Byron Square, Cambridge - Spacetherm F

A. Proctor Group of Blairgowrie have become involved in several Retrofit for the Future projects, one of which was 31 Byron Square in Cambridge.

Retrofit for the Future is a £17 million programme, facilitated by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB).  Its’ aim was to encourage research, development and innovation in the retrofit of existing, affordable rented homes in order to dramatically reduce carbon emissions.  Winners of this unique competition, were afforded 100% of the funding for a prototype house which proved reduced energy use and consumption which greatly reduced their carbon emissions.

31 Byron Square, owned by Cambridge City Council is a three bedroom, semi-detached property which was built in 1947.  A light-guage steel frame construction, there were no cavities in which insulation could be installed.  Therefore, PRP Architects, looked at options of installing insulation externally and internally.

A. Proctor Group of Blairgowrie, supplied 50mm Spacetherm F which was installed internally by Hill Contractors.

Spacetherm F is one of a range of products from A. Proctor Group which utilise this new and most thermally efficient of all insulants.  The insulation is a  composite of fibrous matting and aerogels, which is a low density solid derived from a gel in which the liquid component has been replaced by gas, using a process know as supercritical drying.  This results in a material which has remarkable insulation properties. 

Spacetherm panels are designed to insulate hard to treat, solid walls internally, and due to the extremely low thermal conductivity of only 0.013W/mK, the panels are very thin, and can be fixed directly to the wall, thereby not dramatically encroaching on precious roomspace.

As the clients remained insitu during the works, it was imperative that the installation was quick. The entire retrofit took only 8 weeks to complete.

Spacetherm boards are easy to install, and with the direct fix method, no battens are required.  Spacetherm F utilises Fermacell as the panel, providing a robust board which is ready for decoration.