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Sustainable development and the green credentials of construction materials are becoming increasingly important. Whether you’re an architect, a builder or a building merchant aiming to reduce the environmental impact, here are five reasons why our lead sheet deserves a place in sustainable building.
One of the greenest arguments to use lead sheet, is its recyclability. Lead can be used and recycled over and over again. It is easily recovered when a building needs to be demolished and with lead’s high scrap value, it is being recycled and nothing goes to waste. Moreover, at Midland Lead we use only recycled lead to fill our kettles - further reducing the need for primary raw materials.
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Fact: More than 95 per cent of lead used in the UK building industry is recycled, whereas the recovery rates of plastics and synthetic weatherproofing substitutes can be as low as 10 per cent. |
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In addition to lead’s excellent recyclability, the conversion back into new lead sheet involves an energy-efficient process. Due to a low melting point (327°C) and Midland Lead’s effective machine casting process, the manufacturing of lead has a significantly reduced impact on global warming than that of synthetic materials or other metals developed as potential alternatives.
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Fact: Melting points for the production of metals vary from 660° C for aluminium, to 1084° C for copper to 1320° C for steel. |
Another key reason why lead sheet can contribute to sustainable construction is its long service life and durability. In comparison to synthetic and even natural weatherproofing alternatives, lead sheet is one of the most durable building materials and lasts over 100 years. Besides, lead sheet requires little if any need for maintenance during its many decades - and even centuries - of service.
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Fact: The life expectancy of pitched roofing materials fluctuates from 30 years for coated steel and fibre-cement slates, to 50 years for timber shingles and shakes to over 100 years for lead sheet. |
As a lead refinery, Midland Lead is obliged to operate under an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) license that is regulated by the UK Environment Agency. In order to comply with the requirements of its IPPC permit, Midland Lead has to demonstrate that it protects the environment by minimising emissions to air, land and water, by reducing its energy use, promoting the use of clean technology, minimising waste production and encouraging innovation and recycling.
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Fact: Our recent investment in a computer-controlled spark suppression system - a system that eliminates the risk of combustible material reaching our bag house - ensures emissions to air, land and water are reduced even further. |
On top of the above mentioned government requirements and regulations, Midland Lead has taken a pro-active approach to improve its green performance. Since 2006, we are one of the few UK lead sheet producers with an ISO 14001:2004 certification for the entire manufacturing process. In short, this certification means that we’ve successfully implemented, maintain and conform to our environmental policy.
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Fact: ISO 14001 is the best-known environmental management standard that involves certification by an external certification authority - in our case the British Standards Institution (BSI). |
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