Some 1,500 Decra Oberon tiles in dark brown Bark colour provide the traditional pitched finish appropriate for the vernacular in Hayes, Middlesex, but weigh 90% less than clay tiles that are also subject to breaking and loosening.

They were specified by design and build contractor Wernick Buildings who use low-maintenance Decra tiles “constantly” on their modular projects, in this case their Rapidplan™ 3000 building.

They certainly help to reduce healthcare building delays, the 37 modules being delivered and craned into position at Hayes Cottage Hospital over four days and fitted out over eight weeks.

The one- and two-storey, brick-skinned 829m² building is used as a satellite renal dialysis unit for Hammersmith Hospital and replaces a redundant building at what is now a 50-bed nursing home run by the Fordham family.

Owner John Fordham had been contacted by Hammersmith Hospital ’s renal department, which is responsible for all dialysis in West London , asking if he would be interested in building a unit on the site that would be rented and staffed by the NHS.

John was, and after visiting two other dialysis units that had been designed and factory built by Wernick Buildings, he and the Hammersmith team briefed the company to design and build one for them to the latest specifications.

Externally, this had to comply with the requirements of the local council’s conservation department, and the Decra Oberon tiles were installed on site over four weeks by sub-contractor Jamek.

Internally, the design had to meet strict NHS guidelines as well as John’s vision of a user-friendly, open-plan design that patients, who require dialysis three times a week, would appreciate.

At the Hayes site, everyone has tried to keep the cottage hospital culture but with the very latest equipment and facilities, and there are 24 dialysis stations in the unit. Using such a lightweight roof system has meant supporting framework has been kept to a minimum to achieve the open-plan ethos.

Jeff Bownds, PR and marketing manager for Wernick, said: “The Decra tiles were specified not only for their light weight which is ideal for factory builds but also because they matched the specification and type required and the client liked them.”

John Fordham added: “The low-cost, high-specification nature of Wernick's building just made sense to the dialysis team and us. Wernick have achieved a look that is aesthetically pleasing and efficient in use.”