Kingspan Helps New HQ Set Sail

Two products from Kingspan Insulated Panels have provided a sleek modern look for the new headquarters of an international shipping firm located on the Isle of Wight.

Carisbrooke Shipping has been based in the town of Cowes since the 1960’s and also has offices in Europe and Canada. Although a traditional appearance with block and render had initially been selected, design and build contractors Reid Steel soon found that specifying Kingspan insulated panels was the better choice. Reid’s Michael Chappell explains:

“Using Kingspan products ensured a good appearance and allowed for a simpler and more economical envelope. We liked the fact that the Kingspan products are quick to install and don’t require any wet trades, as this can slow things down and end up costing more. Also, the procurement process was simpler as all the wall cladding materials were single-sourced.”

The two products used on the building were Kingspan KS1000 MR Micro-Rib and Kingspan Thermatile. Whilst the main body of the building was clad in White and Terracotta KS1000 MR, Kingspan Thermatile was used to good effect on a corner section of the building, highlighting the easy integration and design flexibility offered by these two systems. A Sate colour was selected for this section to provide contrast and give the building a striking contemporary look.

Alongside visual impact, both products provide excellent thermal performance. For example, KS1000 MR can provide U-values as low as 0.15 W/m^²K and air tightness of 5m³/hr/m^² or better. This is a big advantage bearing in mind rising energy prices and the likely tightening of Building Regulations Approved Documents L in the next few years, products that can provide high levels of energy efficiency will become more and more important. What’s more, Kingspan’s envirocare technical services team are always on hand to offer guidance and support in meeting often complex regulations and legislation.

KS1000 MR achieves an A+ rating according to the Green Guide to Specification as does the architectural wall panel which is used as a carrier for Kingspan Thermatile. Both products have an ECOsafe insulation core, containing no CFC’s or HCFC’s with a low Global Warming Potential and are available in FIREsafe LPCB insurer-approved form for assured fire performance. They are also fibre-free, removing the risk of loose fibres being released and causing irritation.