Kingspan
Group, the global leader in high performance insulation and building envelope
solutions, has announced the launch of Kingspan Facades – a new business
designed to help architects enhance their designs without compromising on
technical performance.
Combining
systems and expertise from across the Group, Kingspan Facades is a service-led
business providing specifiers with a comprehensive portfolio of advanced
building envelope systems suitable for a multitude of applications and
architectural styles.
This
aesthetic offering is supported with four robust substructure solutions that
encompass Kingspan’s advanced core insulations alongside options using more
traditional materials.
Mel
Courtney, Managing Director of Kingspan Facades explains the vision for the new
business: “We’re noticing a real drive in the industry for more detailed and
accessible technical guidance, particularly around facade systems. By offering
solutions incorporating all of Kingspan Group’s facade products under a single
business, we are in a unique position to provide the most appropriate solution.
"We
offer a single source approach from the Steel Framing System, insulation, right
through to the external facade - one point of contact for customers for the
full through-wall system solution, reinforced by the technical support that
Kingspan is renowned for.”
Kingspan
Facades will be underpinned by an industry-leading Compliance Assured scheme. Compliance Assured by Kingspan is a robust
assurance framework to support customers through design, installation training
and on-site inspection during construction and handover of a BR 135 / BS 8414
tested Kingspan Facade system.
This
scheme, an industry first, shows Kingspan taking action to address the call for
higher standards of installation and oversight on construction projects
identified in the Hackitt Review earlier this year.
Describing
the significance of the Compliance Assured service, Kingspan Facade’s Technical
Director Dr. Thomas Henriksen said: “In her review of Building Regulations and
fire safety, Dame Judith Hackitt highlighted a number of key recommendations,
including improving competence levels, stronger processes for driving
compliance and managing change control, together with greater clarity of roles
and responsibilities of those procuring, designing and constructing buildings.
Above all Dame Judith has called for effective leadership within the
construction industry to create the cultural shift required for positive
change.
"Compliance Assured provides a framework for
construction that developers, designers, contractors, sub-contractors and most
importantly both building owners and occupiers can all be confident in.
As well as providing a high level of technical support at design stage,
we will enhance the competence of those installing our tested systems through
mandatory, project specific training. We believe that this is a major step in
addressing many of Dame Judith’s recommendations."
A key
element of Compliance Assured is that Kingspan will provide a prescriptive list
of components for their BS8414 Tested Systems, working with a limited number of
recommended suppliers. This supports a holistic system based approach, and can
be mapped to the RIBA Plan of Work Stages to provide greater transparency and
traceability.
The new
business will encompass the BENCHMARK by Kingspan brand, combining its
architectural rainscreen facade systems, including Dri-Design, with a full
spectrum of different insulation cores. These range from traditional mineral
fibre to advanced insulation products such as Kingspan’s innovative QuadCore
Karrier System and proven Kooltherm K15 Rainscreen Board solution.
