January 2024 Issue

January 2024

www.specifyandbuild.co.uk

The Air To

The Throne

HOUSING SUSTAINABILITY ROOFING & CLADDING HEATING & DRAINAGE & WATER

VENTILATION MANAGEMENT

Specify & Build Front cover Proctor Air.indd 1 20/12/2023 11:01:56

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www.specifyandbuild.co.uk \\ January 2024

JANUARY 2024

LETTER FROM

THE EDITOR

EDITOR JENNIE WARD

T: 07971 968611

E: jennie@mappedout.media

SALES

DIRECTOR

DESIGN &

MARKETING

MANAGER

ACCOUNTS &

CIRCULATION

THE TEAM

JAKE ROXBOROUGH

T: 07482 181961

E: jake@mappedout.media

LAURA KING

GEORGIA HENDERSON

E: accounts@mappedout.media

PUBLISHED BY MAPPED OUT MEDIA LIMITED

Registered in England No.

15185328

The Old Barn, Wood Street,

Swanley, England, BR8 7PA

Welcome to Specify & Build! A new year is

projects.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication

may be reproduced or transmitted in any

form, without the consent of the publisher

- Mapped out Media Limited. While every

publishers do not accept liability for errors

– printing or otherwise – appearing within

this publication (and website). The views

of the expressed by contributors are not

necessarily those of the editor or publisher.

The A. Proctor Group has, for nearly 50

years, been serving the construction

industry with an extensive portfolio of

technically advanced thermal, acoustic

and membrane products. Now the

Group has launched Proctor Air, the next

generation air and vapour permeable,

See p12 for more information.

3

16

28

18

34

CONTENTS

6. News

HOUSING

14. How offsite contruction could help meet demand

18. Why Part L changes are focusing on airtightness

to lower carbon emissions

SUSTAINABILITY

20.

friendly building with aesthetics

22. Consider embodied carbon when specifying

products

24.

quality newbuild housing

26.

28.

towards a sustainable future

30. New Products

ROOFING AND CLADDING

34. Don’t risk settling for ungraded roof battens

4

40

42

58

52 54 62

36. Transforming an existing roof using Heritage

Valley Trough

38. How to make sure heritage projects stay

waterproof

40. Hitting the right pitch at Helmsley Castle

42. Vaulted roof brings the wow factor to 16 th Century

cottage

48.

HEATING AND VENTILATION

52. See commercial savings with infrared heating

technology

56. Harness the power of proven performance

58. Natural ventilation breathes new life into

Northumberland Hall

60.

DRAINAGE AND WATER MANAGEMENT

62. Consider the environment when choosing

rainwater systems

64. Why Schedule 3 is the magic number

66. Manufacturers must deliver on customer

expectations in 2024

54. Why one-third of consumers don’t know how to

make their homes greener

5

January 2024 \\ www.specifyandbuild.co.uk

LATEST NEWS

NEWS \\ INDUSTRY UPDATES

Gas appliances ‘to be banned in Oxford in 2025’

Oxford City Council has announced

plans to ban the installation of gas

hobs and boilers in all new homes

starting in 2025.

The move is part of the council’s

aim to become net zero by 2040,

and would implement the ban

a decade earlier than the UK

Government’s 2035 target.

The ban will apply to most

commercial developments, and

homes currently in the pipeline, in

which builders will be barred from

installing fossil fuel appliances.

The Home Builders Federation

(HBF) has urged the council not

to diverge from the national 2035

target.

HBF Executive Director Steve

Turner said both central and local

government, and industry, must

work together and avoid diverging

additional costs and delays.

Under Oxford City Council’s

current proposal, developers will

have to pay into council climate

funds if they unable to install electric

or other zero-carbon alternatives.

New Government consultation on

Future Homes Standard

The UK Government has launched a

consultation on regulation changes

that will lead to the Future Homes

Standard and Future Buildings

Standard in England.

for new homes and nondomestic

buildings are set by

Part L (Conservation of Fuel and

Regulations 2010 (the Building

Regulations).

The consultation sets out

technical proposals for changes

to the Building Regulations, the

associated Approved Document

and calculation methods, all of

which will have an impact on

the technologies and products

The Government is also seeking

views and evidence on Part O,

to reduce overheating in new

residential buildings.

Most of the consultation is

relevant to new homes and nondomestic

buildings, but some

sections will also apply to existing

buildings, such as:

• Material Change of Use

• Some elements of Updated

Guidance and Minimum

Standards

• real-world performance of

homes: changes to Approved

Document L, Volume 1:

Dwellings and Approved

Document F, Volume 1: Dwellings

to improve the commissioning

and existing homes

• Part O (call for evidence).

The consultation closes

found online at www.gov.uk/

government/consultations

\\ THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

COMMITTEE SAYS IT HAS ‘NO

CONFIDENCE’ THAT THE

GOVERNMENT WILL DELIVER 40

NEW HOSPITALS BY 2030 AS

PROMISED IN ITS NEW HOSPITAL

PROGRAMME, NOTING THE

SCHEME’S ‘LACK OF PROGRESS’.

Passivent

strengthens its

presence in the

South East

Passivent has appointed two

new technical sales engineers to

support customers based in the

south-east of England.

Ben Dhaliwal will look after

the north of the region from

Oxford to Essex and north

London, while Harry Lang

will focus on the south from

Hampshire to Kent and south

London.

Their role will see them

contractors and architects,

providing support from initial

completion.

6

KEMPEROL ®

The first choice

for liquid membranes

Kemperol Liquid Waterproofing

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

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Developed to compliment a variety of roof designs, KEMPEROL ® has a range

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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


LATEST NEWS


Quick guides to rooflights for specifiers

freely available guidance for

role as the UK’s trade association

Details of regulatory requirements

in respect of the conservation of

heat & power have now been

assimilated into four new

‘Quickguides’ – each covering the

requirements of the four devolved

nations of the UK.

with the salient facts in a series of

brief and easily digested documents.

Technical Committee representative

Jeremy Dunn said: “These changes

are another step in improving the

working towards the future homes

standard and achieving net zero.”

The new regulations were

introduced at varying dates across

the nations, with the latest being

Approved Document L 2022 for

Wales, Volume 2: Buildings other

than Dwellings in 2023.

The four new Quickguides are

available to download online at

Clean Heat Market Mechanism to launch later this year

The Clean Heat Market Mechanism

will go ahead in 2024, placing an

obligation on boiler manufacturers

to meet heat pump sales targets.

Gas and oil boiler manufacturers

will need to meet targets on their

sales of heat pumps relative to their

sales of gas and oil boilers or face

Between April 2024 and March

2025, they will need to sell heat

pumps equivalent to 4% of their

boiler sales in the UK, rising

to 6% in the second year two.

The mechanism applies to all

manufacturers with sales of more

than 20,000 gas boilers or 1,000 oil

boilers a year.

Heat pump installation and

scheme will earn the manufacturer

‘credits’. Those that miss the

targets will have to pay £3,000 per

missing credit.

Kubu receives two G23 Awards

Kubu, a leading name in smart security products for

the fenestration industry, has been named Component

Supplier of the Year at the G23 Awards. The company

also won the New Product of the Year category for its

Kubu Floating Window Sensor.

The Component Supplier of the Year award is a

recognition of Kubu’s excellence in providing highquality,

reliable components to fabricators and installers.

Kubu also received nominations for the Business

Initiative of the Year for its ‘Works with Kubu’ initiative

and the Rising Star Award for Marketing Executive

Morgan Fisher.

White paper helps specifiers

with fire safety

ROCKWOOL has launched a whitepaper to help

spaces for a variety of social and practical applications,

highlighting, for example, the increasing number of

solar energy installations.

‘ paper

multifunctional roofs and discusses best practices for

identifying and mitigating the risks.

It also explains the role of the guidance provided in

approved documents, including Approved Document B

and scenarios.

in mind, this whitepaper addresses the risks associated

considering implications such as greater footfall and

the impact of penetrations from building services and

You can read and download the whitepaper online at

www.rockwool.link/ffpr

8



CIOB survey highlights homeowners’ concerns

over the quality of newbuild homes

LATEST NEWS

New research from The Chartered Institute of Building

(CIOB) shows more than half of UK adults would not buy

a newly built property due to quality concerns.

The CIOB survey of 2,000 adults, published as part of

its ‘New Build Housing: How regulation can improve the

consumer journey’ report, found 55% believe older

homes are of better quality than newbuilds. Just 21%

said they think new builds are better. Almost a third of

survey respondents (32%) chose to describe new build

housing as ‘poor quality’.

CIOB says in the midst of a housing crisis, where the

choice of homes can be limited, it’s important consumers

understand instances of poor-quality new builds are less

common and have an awareness of the measures in

place to hold housebuilders to account if they do

experience problems.

snagging with new builds is commonplace, the overall

quality of new builds has improved in recent years. He

said: “The reality is that quality has improved, and

newbuilds have lots of positives, for example [being]

“Our report is designed to provide consumers with

reassurance that the majority of housebuilders are signed

while, for those who do encounter issues, there is an

ombudsman to intervene if a housebuilder fails to meet

those standards and doesn’t resolve problems

adequately.”

Free guide helps tackle issues around damp and mould

A new Guide ‘Mould and Damp

Prevention in New and Existing

Homes’ has been launched by

the Building Engineering Services

Association (BESA) and Mitsubishi

how problems of damp and mould

can be tackled at the source,

with straightforward steps to help

improve the indoor environment.

Issues around damp and mould

can cause physical symptoms from

itchy skin to deadly lung disease,

and even mental health impacts like

depression and anxiety.

More than half (55%) of

respondents to a poll carried out

by builders’ merchant Jewson said

they had experienced indoor air

quality and condensation issues

in their homes in the past year –

with 44% reporting health-related

respiratory infections, poor

concentrating.

In a forward to the Guide, TV

presenter George Clarke said: “The

NHS spends an estimated £1.4

billion annually treating illnesses

associated with cold or damp

housing…and the World Health

Organisation says that mould is so

dangerous it does not set minimum

‘safe’ levels.”

The Guide is online at

library.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

9


LATEST NEWS


Sewage spills a timely reminder to better care

for water, says ACO Technologies

ACO Technologies is calling for the industry to better

care for water to avoid treatment plants being

overwhelmed, following news of Welsh Water admitting

it illegally spilled untreated sewage in environmentally

protected areas.

The BBC revealed that Welsh Water, the water

company that serves three million people across Wales,

has been releasing untreated sewage across many of its

treatment plants. Often, sewage plants spill untreated

water due to heavy rain and stormwater overwhelming a

treatment plant’s capacity.

Between 40 and 50 of Welsh Water’s wastewater

treatment plants have reportedly been in breach of their

permits. David Smoker, Technical Director of ACO

Technologies, has urged the industry to work together

on a common goal of creating sustainable drainage

systems to avoid stormwater overwhelming treatment

plants in future.

David said: “It is distressing to hear that untreated

sewage has been entering our natural environment

again, and particularly worrying to see that it is

happening on a regular occurrence at multiple

wastewater sites. Everybody in the construction industry

must do what they can to prevent stormwater from

surging into treatment plants and overwhelming them.

“Rainwater must be managed correctly if we are to

avoid not just sewage spills, but also an impending

water scarcity crisis. In 2023 regions in the South of

England ran out of water supplies [and] in June we saw

rivers drying up in the Lake District.

“We must all work together to better collect rainwater

upstream and appropriately cleanse it of pollutants, hold

the water onsite and aim to reuse it. Only by doing this

can we care for water better.”

Get the knowledge with timber library

Timber Development UK (TDUK)

has published a new library of

Timber Knowledge Sheets that

to know about using timber in

construction.

Knowledge Sheets are now online,

providing an introduction to a host

of timber topics and answering

common questions about every

aspect of working with wood.

Developed by TDUK with

Edinburgh Napier University, the

Knowledge Sheets cover technical

information such as Timber Sizes

and Tolerances for structural timber,

as well as introductions to types of

timber components, including Sole

Plates, Trussed Rafters, Breather

Membranes and Structural Insulated

Panels.

The Library also contains

regulatory guidance and ‘best

practice’ information, as well as

guides to the sustainable use of

timber.

The library is online at

www.timberdevelopment.co.uk

Onduline launches

RIBA accredited

CPD

Onduline has launched a new RIBAaccredited

CPD that gives a greater

pitched roofs and sub-roof systems

The CPD is available faceto-face

or as an online seminar.

More information is online at

www.onduline.co.uk/cpd

10

WestWood Liquid Technologies Limited

31 Morris Road, Nuffi eld Industrial Estate,

Poole, Dorset BH17 0GG

Phone: +44 800 808 5480

Liquid Applied Waterproofi ng Systems

Car Parks • Flat Roofs • Metal Roofs • Gutters • Roof Terraces Balconies

How a history of innovation has helped develop the roof

membrane of the future

Pitched roof underlays are often described using the catch-all

term ‘breather membranes’. The generic description doesn’t

can be air tight or air permeable.

Water resistance of membranes in a changing climate

selection.

KEY FEATURES

• Vapour permeable

• Fully air permeable

• Highly water resistant -

hydrophobic additive in all 3 layers

•

• Wind Uplift Resistance Complies

with BS5534

• No VCL required

• 15 year warranty

Designing roof membranes to cope with modern living

(including airtightness). With more people adopting hybrid working

and spending more time at home, excessive levels of moisture

vapour in the air are increasingly common.

Selecting an air permeable LR underlay can mean that no vapour

control layer (VCL) is required in the ceiling. It’s also unnecessary

to ensure that ceilings are constructed as ‘well-sealed’, as described

in BS 9250, however the ceiling should be convection tight. Moist

air passes into the roof space and, in quick succession, to the

outside air.

Knowing that insulation can be installed right into the eaves

with no risk of blocking ventilation is reassuring from a building

performance point of view, and from the point of view of avoiding

condensation in the roof space.

Hidden from view, pitched roof underlays usually warrant little

attention from building users. Yet they play a vital role in protecting

those same users from the elements, and from unhealthy indoor

climates.

Proctor Air ® : an air permeable LR membrane for the future

With these competing challenges in mind, A. Proctor Group has

developed a pitched roof underlay for the future: Proctor Air.

As an air permeable LR underlay, Proctor Air makes pitched roof

constructions simpler. No VCL is required in the ceiling, which also

does not need to be well-sealed. And no ventilation measures

are required in the cold roof space, since the membrane permits

the passage of both air and moisture vapour through the roof

construction.

A. Proctor Group is a 4th generation family business with a history

of technical innovation, promoting good practice, and developing

this wealth of experience to creating the next generation of air

permeable LR membrane.

comes from a high-performance product doing its job without

intervention.

normal vents. This is particularly useful in complex roofs, where

‘dead’ areas of poor ventilation can occur even when ventilation

measures have been installed well.

Proctor Air’s water resistance has been tested and meets the

guidance of TB06. At the same time, it reduces the risk of issues

occurring in roof spaces due to poorly installed VCLs or ventilation,

since neither is needed.

for ventilation – particularly at the eaves – helps when it comes

to installing the substantial thicknesses of insulation required in

lofts. With the impending introduction of the Future Homes and

Building Standards to consider as well, those thicknesses may well

increase.

All of this is backed by our unique 15-year warranty, offering peace

of mind even in the face of an uncertain future climate.

For more information visit: https://proctorgroup.com/products/

proctor-air

01250 872 261

contact@proctorgroup.com

www.proctorgroup.com


HOUSING

OFFSITE CONSTRUCTION CAN HELP

MEET HIGH DEMAND FOR

NEW BUILDINGS

A new report is encouraging specifiers to accelerate uptake of offsite construction

techniques, particularly when it comes to building services.

P

construction projects also reported over

, explores

BUILDING IN TIGHT SPACES

that we have included within this new

MMC is continually developing, and the

hope is that through this whitepaper,

LONGER-LASTING STRUCTURES

www.rehau.com

14

Kubu

Kubu Smart Security

Your Front Door is Unlocked

Now

BEST COMPONENT

SUPPLIER ‘23

BEST NEW

PRODUCT ‘23

BEST WINDOW

COMPONENT ‘23

BEST DOOR

COMPONENT ‘23

BEST MARKETING

CAMPAIGN ‘22

Kubu is a multi-award winning range of high-security Smart

sensors that fit seamlessly into your doors and windows, and

integrates with other Smart Home devices to create a next

generation perimeter alarm system that is simple to fit, and

provides added value for the fabricator, installer or property

developer with virtually no additional cost.

To find out more about how working with Kubu can add value

to your business:

Visit: getkubu.com/trade or email: sales@getkubu.com

Be Sure It’s Secure, with Kubu


HOUSING

UNDERSTANDING THE LATEST

DEVELOPMENTS IN CAVITY TRAYS

Cavity trays continue to be an important part of the specification of any brick

building. Matt Price, Masonry Business Development Manager at Siderise

Insulation, explains why.

Cavity trays have long been

a simple, yet essential part

of any kind of masonry

façade, ensuring any

moisture that enters the

wall cavity is directed away from the

inner structure to prevent internal issues

with damp and mould. However, as we

qualities of brickwork to more modern

construction, additional practical and

regulatory considerations must be

made.

FIRE PERFORMANCE

REQUIREMENTS

Even though the main role of a cavity

function, from 1 December 2023,

and other ‘relevant buildings’ need to

unless they are installed between two

leaves of masonry.

This means that those installed between

an SFS framing system and masonry

outer leaf must meet this condition. To

make specifying to this performance

requirement simpler, some passive

trays solutions. These combine a

a robust product that provides a more

straightforward installation process.

Sourcing these products from passive

compatible performance.

ANCHORAGE GATEWAY, SALFORD

tower situated in the vibrant Salford

Quays district of Greater Manchester.

2 , the Erie

Dock Apartments development hosts

290 apartments of various sizes and

private amenities. Each elevation

brickwork, supported by an SFS System

and concrete core works, giving the

building a solid and striking, yet clearly

domestic feel in an area dominated by

glazing and cladding.

As with any masonry construction,

moisture management was key and

entirety of the building. However, on

this tall building, it was vital that the

chosen solution not only achieved

were completed during the statutory

project completion.

Main contractor Domis Construction,

and brickwork contractor Kinlan, had

cavity trays. However, in their search

across the Siderise CT Cavity Tray. This

product is holistically tested, resulting

applies to the complete system rather

than just its component parts. It has

for heat ageing and watertightness,

which can comply with the technical

requirements of major warranty

The Siderise CT Cavity Tray simply

requires a cutting knife and sealing tape

for joining at details such as corners

or windows — with no need to add

additional insulation or use sealants.

Moreover, it does not need costly

prefabricated corner sections that have

times.

Tray on another local project with

support from Siderise Site Services

engineers, the team put it forward to

project.

Over 3,200 units of Siderise CT Cavity

Tray were used on the build, enabling

process with a reliable and repeatable

level of quality across each of the

building’s 29 storeys. This, along with

implemented by the project team,

allowed the development to be

completed three months earlier than

scheduled.

www.siderise.com

Anchorage, Salford Quays is set to be the tallest residential brickwork

building in the UK.

Siderise CT Cavity Tray helps to facilitate a reliable and repeatable level of

quality across multiple storeys.

16

Future Homes

Standard:

Preparing UK

housing for 2025

Research into market readiness and the

fenestration industry’s role in a new era of

building regulations.

With REHAU’s extensive knowledge and

expertise, you can deliver projects that not only

comply with regulations but also exceed

expectations in terms of performance,

aesthetics and sustainability.

www.rehau.uk/futurehomes2025

enquiries@rehau.com

Tel: 01989 762600


HOUSING

HOW PART L CHANGES AFFECT

AIRTIGHTNESS

New Part L updates are focusing on airtightness to help lower carbon emissions in

newbuild homes. A Proctor explains what this means for specifiers.

T

MEETING PART L – SOLUTIONS FOR

AIRTIGHTNESS

18


L acknowledges the challenges of

All new homes in

England built from

2025 to achieve a

75% reduction in

carbon emissions,

of additional sealants and tapes and


NEW U-VALUE ASSESSMENT TOOL

The A. Proctor Group has introduced U-value and Condensation

Risk Analysis software to help architects, designers and

with the latest Part L building regulations. The software is an essential

tool for meeting the new standards and improving the energy

performance of new and existing buildings.

HOUSING


SUSTAINABILITY

COMBINING SUSTAINABILITY

WITH AESTHETICS

Sustainability is no longer just an option for construction projects, it’s a

necessity. Mark Bauer, Environmental Specialist from Forbo Flooring

Systems, explains how linoleum can help.

S

20

Make it a reality

with Reynaers.

Your vision. Our technical support.

We offer dependable technical assurance for every application, bringing vast experience

to residential projects through to large complex commercial buildings. Our dedicated

online architect support page gives you access to CAD and BIM libraries along with our

friendly technical and engineering support team.

WINDOWS

DOORS

SLIDING/

FOLDING DOORS

CURTAIN

WALLS

SOLAR

SHADINGS

We are contributing to more sustainable buildings

and developing circular products. Ensuring

we reduce our ecological footprint while never

forgetting we are a caring company.

With over 50 years of

global product development,

7 testing centres worldwide,

you can be reassured with

Reynaers Aluminium.

Together for better

reynaers.co.uk/architect


SUSTAINABILITY

CONSIDER A PRODUCT’S

EMBODIED CARBON

Embodied carbon emissions will continue to increase as global demand for

construction materials grows. Rebecca Goldsmith from MEDITE SMARTPLY

explains why using wood-derived products can help reduce upfront

carbon while designing with whole-life carbon in mind.

Adecade ago, embodied

a consideration for most

architectural designs,

embodied in their construction is

According to the World Green Building

Council, carbon emissions released

of a building “contribute around 11%

of all global carbon emissions”. This

means reducing embodied carbon is an

minimising overall carbon emissions from

the built environment.

on a building’s embodied carbon, so

building’s design.

those of alternatives such as steel or

in their manufacturing stage, and there is

an added bonus in that the timber itself

stores carbon in the form of biogenic

(or sequestered) carbon. This is the

Some

80%

.

22


atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2

)

out of the atmosphere until the end of

used in modern constructions, this is

store for at least the next 60 years –

the recognised lifespan of a building,

forests in Ireland, which are sustainably

managed by its parent company, Coillte

the Forest Stewardship Council and

Programme for the Endorsement of

The vast majority of the timber

used in the manufacture of MEDITE

SMARTPLY’s MDF and OSB panel

products is a byproduct of both the

sawmill industry (wood chip) and of

management provides small diameter

The vast majority of the timber used in the

manufacture of MEDITE SMARTPLY’s MDF

and OSB panel products is a byproduct of

both the sawmill industry (wood chip) and of

good forest management

MEDITE SMARTPLY has invested

in detailed Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

analysis of its wood panel products,

average amount of biogenic carbon

typically sequestered has been

calculated as approximately

2e per m 3 of MDF and

2e per m 3 of OSB

products tested and will vary across

manufacturers and across product

ranges, based on details such as the

content and the density of wood in the

found on each product’s Environmental

Product Declaration (EPD), which should

be produced in accordance with the

timber logs harvested when thinning

forests, which eliminates waste and

delays the upfront release of sequestered

CO 2

To trace the wood’s journey from forest

ensures that customers receive woodpanel

products that are from legal,

environmentally appropriate, socially

sourced timber is that the carbon

sequestered within the product can

be considered as part of a Whole Life

Carbon (WLC) assessment for a building

There are four main stages in a building’s

WLC assessment: Product (Modules A1-

A5); Use (B1-B7); Deconstruction (C1-

Lifecycle (D), for example heat recovered

from ‘D’ is not included in the overall

Sequestered carbon is included in

the product stage (A1) as a negative

quantity and is termed as ‘stored

the timber is not sustainably sourced,

then its sequestered carbon cannot be

The whole issue of embodied carbon is

still relatively new and there are many

variations in the way it is expressed

carefully at EPDs of individual products

to understand exactly what is included

in the embodied carbon calculation to

Gradually, calculations are starting to

reveal the impact of material choice

on the embodied carbon for individual

that as more of the comparisons appear,

the case for increasing the use of woodbased

materials will become more and

a single standard calculation method

www.mdfosb.com

SUSTAINABILITY

substantiate any carbon claims, the

timber must be sustainably sourced from

According to DEFRA’s new Timber

Roadmap, published in December 2023,

some 80% of the UK’s wood is currently

from Europe, but some travels from as

The carbon emissions associated with

proportion of emissions for products

SMARTPLY sources timber from its own

23


SUSTAINABILITY

MEET SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

THROUGH CAREFUL SPECIFICATION

With quality, sustainable housing a necessity, it’s important that architects and

specifiers carefully consider the materials they use in the construction of new homes.

Structural flooring is one such example, with products able to contribute to a

development’s sustainability goals. Scott Wolters, Building Products Sales Director at

EGGER UK, discusses how timber structural flooring can aid in this.

The typical masonry house in the

UK takes between 50 and 80

tonnes of CO 2 to build, according

to sustainable urban property developer

Citu. With this in mind, there is a clear

need for careful consideration of the

environment, natural resources and

local communities when constructing

new homes. This has led to many

in the construction industry looking

to incorporate low-carbon building

materials, such as timber, into their

housing projects.

One way timber can be implemented

into new housing easily is through

is available in a variety of formats,

such as concrete or beam and block.

However, when you bring sustainability

into the equation it’s clear that timber

comes out on top, with both of the

aforementioned material alternatives

having a high level of embodied carbon.

consideration for the design of any new

development, embodied carbon relates

to the carbon emissions produced

during the extraction, manufacture and

With materials such as concrete this

sequester around 825kg of CO 2 per

cubic metre, providing a considerable

environmental saving across the lifetime

of a product.

all the emissions associated with a

product’s lifecycle, it’s important to

look carefully at suppliers to ensure

sustainability has been considered

at every stage of the supply and

manufacturing process. With timber,

this can be as simple as looking to see

where the wood was originally sourced

from, with the irresponsible harvesting of

forests having a serious environmental

impact through deforestation and

the destruction of natural habitats.

Sustainably managed forests, in

contrast, operate in a way that maintains

the health, productivity and biodiversity

of the forest, with no impact on other

ecosystems, helping to ensure the

creation of more sustainable products.

Look for timber-based products where

the raw material has been obtained from

accredited sources, such as forests

has been grown and managed in a

sustainable manner.

ability to be recycled and reused without

can consider looking at timber structural

recycled wood content, whether that be

post-consumer scrap wood, industrial

waste, or sawmill by-products. This not

but can also prolong carbon storage,

as waste material that isn’t burnt will

continue to hold the carbon it has

absorbed for the duration of its lifetime.

are a great example of this, containing

40% sawmill by-products, 40% recycled

recycled at the end of its lifetime, closing

the loop and creating a more circular

EGGER products come in recyclable

packaging, further reducing wastage

when a delivery arrives onsite.

plant in Hexham, Northumberland,

whereas some other manufacturers often

outsource the upgrading of products to

third parties. In-house UK manufacturing

and environmental costs of both of these

building materials.

www.egger.com

24

Sustainability

is everything

Sustainability matters when you’re specifying building materials, and

it’s important to have transparency in the supply chain. That’s why as

a UK producer, we’ve published independently certified Environmental

Product Declarations (EPDs) for our key wall construction membranes,

offering a life cycle analysis of each product’s carbon footprint.

For 40 years, we’ve been a partner that you can rely on. Turn to

Glidevale Protect today for all the specification support you need.

Scan the QR

code to find out

more about our

EPD certification

For specification guidance contact us

on +44 (0)161 905 5700

email info@glidevaleprotect.com

or visit www.glidevaleprotect.com


SUSTAINABILITY

NEW EPDS PROVIDE CLEAR

SUSTAINABILITY DATA

Environmental Product Declarations help specifiers fully understand the

sustainability benefits of different construction products. Glidevale Protect has

launched new EPDs for three of its ranges.

Building materials specialist

Glidevale Protect has published

Environmental Product Declarations

(EPDs) for three of its construction wall

membranes – Protect TF200 Thermo,

Protect VC Foil Ultra and Protect TF200.

These have been introduced to assist

and life cycle assessment data.

understand a product’s sustainability

credentials when working to more

stringent regulations such as

Building Regulations Part L as well

as whole building environmental

assessment standards like BREEAM.

environmental impact of a product

recognised standards, focused on the

product’s whole life cycle.

By featuring key environment impact

data including global warming potential

(GWP) calculations as well as total

energy and water use, the EPDs form a

transparent analysis of each product’s

carbon footprint to give full reassurance

Created by One Click

EPD Hub in accordance

with EN 15804+A2 &

ISO 14025 / ISO 21930,

Glidevale’s product and

do not contain average

calculations and have

been assessed cradle

to gate with modules

A1-A3, C1-C4 and

D, with the life cycle

analysis (LCA) published

in accordance with the

reference standards ISO

14040/14044.

IN-HOUSE INITIATIVES BOOST

EFFICIENCY

Glidevale Protect is also working on

ways to improve the sustainability and

with key projects underway including

progressing towards accreditation to

the ISO 50001 energy management

standard and putting new systems in

place to track recycling levels and energy

consumption across its UK based

manufacturing facilities. The business is

also looking at how it can improve the

environmental footprint of its packaging

by reducing its plastic

content.

Glidevale Protect uses an

in-house conveyor to deliver

closed-loop recycling.

This involves granulating

tile ventilation production

line which are then

compounded, moulded,

and recycled back into

products by local suppliers

the factory.

The recyclate is then used

within Glidevale Protect’s

tile ventilation hoods. For

rolled goods, the company

is also collaborating with

a recycling partner who

Glidevale Protect’s UK factories and

recycles the material. A partnership is

also underway with a local company to

collect all used pallets and waste timber

from the factory site for recycling. As

part of this commitment to improving its

environmental impact, the company has

also installed EV chargers at both its UK

factories and all new company cars will

be either electric or hybrid vehicles.

Ben Gerry, Glidevale Protect’s Managing

Director says: “Our commitment to

supporting sustainable construction

isn’t limited to our product range and,

as a UK manufacturer, we take our

environmental responsibilities very

seriously.”

Sustainability Lead John Mellor adds:

“Our current activities are being

implemented from the front line with both

internal and external customer drivers

and we are not paying lip service or

greenwashing with regards to trying to

reduce our environmental impact across

our factory sites. Our key stakeholders

within the business engage in the

monthly meetings to help push through

positive changes and where necessary

we are consulting with industry experts

who can assist us in our sustainability

roadmap.”

www.glidevaleprotect.com

26

Talk to us

about solar

today

FULL SYSTEMS

AVAILABLE FOR

PITCHED, FLAT AND

INDUSTRIAL ROOFS

SCAN

HERE

FOR MORE

DETAILS

www.sigroofing.co.uk/solar

SIGRSART1223 V2 | © SIG Trading Ltd 2023. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is believed to be correct at the date of publication. Images used are for illustration purposes only.


SUSTAINABILITY

DRIVING TOWARDS A

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing for H+H UK, looks at how the

company is evolving to meet market needs as the industry moves towards a

sustainable future.

W

of homes in use. Heating is estimated to

CO 2

Regulations in England and Wales

are requiring ever higher standards of

down.

goals.

MEETING NEW REGULATIONS

designs.

28


SUSTAINABILITY

EMBODIED CARBON GOALS

So far, the homes built

with H+H blocks are

showing a reduction of

85% in carbon emissions

against the 2013 building

regulations.

www.hhcelcon.co.uk

29


NEW PRODUCTS

SANIFLO UK EXTENDS PUMP RANGE

KINEDO LAUNCHES DECORATIVE PANELS

NEW INSULATION OFFERS LOW EMBODIED CARBON

30


NEW PRODUCTS

KINGFISHER LOUVRES LAUNCHES NEW LOOK

WEBSITE

STREAMLINE STAIRCASE RENOVATIONS WITH

PAINTREADY COLLECTION

KINEDO LAUNCHES EKINOX+ WALK-IN SHOWER

ENCLOSURE

32

OVER 500 MILLION M 2

INSTALLED WORLDWIDE

SURE-WELD®TPO proven for more than 20 years

in the USA

UNIQUE OCTAGUARD XT ®

WEATHER PROTECTION

Durable against heat and cold, UV rays,

ozone and oxidation

OCTAGUARD XT ®

weather protection

DISCOVER

MORE

Sustainable Durable Colour Choice Flexible Heat Reflection No Plasticisers Mech Fix Induction Welding

www.ccm-europe.com


ROOFING

DON’T SETTLE FOR UNGRADED

BATTENS

Graded roof battens are a sign of quality and can make an important contribution to

site safety. Shaun Revill, Trading Director at SR Timber, outlines the safety issues

specifiers need to be aware of.

R

www.sr-timber.co.uk

34

GREAT

WITH

SLATE

TILE

WITH

STYLE

NEW HERITAGE VALLEY

The unique, dry-fix, invisible valley

trough, for a heritage aesthetic

that’s cost-effective and

simple to achieve!

BRE tested

to PD CEN/TR

15601

Test B & D

• Unique S-profile design

• No valley roof tile required

• No special eaves closures required

• Far less tile-and-a-half or slate-and-a-half required

• BRE weather resistance tested

www.filon.co.uk

Telephone 01543 687300 Email: sales@filon.co.uk


ROOFING

HERITAGE VALLEY TROUGH

TRANSFORMS ROOF USING

EXISTING TILES

Filon’s Heritage Valley Trough has been used to solve the issue of failing valleys as

part of a roof refurbishment on a property in Chepstow.

COST-EFFECTIVE VERSATILITY

By adding the Heritage Valley trough to its range, Filon has

ensured that it is now possible to create traditional closemitred

valleys in plain tile and slate roofs at the same price as

labour-intensive installation of soakers beneath each course,

The new design provides a seamless transition from one roof

Filon supplied its new Heritage Valley Trough to the

homeowner to look at two failing valleys on their roof that had

valley that did not carry out its primary function of protecting

So, it was suggested that the valleys be stripped, Filon’s

smooth and clean transition between the two roof areas,

attention to detail and precision in the installation process truly

NOT JUST FOR HERITAGE PROJECTS

While initially designed for heritage projects, the Heritage

A recent project using plain tiles was a Sainsbury’s

convenience store, but it is also perfectly suited to most

recent project replaced a failed swept valley that used

reconstituted stone tiles and gave a beautiful trouble-free

necessarily wide drainage channel but has a much narrower

achieve better drainage without compromising the structural

tile materials needed for the valley, money can be saved on

36


ROOFING

SOLVING THE CHALLENGES OF

HERITAGE PROJECTS

Victoria Ramwell from Kemper System explores the complexity of refurbishing

historical buildings, and the benefits of installing a cold-applied liquid system to

ensure the property remains waterproof.

Heritage projects often present a

and detailed areas that need

special consideration to not only provide

to address the aesthetic challenges of

turning the copper into a distinctive light

the exact shade of green needed to

MATCHING RAL COLOUR CODES

One example of a property that has

To emulate the appearance of the

same liquid already featured on the

This meant very limited access for the

system eliminated the need for extensive

this helped to minimise logistical

A LEAD ALTERNATIVE

around the perimeter of the Grade

constructed around the top of each

installation process achieved the desired

SPECIFICATION CONSIDERATIONS

other important considerations such

resistance to damage from anticipated

the manufacturer’s latest product

www.kemperol.co.uk

St. John the Baptist RC Church, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, where a number of Kemper

systems were used.

38


ROOFING

HITTING THE RIGHT PITCH AT

HELMSLEY CASTLE

Onduline helped Wigwam Architecture & Build meet conservation requirements on

an extension development at Helmlsey Castle.

W

conservation area generally

means adhering to extra

planning controls and considerations

to protect the location’s historic and

architectural elements. This was the

case for Wigwam Architecture and Build

when the company was undertaking

an extension development within the

historic town of Helmsley.

solution for a small, rear extension on a

very old property situated directly behind

the beautiful ruins of historic Helmsley

Castle.

The design had been approved by

planning with stipulations that the roof

vernacular, as well as matching the

clay pantiles. As reclaimed pantiles

cannot be used on a pitch lower than

required.

at Wigwam Architecture and Build,

says: “As the roof of the extension was

at such a shallow pitch compared to

solution that would enable us to use the

reclaimed pantiles at a 12° pitch. We had

it wasn’t a large roof there was a lot

going on in quite a small area, so we

roof system ticked all the right boxes.

any aesthetics or compromise the build

allowed us to use the tiles at a low pitch,

TESTED AND ACCREDITED

ISOLINE LOW LINE is BRE tested and

BBA Accredited to as low as 10° with a

lightweight bituminous underlay sheeting

has been rigorously tested.

With a corrugation height of 24mm,

primary tile or slate roof covering, acting

of a roof. This makes the roof tiles a

secondary line of defence enabling the

pitch of the roof to be much lower.

Not only does this help meet the

demand for maximising living space, as

the low pitch means the roof void can

be minimised, it also enables traditional

tiles to be used in situations where they

couldn’t have been previously, such as

greatly enhancing the aesthetic quality of

a property.

slippery sheets are simple to cut with

vertical overlaps embossed into the

sheet. This makes installation even

quicker and easier as it takes away the

need to measure and it also removes

confusion when it comes to knowing

how much to overlap.

Due to the corrugations, ISOLINE LOW

LINE allows increased ventilation and

and tile battens positioned above the

corrugations allow moisture to drain to

the eaves which, with the enhanced

ventilation, maintains excellent moisture

control within the cavity.

The material is also in line with the

growing awareness of ‘green’ issues and

as ISOLINE LOW LINE sheets are made

of a minimum 50% recycled cellulose

release any hazardous substances.

www.onduline.co.uk

40

WE PROVIDE ANSWERS AND

SOLUTIONS FRO

INNOATION AN

“NOLEGE

PROUD SPECIFIERS

OF FLAT ROOF SYSTEMS

TECHNOLOGY CENTRE LEITAT,

BARCELONA PICHARCHITECTS

T a a nu o scs n ak.

Coosn o ud o n ans w ANOSA,

ou a assud o akadn suo as w as

ua sss, scca nnd o su

uns o ou oc.

www.danosa.co.uk | +44 (0 4 04 0

ANOSA , Ea Hous, C Road, Od S, EC A


ROOFING

VAULTED ROOF BRINGS THE

WOW FACTOR

The owners of a 16th century cottage in Halesworth have used Catnic Urban to

beautiful effect by introducing a steel standing seam roof and cladding as

part of a new extension.

H

42


ROOFING

a concern.

Catnic Urban,” says Jon Mortimer of

as soon as people look into the product

beautifully.”

in the past.

Chris says: “We came from a traditional

tile and slate background and have

found the move to only installing Catnic

business. Being able to provide such

a close aesthetic match to zinc at a

is. The ease of installation is also a big

simple, on-site installation.”

could achieve our desired aesthetic, our

cladding could be exactly matched to

matching and stability credentials by

If a customer wants

the look of zinc

without the price

tag, I recommend

Catnic Urban,” says

Jon Mortimer of

Kerslake

Construction

particularly like the fact that it is fully

recyclable at end of life. The ease of

good level of technical detail provided on

abutments and ventilation, so that all the

Colorcoat Urban) is a fully supported

standing seam system designed,

manufactured and CE marked in

build choices.

traditional copper and zinc standing

than tile equivalents, it is easy to handle

www.catnic.com

43


ROOFING

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

PIONEERING CONSTRUCTION

MEMBRANE MANUFACTURER SETS

NEW STANDARDS

In the dynamic landscape of

construction, where challenges

intertwine with the pursuit of highquality

materials, Don & Low offers a

comprehensive range of membranes

designed to stand the test of time.

With more than two centuries of

expertise, Don & Low has positioned

itself as the UK’s leading vertically

integrated manufacturer, shaping the

construction industry with its flagship

product, Roofshield ® , and a complete

building envelope solution.

MEMBRANE EXCELLENCE

Don & Low’s journey in technical

textiles dates back to 1792, with

over 35 years of expertise in

nonwovens manufacturing. As the sole

manufacturer of Roofshield®, Don &

Low’s construction fabrics are made

entirely in the UK, ensuring compliance

with evolving standards, improved

energy efficiency, and environmental

sustainability. The company’s

membranes, including Roofshield ® ,

RoofTX ® , MultiTX ® , Reflectashield ® ,

Frameshield ® and VapourTX ® , constitute

a diverse portfolio tailored to the specific

needs of construction projects.

CUSTOMISATION AND INNOVATION

A notable strength lies in Don & Low’s

capacity to customise membranes

according to specific demands,

offering a broad spectrum of prints and

colours. The company’s commitment

to innovation is evident in its end-toend

product development process,

from concept and design to sourcing

raw materials, sampling, and final

production. With modern on-site test

facilities and rigorous in-process testing,

Don & Low ensures its products meet

the highest global quality standards.

A BUILDING ENVELOPE SOLUTION

Don & Low’s advanced roofing

underlays, breather walling membranes

and vapour control layers play pivotal

roles in enhancing the performance

and longevity of roofs and walls, while

regulating moisture and temperature.

The company also provides flooring

membranes like FloorTX® and

temporary site protection materials,

contributing to a holistic building

envelope solution.

EXPERT GUIDANCE

Don & Low takes pride in its team of

experts. These experts bring years of

expertise and passion, offering guidance

on membrane selection, installation and

best practices for various conditions.

Customers receive personalised

support, emphasising the importance

of following installation guidelines

for optimal results. To contact them

directly, call 0808 169 4444 or email

membranes@donlow.co.uk

DIRECT DISTRIBUTION

As of 16 November, 2023, Don &

Low has assumed direct distribution

responsibilities for Roofshield ® and its

entire construction membrane portfolio

in the UK and Ireland. This move aims

to streamline the supply chain, providing

flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and overall

customer satisfaction.

LOOKING AHEAD

Will Campbell, Head of Sales at Don &

Low, highlights the company’s enduring

legacy and commitment to quality. He

says: “Don & Low continues to push the

boundaries of construction practices.

As we stride into 2024, we are thrilled

to announce that new, groundbreaking

products are on the horizon. While

specifics remain undisclosed, the

company invites industry professionals

to explore its extensive range, access

technical expertise, and discover how

Don & Low’s solutions can elevate

construction projects.”

Don & Low combines historical

expertise with a forward-looking

approach, setting new standards in

the construction membrane industry.

Through customisation, innovation,

or expert guidance, the company

continues to shape the future of

construction.

www.donlow.co.uk

44

ONDULINE® BATTEN

CLOAKING PIECE

ISOLINE® LOW LINE

Bituminous corrugated underlay sheet,

made from 50% recycled fibres. Robust with

guaranteed waterproofing for 30-years.

ONDULINE® EAVES

VENTILATOR STRIP

ONDULINE® AIR

Highly vapour permeable, breathable

membrane with superior tensile

strength and durability.

ONDULINE® EAVES TRAY

ISOLINE® LOW LINE

Complete sub-roof system for low pitch roofs

A unique under roof waterproofing system that can be

used on a roof pitch as low as 10° for all roof tiles. The

ISOLINE® sub-roof acts as the primary waterproofing,

making roof tiles a secondary line of defence.

Protection like no other!

onduline.co.uk

0207 727 0533

enquiries@onduline.net


ROOFING

THE BENEFITS OF SPECIFYING

PMMA LIQUID TECHNOLOGY

Gary Hemmings, Managing Director of WestWood Liquid Technologies, explains

how PMMA technology is meeting the need for more aesthetic and durable

waterproofing across multiple applications.

P

SPECIFICATION ADVANTAGES

PMMA CURING

ADDING COLOUR AND

FUNCTIONALITY

A PERFECT MATCH

www.westwood-uk.com

46


ROOFING PRODUCTS

DECRA BRAND STANDS THE TEST OF TIME

www.britmet.co.uk

PROCTOR AIR ADDED TO NEXT GENERATION

OF PRODUCTS


48

NEW

UBIFLEX FINIO

LEAD REPLACEMENT

Instant waterproofing through

unique double bonding

With new Ubiflex Finio you can achieve a

quality, watertight flashing solution up to

three times faster!

Ubiflex Finio adheres to almost all surfaces, even when

damp and is consistent at temperatures well below

freezing (down to -10 °C). The flashing is watertight

immediately after the installation is completed!

A waterproof roof finish in no time

THINK SMART

BEFORE YOU START

Unique double bonding ensures

optimal waterproofing

Available in Black and Grey

Waterproof in seconds

Ubbink UK Ltd • 01604 433000 • sales@ubbink.co.uk • www.ubbink.co.uk


CASE STUDIES

QDOS GIVES KUDOS TO SANIFLO

QDOS Event Hire provides high-quality temporary

accommodation, welfare and toilet facilities for

Show, Goodwood and Wimbledon.

When it comes to the discharge of black and grey

Pro is used and provides a durable unit for heavy

use, commercial applications. It takes waste from

maintain and uninstall at the end of the event.

showers, a Sanicubic lifting station takes waste from

varied appliances thanks to its multiple connection

points and large capacity.

In the run up to the festive season QDOS installed

are installed inside waterproof boxes with plenty of

insulation to prevent frost ingression.

Jonathan Reid, QDOS Regional Manager, said:

staff are extremely experienced in installing them so

it’s a no hassle solution for us and ensures customers

have better facilities at an event.”

SPACE SAVING INSULATION IMPROVES 1970S

BUILDING

Spacetherm WL (Wall Liner) insulation from the A.

Proctor Group has helped to reduce heating costs of

a 1970s building with limited internal space.

a split level, giving most of the space to the living

and is partially sunk into the ground, meaning there

above the ceiling so, again, there is no insulation.

heating on the whole time, but it seemed ridiculous

during the pandemic, I noticed mould spots all over

my mattress and wall. I researched different materials

but couldn’t really afford to lose any wall space.

Spacetherm W is only 13mm thick and you can glue it

directly onto the wall.”

Spacetherm WL is a high-performance laminate

consisting of a Spacetherm aerogel insulation blanket

applications where improved thermal performance is

required with limited space.

50


KNAUF INSULATION DELIVERS SOFFIT SOLUTION FOR HOCKLEY MILLS

Hockley Mills is a prestigious mixed-use development

comprising 395 apartments and 28,000sq ft of

commercial space and undercroft parking for 116 characteristics.

was essential – so the insulation had to be noncombustible.

It also needed to reduce sound transfer

so that residents and workers in the building would

not be disturbed by noise from the car park.

conducted U-value calculations and recommended

the performance requirements.

in applications such as open-sided car parks. It has

a thermal conductivity of just 0.034W/mK, delivering

the stipulated 0.16 W/m²K U-value required for the

CASE STUDIES

WRAPTITE HELPS CONSTRUCT NORTHAMPTON BOYS SCHOOL

A. Proctor Group has been chosen for its airtight

acted as Principal Design and Build Contractor

includes a total of 210 modules using Seismic

technology, plus a hybrid structure for the halls.

Using Seismic technology for the modules will deliver

compared to traditional con-struction techniques, as

compared with standard modular construction.

reductions in both operational and embodied carbon

manufacturing effectiveness, leading to limited

wastage.

adhered vapour permeable air barrier, and combines

the critical properties of vapour permeability and

costs.

manufacture, as it’s quick to apply. Installing Wraptite

at a low level in the factory enables the membrane

to applied easily and avoids the risks of working at

air barrier allows the substrate beneath to dry

quickly and moisture vapour to escape, reducing the

likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber

distortion and metal corrosion.


51


HEATING

SEEING RED, SEEING SAVINGS

Bruce Miller, Director of infrared heating specialist SunSwitch, examines why

infrared heating is gaining popularity and the savings that it can deliver for specifiers

looking to deliver low-cost heating for industrial buildings.

I

heating industrial buildings such as

heat has been used for therapeutic

purposes.

or stations on a production line. All are

approach.

heater is instant. There is also no cool

cost of reheating the space once the

door is closed again.

is in practice. Infrared heating does not

Against a background of uncertain future

to start seeing infrared.

www.sunswitch.net

52

Passivent Roof Ventilation Terminals

Now with 15 year no leak guarantee

and no annual servicing required

We are so confident in the

quality of our Passivent Airscoop®,

Airstract®, and Hybrid Plus Airstract®

Roof Ventilation Terminals that we

provide a 15-year no leak guarantee

from the date of installation.*

NO LEAK GUARANTEE

What’s more, our patented double-bank louvre system ensures that your

building will be 100% ventilated regardless of the weather conditions.

And with no mechanical or electrical items to maintain within the terminals,

there is no annual servicing or roof/external access to the building required.

www.passivent.com/nlg

or contact us on projects@passivent.com

Ventilation

& Air Quality

Natural

Daylight

Moisture

Removal

* Terms and conditions apply. See www.passivent.com/nlg for details


HEATING

ONE-THIRD OF CONSUMERS

DON’T KNOW HOW TO MAKE

HOMES GREENER

New research from Mitsubishi Electric and Ipsos reveals consumers want to support

the environment, and there is growing consumer appetite for heat pump technology.

British consumers are taking

responsibility for reducing the

impact of climate change,

with 76% believing they have

a responsibility to cut carbon

impact and help get to net zero.

But over one-third (34%) of British

adults still aren’t aware of the most

environmentally friendly way to heat

their homes, despite the government’s

ambitious goal of reaching net zero

carbon emissions by 2050 – according

to new research from Mitsubishi Electric

and Ipsos.

BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF

RENEWABLES IS NEEDED

Home heating is still responsible

for around 17% of the UK’s carbon

emissions, and around 80% of domestic

heating comes from gas. To combat

this, the UK government is driving a

move to lower-carbon alternatives,

including heat pumps, through

programmes like the Boiler Upgrade

Scheme.

Heat pumps are three times more

same amount of heat. In a survey of

1,000 UK adults in June 2023, nearly

half (42%) of Brits said they do have

some interest in installing heat pump

technology. However, understanding of

heat pump technology is still low.

42%

of Brits said they do have

some interest in

installing heat pump

technology

54


Only 13% of respondents are aware

little-to-nothing about how heat pump

environmentally friendly ways to improve

80% agree that the

government has a

responsibility to act

to reduce carbon

emissions

increasing consumer awareness and

COST OF LIVING CRISIS IS

COMPELLING

The cost-of-living crisis is a compelling

reason they were interested in a heat

to save money on their energy bills over

almost half (49%) of respondents from

installing a heat pump is perceived

high initial costs to purchase and install

says: “Heat pumps are a vital technology

potential is currently not being realised

the government must do more to raise

awareness among households on

how they can lower their energy usage

around cost and performance of the

A CALL FOR GOVERNMENT

SUPPORT

Survey respondents believe the

government has a big role to play in

(80%) agree that the government has

a responsibility to act to reduce carbon

should set a deadline for decarbonisation

The government is in a strong position

to build greater consumer awareness

around heat pumps and the move to

of information that most consumers

(32%) would engage with for advice on

76%

of Brits believe they have a

responsibility to cut carbon

impact and help get

But despite trusting the government

(41%) of Britons currently regard the

government as being trustworthy when

must play a greater role in educating and

considered a critical date to achieve

undoubtedly one of the resources we

will need to utilise in order to reach this

form of educating the public about the

environmental choices are driven by

HEATING

les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

ABOUT THE RESEARCH

Ipsos and Mitsubishi Electric partnered

to conduct a study to understand more

about consumer attitudes towards, and

engagement with, electric heat pump technology

as an element of the roadmap to decarbonise

residential heating in Britain. Ipsos ran an online

survey with a nationally representative sample

of 1,000 people aged 18-75 across Great Britain,

between 19 and 21 May, 2023. Data is weighted to

subject to a wide range of potential sources of

error.

55


HEATING

THE POWER OF PROVEN

PERFORMANCE

With decarbonisation and net zero introducing ever more stringent requirements, the

pressure is on to specify technology that performs exactly as expected. Independent

certification body Eurovent Certita Certification explores why specifiers should rely

on proven product performance.

S

when selecting heating, ventilating,

air conditioning and refrigeration

(HVAC&R) products for their projects.

Installation costs continue to be a key

factor, but we now live in a world where

increasingly important. With a myriad of

manufacturers and products to choose

from, it’s important to know you have

tools at your disposal to help you make

can be invaluable when it comes

to comparing products, giving you

can trust.

WHY DO WE NEED CERTIFICATION?

To sell HVAC&R products in the UK

market, manufacturers must ensure

products reach minimum standards and

comply with regulations. Compliance

testing is essentially self-regulated, as

manufacturers can undertake these

tests in-house or use an independent

third-party, such as Eurovent Certita

With in-house testing, not every

manufacturer will go through exactly

FINDING CERTIFIED

PRODUCTS

the same process or use the same

protocols, calibrations and bias when

testing, can lead to variations in the

stated and real performance of a product

– even if completely unintentional. The

best designed and installed systems

will underperform if real-life product

performance does not match the

manufacturer’s claims.

Products that underperform can be noncompliant

with regulations, use more

energy, create a larger carbon footprint,

not meet end user requirements and

result in unhappy clients. The blame for

underperforming systems can unfairly

time and potentially even reputational

damage.

CERTIFICATION VS IN-HOUSE

of underperformance, building

transparency and trust between

industry stakeholders. For example,

and impartially tests and evaluates

product characteristics, making sure

products meet manufacturer energy

while complying with all relevant

regulations. This is key as it safeguards

systems, spiralling running costs for

the end user, or non-compliance with

mark are rated against a common set

for all products. Using state-of-the-art

evaluation protocols, products must

pass a number of stringent checkpoints

products through independent laboratory

tests, and adds in:

• Audits of the manufacturing site(s)

• Selection software checks

• Analysis the submitted data for

technical credibility and continuity

• Yearly surveillance monitoring

• Plus, every model in range under

a ‘certify-all’ programme must be

criteria. This ensures quality

throughout the range, and not just the

Impartiality standards are kept high as

manufacturers and laboratories have no

direct contact, keeping the process clear

of any bias. Crucially the products tested

can be taken from the production line,

factory stock or point of sale, ensuring

the product tested is exactly the same

as those leaving the production line.

HOW DOES CERTIFICATION HELP

SPECIFIERS?

include:

1. Assurance that HVAC&R systems will

perform as expected, because they are

rather than on manufacturer claims alone

2. A guarantee that products comply

with regulations, standards and codes

3. Free access to transparent, accurate,

universally understood performance

Directory

4. Choice. Whether you are considering

a product that is new to the UK market,

or a brand you haven’t used before,

compare products and make informed

decisions

government grants and incentives, and

be seen as less risky by those providing

Performance programmes, eg, heat

pumps, manufacturers are required

to have spare parts available for up

to 10 years, ensuring systems can be

maintained for years to come.

cannot be bought. If a product isn’t

56

STAMP DT LAND

TA RELIEF

If ouve bought a propert in

the last four ears with defects

like damp mold missing or

unusable appliances structural

or roofing issues electrical

problems or a fault boiler ou

ma reclaim overpaid Stamp

Dut Land Tax

R&D TA CREDITS

Our service optimises our RD

Tax Relief claim reducing the

likelihood of an enquir and

saving ou valuable time

mone and unnecessar stress

While helping our business

identif qualifiable innovation

LAND REMEDIATION

TA RELIEF

We support businesses in

recovering funds for eligible

expenses accrued during the

cleanup of contaminated land

fostering brownfield site

regeneration for environmental

and economic benefits

Aard-inning ta specialists helping

UK bsinesses and indiidals to secre

goernment fnding throgh ta

incentie soltions.

3,000+ Satisfied Clients

200m in Rebates Paid

N-Wi, N-Fee

Glenn Waller

Ta Iceie Seciai

gwalllerrdisolutionscouk

dilinck

Geenich Vie Place

Lndn E NN


HEATING

PASSIVENT MAKES THE GRADE AT

HISTORIC NORTHUMBERLAND HALL

Natural ventilation solutions manufacturer Passivent has helped breathe new life

into the Grade II-listed Matfen Hall in Northumberland following an extensive

refurbishment programme designed by Doonan Architects.

Grade II-listed Matfen Hall in Northumberland is a former

stately home set in 300 acres of landscaped gardens

and woodlands. The gothic hall dates back to 1832

and is now a hotel and wedding venue.

Passivent worked closely with specialist building environment

and services engineers Skelly & Couch to develop a natural

ventilation strategy for the hall’s newly covered external

courtyards. This led to the use of Passivent’s high-performance

maintain a fresh air supply to the enclosed area that has now

been created. In total, 10 Aircool wall ventilators were installed

by Passivent’s client, JP Westhall, in the lower courtyard, with

seven in the upper courtyard. Passivent also supplied a twozone

iC8000 intelligent controller which monitors the internal

and external temperature and carbon dioxide level to allow the

facilities team to control the natural ventilation system.

CLOSE COLLABORATION LEADS TO SUCCESS

Close collaboration was key to the successful delivery of the

ventilation system, with Skelly & Couch working with Passivent

very early in the design stage to access the relevant technical

product information and calculate the required free area. This

information was then passed back to Passivent so the Aircool

wall ventilator’s aperture could be sized accordingly.

Rosie Jones, Associate at Skelly & Couch, says: “On such a

complex restoration project as this, it was essential that we

provided us with all the product information we needed in a

range of formats so we could advance the technical design

Passivent’s Aircool range features both insulated wall and

window ventilators that are fully controllable and suitable for

use within the external facades of all types of buildings. The

electrically actuated dampers provide controlled air intake,

making them the perfect partner for natural and passive

ventilation strategies.

The Aircool range of ventilators is also suitable for night-time

cooling strategies, where daytime heat build-up is purged from

the structure during the night.

www.passivent.com

ABOUT PASSIVENT

All Passivent products are designed and

developed under ISO 9001 quality standards

and ISO45001 health and safety standards,

with manufacturing and management sites

being accredited to ISO 14001, the standard for

environmental management systems.

58

There’s an Ecodan

for every home

NEW

REFRIGERANT

The NEW Ecodan air source heat pump is setting new standards for

performance and sustainability. Using R290 with a Global Warming

Potential of only 3 and offering flow temperatures of up to 75ºC, Ecodan

offers flexible application. Available in 5kW, 6kW, and 8kW sizes.

ecodan.me.uk/R290SB124

MANUFACTURED

IN THE UK

"Excellent"

Renewable Heating Technology

JANUARY 2024 \\ www.specifyandbuild.co.uk

HEATING

COMPLY WITH NEW HIGH RISE REGULATIONS

Keston has launched a new High Rise Flue Kit that is

suitable for use in buildings in England and Wales that are

higher than 18 metres.

The kit is designed to be fully compliant with ‘Building

Regulation 2020, Part B – Fire Safety, Volume 1’, which

requires that, among other conditions, materials that

become part of the external wall in a relevant building

suitable for installations in Scotland above 11 metres,

in accordance with the ‘Building Standards Technical

Handbook 2020: Domestic Buildings’.

Constructed of high-quality 316 stainless steel, the kit offers

a corrosion-resistant alternative to other non-combustible

compliant with the revised legislation covering materials

allowed as part of the make-up of external walls.

www.keston.co.uk

STELRAD UNVEILS ELECTRIC RADIATORS

Stelrad has launched its Electric radiator range, which

includes more than a dozen different models, sizes and

colours. The range offers standard radiators for any room,

as well as a selection of towel rails for use in bathrooms

and en-suites.

The Electric Column design is a rounded vertical tube

column radiator available in three sizes, in both white or

anthracite grey. Also in the range is the Electric Agata and

The E-Flow towel rails have a fan heater at the base and

include manual controls for individual use of the towel rail

or the fan heater, or both together as a three-in-one unit.

The range also features aluminium radiators such as the

Electric Alu Simple Dry and Simple Fluid. The Electric

Cloud is a smooth-fronted, curved-faced steel radiator that

is available in white and anthracite.

heating parts and a two-year warranty on the electric

components.

www.stelrad.com

BASK IN THE GLOW WITH TUFFX

TuffX has launched its electrically heated glass product,

a new way to heat homes.

“With traditional heaters and gas boilers being recognised

affordable alternatives,” said Paul Higgins, Commercial

Director of TuffX. “Glow offers a solution that is like

but is also not prohibitively expensive. Using infrared

technology, it is thermostat controlled like existing familiar

heating systems.”

The system consists of a sealed unit layered with intelligent

can be used as a primary heating source with temperatures

reaching 35-40°C, and also helps eliminate unsightly

condensation.

From a homeowner’s perspective, the coatings are

undetectable and the glass looks the same as that found in

any other bi-fold door. www.tuffxglass.co.uk

60


GUIDE SETS OUT ACHIEVABLE OPTIONS FOR

SAFE HOT WATER

Hospitals, healthcare facilities and the lowcarbon

hot water challenge

•

•

•

•

www.baxi.co.uk

HEATING

STRUCTURAL UNDERFLOOR HEATING FOR A

LOW-PROFILE SOLUTION

and

www.continal.co.uk

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC LAUNCHES ECODAN R290

les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk

61


DRAINAGE

CHOOSING THE RIGHT

RAINWATER SYSTEM

Rainwater system provider Yeoman Rainguard explains why it’s so important to

consider the environmental hazards your building project will be exposed to when

deciding on the right system.

T

it comes to selecting rainwater

While aesthetics are important,

selecting the most appropriate guttering

and downpipes requires a deeper

system is going into. You’ll need to

consider:

may need to select a material that

property.

selection.

come at an increased cost.

GUARD AGAINST THE WEATHER

by selecting a durable rainwater system

that will guard against water damage

best-looking system must also be able

A good system must also be able to

retain its aesthetics when the sun comes

out, without discolouring or cracking

when the temperature rises. You may

also need to choose one that can

without becoming misshapen, and which

is also the right size to take the water

and aesthetic properties, to withstand

when it comes to metal guttering

including both aluminium and cast iron,

your project?

ALUMINIUM

Aluminium guttering is supplied with

ornate accessories such as ear bands,

will help to tailor this product to the

working on.

The gutters will also be strong enough

brackets is recommended in any areas

welding joints, will make the system both

quicker and easier to install. Aluminium

CAST IRON

This classical rainwater system has

than aluminium, cast iron guttering

maintenance such as repainting.

and historical buildings. Cast iron is

www.rainguard.co.uk

62

There’s a siltload of difference

between StormTech and other

stormwater management systems

The difference is our unique Isolator Row. It’s

a water quality treatment device that’s been

independently NJCAT tested to eliminate >80%

of Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Isolator Row is

built-in to ADS StormTech systems, helping to

remove silt, metals, hydrocarbons, phosphorus,

nitrogen and other surface water pollutants.

And it’s free. So, unlike traditional stormwater

systems, we’re not just giving you a load of silt.

Visit adspipe.co.uk for details


DRAINAGE

THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER

Stuart Crisp, UK manager of Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS), looks at looming

legislation which will mandate Sustainable Drainage Systems and explains why their

adoption will require new skills for specifiers and developers.

In January 2023, the Government

implement Schedule 3 of the

Flood and Water Management Act

2010, which will make the adoption

of Sustainable Drainage Systems

(SuDS) mandatory in England, as

it has been in Wales since 2019. In

Scotland, Schedule 3 has not been

implemented, but SuDS is generally

a requirement within planning

legislation.

Schedule 3 is a game

changer for the

drainage industry

Subject to consultation, the

implementation of Schedule 3,

which includes SuDS approval and

adoption, is expected in late 2024.

That means there is less than a year

up to speed with the range and

implications of possible solutions,

both above and below ground.

While developers currently have the

right to connect drainage systems

into sewers, that is unlikely to be

the case anymore without prior

they will have to show that they have

included SuDS in their schemes and

demonstrate how that SuDS system

can be maintained over the lifetime

of a development.

think about more than just hydraulic

design, and consider whole-life

maintenance and treatment to deal

pollutants. There will probably be

a transition period as Schedule 3

comes in, but it makes sense to

upskill now in order to future-proof

systems that are being planned now.

Currently, SuDS can be adopted

by water companies as long as

systems comply with the Design

and Construction Guidance (DCG),

which sets out how SuDS should

be delivered. However, it is not

compulsory to jump through the

adoption hoops. The end result of

this is that some assets do meet

prescribed and consistent standards

of quality and performance, may

not be properly maintained and,

consequently, there are problems

down the line.

The DCG was updated last year

to include arch-shaped belowground

attenuation structures. One

below-ground attenuation structures

such as crates or large-diameter

stormwater quality management,

reducing the extent of additional

treatment required elsewhere in the

SuDS system.

It is expected that Schedule 3

will change the assessment and

adoption of SuDS to become SuDS

approving bodies (SABs), which

will be within unitary councils or

county councils. And new statutory

guidance will be introduced, taking

over from DCG to cover design,

construction and operation over an

asset’s lifetime.

The statutory requirements in

England may be more onerous

than both the DCG and the current

non-statutory standards in terms

of what will be acceptable for

planning approval and adoption

after construction. SuDS adoption

becoming mandatory, with few

exceptions, will raise the bar.

Happily, poor quality products and

poorly executed designs are likely to

be challenged and disappear from

the market. For anyone looking to

start the upskilling process now,

training and CPDs are already

available from some manufacturers

and should include information

on legislation, best practice and

comparable systems.

www.adspipe.co.uk

64

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DRAINAGE

MANUFACTURERS MUST DELIVER

ON CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

Covid brought about 20 years of evolution in three years and not only changed how

customers interact with businesses, but also brought with it soaring expectations of

service and support. Andy Cullum, Managing Director at Polypipe Building Services

UK, shares how digital transparency, product innovation and technical expertise are

more important than ever in 2024.

The general feeling

within construction and

manufacturing is that we are

in a recession environment.

This means the companies

who are surviving and thriving are

becoming ultra-focussed on what they

are good at, because everyone is being

expected to do as much as they did

before, but with less.

At Polypipe Building Services, we

believe this means making it as

business with us. It means ensuring

complete product transparency and

digital data, and providing the detailed

technical knowledge to help customers

meet safety compliance standards,

sustainability requirements and building

regulations. It also means adding value

to the customers who specify our

products by understanding their pain

points and coming up with solutions.

DIGITAL TRANSPARENCY

Discussions around the lack of skilled

labour within the construction sector

have continued throughout 2023, but

getting the right mix of people with

the right level of knowledge within any

business is also key.

With the implementation of the Building

are facing even greater scrutiny of

their project plans to ensure they

meet safety compliance and adhere to

current building regulations. This has

led to an expectation on manufacturers

to be able to provide a digital data

trail for their product ranges, which is

why manufacturers are working hard

Environmental Product Declarations for

their products.

As a manufacturer, we need to be one

step ahead and have a good level of

technical knowledge to support our

customers. Being part of the wider

Genuit group means we can leverage

expertise and knowledge from more

than 20 sites and share best practice

throughout the group. It also means

our employees have access to more

opportunities to learn, while we use

apprenticeships, internships and our

as a form of ongoing training for all our

employees.

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

As a manufacturer and supplier,

it’s important to balance giving our

customers what they need now, while

also investing in new technology to move

our sector forward towards the ultimate

goal of becoming net zero.

This is why we have invested in

new production lines capable of

manufacturing our Terrain PVC pipe,

which is made from up to 65% recycled

materials. It strikes a balance between

maintaining the quality and performance

our customers expect, while supporting

this move towards a fully circular

economy that makes the best use of

construction waste. This is in keeping

with Genuit group’s declaration that, by

2025, 62% of total materials used in

our products will come from recycled

sources.

Post Covid, businesses are having to

adapt and evolve quicker than ever

before, and Polypipe Building Services

is no exception. This is why, in 2024,

the company will be introducing more

products so we can supply building

projects from mains to tap and back

get everything they need from a single

manufacturer.

Within the current economic climate, if

you want to gain growth you have got

drainage and water supply solutions we

are not only reducing our customers’

carbon footprints through less deliveries,

but also by making their supply chain

easier to transact.

www.polypipe.com/

buildingservices

66

05-07 March 2024 / ExCeL, London

05 - 07 March 2024 ExCeL, London

what will you

take a stand for?

Driving Collaboration and Innovation for a

Sustainable Built Environment at the sectors

most influential, large scale exhibition and

conference.

Join us at

Futurebuild 2024

Futurebuild is more than an event; it’s a call for action. It’s a platform to

engage and collaborate, and a stage for debate. It’s three days of education

and dissemination of knowledge, and a showcase of innovation.

Take a stand for a better built environment.

www.futurebuild.co.uk

PRODUCT

Choose passive fire safety solutions that go beyond, with cavity

barrier and firestopping systems for the building envelope. Our

compartmentation systems are factory-engineered with real-life

site demands and complexities in mind to help you achieve your

project’s design intent.

Comprehensively fire tested, third-party certified and wrapped

in a package of extensive support for every stage of the

construction journey - we are raising the bar.

Are you ready to Go Beyond?

January 2024 Issue

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