GYPSOL - LKAB

This project consisted of a 26 story block of apartments which all required a resilient acoustic membrane and a screed which could be guaranteed to achieve a minimum of 80kg/m2. This was in order to ensure that the scheme met the relevant building regulations with regard to sound transmission. The screed also needed to be manufactured off site and be delivered and installed so as to cause as little disruption to the surrounding environment as possible. Gypsol Summit exhibits the right density and can also be pumped to high level using a single pump saving cost and time

The designer required a screed which could offer a rapid response to changes in the air temperature within the house both in terms of heating and cooling. Additionally it had to offer a thin section to reduce material use and to help reduce the physical mass of screed that had to be warmed. This was to help with achieving efficiency with the ground source heat pump and allow the unit to heat the screed at very low temperatures. It also required a screed that could be easily placed at both ground and first floor. Gypsol Classic was the perfect solution.

The main contractor, with many years’ experience of building bespoke care homes throughout the UK has successfully used flowing screeds in their projects for over a decade. This project was to be no exception and the main contractor needed advice on before finalizing the specification. The screed was to be placed on insulation at both ground and first floor underfloor heating systems. It needed to be as thin as possible. It needed to be installed quickly because, time scales were tight. Finally it needed to offer a rapid drying time to allow completion of floor coverings.

Following detailed technical and commercial discussions the Gypsol team were able to provide a cost effective and practical alternative to the original specification using Gypsol HTC screed and a Thermoplane underfloor heating system. Gypsol HTC, having a thermal conductivity of 2.5w/mK was selected due to its high level of thermal performance especially when combined with underfloor heating. The unique mix design of Gypsol HTC screed allows the installer to place the material at just 20mm cover to the underfloor heating pipes allowing an overall depth of just 40mm of screed through the entire project

The client also needed a screed with high thermal conductivity in order to optimize the efficiency of the underfloor heating system and to minimize energy use. Gypsol HTC, having a thermal conductivity of 2.5W/mK and a low mass due to its thin section enabling a rapid response to changes in air temperature, met all of the requirements of both architect and client. The building program also required the 750m2 of screed to be installed in a single pour. The chosen supplier therefore had to be capable of supplying the 33 cubic metre supply continuously during the pour.

This case study features a high energy efficiency home built to achieve Code Level 6 under the code for sustainable homes. It included features such as photo voltaic roof tiles, solar panels and a low temperature ground source heat pump. The client required underfloor heating at both the ground floor and the first floor level which was to be supported with a standard concrete beam and block sub floor. The designer required a screed which could offer a rapid response to changes in the air temperature within the house both in terms of heating and cooling.

This scheme comprised 3 blocks of apartments each having 3 stories requiring a total of just over 3000 square meters of screed. As the client was in control of the design he called upon the expertise of our technical team to help him to decide the best route and the most cost effective design. He opted for pre-completion sound testing which allowed him to design the floors in such a way as to mitigate the costs of the testing. Our specification manager advised Gypsol Classic screed as the most cost effective and appropriate material and completed a NBS specification.

The client’s Production Manager, Mr John MacDonald confirmed the printing machine “has to be level otherwise the machine won’t work” and in early September, Gypsol TS20 Screed was poured on a Saturday morning providing a flat level and very thin layer to the existing uneven surface. Due to the physical strengths and rates of drying of Gypsol’s TS20 screed and the very speedy un-bonded installation, the client was able to minimise production delays and mount the press onto the freshly screeded floor after just two weeks.

This project involved the construction of a high quality, executive property which included approximately 300m2 of underfloor heating over which a 50mm Gyspol Diamond was laid and polished using the Midland Micro Polish system.