Housing

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR

The public sector encompasses a wide range of buildings from local authority housing, schools and hospitals to Government buildings and transport infrastructure. Public sector buildings have many requirements and factors influencing their design, but one major element that applies to all is selecting a suitable and sustainable roof.

The choice of the roofing system, design and even the materials used are crucial in the construction of sustainable buildings as this can greatly help to restrict the environmental impact of the building throughout its lifespan.

Energy efficiency and sustainability are core issues for any construction project and are embedded into almost every aspect of modern life, but they are particularly important for public sector organisations.

Public buildings are a huge part of every city and are often at the heart of the community where people gather, children play and learn, and real life takes place. However, they are also hubs that consume large amounts of energy and emit carbon dioxide. Hence why it’s even more vital for these buildings to be sustainable but still welcoming.

Decarbonising buildings by switching to renewable energy and selecting materials and products that are responsibly manufactured from sustainably-sourced materials will have a huge impact and inspire future public sector architectural projects.

It’s important for the Government to now take the lead, setting an example to citizens on the significance of sustainable buildings.

Green buildings are good for people and the planet. Public sector organisations need to work with suppliers who can help to achieve project success, no matter how basic or complex the requirements and can incorporate the eco features that will help to decarbonise the project.

Pitched concrete roof tile manufacturer, Russell Roof Tiles, has made huge steps over the last 10 years to ensure it is manufacturing tiles sustainably and is working closely with specifiers, architects and developers to produce and supply sustainable roof tiles that are suitable and aesthetically pleasing for every project but don’t take away from their practical purpose.

Green roofing

Green roofing solutions could be the most popular option for public sector organisations for many reasons and projects can be designed and installed quickly. However, factors such as the right environment and location, having appropriate drainage, fire safety and thermal requirements can impact their viability.

Where the obvious living ‘green roof’ is simply not a feasible option, there are many alternatives such as metal, shingles or concrete roof tiles.

Concrete roof tiles are a more sustainable choice. They are durable and use considerably less energy when compared with their similar clay counterparts because extensive power is required for firing clay in a 1000+ºC kiln for up to 48 hours. Concrete tiles are cured at a much lower temperature and only for around 24 hours, equating to an overall energy saving of up to 30% of that required in the production of clay tiles.

Cost and efficiency

The use of BIM and CAD drawings is part of a wider trend of improving cost certainty and mitigating risk. BIM models allow for more efficient project planning, designing and management of buildings and infrastructure.

When projects are funded by the public, people take a keen interest in the cost and schedule of them. Therefore, projects should be carefully planned out and considered so they can be completed on time, within budget and derisked as much as possible.

Collaborative work with the supply chain is also an increasingly common part of public sector projects. Engaging with the supply chain at the early stages of the project is another way that potential issues can be identified and solved before they become a significant challenge to the success of the project.

Specifiers who communicate with a manufacturing technical team will have more confidence in products and ease of checking compliance, which will inevitably prevent public sector build developments from going out of the timescale and any associated consequential losses.

Better design

Public sector projects have traditionally focused more on the functional aspects of buildings rather than on their appearance or impact on the surrounding community. But in recent years, ‘placemaking’ has become a more important goal, so that residential properties, hospitals and other public structures are more beautiful, functional and vital to the communities they serve.

This is evidenced by the award-winning affordable housing development built by Lovell Partnerships for Rural Stirling Housing Association.

The 50 new-build affordable homes in Callander, Scotland, featured Russell Roof Tiles’ Polden roof tiles, which gave the homes a modern look but were still in keeping with other local houses.

The Polden concrete tiles are designed to last 60 plus years, providing a costeffective, sustainable and long-lasting roofing solution, in comparison to other tiles such as clay or slate.

Concrete roof tiles are available in various styles and colours, meaning that public sector buildings being renovated or constructed can match with surrounding roofs or go for a completely new look.

More public sector developments are leading the way to demonstrate that attractive and welcoming designs can be achieved while still being practical and functional.

Russell Roof Tiles provides roofing solutions for leading UK housebuilders and high-profile social housing and commercial projects, where sustainability and ecocredentials are of the utmost priority.  www.russellrooftiles.co.uk