January 3, 2024

Nottingham development heralds first BTR success for Blocwork

Nottingham development heralds first BTR success for Blocwork

BLOCWORK, the partnership between Network Rail and property developer bloc Group has completed its first build-to-rent scheme for Grainger plc in Nottingham.   The Barnum – a 348-home scheme situated adjacent to the city’s railway station – was delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, and marks the regeneration of a significant area of

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PermaGroup toasts success with record revenue growth

PermaGroup toasts success with record revenue growth

PERMAGROUP, the parent company of PermaRoof UK LTD, PermaRoof Commercial, and other leading solutions-based brands, is celebrating another successful year, achieving a record 16.4% growth in revenue. Despite challenging industry conditions, the company has gone from strength to strength, and in 2023 launched its latest innovation in rubber technology, Elevate

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Positive outlook for the UK construction industry heading into 2024

Positive outlook for the UK construction industry heading into 2024

Ellis Osborn, Ecommerce Manager at IronmongeryDirect, said:  “As we begin a new year, it’s always useful to look back to reflect on our industry’s challenges and successes, and the latest government data suggests we’re in a positive place moving into 2024.  “While the value of construction output fell slightly (0.5%)

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Nationwide Platforms’ IPAF trainee programme tackles industry skills gap

Nationwide Platforms’ IPAF trainee programme tackles industry skills gap

Leading UK powered access provider Nationwide Platforms has seen the second cohort of trainers graduate from its new IPAF trainee programme. Currently holding a 100% pass rate, the programme is designed to close the trainer skills gap and encourage younger people to become certified instructors.  Jessica Taylor, Jennifer Roddis, Paulina

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RLB global appointment to drive growth in strategic services

RLB global appointment to drive growth in strategic services

With a focus on strategic service development, RLB Partner Andrew Fettes-Brown has been appointed to RLB’s Global Board with effect from 1 January 2024.  Andrew, who leads RLB’s data centres sector for Europe, will bring focus to RLB’s service transformation programme providing leadership, guidance and oversight in the development and

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CHAS becomes “Veriforce CHAS”

CHAS becomes “Veriforce CHAS”

Following the acquisition of CHAS by Veriforce in January 2023, CHAS has announced its company brand name will become ‘Veriforce CHAS’, reflecting its position as a key part of the Veriforce group.   The products and services of Veriforce CHAS, including its accreditation offerings and certification, will continue to be known as ‘CHAS’. 

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DITRA-HEAT goes the distance on under tile warmth

DITRA-HEAT goes the distance on under tile warmth

Product Manager for Schlüter®-Systems, Andrew Saxon, offers advice on best practice when planning and installing electric underfloor heating systems. Right back to Roman times, few things in the built environment can have delivered such a sense of comfort – and even luxury – as underfloor heating; yet the technology remains

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Latest Issue

BDC 321 : Oct 2024

January 3, 2024

Nottingham development heralds first BTR success for Blocwork

Nottingham development heralds first BTR success for Blocwork

BLOCWORK, the partnership between Network Rail and property developer bloc Group has completed its first build-to-rent scheme for Grainger plc in Nottingham.   The Barnum – a 348-home scheme situated adjacent to the city’s railway station – was delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, the UK’s largest listed residential landlord, and marks the regeneration of a significant area of brownfield land.  The scheme is the first delivered in partnership between blocwork and Grainger, and follows the recent announcement that they will partner again with the potential to deliver some 2,000 new purpose-built BTR homes across sites in major cities across the UK.  Richard Thomas, development director at bloc Group, said: “blocwork was created with the aim of repurposing railway land and buildings into sustainable long-term assets, and The Barnum has been a great project to kick the partnership off.  “As well as the partnership with Network Rail, we’ve worked very closely with Grainger and the contractor Graham to create a development that not only brings much-needed new homes to Nottingham, but also brings life to an area of the city that had previously been restricted to railway infrastructure.”  blocwork specialises in bringing forward sites owned by Network Rail, making use of under-used land and buildings adjacent to railway infrastructure.  Robin Dobson, group property director at Network Rail said: “Combining Network Rail’s infrastructure experience with the private sector development expertise of bloc Group has proved to be a fruitful partnership, which is clear by the successful launch of The Barnum.   “Delivering developments through Partnerships like blocwork are important for Network Rail Property as we look to build housing and mixed-use regeneration across our brownfield estate in a way that can be accelerated and scaled across our portfolio.”  blocwork is one of several partnerships bloc Group is undertaking, with the aim of sustainably and sensitively regenerating challenging sites for residential development. Alongside the work it is doing with Network Rail, bloc Group has a long-term partnership with the Canal & River Trust, which has delivered hundreds of new homes while providing funds for the upkeep of the nation’s historic rivers and canals.  Richard said: “Our success has been down to our partnership approach with occupiers, property and infrastructure owners. By working closely with the right partners, we can deliver impactful developments that maximise economic and social value from sites that were previously underperforming or underutilised.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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PermaGroup toasts success with record revenue growth

PermaGroup toasts success with record revenue growth

PERMAGROUP, the parent company of PermaRoof UK LTD, PermaRoof Commercial, and other leading solutions-based brands, is celebrating another successful year, achieving a record 16.4% growth in revenue. Despite challenging industry conditions, the company has gone from strength to strength, and in 2023 launched its latest innovation in rubber technology, Elevate RubberGuard SA, while a further two new products aimed at the commercial roofing market will be launched this month. PermaGroup also strengthened its internal team throughout the course of the year with eight new recruits, including Duncan Kirkwood, who will take on the position of managing director full time from 2024, following Adrian Buttress’ 23 years in the role. Adrian Buttress said: “It’s been another fantastic year for us at PermaGroup, and we’ve enjoyed a number of really exciting developments in the company. Not only have we seen record revenue growth, but we’ve broadened our product range, maintained our impeccable staff retention record, and created an incredibly strong management team to drive the business forward. “We’ve also continued to maintain strong working relationships with all of our clients despite material shortages and challenges in the industry, which is a real triumph.” In 2023, PermaRoof UK LTD became one of the first distributors in the industry to receive membership into the Single Ply Roofing Association (SPRA), strengthening its position in raising industry standards and as a leader in the field. The company had to undergo a thorough inspection of its office and warehouse, as well as prove its compliance with the SPRA Quality Charter in order to receive membership, which has been one of the first initiatives pushed forward by Duncan. Duncan Kirkwood said: “2024 is already shaping up to be another successful year. We’re welcoming two new senior recruits to help build our middle management team and are looking forward to seeing our improved CRM system assist us with the strong growth we’re predicting for the business over the next few years, so we can’t wait to see what the future holds. I’d like to thank the whole team for their continued hard work in making PermaGroup such a huge success and I’m eager to lead the group forward from the new year, having taken over the reins from Adrian.”

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Second and third units of landmark industrial and logistics hub reach completion

Second and third units of landmark industrial and logistics hub reach completion

Works have now completed for Units 2 and 3, Omega West,  Omega Business Park in Warrington delivered by McLaren Construction Midlands and North. Unit 2, developed by Omega St Helens Limited and managed by Miller Developments with Barings as  Funder, is currently being marketed to potential end users and comprises a portal steel frame building, with a single-storey office block and an extensive warehouse, the overall area of which is 300,000 sq. ft. Externally, a concrete service yard is situated to the north of the building and carparking for staff is located at the east elevation. Unit 3, funded by Aviva Life 7 Pensions UK Limited and now let to Iceland Foods Limited, is a large 510,000 sq. ft. cross dock distribution centre with 106No dock doors, two transport hubs, a Vehicle Maintenance Unit and extensive office space over two floors.  The unit has provision for frozen, chilled and ambient storage within the building which will be installed as part of the upcoming Iceland fit out works. Starting in November 2022, construction works for Unit 2 (£22m) and Unit 3 (£40m), completed in October 2023. Both units have achieved a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent,’ fitting in with net zero targets, and include EV charging, 10% roof lights to warehouse and a score of 45/45 in the most recent Considerate Constructor’s audit. The McLaren Construction Midlands and North team overcame challenges during the build of Unit 2, including being in close proximity to existing overhead Scottish Power lines, meaning the Northwest corner of the build was constructed under strict controls. Exclusion limits meant that the erection of the steel frame and delivery needed to be extensively planned before execution. The challenges faced on Unit 3 included combatting poor ground conditions, managing, and removing asbestos found in the ground and completing numerous variations to the contract to meet Iceland Foods requirements, all within the original programme period. Providing social value-added opportunities, the contractor invited work experience candidates to join the Omega team, including 3No local trainees, a 1No trainee administrator, a 1No trainee site manager, alongside employing locally with the appointment of document controller, Rebekah Morris, and community and supply chain coordinator, Sarah Caine. Community workshops were also carried out during the build, with the involvement of local councils and charities and alongside this, McLaren Construction sponsored Martin Murray’s ThinkFAST academy to provide support and development for young people through the discipline and ethos of boxing. Teaming up with Miller Developments, £30,000 was donated to the St Helens-based Martin Murray Academy to help hard-to-reach young people with high quality social support and development through the ThinkFAST programme. Gary Cramp, managing director of McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said: “We’re pleased with the completion of the second and third units of this pivotal logistics scheme and our teams have worked hard to deliver a high-quality end product. “Alongside the builds, we’ve worked with the local community to provide a range of social value-added opportunities, including supporting the fantastic work of Martin Murray’s ThinkFAST programme.” David Milloy, a Director of Omega St Helens Limited and Managing Director of Miller Developments said: “This was the second project we appointed McLaren Construction to build.  The quality was first class and Gary’s team were both helpful and accommodating throughout.”

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Veriforce CHAS urges businesses to make supporting good mental health their New Year's Resolution

Veriforce CHAS urges businesses to make supporting good mental health their New Year’s Resolution

Veriforce CHAS, the supply chain risk management expert, is encouraging employers to make a habit of addressing mental health in 2024 as new figures indicate that stress, depression or anxiety now account for almost half (49%) of all cases of work-related ill health. According to the latest data from the HSE, during the 2022/23 period, approximately 875,000 workers experienced work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, resulting in 2,590 cases per 100,000 workers and an estimated loss of 17.1 million working days. Underscoring the need for businesses to proactively address mental health concerns in 2024, Veriforce CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon comments: “The latest HSE statistics on workplace ill health shows mental health issues continue to loom large,  which is why we are encouraging businesses to make a habit of addressing mental health in the coming year.  “We urge businesses who haven’t already done so to sign the Causeway mental health pledge and commit to promoting good mental health as a routine part of their business operations.”  The good news is that there are a range of free workplace mental health resources that can support businesses in this aim. Find out more in the Veriforce CHAS FREE Mental Health Resources Guide for Businesses.  Prepare for new standard Taking action around mental health now will help businesses prepare for a future where mental health assessments become a standard component of the prequalification process.  Veriforce CHAS is working to contribute to this shift by launching a dedicated mental health accreditation in 2024. This initiative aims to set benchmarks for how businesses and their supply chains address mental health, fostering a healthier and more supportive work environment. Ian adds: “At Veriforce CHAS, we have a long history of setting compliance benchmarks and raising health & safety standards, and we are resolved to use this influence to drive improvements in workplace mental health in 2024 and beyond.”   Find out more about CHAS at: http://www.chas.co.uk/ or call 0345 521 9111.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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Positive outlook for the UK construction industry heading into 2024

Positive outlook for the UK construction industry heading into 2024

Ellis Osborn, Ecommerce Manager at IronmongeryDirect, said:  “As we begin a new year, it’s always useful to look back to reflect on our industry’s challenges and successes, and the latest government data suggests we’re in a positive place moving into 2024.  “While the value of construction output fell slightly (0.5%) in October to £15,485m, this was largely due to planned work being delayed by bad weather, and the figure is still 1% up compared to the same month last year.  “The number of workers in the sector has also risen over the last 12 months, and now stands at 2.25m, which is 36,000 more than in 2022, representing a 1.6% increase.  “The biggest increase in workforce was seen in the West Midlands, where there are now 29% more employees. The South East takes second place, with a 10% rise, and remains the most popular place for construction workers, with 350,000 in total.  “Interestingly, a significant proportion of the growth has been seen in the self-employed section of the industry. At 310,000, the current number is the highest it’s been for four years, and is 22% higher than it was 12 months ago. The amount of female self-employed workers has doubled to 24,000.  “With vacancies dropping – they’re currently 28% lower than at this stage in 2022 – this suggests that companies feel confident and have recruited for the positions they need ahead of the new year.  “We hope that everyone in our industry can have a well-deserved break over the festive period, and return in 2024 to a really positive situation.”  For more information about IronmongeryDirect, visit: https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/   

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Nationwide Platforms’ IPAF trainee programme tackles industry skills gap

Nationwide Platforms’ IPAF trainee programme tackles industry skills gap

Leading UK powered access provider Nationwide Platforms has seen the second cohort of trainers graduate from its new IPAF trainee programme. Currently holding a 100% pass rate, the programme is designed to close the trainer skills gap and encourage younger people to become certified instructors.  Jessica Taylor, Jennifer Roddis, Paulina Stempnakowska, Robbie Hayhurst and Matt Dawson were the latest five participants to graduate. Previously, prospective trainers had to have a minimum of three years of operator experience before advancing to training others. However, this has resulted in many trainers retiring with no replacement, creating a subsequent skills gap. Designed and created by Nationwide Platforms’ Operational Training Manager Brian Sneddon and Senior IPAF Instructor Neil Laws in partnership with the International Powered Access Federation, (IPAF), the new programme accelerates the education process through a mix of face-to-face classes, on the job training and complimentary e-learning, over an intensive 10-15 week course. The course covers all aspects of operation, including an expected minimum of 150 operating hours, as well as administration and trainer management. The programme is tail ended by an intensive two-week assessment period that vigorously tests applicants’ knowledge and practical skills. Jessica, Jennifer, Paulina, Robbie and Matt had to travel to different locations to gain experience and knowledge from a variety of Nationwide Platforms depots. 23-year-old Jessica, from Teesside, came from an agricultural background and was used to operating machinery but lacked the management skills required to be a trainer. The course equipped her with the knowledge and tools to train others to match her operational experience. She commented, “The jump from operator to instructor is significant. It was eye-opening to learn how much I didn’t know, but the course quickly filled the gaps in my knowledge. I had the most amazing experience, with some great people who were always there to offer support. I would highly recommend this course to everyone.” Jennifer, 22, hailing from Hereford, previously worked on farms and construction sites, much like Jessica. Similarly adept at operating machinery, Jennifer found the IT side of the training the most challenging but the programme gave her all the support she required. She said, “Nationwide Platforms were extremely helpful, offering hands-on guidance. All the instructors were brilliant and went the extra mile to help us out. It could be extremely challenging having a great deal of information to absorb and memorise. However, as you progress, the wealth of technical information and safety information start to seep into the practical, hands-on training. I plan to take forward all I’ve learnt and do further training.” Paulina, mid-30’s and based in Leicester, was inspired by previous applicant Kelly-Ann Macgillivray to apply for the course. As a member of Nationwide Platforms’ fleet management team, Paulina had plenty of management and administration experience but far less hands-on operative knowledge. She said, “I saw how much Kelly-Ann benefited from doing this course, so when the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate. It’s been a tough but rewarding journey and I couldn’t have done it without the wonderful support of the tutors and other participants. One challenge I faced was the pronunciation of certain English words, as it’s my second language. Communication is vital when training other operatives, so I had to make sure my pronunciation was clear and correct. I’m now in a learning groove, and I’m keen to continue gaining more qualifications.” Robbie, 39, from Liverpool, previously worked as a regional driver within Nationwide Platforms and even before the IPAF programme came out had expressed interest in becoming an instructor. His goal now he has qualified is to upskill within the training department as much as possible. Matt, 57, from St Helens, has almost three decades experience as an SV (Specialist Vehicles) operator for Nationwide Platforms. Matt has extensive knowledge with the kit and has travelled the country operating the largest machines on prestigious projects. Now he’s qualified, he hopes to learn as much as possible with the training department. Now fully rounded trainers, the cohort are looking forward to advancing their careers with Nationwide Platforms, through further training and career development.   Brian Sneddon said, “This course is a fantastic way to build your skill set in a safe and supportive environment. It’s been wonderful having a new cohort who embody the talented people we work with, displaying amazing passion and commitment to their education. “We couldn’t have done this without the support of Neil Laws, who continues to take this course from strength to strength, giving up much of his personal time to provide a high-quality training experience for the participants. I can’t wait to see more cohorts come through the programme and encourage anyone looking for a new career path or to continue their own development to apply.” As Nationwide Platforms continues to finetune the course, applications for the next intake are currently open to internal and external applicants to increase the number of IPAF certified trainers. For more information on the IPAF training programme visit: https://training.nationwideplatforms.co.uk/en-gb/ipaf-training-courses

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Best year yet for Cruden’s festive food bank appeal as 7 tonnes of food items donated for people in need this winter

Best year yet for Cruden’s festive food bank appeal as 7 tonnes of food items donated for people in need this winter

With Christmas fast approaching, staff, contacts and friends of the Cruden Group have come together to gather much-needed donations for local communities in Scotland. For the fourth year, the award-winning housebuilder has been encouraging those across its central belt operations to spread some joy by gifting food items and cash donations for those who need a little extra help this festive period. In partnership with UK charity, The Trussell Trust, a total of 8,000 food and household items were collected and distributed to six food banks across Airdrie, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Gorebridge and Glasgow last week.  Cruden’s winter appeal has also raised a fantastic cash donation of almost £11,000 for The Trussell Trust, which will be used to purchase more day-to-day necessities for vulnerable people. £5000 of the total amount raised has been donated by Cruden’s linked charitable trust, The Cruden Foundation.  Colin Kennedy, Construction Director of Cruden, said: “Bringing our team together to support local people has once again brought a heartwarming end to the year. We’re proud to be working with The Trussell Trust for the fourth consecutive year to give back to our communities.  “Despite challenging conditions for everyone, our food bank appeal has received an overwhelmingly generous level of support and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who has shown their kindness and donated. The solidarity of our staff and valued contacts, and their dedication to helping others, never ceases to amaze me. We’ve achieved our best results yet and I hope our donations help bring a smile to many local faces this year .”   Emma Revie, Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust said: “Thank you to the team at Cruden Group for their incredible support. This winter is expected to be the toughest yet, with food banks in our network distributing more than 1 million parcels between December and February which equates to one every eight seconds. Food bank teams are working tirelessly to ensure help continues to be available, but ultimately, no-one in the UK should need to turn to a food bank as all of us should have enough money for the essentials. “The support of Cruden Group will help food banks within our network continue to provide emergency support, while we work together in the long term to build a country without the need for food banks. Thank you so much.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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RLB global appointment to drive growth in strategic services

RLB global appointment to drive growth in strategic services

With a focus on strategic service development, RLB Partner Andrew Fettes-Brown has been appointed to RLB’s Global Board with effect from 1 January 2024.  Andrew, who leads RLB’s data centres sector for Europe, will bring focus to RLB’s service transformation programme providing leadership, guidance and oversight in the development and implementation of services worldwide across the key areas including sustainability and digital transformation.    “To ensure we are providing the best solutions to our clients, we need to understand, embrace and integrate change in both the market and technology,” says Andrew Fettes-Brown. “Leading this work with colleagues from across the global practice will play a critical role in aligning our global service offerings with evolving market demands and technological advancements. I am excited to be leading this important work with my Global Board colleagues to drive the change our clients and industry needs to answer the questions of a modern property and construction industry into the future.”  Russell Lloyd, current Global Board Director and RLB UK’s Head of Services, stepped down from the Global Board as of 31 December 2023. Russell, who has been part of the RLB team for over 30 years, will continue to work on key projects but will relinquish part of his senior management responsibilities.  Andrew Reynolds, Global Chair for RLB and Chief Executive of RLB UK and Europe, comments, “First, I want to recognise the extraordinary insight, work and commitment Russell has given to RLB’s global team over the time he has served as a Global Board Director. His experience and expertise within the built environment and strategic ability to align services on a global platform have been invaluable to the business. Thank you, Russell.   Second, I’d like to extend a welcome from all my Global Board colleagues to Andrew Fettes-Brown whose capability I know well in his work across the UK and Europe. Andrew will bring a fresh perspective and strong leadership to support the next stage of RLB’s global strategic service journey.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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CHAS becomes “Veriforce CHAS”

CHAS becomes “Veriforce CHAS”

Following the acquisition of CHAS by Veriforce in January 2023, CHAS has announced its company brand name will become ‘Veriforce CHAS’, reflecting its position as a key part of the Veriforce group.   The products and services of Veriforce CHAS, including its accreditation offerings and certification, will continue to be known as ‘CHAS’.  Being part of Veriforce enhances CHAS’s stability and market impact, enabling CHAS to expand its reach and influence and build on its position as the UK market leader in risk prevention, compliance and supply chain management.  Veriforce CHAS will continue to focus on delivering award-winning customer service while developing innovative products and services that help buyers, suppliers, and contractors thrive in an ever-changing market. This will include assisting customers in managing and mitigating risk across their supply chains in areas including health and safety, equal opportunities, diversity and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.  As CHAS has done for 25 years, notably as a co-founder and pioneer of the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) and the Common Assessment Standard, Veriforce CHAS will remain at the forefront of setting compliance benchmarks that improve supply chain risk management standards. Meanwhile, contractors and suppliers will be able to continue to rely on Veriforce CHAS to help them comply with complex regulations and to provide recognised accreditations quickly, easily and cost-effectively. Commenting on the name change, Veriforce CHAS Managing Director Ian McKinnon says: “We are extremely proud to become an increasingly integral part of the Veriforce family during an exciting period for both our business and our customers.  “The strength of Veriforce’s global experience will allow us to provide even more market-leading products and services. At the same time, it was important to us and our customers that the CHAS name, widely respected across industry and seen on 10s of thousands of vans all over the UK, was retained. Plus we will continue to maintain the outstanding customer service for which Veriforce CHAS is renowned.”   CEO of Veriforce Colby Lane adds: “CHAS has a formidable reputation in the UK as a leader in supply change risk management and pioneer in setting compliance benchmarks.  “We are excited to bring the Veriforce brand alongside CHAS’s very strong name and work together to deliver our mission to make the world of work a safer place for businesses, employees and the public.”   Find out more at: http://www.chas.co.uk/ or call 0345 521 9111.

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DITRA-HEAT goes the distance on under tile warmth

DITRA-HEAT goes the distance on under tile warmth

Product Manager for Schlüter®-Systems, Andrew Saxon, offers advice on best practice when planning and installing electric underfloor heating systems. Right back to Roman times, few things in the built environment can have delivered such a sense of comfort – and even luxury – as underfloor heating; yet the technology remains potentially problematic, with the quality of installation being pivotal to both the performance and the likely overall lifespan of the system. In many properties, the space heating is still primarily delivered via conventional radiators, but in refurbishment as well as new-build situations, electric underfloor heating systems are widely regarded as offering a speedy, economic and convenient solution for upgrading the comfort in bathrooms, particularly in the context of under tile installations.  Instead of a cold and unwelcoming surface beneath bare feet, a correctly specified electric system can deliver controllable warmth, not just from below, but also creating a regulated temperature within the room-space itself. The more advanced and adaptable systems can further be incorporated behind tiled walls. Planning the installation is crucial, especially in larger bathrooms or sports changing rooms as even considering modern standards of insulation, the north side is often measurably colder than the south; with zoning being the obvious answer.  As with the pipe runs to hydronic systems, the designer and contractor must create separate cable circuits, linking back to individual thermostats. Significantly, the two zones may well be of different sizes, and not necessarily feature the same number of cables. From a purely practical perspective, it is difficult to connect more than two heating cables into each thermostat, which is why Schlüter®-Systems DITRA-HEAT offers specifiers/customers a selection of 17 different cable lengths for the 240 Volt circuits – rising from 4.6 up to 244 linear metres to address areas from 1.1 m2 to 22.7 m2.  They will offer an output of 136 W/ m2, with an actual limit on capacity of 3,600 Watts that can run from one thermostat. It is relevant here to highlight an issue common to many electrical underfloor heating systems, where the transition between the hot cable which delivers warmth to the floor build-up, and the cold stretch which connects to the thermostat, rely on a soldered connection. Unfortunately, such connections are inherently brittle and subject to failing; even months or years after the installation is complete. By contrast, the DITRA-HEAT cables, launched nearly a decade ago and enjoying a successful track record amongst both heating engineers and end users, feature a seamless transition between cold and hot legs.  The cold leg is 4 metres long and employs a very thin strand wound around it, which reduces the electrical resistance to minimise the heat output generated; and this negates any problems of overheating where the connection is made to the thermostat.  Also, while the competition tends to segment their hot cables down into shorter – generally 60cm sections – the DITRA-HEAT version contains multiple very fine, but strong strands which extend along the full length. And as an integrated system solution, DITRA-HEAT’s 4mm diameter cables are laid within a studded, fleece backed membrane, which serves as both an insulating carrier and a decoupling layer to help distribute stresses within the build-up.  For floors, the cables are laid within every third row of studs, and every two behind wall tiling.   While Schlüter®-Systems is justifiably confident in the design and robustness of its heating cables, the company always recommends that the installer runs two temperature sensors from the chosen position within the floor circuit, back to the wall, as there is always a possibility of one failing during the lifetime of the installation.  In such a situation, it is then a simple matter to disconnect the first sensor from the thermostat and wire in the ‘spare’. Finally, Schlüter®-Systems recommends three stages of testing before you tile: as each zone is laid, then during spreading of tile adhesive to guard against damage caused by pushing the cable down with a trowel, and after the tiles are installed. Schlüter®-Systems continues to develop the DITRA-HEAT system, with the latest sophistication being the ability to control the heating output via a home’s Alexa, as well as using the manufacturer’s App, or via conventional controls.  For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

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