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Traditionally, exposed roof flashing is often created from lead, which has a high value. For a contractor, storing costly materials such as this on site is risky since it has the potential of being stolen. Owen Balaam of Icopal discusses the importance of working with products, which boasts Secured by Design ‘Police Preferred Specification’ accreditation and therefore focus on crime prevention.
Secured by Design is the official UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of designing out crime. The initiative recognises the importance for crime prevention at all stages of the build process from the design and layout right through to the construction stages, while promoting the use of security standards for a wide range of applications and products. The accreditation was established by the Association of Chief Police Officers and demonstrates that a product has met the required quality standards. In fact, the principles of Secured by Design have been proven to achieve a reduction of crime risk by combining minimum standards of physical security and well-tested principles of natural surveillance and defensible space.
Products and materials, which are stolen during construction stages, can cause huge disruption on site and for the project as a whole. For the roofing contractor, the result is increased costs and delays, which in turn affects profitability and customer trust. With this in mind, considering products, which boast Secured by Design accreditation, should be high on the agenda.
In terms of roof flashing it is necessary to look at alternatives to expensive lead flashing, in particular, ones that have no scrap value. Since the product has no scrap value, the risk of being stolen is reduced significantly. FormFlash, a waterproof material from Icopal, which looks like lead, provides this alternative and is therefore ideal in terms reducing the opportunity for crime. The product can be used wherever lead can be used. In fact, FormFlash is currently the only lead replacement-roofing product that has gained Secured by Design accreditation meaning that it is a police preferred specification. Meeting the requirements of this accreditation provides the contractor with the security they require for their materials on site during the construction stages.
In addition to being an anti-theft alternative, a product such as FormFlash also boasts a host of other benefits for the contractor. Lead flashing is a heavy product to handle on site where as a lead-alternative, can be over 50% lighter than Code 4 lead flashing. This makes the product easier to handle on site, provides health and safety advantages and results in the job to be completed quicker.
Further ease and speed of installation also comes from the product providing flashings up to 10m in length without joints, unlike with traditional lead flashing. In addition, a lead flashing alternative is often easier to cut and is malleable, which makes it easy to form. Cutting can usually be achieved with a sharp knife or tin snips. These benefits further improve ease and speed of installation.
In terms of installation, a lead alternative can be installed and worked in the same way as lead but from a health and safety aspect, it is far easier. Unlike with lead, the need for protective measures is reduced significantly; all that is required are gloves to protect from cuts.
For the end client a lead-flashing alternative, such as FormFlash, not only helps to reduce costs, it is also environmentally friendly and non-toxic. It is created from monolithic strong, durable SEBS modified bitumen blend, which means it is lead-free and has no other heavy metals or PVC included in its creation.
Security and reducing the risk of crime on site should be a key consideration for any project. The potential disruption, cost and time, should a material be stolen, could have a significant impact on a project. In addition to reducing the opportunity of crime, alternatives to lead can provide a wide range of further benefits such ease of installation and for the roofing contractor, this can furthermore aid in terms of reduced costs and speed of installation.
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