Permavent Ltd

The first Student Hotel in the UK will be in Scotland, in Glasgow’s Candleriggs Square, in the very heart of historic Merchant City, which provides a perfect location. The hotel forms the first development phase of the much-anticipated regeneration of the 3.6-acre Candleriggs Square site. Permavent’s A2 -s1,d0 fire rated membrane Safeshield XT Reflect was chosen by Walsin Construction to make up part of the internal cavity of the walls during construction of The Student Hotel in Glasgow. This new development in Glasgow’s Candleriggs Square will form part of the rejuvenation of a formally derelict site in the heart of the city, with the reflective properties of Safeshield helping to increase the energy efficiency of the structure, alongside class-leading fire performance. Cladding contractor Walsin Construction are installing Permavent Safeshield XT Reflect, a Class A2 -s1,d0 fire safe membrane, as a higher-performance and more robust approach than standard traditional breather membranes. Alongside the highest fire performance from a membrane Safeshield XT Reflect was the product of choice to deliver a sensible and competitively priced method of achieving a high thermal-performance and as built-anticipated level of airtightness.Peter Noon, Walsin Contracts Manager at Candleriggs, commented: “Walsin have worked on a number of projects with Permavent based on their technical support, knowledge of the required construction detail and tool box talks delivered on site. Safeshield XT Reflect is a superior product to other alternative membranes available. The inherent strength of the material provides confidence that the material will maintain the buildings integrity during and after construction. Being Class A2 fire rated provides further confidence in terms of building safety. Safeshield allows us a contractor to deliver an as designed performance to the buildings structure”.

Safeshield XT Reflect A2-s1, d0 fire rated wall membrane was used in the recladding of the Genting Casino, Premier and Holiday Inns.RIVERLIGHTS DERBY, MORELEDGEA complete re-cladding on the exterior of the Genting Casino, Premier Inn, Holiday Inn, part of the Riverlights location in Derby city centre, including Safeshield XT Reflect A2-s1, d0 fire rated construction membrane.Oakleigh Contracts were chosen to undertake this large-scale project, their first re-cladding project of this size, with technical input from Permavent to ensure the correct technical specifications were achieved. Genting Casinos are a large chain of popular gaming destinations with locations across the UK and America. The property owner of the Riverlights location decided to take no risks with their new cladding, in an effort to protect people and the building in the face of the recent issues with fire spreading through and behind exterior cladding. They chose to change the existing boards to non-combustible alternatives and added Safeshield XT Reflect A2-s1, d0 fire rated construction membrane to the walls under the new boards. Safeshield was chosen for it’s high fire rating, adding another layer of protection against fire behind the cladding and inside the cavity, but also for its superior thermal properties. Safeshield XT Reflect’s reflective technology allows for greater energy efficiency in the building as it reflects heat, decreasing the emissivity of the wall cavity and reducing energy loss. Oakleigh Contracts also praised Safeshield for it’s easy and intuitive installation, as well as being extremely robust both during and after installation

A Full Roof Replacement of Belsay Hall, NorthumberlandProject OverviewBelsay Hall, a Grade I listed Greek Revival mansion in Northumberland, underwent a full roof replacement as part of a major conservation project. With a low pitch roof of just 12°, the historic 900m² structure had suffered years of water ingress due to its exposed location and driving rain. The two-year restoration aimed to protect the building while preserving its original aesthetic, true to its design from the early 1800s.The project also faced the logistical challenge of keeping Belsay Hall open to the public throughout the refurbishment, requiring careful planning and execution to minimise disruption.Project RequirementsThe key goals of the restoration were:Preserving Aesthetics: Maintaining the original appearance of the roof to align with its early 19th-century design.Addressing Water Ingress: Providing a reliable solution to combat water damage while improving structural integrity.Material Conservation: Salvaging and reusing undamaged historical Westmorland slate where possible, with replacement slates matching the original in appearance.Execution and ProcessTo ensure the building remained watertight throughout, a full free-standing scaffold roof was erected, creating a weatherproof environment during the restoration. The work was carried out in phases:Main Hall: The roof was stripped, allowing for timber and masonry repairs.Kitchen Wing and Link Areas: Each roof elevation was stripped and repaired sequentially to maintain stability and protect the structure.Slates removed from the roof were carefully assessed the usable Westmorland slates were graded for reinstallation., with all the smaller or damaged slates retained for use on other English Heritage properties. The contractors’ joinery team, guided by the Conservation Architect and Structural Engineer, repaired roof timbers as required. Sarking boards were installed, and debris was cleared from roof voids, preparing the structure for re-slating.A skilled roofing team, experienced in working with Westmorland slate and leadwork, completed the reinstallation of slates and detailing.Roofing SolutionsThe specification included:Westmorland Slate: Salvaged where possible, preserving the building’s historical materials.Burlington Blue Slate: Used as a replacement for damaged or unusable slates to match the original appearance.Waterproofing: The Easy Slate system was specified to protect the low pitch roof from wind-driven rain preventing water ingress, while remaining invisible to maintain the roof’s historical aesthetics.Permavent also provided technical advice to material suppliers and the architectural team on roofing technologies, helping to ensure the project adhered to both performance and conservation standards.Challenges and SolutionsLow Pitch Design: At just 12°, the roof required specialised waterproofing to prevent water ingress. The Easy Slate system met this challenge effectively.Preservation of Materials: Salvaging and reusing original materials required careful handling and expertise to retain the roof's character.Public Access: The building remained open throughout the restoration, requiring phased work and strict safety measures.Structural Repairs: Ongoing assessment and repair of roof timbers and masonry ensured the building's long-term stability.OutcomeThe completed project successfully restored Belsay Hall’s roof to its former glory, preserving its historic character while providing the durability needed to protect the building for years to come. By blending modern waterproofing technology with traditional craftsmanship, the project maintained the mansion's heritage while addressing its structural challenges.