Daly Group – Case Study
Daly Group - Case Study
Based in Fakenham, Norfolk, the Daly Group is a successful electrical, plumbing and heating contractor operating across East Anglia and parts of Cambridgeshire.
The Daly Group is currently working on Cringleford Heights, a semi-rural Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ development on the outskirts of Norwich. It is a five-year project to sustainably build over 600 high-quality three to four-bedroom homes.
Looking for innovation
It is an impressive development and Project Manager Andrew Martin recently won the NHBC Pride in the Job award. This is one of the most highly regarded competitions in the house building industry, recognising construction management achieving the highest standards in house building.
As part of their remit, the Daly Group is installing Ideal Boilers into each home, along with FlueSnug, an innovative product designed to fit all 100mm boiler flues, which removes the need for pointing around exit pipes and can be used both externally and internally.
The Daly Group’s Commercial Director, Ian Hudson, explains why the company was looking for a solution to seal holes around pipes.
“When we went back on site for servicing and maintenance, we were finding that we often had to reseal pipework. That could have been for a number of reasons, such as the quality of the mortar, shrinkage, and so on. I saw that FlueSnug would provide a solution for us and requested some samples.”
No need for pointing
Endorsed by Ideal Boilers, Worcester Bosch, and other major boiler manufacturers, FlueSnug removes any need for pointing, can be installed in seconds and snugly fits the 152mm core drilled hole in the wall through which the boiler pipe and flue exits. It prevents heat escaping, acts as a barrier to drafts, damp, insects and pests, and gives a great, neat finish as it can be used both inside and outside the property. Ian could immediately see the benefits using FlueSnug would bring.
“At the Daly Group we work to be ahead of the curve and I saw its potential straight away, in not only its time-saving benefits but also how it would help us to comply with changes to Part L of the Building Regulations — which mandates the need for pipe collars where pipes enter or exit a home, helping to maintain the energy efficiency of the building,” says Ian. “In these regulations, mortar and silicone are not considered to be an effective seal, and FlueSnug and PipeSnug create a professional finish and seal all-in-one, easily and simply meeting the regulations.”
Time-saving
One of the most obvious advantages to using FlueSnug is its time-saving capacity, something quickly recognised by Jack O’Donnell, the Daly Group’s Contracts Director.
“FlueSnug really brings consistency and a professional finish to every installation. There is no mess, it’s just done. It’s simple and easy, it’s quick and I estimate it saves 30 minutes installation time pre-mixing and pointing of mortar, per boiler,” Jack explains. “We run six plumbers on the site and the feedback has been brilliant from all our engineers. It really is the final piece of the jigsaw needed to help the boiler installation run smoothly. “FlueSnug also saves us time in terms of compliance; when checking each installation you can immediately see that the hole around the flue has been sealed. It also looks so much more professional and is cleaner than traditional mortar or sealant.”
This aspect of compliance is important to the Daly Group as it adheres to very high standards and offers a two-year warranty to its customers. Every installation must also reach the standard required to meet the NHBC 10 Year Warranty.
“FlueSnug helps us to achieve and check these off quickly and efficiently — it takes all of that worry away,” adds Jack.
Ensuring compliance
As with all new homes, those at Cringleford Heights are rigorously tested for airtightness to ensure energy efficiency and reduce energy bills for the homeowner. Airtightness testing also makes sure the property’s carbon footprint is lower and that fewer CO2 emissions escape into the atmosphere. FlueSnug brings results here too; a finish that boosts energy efficiency and ensures compliance with standards as well as the high quality demanded by Barratt and David Wilson Homes.
Health and Safety The Daly Group is passionate about best practice, standards and health and safety, and Ian Hudson recognises the benefit of being able to install FlueSnug without the need for scaffolding or a cherry picker so eliminating the hazards of working at height for their engineers.
“It really does tick all the boxes for us and removes the risks associated with working at height. This is because FlueSnug is flexible enough to be pushed through the brickwork from the inside, and rigid enough to pop back into place to provide an air and water-tight seal,” Ian explains. “Another benefit comes during servicing; if you need to inspect or access the flue then FlueSnug can simply be removed and then replaced. This is another time saving benefit which makes service teams’ jobs a lot easier and again can be done from the inside of the building, removing risk and the need for expensive scaffolding and health and safety equipment.”
The Daly Group also work with other housebuilders such as RG Carter, Hills, Redrow, Tilia Homes and Elemento, and have used FlueSnug on their sites too. The company has also used FlueSnug’s little brother, PipeSnug, on waste pipes at a site in Ely in Cambridgeshire.
Housebuilders and developers can save time, mess, money and hassle by using FlueSnug. To find out more contact us today.