Versapanel Case Study: Ysgol-Y-Gogarth in Llandudno

A combination of factors, including high winds, freezing temperatures and widely varying stud centres led award-winning walls and ceilings specialist Sound Interiors to Euroform’s cement particle board, Versapanel.

• The Project: Gogarth School (Ysgol-Y-Gogarth), Llandudno
• Main Contractor: Willmott Dixon Construction
• Subcontractor: Sound Interiors Limited
• Product: Versapanel
• Size: 1200mm x 2800mm x 12mm
• Quantity: 2,500 square metres

The Challenge

Gogarth School (Ysgol-Y-Gogarth) is situated less than 300 metres from Llandudno Bay, with no barriers or windbreaks between it and the sea, making exposure to the elements particularly problematic. What’s more, the UK’s weather is becoming increasingly harsh and unpredictable. According to Met Office statistics, 2012 was the second wettest year since records began. And March this year was the coldest since 1962.

John Sheeran, Contracts Manager at Sound Interiors Limited, said, “The biggest challenge of the project was the weather conditions we encountered over the nine-week programme. We were informed of the temperature dropping as low as -12 degrees on some occasions, not to mention the prevailing winds. On a few occasions our supervisor and I had no choice but to take the decision to abandon our works.” 

John continues, “In addition, the majority of the steel framing we had to fix our boards to ‘installed by third parties’ had massively varying stud centres.”

The Solution

By specifying Euroform’s Versapanel, the fully external cement particle board, both challenges were overcome.

Stud Centres

The varying stud centres issue was easily addressed by the availability of Euroform’s Versapanel in a 1200mm x 2800mm size. “Using this size board reduced waste that would normally be generated when using a 2400mm x 1200mm board,” said John.

The problem presented by the inclement British weather and the close proximity of the sea was also resolved by Euroform’s Versapanel.

Heavy Rainfall

The British Research Establishment Centre for Timber

Technology and Construction, in their BRE Digest 447 Part 3, recommend cement particle board ‘where there is a special requirement for moisture resistance.’

This requirement for moisture resistance doesn’t simply apply to a board’s performance in the completed building; it is also a critical factor during construction. Euroform’s Versapanel can be exposed to extreme conditions indefinitely and, even when soaked, will dry out and maintain its original robust performance.

Freezing Temperatures

Euroform’s Versapanel is manufactured to BS EN 634 Parts 1 & 2, the British Standards that govern particle boards’ and wood-based panels’ tensile strength, mechanical properties, density, load factors and resistance to hard body impact. Moreover, and especially relevant to the Ysgol-y-Gogarth project, BS EN 634 Parts 1 & 2 govern a board’s resistance to frost.

Conclusion

A robust, versatile building board with the full support of the Euroform technical team, Versapanel proved to be the perfect solution to the challenges faced by Sound Interiors on the Ysgol-y-Gogarth project.