FEATURE
Supply Trailblazers A new business in Belfast that uses a technology to impregnate wood with a unique fire retardant is making waves in the construction world here. Emma Deighan talks to HALT General Manager Noel McKernan about how it will make the difference.
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aunched last month, HALT in West Belfast’s Springbank Industrial Estate is a sister company of firm Pure Fitout. The HALT treatment facility impregnates wood species of many varieties with a unique fire retardant solution from Danish company Burnblock®. HALT has the exclusive rights to this non-toxic and biodegradable fire retardant treatment, which could support a move towards more timber-framed houses here, subsequently supporting the island-wide housing crisis and helping the building sector in its drive to net zero carbon emissions. Noel McKernan, general manager at the business, says HALT was born from a perceived increase in the requirement for wooden interior linings and exterior timber cladding with the highest fire safety standards achievable. A £2.5m investment and a partnership with Burnblock saw the launch of the factory last month, with a team of five and growth on the agenda. “Fire safety is paramount, and impregnation of wood is the best method of achieving this,” Noel begins. “With no other treatment facilities available on the island of Ireland, investment was made which resulted in HALT. Timber treated at HALT achieves the highest European fire safety rating for a combustible material, B,s1-d0.” In industry terms that rating translates as having a very limited contribution to fire, absent or very little smoke emissions and no burning droplets. HALT is Ronan Higham, managing director of Pure Fitout’s business. That firm has established a name in building circles and is the company behind many key names in their respective industries. This includes The Dean Hotel in Galway, the Five Guys fast food empire here, Boojum, Spoon Street and a host of other retail, office and hospitality sites in the UK and Ireland.
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