Warren Farm is a Grade 2 listed timber-framed range of barns dating from the eighteenth century, with a slate-covered roof supported by an aisled queen post structure. They were purchased by the engineering consultancy MKP to convert into their showcase offices, that would not only show the beautiful features of the barns to advantage but reflect the very best in sustainable building practices.
MKP has a reputation for engineering excellence, combining best practice solutions with innovation, and were looking to use products in their own offices that would reflect these values. As engineers dealing with design parameters every day there’s no pulling wool – or should that be multifoil! – over their eyes when it comes to performance and living up to the claimed specifications. So it was good to know that their insulation of choice was TLX Gold, which combines insulation with an integral breather membrane.
The problem: how to achieve a sympathetic conversion of a building with beautiful interior beams and at the same time provide good thermal insulation.
The solution: TLX Gold, used as part of a system with foiled rigid board, was able to achieve U = 0.26 W/m2K with no risk of condensation. Installed taut across the 125mm deep rafters, it was secured with a 25mm counterbatten to allow space above for ventilation.80mm PIR board was used underneath it, leaving an unventilated air gap between them which not only minimised heat transfer byconduction and convection but also radiation, because of TLX Gold’s unique breathable low emissivity surface. The result: warm office accommodation inside a building retaining its period features.
