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Celcon Blocks play their part in Manchester Airport transformation

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Celcon Blocks High Strength Grade were chosen for their lightweight properties and fire resistance as part of an ambitious £440 million refurbishment of Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, one of the most complex live-airport construction projects undertaken in the UK in recent years.

The refurbishment of the original Terminal 2 building represents the final phase of Manchester Airport’s wider £1.3 billion, 10-year transformation programme, designed to modernise the airport and significantly increase its capacity.

McCrory Construction Group Ltd was appointed to deliver the builders’ work package. The scope included delivering over 1,000m² of blockwork across a wide range of locations in the terminal, all carried out in a live, high-security environment.

Product specification

Celcon Blocks High Strength Grade were specified for the project. The blocks were used across a range of applications, including extending and altering existing internal walls, infilling former doorway and window openings, extending two lift shafts, and constructing new internal blockwork walls.

Billy Douglas, Head of Operations at McCrory Construction, explains why Celcon Blocks High Strength Grade were the right choice:

“We were working inside a 40-year-old building, altering and extending existing walls, so keeping weight down was a key structural consideration. The aircrete blocks were specified because they’re robust but also lightweight – approximately two-thirds of the weight of a standard dense concrete block – which was essential for reducing the load on the existing floor slabs and structure.

“On top of that, the airport is a high-security environment with stringent fire safety requirements, and the A1 non-combustible classification of the Celcon Blocks fitted the brief.”

Manchester Airport Terminal 2 is a compelling example of the benefits Celcon Blocks can bring to demanding non-residential applications. Lightweight enough to meet stringent structural requirements, strong enough for a high-traffic airport environment, the blocks provided McCrory Construction with a reliable, high-performing solution for a complex, high-profile project.

To find out more about H+H aircrete products, visit https://www.hhcelcon.co.uk/

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

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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

H+H celebrates British manufacturing and the value of local supply

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H+H has always backed British manufacturing – and for housebuilders, the reasons are more practical than patriotic.

With over 75 years of investment in UK manufacturing, H+H has long believed in the value of building locally. Now, as a proud member of Made in Britain, the company is celebrating that commitment – and highlighting why British-made materials make business sense for housebuilders.

In recent years, the vulnerability of international supply chains has been exposed. Global events – from the pandemic to political instability – have shown how quickly overseas logistics can falter, affecting availability, quality and cost certainty. For a sector that depends on reliable delivery and consistent standards, short supply chains are not just a preference but a necessity.

Fewer surprises
When products are manufactured close to site, there’s less risk of disruption. Shorter supply chains mean fewer links in the chain – and fewer opportunities for delay. Local manufacturing brings peace of mind that materials will arrive when needed, supporting smoother build programmes.

Closer communication
Working with UK suppliers allows housebuilders to build stronger relationships with their partners. At H+H, direct communication with customers means any issues can be resolved quickly and transparently, ensuring every project runs more efficiently.

Greater agility
Construction schedules are rarely linear. Weather, demand and regulatory changes can all affect build rates. With factories based in the UK, H+H can respond faster to fluctuating site needs – something international suppliers simply can’t match.

Supporting local skills
Choosing UK-made materials helps sustain employment and apprenticeships within the construction industry. Through initiatives like H+H’s apprenticeship training scheme, the company is investing in the next generation of skilled workers, ensuring the knowledge and experience that underpin quality British manufacturing continues to thrive.

Trading with confidence
The UK’s manufacturing standards are among the most rigorous in the world – from quality control to health, safety and financial regulation. Housebuilders working with local manufacturers can be confident that products meet stringent performance and compliance requirements.

For H+H, joining Made in Britain is more than a badge of honour. It’s a recognition of the resilience, transparency and trust that come from producing high-quality building materials right here at home.

When housebuilders choose products made in the UK – like Celcon Blocks, manufactured at H+H’s plants across the country – they’re not just reducing risk. They’re supporting a supply chain that’s built to last.

To find out more about H+H visit: Visit the H+H website

SMEs leading the way in innovation

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Our offsite solution is proving particularly attractive for SME housebuilders: are these companies simply more receptive to new ideas? And what is it about our solution that works for them?

Our Celcon Blocks remain the default product for housebuilders across the UK – and for good reason. High performance, easy to use and familiar, the blocks provide the external walls for around 25% of all new homes built in England.

There is nothing wrong with familiarity, of course, but housebuilding is a sector where introducing new concepts is challenging. With chronic need and ambitious government targets, innovation is needed more than ever. What we find is that it is often the smaller regional housebuilding companies that are more prepared to try new things.

Our Vertical Wall Panels are the most recent example. These storey-high panels of aircrete allow very fast construction (the entire shell of a house can be completed in just one week) with reduced site labour and increased accuracy.

While initially developed for the volume housebuilders, particularly to be used for standard house designs used for Section 106 provision, we are finding that it’s the smaller housebuilders who are more open to experimenting with this fairly radical new method of building.

Karm Homes, for example, is a keen advocate, using the Vertical Wall Panels for projects involving as few as two to three homes.  For this builder, it is worth ensuring that the floorplate of each home is designed around the 600mm width of the panels to maximise the efficiencies of the building method.

Karm Homes works with local architects for each project and perhaps it is the nature of the close relationship between the developer, designer and site team that is at the heart of this open-minded approach from smaller housebuilders.

For H+H the practical site experience we accumulate on these projects helps us understand how to further improve the support we provide to the contractors, whatever the size of the project.  With Vertical Wall Panels we are happy to provide on-site training as well as the technical expertise to ensure the designs meet all performance requirements.

Any innovation needs supportive customers who are prepared to try new methods. This collaborative approach provides the proof of concept needed to convince more conservative organisations to come on board. For housebuilding in England, this presents a problem.

Smaller regional builders are now responsible for only around 10% of new homes in England, with 25% of new homes delivered by the biggest three developers. If it’s the 10% that are most open to innovation, it goes some way to explaining why the majority of new homes continue to be constructed using long-established practices.

This suggests that the industry as a whole is missing out on some significant advances. “We have looked at other MMC systems, such as SIPs, but found them to be more expensive than this masonry solution, plus there is the increased fire risk and insurance premiums associated with timber build” says the Director of Karm Homes.

“We use local architects to design our houses. When we suggest H+H Vertical Wall Panels to them, they’re sometimes unaware of the option. However, once they’ve seen the system in action, they’re completely converted. We can’t understand why more companies are not using this solution.”

Volume housebuilders – take note!

For more information on the VWP solution, visit our website here Visit the H+H website

Providing the proof – the role of the manufacturer

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In an era where the accuracy of product descriptions is right in the spotlight, it’s worth considering what you can expect from a supportive manufacturer.

Responsible manufacturers have recognised for years that it is not enough simply to describe the technical performance of a product. Specifiers can now expect to see detailed information on the context in which the product is used, from health and safety advice to embodied carbon. H+H is one manufacturer that has embraced the demand for comprehensive information.

Energy performance: The Future Homes Standard (FHS)

After years of consultation and gradual movement, FHS is set to come into force this year, paving the way for new homes to be zero carbon.

During the decades that the energy efficiency of new homes has been under scrutiny, the elements that need consideration have evolved. For example, in 2007, the objective was to build homes that were zero carbon in use.

This is still the primary objective of the Future Homes Standard – hence the focus on new technology to eliminate the use of fossil fuel for heating. However, many housebuilders are now also considering the carbon emissions associated with the manufacture of building materials, in order to reduce the whole life carbon emissions of new buildings.

It’s a new way of thinking for the entire supply chain and product manufacturers need to be transparent and proactive in producing the information required to help builders meet their objectives.

Fabric Energy Efficiency

It makes sense to build homes that are intrinsically as energy efficient as possible, although FHS does also recognise that there are limits to what can be achieved. For walls, the U-value requirement is 0.18W/m2K. At this extreme level of insulation every detail counts – and it is generally detailing that will make the difference, particularly the issue of thermal bridges.

Such bridges typically occur at junctions and can account for as much as 30% of fabric heat loss. The impact of thermal bridges is described as a Psi value and this needs to be included as part of the calculation process to demonstrate compliance with building regulations.

Calculating the potential impact of thermal bridges and working out the design details required to reduce it, can be complex and time-consuming. H+H produced a solution to this issue by simply providing Psi value calculations for over 3,000 potential junction details using its Solar, Standard, High Strength and Super Strength Grade aircrete blocks. The calculations cover all uses of aircrete in cavity, walls, beam and block floors, separating walls or foundations below DPC.  All are freely available for housebuilders.

Whole Life Carbon

Eliminating carbon emissions from the built environment requires buildings to produce no carbon emissions throughout their life cycle. We know how to eliminate carbon emissions from a building in use, but calculating the impact of the construction process is a relatively new field.

Manufacturers are right in at the start, describing their contribution to CO2 emissions in terms of embodied carbon. This should include the carbon emissions associated with manufacture, lifetime operation and end of life disposal.

As with any new endeavour, it is taking time for embodied carbon calculation methods to be scrutinised and accepted. There remain variations in the ways embodied carbon numbers are calculated and described.

For H+H the process is relatively straightforward. Aircrete blocks are produced in the UK, using minimal raw materials. The performance of the product in use is well understood and its end-of-life disposal is benign in terms of carbon emissions. H+H is therefore comfortable with producing detailed lifecycle assessments which include every stage of the product’s life cycle, and the company is actively promoting the Environmental Product Declarations which discuss the calculation method as well as providing an embodied carbon figure.

Right now, it can be difficult to make sense of embodied carbon figures for different building materials, as the calculation methods may not be directly comparable (some EPDs do not include end-of-life emissions, for example). Specifiers need to be up to speed to make sense of the numbers available.

Responsible product information

Providing this breadth and depth of information requires investment from manufacturers in both technical expertise and the communication support to share information accessibly with the wider construction industry. It’s a recognition of the interdependence of the supply chain and the co-operation required to reach common objectives of safety and sustainability.

Future Proofing: Energy Efficiency with H+H Aircrete

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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

A level playing field for embodied carbon calculations

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The first step to being able to accurately compare the embodied carbon of different building products is to have a level playing field for carbon reporting.

Calculating carbon is complicated. Working out the embodied carbon of a building product is more complex than simply taking one figure from a report. However, the first step to accurately comparing the embodied carbon of different building products is to have a level playing field for carbon reporting.

Embodied carbon guidelines

To determine the carbon embodied in a particular product, the construction industry relies on established guidelines and technical guidance in the form of product category rules (PCRs), and environmental product declarations (EPDs).

PCRs provide the category-specific guidance for estimating and reporting product lifecycle environmental impacts. EPDs disclose the life cycle environmental performance of products using pre-determined parameters.

The quality of the information in the EPD must be verified by a third party before it can be registered and published.

A major challenge for specifiers is that the data found in EPDs can vary significantly.

Inconsistencies in calculation

Comparing EPDs for different products can be complicated as there are elements that may not be consistent from one EPD to another. For example, different methodological approaches may be taken; generic rather than product-specific data may be used, and non-required fields – such as A4 Transport – may be included in some EPDs and not others.

Inconsistencies in information contained in an EPD can have a major impact in terms of product specification. This is particularly true when comparing biogenic products such as timber with products manufactured using other materials, and critically, it will impact the figure for carbon embodied in a building.

This is highlighted in a report published by engineering consultancy LBP SIGHT, which analysed 48 EPDs for wood products[i]. The report Carbon Accounting for Building Materials – An assessment of the Global Warming Potential of biobased construction products, states: “The assessment of PCR and EPDs of wood-based products shows that inconsistencies both at the system level of PCR and the implementation in EPDs exist. Ultimately, this results in skewed declared values for CO2e emissions at the product level, and therefore in comparison with alternative products”.

RICS standardisation of LCAs

The RICS Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment, section 4.7, explains the types of carbon data that should be used in a WLCA[ii]. It recommends the Built Environment Carbon Database as the first point of reference to identify carbon data for construction materials and products. According to RICS, EPDs using EN 15804 and ISO 21930:2017 are preferred.

EN 15804 requires all product EPDs that contain biogenic carbon to be modelled on their full life cycle. The RICS WLCA does allow for Cradle-to-Gate EPDs, but only if biogenic carbon is totally excluded.

It is worth noting that the older version of EN 15804, which dates to 2013, used to allow Cradle-to-Gate for biomass materials. This has allowed some timber products to report carbon credits instead of impacts, which can be misleading where legacy EPDs are referenced.

An EPD produced in accordance with EN 15804 must also comply with the requirements of ISO 14044, the International Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) standard, and ISO 14025, the international standard covering EPDs for construction products.

The standard EN 15804 defines a series of modules covering carbon emissions over a product’s various lifecycle stages:

  • A1-A3 production stage
  • A4-A5 construction stage
  • B1-B5 use stage
  • B6-B7 operational carbon stage
  • C1-C4 end-of-life stage.

At H+H, we have ensured that our product EPDs cover each of these sections to transparently report the full lifecycle, Cradle-to-Grave, of our products. We believe that product manufacturers have a responsibility to report as accurately as possible the environmental impact of their products across their full lifecycle. However, there is still work to be done by regulatory authorities to ensure a level playing field for all embodied carbon reporting in the construction sector.

The continued variation between EPDs only emphasises the importance of standardised methodologies and high-quality data in EPDs to ensure meaningful and accurate comparisons.

[i] LBP Sight. Carbon Accounting for Building Materials: An assessment of Global Warming Potential of biobased construction products. 2022. https://www.ca4bm.eu/CA4BM_Final_Report.pdf

[ii] RICS. Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment. https://www.rics.org/profession-standards/rics-standards-and-guidance/sector-standards/construction-standards/whole-life-carbon-assessment.html)

Is this the end of the road for Modular MMC?

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Volumetric construction is not the panacea for the housebuilding industry the previous government had hoped it would be. Offsite pioneer Modulous was the most recent casualty of the current swathe of modular building company bankruptcies. This, despite the fact that Modulous, describing itself as a “kit of parts”, had none of the pricey infrastructure of factories that weighed down other volumetric companies such as Ilke Homes and Beattie Passive.

Pioneers and market disrupters are always risky ventures but the following points are particularly relevant in this instance:

  1. There is nothing new in the idea of factory-built homes. And nothing new in the litany of failure of such enterprises.
  2. Volumetric, factory assembled structures do not suit the economic model, the logistical challenges or the skills base of the UK housebuilding sector.
  3. Constantly chasing the ideal of precise, factory-built home units results in repeated losses for investors. When those investors include the Government, taxpayers should be asking questions.

As long ago as 1926, architectural pioneer Walter Gropius speculated on a future where lower-cost housing would be made possible by “the manufacture by mass production methods of stock dwellings which are no longer constructed at the site but are produced in special factories”.

It’s a seductive vision. Muddy building sites replaced by clean, productive factories building homes with precision in quality-controlled settings. Repeated government-backed attempts to kick-start a modular construction industry looks to the mass production of vehicles as a model – but is that analogy convincing?

There are numerous problems with the factory-built homes vision of MMC, but let’s just focus on one – the financial model.

Factory-built homes need factories. Factories involve huge investment and require a reliable and consistent market for their products. UK housebuilding, with its near total reliance on consumer confidence, has simply never provided that degree of consistency.

In its review of the modular housing sector “Modern Methods of Construction – what’s gone wrong?” the Built Environment Select Committee looked for answers from, among others, Homes England which was keen to defend its significant investment in modular factory companies. The conclusion of this scrutiny was summarised in January this year by Chair Lord Moylan: “The Government needs to change tack. Simply throwing money at the sector hasn’t worked.” Food for thought for the new Labour government.

A problem of presentation?

Part of the problem is with the presentation of MMC as a concept. Modern does not necessarily equate to pre-assembled and Method does not necessarily mean factory-based house units. The accepted definition of MMC (following on from the Farmer Report) is based around seven categories and only Category One requires the use of factory-built entities.

As Lord Moylan indicates, government funding whose objective is to deliver a greater volume of high-quality homes, needs better targeting, informed by a much deeper understanding of the structure of the UK housebuilding sector. Surely the Government’s role should be to stimulate the market and invest in new social housing, but be less enthusiastic in trying to dictate how new homes should be delivered.

H+H has always supported innovative approaches to house construction – our own Vertical Wall Panels and i-House System represent a strong commitment to new concepts and radical ideas. The difference is that these initiatives are evolutionary, rather than revolutionary.

The Built Environment Select Committee acknowledged the success of much Category Two MMC innovation (where our Vertical Wall Panel solution fits), and of the remaining five categories. That recognition absolutely supports the principle of evolutionary change.

Rather than going through another expensive loop of financial support for a delivery model that has proven so problematic, we would strongly advocate the new government takes the time to really understand the housebuilding supply chain; focuses on creating an economic environment in which housebuilding can grow to meet demand; and leave the mechanics to the industry itself.

For more information on H+H Vertical Wall Panels visit https://www.hhcelcon.co.uk/products-applications/methods-modern-mmc/system-build-vertical-wall-panels

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

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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.

A masonry solution to meet the MMC demand

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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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