Egger has announced that its flagship ‘Protect’ structural flooring product can now be exposed to the elements for up to 60 days – great news for sites affected by poor weather or skills shortages.
Leaving certain building materials exposed to the elements is not ideal, but during bad weather and when accessing the right levels of skilled labour is a growing challenge, it is reassuring to know that when left exposed, some materials will remain structurally sound. One such solution is EGGER Protect which can be exposed to the elements for up to 60 days – a claim that is backed by independent materials testing specialist EXOVA.
Weather-resistant layer
The Protect boards feature EGGER’s P5 flooring grade chipboard at its core, which is covered on both sides by a permanent, weather-resistant layer. This means moisture will not penetrate the board from either side. The textured concrete-effect finish does not require post-installation painting and can be used directly with underfloor heating systems and tiles, providing further savings.
Alan White, Director of Sales for Building Products at Egger, said: “EGGER P5 is manufactured to EN 312 standard. It not only complies with this standard but routinely goes above and beyond, thanks to the advanced technology used to produce the boards. The added value of the Protect surface layer is significant. It is hard-wearing, easy to clean, non-slip, and guaranteed to give up to 60 days protection against the elements. With everything housebuilders are currently up against, this extra time could make all the difference.”
Used by national housebuilders as well as small- and medium-sized businesses, the product is already well known in the industry. Ian Cryer, Group Purchasing Manager at Bellway Homes, commented: “Using EGGER Protect, with its new 60-day exposure during the build, helps us to defend against unexpected site delays. It is also easy to clean prior to handover so when new owners move into the property, they can be confident that they will be protected against moisture ingress for years to come.”
Sustainable production
CE and FSC certified, EGGER Protect boards are produced from sustainable raw materials on one of the most sophisticated production lines in Europe. During 2017, the company invested over £10m within its building products division at its UK headquarters in the North East of England.
“With everything housebuilders are currently up against, this extra time could make all the difference.”
The latest investments include a new tongue and groove (T&G) panel processing and packaging line with further processing facilities and a lamination line. At a cost of approximately £5m, the new T&G line is helping the company strengthen its position and commitment within the UK construction industry. Meanwhile its £6m investment in a new lamination line will secure and grow production capabilities of its melamine-faced boards including EGGER Protect.
Bob Livesey, Commercial Director at EGGER UK, explained: “Through investments in new technology and the production of market-leading products, alongside continual maintenance of equipment, we aim to continue leading the way in a challenging market place and reinforce our commitment to our customers when there is a recognised need to build more homes. We want to provide the UK market, our customers and end users with security and peace of mind that we are here for the long term in all areas we supply.”
