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The Barbican, London
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Rockwool, the world’s leading manufacturer of non-combustible stone wool insulation, has developed a unique insulation system for a refurbishment project at the Grade II-listed Barbican Estate.
The project – which has been on-site since October 2008 – involves £40,000 of insulation product being installed to insulate the top three storeys in one part of the Estate’s buildings, which were being converted from offices into residential accommodation.
However, the tight radius of the Barbican’s barrel roofs meant that Rockwool, working in collaboration with its partners – the client; the roofing contractor, Delomac Roofing; and the membrane manufacturer, Sarnafil – had to develop a new kind of insulation system.
After designing, fabricating and trialling various alternatives, the team eventually settled on Rockwool’s 40mm Hardrock SPA roof insulation board (installed with Sarnafil membrane) with special grooves cut into the base of the board to allow for bending around the tight radius, fitting the roofs snugly.
David Adams, Market Development Director from Rockwool, said: “Barrel roofs are often difficult to insulate fully. Most insulation comes in boards, which is fine for covering vertical walls or horizontal roofs, but cannot always bend sufficiently to fit tightly – and therefore effectively – over a curved surface. Our bespoke product design will ensure the Barbican Estate roofs will be well insulated and as energy efficient as possible.”
Brendan McNulty from Delomac Roofing, the roofing contractor, said: “We have worked closely with Rockwool on developing this unique product. The installation is now well underway and reports confirm the system is performing precisely as intended.”
The Barbican Estate in the heart of London’s Square Mile contains a mix of urban residential accommodation and office space, as well as the Barbican Centre, Europe’s largest performing arts centre, which includes a library, concert halls, gallery, cinema and theatre auditoriums.
