Former Wienerberger and Forterra specialists to help architects and contractors bring brick back into
play on higher-risk buildings
Yorkshire-based manufacturer ACS Stainless Steel Fixings has appointed two Specification Directors to lead
the national rollout of its Certus™ mechanically-fixed brick slip façade system. The appointments come as demand grows for façade systems backed by robust technical evidence under the Building Safety Act.
Michael Diggle joins as Northern Specification Director, covering the North of England and Scotland, while
Ed Rowell takes on the role of Southern Specification Director. The appointments come after Chris Holleron was named Managing Director of the newly created Certus division this summer.
Both Michael and Ed bring deep experience of the brick and façade sector, each with more than 25 years experience
in the industry. Manchester-born Michael has served at Wienerberger, Forterra, RGB Facades and Cosentino. While Ed, who lives in Cambridgeshire, has also held roles at Wienerberger and Forterra as well as a host of other suppliers.
The pair will work with architects, specifiers and contractors at the earliest stages of design, helping project
teams build Certus into their schemes from the outset as Ed Rowell explained: “Architects want to specify brick, but on taller and more complex buildings the regulatory and programme risks have made that increasingly difficult. Certus changes that – giving
design teams the evidence they need from day one, and I’m looking forward to helping more projects across the South benefit from it.”
Michael Diggle added: “The earlier we’re involved, the more value we can add. By covering the country and working
with design teams at the outset, Ed and I can help them keep brick in the specification, de-risk their BSR submissions and give clients real programme certainty.”
Certus was developed to meet the challenges surrounding façade design under the Building Safety Act and the
Building Safety Regulator (BSR), with project teams on higher-risk buildings now required to provide detailed technical evidence before construction can begin. A rigorously tested, A1 non-combustible mechanically-fixed brick slip system with a 60-year design
life, Certus gives project teams the testing, technical documentation and installation guidance they need to navigate BSR processes with confidence.
Since launching in 2024, Certus has been proven on
complex
schemes, including Hallsville Quarter, a student accommodation scheme in London where façade delivery was cut from 42 weeks to 25 - and at Leven Road in Poplar. The latter is a
riverside
scheme of three radiused residential buildings, where Certus(tm) provided the solution with offsite-fabricated modules handling the complex curves and tight tolerances.
Chris Holleron, Managing Director of the Certus division, who has worked with both Michael and Ed in previous
roles, said: “Certus was born out of collaboration and is built around defined testing, technical evidence and clear installation training and guidance. That gives project teams the tools they need to make informed decisions from design through to completion.
“With Michael and Ed on board, we’re in a strong position to grow, with a solid and experienced team that can
help us bring Certus to many more projects across the UK.”
Find out more about Certus at:
https://acsstainless.co.uk/products/certus-modular-brick-facade-system/certus/
