Structherm a company that specialises in the structural external refurbishment of buildings, was chosen by North Lanarkshire Council to refurbish one of its primary schools earmarked for demolition.
As the anniversary of the successful completion of the school refurbishment project and the school reopening approaches, Structherm revisits the challenges it overcame on the 14-month refurbishment project to deliver the upgraded school back to North Lanarkshire Council, almost a year ago in August 2022.
Allanton Primary School in North Lanarkshire was built with four different types of construction including a timber frame construction which over the years had suffered from water ingress and wet rot making it structurally unstable and unsafe. The safety of the staff and pupils was the top priority, and the school was closed for 14 months to carry out the work.
The school was structurally unstable and unsafe. Structherm worked in partnership with their approved Installation Contractor, Procast to install their unique Structural External Wall Insulation system (SEWI) to stabilise the defective building and structurally and aesthetically upgrade the school.
Structherm is the UK’s number one expert in external refurbishment of non-traditional housing and high-rise buildings, they are known for their structural external wall insulation product. They are unique in the refurbishment industry and are the only UK company to have received BBA (British Board of Agrément) approval for its Structural external wall insulation product. Structherm works nationwide on refurbishment projects for local authorities, housing associations, social housing, and commercial properties.
The installation of the Structural External Wall Insulation panel means that the school now benefits from better thermal efficiency due to a U-Value of 0.30W/m²K being achieved, which will significantly reduce the heating costs. The school building is now future-proofed with the ability to remove existing windows at a later date and install new ones without the need to relocate the pupils and staff to other schools again.
Julian Taylor, Technical Director at Structherm said: “The installation of Structherm’s Unique Structural EWI system is an excellent example of refurbishment works. The school was in such a poor condition that it was destined for demolition. Our SEWI system is the least disruptive and most cost-effective solution when refurbishing buildings. The work we did gives the school a new lease of life, will significantly reduce its heating costs, and it also future-proofs the structure of the school for the next 30 years. “
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council commented: “We appreciate everyone’s efforts and the expertise that’s been put into this project. Everyone who has visited the site is very impressed with the outcome and the timescale for delivery.”
Structherm’s SEWI system offers benefits far beyond those provided by standard external wall insulation systems. The SEWI system dramatically improves the thermal performance of buildings, reduced fuel bills, and provided a modern fresh look.
