Rainwater & greywater products


Sound environmental credentials from Swish


Management and Maintenance takes a look. The basic design principles of UK housing stock have changed very little


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over the last hundred years or so. Our favourite style is a rectangular masonry box topped by a pitched, tiled roof with a network of troughing and pipework to channel away the large quantities of rainwater that characterise the country’s climate. Like it or not, “an Englishman’s home is his castle” and until some major


innovation changes his mind, the preference for a pretty, brick-and-tile box with roses around door, will surely remain! Over the years, frequent changes to regulatory policies have done much


to improve the standards of house construction in terms of materials, amenities and energy efficiency. Furthermore, despite the demise of the Decent Homes Policy, a great deal has been achieved with environmental issues such as sustainability, long term maintenance and carbon neutrality. Where the roof meets the vertical walls, the area known as the Roofline,


construction innovation has also moved on significantly. Traditionally, Roofline construction was dominated by timber – used for fascias, soffits, weatherboarding and so on. It was a simple, easy to manipulate material that was readily available and low in cost. It also ticked the sustainability box from an environmental perspective – up to a point. The fact that it deteriorates rapidly if not installed correctly and requires


re-painting every four to five years to prevent inevitable decay and eventual complete replacement, was frequently ignored. A more practical and environmentally sound solution for these harsh


environmental conditions is cellular PVC. Cellular PVC has similar working characteristics to timber, it is installed using the same tools and skills but is far more durable than timber, requires no maintenance and will last the whole life cycle of the building. What’s also important is that, unlike timber, Cellular PVC can be fully


re-cycled at the end of its service life. So far, you would expect that it’s game, set and match to PVC and the end of timber as a roofline material. But back to reality, as timber will always have its die-hard supporters. The service life of a material is an important consideration but what is just as crucial in today’s eco-focussed world are factors such as efficient use of energy and natural resources, environmental performance in the


or Roofline and rainwater goods specialists, Swish Building Products, environmental responsibility goes hand in hand with efficient manufacture, supply and distribution. Housing


Swish roofline systems are widely used in the Public Sector Housing market


manufacturing process and driving down waste. Here, one company which has been almost evangelical in its approach to


making its manufacturing and distribution operations one of the most efficient in the industry, is Swish Building Products. Swish, part of the Epwin Group, manufactures Cellular PVC Roofline


products and rainwater drainage systems, supplying new-build and refurbishment projects across both public and private sector. In this competitive commercial market where creating a clear


differentiation seems to be important; being more efficient, creating less waste and being more environmentally responsible and delivering the attendant product quality gains can add real value to a brand. Swish has made real progress here and since achieving ISO14001


Environmental Management Certification in 2007, they have worked continuously to improve the environmental performance of their manufacturing and distribution operations. Benefits have included significant reductions in energy inputs, water usage and scrappage rates during manufacture. Marked improvements in transport efficiency, better levels of service and reductions in fuel usage have also been realised. This attention to environmental detail has also translated into consistent


Production of cellular PVC fascia boards 40 | HMM May 2017 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk


1000m2 of Swish cladding forms the soffit to a covered walkway at Blackpool Football Club.


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