Xtratherm, a leading manufacturer of high quality PIR and phenolic foam insulation, has announced their sponsorship of the 2012 Brick Awards, presenting the Supreme Award that goes to the project judged to be the overall winner.
The annual Brick Awards, now in its 36th year, is one of the longest established and most widely respected design awards in the UK. This year’s event takes place on 13th November at the Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel. It will be hosted by Wayne Hemmingway MBE, the chair of Building for Life, (the national standard for well-designed homes and neighborhoods’ forum).
The Awards, hosted by the Brick Development Association (BDA), recognise excellence in design and construction using brick. Awards are made in a number of categories covering different aspects of design and construction. Each year 15 prestigious trophies are awarded to successful projects, with a further ‘Supreme Award’ going to the overall winner.
This is the first year that Xtratherm has sponsored the event and it reflects the company’s commitment to supporting traditional building techniques and materials such as brick and the craftsmen who use them. Government wants to improve the thermal efficiency of both new and existing buildings and there is a great pressure on the building industry to use modern materials or techniques, including prefabrication to achieve this. However Kerry Westlake National Sales & Marketing Manager of Xtratherm says: “Xtratherm believes passionately that traditional materials, including brick can be used by traditional builders to deliver low energy buildings and achieve the zero carbon targets that have been set by government.”
The company has invested heavily in product innovation and has pioneered the development of engineered solutions to reduce thermal bridging and raise performance. These products improve building performance, and provide quicker and more cost effective ways to install for craftsman and builders. Xtratherm complements its product development by supporting builders and installers with comprehensive training, so they acquire the up-to-date skills and knowledge to use these products effectively in traditional brick-built homes and buildings. This approach supports the UK construction industry and its supply chain, helping to protect jobs, while at the same time delivering improved thermal efficiency and energy savings.
Sarah Heulin, Marketing Manager of the BDA says: “The standard of submissions this year is the highest ever with 300 entries, of which over 80 were shortlisted for one of the 16 awards. The Brick Development Association is proud to have Xtratherm an innovative company, who supports the brick industry, to sponsor our main award.”
