The benefits of an external wall insulation system
provided by Sto have been highlighted yet again by a major refurbishment
project in Cambridge.
The StoTherm Vario K system has been installed on a large nursing
accommodation unit at Addenbrookes Hospital, where it has improved thermal
performance standards and also helped the structure blend visually with the
adjoining buildings.
“Although the Harston House building has a brick
construction, it was unsuitable for cavity wall insulation due to uneven cavity
sizes and various cold bridging issues caused by the concrete floor slabs,”
comments Sto’s Account Manager, Ian Sired.
“However, our StoTherm Vario K system provided the
perfect solution to help
achieve the necessary degree of thermal insulation. As it’s applied
externally, it also does not infringe on the building’s internal spaces.”
“We first considered the StoTherm Vario system for
this project because we were very familiar with the render systems which Sto
supply,” explains Gavin Cowling of project architects Kendall Kingscott. “It
was obvious that this solution would achieve the required U-value, but there
was also an important aesthetic consideration too.
"We wanted to update the appearance of
the building and bring it more into line with the newer buildings which
surround it on the site. From the huge range of colour options which Sto
offers, we were able to select a combination of green, grey, blue, turquoise, ivory and white finishes and
that allowed us to achieve
exactly the finish we required.”
StoTherm Vario is a high performance EPS
insulation system which provides excellent thermal insulation, and thanks to the mineralic reinforcing coat combined with well-designed fire stopping
details, also meets stringent fire safety requirements, even on buildings such as Harston House. It is ideal for either new build or refurbishment projects, and in
this instance, it was installed using Sto-Turbofix - a single component,
polyurethane-based adhesive which offers a quick, clean and cost-effective
method of application.
The reinforcing coat was StoLevell Duo Plus, which was
primed before a finishing decorative coat of StoSilco K silicone resin render
was applied. The high-performance silicone render provides additional
resistance to weathering and water penetration, and reduces the likelihood of
algae growth and soiling of the surface.
“The end result is excellent,” concludes Gavin
Cowling. “Sto’s authorized applicator was Retrofit UK Ltd of Cambridge, and
they did a first-class job. Sto themselves also made numerous site visits and
provided whatever support we required, and between us we helped bring this
important building back up to modern standards.”
Harston House is owned by Cambridge University
Hospital Trust and operated by Sanctuary Housing.
