While some of the ceramic manufacturers have always maintained that sintered stone is just another name for porcelain, the European Commission (EC) and European Organisation for Technical Assessment (EOTA) have now adopted a new European Assessment Document (EAD) that defines Sintered Stone in a category of its own.

The definition is as follows: ‘An industrial product consisting of a wet mix of minerals, without the use of resin or cement. The material is cold-formed by vacuum vibro-compression and then consolidated, after drying, by sintering at temperatures between 1,100 and 1,200°C. The production process is reversible. The material can be used in architecture and design for various interior and / or exterior applications and can be installed by means of adhesives, structural bonding or mechanical fixings.'

And Lapitec, made by Italian machinery company Breton, is the first sintered stone to carry a CE-mark. 

Breton was the machinery company that developed the equipment for making engineered quartz. Having done so, it sold that equipment to other companies to make the slabs. With Lapitec, it decided to keep the production equipment for itself and make the slabs.

It originally worked in conjunction with Spanish quartz company Cosentino, which makes Silestone, on the development of sintered stone, but Cosentino decided to manufacture its own version, which it has successfully marketed under the name of Dekton, even though making worktops from Dekton has given fabricators some headaches. Dekton has the design printed on it whereas Lapitec has achieved full thickness patterns.

Lapitec always wanted the pattern to be full thickness. When it introduced its marble look tops in 2019 the design was not just printed on, as it is with porcelains, but was part of the fabric of the material.

The first Lapitec slab was produced in 2012. The company says it was the result of 20 years of research and development. It says sintered stone is an Italian invention and is now recognised in more than 70 countries by project, design and construction professionals. 

Lapitec sintered stone offers a 100% mineral core that does not use petroleum derivatives (like the resins commonly used in engineered quartz). The first marble effects also introduced a formula free of crystalline silica – and crystalline silica has caused increasing concern among worktop fabricators because of the danger of silicosis from the dust. Lapitec has replaced crystalline silica with a trade-marked product it calls Biorite.

The technology behind Lapitec is protected by 25 international patents. The process involves a lot of heat and pressure, just as the creation of natural stone does, although in the case of natural stone it comes from processes in the Earth's crust. With Lapitec the minerals involved are heated to 1,500°C and compacted under vacuum. They are then heated to 1,200°C to produce large slabs.

The EC and EOTA has decided that sintered stone has properties that are distinct from ceramic, natural and composite stones.

Lapitec says no other material on the market possesses similar characteristics and consequently sintered stone was originally subject to different building regulations in various EU nations. With the adoption of the new European Assessment Document (EAD) for Sintered Stone (EAD 090142-00-0404) that has now changed in Europe.

EAD ‪090142-00-0404 contains a list of essential characteristics of sintered stone. The EAD sheds light on ‪the differences between Sintered Stone and Ceramics in order to ‪avoid overlaps and any misuse of terms. Surfaces that meet the requirements of the new EAD can be CE marked (using existing criteria) as sintered stone.

Following tests and the completion of an appropriate Declaration of Performance (DoP), Lapitec is currently the only sintered material carrying a CE mark.

Lapitec Sales Executive Francesco Giannini says: "All too often other materials are wrongly promoted as sintered stone and this new step will shed light on a long-standing problem that undermines the market niche that we have been presiding over for more than a decade."

Today, Lapitec is sold in the UK by stone wholesaler The Marble & Granite Centre in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. It is available in large slabs, in thicknesses of 12, 20 and 30mm in 18 designs with six alternative surface finishes. All have full-thickness veining.

Non-porous on the surface, it is resistant to temperature changes, frost and high temperatures, UV rays, scratches and chemicals. It can be used in direct contact with water and its high performance, sustainability and availability in XXL sizes make it ideal for use in ventilated facades (rainscreens) and roofing, indoor and outdoor horizontal and vertical surfaces, for swimming pool cladding and in yachts, as well as for kitchen and table tops.

www.lapitec.com

Hamish Ogston CBE, the wealthy philanthropist whose charitable foundation supports the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship (CWF), which trains stonemasons in the 11 cathedrals that have their own workshops, met with CWF students in their masonry workshop on 7 July when he visited Salisbury Cathedral.

The CWF enjoys a long-term partnership with the Hamish Ogston Foundation, which is essential for securing the future of English cathedrals and the people who care for them.

Between September 2022 and August 2025, the Foundation will award £2.3million to the CWF to fund the employment and training of craftspeople, mostly stonemasons but also carpenters, joiners and electricians, at the 11 cathedrals that belong to the CWF, which includes Salisbury.

During his visit to Salisbury Cathedral on Friday, 7 July, Hamish stopped by the cathedral’s on-site workshop, where he met some of the CWF students.

Apprentice stonemason Joe O’Connell, currently studying at Level 2 in preparation for completing the CWF Foundation degree in Applied Historic Building Conservation & Repair, and Matt Barton, who completed this qualification in March last year. Both have benefitted from grants from the Hamish Ogston Foundation.

Joe, Matt and Hamish discussed progress on projects such as a baluster that showcases different masonry profiles and demonstrates the many skills developed on the CWF course.

Joe said afterwards: “I really enjoyed meeting Hamish today and expressed my thanks for his generosity.

“By funding my stonemasonry apprenticeship at Salisbury Cathedral, Hamish has enabled me to pursue my passion for medieval architecture in a practical way and develop the skills necessary for me to contribute to the restoration and maintenance of our built heritage, preserving these beautiful buildings for years to come.”

Hamish said: “My interest in heritage skills and stonemasonry stemmed from observing the great stonework in and around Salisbury Cathedral while I was a chorister and pupil at the Cathedral. “Returning to the stone works yard to meet the apprentices we are funding through our programme with the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship is a great privilege. These apprentices are safeguarding the future of the Cathedral so that many more, children and adults alike, can enjoy the majesty of its ancient architecture for generations to come.”

The Executive Director of the CWF is Frances Cambrook. She was at Salisbury to greet Hamish and said: “We are delighted to welcome Mr Hamish Ogston to Salisbury Cathedral, marking the partnership between the Cathedrals' Workshop Fellowship and Hamish Ogston Foundation in developing the heritage sector.

“This collaborative project has ushered in a new era of progress and advancement, particularly within the member cathedral works departments. Mr Ogston has witnessed the remarkable achievements of our trainees.

“As we approach significant milestones in the academic calendar, with students completing their summer works, it is truly a pleasure to witness our esteemed stakeholders engaging with our talented students and observing first-hand the profound impact they are making on the acquisition and preservation of craft skills in the United Kingdom.”

• The Hamish Ogston Foundation is based in the UK but with a global reach. It is dedicated to three prime areas of philanthropic focus: heritage, music and health. The Foundation’s prime goals are to preserve historic buildings throughout the world by funding heritage skills apprenticeship programmes, to support and build the UK’s choral music tradition, including the role that organs play in that, and to work towards eliminating the disparities in both access to medical treatment and health awareness around the world by funding vital research. To date, the Foundation has committed more than £30million to the protection of historic buildings in the UK and abroad through the training of more than 3,000 people in heritage conservation skills.

Clare Howcutt-Kelly, a journalist with more than 20 years’ experience, is taking over from Eric Bignell as Editor of Natural Stone Specialist magazine, the stonespecialist.com website, the emailed Natural Stone Bulletin, and the related social media platforms.

Eric Bignell, who has Edited Natural Stone Specialist for 30 years, is retiring.

Clare has always enjoyed architecture and during her journalistic career has held positions at some of the UK’s largest publishing companies – including the BBC and Bauer Media.

She brings a wealth of experience to the role of Editor, including digital and video expertise that she will use to enhance the digital presence of the Natural Stone Specialist offering and keep the industry on top of events that affect it.

Clare says: “I’ve always loved architecture and the practicality of constructing and maintaining the built environment. When I find a building that intrigues me I become almost obsessive about researching it, finding out who designed it, where the materials came from and who lived in it. Buildings are the keystones of our society.

“My first week with Natural Stone Specialist was spent at the Natural Stone Show in London and I felt completely inspired by the exciting developments taking place. The enthusiasm from the exhibitors and visitors was contagious." 

You can see Clare talking to some of the exhibitors and visitors at the Natural Stone Show + Hard Surfaces exhibitions in London in the video below.

Clare continued: “I would like to thank Eric and Richard Bradbury, the Managing Director of QMJ Group, which publishes Natural Stone Specialist and owns the Stone Show, for welcoming me so warmly. I wish Eric all the best for his retirement.”

Eric is stepping down as Editor at the end of July, although he will remain in a consultancy capacity. Welcoming Clare as his successor he says: “After 30 years of reporting on the stone industry in Natural Stone Specialist magazine I am retiring and handing over the camera and notebook to Clare Howcutt-Kelly – who will instantly bin them in favour of videos and electrical voice recorders, because she has a handle on information technology that I don’t. It’s one of the reasons I feel it’s time to step aside. Communication has become fast and digital and the Stone Bulletin and social media these days play a bigger part of the service to the stone industry that Natural Stone Specialist offers.

“It’s a great industry to have been involved in – fascinating, ever changing and always delivering beautiful architecture, interiors, landscapes, conservation work, extensions, public art and stone memorials. It gets into your blood.

“It has been a pleasure to be involved with the industry and a joy to have known the people in it that I have met over the years. I’m sure Clare will enjoy it just as much as I have.”

City & Guilds of London Art School, the internationally renowned centre of ornamental and architectural carving and sculpture, has appointed Tom Young as its new Head of Carving. Tom will take up his role for the start of the 2023/24 academic year.

With more than 20 years extensive experience as a lettering designer and carver, Tom has run his own business alongside developing his teaching. He has taught lettering at the Art School since 2006, becoming Senior Lettering Tutor in 2014.

Professionally, he has worked with such august bodies as the Fishmongers Livery Company, the Olympic Park, Old Royal Navy College Greenwich and Eton College.

He takes over from Heather Newton, who has headed the carving department since joining from Canterbury Cathedral, where she was head of the works department, in 2020. She is now returning to Canterbury Cathedral.  

The Art School has also appointed Ghislain Puget to take over from Nina Bilbey as Lead Stone Carving Tutor while Nina takes a leave of absence to continue her own studies.

Ghislain has been working in the carving department since 2007. He is a highly experienced teacher and professionally qualified stone carving tutor.

Construction once again accounted for the highest number of workplace deaths in the year to the end of March, according to figures from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) published on 6 July.

There were 203 workplace deaths, 135 of them involving people at work and a further 68 members of the public. Construction accounted for 45 of the worker deaths.

They are absolute numbers, and because the construction industry employs so many people its death rate per 100,000 employees is third highest at 2.1, well below Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing’s 7.87 and Waste & Recycling’s 5.02.

And although people’s lives should not be at risk at work, the UK still kills fewer of its population at work each year than most countries, making it one of the safest countries in the world to work in.

The most likely way to die at work is by falling from a height. Next most likely is being hit by something heavy that is falling, and third is being hit by a vehicle.

Almost everyone (96%) of those killed at work in the latest figures was male, and the death rate of those over 65 was three-and-a-half times that of those under 65.

The total of 135 worker deaths in 2022/23 is higher than the previous year (123), but is in line with recent averages. There has been a long-term downward trend in the rate of fatal injuries at work, although in recent years the rate has been broadly flat.

This week's meeting of the Worktop Fabricators Federation (WFF), at Granite House in Preston, was attended by more than 40 members, with demonstrations from industry product suppliers.

Chris Pateman, the General Secretary of WFF, said: “Right at the beginning of the day, we made the point that talking and sharing with one another is vital if fabricators are to stay in tune with the regulator and ahead of the cowboys. Fabricators and suppliers have a common interest in maintaining the industry’s quality image – and delivering the kind of margins that enable us to invest in safe and efficient factories, which guarantee the industry’s future.”

The team at Granite House shared its own experiences throughout the day and demonstrated the Omar crane for safe lifting and manoeuvring of heavy materials. Matthew Pegg of ACAS Engineering was also in attendance revealing ways of using waste heat from compressors to preheat processed water making wet hand polishing more comfortable in colder weather.

Stonegate and Harrisons of Hull were also present to showcase respiratory protective equipment. Members were invited to discuss current issues, including alternatives to FFP2 face masks for workers with facial hair to protect them from silica dust.

Stonegate gave a demonstration of tooling outside. 

The risk of vibration damage (white finger) from using hand tools was raised by Keith Phillips from Havsco, who talked members through a wearable device for monitoring vibration for the duration of an entire shift. 

A key issue of the day was the need for recirculating water in cutting and polishing machines, with Simon Bradbury from Stone Industries Group (SiG) discussing the correct use of flocculants and coagulant additives to prevent pipes from clogging.

SIG's Trolex Air XS real time silica dust monitor was sampling the air in the showroom throughout the day. WFF has acquired one of these machines for the benefit of its members.

Even before the Dust Kills campaign by the Health & Safety Executive focussing on dust on building sites comes to an end on 13 July, another has started focussing on manufacturers.

Health & Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors have begun a targeted inspection initiative focusing on manufacturing businesses where materials that contain silica are used. It is not particularly focussing on stone fabricators, but they are not excluded. Brick and tile manufacturers, and foundries will also be visited.

Exposure to airborne particles of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) can lead to life-changing respiratory conditions such as silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.

Crystalline silica is found in most stones, rocks, sand, and clay. Airborne particles are produced during many manufacturing tasks involving these materials. Over time, exposure to silica particles can impair a person’s ability to breathe and cause irreversible, often eventually fatal, lung diseases.

The manufacturer inspections, which started on Monday 3 July, are checking that employers and employees know the risks involved when dealing with RCS and that businesses have control measures in place to protect workers’ respiratory health.

The initiative is supported by HSE’s Dust Kills campaign. There is straight forward advice and guidance on the Work Right website for employers and employees, to help everyone understand the risks and how to protect respiratory health when processing materials that contain crystalline silica.

Employers have a legal duty to create suitable arrangements to manage health & safety and ensure they comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH).

Inspectors will be looking for evidence that businesses have put in place effective control measures, such as dust extraction (LEV) and, where appropriate, use of water suppression and personal protective equipment such as masks (RPE) to reduce people’s exposure to RCS.

HSE warns that if any health & safety breaches are discovered it will take enforcement action.

David Butter, HSE’s head of manufacturing, says: “During the 2022 silica initiative inspection, findings indicated poor management of control measures, including engineering controls, cleaning and housekeeping, and RPE management. Employers should ensure control measures are used and maintained appropriately.

“We want employers and workers to make sure they are aware of the risks associated with the activities they do. To assist them we have advice and free resources on our Dust Kills campaign pages.”

The advice includes an employer's guide called Controlling exposure to stone dust. You can download a PDF version of it below.

The entrance to Staffordshire’s National Memorial Arboretum has a new feature – a sculpture by local artist Graeme Mitcheson in granite from Tarmac’s Mountsorrel Quarry, near Loughborough, in Leicestershire.

There are several examples of Graeme's work at the National Memorial Arboretum as well as many other public sites across the UK. 

The latest piece was added as part of the Arboretum’s contribution to The Queen’s Green Canopy – a tree planting initiative designed to honour the late monarch.

The nationwide initiative concluded in March. It saw more than 3million trees planted across the UK, including 28 along the entrance to the arboretum.

The 9-tonne block of granite includes 40 stainless steel elm, oak, and lime leaves, representing the trees planted in the arboretum’s contribution to The Queen’s Green Canopy.

As operators of Alrewas Quarry adjacent to the arboretum site, Tarmac has enjoyed a close relationship with the National Memorial Arboretum ever since it agreed to lease the land for the creation of the UK’s equivalent of America’s Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the uniformed services for a ‘peppercorn rent’ in 1994.

The 150-acre site has since evolved into an inspirational landscape, home to more than 400 memorials dedicated to the armed forces, emergency services, and voluntary organisations that serve the country.

Philippa Rawlinson, director of the National Memorial Arboretum, says: “As our patron, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was gracious and unwavering in her support for the arboretum over many years.

“It is wonderful that we were able to complete our contribution to The Queen’s Green Canopy at the arboretum on what would have been Queen Elizabeth II’s 97th birthday [21 April], as a celebration of her lifelong commitment to service.”

Nick Atkins, strategic planning manager (Central) for Tarmac, says: “We’re proud to continue our support for the National Memorial Arboretum and its ongoing work in nurturing a space which celebrates lives lived and commemorates lives lost.

“It is an honour to have been able to donate this piece of granite to mark the arboretum’s contribution to The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

“What a striking new addition to the arboretum! And a truly fitting tribute to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”

Hard on the heels of the Chelsea Flower Show, Welsh Slate and Breedon Special Aggregates are supplying celebrated garden designer Paul Hervey-Brookes with materials for his latest garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, open 4-9 July.

The Cancer Research UK Legacy garden has varying levels and is mostly hidden from the outside. Discovery happens when you step inside – stream inlets lead to a central body of water with an isolated jetty – a metaphor for the fear and loneliness cancer can bring – but facing the ‘Pledge Pavilion’, which symbolises hope and carries the message that, though the journey is difficult, it does not have to be made alone.

Welsh Slate and its parent company, Breedon, are supplying various landscaping materials to Paul’s Cancer Research UK Legacy garden at the show.

The garden reflects the hope and optimism brought about by gifts in wills, encouraging reflection, conversation, and connection in a tranquil woodland.

The Welsh Slate products are 15 boulders, 250mm x 500mm Penrhyn Riven paving, four glacial boulders, sliced glacial boulders, slate feature stones, rockery stone, and 40mm and 20mm Penrhyn Blue chippings.

From Breedon come 100mm concrete blocks from the group’s Wickwar site, various sized cobbles for the ‘river’ from the Wangford quarry, and Breedon Golden Amber self-binding gravel from Breedon quarry.

Paul’s garden at Hampton Court is being built by GK Wilson Landscapes, who also constructed his RBC Brewin Dolphin Garden at Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year.

Breedon is also supplying its Breedon Golden Amber self-binding gravel and MOT Type 1 sub-base to BBC Morning Live’s resident gardener, Mark Lane, who is creating the accessible RHS-BBC Morning Live garden at Hampton Court. This is being built by Augustine John Developments.