Material quality and performance was key to the design specification of every aspect of this high profile project at the heart of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The key quality required of the roof insulation was durability; the Foamglas Tapered Roof System was specified for its guaranteed thermal performance for the lifetime of the building.
Foamglas is a high performance insulant produced by heating crushed re-cycled glass to form a solid slab with millions of hermetically sealed glass cells creating a light and extremely strong insulation material.
Retaining all the key properties of glass, the material is impervious to the effects of liquid, moisture and water vapour. It will not burn, support combustion or give off smoke, and it is resistant to attack by chemicals, and vermin. The Foamglas Tapered Roof System, an economical alternative to screed-to-fall systems, is available in a range of standard falls and supplied cut to shape for quick and efficient installation.
Alasdair Travers of executive architects Purcell Miller Tritton says of the project: “This is a spectacular building, the quality of which needed to reflect its heritage setting. The decision to use the Foamglas system was made on the basis of its excellent insulation properties and, equally importantly, its fit-and-forget longevity.”
The Foamglas-insulated terrace leads out from the museum’s new restaurant and offers superb views over Greenwich Park.
The overall project, designed by C.F. Møller Architects, has seen the construction of a striking new wing housing a wealth of treasures including a jewel belonging to Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook’s handwritten journals, personal items that survived the sinking of RMS Titanic and cutting edge audio-visual installations. Funding for the £35m wing, which opened in July this year, included a donation of £20m from international shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer, and an award of £5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Foamglas Tapered Roof System was installed by contractors Rock. Main contractor for the project was Lend Lease.
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