INCA Case Study: Fitzwarren Court, Salford
Fitzwarren Court, Salford
Project Type: Refurb
Client: Salix Homes
Architect: AEW Architects — Manchester
Contractor: Casey Group
Installer: Hamilton Building Contractors
System Designer: K Systems
System & Finish: K Systems M (Mineral Wool), Silicone TC Render and VBriQ (Acrylic Brick Slips)
The Background
Fitzwarren Court is of one the highest buildings in Salford at 23 storeys and was a major refurbishment requiring an aesthetic and thermal upgrade.The building had originally been earmarked for demolition as part of a wider regeneration of the area, but plans were halted when Salix Homes secured funding to modernise the block. The Casey Group were appointed as main contractor for the work. New kitchens, bathrooms, doors and windows have been fitted to all 135 apartments.
K Systems approved installer Hamilton Building Contractors were contracted by The Casey Group to complete the exterior wall insulation and rendering which had a metamorphic effect on the building’s overall appearance and thermal performance.
The 1970s building was a pre-cast concrete panel system. The panels were of a ribbed surface design and were fitted together creating a recessed detail which was a unique design feature. Alongside Hamilton, we worked to transform the façade aesthetically creating a modern building, with a safe, stylish and thermally efficient solution. A complete revamp which has given the building a new lease of life and delivered safe, modern and energy efficient homes for the residents.
Award Winner
Beating off stiff competition from UK counterparts, K Systems and Hamilton Building Contractors topped the ‘Refurb: Insulation and Rendered Finish’ category with this impressive, £1.2M Fitzwarren Court transformation project to takehome their first ever INCA award.
Speaking of his delight at the award win, Sales Director, David Grace, said: “The INCA awards are recognised across the UK as the industry benchmark for render and cladding excellence, so we are extremely proud to pick up this award.”
Project Details
INCA Approved Installer Hamilton Building Contractors used the K Systems M (Mineral Wool), Silicone TC Render and VBriQ (Acrylic Brick Slips). The K Systems M System incorporates eco-friendly mineral wool insulation boards. As an A2-s1, d0 fire-rated External Wall Insulation solution, it is widely specified to provide a thermal and aesthetic improvement to buildings. Additionally this high performing system also reduces energy usage, and therefore energy costs. This BBA approved system future proofed the building by utilising non[1]combustible insulation and ensured we met the latest building safety regulations for high rise properties. 110mm mineral wool insulation was used to achieve required U-values for the main wall area while some 140mm mineral wool was utilised for the recessed panel areas. Thanks to the exceptional performance of our system, the target of 0.30 W/m².k U-value through the wall was achieved to meet building regulations.
Hamilton Managing Director, Robert Storton explains: “The existing substrate was slightly unusual, as it was of a ribbed concrete construction, meaning we had to use three different thicknesses of insulant in order to bring the surface of the building to the same level for the render to be applied.” For the finish, high-performance thin coat silicone render (Silicone TC) was specified and lightweight acrylic brick slips (VBriQ) at the ground floor, meeting all the aesthetic requirements of the project. Available in a wide range of colours, our silicone render is the most flexible on the market, making cracking over its lifetime less likely. It is very user friendly, and its hydrophobic properties allow low maintenance. The silicone render finish on Fitzwarren transformed its appearance.
The former blue and green façade was replaced with modern tones of grey, green, and orange render as chosen by the residents. Accredited by the BBA, the K Systems VBriQ slips provide top tier impact performance and are ideal for use at ground level on a project like Fitzwarren. This lightweight system is quick and simple to install and has high UV resistance while also allowing the original brick colour to be maintained (often a key requirement to fit with local landscapes). An extremely durable finish that achieves Category 1 impact resistance and will therefore withstand the day-to-day demands placed on an apartment block.
Successful EWI schemes, especially on high-rise tower blocks, demand the highest level of Project and On-Site Support from design through to inspections, with technical guidance and warranty support. K Systems are expert partners in this field.