ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY

Independent research commissioned by the Concrete Centre concludes that masonry constructed homes are likely to emit considerably less CO2 over 60 year life cycle than timber frame homes.

BS EN 771-3
The new European Standard came into effect following the withdrawal of BS 6073-Part 1 in April 2006.  Block strengths have been re-classified:

N/mm2 BS6073-1 (withdrawn)	New EN 771-3
2.8 3.5 7.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 35.0	2.0 3.6 7.3 10.4 17.5 22.5 40.0

Interfuse new 215 mm Hollow Intercrete Block is now manufactured below 20kg to meet the manual handling guidelines.

75mm Cavities can still be used to meet 0.3 using our 100mm Optilyte Block (Brick outer skin, 75mm Dritherm 32, 100mm Optilyte, 12.5mm Plaster Board on Dabs).

PART E (Resistance to the passage of Sound 2003)
Changes to the Building Regulations require dwellings to be designed and constructed to new standards to reduce the level of sound transmission between and within dwellings.  It introduces minimum performance requirements for some partition and intermediate floors.  As a result of extensive testing of separating walls, Robust Standard Details (RSDs) have been developed to obviate the need for pre-completion testing as their acceptance is on a deemed to satisfy basis.  The documentation is too detailed to include in this literature and is treated under separate guidelines issued in conjunction with the Concrete Block Association (CBA).

PART L (Conservation of Fuel & Power)
Revised addition came into effect 6 April 2006 for approved documents L1, A & B &
L2, A & B.  The aim is to meet the requirements of the energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), to further combat climate change and requires Buildings to be better insulated and make use of more efficient heating systems.
This new documentation is very complex and is treated under separate guidelines issued in conjunction with the Concrete Block Association (CBA).