6


APPOINTMENTS & NEWS


AIM doubles fi re stop block capacity I


nvestment in additional CNC technology at its Crawley manufacturing facility has increased AIM Acoustic & Insulation Manufacturing’s Fire Stop Block production capacity by 50 per cent. “This signifi cantly greater CNC capability supports AIM’s position as a Fire Stop Block category leader,” says commercial director Ian Exall. “Earlier spend on further testing means we have one of the most comprehensive ranges of fi re tested FSBs in the market.” Used to maintain fi re compartment lines and


act as a barrier to the movement of smoke in fl oors, walls, partitions and roofs, FSBs are also known as Trapezoidal Fire Stops. Typically, a Fire Stop Block is installed at the junction of a metal deck concrete fl oor and a wall that has a fi re resistance requirement. The Fire Stop Block is used to fi ll the space under the fl oor where it is located on the wall. They also contribute to acoustic performance. AIM uses CNC technology to produce precision, compression fi t Fire Stop Blocks with 60- and 120-minute insulation and integrity options. Blocks cut from an ablative batt are also available and are typically used where fi bre migration from the blocks (or other items in the


vicinity of the wall) has to be eliminated, such as in the construction of hi-tech buildings, for example data centres.


The acquisition of new plant and a major refurbishment of existing capacity follow AIM’s 2024 investment in additional test evidence to cover a wider range of applications. Tested to the principles of BS EN 1366-4:2021, AIM’s Fire Stop Blocks achieved IFC Certifi cation Ltd third-party certifi cation. AIM’s Fire Stop Blocks are available in CNC cut standard profi les to suit major metal deck producer profi les or are cut to customer specifi cations. The latest CNC technology ensures


accuracy even for more challenging profi les with rounded shoulders. Compression fi t means sealants are not required for most applications. “We manufacture Fire Stop Blocks to pretty much any profi le, or customer defi ned dimensions. Indeed, we often get the proverbial “back of an envelope” drawing from which to create the CAD fi les required for production of the fi nished item” adds Ian Exall. AIM’s Fire Stop Block technical datasheet explains the application scope and test evidence.


01293 582400 aimlimited.co.uk/solutions/fi re-stop-blocks-2


ICF from BEWI features in new build property with outstanding thermal performance


Thermomur® W


hen engineer Andrew Brash and his wife were looking to build a


forever retirement home in


the Suffolk village that they love, Andrew was immediately attracted to the elegance of an Insulating Concrete Formwork (ICF) solution.


It was the thermal performance and simplicity that particularly appealed. He also liked the durability of ICF: “If we were going to build a house with our name on it, we wanted something that was going to be around for a long time,” he says. ‘Mouses’ is a build


of 330 m2 on a


0.6-acre plot, which was completed in just 14 months, despite the large size of the building,


refl ecting the ease with which projects can be carried out using ICF. The product selected was BEWI’s Thermomur®


350 Super, which is designed to


provide an outstanding thermal performance (with a U-value of 0.15 W/m2K), and has full NHBC and BBA approval, while also


enabling a fast and effi cient build. The cost/ performance equation was viewed as a key benefi t, which could provide the thermal performance necessary to gain a Passivehouse rating. The house also easily achieved its airtightness target. From a practical point of view, the ability to screw into the sides of the blocks and the way they all fi t together also makes for a more straightforward build


than with other systems, while generating less waste. “We fi nd the performance


ventilation with heat of the


completed house to be absolutely fantastic,” says Andrew. “When combined with triple glazing, mechanical


recovery, solar panels and a heat pump, we estimate that our total electric costs each year for everything on this large house will be less than £200.” The fl exibility of the system meant that


the team were able to deal with challenges as they arose on the job. Two recommendations which Andrew has, having completed his project, are to design any ICF self-build around the block dimensions as far as possible, to minimise cutting, and also to take maximum advantage of the training which is provided by BEWI for contractors without ICF experience who use the company’s Thermomur®


system. 0870 600 3666 www.bewi.com/uk


WWW.BUILDINGCONSTRUCTIONDESIGN.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