Page 7 - MGMA MRM Issue 01 final

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Pic shows the cast iron process
Cast Iron

Rainwater

Systems

The popularity of cast iron has grown in
recent years due to a greater trend towards
conservation and sustainability by property
managers and designers. Cast iron is used
mainly on the more traditional new build
properties and extensively in the refurbishment
market for domestic properties, churches,
industrial and municipal buildings.

Cast iron is a popular choice for its traditional
virtues of strength, reliability, versatility and
sustainability. Cast iron rainwater goods are
often manufactured from a mix of the following
recycled materials; scrap iron, scrap steel
pressings and scrap steel casting. The resultant
cast iron products are themselves 100 per cent
recyclable at the end of the product’s life cycle.
There are thousands of existing profiles of
cast iron gutter displayed on existing buildings
and all of these can be replicated today using hardness and abrasion/impact resistance, materials there is no plastic replica to cast iron
the traditional fabrication and sand casting and exceptional gloss and colour retention. that can remotely provide the durability, feel or
techniques. The current manufactured stock The coatings can be formulated for specific appearance of cast iron. At first glance, PVC
ranges include Half Round, Beaded Half Round, applications such as prolonged exposure to might seem like an economical solution however,
Victorian Ogee, Notts OG, G46 Moulded, Deep sunlight and the ability to survive in highly whole life cost comparisons prove that is not the
Half Round and Box.
corrosive environments. All painting should be case.
These profiles are available in a variety of carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s PVC does not have the strength, rigidity,
sizes. Pipes are available in round, square and guidelines. durability or colour fastness of metal rainwater
rectangular sections. They come either ready The sensitive restoration and maintenance systems. The ‘cast iron look-alike’ effect is
primed for subsequent painting on site prior of many of the United Kingdom’s cherished created by applying a textured paint or co-
to installation or are now widely available pre- buildings is vital to the preservation of the extrusion layer to the PVC substrate which
painted with several manufacturers offering a country’s architectural heritage with cast iron will in time fade, if not delaminate, and for that
range of British Standard colours or RAL options rainwater products being a key feature in many reason generally most of these products are only
to suit end users, architects, and installers or to of these old buildings. Ornamental rainwater guaranteed for 10 years.
meet specific planning requirements.
heads, radius gutters, bespoke pipework and Cast iron is widely stocked at plumbing and
Pre-painted products now offer the benefit of special gutter profiles can all be matched building merchants across the UK, Ireland and
mechanised coating application for uniform using traditional sand casting methods. An Channel Islands and is also available to order
thickness and superior finish quality, as well extensive range of designs is available to online through a number of specialist suppliers.
as allowing for more efficient installation by order from manufacturers who hold tooling for Details of manufacturers can be found via the
removing the time needed for manually applied these items and specialist fabrication methods product matrix on the MGMA web site; this
paint to dry to a sufficient thickness. If purchased are also available for bespoke requirements. matrix has been designed to help specifiers
in a primed finish for on-site painting, it is Manufacturers can offer specialist advice on quickly find a suitable manufacturer for their
important to paint each component individually project requirements and their details are on the project and there is also an option to select
before installation, ensuring that all the non- MGMA web site. by product application namely, non-domestic,
visible areas are painted and protected and also There is controversy regarding the various plastic domestic, heritage, new build and refurbishment.
ensure that the paint is fully dry (not just touch ‘cast iron look-alike’ pipe and gutter systems
dry) prior to installation, otherwise the silicone that have entered the market, purporting to Cast iron rainwater systems are designed and
sealant may react with the un-cured paint finish. offer the same durability, feel or appearance manufactured to give many years of reliable
Powder coated finishes are becoming as the genuine cast iron product at a lower service and detailed guidance is available on the
MGMA web site at www.mgma.co.uk.
increasingly popular as they offer excellent cost. Despite the latest technology and modern

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