BMI work sees seven eco-friendly roofs improve health in Hattersley

As part of its own contribution to improving air quality, NHS Property Services chose to replace the roof of the Hattersley Health Centre in Hyde, Greater Manchester, with the help of BMI.

The new roof system needed to reduce the effects of pollution by converting nitrous oxides that are present into benign nitrates.

Working in collaboration with the BMI technical specification team, Urban Design & Consult (UDC) developed the remedy for the failing roof that not only replaced it with an eco-friendly alternative, but also a method of working that allowed the centre to operate, without disrupting normal patient care and services.

Dave Percy, UDC director, commented: “We’ve worked with BMI over many years and we’re very happy with the technical service that  provides, the quality of its Icopal range and the robustness of the guarantee.”

The new roof put forward by UDC was the Icopal Noxite Classic built up felt system, in which the Noxite Capsheet reduces the effects of traffic pollution.

Developed by BMI, Noxite® torch-on roofing membrane turns harmful nitrous oxides produced by traffic into benign nitrates, a depolluting effect that lasts as long as the waterproofing membrane.

Dave added: “We’ve had lots of experience in using the BMI Icopal Built Up Roof system and we’re happy with the durability and the protection offered by the various layers, so we’ve used it on a lot of NHS health centres.

“Adding the Noxite top layer at no extra cost was a no-brainer because it matched the client’s pursuit of sustainability wherever possible.”

Sally Teague, Senior Construction Manager at NHS Property Services, commented: “This was always an exciting project to be a part of. It’s rewarding when we can use new technology like this to improve facilities for patients and clinical staff, while making a contribution to environmental sustainability.”

Originally built in the 1970s, the health centre’s roof had already been refurbished once already, with a PVC membrane overlay that was mechanically fixed through the original stone chipping and built up felt roof.

The roofing contractor, Sanderoof, stripped out both the original roof and then installed the Icopal Noxite Classic built up felt system.

This was used with cut-to-falls tapered insulation that made the existing internal drainage redundant. Instead, water was drained to the edge of the roof and into external guttering.

The project encompassed a total of seven roofs, all at differing heights and all needing individually tapered schemes to drain water to the perimeter.

To achieve the correct angle to drain the water, Tapered Thermazone Insulation boards were laid in double thickness over most of the area and so was higher than before.

This increase in insulation height meant Sanderoof had to install new perimeter timber works, along with a new fascia and deep flow gutter system.

Then, to drain water from the roof to this new gutter system, a raised timber roof was built to bring the existing welled roof up to the height of the neighbouring roofs so the falls would run correctly and away to the perimeter – a task complicated by these roofs all being different heights.

Gavin Greaves, Sanderoof Contracts Manager, said: “In a project of this complexity the input of the BMI technical team was very helpful.

“We’ve worked closely with BMI and its technical team for many years now and we have an excellent working relationship, ensuring that projects go smoothly and to specification.

“This project highlights how well we work together as there were many details and intricacies, such as forming the counter falls and new falls with the tapered insulation scheme, and the forming of details to the differing levels of the individual roof areas.”