Terrapin supplies modular extension for school

Terrapin has been appointed to create a permanent double storey classroom extension at Hastings High School in Leicestershire.

The offsite construction expert successfully overcame the challenges of a very narrow single lane access road and a five day deadline by supplying its Unitrex panellised off-site construction system.

Unitrex uses standardised system components and quality assured factory fabrication to create permanent or temporary low-rise buildings.

The narrow road at Hastings High School meant that traditional volumetric offsite systems could not be transported to site without specialist lifting equipment, which would have added significantly to the cost of the project.

The Unitrex system is particularly well suited to projects where there is restricted site access, whilst still enabling the creation of a weathertight seal to the permanent building within five days.

This was achieved by carrying out the majority of the fabrication of the ground floor steelwork and panels at the company's production facility in Milton Keynes.

Once the ground floor steel work had been erected, the Terrapin sitework team fixed the panels onto the framework to create the weathertight seal, well within the deadline over the Christmas period.

The weathertight envelope enabled internal fit-out to progress on schedule despite the weather.

However, the snow and frost did highlight the limitations of traditional build as it meant, at times, the bricklayers constructing the outer single brick leaf could only work for three hours each day when temperatures had risen sufficiently.

The Unitrex system was able to create the large clear-span rooms required by the school.

Unitrex eliminated the need for internal supporting walls, as it enables two or more modules to be supported on 'goalpost' beams.

As well as creating the large open format, reducing the number of internal supporting walls helped make significant savings on foundations.

This also helped to reduce the carbon footprint of the development, as the masonry-based materials tend to have a high level of embodied energy.

This lightweight construction method is a fundamental part of Terrapin's approach, which also means fewer deliveries to site and reduced traffic in the local area to minimise disruption to residents.

Terrapin's expertise in projects of this type, as well as the adaptability of the Unitrex panellised system, meant that the company was able to link the new classroom to the existing building at the same finished floor level.

This was essential to avoid any unnecessary steps or slopes, ensuring a seamless link between the existing and new classrooms.

Externally, both buildings were again matched by re-rendering, making the new classrooms indistinguishable from the traditional built main structure.

The building is designed to conform to BS6399 Part 2 1997 relating to wind loading.

Insulation to walls, floors and roof meets the latest requirements of Approved Document L of building regulations.

A ramped approach and low threshold entrance door provides for disabled access in accordance with Document M.

Terrapin provided a complete turnkey service, including concept and design, manufacturing, siteworks, though to landscaping and final handover.

Terrapin operates to ISO90001 quality standards and is renowned for its right first time approach.

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