Current Issue
Heritage Roofing
Heritage roofing - maintaining our iconic buildings
The UK is home to some of the most iconic buildings in the world, from stunning churches and cathedrals to historic stately homes. Each and every one of these remarkable feats of architecture requires regular maintenance to ensure they remain in the very best condition, allowing them to be enjoyed for generations.
Cathedral Care
Restoration and upkeep of cathedrals
There are some 42 Anglican cathedrals in the UK, not to mention 20 or so Catholic cathedrals. Cathedrals form the most important collection of historic buildings in England. The largest and most ancient are internationally famous, the smallest are usually among the most significant buildings in their region and even the most recent are architectural masterpieces.
Master Craftsmen
Championing our heritage with modern craftsmanship
Twenty years ago, English Heritage (now Historic England) published its first-ever Register of Buildings at Risk across England, which featured nearly 2,000 buildings and monuments that were ‘neglected, broken and unloved’. Recently Historic England was delighted to announce that over two-thirds of those buildings were now safe, in both urban and rural areas right across the country.
Traditional Lime
Lime: it’s better for buildings – and for the environment
It is now fairly well known that cement is not good for old buildings and that lime mortar should be used. But why? What are the advantages and what are the disadvantages? In order to begin to answer those questions it is necessary to understand the nature of traditional building, the process by which buildings used to be built, and how it differs from modern construction, the process by which we build today.
Audio Visual
Audio visual equipment in church buildings
This guidance is issued by the Church Buildings Council under section 55(1)(d) of the Dioceses, Mission and Pastoral Measure 2007. As it is statutory guidance, it must be considered with great care. The standards of good practice set out in the guidance should not be departed from unless the departure is justified by reasons that are spelled out clearly, logically and convincingly.
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CRE Events
After the Midlands, onward to Milton Keynes
"CRE Midlands reminded me of the giddy days when it first began – the venue was packed with exhibitors and visitors and there was a busy atmosphere. The whole thing looked great."
Insurance
You need to ensure that reasonable precautions are in place at your church to keep it safe for those who use it. To do this, you need to think about what might cause harm to people.
You will then need to decide if the precautions already in place are adequate. If they are not, you may need to identify further action to prevent any danger. When done formally, this is known as a risk assessment.
Church Maintenance
Church maintenance and repair: Calendar of Care
Just as prevention is always better than cure, maintenance is preferable to major repairs. But, such repairs may not always be avoidable. Church Care offers a monthly guide in our coming issues Starting in Spring
We can help you understand the common problems and areas that need your special attention, and give you tips for regular maintenance schemes.
Pest Control
Michael Palin warns of pest threat to churches
Michael Palin is supporting the future of the UK’s historic churches and chapels with a voiceover for a new animated film. The 80 second animation, produced for the National Churches Trust, highlights why churches are some of the nation’s best loved buildings.
Town Halls
The history of the great Victorian Town Halls of Northern England
From industrial squalor to civic pride, the story behind some of the most impressive buildings of the North involve a unique mix of economics, grand designs and noble sentiments within communities.
Lead Roofing
Lead is one of the oldest materials in the roofing industry and is still commonly used throughout the world today.
Lead roofing is a traditional roofing method which has been used in the industry for hundreds of years, and is therefore proven to be extremely reliable. Lead roofing, and sand-cast lead, in particular is ideal for old buildings such as churches or historical renovations, whereas milled lead roofing is a mass-produced alternative, used for precision and accuracy in homes and commercial buildings alike.
Lightning Protection
When lightning strikes are you protected against this act of God?
The issue of lightning protection in churches is one that has exercised this publication for many years. In this four-part series of spotlights on the issue we will be revisiting various aspects of the subject, beginning with an overview of current thinking.
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Arch Timber Protection
PROVEN FIRE PROTECTION FOR TIMBER
If you are involved in the specification of building materials and you have chosen wood - congratulations! An admirable choice for our most versatile, environmentally advanced and sustainable building material.
And if you have concerns about the use of wood in terms of the threat of fire, don’t worry! Correct design specification and the use of modern fire retardant pre-treatments can make wood into a long lasting and safe choice of material. In the event of a fire, specific pre-treatments will effectively slow down the process of combustion and restrict the surface spread of flame, giving more time for the safe evacuation of personnel from the building and greater opportunity for fire fighters to save the structure.
Arch Timber Protection is the leading European supplier of fire retardant products and services for the effective protection of timber. Its fire retardant products include leading brands, such as DRICON and NON-COM Exterior treated timber.
Both fire retardant products, with proven track records going back over 25 years, are applied by closely controlled industrial pressure treatments. These provide a long term and highly effective surface spread of flame protection that allows timbers to be used with real confidence in a wide variety of interior and exterior applications.
The treatments are designed to meet BS 476 Class 0 and Class 1 together with the equivalent EN fire test Euroclass B and C requirements.
DRICON is the only BBA approved fire retardant treatment for timber. This humidity resistant treatment is perfect for the protection of interior timbers, although it can also be used for exterior applications, where a protective and maintained decorative coating is required in these situations.
NON-COM Exterior is a leach resistant treatment that provides protection for exterior timbers and timbers used in severe damp situations, without the requirement of a decorative coating.
Recently, the UK Wood Protection Association has announced findings on 21 year durability tests carried out on both DRICON and NON-COM Exterior treated timbers. The treatments, when re-tested, showed no loss of performance against the original testing carried out in the 1980s.
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