Womens Hospital, Liverpool

Brief

The walls of the multi-storey building comprised a lightweight steel frame and cementitious boards. The EWI system would be applied over these panels. Given the height of the building – i.e. with some floor levels exceeding 11 metres from the ground – a non-combustible system would be essential.

Permarock technical staff worked with the stakeholder team to develop a suitable specification.

Preparatory stages included making site visits to inspect the substrate and to determine the need – if any – for remedial works before the EWI works could begin. The technical team also conducted pull-out tests and agreed to provide the installer with ongoing support throughout the scheme. This would take the form of both on-site support and remote assistance via phone and email.

Design and Specification:

The chosen EWI system comprised:

• Permarock Mineral Fibre External Wall Insulation System with insulation boards adhesively bonded and mechanically fixed to the substrate;
• Permarock Silicone^Ultra K Finish (textured render).

As a combined system, Permarock Mineral Fibre and PermaRock Silicone^Ultra K achieve an A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire classification (EN 13501-1) and can be used on buildings of any height. They also permit extremely airtight façades to be created.

The Permarock Mineral Fibre Dual Density Insulation was supplied in boards measuring 1200 mm x 600 mm, and to a general thickness of 120 mm. The boards were affixed using polymer-modified cement-based adhesive and steel anchors.

Permarock Silicone^Ultra K Finish is a hardwearing, flexible render, available in a range of over 1200 standard colours. It produces a weather-protective surface that tends to shed dirt through the normal actions of weathering. It also inhibits the growth of mould and algae, and it resists attack by airborne pollution. Consequently, it is better able to retain a bright, clean appearance than ordinary render systems and therefore helps to reduce routine maintenance and cleaning costs.