AHR architects and specialist
sub-contractors Q9 Cladding Solutions give Magply boards a
definitive thumbs up.
The use of fire-resistant
roofing boards from leading UK manufacturer Magply on an
exemplar Passivhaus school was a first-time experience for the
architects and installers. And both would be more than happy
to use them again.
|
 |
| Magply’s 12mm-thick
boards, which meet Euroclass EN13501 (A1 Non-Combustible)
standards, were specified for a warm roof build-up by AHR
architects for Caledonia High School in Rosyth, Fife,
Scotland. |
| The magnesium
oxysulfate boards were installed over metal roof deck sheets
by specialist sub-contractor Q9 Cladding Solutions for main
contractor BAM to help provide a lightweight, flat surface for
the waterproofing. |
| AHR senior architect
Keith Peterson said: “We were initially looking at using a
weatherproof cement board but the contractor was keen to look
at alternatives as this was quite an expensive solution over
the whole roof area. |
| “We also considered
not using any board product at all and installing the roof VCL
directly onto the structural deck, but our concern was that
without a flat substrate, we might have had issues achieving
the airtightness requirements for the project. |
| “The Magply board
was a cost-effective solution that would ensure the airtight
VCL layer was well supported to help achieve the Passivhaus
standard. And the Magply boards have performed well. We don’t
have any formal air test results, but initial smoke testing
confirmed that the envelope is performing as intended for a
Passivhaus project.” |
| He added: “From my
understanding, the site team have been quite happy laying the
boards and have been able to achieve a good level of
workmanship overall. I had not used Magply before but would be
happy to specify them again based on the experience we have
had so far on our projects.” |
| Installers Q9
Cladding Solutions had a team of six men on site. |
| Contracts manager
Graeme Ritchie said: “We have used a similar product in the
past but this was the first time we had used the Magply
product. It was the specified product on this project. It was
great. There were no issues with its installation. The boards
were easy to cut and quick to lay. Time was mainly spent
fixing the boards down due to the number of fixings required
but we didn’t find any particular challenges.” |
| He added: “We don’t
specify products ourselves but we have recently been working
on a project using a similar product and I believe Magply is a
superior product. The similar product absorbed water more
easily and was more difficult to dry out.” |
| Caledonia High
School is being built on the Fleet Grounds in Rosyth as a
state-of-the-art replacement for the outdated Inverkeithing
High School. It will accommodate 1,735 pupils over three
floors, with an open “see and be seen” approach throughout. |
| The latest in Fife
Council’s £88million programme to renew all of its secondary
schools, its Passivhaus build ensures Caledonia High School
will use around 75% less energy than a standard UK new-build,
helping to meet the education authority’s net zero carbon
ambitions. |
| The details for
Caledonia High School were also used by AHR at Templehall
Community Hub, also a Passivhaus project, in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
Both projects are due to open around July 2026. |
| |
| |
