H+H UK LTD
Suppliers of: Celcon concrete blocks lightweight concrete blocks concrete thin joint system
H+H UK LTD manufacture a wide range of Concrete Blocks and lightweight Concrete Blocks to suite all types on Block Construction.
Useful Resources:
- BIM files available on BPi
- Social Media: LinkedIn / Twitter / YouTube / Facebook
- H+H Academy: Online training and resources Click here
H+H is the UK’s largest manufacturer of aircrete products. We manufacture the market leading range of Celcon Blocks, including Foundation Blocks, Plus Blocks and the H+H range of aircrete products.
H+H aircrete products offer a complete building material that meets the requirements of the Building Regulations, with the flexibility to offer solutions to hospitals, schools, offices, industrial warehouses and housing (social and private).
Used in partition, separating and external walls (solid or cavity), firewalls and as an infill to framed construction, our products provide durability and fire resistance as well as superb thermal and sound insulation.
Main Product Ranges:
Celcon Blocks
Celcon Blocks in Solar, Standard, High Strength and Super Strength Grades are the most commonly used aircrete block in the H+H range. All Celcon Blocks are BBA certified, are fire resistant (100mm walls, up to 4 hours, 2 hours if loadbearing) and have been classified 0 surface spread of flame and non-combustible to Class A1 (the highest class).
Celcon Block Solar Grade
Celcon Blocks Solar Grade is principally used where enhanced thermal performance is required. With superior thermal conductivity Solar Grade Celcon Blocks are suitably loadbearing for two storey buildings and can be used below DPC.
Celcon Block Standard Grade
Celcon Blocks Standard Grade is BBA certified and has a compressive strength of 3.6N/mm2. Due to its all round performance, it is possible for a 100mm Standard grade Celcon Block to be used throughout a build, eliminating on-site confusion.
Celcon Block High Strength & Super Strength Grade
H+H’s Celcon Blocks High Strength Grade (7.3N/mm2) and Super Strength Grade (8.7N/mm2) are used principally where higher compressive strengths are required such as in the foundations and lower storeys of three storey buildings, piers under high vertical loads and in multi-storey buildings.
Celcon Plus Blocks
Celcon Plus Blocks are an alternative to the 440 x 215mm face format block and are suitable for the same applications. They are longer at 630mm long and come in a variety of thicknesses.
Celcon Foundation Blocks
Available in Standard Grade (3.6N/mm²) and High Strength Grade (7.3N/mm²), Foundation Blocks can be used to support 3 storey constructions. They are suitable for the support of solid or cavity walls, framed construction or suspended floors, including beam and block.
Jumbo Bloks
Jumbo Bloks are produced with the latest technology, offering a high degree of dimensional accuracy with sharp arises, which make them ideal for use with Celfix mortar.
Celcon Block Coursing Units
Coursing Units are produced from the same material as all H+H aircrete and are suitable for the same applications as conventional size Celcon Blocks, allowing consistency within the building fabric.
Celfix Mortar
Celfix Mortar is cement based and supplied as a dry, pre-mixed powder in 25kg bags. It has been designed to replace the traditional sand:cement mortar and is used with building with our Thin-Joint System. Celfix Mortar starts to set within 10 minutes of application and approaches full design strength in just 1 to 2 hours.
AIRCRETE AND THE MMC AGENDA
The fundamentals of aircrete as a material have not changed since it was introduced into the UK market over sixty years ago. However, it has proved its worth over time and now makes a strong case for inclusion as a Modern Method of Construction (MMC).
It is hardly a secret that since the publication of the dramatic “Modernise or Die” white paper in 2016, government focus has sharpened on the need to support methods of housebuilding that are faster and higher performance.
Much of the debate on the subject focuses on factory-build modular homes, but in fact the definition of MMC is much broader and there is certainly nothing to dictate which materials or method are preferable.
The MCHLG definition makes it clear that it is focused on objectives and is not trying to be prescriptive as to what products or methods are used to achieve them.
Aircrete remains the preferred material for most UK housebuilders. Combining strength with inherent thermal efficiency, aircrete blocks are also easy to use on site and, most importantly, provide the flexibility that housebuilders need when planning their sites. The speed of build can be increased or slowed in reaction to demand or to weather conditions.
Standard aircrete blocks with traditional cementitious mortar are typically used for cavity wall construction. Repeated performance testing demonstrates that such wall constructions are easily able to meet the U-Value requirements of current building regulations and the uplift anticipated when the revised Approved Document L is published.
Where increased airtightness is the objective, the highest performance levels can be achieved with Thin-Joint construction – which has been the preferred choice for various low carbon and Passivhaus certified developments.
The ultra-thin joint which gives the system its name is not only airtight, but also, having a much faster curing time, allows for increased speed of build. With higher tolerances, the method also supports a more accurate build. Both these characteristics contribute to the system being acknowledged as a Modern Method of Construction.
Where a more system-based approach is required – particularly for larger developments of standard house types for affordable or build-to-rent markets – H+H has developed an entirely different solution.
Based on Celcon Elements: story-high panels of aircrete, the I-House system was developed in partnership with Roof Space Limited. The concept was to develop a housebuilding system, based on aircrete, that allowed the entire structure of a house to be built on site within a week.
Celcon Elements provide the walls which are simply craned into place onto pre-prepared foundations. Prefabricated timber first floors and prefabricated roofs complete the structure and the package is finished with exterior insulation. Within a week there is a watertight shell, ready for interior trades to move on site and exterior finishes such as masonry to be applied simultaneously.
Recognised on introduction in 2017 with a Housebuilder award, the I-house system has also been supported with both BPOAS and NHBC warranties and is rapidly gaining ground as an advanced Modern Method of Construction.
For more information on aircrete and on the range of building solutions provided by H+H, visit www.hhcelcon.co.uk.
H+H Offsite and NHBC
We started work on developing our I-House solution with Roofspace Solutions back in 2015. Now it is an accepted MMC solutions, recognised and warranted by both NHBC and BOPAS.
The I-House system is based on Celcon Elements – storey-high panels of aircrete that are craned into place on site. Combined with pre-fabricated timber floors and roof system, and constructed by a specialist contracting team, the I-House system can deliver the complete watertight shell of a house on site within a week.
Celcon Elements have been in use in Europe for decades and as long ago as 2007 we used the concept as the basis for zero carbon demonstration projects with both Barratts and Miller Homes.
However, it took a severe skills shortage and a certain amount of government pressure for the housebuilding industry in the UK to start looking seriously at ways to use aircrete in Modern Methods of Construction.
I-House is perhaps the most radical system, so the acceptance by both NHBC and BOPAS is an essential reassurance for users.
We are delighted to see the number of projects using the system growing, with Barratts being an early adopter.
