Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool

ITP’s Powerlon UV 145 FR breathable membrane has been specified as part of a major external wall upgrade at Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

Existing cladding made from aluminium composite material (ACM) is being replaced to make the building compliant with the latest fire safety regulations which were introduced in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Martifer is carrying out a 20-month remedial programme which includes the removal of 10,000 square metres of existing curtain wall followed by the installation of new rainscreen cladding and a new curtain wall.

Powerlon UV 145 FR will form part of the new building envelope, installed behind the rainscreen as a fire-retardant membrane providing long-term protection and UV resistance. The system will repel water to keep the insulation layer dry while allowing moisture to escape, preventing the build-up of condensation.

Redevelopment work at Royal Liverpool University Hospital dates back to 2014, when a wide-ranging project commenced to extend and improve the existing facilities, including the creation of one of the largest emergency departments in the North West of England. Laing O’Rourke took over the scheme in 2018 after the original contractor, Carillion, went into administration. A structural review of the building in 2018 reported that some parts of the cladding used in early phases of the development failed to meet the Building (Amendment) Regulations which came into effect in December 2018, requiring stricter standards of fire safety on external walls. The overall project is scheduled for completion next year.

ITP Account Manager, Marisa Schofield, said:

“The impact of Grenfell has been widespread across thousands of existing buildings and recent developments which pre-dated the new fire regulations. ACM cladding replacement projects have become commonplace throughout the UK, and ITP’s fire-retardant membranes are an ideal specification to complement the changes necessary to make external walls fully compliant with regulations. They are compatible with all substrates.”

Designed for installations behind open or closed ventilated rainscreens and facades, the Powerlon UV facade membrane is engineered to provide superior durability compared to conventional breather membranes. With a Euro Class B,s1-d0 (EN 13501-1) rating for flame retardancy, the system is one of a wide range of options within ITP’s Powerlon range, which also includes Safe One, the UK’s only W1 water resistant non-combustible building membrane.