1200 Solid Wall Properties, Nottingham

Client Nottingham City Homes
Specifier Nottingham City Homes
Substrate Solid Wall
System PermaRock EPS-Premium External Wall Insulation Systems
System 2
Finish PermaRock Silicone Ultra K & R Finishes
Finish 2 PermaRock Brick Slips
Project Overview:

 

Background:

This scheme, commissioned by Nottingham City Homes under the Efficiency East Midlands Framework, entailed making energy efficiency improvements to a total of 1,200 solid-walled properties. The work was to be delivered three phases and would feature more than 30 different property archetypes.

Phase 1 focused on 355 properties in the Lenton Abbey area, all made of solid brick but comprising a mix of semi-detached, mid-terrace and end-terrace houses. Phase 2 focused on 135 properties in Sneinton, and the third phase entailed treating 560 solid brick properties in Aspley.

 

The Brief:

The first key challenge for the design team was the issue of planning consent. All the properties selected for treatment were made of solid brick and the local authority was keen to ensure that the external wall insulation would have no adverse impact upon each area’s character and appearance. Consequently, for several months prior to the commencement of work on site, PermaRock staff worked closely with NCH and the installer, taking an active, collaborative role in design, detailing and planning meetings.

By providing product samples, visualisations and other evidence, they demonstrated to local authority planners that the result would only enhance the quality and appearance of the housing stock. Planning consent was duly granted.

The client also wanted to ensure maximal cost certainty on the scheme; a requirement that would entail agreeing the most cost-effective designs and detailing from the outset, and establishing pilot properties to demonstrate the look and performance of the chosen systems.

 

Design & Specification:

The external wall insulation system chosen for the scheme was PermaRock's EPS Premium system, together with a SiliconeUltra K-Finish and/or brick effect render finish.

 

Training and Quality:

As part of its commitment to delivering benefits for the local community, PermaRock set up a bespoke training facility for local operatives and apprentices. In all, more than 375 operatives underwent project-specific training here. The training centre accurately reproduced the detailing of the various property archetypes. This accelerated progress on site because it meant that the trained staff could move straight from working on one property type to another.

For the duration of the scheme, PermaRock also assigned staff to support the delivery works on a full-time basis. To maintain both quality and progress, they made routine inspections and supported a system of key 'quality holding points' that required inspection and sign-off before work could continue. This helped to ensure strict adherence to the specification, and kept the client fully informed throughout.

 

Results:

Work proceeded at an excellent pace. Ultimately, all properties were completed on budget, three months ahead of schedule. Strict quality controls ensured that all properties were accepted at handover, with no rectification notices issued in any of the three phases.

As a result of the works, thousands of local residents now enjoy better living conditions, improved energy efficiency and appreciable annual savings on their energy bills.

Such was the scheme's success that it featured as an example of industry best practice in a major independent report commissioned by the UK Government. Dr Peter Bonfield's report 'Each Home Counts' cited the scheme's emphasis on quality, the clarity of the offer, cost certainty, consistency of delivery, supply chain collaboration and the maintenance of "the highest quality standards" by the project partners.

 

Client Feedback:

"The installer and PermaRock have provided NCH with an outstanding delivery model that focuses strongly on quality. The collaboration with PermaRock ensures that the technical installation is of the highest standard possible. "

Nottingham City Homes

 

Resident Feedback:

"We noticed the difference straight away and we have the heating on much less now. When we do turn it on, it only needs to be on for a few hours.  As well as making the house warmer, the cladding on the outside looks fantastic; our house now looks really smart.”

 

Best Practice:

In the report, ‘Each Home Counts,’ Dr Peter Bonfield writes:

“To ensure the highest quality standards, each property underwent a full pre installation survey... Full-time on-site technical support and quality management were provided and a fully equipped on-site EWI training facility provided project specific training to over 300 operatives. This was backed by comprehensive technical and design support for all aspects of the EWI system design and detailing keeping the focus on quality at all times."

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