Articles
Product News
Lignacite committed to a Sustainable Block Strategy for Masonry
Posted by 
In 2012 Lignacite Ltd committed to a ‘Sustainable Strategy for Masonry’. This initiative has been the catalyst to enable us to respond to the construction industry’s need for industry-wide reporting of sustainability performance as well as delivering on our commitment to continuous improvement. 2017 continues to see Lignacite striving for improved manufacturing processes and products.
All Lignacite’s concrete blocks contain recycled materials, one is consistently chosen for its sustainable credentials – ‘Lignacite’.
LIGNACITE AND LIGNACITE GP - Medium Dense Blocks
The 'Lignacite' block, with key benefits for the build process including high fire resistance, excellent sound insulation, good thermal performance, a range of face finishes and a recycled content of up to 48% has continued to reinvent itself over the years. Wood was first used because it was plentiful and there was a general shortage of building blocks just after the war. It transpired that this material not only produced a lighter block than conventional concrete but that it made for a lighter, smoother block.
Conventional concrete made with stone ultimately shatters under intense heat. The wood in Lignacite is locked up in the matrix of the block thus denying oxygen to the flames. This means a Lignacite blocks calcifies and hardens in a fire, giving a superior fire rating and performance.
The fact wood locks up C02 due to photosynthesis has meant more recently its environmental credentials have been even more widely recognised, thus adding benefits to projects using Lignacite blocks.
The Architects of some of the country’s most iconic buildings made this choice.
- The Shard - designed by Renzo Piano, uses 140,000 Lignacite (with the Carbon8 aggregate) blocks in its four basement levels, providing a substantial base for the entire tower (mixed use sector).
- The Gherkin, 30 St Mary Ax - designed by Norman Foster and Ken Shuttleworth again used 10,000m in the basement area (mixed use sector).
- The Olympic Stadium and the Veldrome together with 4 other Olympic venues (leisure & stadia sector).
For further information please visit our concrete blocks page. A full-colour Swatch Guide showing all our block finishes can be requested via our website as well as many other useful documents including a Design Guidance booklet. We offer a CPD on the benefits and uses of concrete masonry. Please contact us for further details on 01842 810678.
