Marking a year of Proctor Air® success

As an air permeable, low-resistance (APLR) pitched roof underlay, ProctorAir simplifies pitched roof constructions.

Its vapour permeability allows moisture vapour to escape the roof space, reducing condensation risk. Proctor Air has an Sd value of 0.015m and a vapour resistance of 0.075 MNs/g, making it one of the highest performing vapour permeable membranes on the market.

At the same time, its air permeability means no ventilation measures are required in cold roof spaces, as it provides a more uniform flow of air in the roof space than normal vents. Proctor Air also requires no vapour control layer in the ceiling, and nor does the ceiling need to be well-sealed.

Alongside air and vapour permeability, Proctor Air offers water holdout performance and wind uplift resistance that ensures it can cope with more frequent extreme weather driven by climate change. Pitched roof underlays provide secondary weather protection (the roof covering is always the primary protection), so they are water resistant – not waterproof.

Even so, Proctor Air offers a W1 resistance to water penetration classification, when tested to EN 13859-1. A hydrophobic additive in all three of its layers helps it to achieve a minimum of 1m hydrostatic head – a level of water resistance that meets the guidance of NFRC’s Technical Bulletin 6.

When Proctor Air is used on a roof featuring in-line solar PV panels surrounded by non-airtight tiles, the roof covering can continue to be treated as air permeable.There is no requirement for ventilation in the loft space below the underlay, or in the batten cavity above the underlay.

Achieving BBA certification for Proctor Air one year ago provided specifiers and installers with independent third-party verification that our performance claims are genuine and accurate. Because an Agrément certificate assesses a construction product’s fitness for purpose, obtaining a BBA certificate for Proctor Air showed it had been tested and assessed in relation to its intended use. Organisations like the A. Proctor Group, who have a history of technical innovation, rely on working with certification bodies like the British Board of Agrément to bring new ideas to the market. And during the process of Proctor Air’s certification, we enjoyed a collaborative relationship with the BBA.

Monthly meetings with our BBA project manager ensured we could keep each other updated on progress, and maintain ongoing dialogue about testing schedules and product sample needs.

In addition to the performance characteristics described above, the ProctorAir BBA certificate also covers the following.

• When used with Proctor Air, solar PV panels can be treated in the same way as other impermeable roof coverings, including tightly-jointed slates and tiles, and metal sheets.
• Proctor Air is one of the very few membranes which can be used in wind zones 1-4 without additional measures such as taping joints or additional battens.
• Proctor Air achieves an excellent Mullen burst strength result (an assessment of the fabric’s strength), which helps it to “resist the loads associated with the installation of the roof.”
• Slip resistance has been assessed to ensure the health and safety of operatives as part of normal safe roofing practices. Proctor Air “has a high coefficient of friction, giving a slip resistance surface for increased safety during the installation of the covering.”s other impermeable roof coverings, including tightly-jointed slates and tiles, and metal sheets.”

Proctor Air case studies 

In its first year, Proctor Air has already been widely adopted by the UK pitched roof sector. Already, we have been able to produce a variety of case studies showcasing the underlay’s qualities in action.

Private house, near Dundee

Neil Simpson, a Partner at Wellwood Leslie Architects, fitted Proctor Air himself while renovating the roof of his stone-walled property built in 1902. He began to see the benefits of the new underlay even before he had completed the reroofing work.

Hatchmeadow Apartments, Northumberland

This age-exclusive development, operated by the housing association Bernicia Homes, featured a T-shaped apartment building with a 2500m2 pitched roof, including several gables and valleys. Unfortunately, problems with the existing roof specification were causing some residents to experience leaks during periods of poor weather.

Manchester Town Hall renovation

The £325m scheme to redevelop the Grade 1-listed Town Hall is one of the biggest heritage projects in the UK. Known as the ‘Our Town Hall’ project, every aspect of the building is being restored.

 

As a significant product development in the history of the A. Proctor Group, Proctor Air has unsurprisingly played a central role in the company’s industry communication over the last year.

The July 2024 issue of Total Contractor featured an FAQ article on Proctor Air and its BBA certificate.The following month, another series of FAQs dealt with the subject of water holdout in pitched roof underlays.

Episode 7 of The Proctor Podcast featured a conversation about the weather resistance of membranes; watch and listen here. An edited version of that conversation has appeared in RCI magazine, and has also informed articles in Total Contractor and Roofing Today.

And among other articles, we have discussed roof membranes for retrofit projects in RCI, and ventilation in complex roofs in Roofing Today.

All of this industry communication took place alongside an eye-catching advertising campaign that positioned Proctor Air as “the air to the throne.” Our hard work throughout 2024 culminated in a triumphant night at December’s Construction Marketing Awards (CMAs).

During a gala dinner and ceremony, held at the Hilton London Bankside, judges named the A. Proctor Group as winner in both the Best Product Launch category and the Best Advertising Campaign category.

Best Product Launch was awarded for the Proctor Air campaign. Recognising the challenges of introducing a new product into a very competitive marketplace, the judges noted how the “attention-grabbing, innovative campaign” communicated Proctor Air’s benefits, built momentum, and exceeded expectations in terms of return on investment.

In winning Best Advertising Campaign, the company was praised for its “really eye catching and different approach.”The unique digital art resonated with audiences and “was sure to grab attention,” while positioning the company as a trusted and expert partner.

What made the two wins particularly special was that we produced everything in-house. Our campaigns truly represented us as an organisation – credible, innovative and professional, while still bringing personality into our marketing.The success was made possible by the hard work, passion and innovative ideas of the A. Proctor Group team.