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Product category: Design Services and Hard Landscaping
News Release from: Tarmac | Subject: Mortar and screed products
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial Team on 21 December 2006

Time to specify performance says Tarmac

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Tarmac is urging specifiers to speed up the introduction of the performance-based European Standards for mortar and screed products (BS EN 998 and BS EN 13813).

Tarmac is urging specifiers to speed up the introduction of the performance-based European Standards for mortar and screed products (BS EN 998 and BS EN 13813), which have been introduced over the last twelve months As a market-leading provider of mortars and screeds, Tarmac is supporting the introduction of the standards by providing specifiers and contractors with additional information to help simplify the transition

For example, product literature and delivery documentation includes dual descriptions.

While the former British Standards were based on a recipe approach, the new standards provide the specifier with extensive information of the product's performance.

For screed products for instance, this criteria includes information about the compressive strength and flexural strength of the product.

Tarmac has obtained BSI accreditation for its mortar and screed production units, which means customers are reassured that the stated performance has been achieved.

Darren Waters, Tarmac's mortar director, said: "Information on the flexural strength of a product is particularly significant, as it will be available to specifiers for the first time".

"For example, when specifying screed, it may be important, in some circumstances, to use a product with superior flexural performance if there is a potential risk of movement".

""The information on compressive strength is also critical and can be particularly useful when selecting products for structural applications, for example, where using pre-tensioning techniques".

The introduction of these new European standards is expected to further discourage the use of site-mixed mortar and screed, in favour of ready-mixed or dry silo alternatives, which come with a proven performance standard".

"Darren Waters concludes: "We have seen a steady decline in the use of traditional cement and sand materials in favour of high performance, manufactured alternatives and we expect this shift to continue".

""With use of the new high performance, design mixes becoming more widespread, specifiers will be less likely to use materials which come with no proven performance standard.".

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