Product category:
Insulation
News Release from: Kingspan Insulated Panels
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 06 November 2006
Kingspan Visitor Centre practices what
it preaches
Kingspan Insulated Panels new state of the art Visitor Centre designed by Sheffield based Architects HLM at their Holywell site.
We hear so much about sustainable construction, but how often do companies practice what they preach and produce working examples of the principles in action? This is precisely what leading composite panel manufacturers Kingspan Insulated Panels have done with the opening of a new state of the art Visitor Centre designed by Sheffield based Architects HLM at their Holywell site
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 22 Jul 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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The purpose of the GBP2m centre which was opened by the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, First Minister for Wales, is to offer a base for training and education in the vital issue of energy efficient construction, as well as other aspects affecting the industry.
Visitors will have an opportunity to see market leading Kingspan products in action, including fire test demonstrations, together with demonstrations of leading site mechanical handling companies.
There are excellent workshop facilities for training in the installation of all of Kingspan's wide range of insulated roof and wall panel systems.
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Regular seminars will be held on a range of topics, and local architectural practices, schools and universities will also be able to avail themselves of the first class facilities But not only is the Centre going to spread the word about energy efficiency, it is itself an exercise in energy efficient building, utilising Kingspan's own products as well as renewable sources of energy to demonstrate the technology that is available to go beyond simple compliance with the Regulations.
Constructed by specialist contractors Adonis Construction, four different thermally efficient Kingspan Insulated Panel Systems were used on the centre - X-Dek, Kingzip, Lo-Pitch roof panels and the unique, completely smooth Optimo wall panels, providing high levels of thermal efficiency, insulation continuity and excellent airtightness performance.
X-dek also features in the landscaping at the front of the new centre where it illustrates its load bearing potential to provide the base for a green roof.
Other products from within the Kingspan Group maintain the high level of specification throughout the building.
Kingspan raised access flooring enables the safe and discreet accommodation of building services and communications without impinging on the sleek lines of the building.
Meanwhile high performance rigid phenolic Kooltherm pipe and ductwork insulation from Kingspan Insulation ensures that the hot water heating and comfort cooling systems achieve optimum efficiency.
The ground floor areas were insulated with PIR insulation board also from Kingspan Insulation to meet the latest U-value requirements.
Kingspan Metl-Con has provided structural floor decking to the first floor, cold rolled purlins and sheeting rails to support the external insulated roof and wall panel system.
The external and internal louvres come from Kingspan Interlink, and Kingspan Environmental Containers provided tanks for car-park rainwater discharge and recovery from the roof.
To further enhance the environmental sustainability of the building a wind turbine and photovoltaic cells are used to produce clean electricity to help power the building and heat the boiler, and rain water is used to flush the toilets.
The Iskra 5 killowatt wind turbine with 3 metre diameter blades mounted on a 12 metre high mast provides energy which is input directly into the national grid via the main electrical distribution board.
Ten roof-mounted PV panels each with a peak output of 210 watts have been installed and are connected to the national grid in a similar way to the wind turbine.
Click image for larger version Two Viessmann Vitosol 250 vacuum tube solar collector panels are mounted on the roof of the building.
The solar generated heat is transferred via a heat exchanger coil into the building hot water system, and the heated water is then used to pre-heat the water entering the gas-fired hot water generator which ensures that hot water is available at all times but maximising the benefit from the solar heating effect.
The 10,000 litre underground Titan g.r.p.
tank from Kingspan Environmental Containers collects rainwater from the roof drainage system.
The tank incorporates an electric pump to raise the collected water to a water storage tank in the roof from where it is distributed for use in flushing toilets in the visitor centre.
The two meeting rooms and three offices will also have photo-dimming.
Depending on the amount of natural daylight entering the room, the lights will dim, increased natural daylight will reduce the light dim and vice versa, reducing the amount of energy needed to light the rooms.
All of the above systems provide data to a central data logger where the information can be displayed to inform visitors of the amount of energy generated and CO2 emissions saved as well as the amount of rainwater recovered.
The introduction of the Visitor Centre at Holywell is seen both locally and nationally as a huge step forward for the town and making a major contribution towards the industrial future of the area bringing, as it will, a large number of visitors to Kingspan who will more than likely being staying locally overnight and will be able to take advantage of their visit to see other places of interest in the vicinity.
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