Wood fibre insulation from STEICO was selected to support the upgrade of the thermal efficiency of the new roof on the iconic Grade II-listed ‘New Warehouse’ building at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum. The existing roof of the 140-year-old building was being renovated as part of a £14.2 million project funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

The choice to specify STEICO insulation was an easy one. Tom Carruthers, Sustainable Insulation Specialist from Mike Wye, explains: “As STEICO insulation helps to reduce CO2 emissions through upgrading a building’s thermal performance as well as binding  CO2eq within the wood fibre itself, it was a natural fit for this renovation project.”

The renovation of such a complex roof on a heritage building presented several challenges, the biggest of which was adding thermal performance to a roof that was built in the 1800s. Roofs dating back this far were not designed with any provision for insulation.

The overall roof is large, at around 5000 square metres, about the same area as two Olympic swimming pools. Being formed of one single structure with multiple pitches, it’s referred to as a ‘sawtooth roof’. To add to the challenge of making its thermal upgrade, it has intricate details, such as glazing and lead work, as well as gullies and gantries. The much-needed roof insulation was provided by a layer of STEICOspecial dry sheathing boards of varying thickness allowing adequate ventilation whilst upgrading the roofs thermal performance.

Tom Carruthers explains the benefits that the composition and manufacture of STEICO insulation bring to the project: “The wood fibres in STEICOspecial dry sheathing boards are bound with polyurethane resin and have a paraffin wax coating. This gives the boards increased compressive strength allowing them to take the weight of tiles and also gives them a hydrophobic surface for enhanced weather resistance. The STEICO insulation boards are diffusion open, allowing the roof to breathe. This makes STEICO insulation an ideal way to provide protection and insulation to a heritage roof without altering its natural cycle of moisture management”.

What will be the impact of the roof renovation at Manchester Museum?
Approximately 500,000 people annually visit the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. Improving the thermal performance of the roof with wood fibre insulation helps to improve energy efficiency and provides a comfortable environment to explore the museum.

Martin Twamley, STEICO’s Technical Director commented, “The wood fibre insulation we offer is a blend of traditional ideas and modern scientific manufacturing techniques. It allows us to improve the thermal performance of historic buildings without compromising the breathability of the original structure.

If you would like more information about the STEICO range of wood fibre insulation solutions for new build and roof renovations, please visit our website.