Cemex UK launches Ready Wallform at Ecobuild
In today’s world, where there are shortages of raw materials and global pressure on energy supply, the new Cemex Ready Wallform can provide a solution for the UK housing market, where demand for homes far outstrips current rates of supply.
Ready Wallform is an insulating concrete formwork system (ICF), a combination of large, hollow lightweight blocks that lock together to provide a permanent formwork into which readymix concrete can be poured.
The product is the result of a partnership between Beco Products, who manufactures the ICF units and Cemex, one of the leading suppliers of readymix concrete in the UK. The two companies will now work together to promote the system, integrating other products from the Cemex range to offer a packaged solution to the housing market.
The system is currently being used in a development of 18 houses by Gusto Homes in Lincoln. It creates an integrated thermal shell for the house, giving years of energy savings and a more comfortable living environment. The polystyrene and concrete contribute to an environmentally friendly system using sustainable and recyclable materials, resulting in a structure that can offer low, zero or passive energy performance.
The houses will achieve U-Values in the range of 0.30 W/m2k down to 0.10 W/m2k, highlighting the effectiveness of ICF. Cavity walls have an approximate value of 1.6 W/m2k and solid brick walls 2.0 W/m2k.
Cemex has supplied in excess of 900 m3 of concrete and screed to the development to date from its local plant in Lincoln. The ICF units were manufactured and supplied by Beco from its facility in Brigg, North Lincolnshire. The project represents the first major venture between the two companies.
“ICF is not a new concept and is prominent within the self build market where Beco have vast experience and an excellent reputation. Cemex Ready Wallform is positioned to take construction of houses and a wider range of buildings such as apartments, office blocks, hotels and care homes into the modern age. The concrete provides a high-strength, thermal structure with the added benefit of the polystyrene blocks providing considerable additional thermal insulation,” said Mathew Tranter, Business Manager – Housing Solutions.
“For the house builder the system is fast and simple to construct with significantly lower labour costs and no ongoing maintenance required. The houses in Lincoln are designed to maximise thermal efficiency and represent an important step towards more medium and large scale developments adopting ICF technology. The establishment of the partnership with Cemex demonstrates a strong belief in the system and confirmation that alternative methods of construction are shifting firmly into the mainstream,” added Robin Miller of Beco Wallform.
Adapted from press release by Louise Fordham
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/product-news/05032015/cemex-uk-launches-ready-wallform-at-ecobuild-2015-170/
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