Decra UK does it for modular builders

When the modular building company C3S specified Decra roof tiles for a housing trust development they appreciated they came with a unique 30-year guarantee that covered not just the tiles but the complete weather security of the entire roof.
But it was another aspect of security that equally convinced them since the tiles had to be secure enough to remain in place while the development – two bungalows for disabled people – were transported by articulated trailer to site and then craned into position.
It was easy for C3S (Corporate Safety and Security Systems) to be confident – Decra’s lightweight steel roof tiles are their industry standard for pitched roofs on modular projects – and now that Decra have become the first roofing company in the UK to win Secured By Design accreditation, they can be even more so.
C3S Projects designed and built the two timber-frame 66²m Adapta™ bungalows for the New Charter Housing Trust Group as replacements for some built at the end of World War II that were in such poor condition they were beyond economic repair.
They specified Decra roof tiles as they are their “standard fitment on all pitched roof adaptations” they build although they vary the Decra tile type and colour appropriate to the location and building regulations.
In this case, Decra’s Parctile in Charcoal Grey was specified. This smaller-format, modern angular tile, that weighs just 5.98kg/m², was specifically developed for modular buildings and is suitable for pitches between 12º and 90º.
Graham Ross, director of modular buildings for C3S, said: “To paraphrase, Decra tiles do what they say on the tin and on this project they look fine and are in keeping with the surroundings.”
Decra roof tiles were revolutionary when they were launched in the UK 30 years ago. Their core of galvanised steel with a multi-layered protective coating and granular finish offers the appearance of traditional clay or concrete pantiles but with exceptional performance characteristics.
These include ease of handling, fast installation, exceptional durability and low maintenance. In fact, independent research for Decra has shown their lightweight steel tiles are up to 66% cheaper than other roofing systems based on a whole life costing basis.
Their light weight would have helped C3S when they moved the two-bedroomed bungalows from their factory in West Yorkshire, where they were built over 12 weeks, to their new home in Boundry Road, Mossley, Manchester.
Garry Highton, senior surveyor with the housing renewal services department of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “We left it to C3S to come up with the design and build. All we stipulated was a pitched roof and that the tiles had to be fit for purpose and last the life of the buildings. C3S specified the Decra tiles and we were happy with their choice.”
The New Charter Housing Group Trust is one of the UK’s largest Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) just seven years after forming to own and manage homes transferred from Tameside MBC in what was Britain’s largest large scale voluntary transfer to date.
Secured By Design is cited as best practice in the Safer Places document published by the ODPM and housing associations are compelled to build to certain specifications of SBD by the Housing Corporation.
Local authority housing officers are also compelled to consider crime prevention when refurbishing their housing stock and many now use SBD as their minimum standard for security. Research shows SBD leads to a 50% drop in crime rates when comparing SBD and non-SBD developments of the same age and type in similar areas.

Email: tracy@tlcpr.co.uk