20 MMA Yearbook 2007 The building industry is an extremely competitive market and it is vital to promote your product in the correct way. Chairman of the Aircrete Products Association (APA) Mike Flynn explains why Aircrete is a favourite for builders, and how the APA intends to keep it that way. The past year has been both a busy and exciting time for the Aircrete market. Much of the focus has revolved around developing products, solutions and propositions so that we get Aircrete noticed for the right reasons. As a tried and tested build method, Aircrete has evolved tremendously and has a vital role to play in the future of the building industry as a modern and innovative material. As building designs and regulations progress, so too must the materials used in the construction of buildings of all types. Aircrete is well established in the UK market and already displays the sort of ‘modern’ characteristics that will see its popularity continue to increase as builders face pressure from the government to use innovative and ultimately ecofriendly materials. Aircrete’s ‘thin layer mortar system’ (often referred to as ‘thin joint mortar’) has been accepted by the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships as a Modern Method of Construction and serves as an example of how Aircrete manufacturers are aiming to further modernise their products. Industry insight In April this year, the APA commissioned extensive research into the industry’s perception of brick and block. We had hoped to gain some insight into the reasons UK house builders choose one build method over another on various developments. The research quizzed influential decision makers from commercial directors and construction managers, through to group architects and technical directors. Those interviewed represented some of the largest home builders in the UK, various medium-sized companies and a few smaller ones, in order to gain a crosssection of views and factors dictating choice of build method. From the information gathered, brick and block is a firm favourite for many builders and was the clear market leader in various areas and on many build types. The research revealed that there are five key issues that house builders will be considering when deciding on a form of construction and Aircrete excels in each of these areas. Sustainability Respondents in the research, without exception, said that sustainability, EcoHomes and environmental health and safety, all issues on the political agenda, would have an increasing impact on the way homes are built. Sustainability, in particular, is seen as a real ‘hot topic’ and an issue that would become increasingly influential. Aircrete’s sustainability credentials are up there with the best in the market. Manufactured using environmentally responsible materials, it is as ‘green’ as it gets when it comes to sustainability throughout the product life. Aircrete is highly durable and robust throughout its life as a structure and poses little risk to the environment. Less nonrenewable energy is wasted with it, as less maintenance and replacement of materials is needed. Aircrete offers excellent thermal insulation, helping to reduce the energy consumption of buildings and is 100% recyclable in the manufacturing process and can be reused at the end of a structure’s life. Thermal performance and air tightness Recent changes to Part L of the Building Regulations has meant that house builders and specifiers are under pressure to reduce the energy consumption of new buildings through improving thermal performance and reducing CO2 emissions. There is no doubt that thermal performance and air tightness requirements will increase further in the future and Aircrete provides an efficient, low-cost answer. Aircrete has excellent thermal insulation characteristics and does not require large amounts of additional insulation. Being a masonry material, Aircrete structures provide outstanding thermal mass, which means that Aircrete buildings can help reduce temperature fluctuations. One of the most significant aspects of the revisions to Part L is the increased emphasis on air tightness. Air pressure testing is now required for new dwellings and Aircrete blockwork achieves excellent air permeability ratings. The quality of build achieved when using Aircrete’s thin layer mortar ensures that these ratings are even better. The mortar is applied in such a way that the mortar joint is fully filled, reducing the air infiltration rate and decreasing ventilation heat loss. Design flexibility House builders have identified the versatility and design freedom of Aircrete as one of its greatest attributes. Easy to use in a variety of applications on many Aircrete hits the mark

MMA Yearbook 2007 21 types of developments, it allows on-thespot changes to be made as the building process continues. With Aircrete there are very few design limitations and designers and developers are able to create almost any size, shape or living environment without compromise in terms of cost and technical ability. Aircrete products are available in a range of sizes and densities so that a huge variety of buildings can be created from small bungalows to town houses, flats and apartments. It is also totally suitable for a number of applications within commercial buildings, which are increasingly becoming a feature of many housing schemes. Aircrete can be drilled, cut and chased using ordinary hand tools, making it easier for bricklayers and finishing trades alike. Its flexibility allows overall build rates to be varied in order to match market demand. Acoustic performance From the APA’s perspective, this is an area where Aircrete’s efficiency needs to be continually conveyed to the industry, as sound insulation becomes more and more important with the number of apartments, flats and linked developments increasing. Although of a lower mass than many other masonry materials, Aircrete is able to provide excellent acoustic insulation due to its unique composition. The cellular structure of Aircrete breaks up the passage of sound waves making it the perfect material for sound insulation for internal and external walls, separating walls, as well as internal and separating floors. Planning and management Managing a development utilising Aircrete is far easier for a number of reasons. Lead-in and planning times are significantly reduced, as there are no constraints of a pre-ordered frame design. Detailing of brick and block interfaces are well known and can even be decided on as the development progresses. Many builders consider the management and natural progression of different trade teams on site as much easier when building with Aircrete. Despite all the criticism of our building industry, the process of house building with masonry materials is well known and tried and tested. However, Aircrete’s diversity, particularly with the addition of thin layer systems, ensures that known materials and building performance can utilise modern approaches to the build process to improve build speed and quality. Website focus As extensive as the list of Aircrete advantages is, they don’t mean anything unless they are properly conveyed to the target market. The new-look APA website is the key delivery mechanism for Aircrete product information. A series of brochures called ‘Building Blocks’ – which cover the five issues raised in the research by the home builders in more detail – is currently being developed and will be available to download from the website along with other literature outlining the advantages of building with Aircrete. Visitors to the website can also register to receive regular updates. The APA markets Aircrete as a ‘modern construction method’, which can compete with, and in many cases out-performs more recently developed build materials and methods. As far as we at the APA are concerned, our efforts now will serve not only to confirm Aircrete’s status as one of the best building materials in the market, but more significantly go a long way to ensuring that it is carried forward to meet the demands of the future. . Reader enquiries to: loretta.simpson@britishprecast.org