It’s impossible to produce a good building without considering what sort of environmental conditions it will be subject to once complete. For example, here in the UK, effective rainwater systems are vital. We get lots of wet weather all year round and this water needs to be channelled properly.

More extreme conditions

It seems as though individuals in the construction industry may have to start planning for more extreme weather conditions. Over recent years, Britain has experienced droughts and flooding, and the weather so far this spring has been unseasonably chilly.

Easter Sunday was the coldest on record in the country and temperatures remained below freezing for many.

Fluctuating on a grand scale

A recent article in the Guardian suggested that the nation’s weather is “fluctuating on a grand scale” and becoming increasingly hard to forecast in the long-term.

Commenting on the changes, meteorologist Nicholas Klingaman of Reading University said: “There is no doubt that the recent weather has been highly changeable – on both sides of the Atlantic. We have blizzards and flooding. America has had droughts and scorching temperatures.”

The expert went on to note that the cause of this irregularity is the jet stream, which is a narrow band of strong winds that circles the planet. About this, Mr Klingaman remarked: “Its behaviour has changed dramatically in the past few years and has produced these lengthy bouts of extreme weather. The real question, of course, is an obvious one: why has the jet stream changed its behaviour?”

Climate change

The Guardian suggested that global warming could be triggering the changes. It said: “The planet’s weather systems are being stirred and shaken and the cause is closely linked to climate change, the result of the trillions of tonnes of carbon that we have been pumping into our atmosphere.”

Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst

Of course, most people want to see largely fine and dry weather. However, while hoping for the best, it’s important to prepare for the worst and as recent flood events in many parts of the UK have shown, the impact of excessive levels of rainfall can be disastrous.

To help ensure that your buildings are as well prepared as possible for periods of heavy and prolonged rain, it’s really important that you invest in effective drainage systems and rainwater pipes.

Taking control

You might not be able to control when the heavens open, but by being shrewd and making your buildings as rain-proof as possible, you can help to mitigate the ill-effects of major downpours.

Here at Alumasc we offer a whole range of BBA-certified downpipes and other systems that might be ideal for your building projects. To find out more about these, just take a look around the rest of our website or get in touch with our friendly and helpful team by phone or email.

This means it’s more important than ever to take advantage of effective rainwater pipes and other systems that are capable of channelling water away quickly and effectively.

Environment Agency warning

According to the Environment Agency, the UK faces increasingly extreme weather conditions, and flooding will play a role in this. The organisation suggested that the country urgently needs to improve its anti-flood defences while also preparing for periods of serious drought, the Guardian reports.

Its worrying conclusion came in the wake of analysis of weather patterns, river levels and flooding events last year, which revealed that some parts of Britain suffered record levels of drought before facing some of the worst flooding ever seen in the country.

In 2012, flooding was recorded on 20 per cent of days, while drought was recorded on 25 per cent of days. Meanwhile, rivers including the Tyne, Ouse and Tone varied from their lowest recorded flows to their highest in just four months.

Extraordinary

Commenting on the unusual weather, Lord (Chris) Smith, chairman of the agency, said: “It was an extraordinary year and it serves as a warning for the country that we face a future in which there are likely to be more and more extreme weather events.”

He added: “We need, very urgently, to prepare plans to deal with these extremes.”

Talking about the huge variations in conditions, the expert went on to state: “We saw environmental damage caused by rivers with significantly reduced flows, hosepipe bans affecting millions and farmers and businesses left unable to take water from rivers. But we also saw the wettest year on record in England.”

Some stats

The Guardian pointed out that while water flow in the Tyne in March 2012 was 28 per cent of its long-term average for that time of year, by June its flow was at 406 per cent following months of heavy rain.

Meanwhile, according to Lord Smith, for every £1 spent on flood defences, £8 is saved in damage caused by flooding.

The place to some for your rainwater systems

If you’re on the lookout for rainwater systems, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Alumasc we’re the UK’s leading manufacturer of BBA-certified aluminium guttering and other similar products. We offer a complete range of polyester powder coated aluminium guttering, downpipes and integrated fascias and soffits.

Our items can suit both contemporary and traditional architecture and everything is designed to meet industry standards, while exceeding in durability, design and performance.

Built to last

When you buy from us, you can be sure you’re getting systems that are designed and built to last and we even provide technical support, extensive warranties and approved installation.

To find out more and to see our range for yourself, just take a look around our website.

The striking Kingswood Locality Hub forms a new three-storey regional centre for Children and Young Person’s services for South Gloucestershire Council, designed by Alec French Architects and Integral Engineering Design. The redevelopment was carried out by Wates Construction resulting in an exemplar sustainable project in line with the Council’s Carbon Reduction Commitment. The project has since received a National Innovation Award nomination from the British Council for Offices (BCO) and was also shortlisted for Best Community Building in the LABC 2012 Building Excellence Awards.

Alumasc’s Skyline Fascia Soffit System was supplied in Basalt Grey, to the Locality Hub and the roofed areas adjoining The Hub to the Civic Centre. The bespoke system was designed by Alumasc in conjunction with Alec French Architects, incorporating 25 different flashings and trims, interfacing with each other to suit various orientations. Alumasc worked with the designers and installers OHS of Bristol, to ensure that the fittings provided a smooth, uninterrupted interface with the timber cladding and feature oriel windows. Alumasc also supplied rainwater goods on adjacent buildings.

Skyline Fascia & Soffit system components give architects great scope in design and specification, for traditional and contemporary projects, whilst providing contractors with simple, well proven fixing methods and concealed bracketry to ensure speed and economy of installation.

Skyline is available in four generic fascia configurations, manufactured in BBA approved polyester powder coated aluminium. Available in any standard RAL colour, it offers a virtually maintenance-free installation for the lifetime of a building.

With immediate effect, standard ‘made to order’ items such as Skyline flashings and copings with simple design requirements are available within 10 working days rather than the previous 25. More complex designs and fixtures requiring special manufacture can also be turned around quickly – lead times will be confirmed on request.

After almost eight years working for Alumasc’s sister company Pendock, Pete Wainer has been appointed as Area Sales Manager for the Rainwater and Drainage division covering Yorkshire and the North East.

Pete joined decorative casing specialists Pendock in 2005 as a Regional Technical Manager, and more recently as National Sales Manager heading up the nationwide sales team.

Pete’s experience of working in partnership with merchants and contractors will ensure he delivers the desired results for Alumasc. He says: “I am really excited about working as part of an expanding team and meeting new customers whilst reacquainting myself with customers from my previous role.

“Being given the opportunity of a new challenge, working on an excellent product range for another market leading brand was exactly what I was looking for. These are very exciting times for both the Alumasc and Harmer brands and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Paul Hetherington, Managing Director of Alumasc’s Rainwater & Harmer Drainage says: “We approached Pete to take on this inter-group opportunity because his skill set made him the ideal candidate. Pete is a highly accomplished salesman with excellent industry knowledge, and we are confident his contribution will make a big difference to the future of our Rainwater and Drainage brands.”

Indeed, the significance of water management has been highlighted over recent months. After experiencing a period of drought, many areas of the UK have been subject to deluge after deluge and all this excess rain has been causing problems.

ABI

According to figures released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the cost of claims made because of floods and storm damage topped £1 billion last year. It noted that 2012 was the wettest recorded year in England and Wales and second wettest in the UK, adding that insurers handled a total of 486,000 claims for flood and storm damage from homeowners, businesses and motorists -equating to 1,330 each day.

The total bill came to £1.19 billion, which was the highest annual figure since 2007, when £3 billion was paid out.

Breakdown

Breaking the statistics down, the ABI revealed that there were 411,000 claims for flood and storm damaged homes during the 12-month period and 47,000 business property claims.

Also, insurers paid out £40 million in business interruption payments to help firms continue trading while their premises were being repaired.

Record breaking

Commenting on the numbers, the ABI’s director of general insurance Nick Starling said: “2012 may have been a record-breaking wet one, but it was business as usual for insurers, who helped thousands of customers recover from the trauma of flooding. Insurers expect bad weather to strike anytime, anywhere and last year highlighted the vital role insurance plays in helping communities recover from our increasingly volatile weather.

“Flooding is greatest natural threat facing the UK and the risk is rising so political consensus and commitment on investment in flood defences, sensible planning decisions and working with the insurance industry is essential.”

Proactive

It may be impossible to control the weather, but by taking advantage of the very best rainwater pipes and other systems, you can help to mitigate the risks of water damage affecting the properties you build.

Here at Alumasc we’re the country’s leading manufacturer of BBA-certified aluminium guttering and rainwater systems.

Take your pick

If you come to us, you can take your pick from a range of aluminium gutters, downpipes and integrated fascias and soffits.

Our products can suit both contemporary and traditional architecture and everything is designed to meet industry standards, while at the same time exceeding expectations in terms of durability, design and performance.

The range of rainwater goods we offer constantly evolves to meet customer demand and you won’t struggle to find solutions that tick all of your boxes.

More info

If you’re keen to find out more, just take a look around the rest of our website or get in touch with our friendly and professional team. We’re on hand to answer any queries you may have regarding our product range.

With many projects being at the mercy of the British weather, speed of installation is an increasing issue for contractors. Now priced at only 20% more than the primed equivalent, Apex Heritage pre-painted removes the need for post-installation paintwork, offers impressive savings of up to 60% on installation time and 30% in materials – it’s a little extra that saves a lot on site.

The pre-painted range boasts a highly durable 4-coat factory-finish, which can last up to seven years before re-painting is required. Eight standard heritage colours are available which now also carry Alumasc’s Certified Paint Mark, to qualify the 4-coat factory system and giving peace of mind that the product is fully protected against the elements.

Paul Hetherington, Managing Director of Alumasc Rainwater and Drainage, says: “Ultimately, when viewed as part of the entire project cost, the 20% premium should be regarded as a long-term saving, not as a short-term cost.”

The new price list also features Alumasc’s full Aluminium Rainwater Systems range, which is available in plain mill finish or in the raincote range of BBA Approved factory applied polyester powder coatings. The standard aluminium RAL colour range has been extended this year, from 16 to 26, with the popular Silver Metallic now available as standard.

All brand new for 2013 is Alumasc’s new range of lightweight Rolled Steel rainwater systems. Ideal for traditional and modern buildings in new build and refurbishment applications, steel is a competitive alternative to uPVC systems, with increased flow rates and longevity. Available in either a galvanised or black coated finish as standard, with other galvanised coated colours available to order.

To find out more and view our updated product range, visit Alumasc Rainwater.

Alumasc, are therefore pleased to announce the promotion of Ivan Colvil to Technical Sales Manager for the Skyline product range.

Ivan has worked as Alumasc’s Rainwater Technical Manager for the past 12 years, with the previous 12 years spent as a Technican. He will now use his knowledge of the industry and the architectural fabrications market to develop Skyline’s product portfolio and enhance its technical support provision.

The role of Rainwater Technical Manager has now been filled by Garry Blowman, who previously worked as Alumasc’s Cast Iron Specialist. Garry will be involved in all aspects of technical support for Alumasc’s entire Rainwater product range and will also remain the first point of contact for Cast Iron enquiries.

The changes take effect immediately, with Garry working alongside Ivan Colvil in his new role, supporting Alumasc’s customers and field sales teams.

Ivan says: “I’m really pleased to be given this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to shaping the future of this innovative product range.”

Commenting on both appointments, Paul Hetherington, Managing Director for Alumasc Rainwater and Drainage, says: “The on-going development of Alumasc’s Rainwater offer has led to an inevitable need for change within the team. By providing a dedicated focus, Ivan will enable Skyline to realise its potential as a product range, and Gary’s technical expertise will provide the perfect support, ensuring Alumasc Rainwater products remain number one in the specification chain”.

To find out more about Skyline and the team, visit Alumasc Harmer Drainage stand at Ecobuild next week, S1710.

Of course, it is important you know your way around the pipes which make up your drainage system as this will enable you to quickly identify problems and fix them before any serious damage can occur.

Below is quick overview of the main components of a standard rainwater collection and drainage system.

Gutter and Pipe Solutions
Guttering is the first line of defence against rain as it catches the rainwater as it runs off your roof and channels it into the nearest available downpipe. An average house should have gutter solutions which are at least 100mm wide as this will enable them to handle the effects of even the heaviest downpour. Downpipes on houses which have gutter measures of 100-115mm should ideally be around 75mm wide. Naturally, properties that have large roofs will most likely need bigger gutter systems to deal with the increased amount of water they will catch

Gutter Outlets
A gutter outlet is the part of the gutter which connects to the downpipe, feeding the captured rainwater directly into it. Outlets can either be straight or have a double bend called a ‘swan neck’ (if the eaves of a house overhang). If you have a roof where two slopes meet in a valley, you will most likely have a fitting called a hopper at the bottom of the channel to catch rainwater (the downpipe then runs from the hopper to ground level).

Gullies
A gully is the ground-level drain into which collected rainwater eventually flows. The gully will often have a u-bend beneath the ground to stop any smells from escaping and rising back up the pipe (especially if the gully is also used to catch waste water from the house). If you live in an older property then your gullies will likely be made of vitrified clay. Newer properties generally have gullies and drains made of PVCu.

To ensure optimal performance, make sure you check your rainwater collection and drainage system regularly, more so when your part of the country is experiencing prolonged bouts of heavy rainfall. Keep a particular eye out for water leaking over the edge of a gutter as this is likely to be evidence of a blockage. If you suspect you have a blockage, get hold of some ladders and clear it out as soon as possible. Do not wait and hope for the best as this will only increase your chances of seeing ugly damp patches make an unwelcome appearance.

The show is providing the perfect platform for Alumasc, who have been working collaboratively with Harmer to develop and deliver the next exciting stage of this software which is now also available for the iPad.

Alumasc’s Drainage Calculator proved an industry first in May last year, and continues to lead the way as its sophisticated software enables users to build roof drainage systems which are automatically compliant to British Standards.

Its eagerly awaited second release, benefits from some important changes, making it an essential tool for Architects and Specifiers alike. Design features include four modules to calculate the following; foul drainage, internal rainwater drainage, flat roof drainage and external rainwater drainage. Version 2.0 is more advanced, but continues to remain free of charge for built environment industry professionals.

There are three key technical developments for Version 2.0:

1) Updates to the software allowing an option for swept / square branch entry plus primary and secondary system use.

2) Updates to the flat roof calculator component, which now includes the new cast iron roof along with the insulated roof outlet ranges.

3) Updates to the rainwater gutter module, to include the addition of the new steel rainwater range.

Version 2.0 of the Drainage Calculator software remains compliant to BS EN 12056:2000 and will continue to place Alumasc and Harmer’s drainage expertise at the forefront of the specification chain.

For further details, and to obtain your complimentary copy of the Calculator, please visit Harmer Drainage at Ecobuild on stand S1710. Or download it here.

Indeed, things like gutters, downpipes and drains are far more likely to give you problems in the colder months as sub-zero temperatures, along with freezing wind, snow and ice lay siege to them for weeks and months on end.

Fortunately, there are measures you can take to mitigate the effects of some of the more common seasonal threats.

Debris and Blockages
High winds send leaves, twigs and other forms of debris everywhere in the winter months. Many of these items will eventually collect in your gutter system (more so if your home is located near to trees). If you do not remove it, this debris will form a blockage and stop rainwater from flowing down a downpipe into the drain. Given time, this trapped rainwater will either overflow or amass into a weight that will force a gutter to crack and leak. Naturally, having water seeping into your property will have negative consequences to the foundations and general condition of the house.

Quite simply, you must ensure that rain water is always able to flow into drains. Therefore, you should get into the habit of checking your gutter system on a regular basis and clearing out any debris before it has the chance to cause any problems.

If you have a conservatory attached to your house then you will also need to check any drainage solutions which are attached to it. Rainwater deposits can build up in-between a house and conservatory and cause problems similar to those noted above, so you must make sure you check your conservatory’s rooftop drainage measures whenever you give your property’s main gutter system a periodical assessment.

Ice and Snow
Not only can a build-up of ice prevent a rainwater gutter from draining properly, it can also put it under considerable strain. Indeed, the extra weight of an ice build-up can cause serious damage and even make a gutter partially or fully collapse.

Ice dams are another common winter gutter problem which are every bit as dangerous. These occur when the heating in your home makes the snow on your rooftop melt, thereby causing melt water to trickle down and collect in your gutter system where it can refreeze and create a blockage (an ‘ice dam’). These dams hamper your drainage system’s ability to function effectively as they stop melt water from having anywhere to go.

Keeping a good eye on your roof and clearing out any ice deposits and dams which occur is really the only way to deal with this problem.

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