Product category:
Bricks, Blocks and Lintels
News Release from: Catnic | Subject: Catnic Litetile
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 March 2005
Catnic Litetile perfect roof for Rydens
school
Catnic's steel roofing system, Litetile, harmonise the colours of the new and existing roofs effectively at Rydens School in Surrey.
The challenge Richard Symons, from The Carl Fisher Partnership, was set the task of designing eight new maths classrooms and three design technology (DT) classrooms for Rydens School in Surrey The main body of the school was initially constructed in the 1950s and consists of one and two storey brick buildings, some with pitched roofs
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 27 Apr 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Symons needed to ensure that the whole project was completed in a relatively short space of time, to avoid the school having to use temporary classroom constructions.
He also had to work within a limited budget and create a design that was sympathetic to the existing style of the school, but which would also enhance it.
Top of the class "The basic design concept of the buildings was relatively straight forward, " said Symons.
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"I wanted to create more of an office feel than a traditional classroom atmosphere, especially for the DT rooms".
"As with any building of this kind, the roof is one of the most visually important and striking elements," said Symons".
"With our tight timeframe, I needed a roof that was fast to install, low maintenance and flexible, but which also fitted in well aesthetically." Symons certainly did his homework, and after researching a number of roofing options, he specified Catnic's steel roofing system, Litetile.
"Catnic Litetile fitted all my criteria," said Symons, "and the range of profiles and colours available meant that we were able to harmonise the colours of the new and existing roofs effectively, using the sunset red colour profile." Easy lessons to learn The new classroom blocks are linked with a corridor and fit in between the sports hall and existing classrooms".
"The maths rooms, situated at the back of the new building included a toilet block, a staff room and staff accommodation".
"The roof for the maths block was erected using a cassette system, which was constructed off site and then craned into position".
"The cassette panels span large distances, which suited Catnic's steel roofing system well, as each Litetile gives a cover length of 1.625 metres and a cover width of 369mm from batten to batten".
"The size of the steel roofing tiles and the product's light weight, means that fewer trusses and battens are needed to support the roof, compared with traditional tile or slate systems, resulting in the system being much faster and easier to install and ensuring minimal disruption to the build programme".
"Another key advantage of Litetile is that it can be attached to either timber or steel trusses and is a dry-fix system requiring no mortar".
"A range of accessories is also available to complement the system - including right or left hand barge covers, three different profiles for ridges and side flashings".
"Designed for life Symons wanted to incorporate natural ventilation via vertical roof vents in the buildings, as well as mansards and sun pipes in the TD classrooms to provide as much natural sunlight as possible - a crucial element for pupils working on design projects".
"Litetile has also been used for the soffit of the canopy - a design feature unique to this project, intended to challenge peoples perception of how tiles can be used".
"These original design features would have been extremely difficult to build into a traditional roofing system, but Litetile's flexibility meant that they were incorporated relatively easily by cutting the tiles to fit around the applications and using flashing to secure them".
"Jamie Dent, from J.D.
Plastics, was responsible for the installation of the new roofing system".
"The maths classrooms, which were built first, took just six months to complete".
"The DT block, which included more complex design features, was finished within nine months".
"The DT classrooms were built at the front of maths block, at the entrance to the school building".
"The building includes a large canopy designed to protect the pupils from the main drag outside school premises and leads onto a sculptured courtyard".
"Symons is happy with the results.
"I am delighted that we were able to complete the project on time and meet the design brief criteria so effectively," he said.
"I would have no hesitation in specifying Catnic Litetile again for future projects as both the product and the service I received from Catnic were excellent." "Litetile has been used in a wide range of projects, both commercial and residential, for over thirty years, " said Alan Palmer, Litetile's Technical Sales Manager for the South East.
"The design flexibility of the product is key, as demonstrated by this project, which uses Litetile in a very original and interesting way".
"We can also provide a range of 'specials' for customers that have specific design needs," continued Palmer".
"With Rydens school, for example, we were able to provide the Litetile profile that the architect wanted - Jasper Red - but in a colour normally available only for our Academytile range." Catnic promise Litetile products come with a BBA 30-year guarantee and are tested to withstand winds of up to 120 mph.
Catnic also offers customers a comprehensive back-up service which can include on-site instruction from Litetile experts and the hire of a Catnic tile bender to help mould the tiles to fit awkward corners.
Advice on any aspect of Catnic Litetile can be obtained directly by contacting the company's technical services team on 029 2033 07900.
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