BISF Housing, Motherwell

Background

The BISF (British Iron and Steel Federation) constructed the Newarthill properties in the 1940’s, utilising steel-framed walls that were initially coated in cement render and vertical steel panels.

In previous renovations overseen by the Local Authority, the upper level of the building was clad in PVC weatherboard, while the lowest floor had its exterior re-rendered. The building is characterised by its non-traditional construction style.

The houses had extremely poor thermal performance and the flats were difficult and expensive to heat, especially with the rising fuel prices and current cost of living crisis, meaning some residents were in a state of fuel poverty.

North Lanarkshire Council required an EWI solution that would achieve the following three key objectives:

- Improve the thermal performance of the property portfolio

- Specify a system that would achieve a U-value of 0.17 W/m²K and would involve as little technical detailing around the property as possible

- Ensure the properties had a modern and aesthetically pleasing look as the current exterior was tired and dated

Understanding and appreciating K System’s expertise in this sector and innate ability to deliver best-in-class refurbishments, North Lanarkshire Council appointed the partnership of K Systems and Ailsa Building Contractors to tackle the low rise refurbishment project.

Our Service

As the Newarthill development was already occupied, a key element of this project was to deliver the refurbishment with minimal disruption to current residents and / or neighbouring houses.

This is one of K Systems strengths, ensuring jobs are delivered in a timely fashion, without delay, without disruption, and with full disclosure of each phase given to residents throughout the project to build rapport, trust, and confidence.

On this particular low rise refurbishment, which had limited access points for all traffic in and out surrounding its immediate vicinity, K Systems had to work closely with the contractor, main contractor, and local authority to ensure they were working in harmony to negate any unnecessary commotion.

K Systems’ technical team also carried out regular site visits to make sure the system was installed to the highest standard, in line with specification, and to ensure all involved parties were delivering to time and budget.

The refurbishment of the properties is a great example of K Systems’ unparalleled ability to deliver constructional excellence that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its customers.

Technical Project Details

On initial scope, the K Systems team identified that a major challenge for this project was going to be the technical detailing between the timber frame sheeted ply at the top storey and precast concrete slab at the bottom. Several U-value calculations were completed by the experienced K Systems team to support the Council’s request of minimal detailing around the property and the target U-value.

To meet these requirements, the K Systems P EWI system was specified, which utilises phenolic foam insulation boards. This insulation is lightweight and has a high thermal performance, allowing for thinner sections of insulation to achieve optimal thermal efficiency - perfect for this project, achieving the target U-value of 0.17 W/m²K , up from 0.32 W/m²K.

It is a suitable solution for buildings that are restricted in expanding their footprint due to pavements or nearby properties, and can be easily installed on masonry structures, as well as non-traditional structures - an ideal solution for the Newarthill properties.

Addressing the request for a modernised aesthetic, a dash render finish was specified. This render is extremely robust, hard-wearing, and low maintenance, ensuring the properties’ refreshed exterior would remain for years to come. The dash render was also complementary to the existing local property portfolio which was something the Council wanted to achieve.

This refurb completely transformed cold, weathered, distressed housing in a Scotland suburb into warm, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing homes that met the exact requirements of North Lanarkshire Council and reduced the energy bills for residents due to improved thermal performance.