The current phase of renovation and refurbishment being carried out on properties owned by Norwich City Council is designed to raise their thermal performance. Whilst the application of weber.therm external wall insulation and render is the core element of this renovation process, additional benefits are gained from replacement of windows, doors and roofline products.  

The weber.therm XP system features light weight insulation boards fixed to a sound substrate and a cementitious one-coat through-coloured render with a meshcloth inlay for enhanced impact resistance.  

Main contractor for Norwich City Council is City Care (the trading name of Morrison Veolia Limited) and specialist application experts, Cornerstone East Anglia, are carrying out the Weber installation. The propeties are mostly pre-war brick structure with roughcast pebbledash render. Kevin Wright, Major Projects Manager for City Care, is impressed with the “retrofit” process. “We check that the original render is sound before the 60mm of phenolic insulation boards are fitted with the fixings going right through the render into the brickwork for stability. Where we have an adequate run we are applying the render by machine pump and when correctly set the scrape-back gives a really excellent finish.”  

Cornerstone’s Tom Eden is responsible for the current contract for 50 properties in Norwich. “The phenolic insulation of the weber.therm XP EWI system gives tremendous insulation. With 60mm of insulation and 12mm of render these properties are dramatically improved. Tennant’s feedback has been great; their utility bills are showing substantial savings in energy use and, quite simply, the homes are now comfortable, warmer, quieter and better looking.” The indicative u-values of the properties will have fallen from 2.09 W/m²k to 0.31 W/m²k from using the weber.therm XP EWI system.  

A properly grouted duct will protect tendons from corrosion by providing an alkaline environment around and between the tendons but challenges are created in the application procedures if there is inconsistency in flow and pumping pressure.  

A number of EN specifications have now been issued that define grouting procedures, test methods and the grout material to be used and these are certified by the independent CARES body.  Due to the specialised nature of post-tensioned grouting, only trained operatives and contractors should be employed in this critical operation.  

CARES recommends solely the use of pre-bagged grouts for use in post-tensioning ducts. weber.cem duct grout is a quality controlled, factory-blended, pre-bagged cementitious grout developed to eliminate on-site errors and complies with the statutory  requirements under the CARES Product Certification Scheme and has been successfully used on many major civil engineering and building projects with total success.  

“Using a CARES certificated product is a specifiers seal of confidence knowing that it will have undergone a strict regime of regulation, testing and inspection,” says Chris Urbanowicz, Product Manager, Weber Construction Mortars.  CARES is the ultimate acknowledgement in the manufacture of construction products through to product installation.  

“For contractors, the use of a CARES certified grout simplifies the on-site testing and approvals route which even though the use of a pre-bagged grout will be more expensive, the cost saving in terms of time and money in not having to conduct so much on-site testing is quite considerable,” Chris continues.   weber.cem duct grout is a non-shrink grout that does not segregate or bleed, with reliable and consistent properties.  It is formulated to be mixed with water and pumped whilst maintaining high flow for up to 90 minutes after mixing.  It has good void filling capabilities and can be used in a wide range of temperatures, from 5 to 30 degrees.  

More information is available on tel: 01525 722169 or visit www.netweber.co.uk and request a copy of the Weber Construction Solutions Handbook.  

The Weber range of proven specialist mortars for civil engineering, concrete and crack repair in buildings meet the new BS EN1504 standard and Weber is providing technically compliant data which meets this standard. Weber offers a comprehensive advisory service to assist surveyors, structural engineers and architects to work within the new regulation. A new RIBA approved CPD training module is now available from Weber to assist the understanding of this complex set of regulations.  

David Reid-Simms, Business Manager, Weber Construction Mortars, welcomes the new standard: “Now there is a unified standard right across Europe that will ensure that concrete repairs are carried out to the same high standards. BS EN1504 integrates the product manufacturer, the specifier and the applicators in a formal and repeatable formula that has 11 principles.  These principles range from protection against water ingress through to corrosion protection techniques. BS EN1504 provides a platform for the management strategy of a structure from initial identification of the problem, selection of the appropriate remedial product category to quality control and on-site application.”    

“Weber has contributed substantially in both time and financial investment in the formation of the new standard which has relied heavily on our expertise in this sector,” confirms Reid-Simms   The second and revised edition of the Construction Solutions Handbook, now available in print and on CD, will continue to be the definitive guide for distributors, stockists, contractors, engineers, architects and surveyors tasked with designing a concrete repair project in total compliance with BS EN1504.  

Call Weber now on 01525 722169 to arrange a CPD presentation at your business location for you and your colleagues, or register online: www.netweber.co.uk.