The corporate headquarters of DCC, the international corporation involved in the energy, healthcare, technology, food and beverage industries in Leopardstown, Dublin, has received an attractive new appearance and greatly improved thermal performance with the recent application of External Wall Insulation (EWI) by Saint-Gobain Weber. Subsequent benefits include a welcome reduction in energy consumption, improved environmental impact and greater efficiency in the building’s overhead.
This impressive building was constructed around 30 years ago in cavity blockwork with a simple sand and cement render. The façade carries a number of attractive, raised architectural features around window and door openings and there is a major feature on the elegant, bowed frontage above the main entrance. A specific requirement of the refurbishment brief was to highlight and accentuate these features while improving thermal efficiency in the building. Now complete, the refurbishment project has won universal acclaim with the exterior finish enhancing these attractive architectural features.
Ger Whyte, DCC plc’s company secretary, said: “Our new corporate head office combines energy efficiency with a work environment designed around the needs of our staff, and has created a building which we’re extremely happy with.”
DMOD Architects, Dublin, working with main contractor Townlink Construction, specified the British Board of Agrément (BBA) and NSAI Agrément Registered weber.therm XP EWI system as the solution that would rejuvenate the building while improving its U-value. EWI extends the life of existing buildings, particularly hard-to-treat properties, by keeping the old structure warm and stable.
In this project the revolutionary weber.therm XP EWI with weber.therm M1 one-coat render was applied using 100mm thick expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulation. To retain the architectural features raised panels were created with 120mm thick EPS which provided the essential relief.
Mechanically fixed to the sound substrate, reinforcing meshcloth encapsulated in two 6mm passes of weber.therm M1 through-coloured mineral render was applied. The unique one-coat render reduces on-site labour and associated access costs in comparison with a traditional two-coat system. Recent improvements to this special formulation allows weber.therm M1 render to work in harmony with seasonal conditions achieving a same-day finish in the summer and a next-day finish in winter. weber.therm M1 is also suitable for spray or hand application and offers a low maintenance and impact resistant finish.
Thomas Russell of DMOD Architects said: “Cavity wall insulation had been installed in this building previously, and together with EWI, Weber calculated an impressive U-value of 0.16/m²K from an earlier measurement of 0.27K/m²K.
“Saint-Gobain Weber also brought us graphics showing a selection of dual colour-ways and the chosen combination of Pearl Grey and Stone Grey has significantly enhanced the appearance of the building, to the approval of the client, staff and the local community.”
Weber-recognised applicator James Doran & Son was appointed by Townlink Construction for the application of 1600m² of weber.therm XP EWI which was supplied by Facades Systems, a division of SIG Ireland, a leading supplier of specialist construction products. Colm Kennedy of Townlink oversaw the EWI installation: “This building was ready for a facelift and that’s exactly what weber.therm XP EWI has achieved. We brought in a skilled EWI applicator and together we have all contributed to the transformation of this impressive building which will now be even more comfortable for the staff in both winter and summer.”
For more information about this project, or for technical support, please contact Saint-Gobain Weber on 08703 330 070, or visit www.netweber.co.uk. Customers in Ireland should call 028 9335 2999 or visit www.weber.ie
A free download of the new weber.app for iPhone and iPad users is also available from iTunes and from Google Play for Android smartphones and tablet users. Follow Saint-Gobain Weber on Twitter @SGWeberUK for the latest company news and updates.
Weber, part of Saint-Gobain, is a leading player in the construction products industry and is a recognised manufacturer and innovator in a diverse portfolio of easy to apply, high-performance products and systems in the facades, flooring, tile fixing and civil engineering sectors.
The company offers technical support and guidance on the best practice application of innovative systems such as External Wall Insulation. Working through in-house programmes and group technical academies across the UK, correct specifications and application of products and systems is ensured every time.
About Saint-Gobain
In 2015, Saint-Gobain is celebrating its 350th anniversary, 350 reasons to believe in the future. Backed by its experience and its capacity to continuously innovate, Saint-Gobain, the world leader in the habitat and construction market, designs, manufactures and distributes high-performance and building materials providing innovative solutions to the challenges of growth, energy efficiency and environmental protection. With 2013 sales of €42 billion, Saint-Gobain operates in 64 countries and has nearly 190,000 employees. For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and the twitter account @saintgobain.
