aircrete

Building resilient homes with aircrete

Building Products Index Ltd September 21, 2026 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

The impact of climate change must be considered when designing homes today. They will need resilience to cope not only with hotter summers with increased risk of fire but also wetter winters.

There’s a reason why around 25% of new British homes are built with H+H aircrete. As a masonry material, aircrete combines durability, thermal performance and non-combustibility. Few other building materials offer the same combination of benefits.

Homes built with aircrete are robust, with a design life of over a century – significantly longer than the 60-year lifespan accepted as standard within the industry. And importantly, homes built with aircrete are resilient.

When designing homes today we need to factor in the impact of climate change. This summer has brought another reminder of just how quickly our climate is changing, with a run of serious heatwaves. With hotter summers expected to continue, future-ready housing must be designed to stay cool and comfortable without excessive reliance on air conditioning.

Tackling overheating with thermal mass

Thermal mass – the ability of a material to absorb and store heat – plays a vital role in maintaining stable internal temperatures. Aircrete’s thermal mass helps absorb excess heat during the day and release it gradually at night, helping moderate internal temperature fluctuations and reduce the risk of overheating. This passive cooling effect can reduce reliance on mechanical cooling systems, helping to reduce both energy use and occupant discomfort.

Building in fire resistance

This summer we have seen a significant increase in wildfires across Britain with 1,132 reported between 1 January and 16 August 2026. Nearly 40 homes were damaged or destroyed by fires in Stourbridge in the West Midlands in August, including 19 houses that were fully destroyed.

Analysis carried out by Sky News using data from the European Forest Fire Information System shows that nearly one in five large wildfires (19%) in England and Wales came within 500m of built-up areas in 2026. It is a worrying statistic and highlights the importance of constructing homes with non-flammable materials.

Aircrete has an A1 fire classification, meaning it is classified as non-combustible. It won’t burn or contribute to the development of fire. We would argue that this attribute isn’t a ‘nice to have’ but an essential.

Preparing for increased flood risk

Another major climate risk is the increased frequency and severity of flooding. The Environment Agency has emphasised the importance of property-level flood resilience measures, particularly as 5.7 million properties in England are currently at risk.

Building with durable, non-degradable materials is key to reducing this risk. Masonry systems such as aircrete offer outstanding flood resilience. They don’t rot, warp or degrade over time, and their dimensional stability maintains structural soundness before, during, and after flood events. In contrast, timber construction can be more vulnerable to water damage and may require extensive replacement or remediation following flooding.

As the Mineral Products Association notes: “Masonry construction offers dimensional stability and structural integrity during and after flood events, a stable surface for waterproof membranes, fast restoration post-flood, and is a non-degradable material that doesn’t rot, rust or warp. No other construction method offers this level of resilience.”

As our climate continues to change it becomes ever more important to build resilient homes using materials that stand up to heat, flooding, and long-term environmental change. Aircrete offers a robust solution: durable, thermally efficient and fire-resistant.

Find out more and explore the H+H product range here: https://www.hplush.com/en-uk/

H+H MMC system chosen to deliver high-quality affordable homes

Building Products Index Ltd May 24, 2026 Concrete, Concrete wall panels Leave a Comment

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Social housing provider Stonewater is building 39 affordable new homes at Shiremoor Hill, Merriott in Somerset, in partnership with local housebuilder Galion Ltd.

To support its commitment to delivering high-quality, safe and sustainable homes, with a strong focus on energy efficiency, build quality and customer wellbeing, Stonewater selected the Celcon Vertical Wall Panel (VWP) system from H+H.

Building energy efficient homes

For affordable housing providers like Stonewater, build quality is critical. In addition to providing safe, comfortable homes, it is responsible for maintenance over the long term, so durability and consistent performance are essential.

Aircrete is well suited to this brief. It is robust, resistant to damp and mould, fire-resistant and offers excellent thermal performance. When supplied as storey-height panels, it also supports a more airtight building fabric – the reduced number of joints means fewer potential weak points in the walls – as well as delivering significant advantages in construction efficiency.

Tim Barnes, formerly Head of Construction at Galion Ltd, comments: “The benefit of the system is ease of installation, but more so the quality of the internal walls that we can produce. There are far fewer joints and the airtightness is excellent.

“For this site, there was a requirement to build to EPC B, however the houses will achieve EPC A, with SAP scores of 93-96, thanks to the combined performance of the Celcon VWP system, solar panels and air source heat pumps, exceeding Stonewater’s expectations.”

Speed of build

Another reason that the VWP system was specified for the Shiremoor Hill site was for the time saving it offers.

Giuseppe Zeffiretti, Director of Acorn Innovations, the sub-contractor commissioned to install the system, comments: “After the groundworks have been completed it takes us seven days to build a house with the system. That’s five days from ground floor to roof, and two days to get the roof trusses on. And you’re getting the quality of a robust, traditional build structure.”

Tim concurs: “The speed of using VWPs is comparable to timber frame, while avoiding the compaction and movement that can occur in loaded timber frame structures. Compared to the traditional method we can knock three weeks off the superstructure build programme quite comfortably.”

On site support

The H+H technical advisor visits site approximately once a week to review progress and advise on any design changes. Giuseppe comments:

“We get a lot of support from H+H. When we first started using the system they sent a trainer to site, and he stayed with us for two weeks to make sure we were competent installing the system. They also come and train any new workers that we take on.

“We have the weekly visits from the technical team and if we have any questions, they’re always on the end of the phone and we usually get an answer within an hour. H+H has been alongside us all the way.”

A first for WholeHouse

Shiremoor Hill is the first social housing project to be delivered using the WholeHouse platform from Travis Perkins. The BIM-based platform enables users to design, configure and generate accurate construction drawings and bills of materials quickly and efficiently.

Michael Leverton, Head of WholeHouse says: “The platform provides pricing and embodied carbon data for different building elements, enabling housebuilders to make informed design decisions upfront.

“The Celcon Vertical Wall Panel system is a good fit for the WholeHouse platform. It’s an MMC system offering speed of build, but it uses local trades and doesn’t have the upfront cost of offsite or timber frame systems. We’re really pleased to be working with H+H and keeping masonry at the forefront of building.”

Looking ahead

As demand for affordable housing continues to grow, systems that combine speed, consistency and proven performance will play an increasingly important role in delivering homes that stand the test of time.

For more information visit: www.hhcelcon.co.uk

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Future Proofing: Energy Efficiency with H+H Aircrete

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2025 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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To meet the demands and regulations of an environmentally sustainable future, take a ‘fabric first’ approach.

Sustainable standards are more important than ever. The growing consciousness concerning the environment is reflected in modern building regulations, such as the Future Homes Standard, expected to come into effect this year.

As we know, not all materials are created equal in terms of conserving energy and regulating temperatures in a building. At H+H, we support a “fabric first” philosophy. This means that we believe thermal efficiency should be built into the fabric of a house, so it remains effective for the lifetime of the building. Choosing aircrete ensures the building will benefit from high energy efficiency for years to come.

Thermal efficiency and U-values

Aircrete has a low rate of heat transfer through a structure (U-value) and is highly thermally efficient. The temperature in buildings constructed with aircrete is well regulated, keeping the heat in during cold winter months and the heat out on hot summer days. This reduces the energy used to control the temperature with systems such as central heating, resulting in a lower carbon footprint for the building.

One standard being encouraged in the move towards an energy efficient future is Passivhaus. Passivhaus is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint. To achieve Passivhaus certification, a build must be airtight, and have an extremely low U-value.

H+H aircrete can be used for airtight construction, and its high thermal performance helps to meet stringent Passivhaus requirements, making it an ideal choice for energy-efficient building projects seeking the Passivhaus stamp of approval.

New standards of energy efficiency regulations are expected this year in the Future Homes Standard (FHS), which based on the current information available, we anticipate H+H aircrete will surpass.

Compatibility with heat pumps

Another key expectation set out in the Future Homes Standard is the requirement for new homes to be ‘zero-carbon ready’, meaning no work will be necessary to allow them to achieve zero carbon emissions when the electricity grid is fully decarbonised.

To achieve this objective the government encourages the use of heat pumps as the primary source of heating for houses as they are efficient and low carbon, and are less expensive to run than alternative electric heating systems.

Heat pumps work most efficiently if the home is well insulated. Constructing a building’s fabric with products that have a high U-value, indicating they are not very thermally efficient, can hinder the effectiveness of a heat pump. This is far from ideal, particularly given the significant initial investment required to install a heat pump. Aircrete’s high thermal efficiency makes it an ideal material for constructing homes that incorporate heat pumps, allowing them to perform to their full potential.

Long term thermal efficiency

While houses built today must have a minimum life expectancy of just 60 years, H+H aircrete has a lifespan of over 100 years.

This longevity means the benefits of aircrete, specifically its thermal efficiency, will last long into the future, continuing to require reduced heating and cooling demands for decades, making it a sustainable choice for future-proof construction.

Choosing aircrete for construction projects contributes to energy savings, supporting long-term sustainability goals. As we move towards a future where energy efficiency is paramount, materials like aircrete will play a crucial role in shaping buildings that are not only comfortable and cost-effective to maintain but also kind to the environment.

To find out more visit www.hhcelcon.co.uk or contact us on 01732 886444 or email info.uk@hplush.com

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H+H Vertical Wall Panels on NBS Source for smooth integration into BIM models

Building Products Index Ltd April 26, 2024 Concrete, Concrete wall panels Leave a Comment

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H+H, the UK’s leading aircrete manufacturer, has made its Celcon Vertical Wall Panels (VWPs) available on NBS Source to facilitate the design process for specifiers using the tool to explore different product solutions, and for creating design models. Through NBS Source, you can ensure that aircrete panels meet the structural and performance requirements of your project, review the EPD and NHBC Accepts certification, download product information, and import the BIM object directly into your drawings.

Celcon Vertical Wall Panels are storey-high aircrete panels intended for the construction of domestic houses up to two or three storeys. They are manufactured offsite and craned into place for a fast, panelised building system.

Aircrete is a lightweight masonry material that combines the strength, durability, and thermal efficiency of concrete with the ease of use of a lighter material. It is made from a mixture of sand, pulverised fuel ash (PFA), cement, lime, and water, with aluminium powder added to create the iconic ‘bubbles’, which are the hallmark of aircrete. Stainless steel rods are inserted in the storey high panels for safe onward transport before the panel is cured in autoclaves under high pressure.

H+H VWPs offer numerous benefits when used in a variety of construction projects, including their quick installation process, with the entire ground floor of a house installed in just one day. The panels are craned into place on standard foundations and secured with fast-setting thin-layer mortar, creating a 3mm airtight joint for a high-quality build. The ability to cut VWPs on site contributes to a reduction in site wastage.

Vertical Wall Panels are also highly thermally efficient, boasting a low U-value of 0.17 W/mK, which is compliant with Passivhaus standards, as well as being resistant to water damage, fire, and mould.

H+H panels are versatile, available in different sizes and are a great choice if a masonry Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) solution is desired. They are designed to have a long lifespan, lasting over a hundred years, making them a durable and sustainable choice.

By incorporating VWPs into specifications, architects can help streamline the construction process, reducing build time on site. This also enables follow-on trades to begin work sooner, so even if time-consuming elements such as stonewall exteriors are also specified, there is less impact on project timescales.

The benefits don’t stop at the outer shell with aircrete, which also offers the advantage of increased sound insulation. Aside from its inherent strength and thermal efficiency, Vertical Wall Panels can be used in internal walls and partitions, with an approved Robust Detail (E-WM-31) in place ensuring the reduction of sound within the house.

Using NBS Source to find and specify products for your project can be an incredibly useful step and H+H Vertical Wall Panel BIM objects are as easy to integrate into an architect’s drawings as they are to build with on site.

Find Vertical Wall Panels on NBS Source here.

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Meeting the Future Homes Standard with H+H aircrete

Building Products Index Ltd January 22, 2024 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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H+H’s unwavering commitment to energy-efficient building solutions and a fabric first approach aligns neatly with the aims of the Future Homes Standard.

A fabric first approach will be fundamental to meeting the requirements of the 2025 Future Homes Standard, for which the government published its consultation on 13^th December 2023. Backed by a commitment to energy efficiency and reducing the carbon emissions of new homes, the consultation on the Future Homes Standard suggests u-Value for walls remains at 0.18W/m²K and that new homes will use low-carbon heating and be ‘zero-carbon ready’.

This methodology prioritises minimising heat loss by ensuring the building envelope meets the highest standards. To put it simply: housebuilders will need to pursue a fabric first approach by specifying high performing fabric materials from the outset.

Project 80

H+H is proud to have been involved in Project 80, a pioneering development by Midlands Heart Housing Association, which showcases homes already built to the Future Homes Standard using aircrete. These homes, monitored and evaluated for performance, demonstrated a 70% carbon reduction when combining heat pumps and PV panels in masonry structures.

Insights gleaned from Project 80 are invaluable, offering a blueprint for achieving an impressive 80-90% carbon emissions reduction. Increased insulation, enhanced window specifications, improved airtightness, and strategic education on effective heating and ventilation are just some of the strategies identified.

H+H’s participation in Project 80 is a testament to its dedication to a fabric first approach. H+H aircrete blocks contribute to the construction of energy-efficient, airtight buildings, enhancing the performance of technologies like underfloor heating and air source heat pumps. These innovations were integral to the success of the first 12 homes in Project 80.

H+H fabric first projects

H+H has a track record of working collaboratively to help developers achieve ever higher fabric performance standards, including projects which also employ Modern Methods of Construction. For example, the Cameron Close Passivhaus development for Southern Housing and the Norton Farm development for Bromsgrove District Housing Trust.

For the Cameron Close development of 16 semi-detached Passivhaus homes on the Isle of Wight, H+H worked with the scheme’s developer on the application of Thin-Joint blockwork. In this instance, H+H’s 200mm thick Celcon Plus Blocks have been used to construct Thin-Joint aircrete, load-bearing walls. Apart from accelerating the construction process, the Thin-Joints play a role in enhancing the residences’ airtightness, thereby improving their overall energy efficiency.

At the Norton Farm development, H+H’s Vertical Wall Panels have been used to speed the construction of the building’s energy efficient fabric. H+H’s Vertical Wall Panels, part of its i-House MMC system, have been used to construct 164 units.

The Vertical Wall Panels are manufactured in aircrete to the storey height of a standard house. Use of the Vertical Wall Panel system on this project enables the external brick or rendered-block facade to be taken off the critical path. More importantly, the Vertical Wall Panel system is a key element in creating an insulated, airtight building envelope.

As we approach the 2025 Future Homes Standard, adopting a fabric-first construction philosophy, supported by materials like aircrete, will pave the way for sustainable, low-carbon housing.

Call us to discuss your housing project on 01732 880111 or email iot@hhcelcon.co.uk. www.hhcelcon.co.uk

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A masonry solution to meet the MMC demand

Building Products Index Ltd November 29, 2023 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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H+H Vertical Wall Panels represent a masonry MMC solution that provides the speed of offsite with the familiarity of a traditional build. Offering the ability to construct a complete house shell in just five days, these storey-high panels of aircrete are used to form the inner leaf of external walls, separating walls and internal partitions.

Fabricated offsite, the panels are craned into place for an accelerated construction process that retains the reassuring characteristics of a high-performance masonry build.

On site, Vertical Wall Panels are placed onto standard foundations and installed using H+H VWP mortar – a fast-setting and very strong mortar that forms a 2mm airtight joint.

The overriding advantage of Vertical Wall Panels is the speed of build – and this is best demonstrated where the panels are used as part of a complete housebuilding package.

When combined with prefabricated timber floors and a prefabricated roof system, Vertical Wall Panels provide a system-build solution that can construct the superstructure of a house from foundation to roof within five days onsite.

This provides a watertight and airtight shell for follow on trades to move into, and one which is constructed using a material they are familiar with so no additional training is required for site workers.

Offering flexibility and durability

Aircrete is a lightweight masonry material, combining proven durability and high acoustic, thermal and airtight performance with the ease of use that comes with a lighter material making it easy to cut and work with.

H+H Vertical Wall Panels are manufactured in a range of heights with a width of 600mm and a thickness of 100mm. As aircrete can be cut on site, it is easy to accommodate window and door openings while providing infill sections as appropriate. This also gives the flexibility needed to adjust panels to cope with site tolerances and onsite modifications and means less product waste on site.

Tried, tested and proven

Building with H+H Vertical Wall Panels is not a new solution. In fact, the system has already been widely used across Europe for years and over 2,000 houses have been completed so far in the UK.

It is also an established Modern Method of Construction recognised by the NHBC. The system is part of the NHBC Accepts scheme which recognises innovative building systems that have been rigorously tested to meet the construction body’s stringent standards.

H+H Vertical Wall Panels combine the cost benefits associated with offsite construction with the reassuring familiarity and performance of masonry, offering an MMC system that will stand the test of time.

To find out more about the system visit: https://www.hhcelcon.co.uk/products-applications/methods-modern-mmc/system-build-vertical-wall-panels

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An MMC solution in masonry from H+H

Building Products Index Ltd November 30, 2022 Concrete, Concrete wall panels Leave a Comment

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H+H Vertical Wall Panels are storey-high panels of aircrete that can be used to build a complete house shell within five days.

Vertical Wall Panels offer the speed of offsite with the familiarity of a traditional build. The panels are fabricated offsite and craned into place for a fast, panelised building system with the reassuring characteristics of a high-performance masonry structure.

Storey-high panels of aircrete are used to form the inner leaf of external walls, separating walls and internal partitions as appropriate.

On site, Vertical Wall Panels are placed onto standard foundations and installed using H+H VWP mortar – a fast-setting and very strong mortar that forms a 2mm airtight joint. The entire ground floor of a house can be installed in a single day.

The overriding advantage of Vertical Wall Panels is the speed of build – and this is best demonstrated where the panels are used as part of a complete housebuilding package.

Design variations and detailing can be accommodated and, if required, Vertical Wall Panels can be used in combination with thin-joint large format blockwork.

Vertical Wall Panels are also lightly reinforced to facilitate handling and transportation without damaging the product. With the outer leaf off the critical path, cavity insulation can be installed to the complete façade, enabling it to be visually inspected for damage or gaps before the outer leaf is applied.

Separating walls are constructed as two leaves of Vertical Wall Panels with a minimum of 100mm full fill insulated cavity between. This, with effective edge sealing, will provide a zero heat loss party wall. Site acoustic testing has demonstrated that high levels of sound insulation can be achieved and this is reflected by H+H’s proprietary acoustic Robust Detail E-WM-31.

Building with H+H Vertical Wall Panels is not a new solution. In fact, it is an established Modern Method of Construction recognised by the NHBC and is part of the NHBC Accepts scheme. The system has been widely used across Europe for years and over 2,000 houses have been completed so far in the UK.

Find out more about H+H Vertical Wall Panels

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SUSTAINABILITY AND THE 40-YEAR MORTGAGE

Building Products Index Ltd February 27, 2022 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at aircrete manufacturer H+H, outlines the arguments for a building method that focuses on the long term.

Aircrete makes the perfect structure for certified Passivhaus homes

The arguments around what constitutes sustainable building practice continue to shift focus. Back in 2007 the emphasis was on zero carbon in use for new homes. In 2022 much more attention is being placed on embodied carbon and the race is on for manufactures to decarbonise their businesses.

Both objectives are hugely important, of course, and H+H has demonstrated its ability to deliver on the first and now has a robust plan to deliver on the second. However, we would argue that there is an important third: the need to consider the long term.

It has always seemed strange to me that there is so little attention paid to how long a building should be expected to last. Most guidelines seem to anticipate a sixty year design life but surely this is insufficient?

Replacement rates

Modern Method — Stone clad to suit the local style, these houses are based on modern Thin-Joint construction

In the UK we demolish about 9,000 homes per year. If we continue to replace the current housing stock at this speed, we would need every house built today to last not sixty years but several hundred.

This is not new information, but in this context it is odd that lightweight housebuilding systems are encouraged, based on their ability to meet speed of build and energy efficiency standards, with no apparent focus on longevity.

The crunch may come with the financial model. With house prices in 2021 averaging £198,000, mortgage finance is essential for most first-time buyers, and the length of available mortgage terms is rising.

Mortgage terms and housing durability

Low carbon home — this new home, built with underfloor heating and an air source heat pump is a glimpse of the future.

The English Housing Survey finds that 45% of first-time buyers in 2018-2019 had a mortgage of 30 years or longer and 40-year mortgages are becoming increasingly common. 2021 saw one company launching a 40-year fixed term mortgage.

What this essentially means is that to be attractive to buyers your home needs to be pretty sure to have a service life comfortably longer than a normal mortgage term.

Not surprisingly, H+H has always argued that masonry homes, designed to last for one hundred plus years, are the best long-term option in terms of financial security. We would also argue that the most sustainable homes are surely those which last a very, very long time.

Meeting the immediate

078 H+H — a modern material to last for centuries

Right now, with the pressure to increase the volume at which we build new homes, the priority for builders is to ensure that familiar building methods can meet current building standards.

The latest collaborative project to involve H+H aircrete is Project 80, a research project designed to demonstrate how masonry building methods will meet the Future Homes standard, requiring a reduction of 75% – 80% over current building regulations.

Sustainable building – a holistic view

The arguments around what constitutes sustainable building will continue and the wisest course is surely not to focus on one performance aspect in isolation but to consider the bigger picture and take a holistic view.

For H+H this means building energy efficient homes whose creation involves the minimum possible immediate environmental impact and which will continue to provide a resilient, dependable asset for generations.

To find out more about aircrete from H+H, visit our website at www.hhcelcon.co.uk

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SUSTAINABLE BUILDING WITH MASONRY

Building Products Index Ltd November 23, 2021 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at aircrete specialist H+H UK Ltd outlines the sustainability arguments for masonry buildings

H+H has always seen itself as a manufacturer that supports sustainable building – but over time, the definition of the term and priorities for the building industry have shifted. It is good therefore to see some consensus emerging on the objectives for sustainability and how each industry can meet them. H+H supports the principles set out in the UN Sustainability goals and is committed to supporting this agenda.

Reducing carbon

The first, and increasingly urgent, priority is to reduce carbon emissions. When it comes to housebuilding that means a focus on reducing the energy demand of our homes. Home heating alone contributes around 19% of the total CO2 produced in England each year so it is logical that building regulations and the Future Homes Standard are looking to increase further the thermal efficiency of new buildings.

Aircrete has a part to play in this agenda. With its inherent thermal efficiency and very effective airtightness, the material has always been a good choice for energy efficient homes. In fact, H+H was involved well over a decade ago in the development of prototype zero carbon homes.

More recently, aircrete has been used as the foundation of low energy homes for social housing schemes where fuel costs are a primary concern and Passivhaus designs offer a practical solution.

When it comes to revisions to Building Regulations Part L, aircrete is well suited to the newer, more stringent standards and a familiar cavity wall construction will meet all the revisions currently planned.

Operational zero carbon is only one part of the story, however, and attention is increasingly focused on embodied carbon. Moving to net zero manufacturing is challenging and requires the whole supply chain to be working to the same goal.

H+H has published its roadmap to zero carbon, outlining a journey that will decarbonise its manufacturing and transport processes. However, even in this objective there can be a degree of interpretation and different measurement techniques.

Our response is to use robust lifecycle analysis methods including all the manufacturing, in use and post-use phases of construction. It is essential to develop commonly agreed standards for calculation to provide a level playing field and ensure that all manufacturers are basing their claims on equivalent data sets.

In its planned journey to zero carbon by 2050, H+H is relying on science-based targets to provide a benchmark against which to measure progress.

A Sustainable future

Low carbon construction is the focus at the moment, but at the same time, lifespan and resilience of new homes must form part of a sustainability strategy.

There is little point in reducing manufacturing carbon if the resulting building only lasts for a few decades and then needs to be entirely replaced. There is an increasingly significant school of thought suggesting that the most sustainable building is one that will last a very, very long time.

And during its lifetime, the building will need to withstand the extremes of a changing climate. In its June 2021 Assessment of UK Climate Risk, the Committee for Climate change cited overheating and flooding as the two most significant risks for the housing sector.

H+H would point to the 150-year lifespan, inherent resilience and thermal mass characteristics of aircrete to further support its position as a material with a secure future in modern, sustainable housing.

For further information on H+H, its products and its sustainability criteria, go to www.hhcelcon.co.uk

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AIRCRETE: BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Building Products Index Ltd March 28, 2021 Blocks, Concrete Leave a Comment

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To date, aircrete from H+H has delivered over 8,000 MMC homes in the UK, making it one of the most widely used materials for the Modern Building agenda. Jenny Smith-Andrews, Head of Marketing at H+H looks at the MMC solutions on offer.

There is no denying that the building industry, and particularly the housebuilding sector, in this country is extremely conservative: slow to adopt new methods and systems. Government clearly understands this. The degree of its intervention, in terms of overt encouragement and financial incentives is marked.

Whether it is any Government’s business to dictate to private sector organisations how they make their product is debatable, but the objective is laudable: to deliver better quality homes, faster, and H+H is well positioned to help its customers reach MMC targets.

Aircrete benefits from being a material widely used across Europe where housebuilding is a very different industry. Hugely popular for its robust, durable and thermally efficient characteristics, aircrete plays its part in the development of modern construction methods delivering high-performance homes.

In the UK, H+H aricrete is fundamental to three Modern Methods of Construction. Our Thin-Joint blockwork provides a fast and accurate means of building exterior walls – meeting the criteria to be rated an MMC category 6.

Put together into a packaged offer combining Thin-Joint exterior walls with ground floors, upper floors and partitions, our Rå Build solution gives the entire weatherproof structure as a single, fast system.

Neither of these offers is new, both have been widely used in Europe for decades. However, in the UK, both have struggled to gain widespread adoption. We certainly see more interest, given the focus on implementing Modern Methods, but for many, Modern means “offsite”. Our Celcon Elements, particularly when used as part of the i-House system, provide the answer that is gaining ground fastest.

Celcon Elements are storey-high panels of aircrete. Craned into place and fixed with Thin-Joint mortar, Elements allow the entire ground floor wall structure to be completed on site in just hours.

Elements, by the way, are not new either, so H+H has a track record of high-performing housing developments across Europe to reassure the UK market of the practicality of this building method.

Elements really come into their own when used as part of a system-build solution, and H+H worked in partnership with Roofspace Solutions to develop i-House™. This combines aircrete walls with prefabricated first floors and roof structures, installed by a dedicated contracting team. Most suitable for large volume standard house designs, the entire building fabric can be completed within five days on site.

In promoting our options for Modern Methods of Construction, H+H is highlighting a common misapprehension around the term MMC. There is no prescription as to the material used or the method of build. To qualify as a Modern Method of Construction, the solution needs to meet the objectives for building faster, more efficiently and to high tolerance. I-House meets the MMC definition at category two.

We know that our industry has a preference for aircrete – a trusted and popular material. 8,000 homes built with Modern Methods based on aircrete is a demonstration that this material is ready for the 21^st century building agenda.

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