National Trust's Ightham Mote, Sevenoaks

ITP has supplied Safe One®, the UK’s most advanced breather membrane, for one of Kent’s most popular heritage destinations as part of new facilities at the National Trust’s Ightham Mote property in Sevenoaks.

WW Martin Ltd was appointed as the main contractor overseeing the construction of a reception building, shop and visitor car park on the site of the Grade I listed medieval moated manor house which dates back to the 14th century and is registered as a Scheduled Monument. The enhanced facilities will support the National Trust’s conservation of the historic house and gardens for future generations while enabling the estate to accommodate a projected increase in annual visitor numbers.

Appropriately designed to reflect their surroundings, the buildings will be fully sustainable with the use of hempcrete walling, air source heat pumps, a green roof and sustainable surface water management. Safe One® was sourced for the project via leading specialist builders merchant, SIG, to protect the long-term condition of the buildings. The membranes will prevent the ingress of rainwater while facilitating the release of internal water vapour, preventing the build-up of condensation in the insulation layer.

Winner of Product of the Year in the 2022 Façade Design and Engineering Awards, Safe One® offers a market-leading range of performance attributes. The product is the first breather membrane in the UK to combine a W1 rating for water tightness, breathability to BS5250 standards, waterproofing of 7,000mm, UV resistance of 5,000 hours and a Euroclass A2 limited-combustible fire rating.

ITP Account Manager, Paul Harrison, said:

“Safe One® is ideal for projects that are designed for longevity in support of conservation. Its combination of fire safety and all-round protection is unrivalled. Unlike other breather membranes on the market, the product is independently age-tested, so it can be specified with confidence in its ability to stand the test of time and maintain the condition of the building envelope in the long-term.”

Safe One® is one of a wide range of building membranes supplied by ITP. The company’s product range also includes vapour control layers, roofing underlays, house wraps, UV façade membranes and gas barrier membranes. Solutions are available in Euroclass A1, A2 and B ratings, all fully compliant with fire safety regulations on high-rise and higher-risk buildings.