04 June, 2019

Glavloc Building Systems Ltd. was established in 2014 by structural engineer Paul Glavin, a graduate of CIT’s Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. Paul has always had a keen interest in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) which results in improved building and environmental outcomes, while reducing cost and inefficiencies during the process.

With support from CIT’s Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, the Rubicon Centre, and the Local Enterprise Office, Glavloc has developed a highly innovative rapid build system for constructing low to medium rise buildings. The company has a fully automated production facility in the IDA business park in Blackpool with a capacity of over 200 houses per year.

As a client company of Enterprise Ireland, Glavloc availed of the Innovation Voucher initiative to check “proof of concept” for their products. This gave Glavloc access to specialist knowledge from CIT staff as well as the opportunity to run indicative tests in CIT’s structural labs. The Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering has developed extensive structural and fire testing facilities, expanding the range, capacity, and quality of tests that can be performed.

Over the past 12 months Glavloc has entered into several commercial testing contracts with CIT to progress NSAI Agrément Certification for their products. These tests utilised both CIT’s fire kiln for indicative fire testing, and the large structural testing rigs. The indicative fire tests highlighted multiple refinements that needed to be made in advance of accredited tests at BRE Watford in the UK. Glavloc has since received full fire certification for both 30- and 60-minute firewall construction. Extensive structural testing of multiple wall panels has also been conducted throughout 2018 and 2019. The results of these tests were accepted by the NSAI without any further validation.

Glavloc hopes to continue commercial testing in CIT over the next number of years as part of its R&D programme for new products. In April this year Glavloc received a Draft Agrément Certificate for their build system, with the final cert due to be issued in June 2019.

Pictured at the NSAI visit to CIT's structural laboratory to witness the structural testing of the Glavloc System L-R: Paul Glavin, MD Glavloc; Jim Morgan, Lab Technician CIT; Andrew Macilwraith, Visiting Lecturer CIT; Aisling Barry, Glavloc; Gary O’Sullivan, NSAI; Des Walsh, Head of Civil, Structural, & Environmental Engineering CIT.

If you would like to find out more about collaboration opportunities within CIT, call 021 4335302 or email extendedcampus@cit.ie