Envirotile is a revolutionary roof tile system with a unique fixing system which is fully compliant with BS 5534 and it can be installed to a minimum of 12.5° pitch.

It is significantly lighter than other tiles making Envirotile extremely suitable for use on modular and timber frame constructions. The lightweight tile aids the build by minimalising differential movement in such structures.
Plus due to the unique fitting system developed by roofers, installation is simple and easy, saving time compared to traditional tiles, and offers a complete dry fix system with no mess cutting.
The sustainable choice
Envirotile is manufactured from 75% recycled product and is fully recyclable at end of life.
It is backed by GreenSpec which is the foremost ‘Green Building’ resource in the UK. Independent of companies and trade bodies and launched in 2003 with government funding, GreenSpec promotes sustainable building products, materials and construction techniques.

Equinox Vega
Named after one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere, Equinox Vega is here to meet end users’ desire for natural light. The addition of full height glazing panels up to one metre wide and three metres high of clear glass can now feature as part of the Equinox Roof System, flooding conservatories with additional light and creating an impression of more space when several panels are used together.  Equinox Vega also works seamlessly alongside Envirotile, which is available in a range of design options.

Finishes
Envirotile is available in two finish effect options – our original tile with a textured finish and our latest addition of the slate-effect finish – both are aesthetically pleasing in all aspects.
The textured finish tile is available in Brown, Slate Grey and Anthracite Black, and the slate-effect tile in Brown, Slate Grey and Anthracite Grey.
Plus ridge, hip and end caps all available to ensure the roof is completed to the same green credentials.

Designed to perform
Envirotile has undertaken rigorous testing with many professional bodies so that we can ensure that it is more than fit-for-purpose and will withstand all the British weather will throw at it. So much so that we guarantee it for 40 years.
They are also fully guaranteed to perform against severe UK wind loads in any designated zonal area within the UK and we offer a free replacement service for dislodged roof tiles caused by gale force winds up to 65mph (subject to our Terms & Conditions).

Cost saving, sustainable roof tile
BBA certified
Conforms to BS 5534:2014
Greenspec Endorsed
80% lighter than concrete tiles for easier handling and safety
Only 12 tiles per sq. m
Choice of standard and slate effect across 5 colours to match most roof types
No harmful dust created during the cutting process
Proven and tested at a low degree pitch of 12.5° against wind driven rain
Weather tested to 147mph wind loads
Improved grip surface
Virtually unbreakable
Anti-fungal properties
Low maintenance
UK manufactured
Ridge products available

At less than 8 kilos per m², Envirotile is the lightest synthetic roof tile making it the ultimate choice within lightweight roofing, yet is virtually unbreakable.


 CLICK HERE  to find our more

CLICK HERE to email us

or call on 0333 005 6525 to discuss your requirements


With 100 years of fastening systems expertise behind it spanning both the construction and industrial engineering sectors, EJOT is ideally placed to help manufacturers and contractors in the offsite and MMC sectors deliver superior quality buildings.

Here in the UK, EJOT’s continuous focus on excellence and elevating expectations helps customers meet the numerous fastening challenges, particularly the goal to ‘build lighter, build stronger’. Its fastening systems are continuously adapting to the changing needs of the sectors it serves, including automotive, construction and the external envelope.

For the external envelope, EJOT’s build-ready innovation has put the brand at the forefront of fastening systems for roofing, cladding and façade systems for nearly 40 years. This has helped facilitate the development of many new types of building systems and construction methodology, and its range of solutions for ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems), along with attachment systems for photovoltaic solar panels and green roofs, have long been supporting net-zero building goals.

EJOT’s secure attachments solutions for concrete and other hard base materials complete the package for volumetric building providers. A next generation range of self-tapping screws and anchors for cracked and non-cracked concrete means safe, secure and reliable attachment is easy with the assurance of ETA-approval.

EJOT’s strong track record of supplying engineering screws and innovative fastening systems to fast-moving, highly automated manufacturing plants of all kinds demonstrates how it can help customers maintain quality consistency in jointing at all stages of offsite manufacturing.


www.ejot-volumetric.co.uk

 


The superior airtightness performance qualities of the Wraptite® air barrier system from the A. Proctor Group will enhance a new state-of-the-art development at St Dunstan’s College – a co-educational independent school in Catford, London.

Contractor Willmott Dixon will deliver the new Junior School, STEM building and Sixth Form Hub at St Dunstan’s.

Designed by Bond Bryan Architects, the new development will be sited adjacent to the existing historic Headmaster’s House and connected by a glass atrium. Phase one includes a new junior school with specialist facilities for art, music and performance, and phase two includes the construction of the STEM Centre and Sixth Form Hub.

A vital element of the design and construction is to maximise the energy efficiency of the new buildings: Wraptite airtightness membrane, the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA, will form a crucial part of the solution.

The inclusion of Wraptite within the facade will ensure “as-designed” performance, narrowing the gap between as-designed and actual energy performance and reducing the likelihood of potential failures to meet required airtightness levels.

Wraptite is a self-adhesive breather membrane applied externally, quickly and efficiently as part of the rainscreen system. The self-adhesive Wraptite membrane fully bonds directly to the substrate, requiring no mechanical attachment and little seals or tapes to suppress air leakage around junctions or penetrations.

Wraptite combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one self-adhering membrane, providing high levels of protection to the building fabric beneath the cladding. As a result, the Wraptite system allows the substrate beneath to dry quickly and moisture vapour to escape and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew, condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion.

Wraptite is compliant with Part B regulation changes and also has BBA approval for unrestricted use in buildings over 18m in England and 11m in Scotland.

www.proctorgroup.com

The thermal properties, structural performance and lifespan of Keystone’s standard lintels played a crucial role in the design of two bespoke modern homes in a prime coastal position in Dorset.

The neighbouring properties in the sought-after Lilliput area of Poole Harbour offer views over Parkstone Golf Club and have been designed to an exceptionally high standard. With double and triple-height ceiling voids, rooflights, high ceilings and over-sized doors, the five-bed homes have been designed by Trinity Architecture in collaboration with developer Towncourt Homes to offer residents a strong feeling of space and light. With the correct specification of lintels, a critical element of a project such as this, the design team turned to Keystone Lintels to meet their structural and thermal requirements.

Keystone provided comprehensive technical support and a fast turnaround to ensure the correct lintels were made available onsite via merchant Sydenhams. Manufactured from high quality grade pre-galvanised mild steel, Keystone’s single leaf BOX/K 100, BOX/K 75 and SK-90 lintels were specified in accommodating lengths and masonry loads to achieve the architectural vision.

 

 

The elevations of both properties are arranged to visually break up massing by the stepping up in scale from the left to the right when viewing the front elevations. The off-white render, TBS Portland Blue facing brickwork, timber horizontal boarding and aluminium power coated windows, roof and fascia helped to adjust the building mass and ensured the homes provided a positive contribution to the street scene.

Available in a variation of wall thicknesses and used for internal or external openings, Keystone’s steel lintels are specially designed with a steel plate on the underside of the lintel providing superior structural stability to avoid twisting of the lintel during installation. Keystone’s patented design enhances the structural performance of the lintel without compromising the thermal performance. The innovative thermal break plate features intermittent tabs that connect the outer leaf to the inner leaf resulting in a 90% reduction in thermal bridging. This simple yet brilliant innovation significantly reduces thermal bridging while adding vast improvements to the structural integrity of the lintel.

In an area of the Dorset coast synonymous with luxury homes, the twin homes in Liliput have made the mark architecturally with cost effective lintel solutions that meet the most complex structural requirements.

 

www.keystonelitels.com

 

With the construction and commercial plumbing industry always looking for ways in which it can deliver projects more efficiently, both in terms of cost, labour and time, pre-fabricated drainage systems from Marley Plumbing & Drainage could be the answer.

As the construction industry adapts to the challenges encountered from the Covid-19 outbreak, it is faced with tightening client budgets, increased competition and social distancing restrictions on site. As such, ensuring a project is delivered as efficiently as possible has perhaps never been so important for plumbing contractors. Whether it be saving time, saving money or saving labour, specifying and installing innovative solutions that succeed in offering these savings is crucial.

It is perhaps here that offsite construction truly comes into its own. With components fabricated and pre-assembled in a controlled factory environment, projects can be delivered quicker and arguably with less chance of rework being required on site, in turn saving money. What’s more, offsite construction methods can also make it easier for main sites to adhere to social distancing guidelines, with fewer workers required on site to complete the assembly.
Fabricated HDPE or PVC drainage systems are one such example of offsite construction. Within high-rise developments, student accommodation, apartments, hotels and care homes, the soil and waste drainage systems can be hugely complex, requiring the appropriate skills to design and install. Ordinarily, once the main pipework had been delivered to site, it would first have to be measured and cut into individual sections depending on the system design, before then being installed. Understandably, the time, labour and skill required to carry out such installation work can be huge, potentially presenting plumbing contractors with a problem.

Prefabricated stacks, such as those offered by Marley Plumbing & Drainage, can change all of this, offering a more efficient means of delivering a complete system.

The first step in this process would be for the manufacturer to create the technical drawings for each individual stack element. As well as ensuring that every detail is both to specification and fully compliant with the current regulations, this also provides plumbing contractors with peace of mind that the drainage system will perform as expected once in-situ, reducing the chance of call-backs. The soil and waste stacks are then fabricated and welded together in a controlled factory environment to exact project specifications, providing additional assurances of the drainage system’s end-quality.

Another aspect of traditional soil and waste system installations that usually require additional time and dedicated labour is the need for each individual pipework elements to undergo pressure testing. Unlike traditional building practices, where pressure testing is carried out for the first time on site, prefabricated stacks undergo initial pressure tests within the factory environment. This allows for any issues to be detected at an early stage and rectified promptly before the stacks reach site. As well as helping to save time, reducing, the likelihood of costly rework being required further down the line, it also can provide contractors with added confidence in the product’s performance.

Finally, upon being delivered to site in line with the construction schedule, the installation can begin, where the prefabricated stacks can be simply lifted into position and connected together. The ease of installation carries a number of benefits, with perhaps the most obvious one being speed, enabling contractors to carry out a job quickly and efficiently. It also results in less workers being required on site to carry out the installation. In a society adjusting to the practicalities of living with Covid-19 this is invaluable, both considering the social distancing guidelines in place and also the potential for the size of a workforce to be affected.

Working efficiently, both in terms of cost, time and labour, has perhaps never been so crucial for plumbing contractors, especially as the industry looks to recover from the Covid-19 outbreak and adjust to this new way of working. Modern methods of construction and offsite solutions, such as Marley’s fabrication service have a key role to play, helping to deliver commercial plumbing projects both safely and quickly.

www.marleypd.co.uk

 

 

As external cladding grows in popularity as a protective and aesthetic finish to building projects, so does the range of cladding options and materials on the market.

Simpson Strong-Tie’s EBC angle bracket for cladding has been designed to fix vertical battens directly to the supporting structure without the need for horizontal battens, creating a zone for insulation and/or ventilation between the wall and the cladding and reducing installation time, materials and cost.
Previously known as the ABC bracket, the versatile EBC bracket is suitable for cavities 50mm to 145mm and can be used on concrete, masonry and solid wood.

“Cladding can enhance the external look of any building, making it far more interesting and often more pleasing to the eye” explains Dean Orchard, Managing Director – Timber Engineering at Sydenhams, who provide exterior cladding solutions from leading manufacturers.
“We have used the EBC on numerous projects to successfully fix various types of cladding directly to timber frame, in fact it is quickly becoming our go-to angle bracket for cement fibre boards such as HardiePlank® Lap Cladding. We typically use the 160mm brackets as this works with a 50mm cavity and 102mm brickwork at ground floor when the cladding at first floor needs to sit proud of the brickwork below.

“It’s rare that suppliers listen to our needs and respond the way that Simpson Strong-Tie has.”
Simpson Strong-Tie Sales Director Jon Head agrees “Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do and our Technical Support team is on hand daily to answer your questions and provide sound installation advice, from making sure you have the most suitable product, to the best ways to go about installing them.
“We would recommend fastening the EBC cladding bracket to the timber battens with either the SSH Hexagon Head Connector Screw or the CSA Connector Screw, both available from our Premium Fasteners range.”

Simpson Strong-Tie’s Premium Fasteners range is a comprehensive collection of nails and screws for almost every application. Engineered to stand the test of time, and with a variety of geometries, threads, point types and coatings, as well as collated solutions, Simpson’s has considered all the details that help you deliver on the job performance.

UK Fastener Product Manager Jon Blunt explains “To us, structural connectors are more than just products. We see each one as representing a specific solution, and the same goes for our Premium Fasteners range. We manufacture screws, collated screws for Quik Drive, nails and collated nails with exceptional strength, precision engineered to meet any demand.

Whether you are fastening structural connectors, cladding, roofing, drywall or mezzanine floors and truck beds, you’ll find a handy Fastener Application Guide in our Premium Fasteners catalogue.”

Jon continues “We recently launched our unique new Impreg® coating system, which is the strongest alternative to stainless steel for use in outdoor environments and has been tested and approved for service class 3 timber applications where superior corrosion resistance is required. Our experience shows that most products can withstand the tough environments as long as the coating is intact.

Unfortunately, in real life the coating is very often damaged during the installation of the screw. The Impreg® coating however, is much stronger than regular zinc and creates a strong and impervious surface. Impreg® does not affect the hardened steel structure and can ensure that the tensile strength of the screw is sustained.”

The CSA Connector Screw is a no nonsense connector screw developed for installing Simpson Strong-Tie connectors to timber. The conical shape under the head ensures a full contact with the connector which increases the transfer of force. A fixed connection with larger cross-bearing capacity than for standard screws is obtained. The 6 lobe recess helps to drive the screw during insertion.

The CSA is also available in a collated option for the Quik Drive auto-feed system, which fits onto all leading screwguns with just a click. The CSA-T’s Type 17 point eliminates the need for pre drilling and reduces the risk of splitting the timber.

The SSH Hexagon Head Connector Screw Impreg®+ is used together with connectors where high load capability is required. The conical shape under the head ensures full contact with the connector, creating a firm assembly. The superior Impreg®+ coating makes the screw suitable for exterior use. The type 17 cut point prevents timber from splitting, and the milling thread and serrated thread reduce the insertion torque. SSH has both 6 lobe drive and a hexagonal head, enabling installation both with torx bits or hex wrench.

From the foundations up, Simpson Strong-Tie has every ‘No Equal’ solution to help you build safer, stronger structures, and to nail those finishing touches. Now available in new weather resistant Premium Fasteners packaging tough enough to endure the rigours of daily life on a building site.

CLICK HERE TO – Download your copy of the Premium Fasteners catalogue in the Resources section

 

www.strongtie.co.uk

 

Manufacturers are constantly bringing to the market new components to help contribute to modern methods of construction. With extensive experience in creating innovative façade options in this field, Wetherby Building Systems Ltd has teamed up with other industry leading manufacturers to introduce TotalWall. 

Wetherby, Frameclad, Kemwell Fire and ROCKWOOL have joined forces to offer this full through wall system for the building envelope, suitable for a variety of markets, including modular/offsite construction.

The collaboration offers a combination of expertise in external wall insulation systems, light gauge steel frame, passive fire protection building products and non-combustible insulation. The TotalWall system includes all components in one unique wall system, from the internal plasterboard to the decorative finish and everything in between.

The structural component of light gauge steel frame from Frameclad is manufactured to the highest standards of strength and durability, with the benefit of taking the clients plans and turning them into bespoke steel frames to create their own modular units.

The TotalWall system also incorporates non-combustible ROCKWOOL Stone Wool insulation and Kemwell WeatherKem Fibre Cement Board, then finished with a Wetherby Thin Coat Render System that can be applied on site to finish off the façade.

Wetherby Thin-Coat Render finishes are lightweight and flexible in nature, making them the ideal application onto off-site construction frames, where movement is likely. They also have a wide range of finishes and colour options available to achieve any design aspirations.

The system benefits from being the only ‘through wall’ system on the market to undergo a 2-hour fire test in both directions (from inside to out & outside to in), with temperatures in the furnace reaching over 1100°C. This thorough structural testing is approved to BS EN 1365-1:2012 offering piece of mind to the specifiers, clients and occupants.

The steel frame and external wall system is also approved by the 60-year BOPAS assurance scheme, which means the system has a minimum life expectancy of 60 years for durability and maintenance.

For further information on the new TotalWall system, or any other products from Wetherby Building Systems, visit the website or call
01942 717100.

www.wbs-ltd.co.uk

Brick slip systems offer a raft of advantages over traditional bricks for the modular manufacturer but there has long been an elephant in the room and that has been cost.

Modular manufacturers live in the realm of new solutions and are very used to adopting new ideas and embracing materials and processes that enable them to deliver their end product.  Indeed, the modular sector is one of the primary drivers of growth for the brick slip sector, but there has never really been a clear answer as to why it usually costs more to dress a building in brick slips rather than traditional bricks.
Pilgrim set out with the specific mission of developing brick slip systems from scratch that were designed to meet the needs of the modular construction sector. The criteria were that the systems had to be simple to deploy, flexible enough to be installed either in-factory or on-site and on a range of different substructures, and crucially the systems needed to offer a financial benefit.

A1 Fire Classification
The first of Pilgrim’s brick slip systems to hit the market in 2019 was the A1 fire rated system, BrickShield which utilises a simple fibre cement backing board with channels for the brick slips. This system can be fixed directly to the substrate or combined with a helping hand system to create a ventilated façade. It has already been adopted as a favourite system for modular projects across both public and residential sectors and is one of the few brick slip systems that can address the “elephant in the room” question; not only is it simpler and quicker than traditional bricks, it’s also cheaper.

Insulated Brick Slips
The second of Pilgrim’s brick slip systems to make an impact is ThermClad, a system built around XPS insulation boards with pre-cut brick slip channels and available in a range of thicknesses. The ThermClad system provides an insulated brick façade in one incredibly simple package and when compared to the cost of insulation plus traditional bricks, is significantly more cost effective.

Supply chain disruption?
Compared to traditional clay bricks, brick slips use less energy to manufacture and are less bulky to ship. This means they are less affected by the current dramatic price increases and supply chain problems that are playing out across Europe at the moment. Pilgrim’s core business is manufacturing brick slips, both hand-made heritage styles and modern klinker types which are distributed across Europe and used by several of the UK’s leading system suppliers.  There is currently no shortage in supply and none foreseen for the coming year.

Contact Pilgrim Bricks & Tiles on info@pilgrimbricksandtiles.com, 01634 757191 or CLICK HERE to visit the website.

CLT (Cross laminated timber) is growing in popularity and can offer many advantages, as a sustainable energy efficient building method.
It has been used in many construction projects, predominantly within the commercial sector such as schools and hospitals.

CLT is an engineered timber product, produced in a controlled factory environment from sustainably sourced timber.  It is formed of kiln-dried spruce or pine boards which are laid on top of each other at 90° (three, five, seven or nine layers depending on structural requirements), and then coated with a layer of adhesive and subjected to immense hydraulic pressure to create large, stiff, dimensionally stable panels.  Often referred to as ‘Super Plywood’, CLT offers high strength and the structural simplicity needed for cost-effective buildings, as well as a lighter environmental footprint than concrete or steel. It also provides numerous other benefits, including quicker installation, reduced waste, improved thermal performance and design versatility.

The STA have recognised this and produced a comprehensive document in March 2017 – The STA Advice Note 14, Robustness of CLT structures. This document provides good practice guidance for the design, detailing and installation of CLT building structures.  A critical element to their successful use is to ensure good moisture management, as whilst the system is robust, poor installation can let the design down.

Fig 1 (produced by STA) shows how a CLT structure is built up with the correct installation of insulation, on the outside of the frame.  The CLT should always be on the warm side of the insulation to avoid unnecessary moisture fluctuations, which also brings the added benefit of mitigating any potential cold bridging issues, as they are adequately catered for with the external envelope of continuous insulation. It is preferable for this insulation to be moisture open to allow the wall to breathe and reduce the risk of built-up moisture within the envelope. The cavity provides extra protection throughout the life of the building. The STA have produced further guidance in January this year (Laminate/Mass timber structures – Durability by Design Technical Note 23). This note concludes with some best practice advice which includes the following – Ensure the external wall make up allows for vapour diffusion from the interior to exterior vented spaces (BS5250 standard to be referenced and followed in a design).  Air leakage control membranes and sealants checked to avoid moisture vapour traps.  Thermal Insulation should be placed on the exterior side of the laminated mass timber panels.

BS 5250 gives good guidance in the moisture management of CLT structures. This advice incorporates many of the above principles and the placement of membranes to reduce the risk of damaging moisture issues.

The A. Proctor Group provide a self-adhered, vapour permeable, air tight “breather membrane” that can be installed either behind or in front of the insulation.  This decision can be made dependent upon the project location, and works programme for follow on trades. In some circumstances it may be appropriate to utilise the membrane in both locations. Once Wraptite® is applied to the CLT on the outside, the envelope is immediately protected from water ingress such as rain during the construction, which may be beneficial if the insulation is not to be installed immediately.  The unique properties of Wraptite also provide the airtight line on the external side of the CLT panels offering, long term protection, and less risk of damages to the airtight layer from internal finishes. The high vapour permeability of the Wraptite provides the “breathing wall” which will help reduce any potential moisture build up that may have happened during the build process and wet trades.

As Wraptite is vapour permeable, it is moisture neutral and protects the building from unwanted moisture build up once it is occupied, such as heating/everyday occupier activities.  It’s characteristics therefore keep the envelope free from the risks of interstitial condensation.

 

Once the insulation is installed, depending on its type , it may be advisable to install a second layer, this time on the cold face of (outside) the insulation, to avoid moisture pick up through the insulation and potential loss of thermal performance. This can include the use of a reflective material to further enhance the thermal performance of the structure, this time with APG vapour permeable Reflectashield® TF 0.81.

For any moisture concerns or questions, The A. Proctor Group have years of experience  across all areas of the building envelope, such as pitched roofs, walls and floors.  Our team of technical experts at Head Office and external Regional Technical Sales Managers are all very well educated in the companies HAMM (Heat Air Moisture Movement) principles to ensure an effective balance is reached, ensuring a healthy building envelope.

For more details visit our website where you can find details on all APG solutions along with links to our informative range of webinars.

www.proctorgroup.com

Envirotile is a revolutionary roof tile system with a unique fixing system which is fully compliant with BS 5534 and it can be installed to a minimum of 12.5° pitch.

It is significantly lighter than other tiles making Envirotile extremely suitable for use on modular and timber frame constructions. The lightweight tile aids the build by minimalising differential movement in such structures.
Plus due to the unique fitting system developed by roofers, installation is simple and easy, saving time compared to traditional tiles, and offers a complete dry fix system with no mess cutting.

The sustainable choice
Envirotile is manufactured from 75% recycled product and is fully recyclable at end of life.
It is backed by GreenSpec which is the foremost ‘Green Building’ resource in the UK. Independent of companies and trade bodies and launched in 2003 with government funding, GreenSpec promotes sustainable building products, materials and construction techniques.

Finishes
Envirotile is available in two finish effect options – our original tile with a textured finish and our latest addition of the slate-effect finish – both are aesthetically pleasing in all aspects.
The textured finish tile is available in Terracotta, Brown, Slate Grey and Anthracite Black, and the slate-effect tile in Terracotta, Brown, Slate Grey and Anthracite Grey.
Plus ridge, hip and end caps all available to ensure the roof is completed to the same green credentials.

Designed to perform
Envirotile has undertaken rigorous testing with many professional bodies so that we can ensure that it is more than fit-for-purpose and will withstand all the British weather will throw at it. So much so that we guarantee it for 40 years.
They are also fully guaranteed to perform against severe UK wind loads in any designated zonal area within the UK and we offer a free replacement service for dislodged roof tiles caused by gale force winds up to 65mph (subject to our Terms & Conditions).

• Cost saving, sustainable roof tile
• BBA certified
• Conforms to BS 5534:2014
•  Greenspec Endorsed
•  80% lighter than concrete tiles for easier handling and safety
•  Only 12 tiles per sq. m
•  Choice of standard and slate effect across 5 colours to match most roof types
•  No harmful dust created during the cutting process
•  Proven and tested at a low degree pitch of 12.5° against wind driven rain
• Weather tested to 147mph wind loads
• Improved grip surface
• Virtually unbreakable
• Anti-fungal properties
• Low maintenance
• UK manufactured
• Ridge products available

At less than 8 kilos per m², Envirotile is the lightest synthetic roof tile making it the ultimate choice within lightweight roofing, yet is virtually unbreakable.

www.eurocell.co.uk