Over the past four decades, Permarock has provided technical support for our insulated render systems for a great many new-build and retrofit schemes in the education sector. Read on as we cast an eye back over some of those projects that have helped learning establishments flourish.
First, though, it’s worth considering the context of this work. Education is vitally important to the future of Britain but, like many sectors, it faces challenges with funding and cost-cutting pressures. Building maintenance and energy costs both make sizeable demands on education budgets, so it’s clearly important to find ways to minimise them. At Permarock we see it as one of our key roles to deliver robust systems and effective designs that help keep education premises functional, energy efficient, visually appealing and well protected against the weather. In this way, we also help to create and maintain optimal conditions for teaching and learning.
Although product technology and industry standards have changed considerably over the last 40+ years, clients’ essential requirements haven’t. Fundamentally, specifiers and asset managers continue to want safe, durable, certificated products that look good and perform reliably without requiring regular maintenance or expenditure.
Permarock has always sought to meet these demands, recognising that good design and long-term performance are key to delivering best value. In addition, however, what has really set us apart has been the quality of our technical support and the length of our experience – qualities that add value to every project. Our teams have gained that experience by supporting a host of demanding – and ultimately very successful – schemes.
New-Build Educational Developments
Energy efficiency has become an increasingly important design criterion over recent decades. Consequently, insulated render systems have been widely specified for their ability to optimise a building’s thermal performance while simultaneously providing good weather protection and a very extensive choice of finishes, without comprimising the internal spaces of the building.
A New-Build Academy Site, incorporating Mineral Fibre EWI with Permarock SiliconeUltra K-Finish
Where external insulation is not required, the same low-maintenance finishes will often still be specified; chosen more for their aesthetic qualities and their ability to protect the underlying structure against water ingress, carbonation and other forms of attack.
For new-build schemes in the education sector, where external wall insulation systems are required, they will typically be based on non-combustible mineral fibre insulation. Permarock was the first UK owned EWI systems provider to secure certification for a mineral fibre EWI system and, since the 1980s, its systems have been used on new-build projects for primary and secondary schools, colleges, academies and universities across Britain. Some recent examples include:
- Case study: Tulip Academy (secondary SEN school)
- Case study: Campion School (sixth-form block and sports hall)
- Case study: Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust (secondary / sixth form)
- Case study: Branston Locks (primary school)
At every stage of new-build projects, our technical teams can provide clients with beneficial support. That generally begins in the early design and planning phases, where we can help with important issues such as the provision of material samples, U-value calculations, specifications and overall system design and detailing advice.
We like to work collaboratively and where appropriate, help assist designers to secure planning consents. Then comes the detailed design, looking at performance criteria and how that transposes to the aesthetic and then once detailed, we can further support stakeholders with project-specific training, and – later – ongoing assistance through on-site inspections and troubleshooting support, backed up by comprehensive aftercare guidance.
Refurbishment and Re-Cladding
A Permarock EWI system with brightly coloured render, installed at a new-build school in London
Energy-saving, weather protection and aesthetic improvements are also key objectives of many education sector refurbishment schemes. For most of our history, our systems have enabled clients to achieve and surpass all such goals.
In some cases, however, a client’s overriding concern may also be fire safety – an issue that is critical on buildings with floors rising to 11 metres or more above ground level, but equally important in sensitive buildings such as schools, academies, universities and other educational facilities. In such instances, where existing insulated render is to be replaced, a suitably certified non-combustible mineral fibre-based system is essential.
High-Rise
Permarock Mineral fibre insulation and Silicone Ultra K Finish, installed on a new multi-storey university accommodation building in London.
The Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 dictate that all materials forming part of an external wall to a high-rise building must be of European Classification “A2-s1, d0” or “A1”. These classifications are taken from BS EN 13501-1 “Fire classification of construction products and building elements. Classification using data from reaction to fire tests.” BS EN 13501 is the only route to compliance. Permarock offers a range of A2,s1-d0 compliant systems. Equally, DfE guidelines also require walls to be clad in robust, non-combustible or limited-combustibility materials – again, an A2,s1-d0 EWI system from Permarock complies in full, whilst also meeting other requirements such as Category I impact resistance.
Whatever the goals of a refurbishment (or new-build) project, our technical teams can support stakeholders by assisting with building surveys and assessments, advising on substrates and proposing project-specific systems and design solutions.
Retrofitting Non-Traditional Buildings
An old Maycrete-style non-traditional building, still being put to good use by a school in Surrey after a Permarock EWI system improved its thermal performance and appearance.
Many schools, colleges and other institutions have long histories, and their estates will include older buildings constructed to non-traditional designs. Some of these will have been built during the post-war periods when the speed and cost of construction were of greater priority than thermal performance.
Although many such ‘hard to treat’ buildings will since have been demolished and replaced, some remain. Clients will therefore sometimes face a challenge in raising them to an acceptable standard of energy efficiency. Fortunately, this can be done very effectively and, at Permarock, we have an excellent track record of retrofitting these challenging archetypes. Where external clearance permits, almost any U-value can be achieved.
Student Residential Buildings
Student accommodation buildings take a variety of forms but both new-build and retrofit projects present designers with certain challenges. One is that because they may house a relatively large number of occupants across multiple floors, fire safety must once again be a key concern. Whatever system is chosen – whether as part of a new construction project or a re-cladding scheme – it must meet the demands of the latest fire safety regulations. It is important therefore to note that our Mineral Fibre system meets all relevant standards; when combined with a suitable Permarock finish, of which there are several, it achieves a European Classification: A2-s1,d0, in accordance with BS EN 13501:1.
A recent refurbishment project for the University of Manchester. The design combined slate tiles with Permarock brick slips to create an aesthetic that was sympathetic to the local area
Another important concern is design flexibility. Many projects will be located on sites that are subject to stringent planning restrictions. For specifiers, it’s important to be able to work with a supplier – and a product range – that enables attractive, reliable and architecturally sympathetic designs to be developed; designs that will meet planning requirements by respecting the character and heritage of the local area.
The following case studies show examples of how we have helped clients to meet these and other challenges.
- Case study: Student accommodation, London (fire safety reclad)
- Case study: University of Manchester (sympathetic modern refurbishment)
- Case study: The Residence, Coventry (new-build student accommodation)
University Hospital Buildings
Permarock EWI system incorporating Mineral Fibre and SiliconeUltra K-Finish for a newly-built radiotherapy unit within a unversity hospital
Universities help to operate many of Britain’s teaching hospitals. They will typically have estates that feature a wide variety of buildings – theatres, wards, treatment centres, offices and so on. Permarock has an impressive history of working with such clients to support both new-build and retrofit schemes.
- Case study: Milton Keynes University Hospital (new build)
Other Education Sector Projects
Our Project Gallery section shows many more examples of new-build and retrofit projects featuring UK schools, colleges and universities.
Longevity and Value
The reliability and durability of any building component will play an obvious and pivotal role in its cost effectiveness. Recognising this, we have always made great efforts to ensure that our products offer proven longevity and that they comply with all relevant standards. They are backed by full accreditation and testing and, perhaps most important of all, by our unrivalled design and technical support.
By combining proven products with exceptional designs and outstanding technical expertise, we can offer a comprehensive range of guarantees and warranties, and optimum life expectancy. Our external wall insulation systems have a design life of at least 30 years as standard, but systems can be designed to have a fully certified life in excess of 60 years, exceeding the DfE Schools Output Specification requirement of 40 years. (Read more about system design considerations here.)
Find Out More
If you are planning a project in the education sector, be it new-build or retrofit, please see our Education section and contact our Technical Support team for further information and assistance. Alternatively, you can simply call us on 01509 262 924.
