The superb flexibility of Sika-Trocal’s Type S system ensured a potentially challenging roof installation across five, 18-metre-high industrial tanks was completed to exceptional standard and without issue.
Food waste recycling specialists, ReFood (UK) Ltd, has developed its third UK anaerobic digestion plant beside the Thames in Dagenham, Essex – its first outlet in the Greater London area. The £32 million site will be capable of processing 160,000 tonnes of food waste every year.
The development includes five, 18-metre-high digestion tanks that facilitate the food’s conversion to gas, and a pump room which powers the process. Each tank is circular in shape, therefore when it came to the roof installation, contractors Hadfield Roofing & Cladding Ltd, on behalf of Britcon (UK) Ltd, required a system that could be adapted to fit the challenging design whilst remaining watertight. The Sika Type S system, which carries a full BBA accreditation with a 35-year lifespan, proved ideal.
The 1,400m2 tank roofs installation at the Dagenham ReFood (UK) Ltd. recycling plant began in July 2016. The 2mm Type S light grey membrane was applied onto an insulation board and vapour control layer on each roof’s flat concrete base. Installers not only had the tanks’ height and shape to contend with, but the site’s location beside the Thames, meant wind funnelled directly toward the buildings, making for a potentially challenging affixing process.
The Type S system’s easy-to-install properties ensured the operation was completed with minimal issue. Carrying full BBA accreditation, the system does not require a separate fastening system for thermal insulation as it utilises the same disc and fastener for securing the insulation and the waterproofing membrane, thus improving the ease and speed of install.
The Type S membrane’s flexibility was also crucial in allowing for watertight, circular detailing where the towers abutted the plant room roof below.
Joanne Hadfield, Commercial Director at Hadfield Roofing & Cladding Ltd, said: “The Type S system was perfect for this project. It was cut to size to fit the circular roofs and absolutely ideal for completing the rounded metal detailing. Dagenham is the third ReFood (UK) Ltd. site on which we have applied the Type S system. All those involved on each project have been incredibly pleased with its performance.”
The Type S membrane’s adaptability and simple application ensured each roof at the Dagenham food recycling plant was completed to the client’s strict eight-month deadline and to their full satisfaction. The system comes with a 20-year guarantee, providing total reassurance that the equipment used to power the ingenious, environmentally-friendly food waste disposal process is long-term protected against the perils associated with flooding and damp.
