W: www.b4ed.com


BRICKS & MORTAR | PROMOTION: AQUARIAN | 23


ABOVE: Gebrik cladding solutions at Buckinghamshire UTC (left) and Stanley Park School An effective alternative


With the construction industry facing brick shortages, more and more architects and contractors are turning to panellised cladding systems, says Paul Richards


T


he level of brick shortages that the construction sector has been experiencing for over 12 months


has been well publicised. It’s a problem that is proving to be particularly taxing for education providers and their contractors as they try to meet demanding build programme deadlines within their existing budgets. With brick demand currently


outstripping supply by around half a billion bricks per annum, nine- month lead times and rising prices are the unfortunate but inevitable consequences which look set to continue for some time yet. Against this backdrop, architects and


contractors are increasingly eager to look at genuine cladding alternatives. The Gebrik insulating brick cladding system, supplied by Aquarian Cladding Systems Ltd, is one such solution that has already been installed across a range of education projects. The reason for the growth in these


systems’ popularity is not simply the current climate of shortages (Gebrik lead times are typically only eight to 10 weeks). They also deliver real benefits to the architect in terms of aesthetics and design scope, to the contractor in terms of the build programme and to the building manager in terms of energy efficiency and operational costs. With over 500 different clay brick slips


and a range of sizes and bond paterns (including stretcher, stack and Flemish


options), Gebrik provides an authentic brick finish. As it is a panellised system, i.e. manufactured in factory-controlled conditions, precise colour blends and consistency of colour match are assured – without having to rely on the brick-layer to make aesthetic judgements on site. Panellised systems also offer


significantly improved predictability and control during the build programme. For instance, Gebrik panels and corners can be installed in most weather conditions and from mechanical access equipment, enabling a weather-tight building to be completed on-programme without scaffold and effectively taking brickwork off the critical path. The lightweight, non-loadbearing


Gebrik system may be fixed directly to the substrate of multi-storey buildings up to 18 metres – its light weight eliminating the need for wind posts and brick reinforcements, which in turn contributes to the reduction of foundation, piling and structural frame costs. Further cost benefits come from reduced waste, vehicular access and storage requirements – with up to 700 sqm of Gebrik components delivered on one vehicle. Once installed, the system’s exceptional thermal performance delivers low U-values with a reduced wall thickness when compared to conventional cavity brick walls. For example, at the recently completed


Buckinghamshire University Technical College in Aylesbury, the installation


of over 1,000 sqm of Gebrik has significantly improved the building’s thermal performance, contributing to a total U-value of 0.24 W/sqmK, based on a 300mm wall including 150mm uninsulated lightweight steel framing. It also helped produce an impressive air-tightness figure of 1.7 (against the architect’s initial target figure of 5). Already proven in a wide range of


applications throughout the UK and across Europe, the Gebrik system has now been recognised by the British Board of Agrément (BBA) with the inclusion of an additional product sheet within its existing BBA certificate 07/4403. This new sheet covers the use of Gebrik onto lightweight steel frame (SFS), timber frame and structural insulated panel (SIP) systems up to a height of 18 metres, and for use on SFS over 18 metres in accordance with the recent successful BR135: Annex B fire test, carried out at the Building Research Establishment (BRE). This is in addition to the certification for use onto clay and concrete masonry buildings, which has been held for over 10 years. With a controllable, off-site


manufacturing process, systems such as Gebrik combine the classic aesthetics of traditional brickwork with all the advantages of a modern construction material. B4E


Paul Richards is managing director at Aquarian Cladding Systems Ltd W: www.aquariancladding.co.uk


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