External Wall Insulation - PermaRock
Name: Student Village, University of East London (UEL)
Client: University of East London
Specifier: Fraser Brown MacKenna Architects
Substrate: Blockwork
System: PermaRock Mineral Fibre Insulated Render System
Finish: PermaRock Acrylic K1.5mm Finish
The Project:
Demands on the building industry for more versatile buildings that can be constructed in shorter timescales, with higher levels of thermal performance and energy savings, and which allow for more creativity in architectural design has led to the development and introduction of an increasing number of innovative on-site and off-site construction methods, amongst which timber frame and light steel framing feature strongly.
In the 1990's PermaRock foresaw the need to develop insulated render systems to meet future challenges of innovative building methods, and become the first company to achieve accreditation through the BRE Certification scheme for insulated render systems for use on timber and metal frame buildings.
The BRE accreditation not only confirms these systems suitability for use on frame construction (as well as for more traditional forms - masonry, dense and no-fines concrete, blockwork, etc) but also confirms these systems are durable (assessed lifetimes in excess of 30 years) and will perform even under very severe exposure conditions.
Lightweight metal framing is used more and more frequently as a fast track construction method, bringing the quality control benefits of off-site, pre-fabrication to the construction site and PermaRock has developed systems that meet the specific needs of this form of construction.
Systems can be fixed to various types of exterior sheathing boards, with or without breather membranes, and systems can be designed to incorporate drained cavities, to meet the specific requirements of NHBC, or for direct application where cavities are not required.
PermaRock drained cavity Track-EPS system is fully tested for fire performance in accordance with BS 8414, Part 2, 2005 and meets the requirements set out in BR135Fire performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multi-storey buildings,second edition, Annex B 2007.
On timber frame construction, systems are designed on a project-by-project basis and special consideration is given to potential frame shrinkage, compression effects, and structural movement. Fully accredited systems can be designed with drained and ventilated cavities, meeting the requirements of Zurich Insurance, NHBC and TRADA.
A PermaRock insulated render system was utilised onto a lightweight metal framing construction at the recently opened Student Village for the University of East London at their Docklands Campus.
The development, 800 student rooms, is arranged in five seven storey blocks oriented north-south, with three three-storey link blocks connecting east-west. Rooms are grouped into cluster flats, each with a shared kitchen providing views across the Royal Albert Docks or across the University campus. A pergola creates a continuous link between all the blocks.
The architects, Fraser Brown MacKenna, specified PermaRock's Mineral Fibre and Lamella insulated render systems as the main facade material due to their suitability onto framed constructions (systems were also applied onto concrete and blockwork substrates) as they were fire-safe, thermally efficient and environmentally friendly. They also provided excellent options in terms of colour choice to enable each block to have their own unique look.
PermaRock's Insulated Render Systems incorporated 130mm of insulation to help achieve U-values for the walls of 0.20 W/m²K.
Aesthetically, a white through-coloured render was chosen for the majority of areas on all the blocks with small coloured panels incorporated into the elevations and to the entire end facades to provide each block with their own identity. The render complimented the timber cladding also used on the facades and contrasted well with the metal clad roofs.
The buildings are a landmark development (passed by the CABE Design Review panel) which can be viewed from the River Thames and have become the focal point for the University Docklands Campus.
The scheme was awarded the best use of insulated render in the new build residential project at the INCA awards in 2008. The project also won the overall award for the best use of insulated render on a new build scheme.
