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Tensar International’s newly developed RE500 series of uniaxial geogrids have been awarded British Board of Agrément Certification* for roads, bridge abutments, retaining walls, slopes and embankments in UK highway construction. RE500 uniaxial geogrids show significant long term strength improvements to create potentially lower cost structures for clients.

“Independent BBA endorsement of our RE500 uniaxial geogrid performance data provides important assurance to specifiers, contractors and clients in the UK, Europe and throughout Africa and Asia,” comments Peter Wills, Tensar Structural Solutions Group Manager.

“With the RE500, the long term design strength has been improved by up to 17% compared with our existing uniaxial geogrids, with more efficient use of polymer. There is now the potential to further reduce the cost of soil structures for our customers.

“Our investment in continuous geogrid development has again delivered improved benefits, and the validity of the performance data we use to make our design recommendations has been supported by an internationally recognised third party.”

The six new RE500 grades will now be offered to replace four existing grades of Tensar uniaxial grids (40RE, 55RE, 80RE and 120RE ), covering a greater range of performance specification requirements. Tensar International’s uniaxial geogrids are used within Tensartech earth retaining systems for retaining walls, bridge abutments, thick Geocell foundation mattresses and steep slopes. These systems are widely used on a range of construction applications including major road and rail infrastructure schemes.

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BT has placed an initial order to install Sabien's M2G intelligent boiler load optimisation control. This first phase roll-out follows highly successful pilots of the M2G which delivered savings in energy consumption and CO2 emissions of up to 36%.

The buildings included in the pilot already have Building Management Systems (BMS) in place and M2G units were integrated with these to deliver further energy savings. Sabien's measurement and monitoring package for calculating and verifying savings was independently observed and verified by AEA Technology, a leading energy and climate change consultancy which was contracted by BT.

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Brick has long been a favourite building material. It’s not only beautiful to look at, it has excellent sustainability credentials and it’s hard to beat on price. This combination is especially valuable right now, given the pressure to meet CSH targets and the soaring costs and longer lead times from many rival cladding materials. An investigation by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) found that, against a line-up of popular finishes for the external skin, installed brickwork beats just about all of them on price.

The findings are especially valuable at the present time, given that contractors are experiencing soaring costs for many competing cladding materials. There is a popular misconception, fuelled by the off-site lobby that brickwork is an expensive external finish, but the RICS study clearly concludes that brick is a competitive option.

What the RICS investigation showed is that you can have such qualities, without paying over-the-top prices. It analysed a wide range of data, from major price books to bills of quantities for live projects submitted to them in 2007. The projects, which covered a selection from across the UK, ranged in value from £356,000 to £10.5 million.

The study compared the installed cost per square metre for brickwork against a string of rival external finishes. These included simple fibre cement sheets, different types of rendered blockwork, timber weatherboard, PVC cladding, plain tile cladding, ashlar stonework, and, at the top end of the price range, curtain walling and patent glazing.

Some of the highlights were:

• Facing brick came in at £59 m2 (less than some sheeting, pebbledash and proprietary render systems)
• Two thirds the price of timber weatherboarding.
• Barely one third the price of ashlar stonework.
• Curtain walling is nearly eight times more expensive, patent glazing nearly nine times

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In its conclusion, the RICS notes: ‘Brick is a competitive option for the external skin. Most of the options that are less expensive in the study fall within the range of available facing bricks.’

With increasing pressure to reduce waste on site, it’s now possible to save even more money when using brick, by carefully calculating the correct quantities required.

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The search is now underway to find the best brickwork in action. The Brick Development Association has opened the door for this year’s Brick Awards.

The Awards, which first took place in 1977, are one of the top design and construction awards in the country – and the definitive showcase for what clay brick can do.

Every year, hundreds of companies submit outstanding projects in the hope of winning and carrying off a highly acclaimed a prize. The standards are high, the competition fierce. Past winners include the cleverly designed Guildford Education Campus, a 60s refurbished house in London, a private housing development in Leicester and hard landscaping at a school in Berkhamsted.

14 trophies and one supreme award, the BDA Building of the Year, are up for grabs. And everyone involved in creating the winning projects – the architect/designer, the brick manufacturer and the brickwork contractor – is saluted.

“The annual Brick Awards is one of the UK’s longest established and most respected construction industry awards,” says BDA chairman Alan Baxter. “For the winners it’s true recognition of their skill and craft. They’re recognised by their industry as being the best in the business.”

Alongside that recognition, winners can look forward to extensive media coverage and can use the accolade in their marketing campaigns.

The Brick Awards show just what brick – the UK’s most popular cladding material – can achieve. Just take a look at www.brick.org.uk/awards to see just how high the standards are.

Entrants are judged on architectural design demonstrating sustainability credentials and the choice of brick. The judges are also seeking attention to good brick detailing, sustainability and quality craftsmanship.

This year marks a change to the awards up for grabs. The housing category has been increased to encourage entrants from small to large companies and will now incorporate both public and private housing developments within them. Due to the high number of schools and educational buildings entered last year, the building and landscape category will include an award for the best educational building. Other changes include broadening Best Refurbishment to include renovation projects and showcasing how brick can enhance landscaping projects in the Best Outdoor Space Project. You can enter as many projects as you like and compete for several awards with the same project.

In housing:
• Best Housing Development 1-5 Units
• Best Housing Development 6-25 Units
• Best Housing Development 26+ Units
• Volume Housebuilding

In building and landscape:
• Best Commercial Building
• Best Public Building
• Best Education Building
• Best Refurbishment and Renovation Project
• Best Outdoor Space

And technical and craft:
• Innovative Use of Brick and Clay Products
• Best International Project
• Specialist Brickwork Contractor
• Best Craftsmanship Award
• Worldwide Brick

Then there’s the supreme award – the BDA Building of the Year, the one judged to be the best overall from the 14 award winners.

Last year’s winning project, The Guildford Education Campus, came top on the strength of its architecture and visual quality, which was brought to life by the choice of brick and the quality of the brickwork.’

The Brick Awards are open to anyone, whether they are architects/designers, building owners, developers, housebuilders, contractors or brick manufacturers. The only stipulation is that the project – unless it’s featured in the Worldwide category – must feature clay bricks or pavers made by BDA members.

The 2010 Brick Awards will be presented at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel in London on 3 November. You can download entry forms from the BDA’s website http://www.brick.org.uk/2010awards or a hard copy can be requested by emailing brick@brick.org.uk or by calling 020 7323 7030. The closing date for entries is 25 June 2010.

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