86
EXTERNAL ENVELOPE
Proctor Air®
preserves heritage
of traditional roof M
moisture vapour to pass out of the roof space. As an air permeable and low resistance (APLR) underlay, Proctor Air®
odern ‘breathable’ membranes allow
also allows air to pass
through it, ensuring air movement in the roof at the same time.
Air movement is essential for preventing potential condensation risk in roof structures, but usually requires ventilation products to be installed at the eaves and/or ridge. This is a problem on heritage projects and listed buildings, as modern ventilation products risk spoiling the traditional appearance. Built in 1869, St Peter and St Paul Church is a valuable heritage asset to the village of
Bessbrook, south Armagh. Extensive
restoration work was carried out in the 1950s, but a condition report in 2017 revealed the building was suffering from serious issues and required major conservation works. To maintain the traditional appearance of the building and its roof fi nish, architects Consarc Conservation specifi ed a roof build-up that included Proctor Air. Air permeability is particularly useful on a project like St Peter and St Paul Church, where insulation improvements were also made to the roof. New insulation can be installed in the roof to be as effective as
possible, without worrying about whether it is blocking eaves vents. Overall, Proctor Air has made it possible to blend tradition and performance in the same roof restoration, supporting the conservation of heritage while making sure that St Peter and St Paul Church can serve its community for many more years.
01250 872 261
proctorgroup.com/products/proctor-air
AIM cavity barriers win fi re safety role in stunning zinc theatre facade
R
eading’s Hexagon Theatre is being transformed by a scheme that will add to its facilities and give the 70’s theatre
a dramatic, contemporary look. Behind the scenes, Acoustic Insulation Manufacturing’s (AIM) cavity barriers will perform a key role by preventing the passage of heat, fl ame and smoke within the stunning, new decorative zinc rainscreen in the event of a fi re. Ahead of the Hexagon’s 50th anniversary in 2027, Reading Borough Council has commissioned Feltham Construction to deliver the project designed by Haworth Tompkins. In conjunction with SIG Hard Metals,
120 minutes insulation and integrity. The AIM Wall Cavity Barrier (Red Edition) also works to prevent the passage of heat, fl ame and smoke within the cavity providing up to 120-minute fi re ratings to BS EN 1366-4.
Used vertically and
specialist insulation manufacturer AIM has supplied facade installer Kingsley Hard Metals with Wall Cavity Barriers and Open State Cavity Barriers. Kingsley Hard Metals is fi tting the distinctive zinc brise soleil skin, which has been fabricated by partners Belfry Facade Systems. AIM’s cavity barriers are being fi xed between the facade and the venue’s timber
frame. Designed for use within rainscreens, AIM’s Open State Cavity Barriers (OSCBs) allow the ventilation necessary within the building envelope. In the event of fi re, heat activates the barriers’ intumescent strip, which expands quickly to close the cavity. Tested to TGD 19 and the general principles of BS EN 1363-1, the OSCBs offer a fi re rating of up to
horizontally, they provide a fully closed cavity fi re barrier along compartmentation lines in the outer leaf of the building. Earlier this year, AIM also supplied barriers for Kingsley Hard Metals facade installations at Bracton House, High Holborn, London, and for Stoke City training ground in summer 2025. When complete in 2027, the extension of the Hexagon Theatre will provide a new 200-seat studio auditorium, fl exible rehearsal space, community studio with workshop space and back of house space, along with improved public realm. The redevelopment is a central feature of Reading’s wider Minster Quarter regeneration.
01293 582400
www.aimlimited.co.uk
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026
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