Aliva UK were engaged to supply external wall insulation and rainscreen cladding systems to refurbish and enlarge 2 prominent, unoccupied, 1960’s 8-storey concrete towers to provide a 705-bed student accommodation development in the centre of Norwich.

The main buildings have been finished with Aliva UK Ariacovering aluminium cladding panels with the lower blocks finished with the Aliva UK Minerale external wall insulation system finished with a 15mm clay slip.

The system incorporates non-combustible mineral wool insulation which is both adhesively and mechanically fixed to the existing walls with additional spreader washers and stainless steel fire fixings through-pinning the mesh Reinforced render basecoat and adhesively bonded clay slips with cementitious, gun-grade pointing mortar completes the system.

The EWI system achieved A2,S1,d0 surface spread of flame classification to EN 13501 and as such comply with the changes to UK Building Regulations for buildings of 18 metres and over.

The cream facing brick chosen by the Architect was matched from the Aliva standard range to reduce overall component costs and ensure the commercial expectations were met. Programming was critical to ensure the building was ready for the new student intake in September 2020 on completion of the internal works programme.

Due to the city centre location and the resulting security, storage and access challenges Aliva UK, working in conjunction with JML Building Services, had to work to stringent delivery schedules and fast application to ensure minimal storage of materials onsite. Speed of installation was therefore a contributing factor in the choice of system.

On completion the U-value achieved: 0.24W/m2k.