Jan 25 2006
A modern thin-joint blockwork system that enables building projects to be completed far quicker than normal is being exhibited at Interbuild 2006.
The system is set to generate considerable interest at the NEC from April 23-27 when H+H Celcon makes its first appearance for nine years at the UK's premier construction event.
H+H Celcon is exhibiting in the Off-Site Solutions Zone at Interbuild 2006, which is set to be Europe's biggest ever off-site event.
The Thin-Joint system comprises H+H Celcon Aircrete Plus blocks bonded with Celfix, a specially developed thin-joint mortar, explained Ian Exall, the company's marketing director.
He said: "Thin-joint blockwork enables walls to be built very quickly without having to wait the conventional 24 hours for the mortar to set before further loading can be applied.
"Celfix Mortar is cement based and supplied as a dry, pre-mixed powder in 25kg bags. It has been designed to replace the traditional sand and cement mortar.
"It starts to set within just 10 minutes of application and approaches full design strength in just one-two hours.
"This enables blockwork to be built extremely quickly and, in the case of cavity wall construction, independently of the outer leaf, which is normally brickwork."
H+H Celcon's Thin-Joint System is an integral part of a new approach to housebuilding called Rå House (pronounced Raw). Rå House is a combined package of inner leaf blockwork, floors and roof structure built by the same team of Expert Installers to provide the shell of the house in super quick time. H+H Celcon will be showcasing Rå House at Interbuild.
The company is one of the UK's largest manufacturers of aircrete products, which are made from various materials including pulverised ash, cement, lime, aluminium powder and water.
The aircrete blocks are made from the mixture that is blended to create an exceptionally strong and light cementitous matrix with high thermal insulation.
The blocks are lightweight and easy to handle, and can be cut with ordinary hand tools. This allows builders to reduce foundation build-time by as much as 50 per cent, thus making the use of Aircrete extremely cost-effective.
Ian added: "Celcon blocks' combination of strength, moisture resistance and high thermal efficiency makes them the natural choice for the construction of a variety of different wall types.
"Our blocks are light and remarkably easy to work, saving time and money. They can be used for the construction of cavity and solid external walls where they can be easily finished with render, tile hanging and decorative cladding.
"The blocks also provide cost effective and robust solutions for internal partitions as well as party walls."
The Off-Site Solutions Zone within Interbuild 2006 will be more than double its size compared to 2004, when the show last took place, which proves the growing importance of off-site technology within the industry.
Off-site not only reduces time, noise and other product pollution - particularly in sensitive inner city areas, which hold most of the brownfield sites - but also makes better use of skilled labour and speeds up the whole construction process.