Versapanel, Euroform’s cement particle board, has been specified for its acoustic properties as a roofing system component on what is set to be one of the UK’s largest film and TV studios, Shinfield Studios, at the Thames Valley Science Park. The state-of-the-art, purpose-built studio facility is located close to Reading in Berkshire. Opened last year, phase one comprises four sound stages, workshops and offices.  Phase two, adds five new sound stages, workshops and offices, and is set to become operational in the coming months.  When complete, the facility will provide film and television producers with more than one-million-square-feet of studio space with 18 sound stages and complementary facilities.

Designed by Scott Brownrigg, the project is being delivered by a number of contractors, including Curo Construction. Vertec, a leading specialist in facades, roofing and cladding, is constructing the building envelopes for the studios. Protection against noise is important in modern construction design, but at Shinfield Studios it is crucial to the purpose of the studio buildings. Versapanel is used extensively in construction where acoustic control is essential. Specified by the architect, approximately 17,000-square-metres of Euroform’s Versapanel is being installed by Vertec, along with acoustic matting and mineral fibre products, to the acoustic roof construction across the studios.

Euroform’s national commercial manager, Mark Atkinson commented, “Versapanel has advantages over other types of board materials due to its strength, workability, durability and high performance in the presence of moisture, but, in this project where acoustic performance is so important, it is Versapanel’s sound-reduction properties that were key to meeting the brief.”

Versapanel has a minimum density of 1300kg per cubic metre, providing superior acoustic performance when used in the construction of walls, floors, ceilings or roofs.  A single Versapanel board provides airborne sound reduction of between 30dB and 36dB, depending on board thickness which ranges from 8mm to 28mm. Versapanel can be used in single sheet or sandwich construction.  At Shinfield Studios, to achieve the building design’s demanding decibel reduction objectives it has been specified as a multiple layer, contributing to the effectiveness of the acoustic system in the pitched steel roofs.

A versatile building board, Versapanel is widely used in acoustic roofs, ceilings and floors, but also as sheathing panel for steel frame systems, for external wall insulation, and for partition walls.  It can be found in a wide range of commercial, residential and public sector buildings, including offices, schools, hospitals, libraries and hotels. Euroform has been developing, fabricating and supplying materials for the construction industry since 1995, and specialises in ensuring fire and thermal compliance across its product range. Each product is supported by an experienced and knowledgeable technical team, which provide advice and guidance.

Based in Warrington, Euroform is part of Performance Technology Group, an SIG Trading group of companies specialising in supporting the construction industry to meet acoustic, fire, thermal and vibration challenges.

www.euroform.co.uk
www.shinfieldstudios.com
www.scottbrownrigg.com
www.curoconstruction.com
www.vertec.org.uk