Cempanel, the cement particle board from Cembrit, is demonstrating its versatility and top-of-the-class performance at the new build, Unity College building in Burnley. Installed to provide an effective internal skin for the building, Cempanel was installed by PADS (Plastering and Dry Lining Solutions, a division of Nationwide Joinery) as part of a £650k project.
Unity College is the flagship in Phase Two of Lancashire’s Building Schools for the Future programme - a Government initiative to provide a new generation of sustainable secondary schools throughout England. Due to open in September 2010, the College will be home to 1,000 students from the local area. PADS has worked with the main contractor, Bovis Lend Lease, on a number of projects of which Unity College is the latest. Vivalda supplied 2500m2 of Cempanel to the project where it is installed onto Metsec SFS - a fast-track steel stud frame system.
“We’ve used Cempanel before and have enjoyed using it,” says Paul Grundy of PADS. “It is ideal for this type of project where fast-track construction demands that materials are easy to work with and can be relied on to perform. We also appreciate the good, friendly, customer service that characterises the Cembrit experience – it helps make for a smooth, trouble-free project.”
Cempanel is hard-wearing and well suited to use, as at Unity College, as the internal skin behind a rainscreen cladding design. The combination of wood particles and cement creates a board that is stronger and lighter than plasterboard and is less likely to be damaged on site.
Cempanel can also be used as a load-bearing board and provides sound insulation, impact resistance and moisture resistance. For internal use it can be used as a high-impact lining board and also doubles as a good alternative to chipboard or plywood. It is Class 0 fire rated, and can be decorated on or off site. Available as a standard 2,400 x 1,200 board, it can be supplied in special sizes to order.