Bideford College, Devon

Client: NPS South West
Type of works: supply of Kingspan Benchmark's Envirodek system, a structural PIR-insulated roof deck designed for green roof systems.

Approximately 5,000m² of Envirodek from Benchmark has been installed throughout the recently opened Bideford College in Devon. Designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard, it is said to be the country’s most sustainable new college.

Envirodek is a structural PIR-insulated roof deck specifically designed for green roof systems. It is cost effective, quick and safe to install whilst providing the right visual impact, enhancing thermal and acoustic performance.

Steve Western of NPS South West commented: “We selected and specified Envirodek primarily because of its spanning capabilities, but also the advantages it offers in terms of speed of construction, and compatibility with the sedum roof system specified. The product also satisfied aesthetic and thermal requirements.”

He added, “Benchmark’s technical department was very helpful and knowledgeable about the product and their input was critical to the success of the project, particularly as we were pushing the product to its limits in some areas! They were particularly helpful in overcoming the difficulty of suspending exposed services from the panels.”

Bideford College opened for teaching in September 2010 with an overall cost of £54million, and is a Devon County Council project under BSF One School Pathfinder Project scheme.

Veronica Matthews, Principal for the college commented: “The new building is exceptional as school buildings go and those who have worked on the design and construction or, indeed, those of us who have been fortunate to have been in it already can’t help but comment on the quality of the design, the materials used and the working environment that has been created. Phrases like ‘more like a university than a school’ and ‘corporate headquarters’ have been used by several people… I can’t wait to hear what the students think of it!”

Envirodek has installation rates of up to 1,000m² per day with the aid of mechanical handling equipment, and depending on the load and roof type, double spans of up to 6m can be achieved. The product is suitable for curved roofs down to 15m concave and 30m convex radius whilst offering thermal performance and airtightness of less than 5m³/hr/m² at 50 Pa.

Benchmark offers a comprehensive range of architectural roof, wall and facade systems suitable for both new-build and refurbishment projects which can be used to make a creative statement without compromising on performance and all products are available with the Total Benchmark Guarantee.