A high rise development in Bournemouth for Fresh Student Living is making full use of the technical benefits to an innovative BBA approved structural walling system, which features 9mm Magply boards for both the inner and outer faces to the insulated panels’ design. Oxford Point is close to both the city centre and Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus, with its 16 storey structure containing studio apartments as well as en-suite study bedrooms in ‘cluster flats’. It has been built by main contractor, the Watkins Jones Group, with MIB Façades being the specialist sub-contractor erecting its own SIPs system.
While many such composite walling solutions use OSB or particleboards to sandwich a foam insulation core, the MIB MetSIP is much more robustly engineered, with 75 mm deep cold-formed steel Sigma studs – plus a 45mm treated timber packer – at 600mm centres. 9mm thick Magply modified MOS boards form the inner and outer skins to the 136mm thick panels, whose excellent U-value is provided by a CO2 blown polyurethane insulation.
Aside from its speed of erection, two of the reasons that the MIB MetSIP system wins specifications for applications, such as the 16 storey Oxford Point tower, is the outstanding weather performance and fire resistance offered by the Magply sheathing.
Unlike timber based boards, Magply is largely unaffected by prolonged exposure to rain, while under independent testing, the material was shown to achieve 90 minutes fire resistance with minimal smoke generation. This means during the critical erection phase, before fire-stopping breaks and other permanent protection can be installed, the structure is far less vulnerable to arson or an accidental blaze.
Tests conducted by an independent laboratory as part of the MIB MetSIP system’s BRE 135 certification showed that the panel suffered no discernible damage after 60 minutes exposure to fire. Also, due to the sheer scale of Oxford Court, the SIP structure stood up to six months exposure without suffering from the winter weather or marine climate, before being completely enclosed by the exterior cladding.
Lynn Milton-Davies of MIB Façades comments: “We are active in all sectors of construction and are listed on most supply chain partnerships or hold framework agreements with the country’s leading principle contractors. Using our patented, BBA certified panel and building system, we have combined factory quality manufacture, with site erected flexibility. The perfect combination of time-saving off site and on site, making our product the fastest ‘Conception to Completion’ building system available.”
Magply features an MOS formulation to offer a fire-safe and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional plywood or OSB products. Additionally, the unique production process keeps the chloride content to just 0.01%, enhancing both stability and long term durability. Crucially, Magply carries internationally recognised accreditations confirming the boards’ ability to deliver 90 minutes integrity and insulation under test conditions.
