About The Association

The forerunner of the Insulated Render & Cladding Association Ltd, was established in 1982 to uphold standards and the reputation of this now fast-growing industry.

The Association is playing a major role in the growth of the industry, which is well established with the majority of local authorities as a refurbishment process. It has also achieved success in the field of new build and remodelling, being used by many leading main contractors and architects. It is now expanding into the field of industrial and commercial buildings and architect-designed private houses.

The Association now represents at least 95% of the external wall insulation systems, available in the UK market. The organisation has a register of specialist installers and additional support from component suppliers and consultants.

The aims of the Association are to establish and maintain good technical, ethical and legal standards for the industry; to give impartial advice and to promote the concept and advantages of external wall insulation, as designed and applied by recognised member companies; and to represent the industry when liaising with government, its agencies, registered social landlords, energy suppliers and other bodies.

A Technical Standard for the external wall insulation industry has been produced by the Association and is available to specifiers. The standard takes the form of a detailed specification for the various elements and general aspects of the external wall insulation concept. It covers system certification and the testing procedures; component parts, their properties and performance criteria - insulation materials, render carriers and reinforcement meshes, trims, renders and finishes, and fixings; and matters such as fire and fire precautions, and health and safety at work. A Code of Practice for Applicators is also available.

Summary of Current Activities

• The Association is recognised by Government and its name and address is published on all government literature featuring insulated render and cladding, resulting in many enquiries into the Association. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and its agency, the Energy Saving Trust generally work through the trade associations and you need to be a Member in order to maximise promotional benefits for your company. We sit on the Insulation Strategy Group of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes, and its ‘Hard-to-Heat’ Housing sub-group.
• We liaise with and lobby government departments, in order to gain Ministerial support and an appreciation of insulated render and cladding. Many insulated render and cladding projects have been undertaken by BRECSU (Building Research Establishment).
• We are represented on the Committee of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, comprised of associations serving the energy efficiency industries, which collectively lobbies government. This has culminated in the requirement for higher standards of wall insulation within Building Regulations; and government support to the concept of bringing solid walled houses up to new-build standards to meet national fuel emission and eradication of fuel poverty targets.
• We organise national and regional seminars and exhibitions for the specifying trade in which Members are able to participate. Builders and architects involved in new build, remodelling and refurbishment, are our prime target.
• We sponsor the high profile Andy Swan Awards for the best use of insulated render and cladding for new build and refurbishment. These are featured at our Seminars with talks by the architects concerned, also in the prestigious INCA Andy Swan Year Book, and in our articles – with full credits to our members.
• Our technical sub-committee produces technical documents, including industry standards entitled: Code of Practice for Approved Systems and Code of Practice for Approved Applicators. A Register of Systems, which is a compilation of individual systems and their properties, is available, also a guidance note for the Bill of Quantity.
• House builders, architects and local authorities throughout the country are circulated with literature and Members’ lists, encouraged to specify Members’ products and services, and offered presentations in their offices.
• An Association insurance scheme is in operation. It covers design, workmanship, and installation, as appropriate to BBA or BRE approved systems designed and applied by participating Members. (See Insurance Guarantee Scheme.)
• The Association carries out its own Press and public relations activities, aimed in particular at the building, architectural and specifying market. Articles are commissioned by these journals on a regular basis, and there is a Press release service, resulting in substantial Press coverage for the Association and trade enquiries, which are despatched to Members. We have instigated a ‘representative to call’ service. We are also starting to create an awareness by the general public.
• We have attractive technical literature available to Members, explaining the insulated render and cladding process to specifiers; a separate colour leaflet for the new build field; and case history sheets detailing varied applications.
• Through our own Code of Professional Practice, we aim to establish and promote high technical, ethical and legal standards, relating to the recognised systems and their application by our Members, thus helping to guard against unethical operators.
• We hold meetings to enable our Members to discuss and help resolve common problems, to enable us to impart information of importance to the industry, and to further the interests of the industry.
• We are on European committees responsible for European standards covering insulated render and cladding. We were the prime mover in organising talks with European associations, in order to ensure collective consideration by European committees to national viewpoints.