Robust Details promotes Aircrete use for Part E

Builders and specifiers now have a growing suite of aircrete-based RD's to meet Part E in a variety of situations.

The approval of a new thin-layer aircrete Robust Detail (RD) for sound insulation of separating walls in semi-detached and terraced houses using thin-joint mortar, together with two new RD's for separating floors with aircrete flanking walls in flats and apartments, means that builders and specifiers now have a growing suite of aircrete-based RDs to meet Part E in a variety of situations.

The new RDs were launched at a press day held by Robust Details at H+H Celcon's offices at Borough Green, Kent, in January.

Comments Ian Exall, marketing director for H+H Celcon: "This is a very important development".

"With an increase in housing density and with flats accounting for a greater proportion of the market, sound insulation is becoming a much more important factor in choosing a construction method".

"Having a suite of Robust Details for aircrete makes it is easier to specify Celcon products for flats and apartments as well as houses".

"It also demonstrates what an excellent all-round building product aircrete is".

"Celcon products are very effective for thermal insulation, offer a fast and easy method of laying foundations and, when used with Celcon's Thin-Joint system, speed the build process above ground significantly".

"H+H Celcon is the only manufacturer to focus exclusively on the development and manufacture of aircrete products".

"Customers can rest assured that no-one knows more about aircrete than we do".

The latest aircrete Robust Detail for separating and flanking walls in semi-detached and terraced houses using thin-layer mortar is E-MW-7.

The method of applying the thin layer mortar to the Celcon blocks ensures both the bed and perp end joints are fully filled which can be a potential weak spot in sound insulation, so the acoustic performance is even better than using masonry with traditional 10mm mortar joints.

E-WM-7 joins E-WM-6, which already offers a solution for separating and flanking walls using aircrete with traditional mortar.

These constructions surpass the minimum level for Robust Details, which is 5dB higher than the mandatory performance level of Approved Document E for airborne sound.

Aircrete can be used for flanking walls in flats and apartments with the new RDs for separating floors (E-FC-3 and E-FC-4) specifying that Celcon Standard or Hi-Seven block work can be used with E-FC-3 and Celcon Solar, Standard or Hi-Seven Block with E-FC-4.

For E-FC-3 the floor should comprise 65mm sand/cement screed or 40mm (min) proprietary screed (80kg/m2 nominal), 5mm foamed polyethylene layer 30-36kg/m3, 25mm mineral wool batt 140kg/m3 (min) or 25mm expanded (SD grade), or EPS board and 150mm (min) precast hollow core plank (min 300kg/m2).

For E-FC-4 the floor should comprise 65mm sand/cement screed or 40mm (min) proprietary screed (80kg/m2 nominal), 6mm IsoRubber Base and 150mm (min) precast hollow core plank (min 300kg/m2).

Due to aircrete's unique mass law, Celcon blockwork walls, although light in weight can outperform the sound insulation characteristics of heavier constructions of similar thickness.

The structure of aircrete is key to this; the millions of non-interconnecting bubbles, which are captured in the structure of each Celcon block, make excellent sound and thermal insulators.

H+H Celcon has published a guide: Celcon Solutions to Part E.

Copies can be obtained from the company's marketing department.

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