June 2022

JUNE 2022 

>>> • VENTILATION • LOW PITCH ROOFS • PART L • TOOLS & WORKWEAR • >>> 

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Editor’s Comment 

MATT DOWNS 

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR 

MATTDOWNS@MEDIA-NOW.CO.UK 

07963 330774 

This month sees the updated version of Part L of the Building 

Regulations come into force, and as the focus on energy efficiency in 

buildings increases, the changes are expected to prompt an increase 

in interest in solar PV from homeowners and housebuilders. 

With this mind, Marley has put together a handy guide explaining how to 

make solar work for you and your business. Free with this issue, the useful 

guide is packed with content to help you and your team upskill to make the 

most of the sector’s push for sustainability and increased demand for solar 

PV installations, including the low-down on the changes to Part L, all you 

need to know about MCS accreditation and training, as well as a real-life 

case study with one of the contractors Marley has supported and helped to 

diversify their offering and make the profitable move into solar. 

Kingspan Insulation has also taken steps to support operatives with the 

changes to Part L, as the manufacturer has announced its ToolBox Talks 

onsite training service which helps customers ensure their work meets the 

new requirements. Jonathan Ducker, Head of Regulatory Affairs, discusses 

how the changes will impact project teams and goes into more detail about 

the benefits of the Toolbox Talks support service on page 48. 

Elsewhere in this issue, we get a roofing contractor’s perspective on the 

current challenges and opportunities within the sector as we put the 

questions to Old Plean Roofing on page 12; James Talman of the NFRC 

looks back on a tricky first half of 2022 for the roofing sector (page 14); and 

John Mercer discusses the key considerations when installing low pitch 

roofs on page 18. So read on for all this and much more! 

Matt 

Front cover courtesy of the A. Proctor Group. Read 

the company’s latest Ask the A. Proctor Group feature on 

page 38. www.proctorgroup.com 

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Contents 

3 KEY FEATURES 

48 

12 TOTAL TALK 

Mark and Fiona Thornton of Old Plean Roofing 

answer our questions and give their 

perspective on sector challenges and 

opportunities, plus explain why roofers should 

be better regulated... 

16 THE NATURAL CHOICE 

SIG UK’s Ged Ferris looks at the benefits of 

natural slate when it comes to roofing, and 

explains why he feels this ancient building 

material has such a bright future 

48 IT’S GOOD TO TALK 

Jonathan Ducker of Kingspan Insulation explains 

how the manufacturer’s new Toolbox Talks 

service can help operatives meet the new Part L 

requirements for projects 

16 

FURTHER READING 

20 DON’T COMPROMISE 

Rob Cookson of Marley explains why the cheaper option 

is never the better option when it comes to battens 

26 

22 ROOF STRUCTURES 

Charlie Cannon of Beesley & Fildes advises on selecting 

the most appropriate timbers for roofing projects 

24 BACK TO BASICS 

Paul Lambert looks at the ventilation requirements for 

cold and warm pitched roofs 

26 SAFETY AT HEIGHT 

Gurjeev Bola of Werner answers the key questions for 

contractors when it comes to working at height 

38 ASK THE A. PROCTOR GROUP 

Do you need MVHR to achieve good airtightness in 

buildings? the experts at A. Proctor Group discuss... 

60 POWERED UP 

Makita UK’s Kevin Brannigan looks at the tools that can 

help roofers increase efficiency and work more safely 

4 TC JUNE 2022

REGULARS 

14 NFRC ROOFING FOCUS 

James Talman looks back on the first half of 2022 

and explains how NFRC is working to help ease 

the pressure on roofers 

18 PERFECTLY PITCHED 

In his latest column, pitched roofing consultant 

John Mercer looks at the key considerations for 

roofers when constructing low pitch roofs 

44 KNAUF INSULATION 

TECH TALK 

Bradley Hirst provides his top tips for insulating 

suspended timber floors 

49 QI BY QI 

The experts at QI look at the factors currently 

influencing market pricing 

INDUSTRY NEWS 

06 Q1 2022 SURVEY RESULTS 

NFRC’s latest sector survey shows contractors have had 

to raise their tender prices, but workloads are strong 

08 THE EXTENT OF TOOL THEFT 

A tool has been stolen every 17 minutes since March 2021 

according to Direct Line business insurance 

SECTIONS: 

TOTAL 

ROOFING 

16 

TOTAL 

CLADDING 

36 

TOTAL 

INSULATION 

44 

Pictured: Gavin Crane has been 

appointed the first CEO of Band 

of Builders, the fast-growing 

construction sector charity 

VEHICLES, TOOLS 

& WORKWEAR 

10 

60 

JUNE 2022 TC 5

Industry News 

More news, updates and interviews at www.total-contractor.co.uk 

IOR STUDENT OF THE 

YEAR ANNOUNCED 

The Institute of Roofing 

(IoR) has named Ruth 

Evans as its Student 

of the Year. 

Ruth (pictured left with 

Kay Rose, right, CEO of the 

IoR) is an Internal Sales Manager for Polyroof 

and was presented with the award for achieving 

a distinction in the IoR’s Associate Course. 

Accredited by the Awarding Body of the Built 

Environment (ABBE), the IoR says its Associate 

Course is designed to help people progress in 

the roofing industry, especially those aiming to 

step up into supervisory or managerial roles. 

Participants gain knowledge on a range of 

areas, including project management, law, 

surveying and estimating, tendering and 

procurement, roof safety, and sustainability. 

Speaking about her achievement, Ruth said: 

“I am very surprised and happy to receive this 

award as there were many other welldeserving 

candidates. When I joined Polyroof 

seven years ago, I had no roofing experience. I 

had been working in a technical role in the 

chemicals sector for 12 years and decided to 

have a complete career change after time 

away with a young family. Although I had 

transferable skills and qualifications, these 

were not directly associated with the roofing 

industry. Taking part in the Associate Course 

has enabled me to gain a recognised 

qualification in roofing, helping me to further 

develop my career and providing existing and 

potential clients with confidence in my 

expertise. I have gained a lot of valuable 

knowledge, including a much broader 

overview of the roofing industry and an 

appreciation of applications that I am not 

directly involved in day to day.” 

For further info on the Associate Course, 

email: admin@instituteofroofing.org 

RISING COSTS PROMPT TENDER PRICE INCREASES 

The latest State of the Roofing Industry survey 

from NFRC (National Federation of Roofing 

Contractors) and Glenigan has revealed that a 

balance of 73 per cent of roofing and cladding 

contractors raised their tender prices in Q1 of 

2022. This is said to be an increase on a 

balance of 61 per cent in Q4 of 2021. 

Consequently, NFRC says clients seeking to have 

roof work done will be faced with higher prices, 

as contractors compensate for their costs rising. 

The survey of NFRC members also revealed that a 

balance of 90 per cent of respondents said that 

material prices had risen compared to Q4 of 2021. 

This is alongside a balance of 61 per cent of firms 

reporting that labour costs had increased. 

NFRC has also stated that responses related to 

the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine 

also indicated that energy costs are placing a 

burden on contractors, with 18 per cent noting an 

impact, whilst increased fuel prices were also 

noted. 

Despite these challenges, the survey shows 

roofers and cladders remained in demand. The 

survey points to increased enquiries for 

contractors across the UK, and shows workloads 

grew for the sixth consecutive quarter since the 

survey began, in late 2020. NFRC says this 

continued, steady pipeline of work meant that on 

balance contractors felt optimistic about the next 

twelve months. 

However, the survey also indicated that shortages 

of both materials and labour are still affecting 

many contractors, with NFRC saying this is 

possibly exacerbating price inflation as demand 

outstrips supply. 

The survey shows material shortages eased 

slightly from Q4 of 2021 but remained a 

significant challenge, as 29 per cent had difficulty 

in securing concrete roof tiles, and 26 per cent 

experienced the same with clay roof tiles. In a 

period of fresh government incentivisation of 

energy efficiency measures, the survey shows 

The Q1 2022 survey shows that whilst challenges remain 

around pricing and lead times on materials, contractors are 

optimistic regarding workloads for the next 12 months. 

that one in five (20 per cent) reported that 

insulation was difficult to obtain – indicating no 

improvement on Q4. 

As skills shortages remain rife across the 

industry, with the Q1 survey seeing a balance of 

59 per cent of contractors reporting a worsened 

landscape when they sought suitable labour, the 

survey shows over a third (36 per cent) reported 

difficulty recruiting slaters and tilers, whilst 

22 per cent struggled to bring on built-up felt 

roofers, and 15 per cent said the same regarding 

cladders. 

James Talman, NFRC CEO, said: “With cost 

pressures weighing heavily on contractors, it is 

unsurprising that so many must raise their prices. 

Clients will need to be aware that work on their 

roofs will cost more. It is essential that there is 

close collaboration between suppliers, 

contractors and clients to ensure the burden of 

this inflation is fairly shared.” 

He added: “Despite these challenges, demand for 

work has remained strong, meaning contractors 

are right to remain hopeful in 2022, and 

accordingly gain confidence to invest in skills.” 

Allan Wilén, Economics Director at Glenigan, 

commented on the results of the survey: “Roofing 

contractors’ workload grew firmly during the first 

quarter. New enquiries also improved, and firms 

expect a further strengthening in workload over 

the next 12 months. The rise in workload and 

expectations is despite disruption and cost 

pressures from labour and material shortages.” 

www.nfrc.co.uk 


TAKE YOUR 

ROOFING BUSINESS 

TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH NFRC 

Technical advice, the industry quality stamp and fantastic 

profile-raising opportunities—for all roofing disciplines 

NFRC sets the highest 

standards for work across 

all roofing and cladding 

disciplines. But we’re much 

more than the industry’s quality 

assurance stamp. Membership 

of the trade association offers 

contractors and suppliers a 

range of powerful technical 

and commercial advantages. 

These include a profile on our website 

and directory listing, making your 

business easier for clients to find. Plus 

exclusive access to technical support and 

updates, an exclusive health and safety 

app, and advice on training provision. 

For suppliers, key benefits include 

numerous opportunities to engage with 

roofing contractors all over the country. 

And as the voice of the roofing sector, 

NFRC makes our members’ views 

heard where it matters most. We work 

with government, standards bodies 

and training providers to promote the 

interests of the industry, and of the 

construction market as a whole. 

3 | Working Towards Zero Avoidable Waste in the Roofing Sector 

NFRC trade 

membership benefits 

WHAT BEING AN NFRC MEMBER MEANS FOR YOU 

3 | Working Towards Zero Avoidable Waste in the Roofing Sector 

NFRC supplier 

membership benefits 

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO OUR ROOFING 

CONTRACTOR MEMBERS 

Call 020 7638 7663 or visit 

nfrc.co.uk/TCbenefits to request our 

benefits brochure—and find out more 

about what NFRC membership can do 

for your business. 

NFRC GROUP ALSO INCLUDES 

Competent Person Scheme: 

self-certify roof refurbishment 

to Building Regs 

Roofing operatives 

competency accreditation 

Promoting roofing as a 

skilled profession and 

offering career advice 

UK’s premier event for the 

roofing industry 

Recognising best roofing 

training standards 

Supporting hardship, training/ 

upskilling, volunteering 

and environment 

Contractors with knowledge, 

skills and experience of 

heritage roofing systems

Industry News 


TOOLS STOLEN EVERY 

17 MINUTES The A. Proctor Group, synonymous with 

FURTHER LEARNING WITH PROCTOR GROUP 

A tool has been stolen from a 

tradesperson every 17 minutes in 

England, Wales and Northern Ireland 

since March 2021, according to new 

analysis of police force data from Direct 

Line business insurance. 

In total, the analysis shows 31,161 tools 

were stolen, the majority of which (17,370) 

were taken by thieves breaking into vehicles. 

technically advanced thermal, acoustic and 

membrane solutions for the construction 

industry, has introduced a RIBA-Approved 

CPD seminar titled “Building Refurbishment, 

Systems for Retrofit & Conservation.” 

Aimed at architects, specifiers and contractors, 

attendees will receive technical advice from A. 

Proctor Group technical experts, providing the 

latest guidance on British and European 

Standards, compliance with Building 

Direct Line business insurance points out this 

Regulations, and learning on how to maximise • Introduction to PAS 2035 design framework 

growing problem is unsurprisingly hitting 

performance and avoid potential failures. 

tradespeople hard financially, as with the 

• Reducing condensation risks in pitched roof 

average value of a stolen tool costing £3,852, 

there has been £80 million worth of 

equipment taken over the last year, 

compounding the issues for tradespeople 

trying to bounce back from the pandemic. 

Building Refurbishment, Systems for Retrofit & 

Conservation Iain Fairnington, Technical 

Director, commented: “This session provides an 

overview of the factors to consider in 

refurbishment and conservation projects, 

refurbishment. 

The CPD serves the following RIBA Core 

Curriculum areas: 

• Design, construction, and technology 

including the basics of building physics as 

Alison Traboulsi, Product Manager at Direct 

• Legal, regulatory, and statutory compliance 

related to hygrothermal design. It also provides 

Line business insurance, commented: “At a 

an overview of the standards, regulations and • Knowledge level: General Awareness. 

time when people are facing serious cost of 

frameworks involved in designing for retrofit 

living challenges, heartless criminals are 

Iain Fairnington concluded: “Our CPDs have 

and conservation.” 

taking away the livelihoods of hardworking 

proved invaluable to professionals involved in 

tradespeople. It is not just the value of the 

tools stolen, theft can cause big delays on site, 

By the end of the session, Iain says attendees 

will have gained a greater understanding of: 

the design and construction of buildings. 

Through the CPD series, we aim to provide 

causing huge additional costs and causing 

technically accurate learning based on best 

• The retrofit and conservation considerations 

serious scheduling headaches. We urge those 

practices, innovation, and project examples to 

considering purchasing second-hand tools to 

question the provenance to limit opportunities 

• Knowledge of hygrothermal material 

properties and good design practice 

help individuals make informed choices when 

specifying product solutions for their projects.” 

for criminals to dispose of stolen goods.” 

• Introduction to hygrothermal assessment Book a CPD at www.ribacpd.com 

www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk/smallbusiness-insurance/tradesman 

standards 

www.proctorgroup.com 

MCRMA EXPANDS CPD OFFERING WITH CAVITY BARRIER FOCUS 

The Metal Cladding & Roofing Manufacturers 

Association (MCRMA) has added a new CPD 

module to its online CPD programme. 

stop and a cavity barrier; the regulations that 

apply to the different countries of the UK and the 

types of cavity barriers used in ventilated 

anticipated 60-120 minutes of professional 

development, and following successful completion 

of the CPD, a certificate is available for immediate 

rainscreen facades. 

download. All modules have been accredited by the 

The CPD module, ‘Cavity barriers for ventilated 

CPD Certification Service. The CPDs are available to 

rainscreen façades’, sets out to consider the key There are now 16 approved CPDs available on the 

anyone seeking to develop their knowledge and 

questions about cavity barriers and offers MCRMA website. The course material is studied 

skills within the metal building envelope sector. 

guidance for their correct specification, including offline with an online assessment component to 

an understanding of the difference between a fire verify knowledge. The modules represent an Find out more: www.mcrma.co.uk/online-cpds/ 


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Industry News 


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Sorona delivers both environmental benefits 

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More on workwear and tools from page 60 

Band of Builders has appointed its first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) 

as part of ambitious plans to significantly increase the registered 

charity’s ability to help members of the UK construction industry 

who are battling illness or injury. 

The charity says it has appointed Gavin Crane, its former Chair of 

the Board of Trustees, into the newly created role as it looks to build 

on its solid foundations to expand its scope, reach and influence 

within the construction industry. 

Mr Crane explained that his first challenge is to map out the strategy and direction of the charity 

for the next 5–10 years as it looks to build on its three cornerstones of providing practical support 

by completing projects, offering financial help to tradespeople facing hardship, and making 

wellbeing services readily accessible to anyone in the construction industry who is in crisis. 

“In its simplest form, the new CEO role will mean ensuring that more people support Band of 

Builders, so we can help more people,” said Mr Crane. 

“It’s a very exciting time to be part of Band of Builders because the charity is gaining huge 

momentum, which is all down to the commitment of so many of our base of volunteers, who give 

their time generously to support the charity and its activities. It’s also down to the benefactors 

and sponsors who have given us significant financial support – in many cases making us their 

official charity partner. The board of trustees has ambitious plans for the growth of the charity, 

and the creation of this role is a huge statement of intent. I’m looking forward to being at the 

heart of taking Band of Builders to the next level.” 

As well as being tasked with building more strategic partnerships and developing more 

fundraising opportunities, Mr Crane also has a wider-reaching ambition to be a positive voice 

on issues affecting the construction industry, such as apprenticeships, the skills gap, inclusion 

and gender discrimination. 

www.bandofbuilders.org 

MGMA CONTINES TO GROW 

The Metal Gutter Manufacturers Association 

(MGMA) has welcomed two new member 

companies to the Association: Weatherfast 

Limited and JPM Pressbrake Sections 

Limited. 

Weatherfast Limited, based in Great Barr, 

Birmingham, produce the WeatherFOLD gutter 

liner system which has been developed to fold 

with ease into any existing gutter, and once 

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water to flow freely towards outlets, whilst the 

steel base enables the liner to be easily 

maintained by simply brushing out. 

JPM Pressbrake Sections Limited, based in 

Dudley, is one of the largest fabricators of single 

skin and insulated composite gutters. The 

company also produces fascia gutters and all 

ancillary items such as stop ends, outlets, 

corners, weirs and rainwater pipes. 

The MGMA currently has 16 members and says 

membership is open to all companies who 

manufacture and market metal rainwater 

systems, and to those companies who provide a 

range of professional support services to the 

metal rainwater systems industry. 

www.mgma.co.uk 

Above: Gavin Crane has been 

appointed the first CEO of Band 

of Builders. 


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Total Talk: Old Plean Roofing 

“ROOFERS SHOULD BE BETTER 

REGULATED & HELD ACCOUNTABLE” 

We put the questions to Mark and Fiona Thornton who run Old Plean Roofing, a family 

firm based in Stirling, discussing current market trends, challenges and opportunities, 

the perennial problem of recruiting skilled workers, why roofers should be better 

regulated and held accountable for their actions, and so much more… 

Can you tell us a bit about Old 

Plean Roofing and the types of 

projects you get involved with… 

Old Plean Roofing is a family firm – 

we’re based in Stirling and are proud to 

be members of NFRC, the Guild of 

Master Craftsmen and the trading 

standards Buy with Confidence scheme. 

Currently we employ a team of five 

office-based staff and eight on-site 

operatives. We specialise in flat and 

pitched roofing and take on a whole 

range of projects including roof rebuilds 

and repairs and maintenance contracts. 

What was your path into construction and 

to your current position? 

Mark – I began treading my path in 1986 starting 

as a labourer in a large roofing firm and 

progressing slowly through the ranks to 

Construction Manager. In the mid-2000s, I 

decided to follow a different path and worked for 

a couple of well-known construction companies 

in technical roles, however, I kept returning to 

roofing. Starting Old Plean Roofing was therefore 

a natural progression. I am passionate about 

raising standards in roofing and seeing roofers 

trained and upskilled. 

Fiona – My background is in counselling which 

is a bit different to roofing! I now manage all the 

office based activities; a normal day can include 

sorting out PPE, chatting to clients or filling out 

tender documents. Every day is different and 

though it can be a bit stressful, work is never 

dull. 

Mark Thornton (front row, right) with the Old Plean Roofing team. 

“How do we move 

forward? Incentivise 

and train” 

You must have worked on some difficult 

projects over the years; does one in 

particular stand out? 

Plenty of projects spring to mind – particularly 

those which throw you a curve ball! However, one 

that is high up on the list is a local project where 

we were replacing the flat roof only to discover 

that it was not only the roof which needed to be 

replaced but so did most of the timbers. For years 

the void had not been insulated resulting in 

condensation build-up. We tackled this one 

professionally though, as always, and ensured 

the building remained fully water-tight at all 

times. 

What about difficult customers – do you 

get many of these and how do you deal 

with them? 

We work very closely with all our clients 

and usually get the job over the line 

without much difficulty. However, as we 

all know, issues out of our control will 

arise whether it be disruption due to 

weather or difficulty in getting materials 

to site. Communication is therefore key 

to the relationship and we strive to keep 

our clients informed throughout the quote 

and project process. 

Tell us about a current project 

you’re working on… 

At the moment we have several projects 

on the go across the Central Scotland area. In 

particular we have recently just started a large 

re-roof outside Falkirk for a domestic customer 

which includes replacing the fascia, soffit and 

gutters around the property. We are also carrying 

out repairs and maintenance at a large 

commercial property in Stirling. 

You seem like a company who won’t cut 

corners and feel strongly about how the 

sector is perceived by homeowners and 

customers. Unfortunately we still hear a 

lot about rogue roofers – do you feel more 

can be done to target individuals and 

companies who rip customers off? and if 

so, should it be coming from the industry 

or Government? 

We have always felt that roofers should be better 

regulated so they can be held accountable for 

their actions, and we have had to follow up on so 

many jobs where rogue roofers have left carnage 

in their wake. Government needs to do more to 

combat this. 


With this in mind, the NFRC has launched 

the RoofCERT accreditation scheme which 

longer-term will hopefully promote 

roofers who have best practice and the 

customers’ interests at heart – are you 

aware of the RoofCERT scheme and is it 

something you will adopt for your 

business and team? 

Mark – I am a huge advocate of RoofCERT and 

was involved early on during my time as Roof 

Training Manager for the Single Ply Roofing 

Association. It is a fantastic scheme which needs 

to be utilised more – particularly here in 

Scotland. 

Moving on from this – the skills issue and 

attracting new entrants to the sector is a 

perennial problem which appears to be getting 

worse rather than better. How are you finding 

things with regards to recruiting workers, and 

what more do you think needs to be done to 

attract new entrants to roofing and the wider 

construction industry? 

It is extremely difficult to attract and recruit 

suitable workers. The industry as a whole is 

experiencing this. How do we move forward? 

Incentivise and train. Pump more money into roof 

training groups to allow them to offer more 

substantial training at a cost that is more 

affordable. We should also enforce small 

businesses and one-man bands to train and 

achieve qualifications in their roofing discipline. 

Issues around supply of materials such as 

roof tiles and timber are well 

documented, often leading to longer lead 

times and some price rises – has this 

been your experience and if so, how have 

you adapted to ensure projects run 

smoothly? 

The issue of long lead times has hit the 

construction industry hard. Projects are being 

pushed back or even put on the back burner. I’m 

quite hopeful this will change in time, however, 

it’ll likely be 18 months before any change will be 

recognised. 

“I am a huge advocate of RoofCERT – It is a 

fantastic scheme which needs to be utilised 

more – particularly here in Scotland” 

What have you learned about your 

business from working throughout the 

pandemic – has it impacted the way 

you’ll approach work, the supply chain 

and the types of projects you might get 

involved with going forward? 

Everyone needs a roofer, pandemic or not. We 

approach each and every client with empathy and 

work hard to ensure we deliver on our promise, 

whatever that may be. 

Online reviews appear to play a much 

bigger part in a homeowner / customer’s 

decision making process these days; what 

is your opinion of online reviews – are 

they a blessing or a curse for roofers? 

They certainly have a place but we find that word 

of mouth referrals are still the main source of the 

majority of our enquiries. 

“Price is a big driver in 

today’s market, 

especially now as the 

cost of living is rising” 

Is price the main driver for projects in 

today’s market? 

Price is a big driver in today’s market, especially 

now as the cost of living is rising. However, we 

have found that an honest and systematic 

approach to each of our clients means that cost 

usually takes a back seat. 

What’s the most satisfying thing about 

your job? 

The lovely people we get to meet on a daily 

basis. Each one has a different story to tell and 

we are proud to add our little chunk of life to 

theirs. 

And the most frustrating? 

Having to let people down because of situations 

out of our control – the biggest one being the 

weather! 

What’s your most important tool, either in 

the office or on site? 

Our operatives on site. They are continually 

complimented for their knowledge, expertise and 

for being extremely polite and quiet! 

Following what has been a challenging 

period for roofing and the wider 

construction industry, are there reasons 

to be optimistic going forward? 

Yes, definitely. People continue to need roofers 

and contractors and we’re getting lots of 

enquiries and are extremely busy. We know we 

will face future challenges – particularly in the 

labour market and that’s something we aim to 

combat by investing in training our staff. 

It’s also likely we will hit a recession in the 

coming months which could be a cause for 

concern but generally we are optimistic about the 

future. 

What can we expect from Old Plean 

Roofing in the coming years? 

We will continue to offer the same reliable and 

transparent service as we have always done as 

we strive to become the roofing builder and 

maintenance contractor of choice in Central 

Scotland. We also plan to expand our 

maintenance and repairs division and offer new 

services. 

Contact Old Plean Roofing: 

01786 811 033 

www.oldpleanroofing.co.uk 

@oldpleanroofing 


NFRC Roofing Talk 

CHALLENGES PERSIST BUT NFRC IS 

WORKING TO EASE THE PRESSURE 

James Talman, NFRC’s CEO, takes a look back at the first half of 2022, which has 

presented a number of obstacles for roofers and the wider industry to contend with, 

and outlines some of the work NFRC has been been putting in to support the sector... 

As we pass the halfway point of 2022, it’s 

useful to reflect on the progress we’ve made 

in the year so far. In the first six months of 

the year – which many hoped would bring relief 

from the continued consequences of the Covid-19 

pandemic – contractors have faced a number of 

challenges to contend with, including rapid cost 

inflation, ongoing poor material availability and 

labour shortages, new regulation and an end to 

the red diesel rebate, to name just a few. NFRC is 

intent on supporting members and the wider 

industry to weather the storm, and below I have 

outlined a small selection of the work we have 

kickstarted in the first half of 2022, responding to 

both longstanding and emerging challenges. 

Meeting the skills challenge 

It will not be news to anyone that roofing, 

cladding and the wider construction industry face 

a skills challenge. As an industry we struggle to 

find the people with the right skills to do the job, 

and NFRC’s quarterly State of the Roofing Industry 

survey, which we have compiled since late 2020, 

has consistently confirmed this, with firms 

struggling to recruit in roles from slaters and 

tilers, to built-up felt roofers to estimators. CITB 

estimated in 2021 that the industry needed 

217,000 new workers over the following five years 

to plug the gap. As demand persists, we run the 

risk of cowboys taking on work that should be 

done by someone with the appropriate skills. 

2022 began with a key move from NFRC on this 

front, with the launch of the NFRC Careers 

Service, a resource available to anyone online at 

nfrc.co.uk/careers, targeted at those seeking to 

enter the industry and employers looking to 

attract, recruit and retain new talent. 

NFRC members also have access to our 

Head of Careers – Ruth Scarrott, who 

can aid firms in improving their offer 

to candidates, help demystify the 

processes of recruiting new people, 

and support the development of training 

and upskilling provision. 

In recent weeks, the NFRC Charitable Trust has 

also made available a dedicated Inclusion Fund, 

with funding available for member companies to 

provide insight and improve diversity in the 

sector through insight days, site visits and online 

activities. This is to engage people from diverse 

backgrounds in learning about careers and 

opportunities in roofing, raising the profile of the 

industry as a career choice. NFRC members can 

express their interest via the NFRC website. This 

initiative will contribute further to our efforts to 

make the industry more accessible, so that we 

can attract as much talent as possible. 

Helping the industry find its feet on 

sustainability 

The end of 2021 saw the release of Future (P)roof, 

a report commissioned by the NFRC Charitable 

Trust and conducted by the University of 

Southampton, to explore the role of our rooftops in 

fighting the effects of climate change and helping 

to ensure our buildings can stand up to warmer, 

wetter weather. We have followed this up in 2022 

with a number of new and continued initiatives. 

One new initiative is the NFRC Sustainability 

Group, made up of knowledgeable and 

enthusiastic individuals from both NFRC trade 

and supplier member organisations, aiming to 

tackle key challenges that businesses face in 

James Talman, CEO of NFRC. 

terms of sustainability and their 

environmental impact, currently 

emphasising the issue of waste. 

NFRC has also recently gained 

representation on the City of London’s 

Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce, and will 

be contributing to work on meeting the need for 

green skills in the capital. 

Facing mounting pressures is easier when 

there’s help on hand 

Numerous challenges from inflation, to heavy 

workloads and not enough workers, to a wave of 

new regulations, can take their toll on firms, and 

many individuals have felt considerably under 

pressure, whether that’s physically, mentally or 

financially. 

NFRC saw the need to help, and in March 

launched a partnership with ARAG, offering 

members a free legal, tax and HR helpline. From 

contract disputes to corporation tax, they are on 

hand to assist. There is also a counselling 

helpline for member companies and their 

employees – an important part of the service, as 

Mates in Mind reported in February this year that 

a third of construction workers say they 

experience an elevated level of anxiety every day. 

As an industry we find ourselves still facing a host 

of challenges, but NFRC is doing everything it can 

to make sure that businesses and individuals in 

roofing are well equipped to face them. 

Contact NFRC 

www.nfrc.co.uk 

@TheNFRC 


Handrails:- EasyGuard 

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Trip hazard reduction – long thin base-plates with 

Counterweights used on un-secured ends only. Placed at 2m 

centres maximum to enable use for leading edge protection. 

Galvanised or powder coated finish. Protective mats 5mm 

bonded to the base plates. 

Standards – Exceeds Class A EN13374- Class A; For 

leading edge protection HSE/SR 15, September 1988. 

Nationwide delivery or contract installation. – Free material 

quantifying service – info@safetyworksandsolutions.co.uk 

Ladders:- Easy Fit 

Compliant to both BS/EN 5395 and 14122 – 

To comply with the standards for 

permanent ladders all mild steel then hot 

dipped galvanised to BS/EN 1461. 

All typical ladders bespoke – email 

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Easy Fit, all ladder components are Easy 

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Rest Platforms and ladders with special 

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Natural Slate 

ANCIENT SLATE: A MATERIAL 

FOR THE FUTURE 

Ged Ferris, Category Manager at SIG UK, sees a buoyant future for that most ancient 

building material – natural slate. 

Natural slate is a metamorphic rock formed 

from layers of clays or volcanic ash, 

transformed over millenia by heat and 

pressure. It’s first confirmed use as a roofing 

material dates back to the Roman era. Now this 

most ancient material is set for a major revival as 

it is a perfect fit for an industry that is rapidly 

adopting more sustainable building practices. 

In just about every sector from food to fashion we 

are waking up to an understanding that 

the most sustainable products are 

likely to be those that take the 

least processing. In the 

building sector, the 

immediate challenge is to 

move the whole construction 

process towards net zero – 

reducing the embodied carbon of 

building materials as much as possible. 

Slate takes very little energy to produce. It’s a 

mined product and the majority of its carbon 

footprint comes from its transport, rather than its 

production. The Inventory of Carbon and Energy, 

an independent database at the University of 

Bath, has compared natural slate with other tiling 

options and concluded that while there is a large 

variation in the embodied carbon of natural 

roofing slates, it will be approximately 16% that 

of other roofing materials. 

Many of the major housebuilders have stated 

their intention to be zero carbon by 2050 and are 

already putting pressure on their supply chains to 

make a positive contribution. While energy 

intensive product manufacturers work on 

reducing the impact of their processes, slate 

already ticks this particular box. 

Equally significant is a growing focus on the 

Above: Summer Lake Development, The Cotswolds – credit Fosse Specialist Roofing. 

Left: Windsor Court Care Home in Malvern – credit Lawrence Baker. Both images feature SIGA Slate. 

principle of circularity in 

construction. Advocates point 

out that natural resources are 

finite and that single-use materials 

are simply not sustainable. In the most 

extreme model, buildings are viewed as active 

warehouses for products. When the building has 

had its time, the products are dismantled and 

used to create the next structure. 

It's a vision for the future and we are a way off 

yet, but natural slate turns out to be ahead of its 

time. The material itself has excellent resistance 

to weather, with the best quality slates lasting 

hundreds of years. When a slate roof needs 

replacing it is often the fixings or felt that are 

causing the problem. Slates can easily be 

reclaimed and used again. There is already a 

market for reclaimed slates and some 

commentators estimate that as much as 5% of 

roofing slate in use today may have come from 

another roof. 

And finally, there is the combination with solar 

technology. As we move towards the extreme 

“When a slate roof 

needs replacing it is 

often the fixings or felt 

that are causing the 

problem” 

energy efficiency requirements of the Future 

Homes Standard, new homes will effectively need 

to include renewable technology to meet the 

emissions performance targets. Solar PV panels 

will undoubtedly be a big part of the mix and 

integrating the panels into a roof finished with 

dark grey tiles provides a consistent appearance. 

For all these reasons, we are expecting to see 

sales of natural slate performing strongly. SIG 

Roofing has a number of options with our various 

ranges of natural slate coming from quarries in 

the UK, Spain, Canada and Brazil. 

Contact SIG Roofing 

www.sigroofing.co.uk 

@SIGRoofing 


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Perfectly Pitched 

LOW PITCH ROOFS 

Pitched Roofing Consultant John Mercer discusses the 

key considerations when constructing low pitch roofs. 

Of the many enquiries I receive, one of the 

most popular topics relates to low pitch 

roof construction. Experience has taught 

us that the ideal range of roof pitches for roof tiles 

and slates is anywhere between 30 to 50º. During 

rainfall or wind-driven rain spells, water is shed 

from one double lapped tile or slate course to the 

next one below, the tiles and slates having sufficient 

lap and pitch to prevent any sideways or upwards 

‘creep’ of the water through capillary action from 

penetrating the roof covering. Single lapped tiles 

perform the same function by virtue of their lap 

over the course below and side laps which can be 

either simple overlaps or more sophisticated 

interlocks with water bars and troughs. 

Although the trend in recent years is to build 

homes with steeper pitch roofs to provide living 

spaces within the roof, there are many tiles and 

slated roofs constructed at low pitches to reduce 

construction costs, for example, or reduce a 

building’s impact on the horizon, or very 

commonly, to enable the building of a home 

extension to fit below the upstairs windows. 

Roof tile manufacturers have developed and 

continue to develop roof tiles and associated 

systems that are suitable for use at low pitches. 

However, under certain weather conditions, water 

may be driven through the slating or tiling and must 

be captured by the underlay system and drained 

away to the gutter. Certainly, at low roof pitches, 

the risk of water ingress increases through or 

around the tiling, simply because everything is 

working closer to its limits. For example, though 

the individual components have been 

thoroughly tested and perform fine at the 

stated minimum roof pitch, constructing 

the roof with the same accuracy as 

that used under test conditions can 

be difficult. It only takes a small 

gap or two in the tiling where it 

passes over a flashing and the risk of water 

ingress is increased. 

BS 5534 states that the underlay layer should 

provide a continuous under-roof barrier to water, 

snow, and dust, and should be capable of 

draining any moisture that might be deposited 

onto the surface of the underlay to the roof 

drainage system. Although BS 5534 does not 

provide specific design details on how to 

construct a waterproof underlay system, it does 

recommend that consideration be given to sealing 

any penetrations through the underlay, such as 

nail holes, with suitable tapes or sealants. 

The design recommendations provided in 

BS 5534 are an acknowledgement that there will 

be occasions when rainwater finds its way 

through the tiling and onto the underlay, so the 

roof should be regarded as a system, rather than 

simply a collection of individual components. 

It is important to follow the installation 

recommendations given in BS 5534 and BS 8000-6 

for the underlay. Underlay laid unsupported, directly 

over the rafters or counterbattens, must be laid with 

a sufficient drape to enable water to run freely into 

the underlay troughs and under the tile battens 

towards the gutters. If the underlay is laid too tight, 

without a drape, water on the underlay will be 

trapped behind the tile battens and will eventually 

find its way through the batten nail holes in the 

underlay and leak into the roof structure. 

On low pitched roofs, rainwater is more likely to 

be driven through the tiling during heavy winddriven 

rain events, though roof design 

battens 

Counterbattens 

should consider other factors 

too. For example, 

manufacturers usually 

set a maximum rafter 

length for their tiles when 

used at the minimum 

recommended roof pitch. It is 

Nail tape 

Tile 

Summary 

• Observe the tile manufacturer’s 

recommendations on minimum roof pitch 

and maximum rafter length. 

• Avoid draining water from higher roof 

slopes onto a low-pitched extension roof. 

• Ensure the underlay is detailed correctly at 

junctions such as abutments and properly 

sealed around penetrations such as pipes and 

roof windows. Use adhesive tapes where 

necessary. 

• Consider the use of counterbattens with nail 

tape between the counterbattens and underlay 

to seal the nail holes through the underlay. 

important to observe any such restrictions by, for 

example, raising the roof pitch if possible, or 

dividing the roof into shorter sections with a 

gutter part way down the slope. On single storey 

extensions, care should be taken to avoid 

draining a higher roof onto the low pitch extension 

roof via a valley or through a gutter downpipe. 

Even dormer windows can pose a risk if the 

rainwater from the dormer roof is drained directly 

onto the low pitch roof. 

It is equally important to detail all junctions 

correctly when installing the underlay, with the 

correct turn ups at abutments and suitably 

sealed around penetrations such as pipes and 

roof windows. 

There are no special measures or variations to 

sub-roof designs that relate to roof pitch in 

BS 5534. However, there are methods that can be 

adopted to ensure the underlay is watertight. For 

example, consider using counterbattens between 

the underlay and tile battens, with a bituminous 

nail tape fitted between each counterbatten and 

the underlay (see image left). The counterbattens 

will ensure that there is a path for water to reach 

the gutters without the need for a drape, and the 

nail tape will seal the batten and counterbatten 

nail holes through the underlay. 

Contact John Mercer 

www.johnmercerconsultant.co.uk 


THE TOTAL PACKAGE 

Leading building materials manufacturer, well as minimizing condensation risk by 

Glidevale Protect, has provided a full range of introducing natural ventilation into each building 

roofing, ventilation and construction products to help create healthy homes. 

as part of a major new social housing development 

Products supplied and installed on this 

in Belfast, which is taking a fabric first approach to 

development included the Protect VP300 vapour 

building healthy, sustainable homes. 

permeable pitched roofing underlay which was 

One of the largest mixed tenure developments to teamed with Protect Fulmetal RediRoll, a universal 

be constructed in Northern Ireland to date, the dry fix ventilated ridge and hip system, alongside 

new scheme for a leading social housing provider tile vents for the roof. Glidevale Protect also 

includes 244 homes, which are a mix of social supplied Protect TF200 Thermo for the external 

and affordable housing, a community facility, a timber frame walls – a low emissivity, insulating 

linear park and a children’s play park. 

reflective membrane and the non-reflective 

external breather membrane, Protect TF200, was 

Working with main contractor Kevin Watson 

used on spandrel panels. These provided weather 

Group, established Belfast-based roofing 

protection during the construction, as well as 

subcontractor Prentice Roofing and offsite 

helping to avoid interstitial condensation risk 

manufacturers and installers of the timber frame 

within the wall construction. Cavity trays, 

panels Leadon Timber Frame, Glidevale Protect 

airbricks and loft access hatches from Glidevale 

delivered a complete solution of products to 

Protect completed the project. 

improve thermal efficiency and airtightness, as 

Belfast project: The Protect VP300 underlay installation. 

Cornelius Ward, Director at Kevin Watson Group, 

said: “In order to deliver the highest quality 

standards to meet the client’s expectations, we 

like to collaborate with supply chain partners who 

can ensure our sub-contractors are provided with 

top performing building materials using a fabric 

first approach. Glidevale Protect’s wide breadth 

of solutions used on this development meant full 

peace of mind during the construction process, 

helping to create energy efficient and healthy 

homes.” 

Contact Glidevale Protect 

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Email: info@glidevaleprotect.com 

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inform 

ation 

or a hire quotation call 

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Email: sales@cookerhire.com 

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Battens 

DON’T COMPROMISE ON QUALITY 

An essential component of a roof, battens are structurally important, so Rob Cookson, 

National Business Development Manager at Marley, says it makes sense to use the 

best. However, as he points out, current supply issues have meant that inferior – and 

crucially less safe – battens could have entered the market, so whilst some roofing 

battens may be slightly cheaper, Rob says they could cause problems down the line... 

As Rob Cookson, National Business 

Development Manager at Marley, points 

out: “When it comes to battens, it’s 

important that roofers understand what they’re 

buying – not all battens are the same. Cheaper 

and often inferior battens may carry 

imperfections that can cause breakages and lead 

to accidents on site, especially since being weight 

bearing, as battens are used as a step ladder 

whilst a contractor is working on the roof. 

“With site safety being of paramount importance, 

and the safety of the team being the ultimate 

responsibility of the contractor, choosing to 

compromise on the quality of a safety-critical 

product on a roof, such as battens, could well be 

a costly – and avoidable – mistake.’ 

Rely on Red 

Critically, only battens that have been pre- or 

factory graded to BS 5534 can be called or used 

as ‘roofing battens’, such as Marley’s JB Red, a 

high-quality roofing batten. Marley also says it’s 

the only UK factory-graded batten available to the 

roofing industry with BBA certification. 

Marley says it sets the standard for graded 

roofing battens, and with its wealth of experience, 

expertise and knowledge of the roofing and timber 

markets, Marley says it sources the timber for its 

JB Red battens from its extensive network of 

Scandinavian saw mills. 

Rob continued: “Selecting the correct timber to 

use for roofing battens is of paramount 

importance. We only source slow-grown timber 

which ensures strength and durability, whilst our 

battens are cut from kiln-dried sideboards to 

provide maximum strength and stability, plus they 

Above: Marley’s Goldeneye scanner. Right: JB Red batten. 

are less likely to distort.” 

Produced at its specialist manufacturing site in 

Gainsborough, Marley says JB Red battens are 

stringently tested and graded using its state-ofthe-art, 

dedicated roof batten scanning line – 

Goldeneye. 

Scanning each timber batten intricately to the 

millimetre, Marley says Goldeneye’s computercontrolled, 

dedicated laser and camera grading 

line produces battens graded to the performance 

regulations of BS 5534 both quickly and 

accurately. The manufacturer says it is important 

to note that currently, many other suppliers within 

the UK batten market rely on visual grading only. 

In addition, MicroPro, a preservative treatment 

that protects against wood rotting, fungi and 

insects – and gives a 60-year desired service life 

– vacuums a preserving red pigment into the 

timber ensuring that the resulting battens are 

both completely protected, and also transformed 

to give their distinctive and easily identifiable red 

colour. 

Visibly exceeding standards 

Marley points out whilst JB Red completely meets 

the NHBC requirements for fully graded roofing 

battens, the red colour means that they are highly 

visible on site, making it easy for Local Authority 

Building Control, NHBC, and other inspectors to 

see that high-quality, pre-graded and compliant 

battens have been used. 

An easy choice 

Rob continued: “Our JB Red battens help to make 

your life on site both easier and safer. Being pregraded, 

no further grading on site is required, 

saving you time. Being red in colour, means that 

they are easily identifiable, making any 

inspector’s – as well as your – job easier. 

“Finally, the exceptionally high quality of 

manufacture at every stage – from integral 

strength and consistency of size to thoroughly 

protective treatments giving real peace of mind – 

makes JB Red battens an easy choice for any 

roofing contractor to make.” 

Contact Marley / JB Red 

www.marley.co.uk/roofing-batten/ 

jb-red-batten 

01283 722222 


Roofing underlays 

Ventilation solutions 

Expert technical support 

Ventilation 

Condensation 

Control 

Choiceiseverything 

With one of the most comprehensive 

ranges of roof underlays and ventilation 

solutions available in the UK and Ireland, 

Glidevale Protect offers tried and trusted 

performance for any project. When you’re 

creating better buildings and healthy 

homes, choice really is everything. 

Glidevale Protect is a specialist UK producer, offering 

ventilation solutions, condensation control and energy 

efficiency across the built environment. 

For technical guidance or to book a presentation, 

contact us on +44 (0)161 905 5700, email 

info@glidevaleprotect.com or visit 

www.glidevaleprotect.com/choice

Roof Structure 

I-BEAMS VS POSI-JOISTS: SELECTING 

THE RIGHT SOLUTION 

Charlie Cannon, Design Manager at Beesley & Fildes’ engineered timber department, 

advises on selecting the most appropriate timbers for roofing projects. 

Most roofing contractors who come to 

Beesley & Fildes for roofing timbers 

already have a clear idea of what they 

need, based on their own experience and an 

architect’s drawing. But, as a service-oriented 

builder’s merchant, it’s not our job to simply give 

them what they’ve asked for; we also provide 

advice to help them make informed decisions 

that could enable them to reduce costs, simplify 

the installation and achieve an improved 

outcome for their project. 

Making the right choices 

To a degree, the choice between i-beams and 

posi-joists is often based on personal preference 

and experience but, as trends in house design 

evolve, it’s important to understand the different 

advantages and limitations of each type of 

timber. Our design software enables us to create 

an optimised design that takes into account the 

structural loading, required spans and roof design 

so that we can present contractors with the most 

appropriate and cost effective solution. 

In basic terms, i-beams may be less expensive but 

the width and/or number of i-beams required to 

achieve larger spans can often lead to increased 

design and installation complexity, higher 

installation costs and extended programme length. 

The enhanced load bearing and structural 

strength provided by posi-joists makes them the 

ideal choice for larger roofs and, in particular, for 

roofs that feature larger spans. Increasingly, we 

are finding that loft spaces are being used as 

open plan accommodation and posi-joists enable 

the required spans to be achieved with smaller 

timber widths, working within the loading limits of 

the structure and avoiding any compromise to 

ceiling heights in the loft space or the floor below. 

The open structure of posi-joists also 

means that wiring can easily be 

fed through the joists, aiding 

speed of installation as 

compared to i-beams, where 

holes need to be drilled in the 

correct locations. Not only is 

creating apertures for building 

services a time-consuming addition 

to the programme, but it can also affect the 

integrity of the i-beam, which is another key 

consideration when selecting the best approach 

for their project. 

Reducing risk 

Our design service makes it easy for our 

customers to see how the design will be installed. 

And, because we supply a complete solution with 

all fixings and accessories included in the 

drawings and 3D render, (see above) it’s easy to 

appreciate the installation advantages that could 

result in time and labour cost savings. 

Importantly, a simplified, easier to install design 

with all components provided as a complete 

package not only offers cost advantages, it also 

de-risks the project. Simplification means fewer 

opportunities for error and detailed drawings 

provide a fully itemised plan for the installation, 

aligned to every item of timber and metalwork 

supplied. Moreover, because everything is 

supplied by Beesley & Fildes using dimensions 

supplied by the contractor, we offer complete 

Above left and right: Attic render by Beesley & 

Fildes; Left: Charlie Cannon, Design 

Manager at Beesley & Fildes. 

accountability for both the 

design and the delivered roof 

components, including any 

trusses included in the design 

and supplied by us. 

One of the challenges we sometimes face 

is customers who modify timbers for the roofing 

installation to make them fit as the installation 

evolves on site, as opposed to faithfully following 

the CAD drawings for the design. Our team is 

available for troubleshooting advice throughout 

the project and we always encourage contractors 

to call us before they modify anything, so that we 

can help them to install the roof according to the 

design. This is what we mean by an end-to-end 

service, from design through to finished 

installation. 

Genuine added value 

The term ‘added value’ is often over-used, but 

when it comes to helping contractors decide where 

to use i-beams or posi-joists, our knowledge and 

design service can help roofing contractors to 

manage costs and reduce risks, providing a 

tailored approach to meet the challenges and 

requirements of each specific project. 

Contact Beesley & Fildes 

www.beesleyandfildes.co.uk 


Technical support 

Roofing experts on-hand to offer help and advice 

Assured standards 

Meets all British Standards and regulations 

High-quality components 

Tested for maximum performance, meaning no call backs 

Estimates & fixing specs on demand 

We’ll help you create them on site and on the go 

Comprehensive roof solution 

Easy installation with tried and tested compatible components 

Need a complete 

roof system? 

We’ve got you covered. 

With all elements brought together from a single 

source, you can be confident that everything 

will work together perfectly – and that high 

performance is all backed up with a 15-year 

system guarantee. Find your peace of mind. 

marley.co.uk/roofsystem

Back to Basics 

VENTILATION REQUIREMENTS FOR 

COLD & WARM PITCHED ROOFS 

In the latest Back to Basics column from Hambleside Danelaw, Paul Lambert discusses 

the ventilation requirements for cold and warm pitched roofs. 

Stopping condensation and moisture from 

developing in pitched roofing is imperative 

when seeking to prevent mould and damp. 

Approved Document C2 states that “Roofing can 

be designed to protect a building from 

precipitation either by holding the precipitation at 

the face of the roof or by stopping it from 

penetrating the back of the roofing system” (6.3). 

This means that the building must be designed 

using appropriate overlapping barriers such as 

tiles and tile underlay. 

Approved Document C2 also requires that roofs 

be designed and built so that their thermal and 

structural performance are not negatively 

affected by interstitial condensation. 

Condensation can be formed through 

improper ventilation and insulation. 

Insulation is installed in buildings 

to prevent undue heat loss. 

Depending on where insulation is 

installed, the building could have a 

warm or cold roof. Insulation positioned 

closely above, between or below the rafters forms 

a ‘warm’ or ‘hybrid’ roof, whereas insulation 

installed horizontally at ceiling level will create a 

cold roof. 

The modern building is designed to keep warm air 

in, with standard features such as double glazing 

and thicker insulation meaning that heat retention 

and energy efficiency are prioritised. This results 

in a variance of air temperatures and pressures. 

Tumble-dryers, kettles – even breathing – adds 

to the water vapour in the air, also increasing the 

vapour pressure. The warmer the air, the greater 

capacity there is to contain moisture. Gaps 

leading to the loft space, whether in the form of 

light fittings or hatches allow this warm air to 

Left: Paul Lambert, Field Support Technician at Hambleside Danelaw, provides a Danelaw Talk session 

to students. Above: Hambleside Danelaw’s LR 120 Underlay. 

reach the cold surface under 

the roof, resulting in condensation. 

Condensation can damage timber rafters 

and cause damp and mould to develop. 

Cold roof insulation requirements 

In a cold roof design, generally internal roof 

moisture needs to be allowed to exit the building, 

otherwise it would condense in the roof space. 

This can be done through ventilation openings 

located at the eaves over a fascia, through a 

soffit or at a brick corbel, at low or high level 

through the roof surface using slate or tile 

ventilators, or at high level using a mechanically 

fixed dry ridge and hip systems such as 

Hambleside Danelaw’s CON6+. 

A combination of solutions to meet requirements 

specified will ensure that moisture has a way to 

exit the building. All of Hambleside Danelaw’s 

vents are designed to keep large insects and birds 

out, while maintaining airflow in the roof space. 

Hambleside Danelaw produces a wide range of roof 

surface ventilators for slates and tiles that match 

most common tile profiles, all listed in our 

compatibility chart for roofing accessories. Our 

vents are acid rain resistant, come with UV 

stabilisation for durability, and are thermally stable. 

They can also be connected to pipework or 

ductwork and used as terminals for soil pipe 

ventilation and mechanical extraction delivering a 

very discreet solution. 

Warm roof insulation requirements 

A warm roof is designed to prevent any moisture 

from forming on cold surfaces in the roof 

construction. This means that warm roofs do not 

generally require ventilation, but there should be 


an Air & Vapour Control Layer (AVCL) or vapour 

barrier on the warm side of the insulation 

depending upon the detailing. This prevents the 

passage of warm, moisture-laden air to the 

colder uninsulated parts of the roof. 

A warm roof can also be formed incorporating a 

ventilated gap between the roof tile underlay and 

insulation layer. 

Underlays 

Ventilation can also be provided by using an 

underlay, which can be installed with other 

methods of ventilation. Underlay use needs to be 

considered in the tile-fixing specification as there 

may be increased wind loading on the tiles when 

using air permeable types 

Underlays are fixed underneath the roof tiles and 

can be classed as either HR (High Resistance) or 

LR (Low Resistance), their classification depends 

on the level of vapour resistance. When using HR 

underlays pitched roofs should have ventilation 

Above: The modern building is designed to keep warm air in 

with standard features such as double glazing and thicker 

insulation meaning that heat retention and energy efficiency 

are prioritised. 

openings at eaves level equal to a 10mm wide 

opening and running the full length of the eaves 

to promote cross ventilation. For pitches above 

35º or roof spans in excess of 10 metres, a 5mm 

continuous opening should be provided at the 

ridge. Increased ventilation openings are needed 

if the insulation follows the pitch of the roof for 

part or all of the rafter length. 

LR underlays, in accordance with BS 5250, will 

allow for a reduction in the area of the eaves 

ventilation openings. This is dependent upon how 

well sealed the ceiling is, and on the airopenness 

of the type of roof covering above the 

underlay. When using a Low Resistance underlay 

as well as AVCL on the warm side of the 

insulation, it may be that no ventilation will be 

needed to be used in the roof construction. 

When using either HR or LR underlays the 

ventilation requirements for the roof space should 

be considered for the best solution for the 

building design. 

The actual ventilation requirements will always 

depend on a combination of other factors 

including the pitch and span of the roof. 

If you want to hear more about Danelaw’s roofing 

ventilation range or arrange a CPD seminar about 

ventilation designs and solutions for pitched 

roofs, get in touch with the team at 

marketing@hambleside-danelaw.co.uk. 

Contact Hambleside Danelaw 

www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk 

@HambDane 

EXPECT 

MORE 

PROTECTION* 

PROTECT ANY ROOF FROM THE HARSHEST 

WEATHER WITH DANELAW UNDERLAYS 

The British climate demands that roofs are built to withstand the many 

different conditions that can cause damage. Our underlays provide an 

effective solution to protect any building from the harmful effects of 

condensation and weather conditions including wind, snow and rain. 

Hambleside Danelaw underlays can be used for warm and cold roof 

applications, unsupported, draped over timber rafters or counter battens, 

or fully supported over timber sarking and rigid insulation. They have 

been independently tested by the BRE for wind zone suitability, and 

have BBA approval. 

* THAT’S THE DANELAW DIFFERENCE 

call us: 01327 701 910 

email: sales@hambleside-danelaw.co.uk 

www.hambleside-danelaw.co.uk 

45+ YEARS OF ROOFING INNOVATION

Safety at Height 

HOW TO AVOID, SLIPS, TRIPS & INJURY 

In order to avoid serious injury or falls when working at height, adequate training and 

knowledge of height safety remain critical. Below, Gurjeev Bola, Product Manager at 

Werner, answers the questions that contractors need to know when it comes to 

working at height. 

Q: Falls from height still remain the 

biggest cause of workplace accidents and 

fatalities, so what can installers do in the 

fight against preventing falls from height? 

A: What we need to remember is that these 

accidents occur across the whole range of 

working at height projects, from the simplest 

repairs to large-scale construction jobs. 

More than half of the fall-from-height deaths in 

the construction industry are roof-work related. 

With this in mind, contractors have to ensure that 

the proper measures are in place to protect not 

only workers themselves, but also members of 

the public. 

Before using any working at height equipment, a 

risk assessment must be carried out, and this 

will highlight any risks and ensure that the 

relevant measures to mitigate these are in 

place. An adequate risk assessment should 

include: 

• Looking at the site for any potential hazards 

associated with falling from height 

• Deciding how certain hazards will affect the 

user and surrounding people 

• Considering the risks, are there measures in 

place to deal with these risks? 

• Record the findings and regularly review 

them. If any changes occur, ensure you have 

the precautions in place to deal with these 

risks. 

Q: What is the importance of planning 

when working at height and what needs to 

be done? 

A: Planning is vital to ensure safety in any 

working at height scenario, from short-duration 

minor work to major projects. Employers and 

those in control of any work at height activity 

must make sure work is properly planned, 

supervised and carried out by competent people. 

This includes using the right type of equipment for 

working at height. 

As part of this planning process, you must follow 

the hierarchy set out in the Work at Height 

Regulations 2005 to make sure that risks are 

controlled so far as is reasonably practicable. 

This hierarchy of measures must be followed 

systematically and only when one level is not 

reasonably practicable may the next level down 

be considered. 

Those planning work at height must: 

• Avoid work at height where they can; 

• Use equipment or other measures to prevent 

falls where they cannot avoid working at height; 

and 

• Where they cannot eliminate the risk of a fall, 

use work equipment or other measures to 

minimise the distances and consequences of a 

fall should one occur. 

Continued on page 28 


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Crest’s growing reputation for delivering high-quality building products are 

now becoming the preferred choice for architects, housing associations and 

local councils on affordable sustainable housing projects. 

Whether looking to replace your existing roof tiles or in search of a beautiful 

option for a new build, our range is certain to offer you the perfect solution, 

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For more information on our roofing tiles or to order a FREE tile 

sample contact the Crest team today. 

01430 432667 info@crest-bst.co.uk www.crest-bst.co.uk 

TECHNICAL 

S U P P O R T 

30 

Y E A R 

Crest Covering the UK 

in Hi-Quality Roof Tiles

Safety at Height 

Continued from page 26 

Q: What do you need to consider when 

planning work at height? 

There are requirements that you must consider 

when planning and undertaking work at height. 

You need to: 

• Take account of weather conditions 

• Check that the place where work at height is to 

be undertaken is safe, this needs to be done prior 

to every use 

• Stop materials or objects from falling or take 

suitable and sufficient measures to make sure no 

one can be injured 

• Store materials and objects safely so they 

won’t cause injury if they are disturbed or 

collapse 

• Plan for emergencies and rescue; agree a set 

procedure for evacuation. 

Q: How do you decide what safe access 

equipment to use? 

A: A sensible and pragmatic approach should be 

taken when considering safe access equipment 

for work at height. Factors to weigh up include: 

the height of the task; the duration and 

frequency; the condition of the surface being 

worked on; will there be the need to use tools; 

what are the ground conditions like; are there any 

obstructions and how much space is available to 

work? All of these considerations will factor in to 

what equipment is right for each individual job. 

Q: What part do education and awareness 

have to play when it comes to trying to 

reduce falls from height? 

A: It is vital that installers and contractors have 

up-to-date knowledge, experience and training 

when it comes to working at height. Experience 

also has a part to play, but if it is based on poor 

or inadequate initial training or out-of-date 

knowledge it can be worthless. People must 

understand the reasons why safe working 

practices are necessary. 

Undertaking regular training when working from 

Werner provides a whole host of access products and can provide advice and guidance for working safely at height. 

“People must 

understand the 

reasons why safe 

working practices are 

necessary” 

height is essential in maintaining safe practice at 

work and reducing the risk of serious injury or 

falls from height. This should include fall 

protection training, which equips workers with the 

ability to identify hazards in the workplace, carry 

out prevention measures and know how to act in 

an emergency, as well as understand HSE laws 

and the legal responsibilities both workers and 

employers hold. 

A contractor should be able to demonstrate: 

• sufficient knowledge of the particular type of 

work they are being asked to carry out and the 

risks it will entail; and 

• current and sufficient experience of the latest 

techniques, standards and materials to enable 

them to carry the work out safely, including any 

relevant training or qualifications. This training 

should cover safe working practices and, if 

required, the selection, pre-use inspection and 

use of personal fall-protection equipment. 

Q: Why are checks on equipment 

important? 

A: It is essential that frequent inspections are 

carried out on equipment to ensure it is safe to 

use, as it can be easy to overlook general wear 

and tear when equipment is used on a regular 

basis. The need for inspection and how frequently 

these should occur should be determined through 

risk assessment, and inspections should be 

undertaken by a competent professional who can 

identify potential defects early on. 

Contact Werner 

www.wernerco.co.uk 

@WernerLadderUK 


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ALUMINIUM FASCIA & SOFFITS

Solar Systems 

CAPITALISING ON THE SOLAR SURGE 

Millions of households across the UK could be paying around £700 a year more for 

electricity and gas following the price rises in April. With this in mind, the experts at 

Roof Giant assess what role rooftop solar PV has in the current energy crisis, as well 

as the potential opportunities for installers… 

Is solar a viable solution for households 

and businesses? 

Arecent report compiled by Solar Energy UK in 

partnership with the University of Cambridge 

analysed more than five million property 

transactions. The report suggests that solar power 

is a powerful way to lower running costs, increase 

property value and reduce the carbon footprint. 

Tried and trusted technology 

One of the significant benefits of solar is that it is 

one of the fastest renewable energy technologies 

to deploy. A domestic rooftop system can be 

designed and installed in days, and a large 

commercial rooftop system can be designed and 

installed in less than 12 months. In addition, it is 

easier to scale up an industry that is already in 

place than go from a standing start – an 

important factor due to the speed with which the 

UK needs to address the energy crisis. 

Costs: Initial cost outlay 

Figures show the cost of Rooftop solar has declined 

by as much as 60% since 2010. The average 

domestic solar PV system is 4.2kWp and costs 

around £6,500. Solar panels on top of the roof are 

the cheapest option, while solar tiles are the most 

expensive but can provide a better aesthetic. 

• Photovoltaic diverters are an add-on to a PV 

system. Diverters can increase the efficiency of a 

system by providing power to an immersion 

heater and/or an electric heater. A PV diverter 

switch installation could add around £800. 

• Adding batteries to the system can provide stored 

energy that can be used later. Battery technology 

has made leaps and bounds in recent years, and 

system costs range between £1,200 and £6,000. 

• Solar technology may have reduced in price, 

but installation remains a large part of the total 

cost. Homeowners can buy DIY kits, but there are 

obvious pitfalls for gaps in skills and knowledge. 

Not all systems are eligible for Feed-in Tariffs, 

and certification must be carried out by an 

accredited engineer. 

Making money back 

Under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), 

households can get paid for electricity that they do 

not use and export it back to the grid. Rooftop solar 

can save individual households well over £300 per 

year in energy costs while increasing property 

values at the same time. Homes with solar panels 

can increase in value by £1,800 or higher. 

The initial cost can typically be offset within 12- 

18 years, with some studies calculating payback 

times as short as 8 -11 years. With the proper 

maintenance, solar panel installations should last 

between 20 to 25 years or more. 

Building Regulations 

The changes to the Part L Building Regulations in 

June 2022 will mean many new homes built in 

England will include solar, presenting a great 

opportunities for those roofers and installers who 

upskill and diversify their offering. Housebuilders 

will have to design and plan to meet the ‘Uplift to 

Energy Efficiency’ requirements in new homes 

from 1st June 2022. This is already in place in 

Scotland. The ‘Uplift to Energy Efficiency’ aims to 

deliver a 31% improvement on current Part L 

sustainability and energy efficiency standards. 

Solar panels aren’t the only option available, but 

they are acknowledged as an efficient way to 

comply with the new Part L Uplift and the 

forthcoming Future Homes Standard. 

What are the drawbacks? 

Is the property suitable? The ideal roof for solar 

panels is south-facing. East or west-facing roofs 

yield up to 20% less energy, and North-facing roofs 

are the least productive. For a 3.5kW system, room 

for 15 to 20 sq. metres of panels is required. The 

best results are achieved from a 30º roof. 

Solar panels are classed as permitted 

developments, so planning permission is not 

required in most cases. However, there may be 

restrictions for listed buildings or properties in a 

conservation area. 

Retrofitting: More and more households are 

investing in onsite solar to reduce their energy bills, 

and banks are starting to offer green mortgages to 

finance these home improvements. However, many 

people do not have access to such finance, so 

there is a role for the National Infrastructure Bank 

to provide finance for all green retrofitting. 

Summary 

Solar PV seems to be a viable option for many 

households in the UK and is a proven and durable 

technology. Of course, not all properties are suitable 

and can take full advantage of solar technology. 

However, PV systems are flexible and scalable in 

design and can integrate with other renewable 

technologies. The high initial investment has always 

been a barrier to solar installation. Organisations 

like Solar Energy UK are pushing the Government to 

introduce long-term funding support for residential 

retrofits and tax incentives for onsite energy 

generation, further opening up the market for those 

installers with the skills and accreditations to 

capitalize on the increased demand. 

Contact Roof Giant 

www.roofgiant.com 


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Roofing Updates 

For further info on all these updates and more, visit www.total-contractor.co.uk 

QUARRY EXTENSION SOUGHT 

To help meet the ongoing demand for its 

natural slate construction, architectural and 

hard landscaping products, Welsh Slate has 

applied to extend its largest quarry. 

The company is asking Gwynedd Council for a 

2.3-hectare extension to its 318-hectare Penrhyn 

Quarry site in Bethesda, near Bangor, where its 

popular roofing slates and architectural products 

such as cladding, flooring, paving, walling and 

hard landscaping products are produced. 

Although the application site is 2.3 hectares, 

Welsh Slate says only 1.6 hectares would be 

quarried, but this would increase the amount of 

slate permitted to be quarried by 250,000 tonnes 

or 3.6 million tonnes overall. the company says it 

would also increase the life of Penrhyn Quarry by 

12 years, from the end of 2023 to the end of 2035. 

Amendments to the original planning application 

following a period of public consultation include 

halving the area of the proposed extension (from 

4.3 hectares) and reassessing the need to 

dispose of slate waste as the company says the 

site will generate less waste, and the reduced 

amount of waste can be accommodated within 

the existing quarry void without impacting on 

views beyond the quarry. Welsh Slate says its 

plans for Penrhyn will help secure the jobs of 

more than 100 people. The company will also be 

applying to extend operations by four to five 

years at its site in Blaenau Ffestiniog, which 

produces minerals for manufacturers of such 

products as roofing felt, and says this would 

secure the jobs of eight people. 

Find out more: 

https://www.welshslate.com/news/2022/04/13 

/penrhyn-quarry-planning-applications/ 

BRETT MARTIN SHINES AGAIN 

Brett Martin Daylight Systems (BMDS) has provided its Energysaver factory-assembled GRP rooflights 

for a new purpose-built production facility in Bedfordshire, creating a light, energy efficient 

environment which enhances the workplace for employees. 

Designed by architects Woods Hardwick, the new Jewers Doors facility comprises 45,700 sq ft of factory and 

12,000 sq ft of office space. Built by Parkway Construction, the new highly insulated building features energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Its 

composite panel roof incorporates a rooflight system from Brett Martin that maximises daylight and thermal performance, as well as offering the most costeffective 

solution. The specification for the 80mm-thick composite panel roof included 650m² of Brett Martin GRP Trilite 3.0 Energysaver rooflights to provide 

an even spread of diffused daylight into the building. Offering quality and robustness, these triple-skin factory-assembled insulating rooflights (FAIRs) are 

designed to the same depth as the composite roofing system so that the flat liner panel sits flush with surrounding metal panels for excellent aesthetics and 

a neater, trim internal appearance. Jonathan Jewers, Director at Jewers Doors, said: “As a long-standing customer of Brett Martin, we are pleased that the 

Brett Martin Energysaver FAIRS were specified on our new premises. The technical expertise, product quality and customer service from Brett Martin made 

the process of supply and installation as seamless as possible and we are very pleased with the final result of our new building.” www.brettmartin.com 

AERO PITCH SKYLIGHT IS PITCHED ROOF PERFECT 

Sunsquare has launched Aero Pitch – describing it as ‘the world’s most advanced and thermally 

efficient skylight for 20-60° tiled roofs’. 

The company says Aero Pitch is not only fully automated, it’s condensation free, holds a BSI Kitemark for its 

safety and quality and is incredibly easy to install, with one universal flashing kit to fit any roof. 

“We’ve been flat-roof skylight specialists for 18 years and this is our very first model specifically designed for 20- 

60° roofs,” explained Justin Seldis, MD at Sunsquare. “Using our pioneering design experience, we wanted to 

address all the common issues people face with pitched roof skylights, such as thermal performance, 

condensation, safety and usability, and we’ve ended up with the most advanced skylight out there. But that wasn’t our only focus, we wanted to make it 

as straight forward as possible for installers too. That’s why we developed a universal flashing kit that will suit any tiled roof, from 20-60°. Our kit has 

everything you’ll ever need with no hidden extras needed, even for bespoke sizes. In fact, the skylight, flashing kit and upstand all come as part of the 

package, so installers always have everything they need to get the job done easily.” www.sunsquare.co.uk 


www.britmet.co.uk | 01295 250998 | sales@britmet.co.uk 

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Roofing Updates 


PERMAROOF UK EXPANDS ITS OFFERING 

PermaRoof UK has announced it is further increasing its range to include the RubberGutter EPDM SA system. 

The company says the time saving, self-adhered rubber waterproofing membrane is designed for guttering and valleys, and it has been 

launched in response to merchant demand for quicker to install, longer lasting solutions that can be offered at the trade counter. 

Understanding that applying adhesive on site can be time consuming, often needing additional specialist tools, and will not always leave 

the best aesthetic finish – PermaRoof UK has invested in supplying the RubberGutter EPDM to answer these concerns. To do this, the 

synthetic EPDM rubber waterproofing membrane features unique secure bond technology that ensures an edge to edge clean, uniform and strong adhesion. 

When applied in conjunction with guttering products to buildings, the company says it is proven to improve the longevity of the system as its high elasticity 

allows for expansions and contractions of metal gutters and concrete. The membrane is also designed to ensure no cracking or splitting takes place over time 

and has excellent resistance to UV exposure and extreme weather conditions. Sunny Lotay, National Commercial Manager at PermaRoof Commercial, said: 

“We’re pleased to be able to bring the RubberGutter EPDM to the market for our customers. One of the many benefits of the new system is that it is quick and 

easy to install. It has been developed to not require any special tools, making it an efficient system to work with for roofing installers. Additionally, it can be 

applied at any time of the year, even when conditions are below freezing, furthering its convenience to contractors on site.” www.permaroof.co.uk/ 

WELSH SLATE’S HISTORIC PROJECT 

One of London's most unique buildings is 

enjoying a new lease of life, thanks to Welsh 

Slate. 

The Great Hall and Library Buildings of The 

Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, an 

association of students, barristers and judges 

and one of the four Inns of Court, have over the 

past two years undergone an extensive 

programme of external conservation carried out 

by expert stone masons Capital Stone. 

The programme of work includes replacement of 

the Great Hall’s slate roof covering. Work is still 

ongoing, but the work to the Great Hall roof is 

complete, as is the striking of the temporary roof 

covering which brings the new roof into view. 

The Great Hall and Library Buildings were 

constructed from 1843 to 1845. The Great Hall 

roof was originally covered with lead but was 

recovered in 1868 with slate. From 1871 to 

1873 the Library was extended eastwards by 

three bays. The building is an important 

example of 19th Century Gothic Revival 

architecture and has been listed Grade II* 

since 1951. 

After 154 years, the slates on the roof of the 

Great Hall required replacing to protect the 

interior, including a striking fresco and 

beautifully worked oak. The slates were 

suffering from surface delamination and a large 

proportion had slipped due to nail rot, requiring 

tingles to hold them in place. 

The existing slates were found to originate from 

both the Ordovician and Cambrian deposits of 

North Wales – the former predominately on the 

eastern elevation and the latter on the western. 

The large Ordovician slates, typically 850mm 

long and between 350mm and 500mm wide 

(and laid to a fixed gauge of approximately 

350mm which equates to a head lap of 

approximately 100mm), originated from what is 

now Welsh Slate’s Ffestiniog quarry, which is 

currently mothballed, while the other quarries 

producing these no longer operate. 

The Cambrian slates from the Llanberis region, as 

well as Bethesda where Welsh Slate’s main 

quarry is based, were even larger, at 850mm long 

and wider than 450mm, laid to the same gauge. 

Both slate types were fixed to timber battens on 

open timber rafters, with the underside torched 

Image courtesy of Casey Wickers, trainee quantity 

surveyor with Capital Stone Renovation. 

with horsehair and lime plaster. 

These were replaced for the closest Welsh slate 

match – Welsh Slate’s County-grade Penrhyn 

Heather Blues, at 800mm long, widths of 

between 400mm and 550mm, and a 350mm 

gauge and 100mm head lap. These are 

guaranteed for 100 years, with a useful life of 

150 years. 

While the roof is generally simple in form, with 

two large slopes, its substantial size at circa 

800m² meant the work took considerable time to 

complete. To allow for more than a dozen dormers 

the Welsh Slate had to be cut and fitted to size 

with double copper clout nails. The thickest slates 

were used on the eaves, diminishing towards the 

ridge to maintain the original visual finish. They 

were also holed from the rear to provide a slight 

countersink to the face. 

www.welshslate.com 


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Project Focus 

THE RIGHT FORMULA 

Total Contractor hears how Proteus Facades’ Proteus GL glass cladding panels, in 

combination with the company’s digital screen printing facilities, were utilised to create 

a striking facade for the new maths facility at St Albans School in Hertfordshire. 

Proteus Facades has created 

an aesthetic like no other 

on the external façade of a 

new-build mathematics facility at 

St Albans School in Hertfordshire, 

through clever use of the 

manufacturer’s Proteus GL glass 

cladding panels and digital screen 

printing facilities. 

In recent years the school has 

experienced a consistently 

increasing take-up of science, technology, 

engineering and mathematics (STEM) related 

subjects by pupils. However, it was found that 

there was a lack of existing, fit-for-purpose space 

to house and support the growth and teaching of 

these subjects at the school. 

The new Corfield Building at St Albans School 

replaces a now demolished wooden cabin-like 

structure to address this need. Designed by PHP 

Architects and developed by Borras 

Construction, it includes a bespoke two storey 

maths facility on the upper ground and first 

floors, along with a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) 

shooting range and office space within the lower 

ground floor. 

A facade to match the facilities 

A key requirement for the design of the new 

structure was to ensure that the outside 

aesthetics showcased the state-of-the-art 

facilities within and the leading reputation that 

the school has for its STEM programme. 

To achieve the required aesthetic and taking 

inspiration from the old black boards and white 

chalk used in schools many years ago, PHP 

Architects specified bespoke Proteus GL 4mm 

back-painted glass cladding panels with a 

unique, screen-printed monochrome 

mathematical design. 

Using state-of-the-art glass processing 

facilities, the glass was fabricated with a 

two layer digital screen-print effect. An initial 

white application was applied, and CNC control 

printed with the mathematical symbols. A solid 

secondary black back-painted layer was then 

added to create the black board effect. The 

featured arrangement of mathematical and 

geometrical symbols, shapes and equations 

represent those used within theories and 

formulas covered as part of the core subject. 

While the principal of designing a black board for 

the external elevation sounds simple, it creates a 

number of challenges. The most prudent being 

developing a product that can both achieve the 

required aesthetics and have the strength and 

durability to withstand external environmental 

conditions such as harsh weather. 

As glass is a completely inert material, Proteus 

GL was the ideal choice as it provides a virtually 

unlimited lifespan because it is rust and 

corrosion free. In addition, as the system is 

available in almost any RAL colour or bespoke 

digitally screen printed options, the material 

offers architects a wealth of design options, while 

providing a product that is 

colourfast, resistant to UV rays 

and fully tested and compliant 

with CWCT Standards. 

Proteus GL is an integrated 

modular rainscreen cladding 

system with an aluminium 

honeycomb core structurally 

bonded between a 

toughened back 

painted glass face 

and a lightweight 

metal rear skin. The 

system has been 

tested to EN13501 and 

achieves an A2 fire rating. It 

is also lightweight, being up to 33 per cent lighter 

than the closest glass rainscreen system. 

Each panel, installed by Craft Interiors, is 

supported by the unique Proteus system of 

aluminium carriers and ancillary components, 

which can be installed on to any type of wall 

construction with no visible fixings, creating a 

sheer, smooth façade. 

Outstanding results 

Commenting on the design and development of 

the new structure at St Albans School, (which 

received full funding from Nick Corfield OA), a 

representative of the School said: “As well as 

significantly improving the home of our everpopular 

CCF unit, this development provides our 

Maths Department with a new building worthy 

inside and out of its outstanding results.” 

Contact Proteus Facades 

www.proteusfacades.com 

0151 545 5075 


For work you’ll take your hat off to 

If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. 

Get the latest guidance on fixing and tooling to help you maintain your high standards. 

So you can take pride in a job well done. 

W: fixfast.com l T: +44 1732 882387 l E: sales@fixfast.com

Air Tightness 

ASK THE A. PROCTOR GROUP 

“Is it true that to achieve good airtightness levels, you will need MVHR?” The experts at 

the A. Proctor Group tackle this question in their latest column, which addresses some 

of the commonly held myths from the contracting world... 

In this series, we look at some commonly held 

myths surrounding the contracting world 

concerning thermal and acoustic insulation, 

condensation control, and fire protection. 

In this article, we tackle the question: is it true 

that to achieve good airtightness levels, you will 

need MVHR? When considering whether MVHR 

(Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) is 

required to achieve an airtight building, the short 

answer is no. However, it can be advantageous, 

or to use a technical phrase, ‘it depends’! 

The required levels of airtightness in UK 

construction regulations are constantly being 

lowered, one could argue, albeit too slowly. In 

addition, many contractors and professionals in 

the construction sector now understand that 

achieving excellent levels of airtightness is an 

important thermal improvement method, but are 

there knock-on effects? 

Our own Iain Fairnington, Technical Director at the 

A. Proctor Group, sits on the BS 5250 committee, 

which deals with Moisture Management, and he 

explains that the committee generally agree that 

the easiest way to avoid moisture build-up is to 

put the heating up and open the windows. 

Adopting this approach allows any moisture to 

escape and avoids cold spots. Simple, but not 

environmentally friendly. So, a better method is to 

look at how we manage the balance of Heat, Air 

and Moisture Movement. 

When an installation results in high levels of 

airtightness, this could lead to stale moist air 

trapped inside a building. 

If the heating is not controlled in this scenario, 

the stale moist air could almost reach “sweat” 

levels. To counter this, introducing ventilation 

moves the air out and replaces it with fresh air. 

Yet this approach to ventilation is like throwing

the baby out with the bathwater given the 

increasing costs of heating that air and then 

letting that warm air escape, while bringing in 

cooler air that needs to be heated up. 

There are various methods to tackle this, 

including the following: 

• No ventilation system – Here, the airtightness 

is above 3 generally, and the only reliance is on 

trickle passive ventilation and mechanical 

ventilation in kitchens and bathrooms 

• MEV: Mechanical Extract Ventilation – In this 

case, the ventilation system extracts moisture 

from areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, shower 

rooms etc., to the outside 

• MVHR: Mechanical Ventilation with Heat 

Recovery – Using MVHR, the air is extracted and 

any heat from this air is recovered 

All the above options have pros and cons, and the 

ultimate decision will depend on several factors, 

such as the need to filter air/reduce energy 

consumption or budget. 

The phrase “Build tight/ventilate right” conveys 

the importance of the balance of getting this right. 

For example, a self-build project may prefer an 

MVHR system, and the owners may be happy to 

change the filters every six months. However, a 

developer may not want to put this extra 

responsibility on the owner so that they may 

choose an MEV system. The MEV can be quieter 

and runs at low pressure. The MEV can also be 

cheaper to install as less pipework is required. 

Whichever system is chosen by the architect, 

developer or homeowner, there is no reason for 

concern that the airtightness levels may be too 

low. There are solutions to ensure the building is 

healthy and efficient. 

At the A. Proctor Group we fully support the fabric 

first philosophy. We offer many solutions to buildin 

energy efficiency and moisture management. 

Examples of this can be seen in the range of 

reflective membranes, external (Reflectashield 

TF) and internal (Reflectatherm), and Wraptite, 

an airtight vapour permeable externally applied 

self-adhered membrane for walls and roofs. 

We supply high-performance thin insulation 

systems for walls, floors, and roofs, which can 

also reduce cold bridging in critical areas. As with 

all decisions in life, it is all a question of getting 

the balance right. 

Contact the A. Proctor Group 

www.proctorgroup.com 

@proctorgroup 


Updates 


FREEFOAM CLADDING TRANSFORMS GARDEN ROOMS 

Freefoam cladding is an easy way to 

modernise and refresh many different 

buildings, as one Swansea-based installer 

found out after installing it on two garden 

rooms. 

C J Davies & Sons Property Maintenance has 

been trading for the past eight years and offers 

full property maintenance. A Freefoam Registered 

Installer, owner Chris Davies has seen the 

cladding side of his business develop over the 

past few years. He uses Freefoam stockists 

Atlantic Cladding and Roofbase Swansea for all 

his cladding supplies. 

Chris and his team recently transformed two 

different garden rooms with the help of Freefoam 

cladding. For one customer, the company 

installed Fortex cladding in Storm Grey to revamp 

a stand-alone garden building. The second 

involved the creation of a new garden room using 

Pale Gold Fortex cladding installed as part of the 

customer’s reconfiguration of living and office 

space. On both projects, 

“We don’t get a big call for 

Chris also fitted black 

cladding in Swansea on 

fascias, soffits and half 

houses, more for gardenroom 

type projects. But in 

round guttering from 

Freefoam. 

nearby Mumbles, which is 

a seaside resort, cladding 

Chris said: “We prefer to 

has grown in popularity 

fit Freefoam cladding. It’s 

and there are more 

very durable, has a great 

properties with cladding 

range of colours and the 

on the front of them. 

guarantee that comes with 

it from Freefoam is a real 

“Colour has become very 

benefit too. 

important to customers, 

and it’s great to see 

“But, importantly, both 

Freefoam improve in this 

customers preferred 

area over the years. The 

Freefoam’s Fortex cladding 

Above: C J Davies’s work on the garden room during (top) range of colours tend to be 

as well. They were both 

and with the Freefoam Fortex cladding installed. available now in both 

ecstatic with how it all 

Weatherboard and Double 

turned out – we have even gone on to do other 

Shiplap cladding, which is great for our 

work for one customer, as he was so pleased 

customers.” 

with the job we did. 

www.freefoam.com 

SHACKERLEY’S BRICKCLAD SECURES BBA CERTIFICATE 

Shackerley has secured a BBA Agrément 

Certificate for the company’s BrickClad 

mechanically fixed brick cladding system. 

Launched last year to enable specifiers to 

select a robust A1 rated façade system that 

combines high-quality, kiln-fired brick, with 

high-grade stainless steel or Magnelis-coated 

brick cassette profiles, the BrickClad system 

has achieved BBA certification 22/5998. The 

new BBA certificate adds to a portfolio of BBA 

certified products in the Shackerley range, 

which includes the company’s SureClad 

Ceramic Granite system (BBA Certificate 

14/5130), and its SureClad Engineered Stone 

system (Product Sheet 1, and BBA Certificate 

14/5130, Product Sheet 2). 

Brian G Newell MBE, Founder and Chief 

Executive of Shackerley, explained: “Providing 

BBA certified cladding systems 

is very important for us 

because it demonstrates that 

our façade systems have 

undergone rigorous testing to 

meet the standards required by 

building regulations and the 

quality architects need for a 

robust and hardwearing facade 

installation. 

“Not only are we now able to 

offer BBA certification for our façade systems, we 

have also been successful in including our extralarge 

format SureClad Ceramic Granite panels up 

to 3200 x 1600mm under BBA Certificate 

14/5130, Product Sheet 1, enabling architects to 

specify seamless slab-to-slab spans.” 

The latest cladding system to join Shackerley’s 

portfolio, which also includes 

the company’s SureClad 

Natural Stone and Terracotta 

ranges, BrickClad is an 

innovative brick façade 

system that has been 

developed in-house by 

Shackerley’s Queen’s Awardwinning 

technical team. The 

system’s brick cassette 

profiles are made at 

Shackerley’s ISO 9001 Lancashire factories, 

utilising the company’s bespoke roll-forming 

production machinery and 0.5mm thick 

Magnelis-coated steel or stainless steel, which 

is 40% thicker than other systems, providing 

improved strength, performance and corrosion 

resistance. 

www.shackerley.com 


The Complete 

Supply Chain 

MCRMA members provide the 

complete supply chain for 

sustainable metal-clad building 

solutions in the industrial and 

commercial sectors. 

Our members encompass 

• Systems manufacturers 

• Component manufacturers 

• Systems installers 

• Stockholders 

• Independent roofing and 

cladding inspectors 

• Industry support services 

providers 

Visit www.mcrma.co.uk 

to find out more about the MCRMA and its members. 

The ‘MCRMA The Building Envelope Authority’ is a registered Collective Trademark of the Metal Cladding and Roofing Manufacturers Association Limited.

Updates 

NEW BBA CERTIFICATE FOR STO 

The StoVentec Glass A system from Sto has 

been awarded with a new BBA certificate, 

underlining the quality and performance of 

the rainscreen cladding system. 

The certificate provides independent assessment 

that the system can be used on buildings above 

18m in height, with a reaction to fire 

classification of A2-s1, d0. 

The StoVentec Glass A system can be used as a 

protective or decorative façade cladding over the 

external walls of new or existing buildings, or 

alternatively as an internal wall lining. Greg Astill, 

Sto’s Head of Product Management, explained: 

“The system is extremely versatile, so it’s great 

news that we’ve got this new BBA certification as it 

provides architects with all the reassurance they 

need to use StoVentec Glass A on their projects. 

The certification covers many different areas, such 

as compliance with applicable Building 

Regulations, structural performance, behaviour in 

relation to fire, and durability, and we can support 

this reassurance by providing our customers with 

full technical guidance, right from initial design 

considerations through to installation, and with 

project references.” 

The new certificate looks set to increase the 

popularity of the StoVentec Glass A system, 

which has already been used on a wide variety of 

projects, ranging from educational, residential 

and commercial buildings through to airport and 

rail transport hubs, as a result of further testing 

against impact, smoke emission and bomb blast. 

“The independent nature of the BBA certification 

is an important point in emphasizing the 

performance and reliability of the system,” 

added Greg. “We undertook a lengthy and 

ongoing process of testing and development for 

StoVentec Glass A, and in the process, we 

acquired a wealth of data which confirms the 

product quality. To have that data assessed and 

certified by the BBA means that architects can 

specify the system in complete confidence.” 

Hardy Giesler (left), CEO for the British Board of Agrément, 

presents the certificate to Greg Astill, Head of Product 

Management, and Kevin Davies, Head of Technical for Sto. 

The glass panels have a technically superior 

composite construction on an inert, unique 

backer panel. Available in any RAL colour as 

standard, or screen printed in custom colours 

and with individual designs, the glass can be 

manufactured in bespoke sizes and shapes to 

satisfy specific project requirements, and so 

allows architects to give free reign to their design 

skills. An adjustable sub-construction enables it 

to accommodate uneven substrates, and when 

used externally it creates a ventilated cavity 

which keeps the wall dry and allows it to 

breathe, as well as providing effective thermal 

insulation. 

www.sto.co.uk 

RUUKKI ANNOUNCES COLLABORATION WITH M4C 

Ruukki Construction and M4C, the 

Northumberland-based sales and 

business consultancy, have announced a 

strategic collaboration to develop the UK 

market for Ruukki’s range of high-quality 

steel-based composite products for walls 

and roofs of both commercial and 

residential buildings. 

M4C was founded in 2018 by Managing 

Director Matthew Curtis and has been 

providing strategic consultancy and business 

support to the Construction, Engineering & 

Chemical Sectors. 

Prior to M4C, Matthew was Managing Director 

of Trimo (UK), a similar business to Ruukki that 

was involved in the supply of building envelope 

materials to projects such as the Manchester 

Airport Terminal 2 transformation, and 

Above: Matthew Curtis is Managing Director of M4C. 

Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre. 

Matthew knows the sector well, and over the 

past 20 years he has worked for organisations 

such as Saint Gobain, Hilti, Akzo Nobel and 

Syntha Pulvin. 

Matthew commented: “I am delighted to be 

able to partner with Ruukki and to assist them 

to grow their UK market share. I believe the 

market is open to working with suppliers that 

are pro-active and reliable.” 

M4C has been granted permission to trade in 

the UK as Ruukki UK on behalf of Ruukki Polska 

Sp Z o o. 

Ruukki Construction is a supplier of steelbased 

building products and services for roofs 

and walls for sustainable buildings. The 

company employs around 1,500 people and 

has 11 specialized manufacturing sites. The 

company says its strong presence in 10 

European countries enables it to serve 

customers locally with its main brands Ruukki 

and Plannja. 

www.ruukki.com 


The Ultimate Mineral 

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Introducing the new Silestone ® 

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HybriQ+® and HybriQ Technology® are registered trademarks owned by Cosentino Global SLU 

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on YouTube

Knauf Insulation Tech Talk 

TAKE THE FLOOR 

When homeowners upgrade their insulation, they tend to focus on the loft, but older 

properties may be losing heat through the ground floor. This month Bradley Hirst, 

Technical Services Manager at Knauf Insulation, provides his top tips for insulating a 

suspended timber floor. 

Comply with building regulations 

Approved Document L of the building 

regulations was updated in June 2022. 

There’s a one year transition period, which 

means that projects granted planning permission 

before that date can still be built to the existing 

standard providing work starts before 15th June 

23. After this date all projects must meet the new 

minimum thermal performance standards. This 

means if you are installing insulation into an 

existing floor, then you will need to achieve a 

U-value of 0.25 W/m²K. This is typically achieved 

using 150mm of insulation between joists, 

but check with the manufacturer’s 

technical team to ensure the 

correct specification for your 

project. 

Use Mineral Wool insulation 

As well as providing thermal 

performance, Mineral Wool insulation for 

suspended timber floors is non-combustible. 

This means you can reassure your customers 

that it will not add to the development or 

spread of fire should it occur. 

Left: Bradley Hirst, Technical Services Manager. Above: Knauf Insulation suspended timber floor cutaway. 

Below: Knauf Insulation OmniFit Slab is ideal for insulating suspended timber floors from below. 

“If you are 

installing insulation 

into an existing floor, 

then you will need to 

achieve a U-value of 

0.25 W/m²K” 

Choose a slab or roll based on the 

installation method 

There are two methods for insulating a 

suspended timber floor: from above by 

removing the floorboards, or from below if 

there’s a crawl space. When installing 

insulation from above, use a Glass Mineral 

Wool roll, such as Knauf Insulation’s OmniFit 

Roll 40, because it’s quicker. But when working 

below the floor, use a Glass or Rock Mineral 

Wool slab, such as Knauf Insulation’s OmniFit 

Slab 35 or Rocksilk Flexible Slab, because 

slabs are easier to manoeuvre in a confined 

space. 

Use netting 

Always support Mineral Wool insulation with 

netting stapled to the joists to stop it from 

becoming loose, due to vibration from people 

walking across the floor above over time. 

Ensure the quality of installation 

Unlike rigid board insulation, Mineral Wool is 

This image: Knauf Insulation OmniFit Roll 40. 

flexible, so it is easier to install correctly. It 

friction fits between the joists and knits together 

at joints, preventing gaps that can reduce thermal 

performance and fire safety. 

Contact Knauf Insulation 

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk 

@KnaufUK 


A2 

Insulation 

solutions 

for flat roofs 

Recticel Insulation is an experienced flat 

roofing partner, providing innovative and 

reliable insulation solutions for flat roof 

applications. 

Discover the ideal solution for your flat roof 

project at recticelinsulation.co.uk

Combating Climate Change 

‘NOW OR NEVER’–BUT WHAT’S 

HAPPENED SINCE COP 26? 

By Simon Storer, Chief Executive of the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA). 

Eclipsed by the war in Ukraine and rising 

energy prices, the COP26 climate 

conference last November seems largely 

forgotten, but with the latest UN 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

(IPCC) report saying urgent action is needed to 

combat climate change, it begs the question as to 

why we are still breaking our climate promises. 

The lack of coherent action since the conference 

is a sad indictment of how serious the 

government is in helping everyone from big 

businesses to householders to reduce their 

carbon footprint. 

In March, startling heatwaves at both of the 

Earth’s poles were yet another stark warning of 

the disruption in the Earth’s climate systems with 

many scientists warning that the events unfolding 

were ‘historic’, ‘unprecedented’ and ‘dramatic’. 

These ice caps will continue to melt, but there is 

still time to push for positive change. While 

COP26 in Glasgow put the UK on the global stage 

as potential climate change pioneers, it was all 

about the headlines with little substance. The 

problem hasn’t gone away, but the coverage has. 

Just 12 months ago, government enshrined into 

UK law an ambitious target to reduce emissions 

by 78% by 2036 on 1990 levels. Where does this 

leave the built environment, a sector which is 

responsible for almost 50 per cent of carbon 

emissions? 

Change takes time 

We can’t make change overnight, we need to put in 

place programmes that can develop over time. But 

that seems to be a complete anathema to the way 

the government works. Balancing aspiration with 

reality is always an enormous challenge when 

dealing with political initiatives; we only have to 

look at the failed Green Homes Grant retrofit 

scheme to see how it can go perilously wrong. 

Combine this with households across the UK 

facing rocketing energy bill rises of 54% since 

April and many millions of households facing fuel 

poverty, and it’s clear government must ramp up 

their investment in energy saving measures to 

combat the crisis. 

The crucial role of insulation 

It is well accepted that insulation is the single 

most important aspect of the specification of 

energy efficiency measures into a building and 

can help the UK’s housing stock adapt to the 

impacts of a changing climate. 

If homes and buildings are to become more 

energy efficient, good insulation is fundamental to 

offsetting increasing energy costs. With a clear 

emphasis on the design of a building’s envelope, 

the versatility and benefits of PIR and PUR 

insulation come into their own when 

professionally and correctly installed, whether 

that be for new buildings or refurbishment 

projects. Once installed the product will continue 

to perform across the lifetime of the building. 

The government must find a way that is both 

persuasive and attractive for the refurbishment of 

the existing housing stock to happen, and with a 

financial model that ensures this commitment 

becomes a reality. Too many ideas have failed in 

the past because the investment models could 

not be made to work. 

Committed to change 

Despite the challenges we face due to global 

uncertainty, many insulation manufacturers, from 

individual companies to trade bodies, are fully 

committed to adopting sustainable design and 

installation methods to help deliver betterperforming 

buildings and help the UK achieve the 

ambitions of our net-zero climate change targets. 

UN experts warn it may be ‘now or never’ to make 

the change. Construction has an important role to 

play, but who will make it happen? 

Contact IMA 

www.insulationmanufacturers.org.uk 

@IMA_Org 


Part L Support 

BRINGING TRAINING TO SITE 

With changes to Part L coming into force on 15th June, Jonathan Ducker, Head of 

Regulatory Affairs at Kingspan Insulation, discusses the new Toolbox Talks on-site 

training service the manufacturer now offers to ensure your work meets the new 

requirements. 

Big changes are on the way on 15th June 

with the updated version of Part L of the 

Building Regulations coming into force for 

new build and refurbishment projects in England. 

This document sets the energy efficiency 

requirements for buildings and, in many cases, 

will mean that project teams will need to target 

better U-values to reach compliance. The update 

also introduces new compliance reports, requiring 

installers to provide photographic evidence to 

Building Control that insulation measures have 

been correctly installed. To help contractors to 

meet these requirements, at Kingspan Insulation 

we have now launched a Toolbox Talks service, 

providing on-site training to ensure your work 

meets all of the new requirements. 

Compliance Reports 

Since I talked about compliance reports in the 

November issue of Total Contractor, more details 

have been published about how these will work in 

practice. The report is split into two stages – 

Design Stage and As Built. 

The Design Stage report is completed by the SAP 

assessor and includes the specification for the 

property and the heat loss values (Psi-values) at 

key junctions such as around windows and doors 

and where the different building elements meet. 

These junctions can act as key sources of heat 

loss in a building due to thermal bridging, where 

materials which conduct heat better than the 

insulation layer are allowed to form a ‘bridge’ 

between the inside of the property and the 

outside. To prevent this, the position and type of 

materials used, including insulation measures, 

should be carefully pre-planned in details. Project 

teams can either create these details bespoke for 

the property or use one of a wide range of predesigned 

details available from manufacturers. 

The As-Built report is again filled in by the SAP 

assessor and should highlight any changes which 

have been made within the actual property. This 

includes where specified insulation materials 

have been substituted or where other changes 

have been made to the details at key junctions. 

As part of the As-Built report for new homes, 

installers will need to provide photographs of the

“The new Toolbox Talks are a great 

way to ensure all of your team are 

fully up-to-speed on best practice” 

insulation measures fitted at these junctions before they’re covered up. 

These pictures need to clearly show that the insulation materials which 

have been fitted match the specification and that they have been 

correctly installed in line with the details, with no gaps or defects. 

Pictures need to be taken of these junctions in every unit and, where 

available, geolocation settings should be turned on on your phone or 

camera to help prove this. 

The pictures should then be sent on to the SAP assessor and developer 

who will need to sign off the As-Built report before sending it on to 

Building Control for review. This new process means that if any issues are 

picked up by the SAP assessor, developer or Building Control, it may be 

necessary for installers to carry out costly and time-consuming remedial 

works to bring the building up to standard. 

Toolbox Talks 

To help installers to avoid these issues, and ensure the finished buildings 

perform as expected, Kingspan Insulation has now launched dedicated 

Toolbox Talks as part of our technical advice service. These talks are 

carried out by our expert Product Technicians and can be booked for any 

site across the country. 

The Toolbox Talks cover a wide range of topics including how to identify 

the correct product and thickness for a particular application, advice on 

handling, storing and installing the products and support on how best to 

carry out detailing at tricky junctions. Our technicians can carry out live 

demonstrations, walking you through some of these key steps, and 

there’s also plenty of opportunity to ask questions or get advice on any 

issues you’re having. 

With the help of our new field service mobile app, the technicians can 

also take pictures of any of the measures you’ve already fitted. These 

images will be sent to our inhouse technical support team who’ll review 

them and produce a clear report highlighting any potential issues so you 

can easily address them for complete peace of mind. 

The new Toolbox Talks are a great way to ensure all of your team are fully 

up-to-speed on best practice and to avoid any potential problems as the 

new compliance reports become a standard requirement. 

Contact Kingspan Insulation 

www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk 

@KingspanIns_UK 

To book a talk email: technicaladviceservice@kingspaninsulation.co.uk 


Sustainability & Construction 

‘PLASTIC DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE 

VILLAIN ON THE ROAD TO NET ZERO’ 

By Joan Ferrer, Commercial Director, UK & Ireland at Ravago Building Solutions. 

Acentury ago, “the material of a thousand 

uses” was a vision for the future of plastic. 

Invented in 1907, the first fully synthetic 

plastic was – with remarkable clairvoyance – 

marketed as almost infinite in its applications, 

promising to revolutionise our daily lives. 

And so it did. In the past 20 years alone, annual 

global production of all plastics has near enough 

doubled, yet unfortunately more than half of the 

nine billion tonnes manufactured since the 1950s 

has ended up as waste – causing such havoc 

that it has recently united 175 countries in an 

agreement to develop a world-first treaty 

towards ending plastic pollution. 

To many people, plastic is now a 

dirty word – but to those of us in 

construction, it’s synonymous 

with words like strength, versatility 

and durability. While we must be 

conscious of the environmental footprint of this 

material, we couldn’t do without it; from safetycritical 

PPE, to basic tools, to robust building 

products, plastic has quite literally helped to build 

the modern world, and used responsibly, it has a 

role to play in building a greener world. 

As demand for ecological construction rises as 

the world treads the road to net-zero, plasticderived 

products increasingly seem to elicit a 

reflexive sheepishness amongst specifiers. This is 

particularly noticeable when it comes to 

insulation. 

Perception seems to have a lot to do with it; one 

recent study points toward our subconscious 

drive to favour “natural” construction materials 

over synthetic, whilst another highlights a 

significant gap in European construction 

professionals’ understanding of the 

environmental burden associated with thermal 

Left: Joan Ferrer, Commercial Director UK & Ireland at Ravago Building Solutions. 

“While we must 

be conscious of 

the environmental 

footprint of this 

material (plastic), we 

couldn’t do without it” 

insulation materials, perhaps exacerbated by the 

inconsistent quality of environmental product 

declarations (EPD) for building products. 

Of course, when faced with progressively more 

rigorous standards for sustainable building, 

perception is surpassed by the proven thermal 

performance of plastic materials such as 

extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation. 

One of the simplest methods of improving overall 

building performance is to address heat loss, 

especially via the specification of highperformance 

XPS roof insulation. Double or triple 

layering a lesser-performing alternative is an 

option – but not a logical one, when you factor in 

the increased financial and environmental costs 

of product, transport, and labour. A single layer of 

next-generation XPS insulation can hit U-value 

targets as stringent as 0.10 W/m²k. 

Its low thermal conductivity, high compressive 

strength, and superior thermal resistance also 

ensure a longer lifespan for the roof, reducing the 

environmental payback period – one area in 

which plastic’s longevity is a blessing. In one 

study, XPS installed under freezing, high-traffic 

Alaskan roads and airport runways far 

outperformed expanded polystyrene (EPS), which 

needs to be 1.5 to 2 times thicker than XPS to 

deliver the same in-service R-value. 

The same is true even in much warmer, more 

volatile climates; when, after 17 years, 

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was reroofed 

in 2003, scientists found that the original 

XPS insulation had survived everything from 

tornadoes, to extreme heatwaves, to one of the 

most destructive hailstorms in history, with 



Sustainability & Construction 


minimal changes to the R-value, compressive 

strength, and moisture uptake. Over 90% of this 

existing XPS was able to be reused. Alongside a 

crucial reduction in waste and emissions, this 

enabled six-figure savings on the costs of labour, 

product, haulage and disposal, and minimal 

operational disruption for the client and building 

occupants. 

Clearly, ambition needn’t stop at the first 

application – or indeed the second. ‘Reduce’ 

comes first in the waste management hierarchy, 

but recycling is also key to conserving energy and 

resources in the production of building materials. 

Materials are known to contribute around 70% to 

the construction sector’s carbon footprint (plastic 

and rubber account for 13% of CO ² 

equivalent 

emissions caused by material production). 

Consequently, it’s understandable that the latest 

report by the International Panel on Climate 

Change (IPCC) reaffirms that greater 

commitment to achieving circularity 

and efficiency of carbon-intensive 

materials will be key to our net-zero 

ambitions. 

Fortunately, XPS insulation is 

composed of recyclable polystyrene – 

a thermoplastic that theoretically can be 

remoulded and reused without limit – unlike 

irreversibly rigid thermoset plastics, such as the 

polyisocyanurate used for PIR insulation. 

This year, a substantial investment into a new 

plastic pelletiser at our King’s Lynn plant has 

enabled us to take another important step in our 

earnest pursuit of a circular economy for 

Ravatherm XPS X products. We have always 

recycled rejected boards – the product that 

doesn’t meet our high standards – but this new 

equipment opens the door for greater possibilities 

in sourcing waste thermoplastics to reform into 

pellets that are almost indistinguishable from 

their virgin counterparts. 

The new equipment has significantly increased 

our recycling capacity, enabling our customers to 

be part of Ravago’s sustainability journey. 

Inevitably, 

XPS 

installation 

generates 

waste, but 

several of our 

customers are now 

able to return their offcuts to 

us for recycling. In theory, this could extend to the 

end of life – if processing and transport 

considerations allow, insulation removed from 

buildings could be recycled too. 

Of course, there are challenges around taking 

material from mixed sources; all boards are 

polystyrene, but not all polystyrene is exactly the 

same. Recycled pellets can have inconsistent 

chemical qualities which makes it difficult to 

account for in production equipment – for 

example, the resulting gel used to manufacture 

boards can act differently due to varying 

elasticity. At the moment, we are able to include 

up to 40% recycled material in Ravatherm XPS X 

boards, but there is significant potential for 

growth. Large-scale recyclers, like ISOPOR in 

“At the moment, we are able to include up to 40% recycled material in Ravatherm 

XPS X boards, but there is significant potential for growth” 

Germany, can potentially provide the consistent 

quality needed for 100% recycled materials 

products given the size of their operations. For 

Ravago, there is hope and scope for technology to 

bridge the gap in the near future and eliminate 

reliance on virgin plastics. 

Partnering with Neste, the world’s leading 

producer of drop-in renewable feedstocks and 

solutions for the polymers & chemicals industry, 

the Ravago Group last year announced plans to 

establish a joint venture to build an industrial 

facility for chemical recycling in North Sea Port in 

Vlissingen, the Netherlands. Ushering in a 

collaborative approach to advanced recycling, 

which turns hard to recycle plastics into raw 

materials, the agreement has unlocked a new, 

more environmentally conscious meaning to “the 

material of a thousand uses”. 

Contact Ravago Building Solutions 

Email: technical.uk.rbs@ravago.com 

ravagobuildingsolutions.com/uk/en/ 

@RInsulationUK 


Mineral Wool 

ROCK MINERAL WOOL & GLASS 

MINERAL WOOL: THE DIFFERENCES 

Mineral wool is an all-encompassing term that is used to describe both glass mineral 

wool and rock mineral wool. However, as George Danzey-Smith, Commercial Manager at 

ARC Building Solutions, points out, whilst they are inherently similar, the two materials 

are different and as such, he says it is vital that the industry understands the difference 

between them both. Below, he discusses the benefits and the differences of each 

material – particularly when it comes to fire safety. 

So, what are the differences between rock 

mineral wool and glass mineral wool when 

it comes to their production and 

performance? Firstly, rock mineral wool is 

manufactured using rock, alongside blast furnace 

or steel slags, which normally accounts for 

around 97% of the material. A further 2-3% is 

then made from organic content in the product, 

as well as an adhesive and a very small amount 

of oil. These materials are combined using 

intense heat within a furnace and are then spun 

together to create a fibre-like structure. 

Glass mineral wool. 

Rock mineral wool. 

“Whilst both materials offer strong performance, 

rock mineral wool delivers far more effective 

performance regarding fire resistance” 

Performance-wise, rock mineral wool offers 

fantastic thermal and acoustic properties, attaining 

R-values of around 2.7 to 3.3. Additionally, as a 

dense material, rock mineral wool provides 

incredible protection against noise and can be used 

to insulate properties very effectively. 

Similar to rock mineral wool, glass mineral wool 

is also produced using incredibly high 

temperatures inside furnaces, and most of the 

time it is manufactured from silica sand, recycled 

sand, soda ash and sandstone. Solutions 

manufactured from glass mineral wool offer solid 

thermal and acoustic properties. In terms of heat 

loss, glass mineral wool can achieve R-values of 

around 2.0 to 2.9, which is effective, but not as 

good as the values of rock mineral wool. 

In addition to their thermal and acoustic 

properties, both materials are also cited as noncombustible. 

However, despite this, the actual fire 

resistance of each product varies – and it’s 

important to understand these differences in 

order to make an informed decision. 

It has been well documented that glass mineral 

wool fibres can withstand temperatures of around 

400ºC. Although glass mineral wool can be 

incorporated within a fire-stopping system, 

helping to meet increasingly stringent fire-related 

regulations – it doesn’t match rock mineral wool 

insulation in terms of fire-resistant performance. 

According to several mineral wool insulation 

manufacturers, rock mineral wool has a melting 

temperature of over 1000°C. As such, as a 

naturally non-combustible material, rock mineral 

wool lends itself for use in insulation solutions, but 

most notably in passive fire protection schemes. 

Due to rock mineral wool’s high melting point, this 

exceptional performance dramatically mitigates the 

risk of fire spreading within building structures. 

What’s more, as rock mineral wool is highly fire 

resistant it can be relied on to prevent the passage 

of heat from one part of a building to another. 

Both glass mineral wool and rock mineral wool are 

effective insulation materials that can be used to 

great effect within the construction sector. Through 

their usage, the industry can help to make the 

UK’s building stock more energy efficient and fire 

safe, while delivering more comfortable internal 

environments for occupants. However, it’s clear 

that the term ‘mineral wool’ should not be used 

loosely when considering what to choose. 

Whilst both materials offer strong performance, rock 

mineral wool delivers far more effective 

performance regarding fire resistance. That’s why 

at ARC, we use the material across our range of 

cavity fire barrier and cavity closer solutions. As 

demonstrated, solutions manufactured from rock 

mineral wool can deliver exceptional fire-resistant 

performance across a wide range of applications. 

Contact ARC Building Solutions 

www.arcbuildingsolutions.co.uk 


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Vacuum Insulation Panels 

ULTRA-THIN VIP PANELS TO MEET 

THRESHOLD CHALLENGE 

Meeting thermal requirements in spatially-challenged applications is becoming more of 

an industry issue as property owners find increasingly inventive ways to optimise living 

space, writes Paul Griffiths, Business Development Director at Recticel Insulation. 

It’s a trend that has led to roof terracing being embraced as a practical, attractive way to enliven 

otherwise dormant areas and add real value to a building. However, insulating such spaces 

introduces a number of challenges. The following guide provides some useful tips on overcoming a 

key hurdle to the successful insulation of terraces and flat roofs, namely maintaining compliant 

thresholds through the innovation of ultra-thin insulation. This has gained greater traction with the 

development of VIPs (vacuum insulation panels); a super-slim solution which provides maximum 

performance but at a much-reduced product thickness, thus helping to overcome threshold issues: 

Deck-VQ installation. 

1Prevention is better than cure, a saying 

that is particulary pertinent to house 

building and renovation. In the case of roof 

terrace insulation, it means providing answers for 

some initial key questions, such as how can 

specified U-values be achieved whilst working 

within limited thresholds? This is where standard 

PIR products often struggle in terms of terrace 

installation performance, as it generally means 

either compromising on U-value outcomes or 

compromising on drainage by installing channels 

or raising the low thresholds. VIP solutions are 

ideal for terraces and flat roofs as they deliver a 

high thermal performance without the need for 

structural alterations. Working with a specialist 

roofing design team such as Recticel’s tapered 

roof insulation division, Gradient, will ensure the 

specified VIPs meet a project’s design, optimising 

performance, materials and cost. 

2Conduct a site survey. In many instances, 

the initial take-off drawing/specification of 

a project will differ from what is the 

‘reality’ on-site. Therefore, it is always 

recommended to have a site survey carried out 

prior to ordering a VIP solution. Given that VIPs 

cannot be cut or altered on site, it is vital that 

dimensions are correct prior to order. This should 

also take into account potential obstructions or 

openings such as rooflight and drainage outlets, 

which would affect the layout of a vacuum 

insulation panel scheme. 

3Use a protected VIP, as vacuum insulation 

panels are vulnerable to puncture. If this 

happens the VIP’s insulation value will 

degrade to roughly that of a conventional PIR 

material. A construction site could therefore pose 

problems for VIPs during their handling and 

installation. The best solution is to utilise a 

product such as Recticel’s Deck-VQ, as the VIP is 

fully-encapsulated within a high density PIR 

protective shell. This provides reassurance that 

the product can be easily installed by the 

contractor, with the knowledge that the VIP’s 

excellent thermal insulation value will be 

maintained. 

4Ensure the contractor is aware of the 

insulation technology being used in a roof 

terrace scheme, particularly in relation to 

VIPs. They need to be aware that VIPs cannot be 

cut or modified on-site, which is a complete shift 

of mind-set from when they use conventional 

insulation products. 

5Always use the design layout provided. By 

working with Gradient, a full project design 

package and survey is supplied. This will 

create a scheme layout in conjunction with the 

product delivery and ensure the quantity of 

material delivered is optimised to eliminate or 

reduce site waste. It is therefore vital that the 

design scheme is followed exactly, in order to 

avoid installation difficulties and product 

shortfall. 

High thermal performance where build-up 

thickness is an issue 

The aforementioned VIP solution Deck-VQ has been 

specifically developed by Recticel Insulation to 

deliver high thermal performance for applications 

such as terraces where insulation build-up 

thickness is an issue. Its superior thermal 

credentials – it has a lambda value of the core of 

0.006 W/mK – come to the fore in enabling even 

the most complex terrace projects to be carried out 

without the need for structural changes, thus 

reducing on-site working times and materials. 

Thanks to Recticel’s Deck-VQ panels, flat roofs 

can be put to more imaginative use whilst fulfilling 

their primary function in keeping the building 

beneath warm and dry. In performance terms, 

their ultra-thin composition is their greatest 

strength, making them a popular PIR choice with 

designers, installers and end users alike. 

Contact Recticel Insulation 

www.recticelinsulation.com/en-gb/home 

@RecticelInsulUK 


KEMPEROL ® 

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Long term protection for flat roofs, buildings 

and critical structures 

Warm roofs, inverted roofs, green roofs, podium 

Whatever your requirements, 

we have a certified and proven 

solution to meet your needs. 

Contact us to discuss 

Kemperol Liquid Waterproofing 

With over 60 years’ experience, there’s not many challenges we 

haven’t faced, confronted and overcome. 

Whether it’s a school, hospital, hotel, car park, balcony, the list is endless, 

KEMPEROL ® has a range of cold applied products to suit every application. 

visit www.kemperol.co.uk 

To find out more about the KEMPEROL ® range of products 

Tel: 01925 445532 

Email: enquiries@kempersystem.co.uk 

06/4388 

95/3139

Insulation Updates 


ADDITIONAL BBA FOR ROCKSILK 

Knauf Insulation has earned an additional BBA 

certificate for its Rocksilk RainScreen Slab 

range – a new solution for partially filled 

masonry cavities. 

thicknesses of any rainscreen solution on the 

market,” explained Luke Davies, Rock Mineral 

Wool Product Manager at Knauf Insulation. “This 

latest addition to the range means that architects 

possible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire 

classification. This means it complies with 

building regulations that ban the use of 

combustible insulation on buildings over 18m tall 

and specifiers benefit from the in England and Wales, and restrict their use on 

Rocksilk RainScreen Slab is 

simplicity of using just one most buildings over 11m in Scotland. 

now certified for use in 

product, even if there are 

masonry cavities in both highrise 

rainscreen façades and 

Rocksilk RainScreen Slab at 455mm is available 

With a thermal conductivity of 0.034W/mK, 

different build-ups within the 

project”. 

domestic low-rise buildings 

in thicknesses between 50mm and 220mm. The 

situated in very severe exposure zones. The BBA 

certificate means that it complies with building 

regulations that state that insulation used in 

partially filled masonry cavities must have thirdparty 

accreditation. 

“Our Rocksilk RainScreen Slab is already BBA 

certified for the broadest range of build-ups and 

The product is suitable for use with 

all types of masonry cavities 

including blockwork or 

reinforced concrete substrates 

with brick, blockwork or natural 

stone façades. 

It is also non-combustible with the best 

slabs are designed to interlock to prevent 

unintended gaps that lead to air leakage 

and lower thermal performance. 

www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/insulationfor-partially-filled-cavities 

FRAMEPRO W1 EXCELS ON PASSIVHAUS PLUS PROJECT 

The FramePro W1 air barrier system from the A. Proctor Group has 

been chosen for a new modular Passivhaus Plus housing project in 

Cardiff. 

This innovative project will provide essential housing for Cardiff’s 

homeless population. It is designed by Beattie Passive using its awardwinning, 

patented design and build system, which the company says is 

the UK’s first certified Passivhaus Complete Build System. 

A. Proctor Group’s FramePro W1 air barrier system was used at a new project for Cardiff’s homeless 

population which is said to be the UK’s first certified Passivhaus Complete Build System. 

The development consists of 48 one, two and three-bed apartments with two ancillary office buildings. Manufactured offsite in the Beattie Passive factory 

in Norwich, the buildings were transported and assembled on-site in Cardiff. The three modular housing blocks provide complete flexibility. Satisfying 

Cardiff’s immediate requirement to provide housing for people and families in temporary accommodation, in later years the modules can be dismantled, 

reconfigured and assembled to suit the demographic needs of the city at that time. The FramePro W1 system was chosen as an external air barrier. The 

system comprises FramePro W1, a low-resistance vapour permeable air barrier for walls, plus Wraptite Tape. Ron Beattie, Managing Director at Beattie 

Passive, explained: “FramePro W1 is an excellent barrier system that provides complete protection from “windwashing” and the effects of wind 

penetration and moisture management in buildings. In addition, the system is easy to use and apply, easy to joint, and won’t tear.” 

Another benefit of the FramePro W1 system is that applying it externally simplifies the process, maintaining the building’s integrity, as there are fewer 

building services and structural penetrations to be sealed. By reducing the likelihood of potential failures to meet designed airtightness levels, the 

FramePro W1 System helps ensure “as-designed” performance, narrowing the performance gap between as-designed and actual energy performance. 

This challenge is highlighted in the latest revision of BS5250 - Management and Moisture in Buildings (Revised: July 2021), which includes reference to 

‘as designed in theory’ (ADT) and ‘as-built in service’ (ABS). Isabel Beattie, Director at Beattie Passive, commented: “the buildings are designed to 

achieve Passivhaus Plus standards and zero carbon. To achieve these high standards, we undertake rigorous testing on the materials used in our 

buildings.” www.proctorgroup.com 


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Article 

Tools 

POWERED UP! 

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita, says 

having the right tools to hand can make a huge difference 

to a tradesperson’s on-site efficiency and safety... 

For any tradesperson, having a range of high 

power, durable and reliable equipment 

available in the toolbox is the key to ensuring 

on site productivity. Although mains-powered 

machines offer a number of benefits, there are 

certain disadvantages, including restrictions to 

movement and trip hazards due to power cables. 

To minimise risk and maximise efficiency, 

consider how cordless products can benefit you. 

Thanks to advances in battery technology, the 

leading cordless power tools on the market today 

offer output that is equivalent to – or sometimes 

even higher than – corded alternatives, as well 

as a wide range of additional benefits. 

Cordless is king 

As there is no power lead, users have maximum 

flexibility to move around site. This offers a huge 

benefit, particularly for those working at height or 

in restricted spaces. In addition to the power lead 

itself, there are also no restrictions caused by the 

location of power sources. 

Operators also do not have to worry about trailing 

cables or transformers creating a trip hazard and 

set up time can be kept to a minimum, as there is 

no need to plan for the safe placement of cables 

around site. 

A better power source 

The majority of cordless machines available on 

the market today will be powered using lithiumion 

batteries. Unlike alternatives, these batteries 

will hold high levels of energy and have minimal 

self-discharge, allowing them to be stored for 

long periods while keeping their charge. Because 

of their energy density capacity, lithium-ion 

batteries offer high output and can work for long 

periods of time between charges, so users can 

rely on this power to tackle projects with ease. 

What’s more, lithium-ion 

batteries have no memory 

effect – meaning they do not 

have to be drained down 

completely before charging, so 

users can charge at any time and 

easily ensure their batteries are fully 

charged at the start of the workday. 

When purchasing products, consider whether the 

battery charging process has been optimised. For 

instance, Makita has designed its batteries to 

communicate with the charger and this allows the 

charger to identify any issues with the battery 

such as over discharge or overheating. The 

charger will then work to rectify any issues – for 

example, by cooling the battery down before 

charging commences to ensure no damage is 

caused to the battery – and make the charging 

process faster and more efficient. 

As a result of this process, Makita’s 18V LXT 

lithium-ion batteries can be charged in as little as 

22 minutes (for 3.0Ah batteries) up to 55 minutes 

(for 6.0Ah batteries). In addition, a 2.5Ah XGT 

40VMax battery will charge in just 28 minutes 

and a 4.0Ah battery in just 45 minutes. 

A tool for every job 

When purchasing power tools, consider selecting 

products that share the same operating battery 

system. This means the same battery can be 

used to power all of a tradesperson’s kit and, as 

such, allows them to effortlessly switch between 

tools and tasks throughout the day. For example, 

Makita’s 18V LXT batteries can be used to power 

over 270 products – and its XGT 40VMax 

batteries can power over 50 products, with more 

being regularly added to these ranges. 

Makita also offers 36V machines that are 

powered using two 18V LXT batteries – and 80V 

machines powered by two XGT 

40VMax batteries – for 

professionals in need of additional 

power all within the same battery 

platform. 

Brushless all the way 

Another factor to consider is the type of motor 

used. Although brushed motors are effective, 

brushless alternatives are generally lower in 

maintenance. This is because there are no brushes 

within the motor causing friction. When friction 

occurs, it can result in wear and tear and the need 

for replacement parts, which incurs additional 

costs throughout the lifecycle of the machine. 

As there is less friction, brushless machines are 

also more energy efficient as less energy is lost 

through heat production. In turn, this can lead to 

extended run times of between 30% and 50% on 

each battery charge, keeping users working 

disruption free for longer. 

What’s more, brushless motors are smaller than 

alternatives, which means that many tools are 

more compact and lighter – but will still deliver 

the power needed for professional use. 

Cordless tools with brushless motors offer users 

a wide range of benefits including flexibility of 

working and manoeuvring around site, improved 

safety, long battery life and fast charge times. 

When selecting which models to add to your 

armoury, also consider how investing in a single 

battery system will help to make work easier and 

more efficient, by allowing you to switch between 

tools and tasks effortlessly. 

Contact Makita 

www.makitauk.com 

@MakitaUK 


PURPLEXED 

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Article 

Clothing 

GET IN THE COMFORT ZONE 

THIS SUMMER 

Peter Dumigan, Managing Director of the Hultafors Group UK, which owns Snickers 

Workwear, Hultafors Tools, Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear, as well as Hellberg 

Safety PPE, explains how Snickers Workwear offers comfort and wellbeing and 

contributes to improved performance for tradespeople on site, plus comes with the added 

benefit of being the sustainable choice for workwear... 

For nearly 50 years, Snickers Workwear has 

been building a workwear trend that now 

delivers eco-friendly, technically advanced, 

innovative and high-quality working clothes that 

are built to last and look good, at both work and 

at play. In essence, it’s sustainable workwear 

that can be used on site and for leisure activities 

too. 

In today’s climate of carbon footprints and 

wastefulness, environmental considerations are 

more important than ever for Workwear brands. 

At Snickers Workwear, we develop long-lasting, 

functional garments. We know that our customers 

demand durable products that can sustain long 

hours of hard work, and this is also the 

cornerstone behind our sustainability work. Every 

product we make has an impact on the planet. 

The longer our workwear lasts, the less our 

environmental impact. 

Snickers Workwear clothing is trialled and tested 

from the arctic circle to the southern 

Mediterranean, and in extreme environmental 

conditions – cold, heat, wind and rain. But not 

only are these working clothes tested for 

performance, they’re now tested for 

‘Environmental Sustainability’. What makes these 

garments so appealing to forward-thinking 

individuals and corporations alike is not only the 

comfort, functionality and ergonomic body 

mapping designs, but also the 21st century 

fabrics found in the latest sustainable, organic 

and sports fabric technologies. 

Snickers Workwear’s product design and 

development has always been driven by a 

continual investigation of user needs and 

experiences in as wide a range of working 

environments and weather conditions as 

possible. But nowadays, recyclability and carbon 

footprint impact is a key part of that evaluation. 

So, it’s not just workwear functionality and 

physical demands on the body that’s researched, 

it’s also the physical demands that product 

manufacturing and waste disposal place on the 

world around us that matters too. 

Combining market-leading fabric 

technology with Verifiable Sustainability 

But if you want to be more than just cool and 

comfortable at work this summer – and do your 

for bit for saving the planet – the ‘Verifiable 

Sustainability’ in Snickers Workwear’s new T- 

and Polo-shirts will suit you down to the ground. 

The brand aims to be at the forefront of 

sustainability in Workwear which is why the new 

lightweight Polo and T-shirts are made of 100% 

recycled polyester with a bio-based, anti-odour 

finish, plus a smooth texture and efficient 

moisture transport for great working comfort. 

If your focus is on being kind to animals, the 

Sustainable Merino Wool mid- and base-layer 

clothes are ‘Mulesing-Free’, which will help you 

stay warm or cool because of the nature of its 

100% all-natural Merino Wool fabric, that 

delivers optimal comfort for all kinds of working 

environments and leisure activities. ‘Designed’ by 

nature for excellent ventilation and insulation, 

Merino wool is extremely soft and naturally 

odour-preventive for an all-day fresh feel. It’s 

also temperature-regulating, repels water and dirt 



GREENSCAPE 

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01_GS0421 1 16/04/2021 17:07 

From the publishers of

Clothing 


particles. It’s anti-static and Snickers Workwear 

ensures that the wool it uses is produced in kindto-animals, 

‘Mulesing-Free’ environments. 

If recyclability is your particular focus in ecofriendly 

priorities, then the AllroundWork Hoodies 

and Gilets could be your ‘Sustainable Choice’. 

Made from 100% recycled polyester, the clothes 

are comfortable and lightweight with great 

freedom of movement. They’ll also deliver just the 

right warmth and comfort to keep your body warm 

in chilly early mornings or comfortably cool in the 

warmer evenings. 

Making the right workwear 

choices in summer 

For you to stay cool and comfortable in warmer 

weather, workwear choices matter a lot. For 

optimum performance your workwear needs to 

deliver great ventilation, have a fabric that dries 

fast while still offering the protection you need; 

make the right choices and you’ll be well 

prepared for a hot day’s at work. 

Dress for the heat 

The sun’s warmth burns, you need to stay cool and 

turn down the heat. So here are three key facts to 

keep in mind when dressing for warm weather. 

• Ventilation 

When temperatures are on the up, ventilation is 

crucial. It can be achieved in different ways, 

either by how the workwear is designed or the 

functionality it delivers. Two of the main features 

Snickers workwear integrates into its workwear to 

offer great breathability are the 37.5 technology 

for cooling comfort and Mechanical Air Flow. 

• Fabric technology and working comfort 

The fabric in your workwear definitely affects how 

comfortable you’ll be throughout the workday. 

Cheap workwear that uses poor quality fabrics 

might be easy on the wallet, but they wear easily, 

cause discomfort and chafing, affecting your 

mood and wellbeing. Good quality lighter fabrics 

– especially those with good stretchability and 

those that offer UV protection – offer more 

ventilation and they dry quickly. While cheaper 

cotton-based fabrics absorb moisture and dry 

slowly. Snickers Workwear’s LiteWork collection is 

specially developed for warm days at work, giving 

you good-looking, quality clothes made in lighter 

fabrics to ensure great ventilation and comfort. 

• LiteWork, quick-drying workwear for 

improved performance 

The LiteWork collection is specially developed for 

warmer weather. It features the revolutionary 37.5 

technology and stretch fabrics for the best in 

mobility, moisture transport and ventilation. What’s 

more, advanced functionality and great fabric 

technology will ensure cool and dry working comfort, 

no matter what the weather conditions are. 

So, if you’re thinking about what’s most practical 

– and beneficial – to wear this summer for work 

or leisure, many of the Snickers Workwear styles 

are dual purpose and work hard at reducing our 

collective carbon footprints. 

If it’s performance you need, check out the 

upgraded lightweight and breathable 37.5 fabric 

technology in Snicker’s Workwear’s shirts and 

base-layer clothes. With superb cooling 

technology, they’re great for demanding tasks on 

site as well as high intensity gym work, circuit 

training, jogging, hill walking and mountain biking. 

Look out for styles made from the highly 

functional 37.5 fabric for optimal ventilation, 

cooling and moisture transport to keep you feeling 

fresh for longer. 

37.5 fabric technology: an altogether 

cooler experience 

On a hot day you really need a garment made 

from a fabric that has the ultimate capacity 

for ventilation and moisture transport. That is 

why Snickers Workwear uses 37.5 fabric 

technology to provide hardworking craftsmen 

and women with the coolest experience. 

5 Cool facts About 37.5 Technology 

• The active particles used in 37.5® 

technology are derived from natural sources 

such as coconut shells and volcanic minerals. 

• Fabrics with 37.5 technology dry up to five 

times faster than performance fabrics 

without. 

• The hotter a user gets, the stronger the 

drive force removing moisture becomes. 

• 37.5 works to the level of 37.5 degrees, 

both when it comes to humidity percentage 

and temperature. 

• Active particles are permanently embedded 

into the yarn and will never wash out or 

degrade. 

And finally… 

While style, comfort and functionality have been 

key drivers in Snickers Workwear clothing 

development over the last 50 years, fabric 

technology, performance and sustainability is now 

central to the technical design of the brand’s 

clothing, just as it is in performance sports and 

leisurewear. The result is environmentally friendly, 

ergonomically designed dual-purpose working 

clothes that are not only designed to meet the 

physical demands that tradesmen and women 

face at work, but are also ideal for some sports 

and leisure activities. Most important in today’s 

climate, they’ll help reduce your carbon footprint 

too! 

Contact Snickers Workwear 


Email: sales@hultaforsgroup.co.uk 


EE 4G+ 

Janis Windows & Doors Ltd 

48 Appleton Place, Appleton Industrial Estate, 

Southern Road, Aylesbury, HP19 9EW 

Tel: 0831 6090 476 

Email: info@janis.co.uk 

Web: http://www.janis.co.uk 

17:02 56% 

Business Details 

YOUR 

FUTURE 

IN YOUR 

HANDS 

Credit Rating: 73 

Key Contact: Alexia Kalila, Managing Director 

Direct Tel: 07968 342 115 

Direct Email: alexia.kalila@janis.co.uk 

Products 

PVCu Windows and Doors 

Windows/Doors, Buy in, Spectus 

Vertical Sliders, Buy in, Veka 

Bi-fold Doors, Buy in, Kommerling 

Composite Doors, Buy in, Solidor, 10 PW 

Insight Data puts 80,000 potential 

customers at your fingertips 

Aluminium Windows and Doors 

Windows/Doors, Buy in, Techal 

Windows/Doors, Buy in, Senior 

Bi-fold Doors, Buy in, Technal 

50-75 Frames per week 

The Insight Database helps your sales and marketing team get better results faster. Updated live 

in real-time with in-depth information, not available anywhere else, you get the inside track on 

fabricators and installers, builders, architects, merchants, construction firms and house-builders. 

01934 808 293 

hello@insightdata.co.uk 

www.insightdata.co.uk 

502 Worle Park Way, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 6WA 

@insightdata

Updates 


THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT! 

Great for summer working on site, these 

lightweight Work Shorts have a street-smart 

fit with a cool working comfort in warm 

conditions. They’re made of quick-drying 37.5 

technology fabric that delivers efficient 

moisture transport, ventilation and UPF40 

sun protection in sunny weather. 

They have a functional design and come with or 

without extra robust holster pockets. There’s also 

a 4-way stretch panel at the crotch and 

reinforcement at critical areas for extra 

durability. 

They’re packed with comfort and functionality 

and specially designed for the fast-paced 

professional who’s always on the go and always 

delivering top class work on site. For 

professionals who 

rely on their gear 

in demanding 

environments, 

they’re a must 

for everyone who wants the 

ultimate in cool comfort this summer. 


REACH NEW HEIGHTS WITH TELEGUARDPLUS 

WernerCo has announced a new addition to its successful telescopic ladder family with the launch of the BoSS 

TeleguardPLUS, providing users with exceptional height and ultimate safety when working at height. 

The BoSS TeleguardPLUS is a telescopic platform ladder which offers a versatile and safe solution to working at height. Its ergonomic 

design, in accordance with the latest EN131-7 specification, boasts a range of features designed for both ultimate user safety and 

efficiency. Available in 4 sizes, not only can the ladder reach an unbeatable safe working height of 5.15m, it also offers a multipurpose 

solution to enable work at height, with the ability to be used in flat slab mode and on stairways, which is proof alone of its multiple 

functionality. The spacious platform and guard rail allow for free hands and plenty of room to manoeuvre while working, while the chain provides users 

with 360° protection. In addition, the built-in tool tray helps to maintain a safe and clear working space while on the platform, enabling users to save 

time transporting tools up and down, therefore minimising the risk of slipping. www.bossaccesstowers.com 

A CUT ABOVE THE REST 

Makita UK has launched its first XGT 80VMax Disc Cutter, to offer professionals a powerful cordless solution that 

delivers output equivalent to traditional 2-stroke alternatives – with the added safety and improved usability 

benefits of cordless. 

The CE001G XGT 80VMax 355mm Disc Cutter is powered using two XGT 40VMax batteries and delivers an impressive 

maximum output of 3,600W and no-load speed of 5,300rpm, making light work of any high-demand application. In addition, 

this machine has a large wheel diameter of 355mm and offers a maximum cutting capacity of 127mm, so it is suitable for use on larger workpieces. 

The disc cutter is equipped with numerous safety features including Active Feedback Sensing Technology that automatically shuts down the power to protect the 

operator and the machine if the rotation speed suddenly slows down in the event of the blade jamming in the cut or if kickback occurs. To improve user safety 

further, the CE001G features an anti-restart function that prevents accidental start-up and operators can also choose to connect a water supply to the machine 

to aid dust suppression. The CE001G has also been designed with an anti-vibration housing, to prevent user fatigue. Vibration is absorbed thanks to a built-in 

dampening spring, resulting in vibration levels of just 2.0 m/s2 at the front handle. This machine is available as a body only model (CE001GZ) for contractors 

who have already invested in the XGT battery platform, or as a complete option (CE001GT201) supplied with two 5Ah batteries and twin-port charger. 

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita, said: “We are excited to launch the CE001G. Thanks to our XGT cordless technology, the CE001G offers 

increased depth of cut and the output needed to tackle high-demand applications without compromising on battery run time, keeping professionals 

working disruption free for longer. With Makita’s XGT 40VMax platform, professionals can also use the same batteries to power over 50 XGT models – 

making it easy to swap between tools and tasks across the workday.” https://makitauk.com/products/xgt-machines 

The CE001GT201 also qualifies for Makita’s latest XGT redemption promotion - which is running until the 30th September 2022 - where customers can claim the MR002GZ01 Bluetooth Job 

Site Radio, or MP001GZ XGT 40VMax Inflator, or ML003G XGT 40VMax Worklight with the purchase and registration of selected XGT 40VMax machines. 


VISOGLIDE PLUS 

SLIDING DOORS 

10% 

FIRST ORDER 

INTRODUCTORY 

DISCOUNT 

QUOTE CODE 

TC-VG01 

INDUSTRY LEADING CUSTOMER SERVICE 

Comprehensive install guide & support 

THERMALLY BROKEN ALUMINIUM 

Slim profile, Lipped outer frame, Sobinco locks 

TRIPLE 

TRACK 

AVAILABLE 

NOW! 

LARGE SASH WIDTHS 

Up to 6.4m wide in 2 panes. 2-4 panes available 

STOCK COLOUR CHOICE 

White, Anthracite Grey & Black, Dual Colour 

FROM 

2 WEEK LEAD TIMES 

Reliable safe site delivery 

www.madefortrade.co | Tel: 01642 610799 

* Discount applies to new trade customers and first, single item purchase only of the Smart Visoglide Plus Sliding Doors | Image for representation only 

* Per leaf price is unglazed and may vary depending on size and specification of the door. Lead time is based on a standard colour. Postcode restrictions apply

SPEED AND 

SIMPLICITY, 

BY DESIGN. 

Introducing the new Siderise CT 

Cavity Tray. 

A unique trilateral design that’s flush-fitting, fully aluminium 

wrapped and pre-filled with non-combustible stonewool, making 

it incredibly quick and easy to install as well as A2-s1,d0 rated. 

Its exclusive design* is engineered for use with Steel Framing 

Systems and blockwork inner leaves without hot works, screwing 

or chamfering, whilst corners are easily cut on-site. Backed by 

forty-five years of cavity barrier innovation, full site support 

services and our market leading inspection app, Siderise CT 

Cavity Tray is another innovation to help make projects easier. 

Your Workmanship. Our Ingenuity. Swift Installation. 

Discover more at Siderise.com 

CERTIFICATE 21/5978 

*Patent pending

June 2022

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