This week, curved steel provides a sensitive addition to a historic garden, herbalists put a green roof on a Harringay school, plus the latest rooflights, rainwater drainage systems and solar panels

Solar panel solution

Sharp has supplied more than 300 80 W polycrystalline solar modules to cover the roof of Red Kite House, the new office for the Environment Agency in Wallingford. The building, designed by architect Scott Brownrigg, includes a brise-soleil curved canopy to which the photovoltaic panels have been attached. The company claims that the 25.28 kWp PV system will generate about 20% of the estimated electricity demand of the building and will save more than eight tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

Sharp
www.sharp.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 302


Curved steel in the Botanic Garden

Curved steel in the Botanic Garden


Double-cambered clay tiles

Marley Eternit has extended its Acme range of double-cambered natural clay plain tiles. Aimed at specifiers in the social housing sector, the tile is said to be suitable for vertical tile hanging as well as laying on roofs. Three machine-made and sandfaced colours - grey, red and red brindle - have been added to the original nine colours. Acme's double camber is said to help water discharge and add more texture to each tile course.

Marley Eternit
www.marley.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 303

Skylight for period buildings

Sola Skylight has launched a light pipe called the Heritage Sky Tunnel, for piping light deep into buildings. The maker says that the Heritage Sky Tunnel is intended for use with historic or period buildings and can be used in listed buildings and conservation areas where the company's standard roof dome may be deemed inappropriate by planning authorities. The Sky Tunnel has a traditional-looking polycarbonate window fitted in place of the standard dome. The steel frame around the window can be painted on site by the installer if required. Models suitable for tile, slate or flat roofs are available.

Sola Skylights
www.solaskylights.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 304

Rainwater drainage system

Piping and drainage specialist JDP has introduced Vacurain, a syphonic drainage system for roof rainwater. Constructed from modified PVCu, this product is said to reduce the number of downpipes required. The manufacturer says that the same volume of rainwater can be drained though fewer and smaller downpipes.

JDP
www.jdpipes.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 305

Copper finish to roofing membrane

FDT has added a decorative copper paint finish to its Rhepanol FK single-ply roofing membrane. Rhepanol FK is suitable for lightweight profile metal deck roofs, roofs with reinforced concrete deck and reroofing projects. The company says that the paint, a coating of liquid polyisobutylene, weathers to mellow bronze tones just like real copper sheet and is anti-corrosive.

FDT
www.fdt.uk.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 307

Tiles for Scottish homes

Russell Roof Tiles has provided 40,000 of its Lothian tiles in slate grey to Miller Homes for its housing development in Leverndale, Crookston, near Glasgow as specified by roofing contractor Avondale Roofing. The company says that because the large format tile has a simulated central line it can cover a large area while giving the impression of two smaller plain tiles. This is intended to reduce installation time and labour costs.

Russell Roof Tiles
www.cemex.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 308

Curved steel in the Botanic Garden

Kalzip’s 65/400 stainless steel smooth curved sheets were specified for this plant research facility at the University of Cambridge. A total of 858 m2 of the product in a matt finish was used for the roof. The company said a curved roof had been chosen to reduce the building’s impact on its surroundings, the university’s Botanic Garden. Kalzip has also announced that it has extended its range to include the TitanSilver finish, which replicates the appearance of zinc or stainless steel, for aluminium roofing and walling solutions. It is made from aluminium so it is lightweight and has good corrosion resistance. The company said the product would not oxidise as quickly as zinc.

Kalzip
www.kalzip.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 301

A waterproof roof

Alumasc has supplied its Derbigum waterproofing membrane from the ZinCo green roof systems range to cover North Harringay primary school’s gymnasium roof in London. Derbigum was used to cover the existing asphalt. The project, commissioned by the London Community Herbalist, a not-for-profit organisation promoting herbal medicine in urban community, intends to provide both plants and medicine to the school.

Alumasc
www.alumasc-exteriors.co.uk
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 306

More tubular rooflights

Glidevale has extended its standard range of Sunscoop tubular rooflights to include a 3 mm thick polycarbonate-glazed roof-mounted dome, a SR95 specular tube said to provide 95% reflectivity, two elbows giving up to 30° adjustment, two intermediate tubes and a circular ceiling diffuser. The Sunscoop glazing and flashings can be fitted to pitched or flat roofs.

Glidevale
www.glidevale.com
www.building.co.uk/enquiries 309

Movers and makers

  • BSI Business Information has revised the BS 5268-3:2005 standard, which covers the design, fabrication and use of trussed rafters for roofs. The revision includes recommendations on the strength grades of timber used in the fabrication of rafters and guidance on the handling, storage and installation of fabricated rafters. The document also includes structural analysis methods, standard bracing arrangements for domestic scale roofs and performance requirements for roof bracing.
  • The revised Guide A: Environmental Design from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is now available. The changes respond to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and UK specific legislation, including the Building Regulations Parts L and F, which cover energy efficiency and ventilation.
  • Donaldson Timber Engineering, the maker of engineered timber floors and roof trusses, has said it has supplied the longest trusses ever manufactured in the UK to the German supermarkets chain Aldi, for its two new retail units in Forfar and Stirling. DTE’s trusses measure more than 20 m in total length, with a clearspan of 17.5 m and a height of 4.1 m.
  • Nottingham-based firm Liquid Rubber has been awarded an exclusive distribution agreement by Lafarge for its waterproofing product, which is used in the roofing market and the construction and marine industry. The water-based, cold-applied membrane is said not to require any naked flames or heat in its application.
  • Knauf Insulation has released four compliance guides to help the industry prepare for the introduction of the 2006 Part L, which comes into force on 6 April. The guides cover the four individual parts, L1A for work in new dwellings, L1B for work in existing dwellings, L2A for work in new buildings other than dwellings and L2B for work in existing buildings other than dwellings.
  • Hanso Building Products has acquired Derbyshire-based Red Bank Manufacturing, a specialist in chimney systems and roofing markets, to extend its product offering in sectors closely related to the terracotta clay and concrete market. HBP’s Paul Brader has been appointed managing director to replace Jeremy Bianco, Red Bank’s existing chairman.
  • Sandtoft has published a brochure on its clay roof tile, the Neo Pantile. The brochure has information on all aspects of the Neo Pantile, including the reasons behind its design, the colours available, technical data, fittings and accessories and specification guides.

Roofing