Apr 5 2005
Hanson, the UK's largest brick and block manufacturer, is tackling the main areas of criticism against traditional building methods - speed and quality of build - head on by developing its own unique answers to Modern Methods of Construction.
Hanson will demonstrate a range of new systems that combine traditional build with modern processes, at OFFSITE2005 (see www.offsite2005.com) on 6-9 June at BRE, Watford.
'We've realised that to compete, particularly in the housing market, we must find ways of speeding up the construction process and guaranteeing quality build,' says Paul Rogatzki, Head of Product Development for Hanson. 'But we also wanted to capitalise on what has made traditional build so successful, such as the ability to meet and exceed current and future Building Regulations. 'By bringing the bricklaying process into the factory environment, we can build standardised, single storey cavity walls in all weathers,' says Rogatzki. 'Operatives work in a safer environment with more regulated work patterns and quality control.'
Hanson is constructing a three-storey building, including a basement, at OFFSITE2005 to showcase its:
- standardised cavity wall panels (in thin joint block)
- Wonderwall - an insulated composite panel system with slip brick fixings
- Jet Floor flooring system - pre-stressed T beams filled with EPS
- twin-wall system for basement construction using precast cavity walls that resist ground pressure
- box culvert - used as cellar, garage, storage - existing box culvert system traditionally used for diverting rivers and water supplies.
Hanson is confident that social housing providers and developers will like what they are offering - quicker build times, quality workmanship and building methods and materials that are tried and tested and can meet the future demands of the building regulations. Hanson's reliance on traditional building materials should also be a winner with end users who consistently put traditional build houses as their preferred home in MORI conducted polls.