A leading supplier of window and door foam sealing tapes forecasts growth for the sector in 2020, despite uncertainty around Brexit and the economic plans of the new Government.

Andy Swift, Sales and Operations Manager, UK & ROI for ISO-Chemie, expects the impact of any UK exit from Europe or otherwise to be minimal on the products his company currently supplies to domestic house builders and commercial property developers.

Despite pessimisitc predictions from some, he believes it will be ‘very much business as usual’ in the coming months and looks forward to next year and beyond, where he sees steady expansion for energy efficient sealant products.

His view is that “Regardless of any Brexit outcome or new Government, domestic construction will continue, particularly in the new build sector, where there is demand to tackle the chronic national housing shortage. The only risk could be to those businesses that we supply being able to survive themselves.

Swift also believes that more house building to higher air and thermal standards must be top of the agenda in the coming year: “This has to be the rule rather than an option. It’s an important message that we will continue to push at industry events throughout 2020 as well as directly to architects and other specifiers.

“There are effective products and solutions to ensure that airtightness and thermal efficiency within buildings is maximised, as well as several fire rated products. Being that new and existing buildings are always heading towards better energy ratings and fire safety, it’s a matter of designing in these products.

“A continued campaign of presenting these solutions to architects will increase the chances of building design and specification featuring these solutions. Also, any ongoing construction sector skills shortage in the next 12 months can be addressed by sealant tape products because they do not require any special skills to install.”