BRICKS
JEMMA ISON – SUSTAINABILITY MANAGER AT KEYSTONE GROUP AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION EXPERT FOR IG MASONRY SUPPORT – HIGHLIGHTS HOW PREFABRICATED MASONRY TECHNIQUES ELEVATE BRICK’S STATUS AS A SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL… Innovative masonry support systems elevate brick’s low-impact status
Jemma Ison.
B rick is one of the world’s most sustainable building materials. Reliable, durable and recyclable, bricks’ evolution as a low-impact product has been hastened by the introduction of increasingly innovative masonry support systems. Masonry is a classic and timeless building material that achieves superior, maintenance-free results. Utilising masonry in prominent areas can be essential to delivering an architect’s overall vision, or fulfilling a client’s brief to ensure a project remains in keeping with the local surroundings. Brick slip systems are adaptable to suit any application. Ideal for small openings over window heads but also delivering effortless results
spanning an entrance of a commercial building. Whatever the desired finish, IG Masonry Supports prefabricated units provide high-quality results at low environmental impact. TIME AND ENERGY SAVER The average time it takes to create intricate masonry details with prefabricated brick-slip solutions is estimated to reduce time by 90% in comparison to traditional onsite methods. As well as the time saving factor there are many other benefits associated with offsite production, from improved construction efficiencies and reduced onsite waste to minimal site impacts due to the fit-and-forget design. Furthermore,
a pre-fabricated unit is produced in line with manual handling guidelines. Therefore, designed to be easily managed and handled onsite. This eliminates the consumption of any fuel or electricity needed to aid the installation process.
SKILLS SHORTAGE While highlighting the direct and
indirect sustainable benefits of these prefabricated methods, it is also a recognised challenge that traditional techniques require the services of a highly-skilled bricklayer. In the current climate, this might not be an appointment that is easy to secure. The bricklaying sector, as with the construction industry as a whole, is in the midst of a well-
“Brick slip systems are adaptable to suit any application.”
98 | NI BUILDER
FOLLOW US ON:
www.northernbuilder.co.uk
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online