The LSA lead sheet manual: a traditional material goes into cyberspace

Most people are familiar with the use of lead sheet as a traditional building material, for roofing and many other decorative purposes. For those active in the construction industry, however, the material is very much an up-to-date sustainable product. The technical elements of the production, specification and installation of lead sheet are the province of the Lead Sheet Association (LSA), whose Rolled Lead Sheet – The Complete Manual has set the technical standards for the industry for many years and is the essential reference point for leadworkers, architects and specifiers.

The manual provides the comprehensive information source on the use of lead sheet, while the e-book gives the benefit of easy one-click indexing, page or page-range printing, zoom function and cloud access - all from anywhere with an internet connection. The manual will also be updated on a regular basis.

The manual begins by summarising the research the LSA has carried out in conjunction with BRE and Franklin+Andrews into the benefits of using lead, particularly in relation to its ‘economic, technical and environmental characteristics’. In an innovation only possible online, the e-book then provides links to other documents and to a video summarising the findings.

The same facility allows the reader to link to information regarding the material’s ‘green’ credentials. The manual describes British Standard Lead as ‘the new eco material that has been around for hundreds of years’. A YouTube animation – The Truth about Lead – gives a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of lead, as well as its green credentials and can be viewed at www.leadroof.org.uk/the_truth_about_lead.

The real value of the manual, though, is in the comprehensive technical guidance it provides.

In this respect the e-book is a reproduction of the hard copy that has been in use for many decades, although constantly updated. There are sections on fixings, joints, flashings and gutters, as well as accessories, working methods and health and hygiene.

All the technical sections are accompanied by excellent illustrations, photographs and explanatory diagrams. The nature of the e-book means the format is the same as the original paper version, making it particularly appropriate to viewing on the now ubiquitous tablet.

All-in-all this new version makes the manual accessible on site in a way a hard copy never could be.

The cost of the new e-Book Manual is £30.00.

The hard copy is still available to purchase, and for those who want to purchase both the cost is £39.95 plus postage and packing. To order Rolled Lead Sheet – The Complete Manual as an e-book visit www.leadsheet.co.uk/manuals.