Britain's best source of building product and construction news

Southdale Homes, the the North's largest social housing developer, has selected Forticrete as its sole supplier of cast stone products in a move to significantly reduce breakages on site. Andy Trowell, Purchasing Manager at Southdale Homes, said: 'Cast stone as a building material is susceptible to breakage and damage on site because of the drying-out time the product requires to reach full strength. Since switching to Forticrete we have reduced breakages on site, saving money and time.'

A new version of the Stepoc dry-build high-strength walling system has been developed by manufacturers Forticrete. Available in full length, half length and plain end/corner units, the Stepoc 325 basement block is 325mm wide, enabling the fast construction of single skin basement retaining walls up to 4 metres high which can carry 2 x leaves plus insulation and cavity. With its extra width and new internal design, the 325 basement block can accommodate reinforcement bars adjacent to either or both faces if required to provide enhanced strength. Once laid to a half running bond, and with reinforcement in place, the blocks are bonded with liquid concrete which is poured down through the interconnected cavities in the blocks. The design of the blocks creates a cascade effect which ensures a smooth filling of the concrete and forces out any air, creating walls which have both compressive and lateral strength. Built dry, with no mortar joint, the blocks require no special onsite skills or techniques as each unit weighs less than 20kgs, well within the HSE guidelines for a single man repetitive lift.

Over 600m2 of Stepoc dry walling has been supplied by Forticrete for a high profile £8 million hotel and residential build next to Euston station. The block was originally specified solely as a retaining wall for the basement level of the development but it proved so quick and easy to lay the project manager took the decision to change the specification mid-build to incorporate Stepoc as a structural wall into a further three storeys of the building.

Over 600m2 of Stepoc dry walling has been supplied by Forticrete for a high profile £8 million hotel and residential build next to Euston station. The block was originally specified solely as a retaining wall for the basement level of the development but it proved so quick and easy to lay the project manager took the decision to change the specification mid-build to incorporate Stepoc as a structural wall into a further three storeys of the building.

Leighton Buzzard-based concrete roof tile manufacturer, Forticrete, has completed the move of its tile manufacturing operations to a new state-of-the-art facility in the town. The 'ultra-modern' 13-acre site is said to be the very first multi-product concrete tile manufacturing facility to have been be built in the country for more than 20 years. The company said the move was a 'tremendous investment, bringing benefits in every area from productivity, working conditions, road links and reduced environmental impact'. The new site is larger than the previous one and boasts a better layout and large amounts of surrounding land allowing for further growth.

This product appeared in Building Products more than 12 months ago. Please contact Forticrete directly for further details.

After auditing its entire supply chain's environmental impact, David Wilson Homes has awarded Forticrete its Award for Most Improved Environmental Performance. All of Forticrete's sites are certified to British Standard EN 14001. Waste to landfill and usage of natural resources has been reduced, as well as 100% of process water is recycled.

This product appeared in Building Products more than 12 months ago. Please contact Forticrete directly for further details.