A High-Performance Building System for High-Performance Education Buildings

Education building projects are extremely demanding. Expectations for thermal performance are high – not just to save energy but also to maintain a comfortable ambient temperature all year round. Excellent acoustic performance is also essential to shut out noise that could disrupt learning.

On top of this budgets are tight and projects need to be delivered to short and dependable timescales. All of these demands make the hybrid solution of precast concrete floors and the Innovaré System ideal.

When aligned with a tightly controlled production process the hybrid SIP system can compress building schedules by around 50%. This was the case with the 2,182m² Greatfields School in Barking where the structure was handed over ready for fit out in just nine weeks.

Thermal Mass

Controlling the thermal mass is an important consideration if comfortable temperatures are to be maintained without excessive mechanical heating or cooling. Using precast concrete floors allows the thermal mass to be designed into the structure and for the floors to become part of a passive climate control system.

The underside of the floor sections has a high-grade finish. This means it can be left exposed or painted directly, with no need for tiles or suspended ceilings. As well as simplifying the fit-out this design also makes the thermal mass of the concrete floors available to help control the internal environment.

Removing the need for suspended ceilings also allows the desired ceiling heights to be achieved within a building structure that is lower overall.

Precision and Control

As with the large format panels used for internal and external walls, the precast concrete floor sections are fitted into place quickly and precisely on site. The close tolerances used in the manufacture of the entire kit of parts ensures there is a tight fit between each element, with minimal air permeability or thermal bridging losses.

The hybrid system delivered the 20 classroom Greatfields School six weeks ahead of schedule, which was great news for staff and students who could move out of temporary accommodation sooner than planned. Overall it is expected that capital and lifetime costs of the buildings will be reduced by 50% compared to traditional construction as well as providing an exceptional learning environment that complies with the Facilities Output Specification.