Raising the standard naturally in roofing tiles durability
publication date: Jul 9, 2008
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author/source: David Harris
In view of the wildly varying climatic conditions we experience across the British Isles, it is not unreasonable for those specifying roofing tiles to expect to see an indication of durability in respect of the products they are choosing.
As a measure of durability, the current UK Method D standard (BS EN 539-2) requires that, under test conditions, roofing tiles are laid on a mock roof, subjected to simulated heavy rain, frozen and then rapidly thawed. Tiles are required to withstand 100 of these cycles without showing any visible signs of damage.
Indeed, according to Dr. Andrew Smith of test institute, CERAM Building Technology, “Based on CERAM’s experience with clay roof tile usage in the UK and Ireland, tiles that meet 100 cycles very rarely show any ‘in service’ issues in respect to frost resistance problems.”
More testing times
It is anticipated that the reportedly more severe Method E test (EN 539 – 2) from continental Europe will be adopted in the UK within the next few years. Method E differs from Method D in that 1 cycle comprises of tiles being completely submerged in a bath of water, drained, frozen and rapidly thawed. Tiles are required to withstand 150 of these cycles without showing any visible signs of damage. It would, therefore, be fair to assume that the majority of roofing tile manufacturers, importers and distributors in the country, would be happy in the knowledge that their products currently meet the current Method D standard and were capable of passing any future Method E test standard.
Midland Slate and Tile - taking testing to the limits
Such complacency, however, couldn’t be further from the minds of the management team at Midland Slate and Tile, importers of Ashbury tiles, one of the very few genuinely hand-made clay roofing tiles currently available in the country.
Hand-made to last a lifetime
“When we developed the Ashbury range of tiles,” comments company Managing Director, Jason Hughes, “we realised they were clearly something very special. “Hand-thrown using carefully selected clays, by skilled craftsmen in the tile producing region of Turkey,” he continued, “Ashbury tiles offer slight variations in hue and texture, plus a subtle lack of uniformity that simply cannot be achieved by hand finished extruded tiles. Consequently, we set about demonstrating that Ashbury tiles, although manufactured in the traditional way, are perfect for both new build and renovation projects - and will last a lifetime.”
Demanding test programme
Not content with successfully passing both Method D and Method E tests, Midland Slate and Tile put in place a process to ensure that randomly selected batches of Ashbury tiles would be regularly tested by CERAM as an assurance of ongoing quality.
Remain on test
Determined to establish just how durable Ashbury hand-made tiles actually were, Midland Slate and Tile also arranged that after successfully passing the Method D 100-cycle frost test - and then exceeding the more severe European Method E 150-cycle test by 100 cycles – randomly selected Ashbury Tiles would remain on test.
Breaking news – 440 cycles without damage
In fact, only last month, CERAM reported that the Ashbury tiles in question had now been tested to 300 cycles at Method D with no signs of damage. More impressive, however, is the breaking news that Ashbury tiles have reached 440 cycles at European Method E with no signs of damage.
Commenting on this latest result, Midland Slate and Tile’s Jason Hughes said, “In achieving 440 cycles at Method E – almost three times more than demanded by the European standard – we have demonstrated that architects, specifers, property owners and builders can select Ashbury in total confidence.”
Referring to the earlier test success, Dr. Andrew Smith said: “Tiles tested to 300 cycles and showing no damage, can give additional confidence that the durability of these products is significantly greater than that of tiles tested to 100 cycles.”
30-year insurance-backed guarantee
As a consequence of Midland Slate and Tile’s considerable focus on product quality, Ashbury is also the only roofing tile available in the UK that is covered by an insurance-backed 30-year guarantee.
Midland Slate & Tile
sales@ashburyrooftiles.co.uk
