751077CompassClosedVouchersInnovate UKCompass Building Products is now working in collaboration with the University of Salford, Manchester on a product development program aimed at launching a new, innovative range of Roof Vent and Rooflight products into the UK market.An important start point to the initiation of this work is support from the Technology Strategy Board in terms of granting an Innovation Voucher to facilitate the early test program.Compass Building Products Limited has been a supplier of Roof Vents for use in conservatories and glass roof structures since 2001 and has enjoyed a good deal of success in this market.The market is now changing with tiled roofs instead of glass becoming popular in the home improvement sector, the completed structure being sold as a "garden room" which now requires planning permission as well as being subject to building control.Instinctively, installers and builders are currently fitting generic Roof Windows even though there is no need for the complex range of functions contained within these traditional products.Compass has recognised that there is interest from companies who wish to offer a simpler, better and more cost effective product into garden room installations.The Compass Roof Vent is able to meet the demand from this emerging market immediately but only with the appropriate accreditation which with external support will be possible.Full testing to the latest standards will enable the existing product to meet Construction Product Regulations, building control and planning requirements.A further development of a new sister product, the Compass Rooflight, will allow a step change in activity extending the sales potential beyond garden rooms further into the main housing and home improvement market.The expertise gained in collaborating with these organisations will allow Compass to fully model the intended improvement in thermal performance so that materials can be confidently specified and then included in the final product.The support with the testing will allow Compass to safeguard its position, increase sales as well as potentially creating jobs over the next twelve months and beyond.Compass will gain traction in the emerging market using the existing Roof Vent and then launch the Rooflight with “design features” that provide an opportunity to directly compete with traditional products on superior thermal performance, ease of installation, range of options and cost.Ongoing work is currently being planned with Salford University in order to support, launch and promote this activity, including Intellectual Property Protection, Product Modelling, Thermal Performance Testing and Market Research Support.Compass is looking forward to such long term collaboration in order to capitalise on its innovative ideas, further extend its range of products and expand the business during the coming years.