LIGNACITE LTD
NORFOLK HOUSE
HIGH STREET
BRANDON
SUFFOLK IP27 0AX
Tel: 01842 810678
Fax: brandonsales@lignacite.co.uk
Suppliers of: Concrete Blocks Masonry Blocks Dense Concrete Blocks lightweight blocks building Blocks Concrete Blocks Concrete Soffit Blocks concrete
Lignacite are a leading manufacturer of concrete and masonry products and have one of the most efficient and modern manufacturing sites in the U.K.
Sustainable and Environmentally Sensitive Manufacturing
Lignacite sets the standards for sustainable and environmentally sensitive manufacturing. Our curing chambers re-use heat given off by the exothermic reaction between cement and water and when additional heat is needed, gas emissions are pumped back into the chambers, where blocks absorb CO2.
All water used at Brandon comes from a on site borehole, and is recycled at up to 5000 gallons / hour. Sand and aggregate quarried on land adjacent to the plant saves around 36,000 lorry journeys over the period of extraction. The land is then restored on an annual basis for wildlife conservation.
Main Product Ranges:
Concrete Blocks
All our products are Kitemarked as conforming to BS EN 771-3 Aggregate Concrete Masonry Units. They comply with category 1 Masonry Units and are manufactured under a quality assurance scheme assessed and certified to BS EN 9001:2000 by the British Standards Institute.
Lignacite concrete blocks comprise a range of medium density loadbearing units, used in internal or external walls. Lignacite blocks contribute to sound environmental practices as they contain graded wood particles, a selected waste wood product as an alternative aggregate. They also provide exceptional sound reduction qualities.
Concrete Blocks - Lignacite Ash GP:
Ash GP is a medium density concrete block which is robust, durable and suitable for a range of walling applications. Typical uses include the inner leaf of cavity walls when used with cavity insulation, separating or partition walls, and infill blocks in beam and block flooring systems. Ash GP can also be used externally where rendering or cladding is to be applied to the wall. Ash GP blocks provide a strong background for holding fixings. Ash GP is produced using at least 35% of recycled aggregate (by volume) thereby conserving valuable sources of primary material.
Concrete Blocks - Fibo850 Blocks:
Fibo850 is an excellent light weight house builder block. The block is manufactured from expanded clay lightweight aggregate, and contains up to 24% recycled aggregates by volume.
Lignacrete is a robust and durable block that provides a good background for fixing, and that has excellent acoustic properties and thermal capacity. Lignacrete blocks are used in internal or external walls and manufactured from cement, sand and dense aggregates, and contains up to 20% recycled aggregates by volume.
Further technical information is available to download from the BPi download Library or directly from the manufacturer’s own website.
Lignacite - Everything you need to know about recycled aggregates
As environmental awareness grows, architects, builders and developers are seeking ways to reduce the footprint of their projects and make them more sustainable – from the building materials they use to the methods of construction and transport. In this article, we look at how recycled aggregates can support those goals and help to reduce the environmental impact of your next project.
What are recycled aggregates?
Recycled aggregates are a type of secondary aggregate. These are materials that have been salvaged from elsewhere, as opposed to primary aggregates, which are sourced from the natural environment.
The most common recycled aggregates are:
Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA): Usually crushed concrete, salvaged from construction, demolition and excavation waste (CDEW).
Recycled asphalt: Derived from old roads and railways.
Industrial byproducts: Waste, such as slag and fuel ash, are often repurposed as aggregates.
Agricultural waste: Straw, husks, bamboo and hemp can also be recycled.
Before being used in construction projects, materials are sorted and crushed into uniform sizes. They are then refined and screened to remove impurities such as dust and soil, and tested for size, cleanliness, strength and moisture content.
While recycled aggregates may vary in size to suit different construction needs, they must be inert, which means they won’t chemically react with other materials.
To encourage the adoption of recycled aggregates in the construction industry, the UK introduced the WRAP Quality Protocol in 2013. This sets standards and provides guidelines to ensure that materials meet consistent quality requirements.
What are recycled aggregates used for?
Recycled secondary aggregates are versatile and have a broad range of applications. They are commonly used as hardcore for road construction. They can also be used for landscaping, paths and pavement, as well as foundations and drainage and fill material in place of natural gravel.
Recycled aggregate materials can also be used as a coarse aggregate in new concrete and concrete blocks.
The benefits of using recycled aggregates in construction
There are many benefits to using recycled aggregates in construction.
Versatile
As mentioned, they can be used across a broad range of applications in construction, landscaping and infrastructure.
Cost-effective
They are often cheaper to buy than primary aggregates and can be sourced locally, helping to reduce transportation costs.
Environmentally friendly
There are numerous environmental benefits, as outlined in the next section.
The environmental impact of recycled aggregates
There are numerous environmental benefits to using recycled aggregates. The primary advantage is that it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill. As such, their use contributes to the circular economy, giving new life to materials that would otherwise go to waste.
A related benefit is natural resource conservation. By using recycled materials, the need to mine or quarry virgin primary aggregates is reduced. This helps to protect habitats and limits environmental disruption.
The use of recycled aggregates can also lower a project’s carbon footprint. Because primary aggregates are not extracted, there is no carbon cost associated with it and recycling generally requires less energy.
In addition, recycled aggregates can often be sourced locally, so it reduces emissions from transportation.
Using recycled aggregates in concrete blocks
Recycled aggregates have long been used to make concrete blocks and Lignacite is proof of that! For more than 80 years, we’ve been incorporating recycled wood particles in our concrete blocks, along with recycled sand and other industrial byproducts.
Does using recycled aggregates affect concrete strength?
The answer isn’t straightforward. It depends on a variety of factors, including the quality of the source material and how it was processed. Concrete strength can also be affected by the volume of recycled material used, the overall mix design and the intended application of the concrete.
What types of recycled aggregates are good for concrete?
This will depend on how the concrete is going to be used and the conditions it will need to withstand.
Generally, RCA derived from construction waste is a strong candidate for use in concrete. This is because it has similar properties to the rest of the material. Recycled brick may also be used, but care must be taken because it can be more absorbent than primary aggregates. Slag products from steel production and blast furnaces can also be a good option.
At Lignacite, we have consistently used recycled aggregates in our blocks. Graded wood particles have been used since the company was launched back in 1947. Sourced from soft-cure timber off-cuts, this recycled aggregate is great for carbon capture. Our blocks have excellent compressive strength and fire ratings, while contributing to sound insulation, making them an ideal choice for a wide range of buildings.
Ash is used in our medium-density blocks, such as those in our Lignacite GP range. This inert and lightweight aggregate is recovered from power stations and makes a great recycled material for concrete blocks.
Sand is a commonly used aggregate in concrete too. Its fine particles help to add density and strength to concrete blocks.
Find out more about our raw materials
At Lignacite, we are always looking for ways to minimise our impact on the environment, using recycled materials to make our blocks whenever possible. Find out more about the aggregates we use.
Lignacite achieves ISO 27001 certification
We are delighted to share that Lignacite has secured ISO 27001 certification, marking a major step forward in our ongoing commitment to excellence across all areas of the business. The internationally recognised standard sets out the criteria for managing sensitive company and customer information, giving clients greater peace of mind when it comes to data handling and confidentiality.
The achievement follows a rigorous process led by our Compliance Manager Marvyn Candler, who has helped us to secure four other accreditations in the past three years, including ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 45001 for health and safety.
"ISO 27001 was the next logical step on our journey," says Marvyn. "We wanted to give our clients the assurance that any information they share with us will be treated with confidentiality and protected in line with legal standards. We won’t disclose anything without consent and we make sure data is stored securely, away from any risk of theft or loss."
Digital transformation
Working closely with IT Manager, Leon O’Neill, Marvyn started to build an information security management system for the business, conducting a gap analysis to define where we were starting from and how to get to the point at which we could apply for ISO 27001.
"Leon’s contribution has been critical,” says Marvyn. “He’s spent three years modernising our systems, from servers and software to implementing smart, cloud-based platforms. His work has transformed the way we manage everything from deliveries to customer orders.
“In the past, paperwork and phone calls were standard for order processing and delivery management. Now, smart tablets and cloud platforms ensure everything is streamlined, traceable and secure. Drivers now get their delivery information on tablets, invoices are issued digitally, and customers can see exactly what’s happening. It’s a complete shift in how we work," he adds.
Once the management system was developed, the certification process began. This included a stage one assessment (focusing on the management system structure) and a stage two audit, where the British Standards Institution (BSI) evaluated whether we had put our policies into practice. We’re pleased to say that we met the requirements of the standard and gained certification this month.
Ongoing practices
Achieving ISO 27001 is just the beginning of our journey. Maintaining and improving our systems is now a key focus in the months and years ahead.
Our Brandon and Nazeing sites will also undergo two surveillance audits each year to ensure standards are continually being met. These audits will assess everything from document labelling and CCTV management to risk assessments and business continuity planning.
To ensure ongoing compliance, internal training has been rolled out across the business. All team members have completed awareness training through a bespoke learning management system, and managers involved in compliance have undergone more in-depth sessions, including ISO 27001 auditor training from BSI.
Leon also completed an internal auditor qualification and is set to undertake the lead auditor course next year.
"Given how IT-heavy ISO 27001 is, it’s important that Leon plays a leading part in its ongoing management,” Marvyn adds. “Leon has been keen to be involved, and it’s been great to see him deepen his understanding of the management systems."
"It’s been a big team effort," Marvyn reflects. "Now that we’ve secured ISO 27001, we can focus on refining our processes, making improvements and ensuring we stay ahead of the curve when it comes to information security."
We’re proud of this achievement, but our journey doesn’t stop here. We remain committed to excellence in everything we do. Stay tuned as we continue to strengthen our systems and pursue further accreditations that reflect our high standards.
