82 STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; UTILITIES & SERVICES more texture for a truly authentic look.
CASE STUDIES Weathered and tumbled bricks can be used in a wide range of projects. For example, red and orange handmade bricks with an aged weathered fi nish were used in a luxury timber-frame development of four and fi ve bed homes in Cheshire by Cobnut Homes on the grounds of a former 1921 boarding school, with panoramic views of Delamere Forest. An aged, weathered fi nish was specifi ed to give a high-end feel and accentuate features like the timber porches and windows painted in French Grey, Blue Grey, or Cromaty (Green-Grey).
Meanwhile in London, ‘The Grand’, a former cinema in Bermondsey, has been converted into extravagant two bed apartments by MH Corp. The design gained planning support with handmade ‘Original London Stock’ brick slips and bricks selected as the most appropriate choice for the facade. Featuring the yellow tones London bricks are traditionally known for, coal-spotting and weathering adds to the authenticity, matching the existing buildings on either side. A similar brick was also used in Moray Mews, an award-winning development of eight contemporary courtyard houses located near Finsbury Park. The
New government, new building policies L
abour have committed to boost the building of aff ordable housing. Their plan is to build 1.5 million new homes in the
next fi ve years. However, the anticipated UK water defi cit is projected to be 4017 megalitres per day by 2050. To off set this projected defi cit, major water companies have been developing plans to upgrade the UKs water supply and reduce current usage from 150 litres per person per day to 110. While Labour have pledged to ‘clamp down
on water companies that harm the environment and pollute our rivers with automatic and severe fi nes,….’ There is no mention of the impact that the extra homes will have on the projected UK water defi cit. Until the new government announces its plans to mitigate the impact of their building targets on water supply, it must be assumed that these plans remain in place. Reducing daily consumption and ensuring all new homes are water effi cient must be the way forward.
SMART SYSTEMS – LOCATION IS THE KEY Smart meters are seen as a signifi cant part of the solution to reducing domestic water usage. Thames Water have recorded post installation savings of 12-17%. Following multiple trials, all water companies are now working on plans for Advanced metering infrastructure, where all new connections or meters use the latest generation of smart meters. The issues raised in the early trials has led much of the UK water industry to recognise that
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the most eff ective methods of installing the advanced metering infrastructure is to locate the meter above ground. The use of the Groundbreaker water management system co-locates the water meter on the exterior wall of the dwelling, alongside gas and electric meters. It has the advantage of providing a better environment for smart technology and the additional benefi ts of extended signal transmission and easy meter exchange.
DESIGNING OUT LEAK PATHS The unique location of the Groundbreaker water management system allows for an unjointed water supply. The use of an uninterrupted supply has been recognised as best practice by Water UK and the Home Builders Federation. It future proofs the network by maintaining the integrity of the supply and minimising the risk of future leaks.
WATER EFFICIENT HOMES United Utilities have recognised that water effi cient homes are the key reduce consumption further. In all new properties, developers will be encouraged to design in water conservation measures, including the installation of a fl ow regulator. These modulate the fl ow entering customer premises, so limiting the amount used by the customer and creating a ‘natural’ reduction in consumption. These products are fi tted to the main water supply, and not each individual outlet. This
removes any risk of consumer interference and ensure that minimum standards of water supply are maintained as specifi ed within the Water Industry Act and Water Fittings Regulations. Groundbreaker supply two products. In
properties with a meter Groundbreaker’s NRv2 LoFlo can be installed between the water meter and manifold in any water meter enclosure. For unmetered properties, the LoFlo InLine is fi tted on the main water supply pipe, normally just after the main stop tap. In either unit, several fl ow modulation ranges
are available which enable the perfect balance between usage reduction and service provision. As an added benefi t, the Groundbreaker’s LoFlo Check Valve systems have the unique property of providing whole site protection against contamination by back fl ow (up to fl uid category 2) as standard.
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weathered metric bricks were chosen by the developer for their ability to add an instantly established appearance to the properties, while juxtaposing with the sharp lines of the build and modern projecting glass windows.
QUALITY & QUANTITY OF SUPPLY Reliability of supply in the quantities required is crucial for easier project management and planning – especially for handmade bricks and more unusual options. Brick specialists are increasingly being asked to help source alternative products for projects where supply is an issue. So it’s best to look for a supplier that holds a large amount in stock. Any bricks specifi ed should be high quality and from ethical, responsible suppliers, who can reliably provide them in the quantities required. All new bricks should be UKCA/CE marked, and tested to meet UK and EU standards for freeze- thaw, water absorption, compressive strength, and soluble salt content. Look for Sedex-auditing – the benchmark for ethical trading, used by Dyson and M&S – and ISO 14001 (for Environmental Management) and ISO 9001 (for Quality Management) factory accreditations.
Jason Hughes is managing director of Imperial Bricks
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