This is a question we are asked a lot, mainly because our main block supplier, Xella is a German manufacturer.

However, the you bear in mind that over 50% of ALL UK construction materials are imported anyway, any issues relating to BREXIT affect the whole industry. We of course factor in manufacture and delivery into our standard leads times and in our experience post-BREXIT the deliveries from the continent are proving to be much more reliable than domestic deliveries.

All our MFS i-Form Solution® platforms and blocks are delivered on palettes by lorry. Like a flat-packed building or Lego set.

All we need is a tower crane to unload and place them into position on site. We then use our mini-cranes to manoeuvre the elements into position. So, essentially we need a lay-by to park in.

We originally established the business to build the inner leaf of the superstructure from oversite right up to wall plate level and then pitch the roof structure, including the installation of the intermediate floors. However, as the building process becomes increasingly complex, we now find ourselves invariably undertaking the whole of the structural envelope, including the external leaf, managing and coordinating the scaffolding, installing any structural steelwork and PCC floor planks. We even supply the forklift and fit the soffit and fascia too.

Essentially, we can build a typical pair of semis from oversite to watertight in 10 working days; and depending on the scale of the project and the desired handover rate, we can complete a pair of units every five working days thereafter. After that, it is just a question of adjusting the resource levels.

In a recent study undertaken by Calford Seaden, it was concluded that the thin joint blockwork solution at Code Level 3 was 8% cheaper than either the equivalent timber frame or SIPS panel solution. We would further argue that when adopted as part of an integrated design solution, at Code Level 4 the savings or benefits are even greater when you factor in the elimination or reduction in renewable technologies.

Thin joint blocks are manufactured in all of the standard aircrete block strengths 2.80 N/mm2 Solar, 3.60 N/mm2 Standard and 7.30 N/mm2 Hi Seven, together with a few 10.30 N/mm2 Hi Tens. The principal difference is the accuracy and format of blocks. We tend to specify the Jumbo Plus format, which is 610mm x 270mm and manufactured to high degree of accuracy +/- 1mm.

Yes, thin joint blockwork is recognised as a Modern Method of Construction and is widely adopted to meet both Code Level 3 and Code Level 4 of the CfSH (Code for Sustainable Homes). It can also be adopted for PassivHaus construction; in fact it makes an ideal structure because of its thermal mass properties.

Independent industry experts recently concluded that the MFS i-Form Solution® is quicker, cheaper and uses significantly less labour than traditional RC Frame construction.

We were asked to be part of a Cost / Benefit analysis conducted by a leading UK Developer & Main Contractor and two top London QS practices. They were tasked with evaluating and comparing various MMC solutions for post-Covid procurement and had targeted the MFS i-Form Solution® to be part of the study, comparing it directly with a conventional RC Frame build.

A number of exercises were undertaken with both ‘real’ world and ‘simulation’ models. They concluded that the MFS i-Form Solution® was both substantially quicker and at least 20% cheaper than RC Frame and Metsec infill and used less than 25% of the expected workforce. This was particularly pertinent for a Covid-secure construction site, where social distancing and maintaining productivity levels are continuing to prove extremely challenging.

In fact in one exercise, based on a real life 630-unit high rise apartment scheme, which was estimated should take c. 54-56 working weeks to complete; they had an average of 130 site based operatives on site for the duration of the structural build programme. They concluded that the MFS i-Form Solution® would reduce that estimate to just 46 weeks, with typically only 25-30 operatives on site.

The study group was also impressed by the excellent fire, acoustic and environmental credentials of the system and are recommending the system to their procurement personnel and groups as a viable and cost effective MMC option for the future.

This has probably been our biggest single hurdle to overcome as it relevant from 4 stories +. So after much debate, we have engaged our own Structural Engineer to design a range of solutions that could be relatively simple when adopted to given situations.

This approach is ideal for ‘medium to high’ rise flats, apartments, care and extra care homes, retirement and student accommodation and is extremely cost effective from 3 storeys up to 10-12, with the ‘sweet spot’ on or around 5-8 storeys. In fact we can now go up to 15 storeys with your class 2B disproportionate collapse solution.