COMMENT & OPINION COMMENT & OPINION
research which aims to map out the state of our housing stock and the needs of its inhabitants. With an ageing population and an increasing number of multigenerational households, access and adaptability are
moving up the political agenda – and rightly so.
The EHS, conducted on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) involves around 13,000 face-to-face surveys and 6,000 physical inspections by surveyors every year. Statisticians rebalance the results to better represent the general population.
The main findings of the survey are published each March with drill-down reports released over the summer.
One of these drill-down
reports looks at the potential for improvements to the housing stock and this year contained three main sections looking at housing quality, energy and adaptations and accessibility. Though 31% of households had someone with a long-term limited illness or disability, only
18% had level access to the front door; 25% had a flush threshold and just 13% had both level access and a flush threshold. The research suggests that a further 58% of homes could be made more accessible by the addition of a ramp.
NHBC guidance published
this year, Accessible thresholds in New Housing – guidance for housebuilders and designers, though aimed at newbuild, is a useful reference document which dovetails with Part M of the Building Regulations, Access to and use of Buildings. The guidance sets down minimum slope for ramps, when upstands are needed, and the design and detailing of the threshold itself. Manufacturers, such as
Eurocell, are also responding to the need for level access. Earlier this year, Eurocell introduced a new PVC-U low threshold for its Eurologik 70mm chamfered and ovolo doors.
One of the biggest benefits of the PVC-U low threshold
when compared to its aluminium equivalent is that it can reduce cold bridging, limiting heat loss
“
One of the biggest challenges in delivering any improvements to access for
existing homes is how to limit costs and disruption to households.
” Above: Chris Coxon
from the building and improving comfort.
One of the biggest challenges in delivering any improvements to access for existing homes is how to limit costs and disruption to households. But this isn’t a problem that is going away; we need more cost-effective, easy-to- install solutions that can help us meet these challenges. BMJ
DRY-FIX STANDARD IS GOOD NEWS Dr Kevin Lay,
the introduction of a new roofing standard.
The introduction of BS 8612: Dry-fixed Ridge, Hip and Verge Systems for Slating and Tiling at the end of January is a product specification which frames minimum performance requirements for dry-fix roofing components: establishing that they are both fit for purpose and are delivered with sufficient information to ensure correct installation.
Its introduction is a response to an increasing number of, particularly, dry verge failures; primarily because of installation errors, but also contributed to by
16 product design.
Since BS 5534: 2014 – which brought about a step change in the requirements for fixing of pitched roofs both for roof tiles and ridge, hip and verges – we have seen an acceleration in the move away from traditional mortar fixing to modern dry-fix. Unfortunately, the resulting increased demand for dry- fix products and a lack of standardised performance
requirements allowed products of questionable fitness for purpose to enter the market. The resulting problems meant there was a
Above: Dr Kevin Lay
2014...we have seen am acceleration in the move away from traditional mortar
“
” Continued on page 18
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2018 Since BS 5534
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