NBT insulates multi award winning Waingels College

As part of the government’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, the college was designed by Sheppard Robson Architects as an innovative and transformational school building that will boast a 60% reduction in CO₂ emissions during operation. Airtight and highly energy efficient, the building reaps numerous benefits from the use of NBT’s insulation, including an ultra high level of thermal insulation, fabric moisture control, and summertime overheating mitigation.

Due to be complete in October 2011, the college comprises four buildings assembled around a central open area, each of which consists of a combination of prefabricated solid timber cross-laminated panels and glue-laminated timber components. The four buildings feature an externally mineral rendered lower storey and a rectilinear upper storey, which is clad in heat-treated softwood.

The college buildings are insulated using NBT’s Pavaclad woodfibre insulation system, featuring NBT Pavatherm Plus woodfibre insulation fixed directly to the timber frame in a continuous layer. This is then over clad in heat-treated softwood. The structural timber wall panels of the building are left exposed on the internal side to create a warm and natural look.

The Pavaclad woodfibre insulation system formsa thermal shell, which reduces thermal bridging and has achieved a U-value of 0.25W/m²K for the external walls and contributed to an airtightness level of 2.45m³/hr/m²@50Pa.

NBT’s woodfibre insulation systems are fully breathable, maintaining a healthy living environment, with reduced risk of mould formation and the associated health risks to occupants, as well as providing extra protection to the building fabric. The systems also deliver the high thermal mass required to prevent summertime overheating.

The NBT systems meet with the college’s requirements for responsible sourcing, low toxicity and high recycled content material. The woodfibre locks up more carbon than is used throughout its manufacture and delivery to site. It consists of 95% plus waste wood composition and is wholly recyclable.

Waignels College has recently been awarded the British Council for School Environments (BCSE) 2011 Award in the category for Excellence in Design for Teaching and Learning, Secondary Schools.

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