Latest smartroof^® news:

April 2008 - Robust Detail Approval

smartroof® are pleased to announce that we have successfully completed all of the necessary sound testing of our system and that our construction details will appear in the next edition of the Robust Detail Handbook. This will allow the use of smartroof® onto both a range of masonry constructions as well as timber frame and will be available from summer 2008.

Jan 2008 - The Barratt 'Green House' has smartroof®

The Barratt ‘Green House’ was chosen as the winning design in the British Homes Awards 2007 voted for by both readers of the Mail on Sunday and viewers of Real Estate TV. Designed by architects Gaunt Francis, the home will be the first UK house that not only meets the UK Government's zero carbon criteria but is also suitable for volume production. Barratt, Britain’s largest house builder by volume, began work at the BRE on the project in October 2007, with completion due in April 2008. smartroof® were able to achieve the exceptionally low u values required for this energy efficient scheme by incorporating the new 200mm thick PIR board from Celotex as the primary insulant. Insulation specialists Warren Insulation oversaw the technical development of the product to ensure the required compliance with Level 6 of the Code For Sustainable Homes. smartroof® licencee RK Timber, supplied the panel roof system and are currently developing sales of smartroof® across the UK. David Himmons, Director of smartroof® comments: “This has been an exciting project for all involved and means that smartroof® is at the forefront of the drive towards zero carbon housing.” Housing Minister Yvette Cooper has asked the BRE to assist the house building industry in achieving zero carbon homes by 2016. The ‘Green House’ will be the first house to be built by a mainstream homebuilder qualifying as zero carbon and therefore zero stamp duty.

May 2007 - Modern Methods Of Construction

The BRE was recently commissioned to prove the MMC status of smartroof®. They concluded that smartroof® MMC attributes were as follows: ► It is quick and efficient to build. ► The quality assured processes give a good end product. ► It is arguably safer than traditional build methods. ► smartroof® therefore now qualifies for use in both Housing Corporation and English Partnership funding schemes. Click Here to download a copy of the full report (2.6MB).

March 2007 - Air Tightness Advantages

The Building Regulations now stipulate that a proportion of all new build properties are tested to ensure that they are sufficiently air tight. smartroof® has carried out independent tests with Chiltern Dynamics to prove that the interlocking design of the smartroof panels has inherent advantages in ensuring the air tightness of the completed structure. Current Building Regulations are for contractors to achieve results below 10 M3/H/M2 @ 50 Pa. A recent traditional build scheme for a major house builder utilising smartroof® achieved an exceptional 2.40 M3/H/M2 @ 50 Pa.

January 2007 - Robust Detail Sound Testing

smartroof® has commenced testing of its spandrel panel construction to Robust Detail standards. Our initial batch of testing has proved that the spandrel panels out perform the underlying blockwork by up to 10db. The successful completion of this testing programme will give our customers the flexibility to work either to Robust Details or give them the confidence that pre completion testing will be in excess of the current Building Regulations. For further details regarding smartroof® sound testing please do not hesitate to contact us.

December 2005 - smartroof® secure repeat order from Willmott Dixon

Willmott Dixon has recently placed their second order for smartroof® insulated structural timber roof panels for another development in the Greater London area.  Delivery of roof panels which speedily form light & spacious living accommodation are scheduled to commence within 6 weeks. smartroof® licensee Wyckham Blackwell will manufacture & deliver the panels to site where installation usually takes about 2 hours per house. The initial contract with Willmott Dixon specified smartroof® panels in combination with light weight steel frames, whilst the latest order features conventionally constructed masonry walls. Richard Evans, Technical Director of Wyckham Blackwell Ltd commented that he was delighted to receive this vote of confidence in the smartroof® system. He said that it clearly demonstrates the versatility of smartroof® which may also be used in combination with timber frame & concrete panel walls.

June 2005 - BRE Offsite 2005

smartroof® exhibited at the BRE Offsite exhibition again this year which was attended by over 3000 people. These were key decision makers from industry and government involved in the procurement, design and construction of buildings using off-site and modern methods of construction. The show was officially opened by Deputy PM, John Prescott who said “Modern methods of construction have a wonderful opportunity to meet the UK housing shortage”. The smartroof® system is factory produced saving time on site, improving quality and reducing overall build costs.

January 2005

Tests were carried out at The Building Test Centre in October 2004 to see whether spandrel panels could provide the Part E 45dB sound reduction requirement for party walls. The spandrel panel exceeded this by a staggering 20db!! Read the test results here

September 2004

Sixteen smartroof® units are currently under construction for delivery to a Housing Association contract in East Finchley. This is a just-in-time, fast track build program requiring factory made quick assembly items which the smartroof system is highly qualified to achieve.

July 2004

smartroof® has it’s first export success with units delivered to Ireland. The unique construction of smartroof® panels makes them ideal for transporting to remote sites and maximises container space.

April 2004

The smartroof® system is runner up at the Interbuild New Product Awards in the Best On-Site Product category.