February 2024

Project Focus
BESPOKE SYSTEM FROM KALZIP FOR
PASSIVHAUS SCHOOL
Abespoke roofing system from Kalzip
has been chosen for Scotland’s
first Passivhaus School in North
Muirton, Scotland. The system was
chosen for its incredible sustainability
benefits, along with its speed of
installation.
The new £16.5 million school will be built
on the site of the current North Muirton Primary
School and will have a capacity for 500 pupils,
incorporating a nursery and additional support
needs (ASN) provision each with their own
dedicated outdoor space.
The roofing system was developed by Kalzip
alongside architects Architype and Curtis Moore
contractors to achieve these demanding
standards through Kalzip’s thermal modelling and
demonstration of the life cycle of Kalzip’s
products, along with the sustainability of the
system, which were all achieved.
The Passivhaus Standard represents an inclusive
approach to design, aiming to create buildings
that offer exceptional comfort to occupants while
minimizing energy usage for heating and cooling
purposes. The forthcoming school project is
committed to attaining this standard, which will
lead to a substantial decrease of 60-80% in
energy consumption. As a result, this reduction
will contribute to carbon emissions reduction
while simultaneously lowering operational and
maintenance expenses. Achieving the Passivhaus
Standard entails a comprehensive focus on
efficient design and construction practices, as
well as careful material selection to ensure
optimal building efficiency throughout every
phase of the project.
A Kalzip Built Up Insulated System with structural
deck roof was installed on the school with a
U-value of 0.10W/m 2 K to achieve Passivhaus
Artist’s impression: North
Muirton Primary School.
“The Kalzip system is
ideal where speed of
installation on a
project is of utmost
importance”
standards. This system was a bespoke solution
for the school, but the main product is used
predominantly for new build construction,
although it can also be used as a refurbishment
solution in the event of a failed roof, or when
building improvements are being considered.
The Kalzip system is ideal where speed of
installation on a project is of utmost importance.
A non-fragile Kalzip liner sheet can be quickly
installed to provide a temporary weather cover to
allow other trades to work below. The remainder
of the roofing components can then be installed
without affecting the critical path of the
construction programme.
The architectural plans for the building were
meticulously crafted following extensive
consultation with the local community. They will
offer top-notch educational facilities, including 16
classrooms, with an additional two classrooms
reserved for potential future school expansion.
The building will also house provisions for
Additional Support Needs (ASN), group study
rooms, a versatile multi-use hall, a kitchen area,
staff amenities, a multi-use games area (MUGA)
pitch for both school and community use,
and a nursery facility that will operate
throughout 50 weeks each year.
There was some complexity to the project in
which Kalzip provided assistance and early
collaboration was key for this project, with
the design challenges that needed to be
achieved while also working to Passivhaus
standards. There was also some difficulty in
focusing on every element from structure to the
individual fixings as each aspect required precise
U-value calculations, with no room for error, in
which Kalzip’s technical expertise was crucial for
the success of the project.
Councillor Caroline Shiers, Lifelong Learning
Convener, Perth & Kinross Council, said: “This is
a very exciting development as part of the
Council’s work to transform the school estate in
Perth and Kinross. We aim through this project to
both enhance education provision for children in
the north of Perth, but also support a more
environmentally friendly learning and teaching
environment – as one of the first Passivhaus
primary schools to be built in Scotland."
North Muirton also meets the ambitions of Perth
& Kinross Council as they work towards a Zero
Carbon agenda, as the Council’s Interim Chief
Executive, Barbara Renton, explained: “We want
to ensure that our buildings, from offices to
schools, are energy efficient, cost-effective to run
and maintain, and contribute to an improved
environment. Using the Passivhaus Standard for
the new primary school in North Perth enables us
to address all three areas at once through carbon
reduction being built into the design and
construction process.”
Contact Kalzip
Kalzip
www.kalzip.com/en/
28 TC FEBRUARY 2024