A solar energy park is due to be developed by Audi in partnership with energy firm E.ON on the roofs of two logistics centres of its plant in Győr in Hungary, which covers about 160,000 square meters. The construction of the roof system will start in August 2019, while the renewable
Regardless of whether the building is a commercial one or a house with a unique flat roof, most people know that flat roofs require more maintenance than standard pitched roofs. While it can be easier to build, the flat roof requires more inspections and maintenance to ensure everything functions correctly.
Donaldson Timber Engineering (DTE), the manufacturer of structural timber components, has expanded its offering with the acquisition of Cambridge Roof Truss. The strategic acquisition will further supplement its existing product offering across Southern and Midlands regions of the UK. “The acquisition of Cambridge Roof Truss further extends our reach in
Fire tests have been conducted by Alumasc Roofing Systems on its market leading Derbigum high performance bituminous membrane warm roof system. This decision follows on recent events in the UK that highlighted the importance of being compliant with up to date and relevant fire test standards. Derbigum Mineral and Derbigum
The construction industry faces many challenges. One of these is around delivering projects on time and on budget. Refurbishment projects is one area where accurately predicting cost and time is notoriously difficult as all too often unforeseen factors come into play when a project starts, typically as a result of
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
A solar energy park is due to be developed by Audi in partnership with energy firm E.ON on the roofs of two logistics centres of its plant in Győr in Hungary, which covers about 160,000 square meters. The construction of the roof system will start in August 2019, while the renewable energy generation will start at the beginning of next year. “We are committed to the economical use of resources and therefore want to keep the environmental impact of our production as low as possible. Approximately 70 percent of Audi Hungaria’s heat requirements are already covered by climate-neutral, geothermal energy. Our goal is to have completely CO2-neutral plant operation in the future. With the construction of the solar-cell park, we are now taking a further step to achieve this in terms of power supply,” said Achim Heinfling, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi Hungaria. Audi will be providing the roof areas of the two 80,000 square meters logistics centers for the construction of the solar energy park, as part of the joint project with E.ON Hungaria. From its part E.ON will build and put the park into operation, consisting of 35,000 solar cells, and will continue to operate it, with an annual output of more than 9.5 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity. This corresponds to the annual energy requirements of 5,000 households. Thanks to green electricity from regenerative sources, about 6,000 tons less carbon dioxide will be released into the air. “Our company is committed to solutions supporting a sustainable future. The widespread use of solar energy is an integral part of this endeavor. We are pleased that E.ON has gained Audi Hungaria’s trust and a new, nearly 25-year partnership has started between the two companies,” added Zsolt Jamniczky, E.ON Hungaria’s Board member.
Regardless of whether the building is a commercial one or a house with a unique flat roof, most people know that flat roofs require more maintenance than standard pitched roofs. While it can be easier to build, the flat roof requires more inspections and maintenance to ensure everything functions correctly. The most difficult element about a flat roof is knowing when to replace the roof or if it requires a few repairs. This article will provide information on the most common types of flat roof repairs what you need to know. 1: Alligatoring One of the most common indicators that a flat roof needs to be replaced is the maintenance issue known as alligatoring. Alligatoring refers to the case when the asphalt used to build the roof has aged and lost elasticity resulting in a bubble and crack effect – similar to the skin of an alligator. Sadly, this means that the flat roof’s asphalt has become damaged to a state of no repair and will require replacement. Not only are we focused on putting in a good roofing solution that’s going to make clients happy, but we also take the time to help after the job is done. We take pride in the work being completed and therefore want clients to understand how to make sure the quality does not drop in the long-term. Roofers Wirral 2: Moisture And Leakage Another highly common issue experienced by properties with flat roofs is the leakage and lingering moisture. Fortunately, these problems can be dealt with effectively as long as one remains aware of them. As with all roofs, a flat roof develops leaks; however, as it is flat, the water does not have any place to go except straight down. This means the moisture will enter the roof and result in potential fungus and mould. One of the best ways to deal with moisture and leaks on a flat roof is by having it regularly inspected. Each time to you find an issue, repair and maintain the problem immediately. 3: A Buckle In Membrane The majority of flat roofs with asphalt are built in a similar way to pitched roofs because they have an asphalt-soaked membrane, and this membrane is spread across the top of the building. However, unlike the pitched roofs, the membrane of the flat roof is in a single piece and placed along the roof. This means that as time progresses the roof will settle and shift along with the property structure. Any excessive movement can result in buckling in the asphalt membrane, which can lead to breaks in the roof. A roof that buckles is not secure to live under and can lead to future problems. This is why it is best to have the membrane replaced as soon as it shows any buckling. 4: Pooling Water Due to the roof being flat there is nowhere for moisture to run when it rains. Moreover, when the house settles the roof can shift slightly, meaning it may not be as level as it was originally. This can cause water to pool in dips and divots. While the majority of materials are manufactured to hold up the water, the pools must be drained as soon as possible and check that the water does not seep into the lower layers of the roof. If pooling lingers, it is likely to deteriorate the exterior of the roof; thus shortening the lifetime of the roof. 5: Cracking Roof Flat roofs have a tendency for pressure to be exerted on them because they are not slanted. In some cases, the pressure can be built up as if the stress and pressure can be excessive. It can cause the roof to crack, and if it does crack you should contact a professional immediately. In addition, exposing the house to precipitation can result in roof cracking. This shows that the roof is structurally compromised and it is time for a new one. The majority of roofing work is carried out while the structure below is still occupied. That’s why we schedule and conduct our work with the utmost flexibility to suit your specific needs. We want to do our jobs while causing the minimum amount of disruption in your day-to-day life. Roofers Chester 6: Flashing As with various roofing materials, the asphalt flat roof tends to expand and contract with changing weather and temperatures. As time progresses, this continued expansion and contraction can result in flashing to pull away from the corners and edges of the roof; thereby, resulting in leaks and moisture being trapped in the roof. The best method of dealing with this issue is by inspecting and maintaining the roof regularly. When the leaks are significant or you have deterioration in the flashing, you will be required to replace the roof. If you have questions regarding the condition of the roof, or you think it is time to have the roof inspected, you should contact a roofing professional.
Donaldson Timber Engineering (DTE), the manufacturer of structural timber components, has expanded its offering with the acquisition of Cambridge Roof Truss. The strategic acquisition will further supplement its existing product offering across Southern and Midlands regions of the UK. “The acquisition of Cambridge Roof Truss further extends our reach in the UK, meaning wherever our customers are, we are on their doorstep; providing the best in quality and local service with a national distribution network. It’s a fantastic business, and we’re extremely pleased to be bringing the full team into the DTE family,” said Jonathan Fellingham, Managing Director of DTE. Fife-based DTE is the UK’s largest and longest established manufacturer of roof trusses, engineered joists, beams and spandrel panels, with over 30 years’ experience. Adding to the company’s eight manufacturing sites across the UK, this acquisition provides DTE with a unique national distribution network. Cambridge Roof Truss Limited (CRTL) was established in 2014 and it designs, manufactures and supplies roof trusses, joists and spandrel panels to leading housebuilders and construction companies in the UK. The company has built a reputation for being a marketing-led, sales driven business with a renowned customer service ethos. “I am very proud of the reputation we have built, and for putting our customers and the service we provide to them at our core. By joining forces with DTE, we can offer a broader set of manufacturing capabilities with the resource and operational experience necessary to fully support our customers,” said Cambridge Roof Truss Managing Director, Jack McMinn. There will be no changes for clients or suppliers of CRTL.
Fire tests have been conducted by Alumasc Roofing Systems on its market leading Derbigum high performance bituminous membrane warm roof system. This decision follows on recent events in the UK that highlighted the importance of being compliant with up to date and relevant fire test standards. Derbigum Mineral and Derbigum Black full warm roof built up systems, such as primer, vapour barrier, adhesive, insulation, underlay and Derbigum cap sheets, all underwent rigorous testing to CEN/TS 1187:2012 and achieved the highest grade in fire safety available in the UK. ENV1187 Test 4 is a test method that determines the performance of flat roofs to external fire exposure by replicating exposure to burning brands, wind and supplementary radiant heat. Conducting the tests were Exova Warringtonfire Gent, who proved the applicability of original Derbigum fire rating tests and also confirmed the compliance of the current warm roof build-up using the latest BBA Certificated Derbigum system. Alumasc has previously received top fire ratings to the previous standard on these products; therefore the company grabbed the initiative to obtain the fire rating of its latest systems, in anticipation of tighter regulations governing the fire resistance of construction products. The certification is the evidence that Alumasc thrives in quality, performance and reliability, as well as helping the company to offer customers unrivalled peace of mind when utilising ist products, taking all the necessary steps to facilitate that. Specifying certificated products, systems and services in support of fire safety and security of any facility demonstrates due diligence and shows consideration for those that invest, develop, design, manage and use Alumasc’s Roofing Systems. Legislation and the requirement for compliance to enter new markets has never been tougher and Alumasc will strive to develop and test their products to guarantee it provides the highest levels of safety to not only customers but inhabitants and users of the buildings its products help to protect.
The construction industry faces many challenges. One of these is around delivering projects on time and on budget. Refurbishment projects is one area where accurately predicting cost and time is notoriously difficult as all too often unforeseen factors come into play when a project starts, typically as a result of stripping away part of the building and finding something unexpected. Thermal imaging is one area where technology is helping to overcome this and is now a key part of Sika roof refurbishment offering. Infrared thermography (IRT) and thermal imaging technology detect radiation in the long-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 9,000–14,000 nanometers or 9–14 µm). This produces an image called a thermogram. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects with a temperature above absolute zero, thermography makes it possible to see an environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature. Therefore, thermography allows you to see variations in temperature. When viewed through a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds. Thermography has a long history, but its use has increased dramatically with the commercial and industrial applications of the past fifty years. Typical uses include firefighters who use thermography to see through smoke, to find people and to localise the base of a fire. Maintenance technicians use thermography to locate overheating joints and sections of power lines, which are a sign of impending failure. In the construction industry it has been traditionally used to identify heat leaks in faulty thermal insulation and to improve the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning units. Sika has been using thermal imaging technology since 2014. Investment in the technology was driven by the Sales Management Team as a way of adding value to clients. Sika has also invested in me as an individual to become a certified Level 1 thermographer, with training conducted by the world renowned Infrared Training Centre (ITC).
