Kingspan Insulation’s OPTIM-R E proves the optimum for Scottish school

A Scottish primary school has become the first building in the UK to feature Kingspan Insulation’s OPTIM-R E Roofing System, ensuring phenomenal thermal performance.

The £11 million Tulloch Primary School in Perthshire provides space for 434 pupils, along with a new nursery for 50 children.

On top of this, it is expected to achieve a BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.

The scheme was designed by architects to deliver the best whole life value, prioritising passive design principles and energy demand reduction measures over complex and costly renewable energy technologies.

The new school building features a large roof terrace which adjoins the main staff room.

In order to maintain level access to this area, whilst meeting the project’s stringent U-value requirements, an ultra-slim, optimum performance insulation product was needed; the solution – the all new Kingspan OPTIM-R E Roofing System.

Kingspan OPTIM-R E is the latest evolution in vacuum insulation technology; comprising a Kingspan OPTIM-R panel encapsulated within a high performance PIR insulation board, delivering thermal conductivity that is up to three times better than commonly used insulation materials.

The product’s robust envelope gave complete protection for the vacuum insulation core during the installation, allowing the expert team from Advance Building Contracts to quickly fit the 80mm thick panels.

OPTIM-R flex infill strips of the same thickness were then cut to size and fitted around the outer perimeter of the balcony and around a central drainage penetration.

Kingspan Insulation’s specialist OPTIM-R design team created a tailored layout for the OPTIM-R E roofing system, ensuring the best achievable ratio of Kingspan OPTIM-R E panels to OPTIM-R flex infill strips, allowing the target U-value to be met, with a minimal construction depth.