Metrotile Launches Innovative New Fully-Integrated Solar Tile

Metrotile UK, a leading supplier and manufacturer of lightweight steel roofing systems has launched its innovative, fullyintegrated solar tile, the ‘eQube’, providing an easy to install, efficient and stylistic option for renewable energy solutions.

The eQube tile, manufactured in partnership with Verditek who produce the solar cells, has been specially pressed into Metrotile’s popular Qube profile to provide an integrated, sleek solar panel that is designed to be installed all in one installation, making the process of providing solar power to homes a less daunting and more efficient task. The benefits of a fully-integrated solar tile means it adds no additional height, therefore providing an attractive aesthetic design whilst reducing the need for retrofitting traditional photovoltaic panels to an existing roof system.

Traditional PV panels also raise weight bearing concerns to roofs, which the eQube overcomes with each tile adding only 1kg to the roof –roughly 6 times lighter than conventional PV panels. The lightweight nature and ease of installation and transport makes it a viable option for providing solar power for offsite and modular construction. From a technical perspective, Metrotile can guarantee the eQube for 25 years, whilst also offering a 10-year peak performance warranty. Each tile provides 67W of power - 60 tiles for 4kwh - generating enough power for a standard detached house, providing the same efficiency per square metre as many traditional PV systems. Metrotile designed the eQube with many of the normal drawbacks of conventional solar panels in mind.

There are 21 individual multicristaline cells per tile, ensuring that if one fails, the rest of the cells keep working. The state of the art thinfilm busbar filament technology confirms the tiles as self-cleaning, with no requirement for maintenance as dirt and silt won’t stick to the panels. Another main benefit of the eQube is that it runs on daylight energy, not sunlight like many traditional panels, a major plus in the UK with the volume of gloomy days year round! www.metrotile.co.uk

Nullifire Expands Into A New Safe Space

The commitment towards protecting both people and buildings from fire takes Nullifire, a brand of CPG UK, once again one-step further in its fire stopping product offering, with the launch of a new safe space to stop fire spread! Cavity barriers have been in high demand due to their role and importance in safeguarding buildings. Cavity barriers are passive fire protection products made of fire-resistant materials, they are used to seal cavities and therefore, prevent the spread of flames and smoke through spaces within the cavities of the building.

This process slows the spread of a fire, increasing the time people are able to evacuate the building and allowing the fire fighters to get the fire under control on a faster time frame, thus reducing the damage to the building. Launched at the Fire Safety Event 2023, and new to Nullifire’s fire stopping product portfolio is the following diverse product range: FJ260 Cavity Barrier, FV025 Small Ventilated Cavity Barrier, FV050 Small Ventilated Cavity Barrier, FV125 Large Ventilated Cavity Barrier, FV225 Large Ventilated Cavity Barrier, FV144 Large Ventilated Cavity Barrier and FV065 Small Ventilated Cavity Barrier Roll. These products are the only product range that has testing with SFS (steel frame system) systems. These new additions represent an important step in Nullifire’s approach to supplying the complete fire stopping solution, which help support the increasing demands for supply chain efficiencies and certified fire protection solutions. More details at nullifire.com/en-gb/products-systems/fire-stopping/cavity-barriers/.

Flowcrete are pleased to announce the launch of a new RIBA approved Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar, The Importance of Protecting Car Park Structures. The newly launched CPD covers some of the common methods of waterproofing car park structures such as polyurethane, asphalt and polymethyl methacrylate along with their benefits and pitfalls. Participants are also provided with key guidance when specifying resin waterproofing for multi-storey car parks such as slip-resistance and fire safety which are important factors in the design of construction projects such as car parks. The presentation goes further to break down the different considerations depending on whether it’s a new build or refurbishment car park project, and how this makes a difference to how much remedial work is required and the overall costs.

Finally, the seminar discusses what manufacturers can do to assist in sustainable architecture to minimise environmental impact. The 60-minute session can be delivered virtually or face to face by one of Flowcrete flooring experts. Rejoice Chikosi, Flowcrete PR and communications manager says, “Though car parks might look like solid stable constructions, they are quite vulnerable due to several issues and our new CPD has been designed to help you make informed product and system choices on your upcoming car park projects. “Training and development are cornerstones of our business, and we are pleased to expand our CPD portfolio to building professionals.” To book a CPD seminar, visit www.flowcrete.eu/en-gb/campaigns/flowcrete-and-riba/riba-cpd-seminars-booking-request-form

Leading Sussex Brickmaker Joins The Brick Development Association

Sussex Handmade Brick, one of the most successful independent brickmakers in the south of England, has joined the Brick Development Association (BDA). The BDA is the national authority on clay bricks and pavers, advising and promoting the interests of its members, who comprise all the leading brickmakers in the UK.

Harry Harrison, director of Sussex Handmade, based at Three Oaks, near Hastings, explained: “We have been considering joining the BDA for the past couple of years now. We will now have the opportunity to enter the BDA’s prestigious Brick Awards, the Oscars of the brick industry, and to showcase our products and skills to the right customer base, especially architects and housebuilders.” The company, established in 1896, produces 2.25 million handmade bricks a year in 14 different styles.

Bespoke bricks can also be created for customers. Keith Aldis, the chief executive of the BDA, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sussex Handmade Brick as a new member. The company has an illustrious history and has recently completed some absolutely stunning projects of which they are rightly proud. “We look forward to working with Sussex Handmade to promote their products, look after their interests and to engage with them on two of our key campaigns - one on sustainability and one on anti-slavery."

“We are committed to a sustainable future for the brick industry and we have launched an anti-slavery campaign to combat the terrible conditions in which bricks are made in S-E Asia and then sold over here as British bricks. Sussex |Handmade have already indicated they will support both campaigns.” Mr Harrison commented: “Joining the BDA is a significant new chapter in the proud history of our company. As we continue to successfully restore and to renovate existing period buildings as well as creating sensitive new builds, it will be very reassuring to have the support of the BDA.”

Sussex Handmade have recently completed three prestigious projects. They are: Athlone House in Highgate – formally known as Caen Wood Towers - was built in the 1870s and has been the home of several important industrialists. It has recently been transformed from a derelict house to the impressive grande mansion, estimated to be worth in excess of £130m.The company provided over 200,000 handmade bricks and 40,000 bespoke handmade brick specials and worked with another BDA member, Marshmoor Bricks on this magnificent project.

Winchester College is an all-boys private school with approximately 700 pupils. This modern housing project, which was undertaken by architects Cowper Griffiths presented many challenges. Located close to the Kings Gate area of the college, the development comprised 11 beautifully designed terraced houses.

Sussex Handmade Brick manufactured over 70,000 bricks and specials in a bespoke blend of Guestling Red, Waverely Orange and Westfield Bricks to echo the area’s rich history.

The Galleries, Brentwood, Essex. Originally built in the 1850s as a hospital, it closed its doors in 2001. After standing derelict for 14 years, City & Country painstakingly and sympathetically restored the buildings. After helping with several of City and Country’s projects, Sussex Handmade was approached to assist with this particularly challenging project and provided in excess of 150,000 bricks in a blend of Guestling Red, Waverley Orange as well as blue glazed headers to restore and renovate the existing period buildings onsite as well as creating sensitive new builds.

Mr Harrison concluded: “We are very proud of our part in these three projects and our role in keeping the art of handmaking bricks alive. All our bricks are hand thrown into traditional hardwood moulds, sanded and cut and turned by hand. Now, thanks to our membership of the BDA, our story is going to reach a much wider audience.” www.sussexhandmadebrick.co.uk

Tile of Spain – Tile Trends from Cevisma 2023