Over 320 m2 of the Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System has been installed to provide outstanding thermal performance as part of a spectacular new museum in the market town of Hitchin.
The North Hertfordshire Museum adjoins Hitchin’s historic town hall and has been constructed by Borras Construction Ltd on behalf of North Hertfordshire District Council. The building provides a new shared foyer, along with a cafe, exhibition galleries and study areas.
The Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System was specified for the project by Buttress Architects. Kingspan OPTIM-R panels feature a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope. This allows them to achieve thermal conductivities as low as 0.007 W/m.K, up to five times better than commonly used insulation products.
The System fitted at the museum comprises 30 mm Kingspan OPTIM-R vacuum insulation panels along with Kingspan OPTIM-R flex infill strips of the same thickness. The flex infill strips were fitted around the perimeter of the floor area and can be cut to fit awkward spaces.
Borras Construction Ltd commented:
“The museum is a key investment for the local area and it was really important to deliver a building of the highest quality. The Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System helped us meet these requirements and should allow the long-term heating costs to be kept to a minimum.”
20 – 40 mm thick Kingspan OPTIM-R panels are the only vacuum insulation panels in the world to be certified under the independent BDA Agrément® scheme. This confirms that the products will perform as expected when fitted to Kingspan Insulation’s recommendations. The certification is also recognised by bodies such as the NHBC and LABC. This can help to streamline the procedures and approvals process, offering the potential for both time and cost savings.
