The role of the manufacturer continues to evolve in our progressive market. No longer focusing solely on supply of products to meet the demand of the market, the manufacturer must strive to deliver support in a host of areas ranging from building regulations to legal statutes. The environmental impact of their product’s manufacture and general environmental performance results in a ream of different requirements that must be met in order to have their product specified on a project.

An area that has arguably been over looked in today’s market is the design & technical assistance that can be provided by the manufacturer to the supply chain. With the seemingly exponential growth of new products increasing the amount of choice that is available, the manufacturer must offer support so that products are designed to meet the solutions that are specified by the architect or designer, while also proving ability to offer assistance and support so the most innovative and challenging design criteria can be achieved.

How do Ash & Lacy help with this? All products within their portfolio have undergone strict testing before they arrive on site, carrying approvals that include BBA and LANTAC (available via the Ash & Lacy website). Ash & Lacy’s qualified in-house technical team are available to assist with computer aided design or perform structural calculations relative to building type and location; both to assist the designer and contractor in achieving their objective.

Assistance can be provided in a number of different ways for example; all rainwater calculations are done in-house for not only gutter design but can also be considered in the design of roof areas. Ash & Lacy can offer best practice advice on every project, from insulation, acoustics, load carrying and wind uplift requirements, with further research into other aspects, such as rain-drumming on standing seam. This support also extends to on-site surveys for Ashjack and pull-out tests for Ashfix and installation advice. All Ash & Lacy products comply with the latest Building Regulations and Technical Standards.

Case study: Valletort Road

An example of where Ash & Lacy have been able to offer invaluable design assistance is the Valletort Road project for Persimmon South West. Architects RPS of Bristol had specified a curved frame over timber trusses that could cantilever out to carry eaves bullnoses.

Ash & Lacy were involved at a very early stage, being provided with Architect’s concept drawings that illustrated the style that was required. From this concept drawing, the technical team were able to develop a bespoke Ashjack framing design that was pre-curved to carry curved Ashzip sheets. A special eaves framing design above a cantilever member was created in order to provide a supporting eaves detail. As a result, Ash & Lacy were able to offer a bespoke design that provided a solution to meet the architect’s aesthetic needs, as well as providing the crucial structural elements needed to reassure to the contractor.

'Ash & Lacy provided an outstanding service from concept stage, right through to instalment and their flexibility allowed the product to be tailored specifically to the Valletort Road project. The finished development looks great and the product performs brilliantly.' Commented Tony Machado, RPS Group, Bristol.

On a project to project basis Ash & Lacy's technical team are involved from concept through to execution, offering a bespoke service for every circumstance. This efficiency goes beyond Ashzip into Ash & Lacy's whole range of products offerings: Ashjack, Ashfix, Ashwall, Ashtech, Ashfab and Ashgrid. The team is now strengthened by the recent appointment of Ray Harriman as Managing Director and Simon Cooper as Technical Director as well as input from Bryan Carey; the designer of market leading products Ashjack & Ashgrid, with a combined experience of over a century within the metal roofing and cladding industry.

This invaluable experience makes Ash & Lacy more than just a manufacturer of building systems - they become a project partner, providing advice and support wherever it is needed, leaving the Architect free to design the next landmark for the skyline of the UK!

Telephone : 0121 525 1444
Fax : 0121 525 3444
E-mail : sales@ashandlacy.com