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Decra has launched a series of video demonstrations on-line
that demonstrate the superiority of their lightweight steel
roof tiles over traditional roofing materials. |
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tests can be viewed on
http://www.decra.co.uk/DecraUK/Download/Video.aspx and
include a comparison of speed and security (resisting
uplift, either by high winds or by intentional vandalism) of
installation and impact resistance. |
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The speed demonstration, using a
test roof area of 4m², compared Decra’s Oberon and
Classic/Elegance tiles against traditional concrete/clay
plain tiles and concrete interlocking tiles respectively and
showed it took only 175 seconds to install Decra’s, against
a concrete tile’s 275, making Decra 64% faster. |
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Contractors will appreciate the
difference in weights too – whilst 4m² of traditional roof
tiles can be up to 184kg, Decra’s weigh in seven times
lighter at only 26kg, which took 56 seconds to carry to the
test rig, leaving the installer demonstrating the
traditional tiles struggling for 400 minutes – seven times
as long. |
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Cutting to size and shape was
also less problematic since Decra tiles can be cut by a
guillotine, producing minimal dust, sparks and noise. Given
the same end number of tiles to prepare, the Decra installer
was more than three times faster than his traditional
cutting colleague. |
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The ‘top down’ fix also means
contractors do not need to stand on the secured tiles as
they work upwards – although this would not be a problem
with Decra tiles’ stability. |
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Decra’s videos also demonstrate
the system is no security lightweight. Traditional
concrete/clay plain or interlocking tiles had a large hole
ripped within minutes while the “burglar” attempting damage
to Decra’s Oberon and Classic tiles was still trying (and
failing) to start to lift a single panel. |
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Vandal or storm damage too is
limited by using Decra tiles. Impact resistance tests, by
the simple method of hurling bricks at the test panels,
again showed Decra to be lightweight but strong. |
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The traditional plain and
interlocking tiles soon smashed and fell, while the Decra
Classic/Elegance, Oberon and Plus tiles showed only the
slightest cosmetic damage, proving they can still protect
the building’s interior despite such onslaught. |
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These tests support Decra’s win
earlier this year of Secured By Design certification (for
its Classic, Elegance, Plus and Stratos tiles) – the first
roofing supplier in the UK to do so. |
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For further information on Decra Roof Systems Ltd see
www.roofinfo.co.uk/decra |
