Firth

Proud to be the first concrete manufacturer in the world to get DECLARE labels for our products

Firth and Declare

At Firth we believe that we need to look at the environmental impact of building materials, elements and the building as a whole while ensuring durability and longevity of these buildings at the same time. Our teams are constantly working towards innovating and developing new products to make it easier for our customers to make smart choices towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

We are proud to be the 1st concrete manufacturer in the world to get Declare labels for our ready-mix concrete and our concrete masonry products. 

For us it means we can collaborate better with our suppliers and our customers to recognize how we can design and build for the future to include durability, longevity and provide a pathway to repurpose our products.

What is Declare?

Declare is an ingredients initiative for building products that is designed to shape a greener, healthier environment for construction workers, business employees, and customers alike.

A DECLARE label answers three questions:

• Where does a product come from?
• What is it made of?
• Where does it go at the end of its life?

Declare is a transparency platform and an international product database that is changing the materials marketplace. It is a nutrition label for the building industry. It helps architects, designers, specifiers, and others better understand a product’s sustainable qualities and environmental effects. 

Learn more about Declare here.

What is Living Building Challenge?

The Living Building Challenge™ is a building certification program, advocacy tool and philosophy that defines the most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment possible today and acts to rapidly diminish the gap between current limits and the end-game positive solutions we seek.

The Living Building Challenge is organized into seven performance areas (Petals). Each performance area has a number of more detailed requirements (Imperatives). Learn more about the Living Building Challenge here.

Which Firth products carry the Declare label?

CERTIFIED CONCRETE®
We have two labels for our Certified Concrete® mixes. To find out how you can order our Certified Concrete® with a Declare label and which areas supply these mixes, call us on 0800 347841 or email us on info@firth.co.nz 

MASONRY
All Firth concrete masonry products including all paving, retaining, bricks, grey masonry and architectural masonry carry the Declare label. We sell our concrete masonry products through various DIY and trade distributor channels throughout New Zealand. To locate the closest supplier call us on 0800 347841 or click here.

We recognise the need to create a more sustainable environment for us all.

Build for tomorrow today

As NZ's largest concrete company and a leader in concrete design and innovation, we are committed to understanding and mitigating any adverse impact our operation has on the environment and integrating the core principles of sustainability throughout our operation.

Implementing sustainable practices throughout the manufacturing process is only the beginning of the contribution Firth makes to long-term sustainable building. Our Firth Sustainable Lifecycle motto is "Build For Tomorrow TODAY".

Green Buildings

Green Buildings increase the efficiency with which they use energy, water and building materials whilst reducing impacts on human health and the environment.

Firth makes significant contributions to Green Building through sustainable manufacturing practice and providing high thermal mass for passive energy design.  Firth is proud to be a member of the New Zealand Green Building Council.

Environmental Management

We are committed to sustainability from our manufacturing to distribution. This includes the recycling of surplus raw ingredients, water and leftover concrete during manufacture and from sites through to the design, occupancy and ongoing maintenance over the whole life of the building. 

View how we manage daily operations at our concrete plants.

Innovation has been a part of our legacy especially through products that can help you build towards your eco-friendly project.

Firth’s EcoPave® System is a complete paving system that will help maintain the natural water balance as part of a property development. And our EnviroBlend™ Concrete has the Environmental Choice licence as an eco-friendly ready mixed concrete product.

Dricon's pre-mix concrete and sand products are incredibly easy to use and are equally popular with our DIY and trade customers. Dricon pre-mix products have all the ingredients already in the bag and these products include HandiCrete®, RapidSet™ and a range of Trade Mortars.

All Dricon products are readily available throughout the country from New Zealand's leading building merchants.

Firth's national manufacturing operations produce a vast range of masonry blocks, pavers, retaining wall products and blocks. It's a product range that is constantly updated to meet changes in technology, building techniques and fashion. And because our manufacturing operations retain flexibility, masonry products can also be made to order, special one-off requirements can be met including specified colours, abrasion-resistance qualities, strengths and mix designs.

All Firth masonry products are readily available throughout the country from New Zealand's leading building merchants.

The Certified Concrete name has been synonymous with concrete quality since 1938. As the industry leader, Firth Certified Concrete® continues to proudly maintain this legacy.
We have worked with a variety of customers, helping New Zealand's development including residential housing and the creation of national icons such as The Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa, The Auckland Sky Tower and Wellington's Westpac Trust Stadium.

Do you sell direct to the public?
It depends. Call us to discuss your options with us. We primarily sell our paving, masonry, bricks and Dricon products via our distributors throughout New Zealand. A list of distributors and suppliers can be found here

How much do your pavers and bricks cost?
We sell our products through merchant or distributor channels. As such the price depends on the merchant/distributor the product is purchased from in NZ.

Are you able to send me samples?
Yes, to request a sample of our bricks or pavers, please contact us.

How can I view your product, especially concrete and the element colours?
Get in touch to discuss your viewing options. We also have an extensive range of bricks, architectural masonry, concrete and paving display at the Home Ideas Centre, Parnell, Auckland.

Should I seal my pavers?
Firth pavers are delivered unsealed. We recommend that our customers seal their pavers to enhance longevity, protect the product and be more durable in the open environment. Different types of sealers will enhance the paver colour to different degrees and some sealants will affect the paver. It is the installer’s responsibility to ensure the application of their selected sealant is done in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

What are the advantages of sealing paving and coloured concrete?

• The application of a sealer enables easier cleaning of any growth and increase the durability of the paving
• Risk of efflorescence is reduced
• Colour can be enhanced with a wet look type sealer
• Retention of colour over time is extended
• Reduced risk of staining

Why use Concrete Masonry? 

Structural:

• The need for formwork and associated labour is eliminated.
• The use of reinforced masonry can result in substantial savings for buildings up to 10 storeys.
• The economics result from the speed and simplicity of using concrete masonry as a structural frame (load bearing and shear walls with horizontal diaphragms), as well as exterior skin and space divider.
• Well proven method of construction for domestic and commercial applications.

Fire Protection:

• The fire protection benefits associated with the use of concrete masonry are recognised by the Fire Service and the insurance industry.
• The extra ability to resist fire is a function of the type of aggregate used and the equivalent solid thickness of the masonry units.

Sound Control:

• Concrete masonry is an ideal sound barrier, providing reduced sound transmission comparative to the size of wall.

Energy Efficiency:

• The economic benefit that results from its capacity to store energy and to delay the passage of heat. This unique feature, known as the thermal mass effect. Masonry absorbs passive heat and returns it when the ambient temperature drops providing a more uniform temperature throughout the day during summer and winter.
• Allows building design with less insulation. Hence, material costs and energy consumption can be reduced.
• Allows opening windows to create airflow reducing condensation without loss of energy.

Why Firth Concrete?
Concrete is the most widely used construction material on earth. In many developed countries concrete buildings and infrastructure comprise approximately 60% of the built environment.Produced from readily available raw materials, Firth’s Certified Concrete’s strength, durability, thermal mass, acoustic performance, fire resistance and its CO2 absorption capabilities ensure its contribution to a sustainable New Zealand. Firth Certified Concrete® is also proudly New Zealand Made.

As a highly durable construction material with low maintenance requirements, well-designed concrete structures can be expected to exceed both their economic and their minimum service life as specified in the New Zealand Building Code and in some cases last for centuries.

Firth is the first in the world to obtain DECLARE labels for our Certified Concrete® and concrete masonry products. Declare is a global transparency initiative that allows consumers to make informed decisions on their sustainable build whether residential or commercial. It is a database that contains building products from all over the world that are free of red list chemicals such as arsenic or formaldehyde. Getting this well renowned accreditation shows our commitment to a sustainable future for our customers and New Zealand. Learn more here

Who can design a RibRaft® Floor?
If it falls into the category of non-specific floor, the customer’s architect or designer can design the Firth RibRaft® floor using the Firth Technical Solutions Guide. There are specialist designers/engineers familiar with the RibRaft® systems. General engineers and architects should be able to design a RibRaft® floor.

Who are some RibRaft® TC3 designers?
A list of trained TC3 RibRaft® Engineers and Designers can be found here.