www.fermacell.co.uk

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Fermacellthe versatile flooring system

REFURBPROJECTS

CaseStudy September 2011

Project: Apartment development, Covent Garden Main Contractors: ME Construction

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The speed of installation with Fermacell dry flooring systems is amajor benefit, allowing a granular dry screed to be laid on unevenfloors prior to the Fermacell overlay systems, eliminating thedrying time often associated with wet screed systems.

For further information please contact Fermacell on 0870 609 0306 or visit www.fermacell.co.uk

When it comes to specifyingcommercial flooring systems fourkey elements need to be factored in – installation time, quality ofmaterials, performance and cost.

David Prout, Fermacell’s MarketingManager, comments: “Installationtime can become even more of anissue when a particular project fallsbehind schedule, or unexpectedevents delay the sub flooringinstallation. The contractor is thenleft with no alternative but to get onwith the job and complete it quickerthan the time that has been allocated.

“The speed of installation withFermacell dry flooring systems is amajor benefit, allowing a granulardry screed to be laid on unevenfloors prior to the Fermacell overlaysystems, eliminating the dryingtime often associated with wetscreed systems.

“Today, many new buildings areequipped with underfloor heatingand the dry screed option Fermacell2E22 25mm Flooring overlay offersthe ideal solution. It can be laiddirectly over the wet underfloorheating systems that can becommissioned within 24 hours.

“An added benefit is the superiorheat transference that 2E22provides compared with traditionalscreeds. Its low thermal mass iseffectively transparent to heat,making the system very quick torespond and more efficient,” he said.

“The dry flooring overlay systemsare fixed to each other and laid as afloating floor with staggered joints –the ‘off-cut’ from one row beingcarried over to start the next,helping to reduce site waste.

“Compared with often difficult toinstall acoustic dry lining flooring

systems, Fermacell’s 2E32 and2E31 Acoustic flooring provides a simple to install and effectivebarrier to impact sound and usedwith a suspended ceiling provides a solution to airbourne sound too.This makes it ideal for multi-occupancy new build andrefurbishment developments.

The performance benefits of theFermacell flooring systems reallycome in to their own when usedwith the range of Fermacell levelingproducts. This has never been moreevident than on a prestigiousapartment development currentlyin progress at Maiden Lane inCovent Garden and due forcompletion in October this year.

Peter Andrew, Project Managerwith Main Contractor MEConstruction, commented: “The project – part refurb and partnew-build – originally comprised a three storey structure of arestaurant and offices. On top ofthis building, four extra floors ofaccommodation have been createdto provide 14 luxury apartments: a three bedroom penthouse, the others comprising one and two bedroom units.

“Initially, a sand and cement screedfloor was planned for the apartmentblock. However, difficult site accessbetween Maiden Lane and TheStrand, meant that a wet screedflooring system was not an optionas there was nowhere to pumpfrom,” he said.

The Fermacell solution was putforward by Matt Barker, ContractsManager with sub-contractor Visual Interiors & Partitions, whosecompany has installed some 3,000 square metres of Fermacell.He commented: “The Fermacell dryleveling compound is a completely

dry system and therefore mucheasier to unload and store on site. It is a good product to use andprovides excellent acoustic and fireperformance, which is important in multi-occupancy developments.

“The concrete floor slabs were veryuneven and the Fermacell DryLeveling Compound proved to be anexcellent leveling tool; the granularsystem poured on the concrete floorand screeded off level – removingwet trades and drying times. An intermediate layer of 10mmFermacell boards were laid on topof the dry leveling compound tosupport the Underfloor HeatingSystem and the Fermacell 2E22overlay laid down on top of that as a load distribution layer, as well as a substrate for the final floorfinishes,” he said.

David Prout added: “Fermacell2E31 and 2E32 acoustic flooringoverlays can be used either on theirown or in conjunction with theacoustic honeycomb system, andcan be used to upgradesubstandard floor systems tocomply with the latest BuildingRegulations. They can also be usedas a dedicated part of a floorconstruction to provide Part E RDcompliant constructions.

“The density of Fermacell floorsystems can help reduce thepassage of sound in buildings, and provides fire resistance up to 90 minutes for downward spread of flame, offers high point andtraffic load capacity.”

The Fermacell 2E31 overlay cantake point loads up to 2.5kN per10cm2making it able to cope withthe demands of domestic andcommercial applications.

“The Fermacell dry leveling compound is a completely dry system andtherefore much easier to unload and store on site. It is a good product touse and provides excellent acoustic and fire performance, which isimportant in multi-occupancy developments.”

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