The World Meteorological Organization has revealed in its latest annual assessment that the temperatures will likely exceed 1.5C above pre-industrial levels for the first time in human history. Its probability has increased with time to a 66% chance at current, up from the 48% likelihood predicted last year and near zero percent chance in 2015.^[1]

High temperatures are the most common direct effect of global warming, but climate change can also influence weather patterns. The probability of more intense wind events is indirectly heightened as a result for example 2022’s Storm Eunice demonstrated 122mph wind speeds^[2]. Such events can subject roofing to significant wind uplift forces and so preventative solutions must be considered in preparation.

Nick King, Portfolio Manager at Klober, comments: “While many may not initially think of heightened wind speeds when they hear global warming, it’s something to consider and prepare for as weather patterns are predicted to change. Wind uplift can cause considerable damage, such as tile or roof membrane damage that can lead to additional problems like leaks and associated damage. Specifiers should make sure their membrane of choice is durable, suitably wind resistant and water resistant to help prevent such damage occurring and save the homeowner money and down time in the process.”

Roof membranes such as Klober’s Permo Forte, offer protection against heightened weather as they are built up of multiple layers and contain a reinforced, built-in mesh safety grid for added durability. This composition allows for them to withstand movements and shifts during high winds without losing their integrity, ensuring they cannot come into contact with, and potentially dislodge the tile or outer covering.

“Taking it one step further, the use of self-adhesive tape can create a strong air and watertight seal, providing durable protection against winds. Like many of our products this membrane is BBA approved and breathable to help it continue to protect against the build-up of mould and condensation.”

To find out more about British Standards for membranes, click here. Or for further information about Klober’s Permo Forte membrane, please visit klober.co.uk/membranes/roof-membranes/p/forte-145

Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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The Industry Choice Award, which sees members vote on the entry they feel showcases the best example of roofing work in action, was this year awarded to Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) Limited, for the re-roofing of Stockport School, Greater Manchester. The project was completed using a complete BMI Redland SpecMaster service and a BMI Redland Rosemary Clay Classic system, demonstrating workmanship excellence in action. 

The project is a shining example of how expert roofing contractors, in conjunction with technical support and top-quality products, can overcome site challenges. Stockport School came with its fair share of hurdles. The site is comprised of 24 individual roofs, totalling over 4,000 square metres and spanned 12 months. Add in the COVID-19 pandemic, uneven roofing underlay caused by century-old wooden timbers, a live school site and the need to protect against UV degradation – Fulwood Roofing turned to BMI Redland and SpecMaster to ensure all bases were covered on a project of this scope. 

With a bespoke roof specification in hand due to the BMI Redland SpecMaster service, Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) rose to the challenges and overcame them with ingenuity. Over 240,000 Redland Rosemary Classic clay tiles were needed for the roofs – however, as clay is a natural material, variances of up to 5mm can occur when dried in the kiln. While this natural variation normally contributes to the character of a traditional clay roof, on a roof of this size these variances can add up if not managed on site. Fulwood Roofing came up with a creative solution to this. Taking a mean average measurement of ten tiles, every set of ten tiles laid were checked against a perpendicular line, helping prevent any gaps or unevenness. 

The old wooden timbers of the roof were also tackled with smart thinking. The new underlay has been laid in such a way that externally it looks level, but underneath it conforms to the uneven timbers. This was vital as it avoided extensive remodelling of the roof, and the existing timbers could continue to stand. s the underlay was worked in small sections that could be tiled over almost immediately any UV degradation could be avoided, 

The live school site was anticipated to be tricky, however, the COVID-19 pandemic worked in favour here, as it meant students were off-site more, allowing project flexibility. When the school was fully open and active, a detailed schedule of work was supplied to the school ahead of time, allowing them to move students around the building with minimal disruption.

Stephen Bithell, Roofing Contractor at Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) Limited, commented: “Everything was first class from a product point of view. You can’t get quality work done without quality products, and luckily for us, we had a great team on site, as well as great products. Working during the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain issues that came with that, BMI Redland really kept the project going. The product and the finished aesthetics are really great.”

Fraser Biles, Sales Director, at BMI Redland, congratulated Fulwood Roofing Services (northern) Limited on the win: “It’s fantastic to see the Stockport School project awarded the NFRC 2023 Industry Choice Award. Fulwood Roofing delivered an exceptional project with great skill and care and as a result received over 20% of the votes out of all the shortlisted projects.

“Our Redland team were pleased to be able to provide support on the project using our SpecMaster service, which provides a 15-year whole roof guarantee, and allowed us to deliver a technical specification designed specifically for the project, and the Redland Rosemary Clay Classic tile in the Russet Mix finish was a fantastic choice for the school. Not only does it fit with the conservation area, but it also helps retain the school’s aesthetic character without compromising on roofing protection.” 

BMI products also featured in the NFRC award wins for Reinforced Bitumen Membranes and Bituminous Hot Applied Liquid Waterproofing categories – respectively Progressive Systems Ltd for Launceston College using the Icopal Thermaweld Firesmart System and MAC Roofing & Contracting Ltd for Heatherwood Hospital using an Icopal Parabit Solo Hot Melt System – recognising the roofing contractors in delivering this outstanding work. 

The full list of NFRC UK Roofing Awards 2023 winners can be found here: https://www.nfrc.co.uk/uk-roofing-awards/winners/2023-winners 

For more information about BMI Redland, please visit: https://www.bmigroup.com/uk/redland-pitched/ 

Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals 

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Work is needed to replace the existing glazing and support structures which will bring the roof back to its former glory.

Approximately 10,000 new glazed panels will be installed across 12,000 square metres of roof – an area almost twice the size of the pitch at Wembley Stadium. The panels will be made from a polycarbonate glazing material which is around 50% lighter in weight, reducing stress on the structure and future proofing it for decades to come.

A range of other work to improve the overall customer experience at the station is also being carried out where teams plan to make huge improvements to the station’s retail offering which will see new brands and food outlets coming to the station, as well as giving some existing shops a makeover.

Station teams have also listened to customer feedback and are adding additional sustainable wooden seats to keep people comfortable when waiting for trains which will add to the 480 seats, plus 120 seats on platforms.

Work also started earlier this year to refurbish the toilets, adding a gender-neutral facility as well as more female facilities to bring them in line with what is available for males, plus extra baby changing areas. This is part of the wider Improving London Waterloo station programme of work planned over the next few years.

Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Applying for the capital grant is essential for the development, maintenance and safety of education establishments – 1,405 projects across 1,129 schools and colleges are already set to benefit from £498M of funding throughout 2022 and 2023. The annual application opening marks an opportunity for education facilities to future-proof their buildings, with roof, window and central heating replacements taking priority.  

Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager at PermaRoof Commercial, explains: “The CIF provide essential funds for vital building work across schools and colleges, however, like most funding applications, the process isn’t always straightforward. A little-known fact is that suppliers can actually support at the application stage, providing relevant structural surveys and evidence of the work required, which in turn can strengthen an application against thousands of others.” 

Every project application is scored against three assessment criteria, each weighted independently. Project need contributes to the majority of the score at 60%, followed by project cost at 25%, with the remaining 15% being scored against project planning. 

Sunny added: “The first step for any education facility considering a flat roofing project with the support of CIF funding is to enlist a flat roofing specialist to conduct an in-depth roofing survey. From this they will be able to report on the current condition, potential improvements required, and recommended solutions.  

“By choosing to work with a reputable specialist to support an application, the project requirements, planning and costing will all have been outlined by roofing experts. This gives extra authority and structure to the CIF application submitted, which will increase the likelihood of receiving funding. It makes sense, therefore, to enlist the services of a supplier sooner rather than later.” 

Applications are now open, with a deadline of this month for registration and December for final submission. It then takes four months for all the applications to be individually assessed by the Education and Skills Fund Agency, part of the Department of Education, with successful projects being notified around April time. 

Discussing PermaRoof Commercial’s recent work in the education sector, Sunny said: “Recently our team has confirmed work at three academies with Southern Industrial and Kiers Group, having worked with them for the last few months on the best approach. 

“At the schools we conducted core tests and survey reports to determine the solution that was required. From this, we offered full specification support ensuring the schools were aware of the cost, need and planning process – all of which could go on to support a CIF application.” 

For more information on how PermaRoof Commercial can support with a CIF application and subsequent work, please visit permaroofcommercial.co.uk or call 01773 608839.  

For more information on CIF applications visit the government website.   

Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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The Grade II listed Victorian market hall, which has been trading since 1866, will be transformed into a contemporary and vibrant cultural and retail destination.

Wates Construction, which has an extensive track record of heritage restoration projects around the UK, has been leading an expert project team of local architects and engineers on the flagship project, comprising Latham Architects, Rogers Leask, and Clancy Consultants.

The work completed includes masonry repairs to the building envelope, internal cleaning of the roof structure, and lead paint removal before the challenging and extensive heritage glazed roof replacement works. This included increasing ridge height to accommodate natural ventilation for the building, copper roof replacement, gutter and rainwater works, access equipment, localised electric works, lightening protection, and decoration.

John Carlin, Regional Director at Wates Construction, said: “It has been a privilege to work on the restoration and transformation of such an iconic and unique building, maintaining its historic charm but also bringing it into the council’s overall modern vision for the revitalisation of the wider city centre. 

“Before this work on the roof was carried out, the Market Hall often had to close to customers for safety reasons if there was possibility of strong winds, snow, or heavy rain in case the glass windows came out of their frames. Along with the extensive restoration of the roof structure, all of these windows have now been replaced, meaning that closing the market and disrupting trade just for weather will no longer be necessary.”

“Making sure that trading could continue while initial surveys and work on the roof took place was particularly important. To do this, we installed a scaffolding structure to give access to the roof without disrupting ground level activity. It was an impressive feat of engineering all by itself, which would have spanned more than 62 miles if placed end-to-end and weighed almost 900 tonnes, but it really was the key to making sure trade could continue despite our ongoing work, supporting the city’s traders post-pandemic.”

Throughout the process, the project team supported traders and the council project team to a high level, offering tours and site visits, as well as engaging with local sixth-form college students and a range of industry professionals to involve the local community in the project.

The team is now looking forward to commencing the second phase of the regeneration programme, which is set for later this year and will focus on internal and external configuration to transform the look and feel of the building.

Raised concrete floor plinths that currently house individual market stalls will be removed to create a more airy, open and accessible space, with the ground level intended to provide space for up to 32 market stalls, which will be portable for flexibility.

Meanwhile, the interior balcony area will provide an opportunity to accommodate a small business incubator, and to provide space for special themed markets, such as antiques or crafts. The entrances to the Market Hall are also set to be improved in the upcoming phase of work, allowing market activity to flow seamlessly into the surrounding streets and creating an attractive and flexible space in the adjacent Osnabruck Square.

The Market Hall is located within Derby’s City Centre Conservation Area, which also contains Derby Cathedral, the Silk Mill, and the Guildhall Theatre, and was originally designed by Derbyshire engineer Rowland Mason Ordish.

When completed, it will complement the emerging Cultural Hub, which aims to re-energise the day and night-time economies and drive stronger footfall in the Market Place and wider city centre

Councillor Mick Barker, Cabinet Member for Governance and Deputy Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Derby Market Hall is one of the city’s most beautiful and prominent buildings, which connects key areas of our city centre.

“As a Grade II listed building, it deserves tasteful and sympathetic attention to detail to its renovation. Quality takes time and we’re delighted to see that this striking copper roof has now been finished, which paves the way for the rest of the Market Hall’s transformation.

“Soon we can move onto the internal renovation and give Derby a fantastic market, which is full of life and which will help draw people back into the heart of our city.”

Wates Construction was appointed via SCAPE’s Major Works framework. The second phase of development is set to commence on site in Q4 2022, with an aim to complete in 2024.

For more information, please visit https://www.wates.co.uk/

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Built to Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3, the homes feature high levels of insulation to walls, roofs and flooring, highly efficient glazing, and improved detailing to reduce heat loss. As part of this fabric first approach to design, the three and four-bed Makenzie, Medina and Morris homes will maximise fabric efficiency and space through the creation of rooms in roofs. The project provided the perfect opportunity for Smartroof to provide Bloor Homes with its offsite produced room in roof system for phase one of the scheme.

With energy efficient, fabric first design having become a key driver for all new homes, particularly with the latest changes to Building Regulations Part L, Bloor Homes require solutions that can maximise airtightness, optimise insulation and eliminate thermal bridging. Smartroof’s pre-engineered insulated roof system does just that and has allowed the developer to maximise a smaller footprint by increasing the space in homes and creating rooms in roofs.

Comprising a series of factory produced panels incorporating insulation, dormers, spandrels, roof windows and roofline, it is delivered to site and craned into place. Once in place, the roofs simply require tiling. The system has many benefits – less waste, better control of quality, safer to install – and meets the industry’s demand for solutions that allow us to build better quality homes more efficiently.

In addition, the interlocking design and production of the system in a factory-controlled environment ensures consistent and predictable thermal performance. With the latest changes to Part L of the Building Regulations, the factory insulated panels eliminate voids or cold spots and offer design flexibility as insulation levels can be easily upgraded to meet requirements. Bloor Homes also benefited from reduced working at height and decreases in on site wastage to provide a cost-effective method of production.

At a time when the construction sector is facing challenges in terms of cost, quality and a shortage of trades, the Smartroof system expedited the build process and has ensured the homes at Evesham Gate are future-proofed to meet the required thermal efficiency standards whilst also providing additional much-needed space for the homeowner.

Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction and Property News

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Since its inception in December 2020, PermaRoof Commercial has gone from strength to strength, completing a total of 62 projects, equalling approximately 21,000m² of roofs laid across the country – the equivalent of more than 80 tennis courts.

Among its extensive list of completed projects are contributions to several significant developments, including Hull ICU, Leeds University and The Leys in Surrey.

Sunny Lotay, national commercial manager, said: “I’m incredibly proud of how far PermaRoof Commercial has come since its inception, and the fact that we’ve been able to attract so many talented individuals is a testament to the division’s success. We’ve welcomed new recruits within sales, logistics and commercial areas of the business, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the needs of our customers, while also growing our capabilities and cementing our expertise throughout the industry.”

Some of the department’s recent key hires include:

• Paul Stapleton – commercial logistics manager;
• Rob Hunt – senior technical manager;
• Neiah Slater – commercial sales support;
• Scott Roberts – commercial logistics manager; and,
• Blake Clay – rooflights specifier.

The external sales team has also grown, with the appointment of further experienced sales managers, Ian McKenzie, Tony Pitts, Paul Mullen and Simon Nicholls, who are responsible for delivering PermaRoof Commercial’s services across the country. So far, they have secured several unique projects, including Scottish Business Park, St. Andrews in Northampton, Churchill Medical Centre, and many more.

Adrian Buttress, managing director, said: “I’m thrilled to see PermaRoof Commercial continue to forge ahead and deliver consistently strong projects. The calibre of tenders we are securing is thanks to Sunny’s hard work and commitment to establishing the foundations of the division, and we’re delighted to bring our new hires into the company as PermaRoof Commercial continues to grow and develop.”

Sunny added: “This is an incredibly exciting time for us, as we’re currently working on 25 active projects and have tenders for a further 89 in the pipeline. We have great ambitions for the next 12 months as we continue to strengthen the commercial team with more new additions, both internally and externally, while simultaneously nurturing the existing team.

“We have no intention of resting on our laurels either, as we also want to maintain this momentum and continue our winning streak by securing more supply chain tenders and doubling the number of installers within our PermaRoof Registered Installer (PRI) network.

“Our ever-growing team is going to be fundamental to realising our goals and I’m incredibly excited to see where the next 18 months take us as we enter an exciting new chapter.”

For more information on PermaRoof Commercial, please visit permaroofcommercial.co.uk or call 01773 608839.

The post PERMAROOF COMMERCIAL EXPERIENCES EXPONENTIAL GROWTH FOLLOWING MAJOR CONTRACT WINS appeared first on BDC Magazine.

Insulating your roof is an effective way to reduce the amount of heat your home loses and reduce your overall energy costs. If you’re considering installing insulation in your home – or hiring someone to do it for you – you’ll want to know the best practices for roof insulation and factors to consider.

Factors to Consider

When it comes to roof insulation, there are several things you’ll need to consider before you will know which is the right option for your home and circumstances.

First, you’ll need to think about the type of roof you have and the type of roof insulation you want. Is your existing roof flat or pitched? And do you want Cold Roof insulation or Warm Roof insulation? There are pros and cons to both these options, and which one you choose will depend on your specific requirements.

You will also want to consider whether you intend to use your existing loft space for storage. If so, you’ll need to fit loft boarding but typically this won’t be raised enough to allow adequate quantities of insulation without compressing it. To create flooring and storage space in your loft and still adequately insulate your roof, you’ll need to create a raised floor using wooden battens or loft legs.

Ventilation is also a crucial factor to keep the air in your home circulating and healthy. When fitting roof insulation, it’s important to ensure adequate airflow to prevent a build-up of condensation, which can damage property.

If your loft space is inaccessible or has other issues such as damp, for example, then you may want to consult a roof insulation expert for advice on how best to proceed.

Insulation Dos

When insulating your roof, there are a few ‘dos’ to bear in mind.

• Do check your home’s existing insulation, even if you think you already have it, it may not be in adequate amounts, especially if your property is older.

• Do use a qualified professional or ensure you have the adequate knowledge and experience to do it yourself.

• Do ensure your insulation meets the government’s recommended minimum depth guidelines (270mm for glass wool.)

• Do follow building regulations to ensure your insulation will meet the correct standards.

• Do check to see if you’re available for grants or incentives for improving the energy efficiency of your home.

Insulation Don’ts

• Don’t underestimate the savings you might make from adequate roof insulation. The upfront costs of insulation will be quickly offset with reductions in your energy bills.

• Don’t skip safety measures. Ensure your loft space is adequately lit and has safe, clutter-free flooring with no trailing cables or loose boards that could be a trip hazard.

• Don’t use incorrect materials. These can potentially endanger the integrity of your home – and even your life – if you chose insulation materials that don’t meet fire safety regulations, for example.

• Don’t ignore regulations. Inadequate insulation in terms of quality and depth is unlikely to prevent measurable heat loss and may prove a waste of time and money.

• Don’t lay insulation over electrical cables as this presents a fire hazard.

• Don’t DIY if you don’t know how!

The post Best Practices for Roof Insulation appeared first on BDC Magazine.

The ‘swapping out’ of specified products mid-construction is known to cause such an outcome. It’s a practice that takes advantage of the ‘equal or approved’ tagline that architects attach to the products they specify, but often sees them replaced by less suitable – and invariably – much cheaper ones. This process is usually known as ‘value engineering’.

Technology advantage

Platforms such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital twins will hopefully help eradicate this errant trend. With technology allowing designers to create a virtual representation of a building complete with live data links showing how it is operating at any given time. This adds a much-needed layer of transparency to the build process and chimes with Dame Judith Hackitt’s call for a ‘golden thread’ of information as part of her post-Grenfell report into the fire safety of buildings. It’s hoped that by publishing a building’s data in the form of the products and materials used in its construction – particularly its fabric – it will eliminate the potential for a lax in design standards, as well as safety and energy performance. Improved consistency in the thermal attainment of the country’s built-environment has far-reaching consequences and will be crucial to the government’s 2050 net-zero ambitions.

In terms of the building process, getting it right first time will help eradicate issues, which lead to buildings not being constructed as-designed and a widening of the much-maligned performance gap. Engaging with a specialist in the composition of a building’s roof is a vital initial step in guaranteeing as-designed performance and putting an overall seal on a building’s thermal envelope.

Ask the experts

As a flat roof and tapered roof insulation expert, Gradient has the technical knowhow to deliver a system that fits a building’s precise requirements. From specification and design through to the manufacturing stage and beyond, our turnkey service provision gives clients peace of mind that the solution we provide will keep their roof watertight and warm for years to come. Our tapered insulation systems can be tailored to suit a variety of applications regardless of size, complexity or profile.

In addition to our core tapered insulation solutions for waterproof applications including built-up felt, mastic asphalt, single-ply membranes, liquid-applied waterproofing systems and torch-on felt, we have developed a variety of specialist products for non-standard applications. Rooflight deflectors, lamellas, cricket systems, fillets and pre-cut mitres; these are among the ‘secondary’ details that can make a big difference to a roof’s long-term performance where space, for example, is limited. Gradient can tailor the design for each of these items to optimise a project’s success. Such an offering provides a fine example of how Gradient goes ‘above and beyond’ to achieve the highest standards in roof design and performance.

Further evidence of Gradient’s exemplary full-service delivery is our provision of Annex E calculations to ensure U-value targets are carried out with compliance to regulations. The calculation takes into account the thermal resistance and thickness of each tapered roof element i.e; the deck, air and vapour control layer (AVCL), insulation and waterproofing. A condensation risk analysis may also be provided. Outlined in BS EN ISO 6946:2017, only calculations involving ‘Annex E’ methodology is considered compliant for tapered roofs, yet not all manufacturers use it.  Of course, the accuracy of the U-value calculation depends on the quality of the information provided. Failure in this instance could not only lead to a performance gap, costly remedial works are a probable outcome.

Delivering properties that perform as-designed should not be beyond our means. It’s a realistic ambition that can be fulfilled by building with more integrity whilst taking advantage of the latest technology and available expertise. Failure should no longer be considered an option when it comes to delivering buildings that offer the highest comfort and conform to required energy standards.

By Paul Simpson, Commercial Director at Gradient UK

Building, Design and Construction Magazine | The Home of Construction Industry News

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The appointments follow reports that 30% of roofing contractors saw their workloads grow in the last quarter of 2021, according to the NFRC’s State of the Roofing Industry Survey. And this isn’t set to slow, with 43% of roofers anticipating an increase in workload.

Hannah Watts joins Klober as an Area Account Manager after discovering her passion for construction as a Field Sales Executive. She will be responsible for the home counties, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire.

“As a market leader in roofing components and accessories, the Klober brand is well respected and renowned for offering quality. I knew this role would bring new challenges and felt that Klober would provide a supportive environment in which to thrive,” said Hannah. “My role as an Area Account Manager will involve operating as a key point of contact for customers and I’m most looking forward to getting under the skin of their businesses to understand their specific requirements and identify opportunities for growth.”

Also joining Klober as an Area Account Manager is Joey Hall who will be responsible for East Anglia.

“When the opportunity arose to join Klober in this role, it was one I was thrilled to take, particularly as I’ve always been interested in pursuing a position like this,” he explained. “In my first 12 months, I hope to build strong relationships with merchants and work in collaboration to help meet their business goals. I am particularly looking forward to travelling and gaining thorough knowledge of my area.”

Commenting on the new appointments, Chris Nicholls, Commercial Director at Klober said: “We take pride in our people as this means our network of merchants and contractors can be confident that they are in good hands. That’s why I’m extremely pleased to have Hannah and Joey on board and excited to see what they achieve.”

For more information about Klober, please visit www.klober.co.uk

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