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On average clay brick produced in the UK only travels 67 miles from production to building site. When comparing transport costs and emissions to alternative materials, that often include multiple components which are shipped across the globe in the process, locally produced sustainable building materials are instead available.
Adaptability & resilience A material’s adaptability and resilience contribute to its sustainability in a similar way. Attributing sustainable credentials to developments based on the ability to easily deconstruct them and send its various used components through laborious recycling processes is flawed. Unfortunately, as a society we have not come far enough to make many of these processes viable. We are slowly beginning to challenge these processes, but they will not be fixed or easily replaced with more viable options. The follow-on impact of transporting components and the process of reconstruction on overall sustainability is extraordinary.
The resilience of clay brick can ensure that a building can withstand the wear and tear of multiple occupiers, and through intelligent design, and brick’s natural flexibility as a building material, these buildings can be easily adapted for multiple uses over decades or even centuries. Coupled with the sustainable process of locally sourcing material and a short supply chain in the manufacturing process, clay brick continues to be a sustainable option as it produces aesthetically pleasing homes that are enjoyed for generations. One of the areas that we in the
ADF AUGUST 2022
construction industry will continue to focus on is the longevity of the housing stock being approved and promoted by the UK government. Recent discussions and campaign pledges on new homes have been focused on the need for volume and speed, but on their own these elements won’t address the issue of available, affordable housing long-term; if the longevity of the housing isn’t prioritised, we will continue in a cycle of requiring heavy maintenance and the demolition of poorly built homes and buildings in our communities within a lifespan of less than 60 years. Naturally, brick has a high thermal mass giving it the ability to absorb, store and release heat energy. Thermal mass can be used to even-out variations in internal and external conditions, absorbing heat as temperatures rise in the day and releasing it as they fall which makes for a more comfortable atmosphere which is naturally regulated, reducing the need to mechanically heat and cool a building. The need for sustainable products comes from a growing population who will always need somewhere to live and work. The push for so-called ‘modern’ materials and fast construction risks undermining this unless quality is insisted upon. Perhaps this is why recent ONS stats show that UK brick producers have sustained a consistent rise in deliveries for new developments in the past 12 months, as the focus of a circular economy grows and a building’s longevity and future flexibility is considered alongside each of its individual material components.
Keith Aldis is chief executive at the Brick Development Association
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
As the discussion around a circular economy grows and adapts, it can seem difficult to achieve a true and fair comparison of different material options
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