Refurbishment

Case for refurbishment – an issue for our time
As much as it would be preferable to move into new individually designed premises for a business activity, in the majority of cases it is not practically or feasibly possible in terms of cost, disruption, workforce and geography.

For premises that are old, depressing and cash sinks in terms of energy and maintenance costs, refurbishment is the only practical option in the majority of cases. Insulated panels have been used to improve the building fabric and the ‘bottom line’ ever since their introduction in the 1970s.

Much of the existing building stock within the industrial, commercial and public sectors was built to different standards and requirements and at a time of relatively low energy costs and life expectancy. Expectations have changed beyond recognition in recent years, both in terms of the working environment – visual and required comfort – and also the external environment and environs.

Changes in regulatory requirements
Regulations have also materially changed. Energy is a now major issue in terms of cost, its conservation, contribution to emissions that affects global warming and potential tax penalties. Older buildings compare unfavourably with modern buildings constructed to the latest requirements and their viability can be questioned if action is not taken. Many also raise serious safety concerns with the continued presence of asbestos and other structural safety issues.

From 2006 new requirements under the amendments to the Building Regulations for England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland have placed new responsibilities on the Building Owner. They have further tightened the energy saving measures that were introduced in the 2002 Regulations as part of the European Directive to reduce carbon emissions from buildings and have as a major addition introduced the concept of Energy Performance Certificates, starting with larger buildings and specifically Public Sector Buildings in 2008. Read more: See EPIC Guide to the amendments to the Building Regulations (2006) – Refurbishment sections 5 and 6 can be separately downloaded from the main Guide.

PIR Insulated panels – the refurbishment solution for the future

These are just some of the reasons why refurbishment with insulated panels has become the dominant feature of the refurbishment market.

Removal and replacement with insulated panels
Old roof constructions of slates and tiles, northlights with felt slopes, A-frame with louvers, or profiled asbestos sheets are a major cause of huge energy losses in existing buildings, as well as being responsible for accelerating maintenance bills and increasing health and safety problems for management and the maintenance departments.

Walls, which are the immediate visual image of any company or operation often look tired, worn out and uninviting as well as being energy inefficient.

Replacement with PIR insulated panels is simple, fast and immediate. In the majority of cases the existing structure can be used or easily adapted and the use of single-piece factory engineered panels delivered to site allows the phasing of the project with minimum disruption to the operation of the building.

The following projects are examples of failing building envelopes replaced with insulated panels.

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Energy savings means payback starts immediately with insulated panels.

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Refurbishment with insulated panels means an efficient, low air-leakage, high performance building.

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Replacement of old asbestos
Buildings with asbestos can be a major cause for concern and present specific problems for building owners / occupiers under ‘Regulation 4 of Health and Control of Asbestos at Work 2002’ (effective: 21st May 2004).

Fragile asbestos roofs are a continual safety problem for those responsible for maintenance and repairs and also a concern where there is trespass onto the roof area.

Replacement of asbestos by structurally strong insulated panels immediately creates a legally safe working platform without health rules and implications.

Significant energy savings can also be made. Comparisons between high performance insulated panels with low air leakage and old single skin asbestos sheets show energy savings as high as 90%.

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Flat-to-pitched conversion with insulated panels
The use of lightweight galvanised steel trusses and lightweight PIR insulated panels are now extensively used in the conversion of ageing and faulty flat roofs to pitched roofs.

Conversion removes in one operation the problems of ageing/high maintenance roofs, failed waterproofings, poor falls and insufficient and blocked drains; and the inability to economically improve insulation values due to inadequate curbs and upstands etc.

The following projects are examples of failed roofs replaced with insulated panels.

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Contact EPIC Members for advice and guidance on the use of PIR insulated panels for the refurbishment of existing buildings.

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