Blocks and mortar

Tarmac Building Products is the UK's leading supplier of concrete blocks and mortar.

We provide a full range of blocks from high-thermal performance, low-density Aircrete (Durox and Toplite brands) to medium-dense Hemelite and dense Topcrete aggregate blocks. Our mortar range comprises ready-to-use, dry-silo and pre-bagged mortars.

This breadth allows designers to obtain the optimum combination of structural, thermal, acoustic and fire performance to provide cost-effective and durable construction solutions, which meet Building and Planning Regulations, the Code for Sustainable Homes and Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) requirements.

Below are some of the sustainability issues related to concrete blocks and mortar. We have categorised them into those relating to ‘manufacturing’ and ‘in-use and whole-life benefits’ production.

Manufacturing

Responsible sourcing

Tarmac’s range of blocks and mortars is independently certified as ‘VERY GOOD’ against the BES 6001 Framework Standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products.

This certification enables customers who use our aggregates to gain extra points under the BRE Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), Civil Engineering Environmental Quality Assessment Scheme (CEEQUAL) and the Code for Sustainable Homes. It also reassures clients that the materials they are using have been produced responsibly across Tarmac’s business.

Our UK operations are also accredited to the Achilles BuildingConfidence scheme.

Product quality and certification

All our blocks and mortars are produced under a certified ISO 14001 environmental management system. More than 90% of our raw materials are either sourced from suppliers with certified ISO 14001 environmental management systems and evidence of responsible environmental stewardship, or are derived from recycled, secondary or by-products.

Carbon Trust Standard

In early 2011, our whole UK organisation achieved the Carbon Trust Standard for our management and CO₂ reduction performance over the past two years. We have delivered this reduction across all our UK operations.

Efficient use of resources

Our strategy is to reduce the environmental impacts of our production with the emphasis on energy, water and waste.

Energy efficiency

As part of our strategy to reduce the environmental impacts of our production, and for our end-use customers, we place a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing energy in production.

IN-USE AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS

Reducing in-use carbon footprint

The CO₂ footprint of buildings in use – from processes such as heating, cooling and lighting – are considerably greater than the CO₂ footprint from the manufacture of the products used in their construction.

In fact, the materials used to create buildings can have a huge beneficial impact on the whole-life CO₂ emissions of the building. In particular, the use of concrete blocks and concrete materials can significantly cut in-use CO₂ emissions because of concrete’s high thermal mass properties. This approach underpins our efforts to cut the CO₂ footprint of our concrete and offer customers a range of increasingly low-carbon concrete blocks and thermally efficient mortar.

Thermal mass

Concrete’s high thermal mass enables it to store and retain heat, and then slowly release it in response to changing ambient temperatures. It helps to keep buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Harnessing the thermal mass of concrete in buildings reduces the need for air conditioning to aid cooling in the summer. It does this by absorbing heat during the day and slowly releasing it at night when temperatures are cooler. In the winter, heat is absorbed by concrete from activities in the building and from the sun during the day, and is gradually released at night to help keep constant, comfortable temperatures and minimise the need for additional heating. The net effect of using concrete’s high thermal mass is a large saving in energy needed to heat and cool, significantly reducing the carbon footprint over the life of the building.

Durability

Concrete blocks and concrete products are very durable and robust materials. They last a long time and are water resistant, fire resistant, strong and secure. Because they are so durable and long-lasting, they deliver value for money for clients and the public. They very rarely need to be replaced or maintained, so reduce the pressure on primary raw materials and the CO₂ emissions associated with producing these materials. Tarmac’s concrete blocks and mortar range has outstanding durability performance.

Flood resilience

Flooding is an increasing challenge for the UK, with climate scientists predicting that more extreme weather events will make it a more important issue over the coming years. Concrete’s durability makes it highly flood resilient. It gives structural integrity to buildings and structures in flood situations and it resists water penetration, thereby preventing damage to property and the impact of flooding on communities and the economy.

Fire resistance

Concrete is fire resistant and does not burn, which means it can help customers to comply with fire safety requirements and building regulations. These properties also mean that using concrete improves site safety during construction and, in the event of a fire, reduces damage to a building or structure.

Acoustic isolation

Concrete’s mass absorbs sound and provides very effective acoustic performance, which is particularly important in areas of high-density living and working accommodation.

Recyclability

Concrete is also a highly recyclable material – it can be broken down, processed and reused in new applications. We have major operations to recycle construction, demolition and excavation waste into new construction materials and products. This focus helps us – and our customers – to cut waste, preserve primary aggregates and improve materials efficiency.