BUILDING FABRIC 43 BENEFITS OF BRICK SLIPS
Jemma Ison of Keystone Group who also supports the technical specifi cation for IG Masonry Support explains how brick slip products can bring sustainability and style to building projects both large and small
I
nnovative construction techniques are an enabler to a more sustainable built environment. Products that simplify and speed up the build process, while ensuring the highest standards are upheld, reduce time on site and lessen environmental impact.
Masonry is a classic and timeless building material that achieves superior, maintenance free results. Utilising masonry in prominent areas can be essential to delivering an architect’s overall vision, or fulfi lling a client’s brief to ensure a project remains in keeping with the local surroundings. Brick slip systems are adaptable to suit any application.
Ideal for small openings over window heads but also deliver effortless results spanning an entrance of a commercial building. Whatever the desired fi nish, prefabricated units can provide high quality results at low environmental impact.
TIME AND ENERGY SAVER The average time it takes to create intricate masonry details with prefabricated brick-slip solutions is estimated to reduce time by 90% in comparison to traditional on-site methods. As well as the time saving factor there are many other benefi ts associated with off-site production, from improved construction effi ciencies and reduced on-site waste to minimal site impacts due to the fi t-and-forget design. Furthermore, a pre-fabricated unit is produced in line with manual handling guidelines. Therefore, designed to be easily managed and handled on-site. This eliminates the consumption of any fuel or electricity needed to aid the installation process.
SKILLS SHORTAGE
While highlighting the direct and indirect sustainable benefi ts of these prefabricated methods, it is also a recognised challenge that traditional techniques require the
services of a highly-skilled bricklayer. In the current climate, this might not be an appointment that is easy to secure. The bricklaying sector, as with the construction industry as a whole, is in the midst of a well-publicised skills shortage. Indeed, the Construction Skills Network (CSN) has forecast a need for 1,450 more bricklayers per year over the next fi ve years to help fulfi l UK building projects. Therefore, it could mean an appropriately-qualifi ed bricklayer travelling many miles to work on a particular project, a journey that would incur additional fuel consumption and environmental impacts.
NATURAL HINDRANCES TO EFFICIENT BRICK DETAILING
When it comes to achieving intricate brick details, a building site is far from the ideal environment. Poor weather can hamper high-quality workmanship and build consistency. This can lead to reworks and
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
