Kingspan TEK offers speedy fit at Surrey Square Primary

Offsite construction has facilitated the quick erection of an Early Years Centre for an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ school. The building envelope was successfully completed in just over two weeks, with the help of the Kingspan TEK Building System of structural insulated panels (SIPs).

Surrey Square Primary School commenced a 10-year improvement plan in 2006, the final part of which included the erection of its single-storey Early Years Centre (EYC) and crèche. This new build is situated in the existing playground and will accommodate up to 34 pre-school children and eight under three-year olds. Earle Architects specified 420 m2 of the Kingspan TEK Building System in a 142 mm thickness for the walls and roof of the new centre.

Earle Architects commented on the specification: “The Early Years Centre and crèche have been designed to achieve harmony with the original Victorian school building through the use of natural materials including exposed glulam beams. We chose Kingspan TEK as all of the panels are PEFC Chain of Custody certified with low embodied energy and excellent U-values, to ensure minimal environmental impact.”

The Kingspan TEK Building System panels have been fixed to the glulam frame on the walls and roof, which provided a secure building envelope that was then sealed with a breather membrane to make it watertight. Following this, the rooflights were installed down the centre of the roof and the Kingspan TEK panels clad with western red cedar shingles creating a visually striking aesthetic. Kingspan TEK Building System panels are light which ensured there was less structural stress on the school building in addition to being easy to handle. They were pre-cut by delivery partners, Glosford Timber Solutions, to specification and delivered to site ready for installation.

Earle Architects added “The entire building envelope was manufactured off-site and transported to the school. The fast-track Kingspan TEK Building System panels were craned into position and fully assembled, along with the entire outer shell, in 2 weeks and 1 day.”

With their high-performance insulation core, and their ability to achieve U-values of 0.20 W/m2.K or better, SIPs have helped the school to meet the criteria for materials to be sustainably sourced and thermally efficient.

Mike Fleming, Director from Glosford Timber Solutions, commented “As a leading SIP provider and a key delivery partner for the Kingspan TEK Building System, we were able to provide a quick solution not only for the on-site build but also for the intricate design process. Both the Glulam Frame and the SIPs came together seamlessly whilst meeting the client’s requirements for both performance and programme.”

Kingspan TEK Building System panels also feature a unique jointing system which, in combination with their OSB/3 facing, can help to create highly airtight buildings. The manufacturing facility where the panels are produced carries both FSC® (FSC®-C109304) and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. As standard, the OSB/3 facing of all Kingspan TEK panels is PEFC certified.

For further information please visit www.kingspantek.co.uk