Jonathan Lowy, Operational Marketing Manager at VMZINC, focuses on the small but important role roof design has in addressing climate change.
In association with
Martello Park Felixstowe, Seafront Cafe, by Plaice Design Company
Unfortunately, war, inflation and disease are nothing new. However, we are undoubtedly facing the ever more serious consequences of climate change — and design and construction have a major part to play in dealing with this situation. This obviously includes material manufacturers and while producers of roof and wall products and systems can only affect the situation in a small way, they nonetheless have a part to play.
Many of the concerns we currently have are not really new. The notion of materials having long lives, being easy to maintain and having attractive aesthetics, has been desirable for centuries: just look at the rooftops of Paris created in the middle of the 19th century by Baron Haussmann in his massive transformation of the city, turning it from a medieval city into the gleaming modern capital of France. For an emotive tour of the zinc rooftops of Paris visit Alain Cornu`s website.
Zinc rooftops of Paris
Due to improved industrial processes, as well as — slightly ironically — an improvement in air quality concerning the reduction in Sulphur Dioxide and therefore acid rain, corrosion rates of zinc have reduced from close to 10 microns per year down to approximately two microns per year. As the thinnest VMZINC sheets are 700 microns thick, this means that zinc roofs and walls will last 100 years or more in most environments. With the added advantage of no special maintenance regime being required, other than the occasional inspection and cleaning out of gutters. Furthermore, VMZINC has considerably improved its production methods which has resulted in reduced energy, water use and emissions. Environmental Product Declarations based on the EN15804 standard are available at VMZINC EPD.
At the end of a zinc roof or walls life, the material is 100 per cent recyclable and due to an extensive recycling network generally over 98 per cent of zinc sheet is indeed recycled.
Martello Park Felixstowe, Seafront Cafe, by Plaice Design Company
Concerning aesthetics, up until 1978, the only choice of finish for a zinc roof was mill finish natural zinc. Natural zinc in time forms a middle grey patina, though this can take many years. VMZINC can now offer nine standard, pre-weathered finishes including the PIGMENTO range that offers a subtle hint of colour. In addition to this, is engraved AZENGAR range. Many of these finishes can be seen on a number of recently completed projects in our Gallery 22 brochure.
Any attractive, durable material requires the correct application from both designers and installers. VMZINC has recently launched a new website which includes information on the different systems on offer, ranging from more traditional fully supported standing seam roofing, to rainscreen facades. Drawings in both .pdf and .dwg format can be downloaded, as well as BIM files through VMZINC’s Design Assistance portal.
The drawings must still be transformed into a completed zinc roof or wall and to aid this, VMZINC has a partnership program called VMZINC@WORK. The companies within this programme have a proven track record of successfully installing VMZINC and as such can offer a 50-year material warranty.
Last but not least, VMZINC offers a number of technical certificates, such as a Brooft4 test that demonstrates no flame spread or penetration. It should also be noted that VMZINC has an A1 or A2 (depending on the finish) classification following EN13501 fire classification of construction products and building elements. VMZINC non-vented warm roofs also have BBA certification.
An example of where a number of these elements have been combined is the Martello Park Café in Felixstowe, Suffolk. VMZINC assisted the architects, Plaice Design Company, by supplying technical details for both the Adeka roofing shingles and the standing seam panels on a building with quite a complex design. The architects chose to mix two finishes, namely pre-weathered QUARTZ-ZINC and PIGMENTO blue. A VMZINC@WORK partner installed the zinc resulting in a 50-year warranty being available to the build owners.
Lampwick for Manchester Life by CallisonRTKL
