Wi System FAQs

A windpost is normally a vertical structural member located within a masonry wall to provide support to the wall when it is subjected to a lateral load, such as wind.

Our Wi Columns and Wi Beams are stronger than nearly every other proprietary windpost section on the market, which means that the blockwork panels themselves are usually the limiting factor, as opposed to the windpost.  So, there is nearly always a reduction in the number of windposts which would have otherwise been required.

The Wi System is currently available to all mainland parts of England, Wales and Scotland. Wembley Innovation holds worldwide patents for the Wi System and if you are interested in using the system overseas please get in touch as licencing agreements may be available.

Wembley Innovation are the sole suppliers of the Wi System, but all orders are placed through builders merchants.  Prices quoted by Wembley Innovation are what you will pay.

No, we supply projects ranging from one windpost in a residential property through to some of the biggest projects in the UK which have more than 1,000 windposts and lintels.

Any competent bricklayer can install the Wi System. There are many brickwork contractors who use the Wi System daily, but there are no approved installers. If you would like advice on who has experience of the Wi System in your area or on your supply chain just ask your Wi System representative.

Wi Mortar is a specially developed dry-mix of aggregate, cement and additives which only requires clean water to be added to create a C40 strength concrete to infill the Wi Column or Wi Beam blocks.  Only Wi Mortar can be used in our blocks to obtain the required design capacities of the completed columns or beams.  Any other infill material will not be covered by any Wembley Innovation liabilities and could be deemed to breach our patents.

The bespoke Wi Mortar concrete can be purchased directly from CPI Euromix and is available in 25kg bags, 1t bags and silo form. Your Wi System representative will advise you of the most suitable option for your project depending on the quantities required site logistics.

Wi Columns, Wi Beams and Wi Trough Lintels can achieve a 4 hour rating for “infill” walls (i.e. they do not form the primary load-bearing structure)

Yes, no problem.  The blocks may not match the Wi Columns and Wi Beams but that may be of no concern if the wall is to be painted, or covered with a finish.

Yes, we can carry out preliminary and full project design and drafting services, backed by Professional Indemnity insurance cover.  Preliminary designs are free, whilst full project services are charged as consultancy fees.

Yes, we can provide full installation training for supervisors and bricklayers, free of charge.  This is normally undertaken at our premises in Wembley, although this can be carried out at a suitable venue to suit company requirements.

Yes, we are very happy to provide technical support by phone and email.  We can also provide free bespoke design training – please contact us to arrange.

We are happy to inspect installation works for a new installer, following training, to ensure that the correct techniques are being followed to achieve the required standards of quality.

A Wi Column is intended to replace a traditional windpost. It is effectively a reinforced concrete column formed within a hollow-core concrete aggregate block.

The construction process is simple and can easily be undertaken by a competent bricklayer.  Please refer to our Wi Column installation video adjacent and refer to the Installation Manual here

The Wi Columns are available in 100, 140, 190 and 215mm formats.

This depends on: the wall thickness, the height, its length, the lateral pressure, any other loading, the support conditions to the bottom, top and sides of the panel.  Normally a design engineer would carry out calculations to determine how many Wi Columns are required.  However, we do have a preliminary design tables (click here), or you can contact us for a free design check.  We also have a design program and standard details for engineers preparing designs and drawings for projects.

This depends on: the wall thickness, the height, its length, the lateral pressure and any other loading.  Normally a design engineer would carry out calculations to determine how many Wi Columns are required.  However, we do have preliminary design tables (click here), or you can contact us for a free design check.  We also have a design program and standard details for engineers preparing designs and drawings for projects.

The standard maximum height of a Wi Column is 7.0m.  However, taller Wi Columns can be built, subject to a specific design check by a qualified structural engineer.

The infill material is C30, or C40 Wi Mortar, which has been specifically developed and assured for use in the Wi System.  It has special additives and a maximum aggregate size of 6mm to assist with the formation of the Wi Columns, Wi Beams and Wi Trough Lintels (this is a bespoke mix which has been tested and certified by Lucideon).

Ideally, it is best to use continuous lengths.  However, if laps are required, then the minimum length should be 1000mm.

Yes, this is commonly done.  Refer to our Standard Details here for more information.

Yes, these are commonly used in place of nibs of blockwork where doors are to be secured as they provide a more robust backing which is less likely to crack / fail.

We would strongly discourage this, as they are structural elements and drilling or coring holes through them could seriously undermine their strength.  Only holes less than 12mm diameter are allowable and the internal rebar should never be cut.

Yes, if using the structural elements of the Wi System in fair faced walls the Wi Slot Block should also be used; this matches seamlessly with the Wi Column, Wi Beam and Wi Trough Lintel blocks to create one of the most aesthetically appealing blockwork options in the market today.

Yes, if the damage is purely superficial and it is only the block skin which is affected, the face can be removed and a new one bonded on. Speak to our technical department for guidance.

Yes, we have Standard Details which outline common practice.  The pdf versions can be downloaded here and are available in AutoCAD or Microstation format on request.

A Wi Beam is a bond beam which can replace a traditional windposts, or provide horizontal support within a wall, or at the top of a wall. It is effectively a reinforced concrete beam formed within a hollow-core concrete block, which acts as permanent shuttering and the visible face of the beam.

The construction process is simple and can easily be undertaken by a competent bricklayer.  Please refer to our Wi Beam installation video adjacent and refer to the Installation Manual here.

The Wi Beams are available in 100, 140, 190 and 215mm formats

This depends on: the wall thickness, the height, its length, the lateral pressure and any other loading.  Normally a design engineer would carry out calculations to determine how many Wi Beams are required.  However, we do have preliminary design tables (click here), or you can contact us for a free design check.  We also have a design program and standard details for engineers preparing designs and drawings for projects.

The maximum Wi Beam length is 11.0m.  This may require the use of bedjoint reinforcement within the blocks panels to mitigate the risk of shrinkage cracking.

The infill material is C30, or C40 Wi Mortar, which has been specifically developed and assured for use in the Wi System.  It has special additives and a maximum aggregate size of 6mm to assist with the formation of the Wi Columns, Wi Beams and Wi Trough Lintels (this is a bespoke mix which has been tested and certified by Lucideon)

Ideally, it is best to use continuous lengths.  However, if laps are required, then the minimum length should be 1000mm.

This is a reinforcing component used in a Wi Beam.  It serves to cradle the rebar in the correct location and also strengthens the beam by mobilising the course above and below.

Yes, this is commonly done.  Refer to our Standard Details here for more information.

We would strongly discourage this, as they are structural elements and drilling or coring holes through them could seriously undermine their strength. Only holes less than 12mm diameter are allowable and the internal rebar should never be cut.

Yes, if using the structural elements of the Wi System in fair faced walls the Wi Slot Block should also be used; this matches seamlessly with the Wi Column, Wi Beam and Wi Trough Lintel blocks to create one of the most aesthetically appealing blockwork options in the market today.

Yes, if the damage is purely superficial and it is only the block skin which is affected, the face can be removed and a new one bonded on. Speak to our technical department for guidance.

Yes, we have Standard Details which outline common practice.  The pdf versions can be downloaded here and are available in AutoCAD or Microstation format on request.

A Wi Trough Lintel is intended to replace a traditional lintel.  It is effectively a reinforced concrete lintel formed within a hollow-core concrete block, which acts as permanent shuttering and the visible face of the lintel.

The construction process is simple and can easily be undertaken by a competent bricklayer.  Please refer to our Wi Trough Lintel installation video adjacent and refer to the Installation Manual here.

The Wi Trough Lintels are available in 100, 140, 190 and 215mm formats

This is dependent on the wall width, the span of the lintel and the support conditions. Please refer to Wembley Innovation for design.

The standard bearing length is one block i.e. 450mm. However, the minimum length is 225mm.

The infill material is C30, or C40 Wi Mortar, which has been specifically developed and assured for use in the Wi System.  It has special additives and a maximum aggregate size of 6mm to assist with the formation of the Wi Columns, Wi Beams and Wi Trough Lintels (this is a bespoke mix which has been tested and certified by Lucideon)

Ideally, it is best to use continuous lengths.  However, if laps are required, then the minimum length should be 1000mm.

This is a reinforcing component used in Wi Trough Lintels.  It serves to cradle the rebar in the correct location and also strengthens the lintel by mobilising the course above.

Yes, this is commonly done.  Refer to our Standard Details here for more information.

Yes, if using the structural elements of the Wi System in fair faced walls the Wi Slot Block should also be used; this matches seamlessly with the Wi Column, Wi Beam and Wi Trough Lintel blocks to create one of the most aesthetically appealing blockwork options in the market today.

Yes, if the damage is purely superficial and it is only the block skin which is affected, the face can be removed and a new one bonded on. Speak to our technical department for guidance.

Yes, we have Standard Details which outline common practice.  The pdf versions can be downloaded here and are available in AutoCAD or Microstation format on request.

This is our own patented medium-density block, which can replace traditional solid concrete aggregate blocks.  The unique slotted design leads to a reduction in the aggregate content and hence weight.  This can allow full-format 190 and 215 blocks to form single skin walls, without having to adopt “collar-jointed” or “blocks-on-flat” alternatives, which are far costlier than normal single skin construction.  The Wi Slot Block matches exactly our Wi Column and Wi Beam blocks to give the most aesthetic seamless finish in a completed block wall requiring lateral supports

The Wi Slot blocks are available in 100, 140, 190 and 215mm formats

The Wi Slot blocks are 7.3N/mm² compressive strength and Category 1 manufacturing class.  Other strengths are available to order.

The blocks are medium-dense concrete aggregate blocks, with density of 1450kg/m³.  Other densities are available to order.

The standard blocks have a close-textured face-finish which can be painted, sealed, or left exposed.  A fair-face architectural finish is available to order.