Clearview 228 - November 2020 | Page 6

INDUSTRYNEWS

Reflecting on a 30 year anniversary

» WHILST NO ONE COULD have predicted the tumultuous events and challenges that 2020 has brought , one milestone was always going to be in the calendar - Freefoam Building Products reaching 30 years in business . As part of this anniversary Freefoam are releasing a few short videos featuring key people who have played a significant part in the growth and development of the business .
The first video features Colin St John , Commercial Director , who has been with Freefoam for nearly 20 years . He arrived when the business was a simple UK distribution centre , acting as a hub to supply customers around the country , with manufacturing taking place in Ireland . In the intervening years the site has changed and developed dramatically and now features a fully integrated manufacturing and mixing plant , producing and supplying products to service the Groups markets in Ireland , UK and Europe . Colin has been at the centre of these developments and it ’ s fair to say many wouldn ’ t have happened without his vision , contribution , enthusiasm and support .
Freefoam is a company that values its people , and works hard to develop individuals and create exciting and rewarding careers . As a testament to this approach 29 % of current employees have been with the business for more than a decade . In his interview Colin also acknowledges the significant part all team members have played in the growth of the company , saying : “ We value the contribution of every single person who has walked through those gates over the last 20 years .”

WHY PRIORITISE BUILDING RETROFITTING OVER DEMOLITION ?

Today Freefoam has a group turnover of around £ 65 million , with just over 300 team members . Aidan Harte , CEO summarised “ We are proud of everyone who works at Freefoam and wanted to use our 30th anniversary to highlight some of the people who have made some lasting and significant contributions . Colin ’ s role in our business has been , and continues to be , very important . He has steered the UK operation through times of economic uncertainly , overseen major site developments and implemented significant growth strategies . We couldn ’ t have done it without him .”
WATCH VIDEO HERE : https :// www . youtube . com / channel / UChtEpiVP9ux0YAsgl0UqdnQ
www . freefoam . com
» THE ROYAL INSTITUTE of Chartered Surveyors ( RICS ) estimates that a sizeable proportion of a building ’ s lifecycle carbon is emitted during construction – 35 % and 51 % for office and residential properties respectively . These findings have prompted campaigns for developers to prioritise the restoration of older properties over demolishing and replacing them at high carbon costs .
According to REHAU , retrofit window solutions will be vital to ensuring the viability of this upgrade-centric approach and aiding the construction sector ’ s fight against climate change .
“ The Government committing the country to net zero emissions by 2050 has made improving sustainability a key concern
across all sectors , including construction ,” says Russell Hand , Head of Marketing and Technical at REHAU Windows . “ With that in mind , these RICS figures show just how damaging it can be to opt for new-builds over renovating older properties , especially at a time when we should be reducing emissions .
“ While window solution suppliers should incorporate retrofit capabilities into their product designs as standard , it is now clearer than ever that this consideration should become a necessity . These solutions will be vital to improving the efficiency of older buildings in line with modern standards , while negating the carbon costs associated with creating the materials required to build a new property in their place .”
A number of sustainable , high-performing PVC window solutions are already available for developers and specifiers looking to retrofit existing properties . Due to their thermoplastic nature , the material in these solutions can be recycled several times over before recording any significant loss in performance , resulting in adaptable , easy-to-install solutions that provide high levels of energy efficiency .
Russell concludes : “ The carbon costs associated with their construction means new buildings may not pay back their carbon debt for decades . As such , retrofitting should become a priority for specifiers and developers looking to improve the sustainability of their operations , especially as lowering carbon
emissions grows in importance in the run-up to 2050 .
“ Opting for efficient and sustainable window solutions that can be adapted to suit existing properties is therefore crucial to reducing carbon emissions . With the support of suppliers such as REHAU , developers and specifiers are well-placed to adapt to these changing priorities and the challenges posed in upgrading these older buildings .”
www . rehau . com
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