In the current “Covid” climate, concerns are increasing over traditional air conditioning units and recirculating systems redistributing contaminated air within rooms. Consequently, the importance of Natural Ventilation is growing as we look to provide healthier environments that are less “virus friendly”. Natural Ventilation is a method of supplying fresh air
Housebuilders have defended proposed planning changes allowing up to 40 to 50 homes to be built before an ‘affordable homes’ quota kicks in. Last week the Local Government Association criticised the government for the proposals, which it claimed would have resulted in 30,000 fewer homes being built over the last
A Cornish construction company has appointed a new managing director. Peter Sadler joins St Austell-based Gilbert & Goode with more than 25 years experience in the construction industry, specialising in the residential sector. His impressive experience features commercial, development, and managerial roles within the South West for organisations including Kier
Welsh-manufactured Durisol UK is supplying the primary construction materials for the first phase of a new Cambridgeshire housing development. Cityglades at Ditton Meadows, Cambridge, is a development of 14 two, three and four-bedroom homes. Each home is complete with a self-learning system that can adapt heating, lighting and security according
The regeneration of a key area in Sunderland, which will create thousands of homes and jobs in the city, has been included in a new masterplan. The Riverside Sunderland Masterplan – a 176-page document that details a number of projects to reimagine the area – sets out how the council
Axis Communications, the global industry leader in network video, has called for a reinvigorated emphasis on the outer layer of security, the physical perimeter, in its latest whitepaper, Perimeter protection with intelligent surveillance. As the global threat landscape continues to evolve with new enterprising methods to breach organisations’ physical and virtual barriers,
This past month has seen the launch of a potentially game-changing new app for asbestos contractors: the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA). Developed over the course of 20 months with feedback from various parties, ALFA is designed to provide ARCA licensed contractors with a measure of operative performance, helping them
As warehouse and logistics operators continue to ramp up to handle the surge in online shopping, mitigating risk becomes ever more critical for a safer workplace, says Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for impact protection specialists, Brandsafe. UK online retail sales have exploded in the wake of Covid 19,
Safeguard Europe’s Dryzone high-performance plasters collection is a range of breathable modern plasters designed to stop salt migration and aid drying on damp walls. All four variants in the plaster range have been scientifically developed and tested to provide excellent resistance to hygroscopic salts whilst providing a highly breathable surface.
In the current “Covid” climate, concerns are increasing over traditional air conditioning units and recirculating systems redistributing contaminated air within rooms. Consequently, the importance of Natural Ventilation is growing as we look to provide healthier environments that are less “virus friendly”. Natural Ventilation is a method of supplying fresh air to a building or room by means of natural forces (wind speed or air buoyancy). Passive ventilation with Heat Recovery (PVHR) is a Natural Ventilation system capable of recovering heat without using electricity. It ensures that all of the air we breathe, within the built environment, is fresh and can be introduced comfortably without the need for further power, heating or inefficient cooling. Ventive®, a building services innovator, design and manufacture ventilation solutions for schools and other high occupancy buildings. It pioneered the design of naturally intelligent ventilation systems that deliver fresh, comfortable air at minimal energy cost. Its proven, ‘displacement’ ventilation systems not only reduce the reliance on costly, energy- hungry mechanical systems but also ensure that stale, contaminated air is safely removed from occupied spaces without mixing with incoming air (which is the case with both recirculating and mixing mechanical systems). Ventive has worked with top UK university researchers from Imperial, UCL and Brunel and the development of its technology has received multiple industry awards and central government support (BEIS’s Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, Innovate UK and the Energy Systems Catapult); Ventive is also part of the Made in Britain campaign. The company is based in West London. To date, Ventive systems have been installed to over 20 schools (primary and secondary, state/free/fee-paying), a number of high occupancy buildings and over 200 homes in the UK. The main advantages of their systems are: 100% Fresh air – reduces the risk of recirculating aerosolised viral particles Displacement ventilation – the most effective way of reducing infection risk according to science Reduction in Carbon emissions; each system runs by harnessing nature and is net-zero in terms of emissions Cheaper to install and operate than full mechanical plant; the Carbon Trust found that commercial buildings with natural ventilation saved an average of £30,000 per year Requires less maintenance than air conditioning or fan-driven systems Free night cooling reduces daytime starting temperatures and cools the building for free Remote monitoring of air quality and remote system adjustments The systems are Cloud connected and “smart”, autonomously reacting to their environment and transmitting data, allowing remote monitoring and over-the-air upgrades to optimize performance. Ventive’s award-winning Windhive® system combines passive ventilation, heat recovery and system intelligence to supply up to 200 litres of fresh air every second. It adapts to real-time conditions to deliver an optimal balance of ventilation and comfortable temperatures, whatever the weather. Ventive systems (prices from £5,000) are presently being installed at Crest Nicholson’s development at Bicester Eco Village and are installed at over 20 schools including: o Guildford High School, Surrey Horniman Primary School, Forest Hill o Petra’s Place, Fulham Talbot Heath Girls’ School, Bournemouth o o Beechwood, Reading Southwark Pupil Referral Unit Connah’s Quay High School, Deeside Southend High School for Girls
Housebuilders have defended proposed planning changes allowing up to 40 to 50 homes to be built before an ‘affordable homes’ quota kicks in. Last week the Local Government Association criticised the government for the proposals, which it claimed would have resulted in 30,000 fewer homes being built over the last five years. But the National Federation of Builders, NFB, said raising the limit from the current ten homes threshold to 40 or 50 wouldallow more small developers to build homes. NFB housing and planning policy head Rico Wojtulewicz said: “Negotiations on affordable homes has meant that developments have been delayed by up to two years. If you raise the threshold for building affordable houses then more homes will be built throughout the country.” Affordability challenges being addressed Mr Wojtulewicz that added first-time buyers’ access to help-to-buy would still enable them to get onto the first rung of the property ladder even in hotspots like the South East. Currently, developments of more than ten homes must have a 20 to 30 per cent ratio of affordable properties. Mr Wojtulewicz said this had acted as a deterrent for many smaller developers. LGA housing spokesperson and Swindon borough council leader David Renard said: “Proposals to exempt developers from having to build affordable housing on certain small sites are of huge concern. With rising housing waiting lists and record numbers in temporary accommodation, we desperately need to be building more affordable housing, not less.” Mr Wojtulewicz said since 2018when the cap on local authorities’ housing revenue accounts was lifted, it was now possible for them to contractlocal builders to create council homes. He pointed to forthcoming first home legislation where local first-time buyers are to be given a 30 per cent discount on new build homes in their area as another affordable homes measure. Brokers Hank Zarihs Associates said the changes would help SME developers especially in the wake of the current Covid-19 crisis survive and make it easier for them to gain construction loans.
A Cornish construction company has appointed a new managing director. Peter Sadler joins St Austell-based Gilbert & Goode with more than 25 years experience in the construction industry, specialising in the residential sector. His impressive experience features commercial, development, and managerial roles within the South West for organisations including Kier Living, Midas, and Mowlem, as well as international positions in the Cayman Islands. “Gilbert & Goode has a strong reputation for building high quality homes with a personal approach, which is what attracted me to the role,” said Peter Sadler. “There is a fantastic team here, and I am looking forward to working with them to take the business through the transition from a regional builder to a developer, enhancing private open market sales, and delivering aspirational environments and communities for our customers to live.” Established in 1972, Gilbert & Goode is now one of the largest Cornish construction companies. It provides high quality homes in key locations across Cornwall and West Devon, with customer experience at the heart. Work will commence at Copper Hills, the company’s newest project comprising 160 homes in Hayle, this autumn. The scheme will be a mix of 35% affordable and 65% open market houses, with a show home opening in spring 2021. Peter continued: “I am excited to be starting work on my first development in Hayle. The area is undergoing huge regeneration, offering a coastal lifestyle with great transport links within Cornwall, meaning there is extremely high demand for new homes in the town. “Long term, we have seen new trends emerging from the coronavirus pandemic, including an increased number of people needing to work from home. As part of our new strategy, we are aiming to create functional and sustainable homes, introducing new technologies and flexible living methods which adapt to changing environments. “We are keen to learn about land opportunities throughout the region for us to be able to deliver a range of open market and affordable homes, developing communities and providing people with safe, stylish, and high quality places to live.” Gilbert & Goode plans to break ground on three new developments in 2021, with 44 homes in Bodmin, 24 homes in St Teath, and 19 homes in Trewoon. Each development will have a mix of affordable and shared ownership properties. Ocean Housing Group is the parent company of Gilbert & Goode. Its chief executive Mark Gardner said: “The group is delighted to welcome Peter Sadler as managing director of Gilbert & Goode. He has an excellent track record, and has the calibre and experience the company needs to continue its growth and success.” New homes are now for sale at current developments in Lelant and the suburbs of Truro, with stamp duty incentives available until the end of March 2021. For more information about these developments visit five-truro.co.uk or lannantaforge.co.uk.
Welsh-manufactured Durisol UK is supplying the primary construction materials for the first phase of a new Cambridgeshire housing development. Cityglades at Ditton Meadows, Cambridge, is a development of 14 two, three and four-bedroom homes. Each home is complete with a self-learning system that can adapt heating, lighting and security according to the owner’s routines, therefore saving time, money and the environment. “It’s a pleasure to work with an emerging and ambitious house builder that has the vision to embrace new technologies and help move the industry forward, for the benefit of all stakeholders,” said Neil Bussey, Durisol UK’s managing director. In line with embracing cutting-edge technology, Cambridge-based development company This Land is departing from traditional build methods and building eleven of the first phase homes from Durisol insulated concrete formwork (ICF), a woodcrete ICF made from recycled wood. “As a responsible developer, we must do what we can for the environment, so we are delighted to be using this modern method of construction. It means our homes will hold more heat in, and our customers will benefit from using less energy,” added Dave Gelling, managing director at This Land. The Durisol will introduce thermal efficiency and performance in the new build homes.
The regeneration of a key area in Sunderland, which will create thousands of homes and jobs in the city, has been included in a new masterplan. The Riverside Sunderland Masterplan – a 176-page document that details a number of projects to reimagine the area – sets out how the council will kick-start the redevelopment of an approximately 88.2-acre site on both sides of the River Wear, creating the UK’s first carbon-neutral urban quarter, building 1,000 new homes and creating office space for up to 10,000 workers. The plans, which were underpinned by a £100m investment commitment from Legal & General, involve the construction of 1,000 sustainable homes to rent and buy in four riverside neighbourhoods housing 2,500 residents, one million sq ft of modern office space, a new city centre site for a major life sciences/ healthcare facility and the Culture House – a library and community hub – that is expected to attract 600,000 visitors a year to a new site in Keel Square. Additionally, Sunderland City Council has outlined proposals to upgrade St Mary’s Boulevard into a new main street, transform Galley’s Gill into a landscape park and implement new smart city infrastructure. “Riverside Sunderland will transform a part of the city that has vast potential. It’s a masterplan that will reinvigorate the city in a wider sense too – creating a place we can be proud to call the heart of Sunderland. Riverside Sunderland is just the beginning. Sunderland is springing back to life. We’re seeing more and more investment flooding into the city. The private sector is alive to the opportunities and that is bringing about transformation at a pace not seen for decades,” said Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council. “It’s a vision that we know is deliverable, and that will be truly game-changing for Sunderland. We’re aiming high because it’s what our residents deserve and it’s what the city needs – vision backed by a determination to deliver.” Sunderland City Council’s plans are already underway, with the first wave of projects moving forward, including the construction of new City Hall and the 450-seat auditorium, part of the Fire Station arts complex. Work will start soon on the 120-room Holiday Inn in Keel Square and a planning application has been lodged for two new buildings in the central business district that will create 200,000 sq ft of modern office space. “Right now, the North East of England provides huge opportunities for businesses wishing to invest, with great transport links by sea and air, road and rail to all parts of the United Kingdom and indeed around the rest of the world. But now, particularly with the Riverside development, the investments by Legal & General and others, providing office space living accommodation and so much more, I encourage everybody to take a fresh look at what the city of Sunderland really is capable of providing any ambitious business,” added James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce.
Axis Communications, the global industry leader in network video, has called for a reinvigorated emphasis on the outer layer of security, the physical perimeter, in its latest whitepaper, Perimeter protection with intelligent surveillance. As the global threat landscape continues to evolve with new enterprising methods to breach organisations’ physical and virtual barriers, more advanced perimeter protection methods capable of providing verifiable real-time alerts, location data, target tracking and the ability to package the evidence and data for post incident investigation, is urgently needed. With the identification of new threat vectors, it’s important to continuously risk assess the types of attack and the resulting protective measures required. In the face of more stringent government and industry regulations and standards around perimeter protection, a need to reduce manpower costs, and more awareness around increasing terrorist threats of different means and sizes, the security of the perimeter has never been more vital. The whitepaper explains the importance of employing comprehensive protection at the perimeter, and offers a breakdown of sensor options and applications, highlighting the key points for consideration across all industries when choosing and implementing such a solution. In the case of critical infrastructure sites, a breach could be catastrophic, with the possibility of someone tampering with water quality or altering gas pressure bringing huge risks and potential loss of life. In addition to this, a physical attack can often coincide with a cyber attack; the dual approach serving to confuse staff and leave key assets vulnerable. Yet while many organisations already implement effective cyber security strategies, an inadequately guarded perimeter can prove to be the weak link in the chain, enabling criminals to access premises and cause damage to key assets, or launch a well-orchestrated attack. Intelligent physical security solutions can play a vital role in securing a site. While barriers and gates will work to slow down an intruder, or delay someone entering a premises, it is the installation of automatic intrusion detection technology that will prove a formidable defense against today’s threat actors. Lucas Young, Business Development Manager, network surveillance, transportation and critical infrastructure at Axis Communications, commented: “As threats and countermeasures evolve, one critical aspect remains constant; the integrity and security of the perimeter; a fundamental consideration in providing a safe and secure environment for all staff, visitors and members of the public. With regulations placing ever more onus on industry sectors to demonstrate security understanding and compliance, a scalable, future-proof solution, backed by the full support of a trusted partner will create a formidable barrier against the next generation of attack.” Network cameras offer high quality video surveillance both inside and at the perimeter of a site, with options such as thermal image detection further enhancing this capability. The capture of real-time evidence of a physical attack in progress, rather than the after-the-fact forensic video typically offered by legacy systems, provides authorities with timely evidence of any attack on the premises as it occurs. IP audio systems, comprising digital speakers on a network, can be used to sound alarms and issue live or pre-recorded verbal warnings, complementing video for a combined audio-visual deterrent and surveillance solution. Understanding current technology capabilities as well as an appreciation of future trends is a sound operational security and procurement approach for any security practitioner. To aid in knowledge building and enable customers to make an informed decision around the adoption of such solutions, this whitepaper covers the following key areas: Perimeter protection solutions – Physical solutions and intrusion detection Video-based solutions – The application of cameras, thermographic and visible light options Modern enhancements – Processing speeds, deep learning, AI and analytics Cost evaluation – Establishing total cost of ownership (TCO) and measuring ROI Axis’ proposal – Summarising Axis’ own approach to integrated perimeter protection Through the multi-layering of different measures, commonly referred to as ‘defence-in-depth, comprehensive protection is achieved when all of these layers work together. Security is not significantly reduced with the loss of any single layer. This converged approach to security is the best line of defence as the dynamic threat evolves, with strategies employed across physical and cyber security to address vulnerabilities and maximise resistance. Working with partners and vendors to build trusted relationships across the supply chain establishes guarantees as to the authenticity and integrity of such systems, and helps to build a smarter, safer world.
This past month has seen the launch of a potentially game-changing new app for asbestos contractors: the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA). Developed over the course of 20 months with feedback from various parties, ALFA is designed to provide ARCA licensed contractors with a measure of operative performance, helping them to improve industry standards. The introduction of the app could have a huge impact on the almost 50% of asbestos removal contractors licensed by ARCA – and more importantly, the operatives who work for them. Amid concerns from labour unions about the ramifications of the app, here’s everything you need to know about ALFA, and what it could mean for the asbestos removal industry. What is the Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA)? The Asbestos Labour Feedback App (ALFA) is a mobile app which allows ARCA licensed asbestos removal contractors to rate the performance of short-term operatives from labour suppliers. They can do this using nine key metrics covering employee performance and behaviour on a particular assignment. The ratings for each assignment undertaken by that operative are then averaged to produce an overall star rating. This rating is visible to ARCA member contractors when using the app, alongside an average rating for each of the nine categories. Contractors can then use this information to ensure competence and identify training needs. Why is the Asbestos Labour Feedback App necessary? With asbestos still present in huge quantities across the UK, demand for asbestos removal professionals is as high as ever. Yet many asbestos removal contractors have listed the quality of labour available to them as a primary concern, with contractors apparently lacking the competence, skills and behaviour needed to manage and remove asbestos safely. As a result, licensing body ARCA opened discussions with its members in the asbestos removal industry, with the aim of finding a way to improve performance and raise standards among operatives. The result of this process was the creation of the app, with the hope that widespread uptake would highlight areas for improvement, and motivate people to undertake training. What are the benefits of the Asbestos Labour Feedback App? The ALFA is designed to reassure asbestos removal contractors that the operatives they are receiving are competent, and have a good attitude towards their work. This will help to improve the quality of the work being done by contractors and ensure it is done safely, reducing their liabilities and protecting the operatives in the process. By rating operative performance, both operatives and contractors have the opportunity to encourage improvements, and identify where further training may be required. The app also allows operatives to manage their certificate information (helping to keep track of expiring certificates), as well as automating part of the supply agency process. What are the concerns around the Asbestos Labour Feedback App? Labour union Unite has been quick to raise concerns around the use of the app, claiming that the use of a ratings system for operatives could be abused. This system could lead to operatives receiving unfair ratings with little recourse, and being effectively blacklisted as a result of poor ratings, preventing them from gaining further work. Unite has called on ARCA to evidence any safeguards within the app against blacklisting and discrimination, and to suspend the rollout of the app if these do not currently exist. This is likely to be unwelcome news for ARCA, having gone through a 20-month development process and pilot scheme for the service. I’m an asbestos removal operative – what should I do? It’s likely that your agency will inform you if they are planning to adopt the app, and you may find that you are required to use it. In this instance, you may want to contact your union if you have one. However, it is important to note that the end goal of the app – improving safety standards and general quality of work – is an admirable one, and not something that should be opposed by default. ARCA is only one of the licensing authorities in the UK, with BOHS and ACAD being the other popular standards. If your agency is not ARCA registered and you do not work with ARCA registered removal firms, you will not need to worry about using the app. However, it may be helpful to familiarise yourself with it in case you ever consider changing roles. Ultimately, the best way to safeguard yourself against the potential for upheaval is to improve your level of training. This will not only provide you with qualifications that will undercut any accusations against you, but will also give you the skill set to more readily demonstrate your abilities, and build up credit with your agency and employers. This is likely to take the form of advanced training specific to asbestos removal, such as ARCA’s Industry Refresher for Operatives course or Use, Inspection and Routine Maintenance of RPE course. Other certifying bodies include UKATA (Asbestos Removal Operative Refresher Training) and the CITB (Asbestos Removal Operative). Asbestos removal continues to be a valued service across the UK and beyond, owing to the huge amount of asbestos that still exists in public and private buildings. As this asbestos degrades, the need for qualified operatives is likely to continue. This may either mean that the app falls by the wayside in the push for adequate numbers, or that the app continues to gain ground as a way to find the most qualified operatives. The best way to ensure a position in the industry is to continue learning and training yourself to the highest possible level. Anyone who is interested in becoming an asbestos operative – or entering the asbestos assessment and removal industries – may want to start with an online asbestos awareness course, helping you to learn about the substance, how to identify it and how to deal with it safely.
As warehouse and logistics operators continue to ramp up to handle the surge in online shopping, mitigating risk becomes ever more critical for a safer workplace, says Paul Roehricht, UK strategic account manager for impact protection specialists, Brandsafe. UK online retail sales have exploded in the wake of Covid 19, which has left high streets and out-of-town malls bereft of shoppers for months. Indeed, the surge in online sales shows no sign of abating. Sales are expected to grow 19% year-on-year, up from pre-pandemic estimates of 11% – rising from a total of £66bn in 2019 to almost £80bn this year. Some retail experts expect that 2020 will see domestic e-commerce trade increase in value by as much as £5.3bn. Supermarket supply chains also continue to see surges in demand, placing additional pressure on their distribution and supply chain links. Indeed, this summer online grocery sales grew 92% year-on-year in the four weeks up to 12 July 2020, increasing at a slightly faster pace than the previous four weeks despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, according to research by Kantar. Realigning operations So, as the UK’s warehouse and logistics industry responds on multiple fronts, realigning operations and investing in additional resources to meet the impact of extra demand, sector operators must work out how to balance the need to protect workers – and limit risk in what can be a hazardous working environment – while maximising productivity. The volume of people working under one roof to shift and store goods and load / unload vehicles means that warehouses and storage facilities can be particularly risky workplaces. Annually, dozens of injuries are reported to the Health & Safety Executive; so they’re clearly dangerous environments, with hazards and risks ranging from slips and trips to people colliding with equipment, racking, corner sections and walkways. It also highlights the critical need for workplace safety if incidents and accidents are to be avoided. In addition, protecting people entering / exiting premises during shift changes must be considered if serious harm or injury is to be prevented. It may be facile to say that safety may sometimes slip under the pressures and strains to realign operations and meet KPIs to accommodate expansion and growth, but under UK law, warehouse operators must observe a duty of care to their workforce. In short, they must identify the health and safety risks each person faces at work – even more so during these current times where additional risk comes as businesses recruit and bring in more resources to meet demand. A duty of care comes into force when a person or group of people do something that might reasonably harm somebody, which includes the possibility of physical injury. In the context of work, duty of care is legally binding on an employer. Simply put, owners and operators must abide by what the law refers to as a standard of reasonable care, and this applies to any work-related matter where injury can occur. It’s important that a site risk assessment should be undertaken to identify critical safety issues. If not, and an employer fails to abide by their obligations, an employee may be able to proceed with a claim of negligence if a problem occurs, with all the associated financial penalties, legal costs and reputational damage. Best practice What should be considered best practice when managing workplace risk? Success in managing risks is based on effective assessment: the process of evaluating the risks to workers from hazards to determine appropriate measures to eliminate, or at least reduce the level of incidents/accidents. An assessment should identify the key health and safety priorities within and around the warehouse so that efforts can be concentrated on these important areas. A thorough risk assessment will involve considering a raft of workplace factors, the dangers they may pose and who might be harmed by them. This work should involve gathering information such as current shift patterns, work arrangements and then evaluating it before an assessment to decide on the most appropriate measures and strategies to cut risk. For example, wheeled pallet trucks, racks, or trolleys can strike warehouse workers; so designated routes should be established wherever possible and marked by safety barriers and railings that are clearly visible. Here, a risk assessment will also identify what other hazards could be present. Vehicle movement in and around warehouses requires careful auditing and constant management to prevent accidents. This requires workplace traffic routes that allow pedestrians and vehicles to circulate safely. Where vehicles and pedestrians use the same traffic route, there should be adequate clearance between them and, if possible, complete separation of vehicles and pedestrians. The racking in aisles must be organised and protected to allow for safe access to goods and movement of FLTs. The aisles should be sufficiently wide, with adequate clearance room overhead. Pedestrians and vehicles must be able to circulate in a safe manner. The areas in which FLTs operate should, if possible, should be clearly separated and marked from the areas where pedestrians are likely to be. One area where workers can be at particular risk is during shift changes. People rushing to get home at the end of the working day, not looking where they are going or accidently knocking colleagues into rails or pylons in their haste to exit the premises, can all lead to injuries and should be considered as part of any risk audit. Good practice around managing the health and safety issues to do with shift-work should see employers carry out a suitable assessment of the associated risks as part of an organisation’s overall health and safety management procedure. You should record and review this periodically and whenever changes to working arrangements are considered or made. As well as a responsibility to the workforce, employers have a responsibility towards visitors, contractors and members of the general public. Everyone needs to be shielded as far as practically possible from accident and injury while on-site, inside and outside of buildings. Health and safety matters are not irreducible. Continuous improvement
Safeguard Europe’s Dryzone high-performance plasters collection is a range of breathable modern plasters designed to stop salt migration and aid drying on damp walls. All four variants in the plaster range have been scientifically developed and tested to provide excellent resistance to hygroscopic salts whilst providing a highly breathable surface. They have been shown to out-perform both competing renovation plasters and sand/cement renders. The pre-blended plasters – Dryzone Damp-Resistant Plaster, Fast-Set Plaster and Hi-Lime Renovation and Hi-Lime Finishing Plaster – form part of the Dryzone System for replastering after Dryzone Damp-Proofing Cream or Dryrod Damp-Proofing Rods have been used to create a remedial damp proof course. The plasters are ideal for replacing existing plaster that has already deteriorated (having already also tackled the cause of the damp); or for use in new-build and conversion projects to limit potential damage caused by minor ingress of dampness during the lifetime of the building. They are also suitable for use in other situations where residual damp will be present, such as after treatment for penetrating damp or as part of a flood repair project. These highly effective Safeguard renovation plasters can be applied to walls while they are still damp and, by controlling salt migration and allowing walls to dry out by evaporation, the walls achieve a higher thermal resistance, reducing the risk of future condensation. New to the range is Dryzone Fast-Set Plaster, which cures in around two hours and is suitable where speed of application is crucial, such as where tenants may have to be decanted or where disruption needs to be minimised. It is also ideal for smaller areas, repairs and dubbing out uneven walls. Like its stablemates, Dryzone Damp-Resistant Plaster has a porous structure which controls salt migration, allows walls to dry out by evaporation. However, it provides enhanced salt protection compared with competing products and is so especially suited for use on highly salt and damp contaminated walls. The Hi-Lime Renovation Plaster and Hi-Lime Finishing Plaster are especially suitable in heritage situations. As, in the presence of rising or penetrating damp, lime plasters can start to fail and are not as breathable, modern hybrid materials such as the Hi-Lime Plaster pairing are far more effective. Tests have shown the hi-lime plasters allow up to 40% more water transmission than a traditional mix of 3:1 sand and lime and up to 240% more than 3:1 sand and cement over a 14-day period. Dryzone Damp-Resistant Plaster and Dryzone Fast-Set Plaster have been shown, also over two weeks, to diffuse over 80% and 70% more water vapour than 3:1 sand and lime, respectively too. Other properties include a low compressive strength, ensuring that the plaster can easily be removed later without damaging underlying brickwork. The Damp-Resistant Plaster, Hi-Lime Renovation Plaster and Hi-Lime Finishing Plaster also offer conformity to the EN998-1 CE Standard as ‘Renovation Mortars’. With a complete range of renovation plasters within the Dryzone System, Safeguard now offers a complete suite of products to deliver – post-damp cause diagnosis – permanent damp proofing solutions, from preventing moisture ingress through to specialist replastering and mould-resistant decorating materials.
