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  • Deleterious materials - The other side of the hill

    13 May 2010

    To understand deleterious materials of the future, says Trevor Rushton, we must learn the lessons of the past. Deleterious materials perform in an undesirable way. We have considered...

  • Asbestos

    14 April 2010

    Many years before the science of mineralogy was evolved, the term asbestos was given to describe two distinct silicate mineral groups - the only common characteristic being their...

Summary

This section deals with potentially deleterious materials including alkali aggregate reactions (AAR and ASR), calcium silicate brickwork, chlorides, composite panels, formaldehyde, High Alumina Cement Concrete, hollow clay pot floors, lead in plumbing and paintwork, nickel sulphides, RAAC planks, sea-dredged aggregates, tesserae, trussed rafter roofs, vermiculite, wall tie corrosion, and woodwool slabs. Many materials are perfectly acceptable for use in certain circumstances but not others. It is therefore unnecessary to prohibit their use for all construction; with proper care in the selection and use of these materials there is often no reason why they should not function properly. There are some exceptions of course, and these are outlined within this section.

This section is maintained by Trevor Rushton of Watts Group plc.