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DECEMBER 04 - GLIDEVALE HITS THE ROOF AT FIFE REFURBISHMENT

A desire to make properties more energy efficient and comfortable for tenants has been achieved at Fife Council with help from Glidevale Ltd.

The Council’s current home improvement programme includes upgrading of 77 homes in Prinlaws Road area, to bring them up to new standards for both Building Regulations and the Council’s own energy efficiency demands, within budgetary constraints.

Works involved included installation of new heating systems, replacement doors and double glazing, cavity wall insulation and roof space ventilation to avoid risk of condensation and damp. Contractor for the roofing element, Reed Insulation, has installed an average of 12 Glidevale G Range tile vents in each home, at both eaves and ridge level. Approximately eight G5 vents were used on each home at eaves, and four G3 vents at ridge.

Glidevale G Range tile and slate ventilators can be colour matched to the roof. The G5 low profile cowl is claimed to be the smallest available in the market, and projects just 85mm above the roof surface. Each G5 vent provides a nett free ventilation area of 20000mm2. The G3 vents are smaller, giving a nett free ventilation area of 10000mm2 each whilst providing low airflow resistance with high driven rain resistance.

The Glidevale vents have the added advantage of being the only ones on the market which have been independently tested to achieve an AA fire rating, in compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document B4, enabling unrestricted use.
Gordon Suttie, project supervisor at Fife Council, observed, “The G5 vents provided the simplest, most economical and most aesthetic means of ventilating the cold roofs. The large free ventilation area allowed increased spacing between vents.

“Fewer vents were required to achieve the same ventilation requirement, reducing material and labour costs, yet ensuring compliance with both Building Regulation requirements and our own wish to make a more comfortable environment in the homes for our tenants.”

Glidevale maintains ventilation of the roofspace is vital in today’s modern buildings, particularly in cold roofs, to reduce risk of condensation. The average household produces two gallons of water vapour through washing, bathing etc; if not dispelled from the building, that condenses, causing damp, mould and potentially structural weakening. Building Regulations require ventilation of a cold roofspace of 10000mm2/m at eaves and 5000mm2/m at ridge, if the roof is covered with a non-permeable underlay or 1F felt.

Glidevale Ltd is part of Building Product Design Group, which specialises in supplying ventilation and building products to the industry. Registered to BSEN ISO 9901, Glidevale invests in continuous research and development to bring innovative yet practical products to the marketplace in line with changing requirements.

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