced with multiple pressures –
including an increasing skills shortage and the
complexity of project management – these
contractors are often unable to keep abreast of
the many specialist solutions on offer. As a result,
there’s a potential for provision to fall short of
optimal.
Fall protection – knowing your type
Essentially, fall protection systems divide into
temporary or permanent.
Installed for repairs and removed when the work
is completed, temporary protection includes
scaffolding, cranes and mobile platforms. Often
costly and unsightly – as the scaffolding currently
covering Big Ben demonstrates – they can also
potentially damage the roof or structure.
Temporary solutions are often the only option for
older buildings.
On the other hand, new builds tend to incorporate
a permanent system which can be used to
56 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Height Safety
support future works. These fall into two
categories: collective restraint, and personal
lifeline.
Collective restraints include handrails, walls and
even glass parapets around the perimeter of the
building. Best practice suggests using restraints
that are at least 1.2m high to ‘fence off’ the highrisk
areas. They have merits, but they often break
the aesthetic lines of the building. Nor do they
offer protection for hard to reach areas.
With personal lifeline systems, workers wear a
harness connected by wire rope to a fixed anchor
point, allowing them to move safely around the
roof. Systems offer either work restraint or fall
arrest.
Work restraint systems guide workers within predefined
limits to prevent them from getting into
high risk areas where a fall is possible. However,
whenever a fall becomes even a remote
possibility, fall arrest systems (FAS) become
mandatory.
Arresting the fall
FAS allows workers more freedom to work on
gutters, windows and walls. Should they slip, the
system’s mechanics kick-in to break their fall.
There are many personal lifeline systems
available. Here at SFS, for example, the Soter II
offers an integrated fall and restraint solution,
with a discreet low-profile suitable for a wide
range of applications. Soter II uses a patented
energy absorbing coil to break falls and dissipate
the energy, helping minimise damage to both
worker and roof.
It also features a CE-marked Slyder device which
allows up to four workers to move freely without
the risk of entanglement.
There’s more to specifying a fall arrest system
than just the technology. For example, within the
RAMS, there should be a clear instruction of how
to rescue a worker who has fallen. This should be
done within a time limit of three minutes,
otherwise the PPE harness can start to cut off
blood circulation.
Make the right choice
With so much to
evaluate, it is
understandably
difficult to pick
the right
system.
However,
there’s really
only one factor
that matters:
ensuring maximum
protection for workers.
This is the single most
important consideration and should be
the one at the centre of decision-making. After
that, it’s a question of evaluating the factors –
roof type, access requirements, even wind load
calculations – and customising a solution to each
requirement.
“Skylights are
particularly hazardous,
due to the fragility of
the glass”
On retrofit projects, which were built without the
benefit of foresight or legislation, the building
itself will largely dictate the approach. Fall
protection systems should also look at the
potential obstacles on the roof. Skylights are
particularly hazardous, due to the fragility of the
glass.
On new builds, there’s more scope to shape the
decision. The key here, perhaps, is to ensure full
and proper freedom of movement for workers in a
way that supports the future maintenance needs
of the building, as well as the integrity of the
design.
In addition to these physical factors, specifiers
and contractors should look for added value
features, including the expertise behind the
protection systems.
For example, it’s always good
practice to use
manufacturers who
can provide advice
and support at
every stage, from
design through
to
implementation.
This helps
streamline
processes and can
even deliver cost-savings
over the lifecycle of the
project. Also important is their
investment in research, development and testing.
Roofing is ever evolving and fall protection
systems must also continuously evolve to
accommodate these advances.
Manufacturers have an unwritten responsibility to
vet the installers that use their systems. This
includes auditing and training them properly. This
not only ensures the system is installed safely
and correctly, but also efficiently. A sign of a
quality manufacturer is their ability to reach out
not just to installers but to every influencer in the
construction process. This can even start with
CPDs or similar approved courses aimed at
contractors and architects.
These are all features of SFS’s offer, but it’s not a
given across the industry. These aspects of the
service are every bit as important as the quality
of the product. Like the components within the
systems themselves, everything works together to
ensure the right outcome.
In summary then, safety at height isn’t just a
question of handing a lifeline to the workers on
the roof. It’s also about the line of support that
extends from the supplier. In other words, the
complete support package.
Contact SFS
0113 2085 500
www.sfsintec.co.uk
@SFSintec
58 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Product Planning
TAKE THE TIME TO PLAN AHEAD
Paul Jacobs, SIG Design & Technology’s Installation &
Training Manager, looks at what you should consider on a
job to avoid surprises.
Knowing a flat roofing project inside and out before starting on site sounds like common sense, but
it can be easy to take planning ahead for granted. If you take the time in pre-planning you’re
more likely to choose the right roofing products first time, hit your profit margin and keep your
customer happy. Here is some practical help for roofers wanting to get it right first time:
Getting your price right from the start
can be tricky! First, look at all the tender
documents and ask questions if the
drawings aren’t clear. Make sure your quote
doesn’t miss out sections of the roof. Sometimes
multiple roofs at multiple levels can be split over
multiple drawings. Try going back to the drawing
board (literally) and colouring up a roof plan as
you price – it’s effective, and it works. Talk to the
roofing manufacturers and suppliers, most of
them are more than happy to give advice on the
roof design.
Make sure you are 100% certain
where your elements stop and start.
Is the coping in my package? What
about the rooflights or lightning protection? If
unsure, either ask the question or put a query or
qualification in your tender. Have the discussion
before you start rather than after and don’t be
nervous about asking obvious questions.
As well as trying to get a clear view of
the materials required, you should also
look carefully at the labour content and
schedule of the job. Find out if you can start and
stop at sensible break points and how many
visits are needed. Do I need to get the VCL down
first to create a water shedding environment and
then drop back with the rest of the build-up, or
will I be fully completing areas as I go? Working in
stages can add to the costs of a project. Discuss
sequencing, area release schedules and
watertight milestones even on simple projects.
What about on-site logistics and
storage that might affect the delivery
vehicle size or type? Is a curtain sider
OK or does it need to be a flat bed? If goods can’t
be offloaded, you will eat into your programme
time and profit margin.
You should also consider whether you
have the right level of training to install
the systems, especially when you have to
join different materials together or deal with
complicated interfaces. Does your team have the
skills and knowledge to cope with all areas of the
installation? If the products aren’t installed
properly, even with perfect planning you might get
call backs. Product training teaches you to do the
job right first time. Without it, you might get
refused access to the product, miss out on tender
lists or be unable to give your customer a
warranty when you’ve finished the job.
Day to day hassles are part and parcel
of the day job, but reducing risk and
stress by pre-planning and making sure
installers have the proper training has got to be
time well spent. Know the project inside out and
make sure your team can produce what is
required. Don’t forget SIG Design & Technology
can offer you pre-tender or onsite support and we
offer many options for product-specific training.
Our Training Academy
SIG Design & Technology offer product-specific
training courses in both membrane and liquids
application in Shepshed and now Huddersfield, to
meet trade association guidelines including SPRA.
“If the products aren’t
installed properly,
even with perfect
planning you might get
call backs”
We work hard to help roofers not only learn the
skills to install the main waterproofing elements
correctly but also to understand the whole
system, including how different build-ups
connect with each other or “interface” with other
building elements.
Contact SIG Design & Technology
01509 501738
www.singleply.co.uk
@SIGDesignTech
60 TC OCTOBER 2019

PANNE S & DOUBLE PANNE S :
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5 Reasons Why..
EPDM IS AN ECO-FRIENDLY SYSTEM
The Roof Giant marketing team provide their 5 key reasons why they feel EPDM is the
most eco-friendly roof system...
When you think of a green roof your first thought might be a flourishing sedum system, cutting edge insulation, or even high tech solar panels. Although
we recommend any of these eco-friendly options for the environmentally conscious roofer, there’s one simple yet stunningly effective material that
shouldn't be overlooked: EPDM Rubber Roofing. As you’re probably aware, EPDM – or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer to give it its full name – is
a rubber roofing material with a range of surface-level benefits.
It’s inexpensive, easy to install, reliable, lightweight... But if it feels like you’ve heard all this before, it’s time to look a little deeper.
From EPDM membranes to pipe flashing and a whole host of other accessories, allow us to reintroduce you to the eco-friendly roof system that we feel
everyone should consider before their next roofing project rolls around.
1It’s Completely Recyclable
EPDM has a 100%
recyclable rubber
composition, therefore opting
to use EPDM in your next
project will help to reduce
landfill and work to diminish the
roofing industry’s overall
environmental impact.
It has also become commonplace for tyre
manufacturers to produce rubber roofing products
as the tyres can be recycled, turned into crumb
rubber and reconstituted to create EPDM
membranes and accessories. Buying EPDM,
therefore, could help to sustain and grow the
market for eco-friendly roofing materials.
Greenpeace and Green Building Digest have also
named EPDM roofing products such as the
Firestone EPDM Rubbercover Membrane a topranking
“low impact membrane” due to its
reduced environmental impact.
2It’s Built To Last EPDM has a long
lifespan compared to similar or alternative
roofing materials. The weatherproof
synthetic rubber won’t corrode, deteriorate or
degenerate, and can last for more than 50 years
in some cases, reducing the likelihood of
replacement over the course of your lifetime. In
addition, EPDM offers protection against ozone,
UV radiation and also repels moss, algae and
other organic matter, eliminating the need for
regular maintenance.
3Environmentally Safer
Rainwater Rainwater is
susceptible to becoming
contaminated by external
pollutants. But when rain
pools and runs off the non-toxic
EPDM surface and onto the
ground, the water will remain
natural, harmless and unchanged. This
makes EPDM a great option for the environment,
wildlife and even for the purposes of rainwater
collection, which will help you live a more
sustainable life while saving you
money on your water bills.
If you're looking for
even more
environmentally
friendly roofing
materials, we
suggest that you
also opt for lead
flashing alternatives –
they’re completely free from lead, non-toxic, ecofriendly
and also undesirable to thieves.
4Integrates With Existing Green Roof
Systems If you have a green, sedum or
living roof, EPDM will provide the perfect
growing platform for wildflowers and other
vegetation. Choosing a Green Roof Package
creates a verdant habitat for wildlife, reduces
your carbon footprint in urban areas whilst also
helping to insulate your home in the winter. EPDM
can also be used as a base for installing solar
panels to create an even more eco-friendly roof.
5Energy-Saving Insulation Due to the
density of synthetic rubber, EPDM could
also help to prevent the heat from a home
escaping through the roof.
Around a quarter of the heat in a home is lost
through the roof, so making sure it’s
insulated from the outside-in is important,
particularly when you happen to have a
flat roof. If you’re looking to save money
and reduce your domestic energy
consumption, an EPDM rubber membrane is a
proven choice for any eco-conscious roofer or
homeowner.
If you’re compelled to use EPDM in your next
project, head over to Roof Giant’s website and
browse our complete rubber roofing range
alongside an array of other green products
designed to eco-proof your roof.
Contact Roof Giant
01858 455055
www.roofgiant.com
@RoofgiantLtd
62 TC OCTOBER 2019

octor
the A Proctor Group Collection 2019
the mastermind
design by:
Callum Miller
MaryJane Phillips
Procheck
®
Adapt
variable permeability vapour control layer
01250 872 261
Proctor
Group
www.proctorgroup.com

The Right Perception
SHAKING OFF THE ‘COWBOY’ IMAGE
By Ben Milton, co-founder of Paddle, the app which connects tradespeople and
homeowners “in seconds”.
Over the past few years, the overall UK roofing market has steadily grown, with the demand for roofing supported by the growth of domestic renovation
maintenance improvement (RMI). And with the RMI market only set to grow in the coming years as many homeowners look to ‘improve, not move’,
things are looking positive for the industry. Unfortunately, however, the actions of a small minority mean that roofing contractors don’t always have the
best reputation amongst homeowners, which has the potential to stall growth. As a tradesperson myself, it’s an issue that I know affects the construction
industry as a whole – with a small number of ‘cowboy’ tradespeople unfairly influencing the public’s perception of those working in the sector. As a result,
whilst you undoubtedly work hard to keep your customers happy by carrying out projects to the best possible standard, you may at times find it harder than
you should to win the trust of potential new customers straight away. It’s therefore important to ensure that you stand out from the crowd. Below are my top
tips for safeguarding your reputation and positioning yourself as a reliable roofer.
1Make sure you have an online presence
With the majority of homeowners now tech
savvy, we know that they are increasingly
searching for tradespeople online. Not being able
to find any information about your business
anywhere online can put potential customers off
and you could be missing out on lots of potential
business, so having a strong online presence is
crucial to building both your business and your
reputation.
However, not every roofing contractor has the
necessary knowledge, resources or time to build
and regularly update a high-quality website. If
this is the case, signing up to a tradesperson
directory, website or app which connects you to
homeowners can be a more efficient way of
ensuring you can be reached online.
It’s also worth considering how social media
could help your business, as more and more
consumers turn to Facebook for
recommendations and reviews. It can be time
consuming to run a social media profile to its full
potential but if you are going to invest in setting
up a Facebook page, for example, it’s worth
putting in the time to get it right. Remember,
however, that Facebook pages that go
unpopulated for weeks and months can often be
worse from a perception perspective than not
having a page at all.
2Get recommendations Generating
recommendations from satisfied
customers is another fantastic way of
building your reputation as a contractor. As a
result of the negative perception of some
tradespeople, members of the public are
becoming very cautious about who they part
money with when it comes to having work done
on their property and a large proportion will only
select a roofing contractor if they’ve been
recommended to them.
Whenever you complete a job, make sure you ask
your customer if they’ll give you a
recommendation. If you do have your own
website, implement a review section and refer
your customers there. Alternatively, make sure
you choose a tradesperson directory website or
app which allows users to recommend you and
encourage them to do so.
3Be transparent and readily available to
communicate With homeowners leading
busier lives than ever before, many don’t
have time to sit around and wait 24 hours for a
tradesperson to reply. They expect you to be
readily available and if you’re not they’ll move on
to someone else to get the job done quicker. As a
result, it’s crucial to ensure that you’re easily
contactable at all times.
Consumers will also have different preferences
when it comes to the way they like to
communicate with tradespeople. As such, it’s
important to allow potential customers to contact
you in a way that suits them via a range of
communication channels – whether that’s a
phone call, instant messaging or a video call. It’s
important that whatever tools you use to
communicate with customers offer them this
range of options, to keep lines of communication
open at all times.
4Join a competent person’s scheme /
trade body Another great way of
enhancing your reputation is by joining a
competent person’s scheme or trade body.
Gaining accreditation from an independent body
will help to reassure homeowners that you’ve
been audited, increasing the likelihood of new
business coming your way. Some schemes may
even offer you free marketing opportunities just
for being part of the scheme, so it’s worth asking
when you join one.
Once you have joined a scheme or become a
member of a trade body, make sure you let your
customers and potential customers know about it
by displaying it on van stickers, putting the logos
on your website or marketing collateral, or
mentioning it to customers when you first engage
with them. This helps to make it clear that your
work is not only of a high standard, but also
complies with industry regulations, in many
cases.
Contact Paddle
www.justpaddle.com
64 TC OCTOBER 2019

The choice for decking and paving supports
With the demand for useable rooftop space ever
increasing, Areco is leading the way with its range of
fixed and adjustable supports for paving and decking
applications. We have worked with Hotels, Landscapers,
Roofing Contractors and Builders to provide attractive
and practical solutions.
To complement our range of supports, Areco have
several ranges of Composite and PVCu Decking Systems
available. New ranges of Fireproof Self-Extinguishing
pedestals will soon be available along with Aluminium
Decking Bearers to complete the range.
With a stock of over 20,000 units, we are sure to have
the right support for your project.
Please contact Areco with your enquiry.
• large stock range
• technical knowledge and advice
• nationwide express delivery
• competitive rates
tel: 01922 743553
www.areco.co.uk
t: 01922 743553 e: sales@areco.co.uk
ARECO, Unit 2A Coppice Park, Coppice Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 9AA

Roofing Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
CORRECT SOLUTION FOR SCHOOL
Generations of school children have attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Willesden, so when a fire
destroyed its roof, it was a blow to both the current students and its community.
When selecting the right roof tiles for the re-build, it was vital to find one that matched its Edwardian predecessors to
return the building to its former glory. Ideal for this role, BMI Redland Rosemary Clay Classic tiles were selected by
architect Wilby & Burnett. This important project required a wealth of experience, so Wilby & Burnett worked with the main
contractor Associated Installations and W O’Dwyer to complete the project for the Diocese of Westminster. The roof at St
Joseph’s is a complex one, with several turrets, numerous dormer windows and a decorative, lead-clad cupola at its
centre. In addition to the complexity, a challenge for the designers and roofers was the irregularity of the old roof which
had to be re-created. “It was noticed from record drawings that the building was not constructed entirely squarely and that the existing roof pitches varied in
different locations. The roof had to be set out to relate to the existing gables which had to be retained,” commented architect Bob Ecclestone of Wilby &
Burnett. A number of parts of the project required additional work to bring the roof in line with current standards. Insulation was added to help meet modern
energy efficiency Part L Standards and the new roof frame had to be steel rather than timber to meet modern structural design codes. www.bmigroup.com/uk
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School used
BMI Redland’s Rosemary Clay Classic.
Hambleside Danelaw’s Zenon brand of Rooflights can
further help in the Energy and Health & Wellbeing
categories ENE01 and HEA1. Beyond BREEAM, rooflights
reduce the need for supplementary artificial lighting, and
heating. A building with 10% rooflights can require
supplementary electric lighting for 30% more hours in a
working year than a building with 15% rooflights.
ROOFLIGHTS: EVERY LITTLE HELPS
With the Government legislating for the UK to become net zero carbon by 2050, every gram
that can be saved will count.
Hambleside Danelaw’s Zenon brand of GRP rooflights are the only brand of GRP in-plane rooflight to have
attained Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) from the BRE, which means they can tangibly
contribute towards a building’s BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Energy Assessment Method)
rating. As a result, Zenon GRP in-plane rooflights contribute a minimum 1.5 points towards BREEAM
when used as part of a metal roof system in the Materials category. www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk
STEP UP TO THE SAFETY CHALLENGE
Kee Walk Step-overs from Kee Safety are a range of modular, off the shelf step-overs that provide a safe
means of access where obstructions exist on a roof, such as pipework, plant equipment and conduits.
Suitable for use on a variety of roof types and surfaces including concrete, membrane, metallic and composite, Kee
Walk Step-overs accommodate changes in roof levels to offer a safe, anti-slip, level walking surface onto and across
roofs. Standard Kee Walk Step-overs are available in kit form to accommodate different height requirements and are
delivered pre-assembled for easy installation. Each kit includes a double handrail and toe-boards for added safety, a
choice of nylon or aluminium treads and base feet options to suit different roof types. www.keesafety.co.uk
MINIMISING MAINTENANCE IS KEY
Marley Alutec’s high quality aluminium Evolve and Evoke roofline systems were selected to
provide a low maintenance, durable solution for Milestone Farm in Wymondham, Norfolk.
Milestone Farm owner David Ford: “Being involved in the
design and specification of every aspect allowed us to
create something unique.”
A key factor in the design and construction of owner David Ford’s 6 bedroom, 435m² property was
longevity and minimising maintenance requirements. The marine-grade aluminium used by Marley
Alutec is highly corrosion resistant due to its naturally occurring protective oxide coating. This means
the system will not require regular maintenance throughout its expected 50-year lifespan.
www.marleyalutec.co.uk
66 TC OCTOBER 2019

New name,
serious roofing heritage
This 1919 advert in The Builder is a testimony to BMI Icopal’s flat
roofing heritage, and we’re proud that we can look back even further to
1849 when we manufactured our first tarred flax felt. Ever since we’ve
been delivering innovative roofing and waterproofing systems. Now as
BMI we continue this work by providing shelter, protection and peace of
mind for architects, roofers, building and homeowners alike - through
roofs that are designed to transform the way people live and work.
bmigroup.com/uk
Providing total roofing solutions

Roofing Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
CLEAR INSTALLER BENEFITS
In response to demand for a quicker turn-around, Rainclear Systems are taking Aluminium Wall Coping in the
most popular colour, RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey, and the most frequently requested sizes, SL30 & SL36, into stock
for next day delivery.
The Skyline Aluminium Wall Coping is a: • Top of the range product with high precision welding and finishing to suit
all designs and budgets – retrofit or new build; • Manufactured from high quality BBA approved polyester coated
aluminium. Available in 26 standard RAL colours in just 10 days, and is available in Anthracite Grey in 2 sizes with
next day delivery, only from Rainclear systems; • Hidden strap fixing method offers weather-proof covering that
allows ventilation over the top of the wall. No fixings pass through the coping, there’s no penetration of the capping,
and clean lines are maintained on the surface. Available in 2 sizes – SL30 & SL36 – SL30 is the 362mm
Aluminium Coping, suitable for 241-300mm wide walls. SL36 is the 422mm Aluminium Coping, suitable for 301-
360mm wide walls. Both are now stocked in RAL 7016 Anthracite Grey for next day delivery. www.rainclear.co.uk
Above: Rainclear Systems’ Anthracite Grey
Aluminium Wall Coping.
VIEW FROM UP ON THE MOORLAND
Mountain View, a David Wilson Homes development located just one mile outside of Abergavenny
town centre, highlights how flexible and accommodating Cembrit fibre cement slates are.
Mountain View: The roofing design, which featured
pitches ranging from 35° to 57°, also consisted of dormer
windows, vents, verges, hips, abutments, and valleys.
With David Wilson Homes having previously used Cembrit Moorland slates, the housebuilder decided
to specify this product range once again, and turned to main contractor Avonside Roofing to install
the slates on what was a challenging roof: “Using a combination of single and double fibre cement
slates, we were able to provide a high-quality finish that complements the complex roof design,”
explained Chris Hawkes, Commercial Manager at Avonside Roofing. www.cembrit.com
ACME’S A SHINING BEACON!
A new residential property in Beaconsfield is showcasing the visual appeal, proven
performance and cost effective benefits of Marley’s Acme Double Camber clay plain tile.
EAB Homes, Beaconsfield. Marley’s Acme Double Camber
tiles are accredited to the BES 6001 framework standard for
'Responsible Sourcing', which means projects using its clay
tiles can now achieve extra credits under BREEAM.
EAB Homes’ latest project, Beechmont, specified Marley’s Acme Double Camber clay tiles in Burnt
Flame to provide an aesthetically stunning addition to the new 6 bedroom build, having previously
used the product on other construction projects. The tile’s unique double camber provides instant
visual appeal that complements other face materials to help create a striking and memorable home.
www.marley.co.uk
MORE PLUS POINTS FOR NEW AH+
SIG Design & Technology has launched the next generation of the popular liquid waterproofing
system AH+ with improved levels of robustness and usability.
Available in two versions, AH25+ and AH15+ use different
weight reinforcement fleece and coverage rates and are
available with 25 and 15-year warranties respectively
The new and improved AH+ is a wet-on-wet, cold applied liquid water-proofing product that’s fully
reinforced with a polyester fabric. An innovative one-component liquid system, it offers many
benefits including ease of application, fast curing times and with low VOC content it is fume free and
virtually odourless. It can also be applied in practically any conditions and at low temperatures.
www.singleply.co.uk
68 TC OCTOBER 2019

The UK’s only woodgrain aluminium Class A
Fire Rated cladding with a 25 year warranty.
Now available exclusively from
www.knotwood.co.uk
DECKING | CLADDING | BALUSTRADES | FACADES | SOFFITS | CEILINGS | SCREENS | FENCING | GATES | AWNINGS & PERGOLAS

Fixings: Viewpoint
LET’S TALK ABOUT THE CRUCIAL
ROLE OF FACADE FIXING SYSTEMS
You can’t see them, but more sophisticated fixing systems are becoming a much more
important element of facades and cladding on construction sites. Better informed
specification, improved product knowledge and more open dialogue between contractor,
architect and supplier could save projects thousands of pounds, says James Butler,
Commercial Director of Pura, the natural facades specialist.
Fixings and fasteners are often known as
‘Cinderella products’ within the building
industry – given the fact that these clever
systems do all the hard work, but rarely get the
limelight of their more aesthetic counterparts –
facades and claddings – enjoy.
Increasingly, we’re seeing contractors and
specifiers alike turning to mechanical secret fix
options as opposed to traditional face fixings to
achieve clean lines on new building projects.
However, while we have seen demand for ‘secret
fix’ systems growing significantly in recent years,
these more complex systems require more
accurate drilling and positioning of bracketry that
sometimes leads to mistakes and unplanned
time – and cost – on site. We’re seeing more
contractors demanding complete façade
solutions, whereby accurate CNC cutting, drilling
and pre-assembly of fixing systems is completed
off-site prior to delivery.
“We’re seeing more contractors demanding
complete façade solutions, whereby accurate
CNC cutting, drilling and pre-assembly of fixing
systems is completed off-site”
James Butler, Commercial Director, Pura Facades.
With the much tougher approach to fire
retardation within complete façade systems,
we’re also seeing the use of steel bracketry
becoming more popular, replacing aluminium.
Without doubt tested, better quality materials
have become widespread since Grenfell, but this
comes at a cost.
Innovation costs
We all live and breathe the concept of cost control
when it comes to any construction project. And
the new generation of more sophisticated fixings
and bracketry are no exception.
Although hidden once the project is finished,
modern fixing systems can account for a
remarkably high proportion of the total cladding
costs. Clearly, the relative cost of the fixing
“Better quality
materials have become
widespread since
Grenfell, but this comes
at a cost”
70 TC OCTOBER 2019

octor
the A Proctor Group Collection 2019
the authority
design by:
Sarah McClintock
Roofshield ®
air permeable vapour permeable roofing underlay
01250 872 261
Proctor
Group
www.proctorgroup.com

Fixings: Viewpoint
system design and supply compared to cladding
is rising. While traditional face fixing systems
come in at around £25-£30 per square metre,
this figure rises to approximately £65-£75 for a
mechanical secret fixing system. These days, top
quality secret fix systems account for roughly
50% of the total façade system cost.
This is no temporary trend – more sophisticated,
safe buildings with higher price tags per
apartment require smooth lines and a clean
façade appearance, without visible fixings.
Hence, we’re increasingly seeing the cost of
secret fix systems and their contribution coming
under scrutiny.
It’s good to talk
In our experience, with better planning and
consultation across the supply chain (with
specifiers, contractors and architects) significant
savings can be achieved without compromising
the final aesthetic of a building.
Often, we find that it’s about understanding what
the architect wants to achieve – and being able
to suggest carefully considered, credible
alternatives using different fixings systems or
“Top quality secret fix
systems account for
roughly 50% of the total
façade system cost”
even new facade materials to achieve the same
look.
On a recent housing project, we were able to
reduce the total facade cost by more that 10% by
working consultatively with the architect to devise
an alternative solution. This achieved the same
high quality GRC finish but at a much lower cost.
Our design team calculated that by using a
thinner, lighter make of GRC than originally
specified, we could employ a different fixing
substrate which in turn enabled us to erect larger
single pieces, reducing the need for cutting and
thus minimising waste. This process actually
delivered a better looking solution for the project
at a lower price – that’s the real advantage of
undertaking an analysis of the proposed fixing
system before work commences on-site.
It’s often easy to just get on with the job – but
we are finding that this more consultative
approach adds value to relationships with
contractors and specifiers – and keeps the
project within budget.
Fixing trends
Looking ahead, we’re seeing more European
(most notably Turkish) manufacturers knocking
on the UK market’s doors, which we see as a
positive sign. This gives contractors more choice
of product, without compromising on performance
or safety.
Another interesting trend within the fixings arena
is the more joined up approach to design and
installation. The wrapping of fixing system design
and engineering with the supply is on the
increase as a package. This shows an industry
that is taking responsibility and placing
responsibility for fixing systems with one provider
– not a disparate group of businesses.
Fixings and bracketry is a remarkably dynamic
part of the facade market right now that is going
through fundamental changes. Overlooking this
largely hidden, but crucial element of building
design could cost you dearly.
“It’s often easy to just get on with the job – but we
are finding that this more consultative approach
adds value to relationships with contractors and
specifiers – and keeps the project within budget”
Contact Pura Facades
0203 269 2052
www.purafacades.co.uk
72 TC OCTOBER 2019

Our mission:
“ To provide
standards and
guidance to our
members, which
raises confidence
among businesses
and householders,
and promotes
roofing as a skilled,
professional
sector within the
wider construction
industry.”
Find out more
www.nfrc.co.uk
@TheNFRC

Health & Wellbeing
CONTINUING TO MAKE HEALTH &
SAFETY A CORE ON SITE VALUE
For large scale projects where multiple trades are required on site at any given time, it is
vital that health and safety be at the forefront of decision-making processes – not only to
maximise on-site efficiency, but also to ensure work is completed safely. Here, Brian Butler,
Senior Health and Safety Officer at Prater, looks at some key tactics to help contractors.
According to recent statistics published by
the Health and Safety Executive, the
construction industry had the second
highest rate of workplace deaths between April
2018 and March 2019 – 30 people were killed on
construction sites during this period.
It is therefore vital that the construction industry
strives to improve its health and safety practices
and ensures that all decisions made put the
health and safety of workers first.
Making use of BIM
Over recent years the industry has welcomed BIM
and the benefits that it can offer – and it is now
commonly integrated into design and build
processes. However, one of the often over-looked
benefits of BIM is health and safety, as BIM
enables the opportunity to detect and design out
health and safety risks from the outset. Using
BIM as the “single source of truth” on a project
also helps to disseminate accurate information,
which can help to promote safety. Bringing BIM
into design at this early stage of any project will
“Moving as much of the building process
as possible away from the site minimises
the chance of accidents, as conditions
remain constant”
allow the full use of the “influence curve” to be
recognised and implemented, this is where the
largest improvements affecting safety can be
made.
Taking things offsite
Construction sites can be busy places – with
multiple trades often working around each other
in order to complete their specific tasks. To ease
the challenges caused by space restrictions, such
as on-site congestion, it is important to minimise
the number of operatives and tasks taking place
on site.
In order to achieve this, contractors should make
use of controlled factory environments wherever
possible. Moving as much of the building process
as possible away from the site minimises the
chance of accidents, as conditions remain
constant.
A ‘just in time’ approach
For busy construction sites, where space is also
limited, reducing the amount of material stored
on site is vital to increase the working space
available. Using an offsite holding area for
materials can be beneficial as deliveries can be
better controlled and a ‘just-in-time’ approach to
deliveries can be taken.
“Using an offsite
holding area for
materials can be
beneficial”
74 TC OCTOBER 2019

“For busy construction sites, where space is
also limited, reducing the amount of material
stored on site is vital to increase the working
space” available
In order for this method to work, all trades
involved need to ensure punctuality, adherence to
procedures and good communication at all levels
to ensure the materials arrive when required.
Once on site, a logistics plan needs to be
carefully followed to make sure materials are
safely moved to where they need to be – this
includes establishing the delivery route and
making sure there are no clashes.
Make health and safety core
to everything you do
A proactive, cultural, behavioural and innovative
approach to health and safety is crucial to
success – and its importance should be
championed throughout the business. Prater’s
Cultural Behavioural Safety Roadshows, for
example, seek to change perceptions towards
health and safety, to ensure our own employees
and sub-contractors are continuously thinking
about keeping not only themselves safe but the
whole team and the public.
Implementing stringent processes will also
minimise the opportunity for incidents. Across all
projects, offices and off-site manufacturing
“This is an effective
way to start the
conversation in the
workplace and educate
employees on not only
their own mental
health, but also on the
needs of their
colleagues”
facilities, Prater was amongst the first companies
to lead mandating the use of five pieces of
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): Safety
Boots, High-Vis Jackets, Task Specific Gloves,
Safety Glasses and Hard Hats. In addition, we
ensure that all staff are appropriately trained in
the use of equipment, vehicles and machinery
where required – while checks are also
frequently carried out to ensure they are
maintained in a safe condition.
Standards are continually reviewed with
premises regularly inspected by senior
management, Directors and external consultants.
As such, Prater’s Health & Safety Policy is
reviewed annually to ensure conformity to current
legislation. Prater is also actively progressing into
ISO 45001 at this time.
Safety of body and mind
At Prater we have also begun to implement
mental health training. This is an effective way to
start the conversation in the workplace and
educate employees on, not only their own mental
health, but also on the needs of their colleagues.
These sessions help our employees, at all levels,
to recognise any signifiers of potential issues.
Taking the time to speak to a workforce will
encourage open conversations and ensure
everyone is aware of the policies that are in place
to support them. It is essential that employees
are “present in the moment”, no matter where
their position is within the company.
Contact Prater
01737 772 331
www.prater.co.uk
@praterltd
OCTOBER 2019 TC 75

Guarantees
GUARANTEES – WHAT DO THEY SAY
ABOUT PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS?
With an array of different metal roof and wall cladding products available and many
manufacturers offering their own guarantee and promises of performance, it can be
challenging to identify the best metal cladding product for your project. Here, Jonathan
Arnold, Technical Manager Building Systems at Tata Steel, digs deeper into the detail behind
building envelope guarantees and explores what you should look out for, so you can ensure
the client’s expectations are met.
Guarantees are a familiar feature of
modern-day life, being one of the most
powerful commitments that a business
can make to its customers and also a strong
demonstration of their products’ performance.
But do you actually understand the detail behind
the formal assurance?
Building product guarantees can often be
presented without a thorough explanation of the
accompanying terms and conditions. Being able
to look below the surface of a guarantee,
decipher the detail and understand what it tells
you about a product and its manufacturer is
crucial. After all, not all building products have
the same performance
levels, just as not all
manufacturers provide
the same levels of
support; something that
can be particularly
apparent when you look
at the length of and how
comprehensive the
accompanying guarantees are.
Steel cladding systems are fast becoming a
popular building material. No longer limited to
just commercial or industrial applications, steel is
increasingly being installed on modern residential
developments too, favoured
for its sleek, clean and
contemporary design
lines and the
maintenance benefits it
can deliver throughout a
building’s lifespan. It is
therefore well-worthwhile
suggesting pre-finished (also
known as pre-coated) steel
cladding systems to future clients who are
looking for a stand-out and easy-to-maintain
building.
However, it is first crucial that you have an
understanding of the choice of building product
and system guarantees and are able to use this
knowledge to carefully identify those with a
genuine promise of durability and long-lasting
performance, backed up with supporting
evidence.
“It is first crucial that
you have an
understanding of the
choice of building
product and system
guarantees and are
able to use this
knowledge”
76 TC OCTOBER 2019

Length offered
A good initial indicator of a product or system’s
expected performance is often the length of
guarantee offered. In many ways, a guarantee is
a demonstration of a manufacturer’s confidence
in its products and, therefore, a long length
guarantee can not only provide you with longer
protection against potential problems, but also
offer additional assurance in terms of the
product’s quality. For example, a guarantee that
is valid for up to 30 years – such as Tata Steel’s
Platinum Plus which is offered on its building
envelope solutions – would demonstrate that the
manufacturer has faith in the system’s durability
and structural and thermal performance; being
capable of withstanding exposure to the natural
elements, while also retaining its colour and
aesthetic value.
But don’t just look at the number…
However, it is also important to not be taken in
simply by the headline figure of the guarantee
length. Instead, consider taking a step-back and
try to look beyond the number, ensuring that you
also understand any maintenance and inspection
requirements and the level of technical support
offered by the system manufacturer; not just
during the lifespan of the constructed building,
but also throughout the initial specification and
installation stages too. For example, as part of
Tata Steel’s Platinum Plus guarantee, it offers
tailored specification advice, technical
assistance and even on-site installation checks,
together with maintenance and inspection-free
external finishes. This can allow you to be even
more confident of the cladding system’s longterm
performance, knowing that it is designed to
suit the building’s individual function, is
constructed both correctly and according to the
original specification, and is covered by a
comprehensive and valid guarantee.
Indeed, taking a systems approach – focusing on
how components in the building envelope work
together as a whole, rather than how they
perform in isolation – can be highly beneficial
when considering a building guarantee, helping to
“A common restriction to be imposed on metal
roof and wall cladding guarantees is the building
location, with exposure to sunlight, extreme
weather and coastal environments all critical
external factors that can affect pre-finished steel
over time”
further reduce risk and provide assurance that
the building system will perform correctly.
Therefore it is well worth looking for a guarantee
that considers the whole building system, taking
into account all steel components, fasteners,
fixings and accessories, ensuring that they will
work together and perform as intended, rather
than just the isolated building material, providing
both you and your client with additional
assurances.
Dig into the detail…
It is also important that you dig deeper into the
detail of a guarantee, for some can include
various exclusions and limitations; all of which
could potentially have a negative effect on the
extent of cover provided and even be indicative of
product weaknesses. A common restriction to be
imposed on metal roof and wall cladding
guarantees is the building location, with exposure
to sunlight, extreme weather and coastal
environments all critical external factors that can
affect pre-finished steel over time. You should
therefore ensure that you install a system where
the same comprehensive guarantee is offered
irrespective of the building’s location, providing
both you and your client with the assurance that
it is capable of withstanding damage from
extreme weather and UV radiation.
It is undeniable that building product guarantees
are an important part of the construction industry,
providing assurances of a product’s quality. When
choosing a pre-finished steel building envelope
product for your next project, it is vital that the
performance of the system as a whole, the
guarantee and any additional support provided by
the manufacturer is fully taken into consideration
first. This is the only way to be truly sure you will
meet the expectations of your client and assist
you in constructing a high-quality building that is
built to last.
Contact Tata Steel
01244 892199
www.tatasteelconstruction.com
@TataSteelConstr
OCTOBER 2019 TC 77

Cladding Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
BIG HIGHS AT LOWER MILL
The Lower Mill Estate, a development of holiday homes in the Cotswolds, offers holiday homemakers the
best in bespoke, energy efficient properties thanks to the Kingspan TEK Building System.
The diverse selection of residential properties have benefited from the Kingspan TEK Building System’s scope
for individual design and off-site construction, which has improved construction efficiency. Lower Mill Estate,
constructed by Conservation Builders, is a community of beautiful holiday homes which has continued to
produce exemplary models of sustainable construction with each new phase of development. The Habitat First Group’s vision was to create a residential
nature reserve that would provide security and the freedom to escape the demands of urban life. The resulting development, immersed in the idyllic woodlands
of the Cotswolds, offers residents tranquillity and relaxation through fully customisable, energy efficient properties. The Kingspan TEK Building System has
enabled clients to enjoy a truly bespoke experience, where they can be involved in the very early stages of designing their property. The latest phase of the
ongoing development makes use of Kingspan TEK panels for the walls and roofs of the new units. The Kingspan TEK Building System, which comprises a highperformance
insulation core sandwiched between two layers of OSB/3, was selected as it allowed a high level of design flexibility and exceptional out-of-thebox
fabric performance, as well as creating minimal site waste as kits are designed and cut off-site. www.kingspantek.co.uk
SPORTS HALL VICTORY FOR TEK PANELS
Students at the renowned King’s College School in Cambridge are enjoying getting active in their new
Sports & Cultural Centre, constructed with the use of the offsite Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels.
King’s College School, Cambridge: Kingspan
TEK Cladding Panels were used on the new
sports hall and are high performance structural
insulated panels (SIPs) which comprise a rigid
insulation core between two layers of OSB/3.
To minimise heat loss, Hollins Architects and Surveyors specified 172mm Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels to be
installed within the structural frame by Mcveigh Offsite. Rob Marsh-Feiley, from Hollins Architects and Surveyors,
explained: “The basic principles of this design with respect to sustainability were based on achieving the highest level
of insulation and ensuring the overall building fabric is as efficient as possible, rather than relying on renewable
energy generation. The Kingspan TEK Cladding Panels fitted well within these principles.” www.kingspantek.co.uk
HELPING CUSTOMERS GROW
Despite all the uncertainty in the market, the team at Freefoam felt that the time was right to
commission and deliver a broad PR and digital campaign called ‘Helping Customers Grow’.
“Indeed it’s been incredibly inspiring to hear
throughout this programme our customers’
stories of success and to know that we have
played an integral part in that development.”
See the video at:
https://youtu.be/gvD8xxJ28uU
The aims of the programme are to shine a light on the roofline market and its supply chain, to showcase all areas
of the business and to illustrate how, as manufacturers, Freefoam consistently deliver products and services to
help its customers grow. Colin St John, Commercial Director, said: “We know that, although the outlook is
uncertain, we are a strong and secure company able to withstand the rigours of the market. With a robust
infrastructure and nearly 30 years of delivering to our customers we have a strong and consistent story to tell.”
A FACADE FIT FOR A KING
A combination of Proteus Facades’ solid and perforated brass, zinc and aluminium cladding panels have
helped to create a striking finish on the redevelopment of 24 King William Street, a new mixed-use office
scheme in London.
The fins at 24 King William Street are designed
around a rigid bespoke aluminium extrusion
that connects to the curtain wall glazing
system. The outer TECU Brass element of the
fins are profiled in shape and taper across the
length to generate an angled effect.
The £23 million renovation of the 80,730 ft² building was designed by Ben Adams Architects and includes the
addition of two new storeys. To reflect the style within, striking perforated Proteus SC TECU Brass panels and
bespoke vertical fins and trim flashings, with an Artisan hand applied patinated finish were specified for the
ground level, street facing elevations. www.proteusfacades.com
78 TC OCTOBER 2019

How To:
CHOOSE THE RIGHT INSULATION FOR
YOUR FACADE CLADDING PROJECT
By Christopher Roughneen, Technical Training & Development Manager at Saint-Gobain
Insulation UK.
Ventilated rainscreen cladding systems are
a common sight on our cities’ high-rise and
low-rise buildings, whether it be to help
give an old building a new lease of life or to
create a smart and sleek exterior for a new
development. However, in order to maximise the
building envelope’s energy efficiency and
potentially even exceed the requirements stated
within the Building Regulations, it is important
that contractors use an insulation suitable for
such an application.
Correctly chosen and installed stone wool
insulation, for example, can be a great choice. It is
non-combustible, sustainable and provides
effective thermal performance. What’s more, as a
result of its natural sound absorbing properties,
high-quality stone wool insulation can also help to
minimise external noise.
Acoustics
With unwanted noise having the potential to disrupt
and disturb our daily lives, it is important to also
consider the acoustics of a building, both internally
and externally, and make conscious efforts to
improve comfort levels. Sound reduction is a
particularly important area to consider when
insulating rainscreen and masonry cladding
systems, with the buildings on which they are
commonly installed – such as residential highrises,
hotels or student accommodation – typically
found in high-density, urban settings, where
external noise from traffic or airport flightpaths is
also likely to be an issue.
With a great number of products available on the
market, it is crucial that you are able to select an
insulation that is suitable for installation in an
external cladding application and can deliver
excellent levels of thermal performance, as well as
contributing towards a
building’s acoustic qualities.
One such solution that has
recently been launched into
the market is ISOVER’s
Polterm Max Plus. Available
in a range of thicknesses, the
resilient slabs are proven to deliver excellent
thermal insulation within ventilated rainscreen
cladding and overcladding systems, with a thermal
conductivity value of 0.035 W/mK, as well as a
Euroclass A1 fire rating and BBA Certification.
Efficiency
Contractors and installers can also further improve
a building envelope’s efficiency by installing a
secondary layer of insulation within the stud infill,
which can act as an additional thermal layer. For
example, ISOVER’s Steel Frame Infill Batt has been
specially designed for such an application, with a
Euroclass A1 fire rating, excellent thermal
properties, acoustic benefits, and manufactured in
a 600mm width to fit between standard steel
framework centres, making installation quicker and
easier.
Installation
With this in mind, practically speaking, it is of
course also important for the chosen insulation to
offer an efficient installation process, saving
valuable time and labour costs on site. There are a
variety of insulation products that have been
developed by the manufacturer with ease of
installation in mind – something that is especially
relevant considering the application, with façade
cladding projects often involving working at a
considerable height. Consider, therefore, looking for
a product where the slabs can easily be tightly
butted together and the material has been
engineered to accommodate
any surface irregularities in
the substrate, both reducing
the chance of air gaps and
ensuring that neither the thermal or
acoustic performance is
compromised.
Aesthetics
Another area to consider is aesthetics, with
rainscreen cladding systems often being favoured
for the design flexibility that they offer in terms of
colour and style. With the potential for the insulation
material to be visible from behind the façade
system, negatively affecting the overall aesthetic,
one option is for contractors to install an additional
black membrane over the insulation. However, this
can, understandably, add considerable time and
labour to already tight project timescales.
An alternative solution is to look for a manufacturer
who has taken this issue of aesthetics into account,
such as ISOVER, which produces its Polterm Max
Plus with a black glass veil on the external side of
the slab, minimising the chances of the insulation
material being visible once the building façade is
complete.
With façade cladding a common sight on our urban
high-rise buildings, it is imperative to choose
insulation that is both suitable for such applications
and possesses thermal and acoustic properties, as
well as providing ease of installation on site –
creating a truly comfortable environment for the
building’s occupants.
Contact Isover
0800 032 2555
www.isover.co.uk
@IsoverUK
80 TC OCTOBER 2019

From vents and outlets to edge trims and cappings...
Areco are the UK’s leading distributor of flat roofing accessories
With over 50 years experience of manufacturing and
distributing renowned brands such as Glasstrim,
Nutrim, V-Trim and Rofycom, Areco has over 40,000
metres of roof edge trim in stock for next day delivery.
A full range of Roof Drains, Termination Bars, Breather
Vents and Paving Supports mean we have the right
product for your project.
Areco also offer a bespoke metal fabrication service
for flashings and wall cappings.
www.areco.co.uk
• technical knowledge and advice
• nationwide express delivery
• competitive rates
tel: 01922 743553
t: 01922 743553 e: sales@areco.co.uk
ARECO, Unit 2A Coppice Park, Coppice Lane, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands WS9 9AA

Key Considerations
“GOOD INSULATION IS ESSENTIAL”
By Simon Storer, Chief Executive of the IMA
The UK government’s plans for a Future
Homes Standard by 2025 which ensures
new-build homes are built without fossil
fuel heating and to a world-leading energy
efficiency standard, will go some way in helping
the UK meet its net zero targets. Good insulation
is essential if homes and buildings in the UK are
to become more energy efficient, sustainable and
off-set some of the increasing energy costs and
climate change ambitions the country faces.
Below, I’ll look at the thermal efficiency and
positive benefits of polyisocyunurate (PIR) and PU
insulation, accurate specification through
digitalisation and how this essential product can
help the UK’s housing stock adapt to the impacts
of a changing climate.
If we are to create high quality, low carbon and
climate resilient homes, then we must insulate
more. A thermally insulated building envelope
installed correctly will achieve high performance,
low maintenance, reduced energy bills and
provide long-term energy efficiency. The
prioritisation of insulation within the building
envelope will significantly restrict air leakage,
which in turn prevents heat loss. This ‘fit-andforget’
solution can ensure a home will perform
as intended for decades, with little or no
maintenance.
Lower U-values
A consistent and good level of fabric insulation will
limit heat loss through the building envelope. The
better or lower the U-values in walls, floors and
roofs, the less heat that is lost resulting in
enhanced thermal performance, which in turn will
help to deliver the standards required. One of the
best ways to achieve this is through PIR and PUR
insulation products. Highly effective and incredibly
versatile, these insulation solutions are available in
a range of forms including boards and blocks, cavity
injected, composite panels as well as a spray and
panel insulation.
For designers, the growing popularity
of PIR insulation has meant they
can achieve the highest insulation
values from the minimum
thickness of material. With lambda
values as low as 0.021 W/mK, PIR
insulation performance can be
achieved with less thickness than other
commonly used insulation materials. Its exceptional
insulating properties, high strength and light weight
means it is used widely across residential,
commercial and refurbishment projects.
The devil is in the detail
Taking time for the details will also make a
difference and go some way to ensure homes
perform to the standard intended. For example,
ensuring junctions are appropriately designed and
constructed, as this makes a significant
contribution to reducing heat loss. All contractors
need to make sure that, not only the levels of site
supervision are of a good standard, but the
manufacturer’s installation instructions are followed
and installation instructions around potential cold
thermal bridges and awkward details are achieved.
Once the high-quality building fabric has been
completed, there should be no need to worry about
it.
Digitalisation of products
The issue of product substitution also needs to be
addressed. For example, if a PIR insulation product
were to be substituted by a product of the same
thickness with poorer insulation properties, it would
have a significant impact over the lifetime of the
building. This could result in the building not
meeting its thermal performance as determined by
building regulations, increase the lifetime energy
costs for the building occupants and reduce the
carbon savings, as well as potentially impact on the
health and wellbeing of the occupants.
Therefore, digitalisation of construction products will
Simon Storer, Chief Executive of the IMA.
provide some traceability of
products across the supply chain
and is seen by many as the best
way to reduce the performance
gap and increase performance
certainty across the built environment.
Through the Building Information Modelling
(BIM) Level 2 programme, building product
manufacturers can provide a wealth of product
information online, in an immediate and
standardised accessible digital structure.
Future-proofing
In order to make our housing stock better for the
long term, we must achieve more thermallyefficient
building envelopes, which in turn will result
in more comfortable buildings. Getting the fabric of
the building properly insulated should always be the
starting point and this includes insulation such as
high-performance PIR. It will remain the most direct
route to achieving the net zero target as well as
compliance with the energy performance
requirements of the revised Building Regulations
Part L. Only then will we begin to have housing
stock that is resilient to a changing climate.
Contact IMA
0161 672 7387
https://insulationmanufacturers.org.uk
@IMA_Org
82 TC OCTOBER 2019

• Experts in Insulation –
Quantum Insulation brings
together over 100 years of flat
roof insulation expertise to aid
roofing contractors to select the
right product for each individual
application; supporting this
process with thermal and tapered
design services, contractor
friendly purchasing and delivery
options, and comprehensive
compliance documentation.
• Calculation Services –
thermal calculations to BS
5250:2011+A1:2016 Code
of practice for control of
condensation in buildings and in
accordance with ETAG 031.
• Design Services – comprehensive
design service for tapered and VIP
insulation schemes, including site
assembly drawings.
• Customer Focused – helping
you deliver a professional roofing
service to your customer.
• Bespoke Delivery Packages –
designed and priced to your site
requirements.
• FORS Deliveries – Bronze,
Silver and Gold delivery options
available.
T: 01858 456018 E: sales@quantuminsulation.com

Insulation Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
ESTATE GAINS FOR KINGSPAN
A new build estate of bespoke modular houses is benefitting from the outstanding thermal performance of Kingspan Kooltherm
K110 Plus Soffit Board.
The Beechwood West estate forms the first step in Swan Housing Association’s 10 year development plan for Basildon. The new
neighbourhood of 251 family houses is designed to bring affordable, custom-built homes to the popular commuter centre. Pollard
Thomas Edwards has created a variety of designs which buyers can choose from. Once selected, the homes are constructed at scheme partner, NU living’s,
factory using modular approaches. Swan Housing Association is aiming to reduce the operational CO emissions of each of its properties to 2.6 tonnes per
²
year by 2021. This will be achieved by taking a fabric-first approach to the construction of new homes and implementing retrofit measures on existing
properties. With this commitment in mind, the Kingspan Kooltherm K110 Plus Soffit Board was specified for use in the houses with recessed entrances, in
order to effectively insulate the spaces above. The product is part of Kingspan’s K100 range of rigid insulation boards which achieve a thermal conductivity of
0.018 W/m·K across all board thicknesses. This outstanding thermal performance allowed the target U-value to be met with a slim thickness of insulation,
ensuring the aesthetic integrity of Pollard Thomas Edwards’ contemporary designs could be maintained. Installers were able to simply cut the lightweight
boards to size with a fine-toothed saw and install them within the modular buildings ready to be transported to site. www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
LONG GAME PAYS OFF FOR ISOVER
Isover has extended the length of its Spacesaver and Spacesaver Ready-Cut glass mineral wool
insulation rolls.
With approximately 33% more insulation per roll, contractors can complete their projects faster. Sarah
Buchanan of Isover said: “In conjunction with Spacesaver’s excellent roll recovery, strength and flexibility, we
developed the longer roll lengths to make loft insulation work easier. The pallet size and number of rolls per
pallet remains the same, but with changes in packaging there is now up to a third more product per pack, which
means that contractors can transport more product to site and complete their jobs faster.” www.isover.co.uk
TRANSFORMING HIGH-RISE TOWERS
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) has been taking a bold approach to tackling poorly insulated homes for its tenants.
On its latest refurbishment project at Lion Farm Estate in Oldbury, the council has worked with Lovell, ROCKWOOL and Rockpanel to create energy
efficient, comfortable homes for occupants. In a phased programme, each block is being super-insulated using ROCKWOOL’s RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB
and then clad with Rockpanel A2 façade boards to substantially improve thermal, sound and fire safety performance and provide an attractive, new
look. Made from stone wool, RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB is A1 fire rated, non-combustible insulation, for optimum fire safety performance. It also has the
benefit of high resistance to wind and rain during construction, which together with the minimal number of fixings required, makes installation quicker
and easier for contractors. https://www.rockwool.co.uk
FMB: MAKING HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT IS KEY
Making the UK’s homes more energy efficient will reduce energy bills, tackle the scourge of fuel poverty and help address the climate crisis
according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), in response to the speech by the Leader of the Liberal Democrats at its party
conference.
Sarah McMonagle from the FMB said: “The UK’s housing stock represents a significant contribution to our net carbon emissions and therefore the
Government must invest in making our homes more energy efficient, as pledged by Jo Swinson in her Leader’s speech today. The buildings in this
country are some of the oldest and leakiest in the world and therefore a programme of energy efficient upgrades would be a major step forward in
cutting carbon emissions overall. www.fmb.org.uk
84 TC OCTOBER 2019

MANUFACTURERS OF SPECIALIST TEST EQUIPMENT
Flat roof lea k detectors
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INSULATION FA
ACTS
By QI (Quantum Insulation Ltd)
‘The myths about non-combustible insulation in inverted roofs...’
• Test up to 2,000m 2 per day
• Find leaks in wet conditions
• Test any membrane thickness
• Test up to 2,000m 2 per day
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Battery-powered, fully portable and compatible with all non-conductive
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In late 2018 the Ministry of Housing, Committees & Local
requirements within the Building Regulations 2010 in England.
The Scottish Government soon followed suit. The result of the
investigations into the Grenfell Tragedy and the subsequent
what materials could be used in the construction of buildings
over 18m tall in England and 11m in Scotland, but which changes
did they make?
They banned combustible materials in e
xternal walls, roofs,
terraces, balconies and podiums.
Yes,
and No. They DID ban the use of combustible materials or
B
ROOF (t4)
Inverted roof construction however can sit outside of the
2
• Cast stone or mineral slabs of at least 40 mm thickness
Ne xt month’s QI by QI:
‘‘All
XPS inverted roof
insulation achieves the same U value at a
given thickness’’
s’’
OCTOBER 2019 TC 85

Tool
SPONSORED
Safety
BY
BAD VIBES: THE ‘PERMANENT’ BUT
‘PREVENTABLE’ CONDITION OF HAVS
FEIN’s team explains how to prevent the risk of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)...
Whether you’re using an oscillating multitool
or a cordless combi drill during your
daily work, it’s important to ensure that
each power tool is efficient enough to carry out
the job. However, it’s also crucial to consider the
health and safety impact of the tools you’re using,
particularly on days when you’ll be using them
consistently.
One such health and safety issue that you need to
be aware of is repetitive trauma from vibration
which can lead to permanent and disabling
conditions such as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
(HAVS).
What is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?
Affecting the nerves and blood vessels of the
hand, HAVS causes numbness, triggers painful
finger blanching attacks and can prevent you
from gripping and holding. HAVS makes everyday
tasks difficult and, in some cases, prevents you
from being able to carry out installations at all,
resulting in a loss of income. What’s more, once
the damage is done, HAVS is a permanent
condition. However, it is preventable.
Reducing vibration levels
With the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
stating that more than two million workers in the
UK are at risk from HAVS, it’s important to take
measures to reduce vibration levels wherever
possible.
The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum
amount of vibration you can be safely exposed to
in any single day. For hand-arm vibration, the ELV
is a daily exposure of 5 m/s2 so it’s important to
carefully consider your choice of power tool,
ensuring it doesn’t exceed this level if you’re
going to be using it for long periods at a time.
In particular, jobs which involve grinding and
cutting can mean installers are working for long
“HAVS makes everyday tasks difficult and, in some
cases, prevents you from being able to carry out
installations at all, resulting in a loss of income”
periods of time with their power tools – and it’s in
these circumstances that tradespeople should
seek advice, choosing tools which reduce overall
vibration and are safe for continual use through
their specific anti-vibration features.
Avoiding incorrect use
As well as choosing an appropriate power tool for
the job, it’s also crucial to avoid incorrect use.
Selecting the wrong power setting, for example, or
applying excess pressure can lead to higher
vibration levels, as can premature wear and tear.
If in doubt, contact the manufacturer or search
YouTube for videos which should provide the
advice you need. For larger contractors using
several different power tools, it may be possible
to organise a demo or training through your
manufacturer too.
Don’t leave it too late
With HAVS affecting your ability to do your job and
representing a serious threat to your livelihood,
it’s important to ensure the necessary steps are
taken to limit your exposure to high levels of
vibration. Working together with a consultant from
your power tool manufacturer who knows its
products inside out will help to reduce overall
vibration levels and improve the health and safety
of power tools you use.
To learn more about FEIN’s MultiMaster tools
which are specially designed with an antivibration
system which reduces overall vibration
by up to 70%, or for any advice on your current
use of power tools and vibration levels, get in
touch with FEIN today.
Contact FEIN
01327 308730
https://fein.com/en_uk/
@FEIN_UK
86 TC OCTOBER 2019

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Tools:
SPONSORED BY
Ease of Use
THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB
Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita, outlines what roofing and cladding
contractors should look for when selecting power tools to help make their work easier
and safer.
When tools are being used throughout the
day every day, having the right tools can
make a significant difference. There are
a number of factors to consider and while the
available options may seem similar, it is
important to look carefully at the product
features.
Firstly, cordless tools have a number of benefits
in terms of allowing contractors to work quicker
and more flexibly. By removing the need to get
power to the area it reduces the amount of set up
time and eliminates the time required for
planning and managing the safe placement of the
cables. It also makes it easier for the user to
place themselves in the position that makes the
work easiest and safest without having to
consider the cables.
Furthermore, advances in brushless motor and
battery technology have meant that run times of
cordless tools have improved significantly over
recent years. Brushless motors are much smaller
allowing tools such as the DHP485 combi drill
and DTD153 impact driver
to be more compact and lighter. They are also
more energy efficient and produce more torque
per weight, which means less power is required
to achieve the same result, extending run times
by between 30% and 50% on each battery
charge.
Longer run times / reduced charging times
In addition to this, lithium-ion batteries allow
considerably longer run times compared with
previous technologies and innovations have been
made that reduce charging times. For example,
the intelligent charging system on Makita’s LXT
products allow industry leading charge times,
with an 18-volt 3 amp-hour (Ah) battery fully
charged in as little as 22 minutes. This means
work can continue without
interruption – especially
valuable for roofing and
cladding work carried out
at height.
In addition, with roofing and
cladding contracts
encompassing a range of different
types of work, it is important that the tool
makes this as simple as
possible. There is an
increasingly wide range of
cordless tools meaning that
there are few tasks that cannot
be accomplished with battery
power. For example, Makita’s
DHS782 cordless circular saw
can be fitted with a joist hook,
making it ideal for cutting roof
joists.
Also, selecting tools that share the
same battery system can be a wise choice as it
allows the battery to be swapped between the
tools as needed depending on the task. For
example, Makita has taken a ‘one-fits-all’
approach to the development of its 18v LXT
products. This means that the batteries can be
used on over 200 different products including
combi-drills, impact drivers, saws, grinders,
nailers and even the site radio.
It is also important to select a tool that has the
correct capacity for the intended work as
products that look similar may have significantly
different capabilities. The product information
provided by the manufacturer will detail the
maximum capacity with different materials. For
example, an 18v drill driver may be suitable for
drilling up to a 76mm diameter hole in wood but
only 13mm in steel. A similar 18v drill driver from
the same range may only be
capable of 36mm in wood
and the same 13mm in
steel.
Correct choice
The correct choice of tools
can also help make work safer.
Improving site safety is an
increasingly important focus for the construction
industry in general and for the
roofing and cladding sector
this is especially crucial
because of the increased
hazard from working at
height. Cordless tools also
help lower the risk by
significantly reducing the number of
potential trip hazards when working on
scaffolding by eliminating the need for power
cables in the work area. With cordless tools there
is also no danger of the cables getting trapped or
snagged, which could present a serious hazard
when operating the tools. Makita also offers a
wide range of tool belts, holsters and pouches
suitable for roofing applications to secure tools
and accessories – offering a solution to carry
products when you need both hands free.
When choosing power tools it is crucial to
understand what is needed and look carefully at
the product’s features and technology. For roofing
and cladding contractors, this will make work
easier, safer and will ultimately improve
productivity.
Contact Makita
01908 211678
www.makitauk.com
@MakitaUK
88 TC OCTOBER 2019

Whatever your flat roofing requirement,
you will be safe in the knowledge that a
RubberBond FleeceBack installation will
provide you with the highest quality,
long term flat roofing solution.
n Strength of FleeceBack Single Ply EPDM
n Speed of Factory Applied Tape
n Clean - No mixing of chemicals or liquids
n Versatile - Install on new build or
refurbishment projects
n Smooth, slate grey finish
n Simple application - No heat or welding
Contact us for:
Contractor training or to
request your sample pack.
Tel: 01494 448792
Email: enq@flex-r.co.uk
Flat Roofing Solutions

Updates
For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk
A GOOD FIT FOR ROOFERS
Scruffs has launched its most comprehensive and innovative range of trousers in recent years.
Scruffs has invested heavily in research and development to deliver pioneering new products made with high performance
fabrics, the best designs, and functional features that work hard.
The exciting line-up of new work trousers takes Scruffs’ range from four to seven products, with each item offering
increasing levels of performance and functionality as you move upwards through the range. Scruffs prides itself on delivering high
spec workwear for all at affordable prices. Already popular trousers have been completely re-engineered and improved even further too. The extended range
now offers a broader range of price points – from £24.95 to £64.95 (RRP) for all budgets and trades. The introduction of stretch fabric technology in the new
range means that Scruffs can now offer slim and regular trouser fit options, combing to provide all day comfort. The innovative abrasion resistant trousers are
made from 2-way or 4-way high-quality stretch fabric, which allows for the ultimate freedom of movement and flexibility, especially in tough or tight working
conditions. The Trade Flex Trouser, 3D Trade Trouser and Pro Flex Plus Trouser benefit from Cordura reinforcement knee protection. This globally renowned,
hard-wearing fabric is designed to provide durable, anti-abrasion protection in high wear areas such as the knees. Each pair of trousers also includes a robust
high quality zip from respected brand YKK, providing unrivalled reliability. https://www.scruffs.com/
DRESS FOR SUCCESS WITH WORK RANGE
September saw the launch of the next generation of Work Trouser choices from Snickers Workwear.
New styles, new designs and Snickers
Workwear’s most advanced work
trousers yet – with 4-way stretch.
There’s the Flexiwork 2.0 trousers; these high-spec trousers are made of durable 4-way stretch fabric that offers a new
level of comfort and freedom of movement. Then there’s the ‘loose-fit’ AllroundWork stretch trousers with a classic
Snickers Workwear look and feel, plus the new FlexiWork Denim Work Trousers where Workwear meets Streetwear in
these slim-fitting work trousers made of washed stretch denim. Also take a look at the new regular-fit RUFFWork
Canvas+ heavy duty trousers. And there’s the ALLroundWork womens stretch trousers, specially designed and shaped
with a narrower waist for optimal comfort and freedom of movement. www.snickersworkwear.co.uk
MAKE THE CUT WITH NEW BLADES
Hultafors Tools has launched a new range of ‘Snap-Off’ Knives for professional tradespeople.
Precision, quality and long-lasting sharpness are the
hallmarks of these superb new products.
With 13 different knives and 4 long-lasting precision blades, these all-round, ergonomic knives are
designed and built to suit a wide range of jobs on site. Symmetrically designed so that the blades can
be turned over, they’re adaptable for both left and right hand use so that left handed craftsmen and
women can adapt the knife rather than their own usage. What’s more, the blades are available in
three widths of 9, 18, and 25mm, with different blends of sharpness and long life built in to suit
regular hard work on site. www.hultafors.co.uk
FIX YOUR KIT WITH CATALOGUE OFFERS
The latest Screwfix catalogue is out now and packed full of ‘Trade Rated’ products, exclusives and more than 500 NEW
products, all offering great value and peace of mind.
Save £100 on the new DeWalt
18V XR Brushless Drill.
The new catalogue offers a variety of exciting products, from power tools and workwear to Smart Home. The ‘Trade Rated’
endorsement provides an additional level of confidence and reassurance, having been independently tried and tested by
Screwfix customers. Featured on the front cover is the brand new and exclusive DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill with a
massive saving of £100. Available at the special introductory price of £149.99, it comes complete with 2 x 4.0Ah and TSTAK
compatible carry case. www.screwfix.com/stores
90 TC OCTOBER 2019

LEADING
INDEPENDENTNT
WATERPROOFING
SUPPLIER
E
ase of
40+ year life
installation
expectancy
BB
BA
Certified
www.qbmsingleply.co.uk
info@qbmsingleply.co.uk
+44 203 3688468

METAL RAINWATER &
ROOFLINE PRODUCTS
RAINWATER • SOFFIT • FASCIA • COPINGS • CAPPINGS • FLASHINGS
ARP works to ensure that the roofline and rainwater systems we manufacture are the best
quality, long lasting and will meet with the needs of the properties, contractors and installers.
Let us take the strain - we are here to help:
• Site visits.
• Dedicated project support from initial enquiry,
drawings, production and finally fitting on site.
• Excellent lead times.
• High-quality metal roofline and rainwater systems
• National network of technical Sales Managers
We work closely with our customers to get the right product, at the right time and the right price.
ALUMINIUM RAINWATER CAST IRON RAINWATER ALUMINIUM PRESSINGS
ALUMINIUM RAINWATER CAST IRON RAINWATER ALUMINIUM PRESSINGS
Call us today on 0116 298 6783
or visit www.arp-ltd.com