Everything you need to know about the latest roofing kit, from harsh-weather protection to a pyramid over a swimming pool. Plus, the latest services and innovations from manufacturers

Pyramid roof light


A 7.5 × 7.5 m pyramid-shaped roof light has been installed at a swimming pool at Beverley Park Holiday Centre in Paignton, Devon. Made and installed by Brett Martin Daylight Systems, it replaced three sets of barrel-vaulted, plastic roof lights. It was specified to increase daylight levels and ventilation, and is controlled by automatic temperature and rain sensors that operate two powered, glazed vents. The roof lights have 25 mm thick translucent multi-wall polycarbonate said to give a U-value of 1.6 W/m2K.

Brett Martin Daylight Systems
www.brettmartin.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302

Fire without smoke


Bilco has launched its REM Automatic Smoke Ventilator for venting smoke and noxious fumes from burning buildings. It is powered by a 24 V electric motor that can be operated by a switch, smoke detector or thermostat. It can also be opened manually. Intended to be fitted at the head of stairways, lift shafts and within industrial roofs, the company says it can also be used for easy access to the roof for maintenance. Three sizes are available as standard with special sizes on request.

Bilco
www.bilco.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Moss-free roofing system


A roofing system called Nu-Lok that replicates traditional slate has been introduced in the UK. It’s fixing system that is said to halve installation times and the non-porous ceramic slates are claimed to prevent moss or algae growth. The fixing system consists of galvanised metal battens instead of traditional timber battens. Attached to these battens is a special metal channel that uses metal clips to secure the slates. The channel is designed to direct water penetrating between slates down over the slate below, eliminating the need to double-lap the slates as you would with a traditional slate roof.

Nu-Lok
www.nu-lok.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

BS-compliant nails


Fixings specialist ITW Construction Products has launched a nail suitable for fixing battens that complies with the new British Standard BS 5534, the code of practice for roof slating and tiling. The galvanized nail is 63 mm long and 3.1 mm in diameter, and is intended for use with the company’s Impulse cordless nailers.

ITW Construction Products
www.itwcp.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

Breathable membrane underlay


TDP has added two breathable membranes to its roofing underlay range. The TDP Breather 120 and 155 are suitable for ventilated cold or warm pitched roofs. The company says the products prevent the ingress of wind-driven snow and rain, but allow water vapour to escape from inside the roof. The TDP 120 is a general-purpose membrane available in two roll sizes, 1 × 20 m and 1.5 × 30 m. TDP 155 is a heavy-duty membrane intended for use in harsh weather areas, and can be used with sarking boards. It is supplied in a 1.5 × 50 m roll.

TDP
www.tdpltd.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

Gable solution


Plastic building products specialist Freefoam has introduced two new woodgrain finishes into its Finial range of decorative boards for finishing pitched roofs at the gable end. The colours are light oak and traditional mahogany and join an existing range of ten colours.

Freefoam
www.freefoam.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308

Longer guttering


Hunter Plastics is making its guttering available in 5 m lengths. The company claimed to be the first to do so, and is responding to the increasing use of 5 m long fascia boards. It said research showed that 41% of guttering replacements were carried out at the same time as fascia installation or replacement, and longer guttering lengths would make installation quicker, cheaper and neater. The inclusion of prelubricated seals is also intended to make the system easy to install.

Hunter Plastics
www.hunterplastics.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 309

Bristol restaurant’s curvy finish

A conical and waveform roof featuring FalZinc cladding has been used at the new Zero Degrees microbrewery and restaurant in Bristol. Falzinc, an aluminium sheet with a preweathered zinc coating, was specified as it helped blend the building into the surrounding conservation area. The 400-seat restaurant, designed by local architect Acanthus Ferguson Mann, re-uses stonework from the former Tram Sheds building that used to occupy the site. Falzinc-approved contractor Longworth Metal Roofing formed the tapered trays by hand to follow the curve.

FalZinc
www.falzinc.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 301

Traditional tile for high-density housing

Lafarge Roofing has launched a large format roof tile intended to replicate traditional plain tiles. Called Redland DuoPlain, it is an interlocking tile featuring a mock bond line that replicates two traditionally sized 10½” by 6¼” tiles laid side by side. The company says the product had been developed in response to PPG3, as planners were paying closer attention to the appearance of roofs in higher-density housing schemes and placing a greater emphasis on traditional roofing materials. Lafarge says that the tile, made from concrete, could be laid quickly and suffered less breakage than traditional tiles. It is available in a choice of four colours with a selection of accessories and specially-shaped tiles including half tiles and verge tiles.

Lafarge Roofing
www.lafarge-roofing.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Movers and makers

  • Lightweight steel framing specialist Metsec Building Products has launched a complete design, supply and fix service through its network of approved installers. The company says the service will typically be used for infill walling requirements, where lattice beams bolted to the wall members support the roof. It can also be used where the framing creates a “stand alone” room in an existing building.

  • Ventilation products manufacturer Glidevale has struck a deal to supply its Protect A1 roofing membrane to Redrow Homes. The impermeable membrane product will be used on all Redrow’s new-build projects. It is suitable for use as temporary protection while a house is under construction.

    After completion, it absorbs any unventilated moisture in the roofspace and releases it again when temperatures increase.

  • Fall Arrest Safety Equipment Training (FASET), the trade association and training body for the fall arrest industry, has affiliated its recognised card scheme with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme. Existing holders of the FASET cards have until 31 January 2005 to swap their cards for CSCS cards.

  • The Clay Roof Tile Council has brought out a CD-ROM guide as part of its campaign to promote clay roof tiles to specifiers. Called the Guide to Plain Tiling, it includes more than 80 detailed diagrams covering all the technical aspects of installing a clay tile roof correctly and safely. It also includes guidance on maximising the aesthetic potential of clay roof tiles.

  • Timber supplier John Brash has changed the treatment it uses for its timber battens and cedar shingles in response to European Union legislation. This prohibits the use of chromated copper arsenate preservative for domestic applications and for applications where the public may come into contact with it. The company will switch to alternative copper-based preservatives Omose Naturewood for its battens, which are guaranteed for 60 years, and Osmose Lifewood for its cedar shingles, which are guaranteed for 40 years. Both preservatives comply with British Standard BS 8417:2003.

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