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.

An old 1960's block of flats has been transformed to look and feel in comfort terms like a new development.

Similarly, previously cold and damp flats, housing the elderly, have been brought up to today's thermal insulation standards.

Both projects have received the external wall insulation treatment and achieved the INCA Andy Swan Award 2006 for the best use of this measure for social housing.

The Awards are sponsored by the Insulated Render and Cladding Association.

The winner is Victor Street Tower, Roker, Sunderland, one of five 13-storey high blocks built in the 1960's, which the Sunderland Housing Group required to be upgraded both thermally and aesthetically - to give the appearance of a new development.

The blocks are being overclad with PermaRock's mineral fibre insulated system, incorporating 40 mm of mineral wool to achieve a U-value of 0.34W/m2K, surpassing current Building Regulation requirements.

A silicone through-coloured render was applied, enabling the scale of the building to be accentuated by using balanced slabs of colour: as the building rises in height, so it becomes lighter in colour, utilising 12 colours, with a different colour range for each building.

The system designer was Permarock Products ; the installer, George Howe - both INCA members.

The runner up is Cumberland House, St Mary's Court, Peterborough, which has been dramatically improved both thermally and visually with the use of external wall insulation.

Cross Keys Homes (Peterborough City Council) wished to refurbish previously cold and damp flats housing a large proportion of elderly residents, and upgrade their thermal performance in line with current Building Regulations.

The weber.therm XM external wall insulation system was used, incorporating 90 mm of EPS insulation, and finished with a combination of render and brick slips at ground level.

The finish needed to be in keeping with the surrounding buildings, in particular nearby Peterborough Cathedral.

The render and brickslip colours were therefore carefully chosen with the client and conservation officers.

The contract also included concrete repairs, window replacement and balcony balustrading renewal.

Adherence to the building programme was critical with just 24 weeks duration during the winter months.

Consultation with residents was regarded as key with the installer, Makers, providing a full time Resident Liaison Team on site and utilising the Council's translation service when necessary in order to communicate with all residents.

A local trainee is now working on another project for the company and attending college for plastering and rendering.

The system designer was Weber Building Solutions; the installer, Makers UK - both INCA members.

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