Swift brick
Swifts are plain, sooty brown, medium-sized aerial birds that breed in the UK but winter in Africa.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) report that the number of swifts has almost halved in 20 years down from almost 150,000 breeding pairs arriving in the UK to less than 90,000. It is thought that this decline is in part due to a reduction in potential nesting sites as buildings are renovated or demolished.
Nesting accommodation for swifts built in to buildings is preferable to accommodation retrofitted onto the outside. Swift bricks provide a mechanism for building nesting accommodation for swifts into brickwork. They are available from a range of suppliers, including from Action for Swifts, and can be embedded into walls below the eaves. Ideally swifts brick should fit within a multiple of standard UK brick sizes to make them easier to install.
Swift bricks typically encroach into the wall cavity, or even span the cavity. If they are placed under the eaves, or under a fascia boards, this is generally not be a problem, however lower locations may need to incorporate a cavity tray to prevent water penetration. Swift bricks should not overheat on south-facing walls, but if they have a thin front wall, they should not be placed in the sun, but should be sheltered under the eaves.
In 2016, Manthorpe Building Products, RSPB and Barratt Homes collaborated on the creation of a new swift brick, designed to be easily incorporated into new homes. 900 will be fitted at the Kingsbrook development in Aylesbury.
Michael Finn, group design and technical director at Barratt Developments said, “The bricks are an industry first – they are fully drained, ventilated and are unobtrusive, by matching the colour of the bricks. They also help nurture chicks by giving them room to stand when they hatch. Crucially too, they are much, much cheaper than any other swift brick on the market, which will help their uptake. We actively want other developers to use the brick so we can all help build swift populations. It’s a great example of how we are working together with the RSPB and the wider industry to support nature.”
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Bats.
- Bat roost box.
- Bee brick.
- Biodiversity offsetting.
- Biodiversity.
- Brick.
- Ecological Impact Assessment EcIA.
- Ecological network.
- Ecological survey.
- Ecologist.
- Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.
- Environmental impact assessment.
- Environmental plan.
- Environmental policy.
- Great crested newt.
- National nature reserves.
- Natural England.
- Preliminary ecological appraisal.
- Protected species.
- Swift box.
- Types of brick.
Featured articles and news
Investors in People: CIOB achieves gold
Reflecting a commitment to employees and members.
Scratching beneath the surface; a guide to selection.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
The ECA Industry Awards 2024 now open !
Recognising the best in the electrotechnical industry.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
BSRIA Building Reg's guidance: The second staircase
An overview focusing on aspects which most affect the building services industry.
Design codes and pattern books
Harmonious proportions and golden sections.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.
Quick summary by size, shape, test, material, use or bonding..
Comments
Will bricks be removable so that old material can be cleared out to prevent infection
https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/ask-an-expert/previous/reuse.aspx