Wienerberger, the leading provider of wall, roof and landscaping innovations, has announced a major new partnership with Barratt Developments PLC.
The UK’s largest housebuilder has committed to using Wienerberger’s innovative clay block walling system, Porotherm, to build 1600 homes in the UK – 10% of Barratt’s 2014 build programme.
The contract means that Barratt will be making use of the equivalent of 300,000m2 of Porotherm blocks in 2014.
The Porotherm system, which uses a unique interlocking clay block to deliver striking cost and time efficiencies without compromising quality, will be used to create the internal walls of 1600 properties across the country this year.
The system has been chosen by Barratt as part of its efforts to innovate and improve material quality, sustainability and efficiency in construction. It also means that Barratt has switched from concrete to clay, recognising Porotherm’s comparative lightness, durability and convenience of use on-site for construction workers.
The Porotherm partnership is a result of Wienerberger’s existing relationship with Barratt Developments, in which it provides the housebuilder with bricks for its developments across the UK. The new collaboration will highlight the capability of Wienerberger’s bricks and blocks to work in tandem for Barratt, and indeed the ease of transition for its builders to switch to the new simple Porotherm system.
Steven Boyes, Chief Operations Officer at Barratt Developments, commented: “We have been incredibly impressed by the benefits that Wienerberger’s Porotherm system can offer to our build programmes, and the way that it fits with our focus on innovation. Porotherm is quick to lay, incredibly strong and durable, and dramatically reduces water and mortar usage on site. Aside from the clear sustainability positives of this, it all adds to improving the overall build quality of our homes, which is great news for our customers.”
Harald Schwarzmayr, Managing Director at Wienerberger, commented: “This is a huge partnership for us, and a real opportunity to demonstrate on a large scale just what Porotherm can do. Obviously, Barratt needs no introduction as a company, and it’s testament to its desire to continue to innovate and lead the industry into the future that it has chosen Porotherm over more traditional methods.
"Even though Porotherm has a rich European heritage, the UK construction industry can be a conservative one, so Barratt has shown real foresight and bravery to invest in our Porotherm system. We are confident that the introduction of our blocks, in addition to our bricks, will only see our partnership with Barratt become even more productive and benefit not just Barratt’s customers, but the whole industry.”
The Porotherm system represents a key example of Wienerberger’s commitment towards sustainable construction and the idea of ‘healthy buildings’ – buildings that minimise their environmental impacts through a fabric first approach, while providing the best possible living environment for people.
Made from natural clay, using so little water on site (95% less) and providing thermal, acoustic and humidity efficiency, the Porotherm system was designed to meet that criteria.