Aluflash,
Z-Led's new alternative to lead flashing, has attained the best fire rating performance available. The product has been given an 'AA' fire rating by Bodycote Warrington, enabling unrestricted use regardless of proximity to adjacent buildings, and ensuring compliance with Building Regulation Part B. Z-Led- one of the UK's leading suppliers of solutions to prevent water ingress into buildings- believes Aluflash is the first aluminium flashing on the market to achieve the certification.
Aluflash can be used wherever lead flashing would traditionally be employed- and beyond: its non-toxic construction means it is suitable for use with rainwater harvesting installations, and prevents oxidisation over time. The product uses a combination of corrosion-resistant aluminium with a solvent lacquer coloured surface and self-adhesive butyl backing, to give the most viable alternative to traditional lead flashing. Z-Led has developed two unique surface finishes for Aluflash, depending on the application.
The embossed surface is designed for applications requiring less complex shapes, such as pitched roof valleys, soakers and box gutters. The unique cross-corrugated surface is designed for use where the flashing has to be moulded over and around complex shapes such as profiled roof tiles and corner junctions, and allows the Aluflash to be dressed in more than one direction. A 100% recyclable polymer 'release' backing sheet helps keep the self adhesive butyl layer clean until required, ensuring a secure bond. AluFlash is unaffected by temperature, can be laid effectively in hot or cold conditions and is compatible with all common roof materials- concrete, clay, slate and metal.
The material is supplied in manageable 5m rolls, in widths from 150mm- 600mm in 50mm increments, minimising wastage and time spent cutting to fit. It does not require specialist tools or skills to install. The surface finish can be simply wiped clean to remove site dirt and debris such as cement mortar, and comes in a traditional 'lead grey' to compliment the building aesthetics. Site installation time and safety is therefore significantly improved. Z-Led commercial manager Kelly Phipps observes, "Building Regulation Part B requires that roofs, or part of a roof, are fire rated, and roof coverings play a key role in preventing the spread of fire from one property to another simply by being non combustible".
"It is therefore a major benefit to be sure that even the flashing achieves an appropriate fire rating, and will not burn: to our knowledge, Aluflash is the only lead flashing alternative to have attained such classification". Z-Led AluFlash complements the core range of Z-Led polypropylene cavity trays which are claimed to be virtually indestructible, its range of gas and damp barrier membranes, cavity closers, acoustic fire barriers and the Capawal high performance coping system which is designed to provide an attractive, weather-resistant finish to parapet walls.
The company, part of the Building Product Design Group, invests in a continuous programme of research and development to bring to market innovative yet practical products in line with changing requirements.
Nihon Superior, a supplier of advanced soldering and brazing materials, has announced that a new presentation about the challenges and issues in lead-free soldering is now available on its website. Copper erosion, voiding and tin whiskers are only a few of the problems in the field of lead-free soldering. Nihon Superior claims that it has has experience with and good knowledge of SN100C, which can reduce bridges with uniform eutectic solidification, provide good through-hole fill and reduce voiding, resulting in low defect manufacturing and high reliability.
