Robust Construction - A Prerequisite for Our Modern-Day Society

Graffiti; Art or Social nuisance? It's a debate that will never be
fully settled. Officially, defacing property with graffiti without the
property owner's consent is considered vandalism and is a criminal
offense. It is the latter that incurs the ire and frustration of
councils across the country as they battle to not only catch and
prosecute the culprits concerned, but rectify this socially
unacceptable form of artistic expression.The development of
anti-graffiti paint has gone a long way to help reduce these unwanted
activities; paint that is applied as a translucent, non-sacrificial
coating allows repeated easy removal of graffiti using warm water and
mild detergents. Councils now have a considerably easier and less
expensive way of addressing this relentless drain on their resources.
Over time, it remains to be seen whether this clever invention
curtails the offenders' desire to illustrate their artwork for public
praise or society's condemnation.So what has anti graffiti paint got
to do with robust construction?Late September 2010 tragedy struck as
news broke of a devastating fire which severely damaged the
quintessential village of Mayfield, Sussex, cricket clubhouse and
pavilion. Suspicion was rife as to the cause with many believing that
the real cause of the disaster would never be identified since it
conveniently coincided with the influx of visitors from across the
county for the village's annual carnival that evening. As an ambitious
and successful village cricket club with a long and proud history
stretching back to 1750, Mayfield, was lucky enough to own their
beautiful Wellbrook ground and pavilion. There was a feeling of
disbelief and despair in the air that left the community shocked and
appalled.This account is not uncommon; municipal timber frame
buildings such as pavilions, village halls, scout huts, and sports
clubhouses are, by their very nature, empty and unattended for long
periods of time, leaving them vulnerable to vandalism and fire damage.
In the event of fires caused by electrical faults, there is no one to
expeditiously call for the emergency services. By the time fire
fighters arrive on the scene, it is usually far too late to save the
building. Was there anything therefore that in hindsight, could have
protected this iconic village building?An alternative to timber frame
structure is a relatively new technology, more common as a method of
construction in USA and Europe - Insulated Concrete Formwork. Fire
took no time to destroy Mayfield's timber structure cricket pavilion.
How better therefore, to replace this with a robust structure that
despite its hidden concrete walls blends perfectly with its
surroundings through external timber cladding, brick facing or tile
hung facade.What the UK building fraternity may not realise is that
the insulating foam used in ICF buildings is manufactured with
flame-retardant additives so that if you hold a naked flame up to an
ICF form block, the foam will simply melt away, but not support
combustion.In tests where ICF walls were subjected to temperatures of
over 1,000 degrees Centigrade for as long as four hours, the ICF walls
never failed structurally. By contrast, wood frame walls, far from
containing fire, actually feed a fire and enable the rapid spread of
fire from one room to the other with walls collapsing in less than an
hour. Conversely, even at these temperatures, fire can be contained
since ICF walls do not allow the fire to pass from one side of an ICF
wall to the other.With reduced build costs, less reliance on skilled
labour, shorter construction times and reduced heating requirements,
Insulated Concrete Formwork has additional credentials to be
considered as a worthy alternative to timber frame construction.So,
whether its anti graffiti paint or a more impervious building
structure, these developments are exciting technologies that address
the rather distasteful problems we face within our modern day
communities. When planning their replacement pavilion, maybe the
fundraisers of Mayfield Cricket Club might like to consider the
society in which their children and next generation will live.