ROCKWOOL and
Rockpanel have joined forces to help save energy and improve lives at ‘The
Crofts’ development in Smethwick, Sandwell.
Non-combustible
insulation and fire safe façade boards have transformed three high-rise
residential towers, as well as rejuvenated the wider area, bringing a renewed
sense of pride in their surroundings to residents and the local community.
Located on a major arterial route into the city
of Birmingham, the development – which consists of 270 homes - is situated within a district ranked 12th out of 326, in terms of deprivation in a 2010 study of the country.
The three tower blocks, originally constructed in the
1960s, were in universally poor condition, showing signs of major wear and
tear. In the absence of any wall insulation, they were also proving very
difficult to heat and especially challenging to keep warm for those tenants
living in fuel poverty.
The two-year, £11 million project for contractor,
Keepmoat Regeneration. It involved a dramatic, top-to-bottom renovation of each
tower, including the installation of a highly efficient, aesthetically
attractive and non-combustible insulated cladding solution supplied by sister
brands, ROCKWOOL and Rockpanel.
ROCKWOOL’s
RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB is the non-combustible dual density insulation board. It
offers a robust outer surface and a resilient inner face designed specifically
for application to this type of high rise development. Made from stone wool,
RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB is A1 fire rated for optimum fire resilience. It also has
the benefit of high resistance to wind and rain during construction, which,
together with the minimal number of fixings required, makes installation
quicker and easier for contractors. At The Crofts, the product was tightly butt
jointed, knitting together to deliver effective thermal insulation at 0.035
W/mK at the same time as it minimises any heat loss that could arise from gaps
between insulation boards.
For the exterior
cladding, Astley Facades installed the extra fire safe façade board, Rockpanel
FS-Xtra, which has been used to provide the attractive aesthetic finish on the
project. Applied on top of an aluminium supporting structure and fixed with blind
rivets, these Rockpanel ‘FS-Xtra’ boards, in combination with ROCKWOOL’s
RAINSCREEN DUO SLAB, meet the requirements for European fire classA2-s1,d0. The
boards also weigh very little compared to other board materials and can be
easily worked with on site, with no special tools required. This saves
installation time and costs.
“We’re extremely
proud of the work we have been able to do here at The Crofts,” said a
spokesperson from Sandwell Council. “These improvements have made a massive
impact on both the internal and external appearance of the blocks, as well as
the local skyline. And, the much improved insulation offered by the
eye-catching cladding will help reduce fuel bills for tenants.”
A huge uplift in
energy performance will result from these
improvements. In fact, Sandwell Council estimates that, in total, approximately
9,600 tonnes of carbon will be saved every year.
The Crofts has picked up two awards for corporate
social responsibility, including a Bronze in the 2015 International Corporate
Social Responsibility Awards and a first prize in the Delivering Social Value
category at the 2016 National Federation of Builders Awards.
Ultimately, the project has made a significant impact
in the local community. These three tower blocks are not merely visibly
transformed, they are more energy efficient residences and they are also
beacons of hope for tenants and the community of Smethwick.
