Product category:
Walls
News Release from: Insulated Render and Cladding Association
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 October 2005
High rise blocks refurbished as good as
new
Refurbished high rise blocks are winners in the Andy Swan 2005 Awards, sponsored by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association.
High rise blocks consisting of social housing flats, refurbished with external wall insulation to be as good as new in terms of thermal insulation and aesthetic appeal, are winners in the Andy Swan 2005 Awards, sponsored by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association The use of external wall insulation has become the most popular means of bringing outmoded blocks of flats up to modern day standards
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 13 Oct 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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So much so, that a category was devoted to the refurbishment of high rise flats for social housing within the Awards.
Winners in this category were the Crossbank and Summervale Houses, a pair of 1970's blocks in urgent need of repair and upgrading to current Building Regulations.
Prominently placed on a hill with dark render, they were refurbished with more subtle, less oppressive colours.
Further reading
How curvaceous new buildings achieved.
Architects are achieving seamless curves and maximising the use of glass in prestigious new buildings, from high rise apartments to private houses, due to the use of external wall insulation.
Increasing use of external wall insulation
Affordable housing constructed with external wall insulation for speed and cost-effectiveness
External wall insulation for social housing
External wall insulation treatment win INCA Andy Swan Award 2006 for the best use of this measure for social housing.
After the existing exposed aggregate cladding panels had been repaired and stabilised, the Dryvit Outsulation external wall insulation system was installed, including a 90mm layer of EPS insulation to provide a 0.28 W/m2K U-value.
Prior to the start of the contract, computer-enhanced photographs showed how the building would look, and pull-off tests were conducted on site to ensure the aggregate panels would accept the live and static loads and the fixing method would exceed typical wind loading requirements.
Residents chose a modern blue and white finish with an anti-carbonation protective coating.
The overcladding took a year to complete at a cost of GBP2.6M.
The specifier was First Choice Homes Oldham, acting for Oldham Metropolitan Council, and the main contractor was Emanuel Whittaker.
System designer, Dryvit UK ; and installer, Insulclad (Europe) , are both members of INCA.
There were two runners up.
The Eglinton and Devonshire Towers, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, are Bison high-rise blocks that had to be refurbished to a U-value at least 10% ahead of Building Regulations.
The specifier, Ian Darby Partnership for the Sunderland Housing Group, also required the look of a new modern development.
PermaRock's insulated render system, incorporating 70 mm of mineral fibre, achieved U-values of 0.30 W/m2K.
Contrasting colour acrylic textured renders were used to give a metallic look, with windows picked out as features.
At ground floor level a scratch render finish with ashlar features was utilised.
A new roof gave the appearance of a modern development.
The system designer was PermaRock Products ; and the installer George Howe - both INCA members.
The second runner-up, Kirkgate Flats, George Street, Wakefield, comprises four 14-storey tower blocks situated above the town centre Ridings Shopping Centre roof, which was unable to accommodate traditional scaffold systems.
Careful consideration was given to health and safety issues, with an innovative fully enclosed scaffolding system, to avoid falling debris, suspended from the roof, working downwards by floor.
The external wall insulation system, specified by Wakefield MBC, was installed over the existing structure, to avoid removing any render or concrete debris contaminating the local environment.
Nor was pebble-dashing a feasible option, due to the location, so these concrete frame buildings, with brick infill panels, were refurbished using 8000m2 of Swisslab external wall insulation, incorporating 50 mm of phenolic insulation to achieve the U-value of 0.35W/m2K.
Recesses within the building were fully insulated and rendered, extending the walls to a uniform level surface.
Silkolitt silicone-based self-cleaning render was used, with colour consistency and fastness, firesafe, resistant to impact, weatherproof and requiring minimum maintenance.
Insulated brick finish was used for contrasting feature panels.
The system designer was Alumasc Exterior Building Products ; and the installer SLK Contractors - both INCA members.
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