Insulation board specified to rejuvenate asbestos-ridden estate

Kingspan Insulation’s Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board has been specified to improve the thermal performance of an estate, which has suffered from asbestos and heat loss since the 1970s.

Tottenham’s Ferry Lane Estate has benefited from a multi-million pound refurbishment under Haringey Council’s Decent Homes programme, which aims to see almost 3,000 tenanted homes upgraded to a satisfactory standard by next year.

Originally constructed in the 1970s, the properties on the Ferry Lane Estate have suffered from black asbestos tiling on the façade of the upper floors. As well as posing a health hazard, the asbestos left the space between the tiles and the breeze block walls uninsulated, resulting in high levels of heat loss from the second floor flats.

To address the issue, Kingspan’s Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board was specified for installation by Keepmoat, Decent Homes’ contractor.

Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board

Offering thermal conductivities as low as 0.020 W/m^.K, Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board can be used to insulate limited spaces.

Designed with a Class 0 rated rigid phenolic insulation core, the Kooltherm K5 External Wall Board offers protection against fire. The board, which boasts a Green Guide summary rating of A+, is manufactured at Kingspan’s Pembridge manufacturing facility, along with its entire Kooltherm range.

Insulation installation

To install the product, scaffolding was erected around the properties on the Ferry Lane Estate; the old asbestos cladding was removed and replaced with Kooltherm K5, which was mechanically fixed into place. New slate effect tiles were then fitted on timber battens.

The tenants remained in their homes as the work was taking place, making it essential that disruption was kept to a minimum. To achieve this, Keepmoat carried out external and internal work simultaneously.

After recladding and insulating the properties, the contractors worked to fit new roofs, replace windows and redecorate doors to ensure that the homes were up to standard.