DuPont Tyvek UV Facade for new Sports Hall

DuPont Tyvek UV Facade has been used on the rainscreen walls of the Little Venice Sports Centre in London, where it sits behind Finnforest Thermowood timber cladding to protect against UV exposure.

The impressive new 1,435m Little Venice Sports Centre, in Paddington, West London was commissioned by Westminster Council to provide the very best in leisure and learning facilities for the community.

It was also designed to be as energy-efficient as possible and the specification of advanced materials and systems was core to the project.

Designed by LCE Architects and developed in partnership with the Council's "Go Green Board", the building also proudly sports a "green roof".

Three high-performance membranes from DuPont Building Innovations play their part in the design, both in protecting the attractive, contemporary structure, while also helping to improve the thermal performance of the building.

DuPont Tyvek UV Facade was developed using the same unique technology that has made DuPont Tyvek the market leading breather membrane and this innovative solution allows for greater freedom and confidence when designing open-jointed facades.

The material has been used on the rainscreen walls of the Sports Hall, where it sits behind Finnforest Thermowood timber cladding to give vital protection against UV exposure.

As you would expect of DuPont Tyvek, the membrane also reliably protects against wind, water, interstitial condensation and air-leakage, while allowing for vapour diffusion.

It is also robust and easy to work with and comes with the technical support and backing of a global science company.

DuPont Tyvek UV Facade bears the CE mark in accordance with EN 13859-2 and rigorous testing has shown it to be able to withstand UV exposure for a very significant length of time.

According to Mark Hewitt of LCE Architects, DuPont Tyvek UV Facade was chosen because, "the design preference was for an open jointed timber cladding system (for reasons of material ventilation, solar shading, environmental material management and appearance) and so a breather membrane was required that could withstand the damaging effects of UV radiation".

"Guaranteed long term performance was needed to match or exceed that of the Thermowood cladding, which requires no through life maintenance, and the structural integrity of the membrane ensures that it is difficult to damage during construction".

In partnership with DuPont Tyvek UV Facade, two other products from the DuPont Tyvek family of advanced membranes also offer their renowned protection to other areas of the structure.

DuPont Tyvek Supro features behind those exterior walls which have sealed the Bailey Eaves Systems metal sheeting (rather than the areas of timber cladding), while DuPont Tyvek VCL SD2 is installed between the insulated steel frame and the internal linings of certain external walls.

Mark Hewitt adds, "DuPont Tyvek Supro was specified as the breather membrane behind the secondary steelwork and aluminium rain screen because it offers the good moisture and tear-resistance that was required and has a high vapour-permeability to ensure the external walls can properly breathe, while DuPont Tyvek VCL SD2 provides further vapour control and acts as an important air-leakage barrier".

So users of the new centre will be able to enjoy the seven games courts, multi-purpose dance studio, fitness suite, library and fully equipped IT skills hub in comfort, while managers can expect to keep energy costs down in this highly efficient facility.

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