A three-year, £300,000 government-sponsored Foresight programme examining lime mortars has come to an end. But the research and reporting will continue for another three years under another government scheme, the Sustainable Technologies Initiative, which is contributing £400,000.

The Foresight lime research team based at Bristol University headed their work: \'Performance Applications and Classification of Hydraulic Limes and Pozzolanas for the UK Construction Industry\'.

The research included microstructural studies, physical testing and on-site, in-use examination and testing.

By the end of the programme, 11 papers had been published and two conferences had been held to disseminate the results.

The first conference was hosted by the BRE in September 2001 and the second at Manchester University\'s Hulme Hall in November last year.

Speakers at Hulme Hall included Stafford Holmes, the architect and author of Building With Lime, who provided an introduction to building limes.

Paul Livesey of Castle Cement, whose contribution to the whole programme was extensive, talked about hydraulic limes on the UK market, their chemistry and performance, and there was a thought provoking presentation by Dr Jim Allen from engineers Ellis & Moore on engineering design philosophy.

Professor Geoff Allen of Bristol University gave an insight into microstructures of the materials. He also gave examples of what could be learnt from electron microscopy.

There was a presentation devoted to best practice and specification given by Dr Tim Yates of the BRE together with architect Ralph Carpenter, who talked about innovative low energy housing at Haverhill, Suffolk, using timber frame, infilled with a lime and hemp mix.

The late afternoon case studies began with an illustrated talk by engineer Ric Fox of the Morton Partnership on the construction of a new Palladian Mansion in Wiltshire. This was followed by presentations given by contractors Steven Treasure of Treasure & Sons Ltd and Stuart Davies of Sapcote on conservation work on properties including Kedleston Hall and Warwick Castle.

The final forum began with an introduction to the research team\'s Best Practice Guide to using lime mortars by Paul Livesey, which will be published later this year.

Throughout the day, Jeff Orton gave a practical demonstration of fluted frieze construction for Kedleston Hall, using a mix of Blue Lias hydraulic lime and prompt.

Before the Foresight programme finally finished at the end of the year, the team received confirmation that a second three-year programme had been given government funding under the Sustainable Technologies Initiative.

The new programme is to be called \'Engineering With Lime\'. It will aim to provide specifiers with technical information on thermal stress and associated issues especially related to the wider use of hydraulic lias limes on thin skin construction.

The original team has been augmented by the BRE, Hanson and the Brick Development Association.

In addition, the NHBC, while not contributing financially, has asked to be involved because of the increasing use of lime in the residential new build market.

The programme will be managed by engineer Dr Jim Allen instead of Mike Farey of Hydraulic Lias Lime Ltd, who managed the previous Foresight programme.

The original Foresight Team, at its last meeting in December, considered providing permanent access to a website, training packages and publication of documents.

In view of the skills within the team, thought is being given also to the provision of Consultancy Services.

Within the same timeframe, the Foresight Lime Research Team - or UK Limes, to use the name the DTI gave it - will open its website, www.uklimes.co.uk. As the site is developed, Mike Farey believes it will provide access to publications, courses, conferences and seminars. He says the team is aware that a number of other agencies have lime related websites but that UK Limes is concentrating on the leading edge of hydraulic lime research and technology to benefit the new build market of the 21st century."