08/19/10 - ATAB roofs the world's 3rd most popular concert hall

Antwerp roofers celebrate their 100th anniversary with 10.000 m² project

By the time you get to read this newsletter, our colleagues from ATAB Contracting in Antwerp have finished the renovation of the 10.000 m² roof of one of Belgium's most remarkable landmarks: the Antwerp Sportpaleis (Sports Palace).

The Antwerp Sportpaleis was built in 1933 as a venue for cycling, boxing, wrestling, ice skating and other sports and games. In later years, music and entertainment became the main activity. The international concert website Pollstar declared the Sportpaleis the 3rd most appreciated concert hall in the world.

Sustainable roof

Thermal and acoustic insulation and sustainable energy production were the three drivers of the project that is financed by NV Sportpaleis, the company that operates the Sportpaleis. The new design of the roof was established after wind load and physical research and an acoustic simulation, in cooperation with the architects.

Thermal and acoustic insulation

On the existing PVC seal, which serves as a vapour barrier, a 13 cm thick Rockwool insulation was attached to the underlying reinforced construction. This insulation layer will not only drastically reduce the ambient noise levels (the Sportpaleis mainly being a concert hall), but also the loss of warmth. Up to now, the Sportpaleis had no thermal insulation whatsoever.

18.000 m² of PVC

Onto the insulation layer a 1.5 mm thick PVC film, reinforced with polyester was fitted. The roof is completely covered with this film in four different shades of blue and as icing on the cake decorated with the logo of the Province of Antwerp in a grey tint, which goes through the various roof planes. GPS equipment was used in order to get the drawing right. The membrane was finished with a "clear coat" to increase the UV resistance and guarantee the colourfastness over many years. Around the roof beams are mounted in 2 rows, to prevent the new insulation and sealing from slipping.

The roof has an area of 10.000 m². To cover this surface, taking into account the design of the architecture, 18.000 m² of material was needed.

A 2000 m² solar plant

Although the new dominant colour is blue, the vast roof remains 'green': the south side is equipped with 378 solar units - 2000 m² in total, attached to a foil seal that is compatible with the PVC.

With only about 3.5 kg/m², the thin film solar modules are 10 times lighter than the traditional crystalline solar glass is chosen 10 times lighter thin film flexible solar modules. They also capture a broader spectrum of light, resulting in a more continuous yield, irrespective of the weather or the time of day.

This 'solar plant' has a rated capacity of 51,000 wp, which corresponds to an estimated production of 45,000 kWh per year, sufficient to provide in the basic electricity needs of the Sportpaleis.

Safety first!

Much attention was paid to safety, both for the workers renovating the roof and for the construction as a whole. The roof of the Sports Palace has an inclination of 24.5 degrees, which means that the roofers weren't able to walk on it without security measures. They had a special safety harness attached with a leash to the rooftop. The highest safety standards were complied with and prior to the works, all elements were tested and certified by an independent inspection service. The full circumference of the cornice was protected by a structure with safety nets and halfway on the slope, nets were provided to catch falling objects. The entire project was monitored by the safety coordinator appointed by the principal.

A birthday present for ATAB

For ATAB, this prestige project is a milestone on the eve of its 100th anniversary. "We have come a long way since our inception in 1911 and we are happy we were able to show our skills, experience and know how, culminating in a new, sustainable, 'high tech' roof for the third concert hall in the world", John Ooms, head of the ATAB contracting department, Antwerp said.

02/16/10 - Impressive IKO Solar Project in Lanaken

The IKO Solar photovoltaic panels installed on the roof of the Lanakan tennis hall were officially put into operation on 6 November 2009. A total of 310 solar panels were installed, comprising a 40 kWp system that will generate enough capacity to light the hall’s 8 tennis courts for 2 hours a day.

This installation is the first major project in which IKO solar panels are so clearly visible.

This impressive project is the result of the excellent cooperation between many people and departments within our group:

- Sales: Danny Pauwels

- IKO Reflect and IKO solar: carried out on
behalf of the Beveren Works division

- Electrical installation: carried out by Solar
Technics Member of the IKO Group.

09/22/09 - IKO BECOMES UK’S ONLY DOMESTIC SINGLE PLY MANUFACTURER

IKO has commenced production of polymeric single ply membranes at its Clay Cross site, making the company the only manufacturer of single ply products in the UK.

The new facility was officially opened on 22nd September 2009 by Councillor Lilian
Robinson, Chair of North East Derbyshire Council, in front of invited guests who viewed the
production process and toured the building’s roof, which features IKO single ply membranes.

IKO, which has traditionally imported its PVC membranes from the Netherlands, markets a
range of single ply systems including Spectraplan TPE and Armourplan PVC membranes.
Production at the Clay Cross facility will include a comprehensive range of polymeric
membranes, including both PVC and TPE.

Speaking about the launch, Anthony Carlyle, European Single Ply Sales Director said; “The
new line has been an important investment for the business. It now allows us to react more
quickly to customer demands, export into Europe and more effectively supply the UK market.
The new facility underlines IKO’s commitment to the UK and our existing customer base, but
it also illustrates our confidence in the market and puts us into a better position to further
grow the brand.”

The new machinery has taken seven months to install, and successful production trials took
place between May and July. IKO has a history of innovative product development,
manufacturing excellence and superior quality. Material produced on the advanced single ply
line at Clay Cross will be subject to IKO’s usual high level of quality checks.

04/07/09 - IKO MS DETAIL PRODUCT LAUNCH

IKO MS DETAIL is a revolutionary MS polymer-based waterproofing coating.

The product is extremely elastic, meaning it is suited for the most diverse and difficult to reach applications, such as complex roof details, gutters, chimneys, outlets, etc.

Environmenily-friendly because solvent-free
IKO MS Detail does not contain solvents. It is odourless and
fire-resistant.

Flame-free application, without bonding primer on most substrates
IKO MS Detail is a ready-to-use, single-component system, which can be applied on virtually any substrate. The product can be applied in a single coat with a brush, roller or spatula, without the need for a membrane reinforcement in most situations..In critical zones, a glass-fibre reinforced membrane should be applied between two layers of IKO MS Detail. Please consult the Technical Manual for detailed application instructions.

Durable waterproofing performance
IKO MS Detail contains high-quality polymers, which have long-term resistance against UV degradation. As a result of the lasting elasticity, early ageing is excluded. The product ensures permanent, reliable waterproofing, even in the most extreme conditions. 

Time-saving and easy to use
IKO MS Detail can be quickly and easily applied to horizontal and vertical substrates. Professional finishing also takes less time, as there is no need for bonding primer or membrane reinforcement on most substrates. The product can be used for almost 2 hours after opening (at 25°C) and has a shelf-life of at least one year in sealed packaging.

01/16/09 - ROOFGARD-COOL GREY SYNTHETIC UNDERLAYMENT PRODUCT LAUNCH

Save BIG in time and labor with IKO’s new RoofGard-Cool Grey synthetic underlayment! It’s grey, not black, so it absorbs less radiant heat and keeps the air temperature above the roof deck cooler. It's super flexible and lighter to work with, one roll covers 1000 sq. ft. yet is 9 mils thick and weighs only 25 lb. It’s easier to handle and faster to install, saving you time and labor.

05/28/08 - IKO REFLECT PRODUCT LAUNCH

On Wednesday 28 May, we launched IKO reflect. This white heat-reflecting, energy-saving roofing membrane offers environment-friendly and sustainable solutions in our industry, together with our other energy concepts: IKO enertherm, IKO green and soon also IKO solar.

Our IKO colleagues in the various European countries have received an introduction to the new technology and installation methods in presentations in our auditorium and on the wonderful scale models in front of the office building.

03/03/08 - FIRE SAFE MEMBRANE WINS TOP INNOVATION AWARD

A new high performance bituminous membrane has scooped the Innovation Award at the Flat Roofing Alliance (FRA) Awards held at the London Marriot Hotel, Grosvenor Square.

SafeStick Prevent Roofing System, developed by Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems, has been developed specifically in response to a growing client requirement for new methods of reinforced bituminous membrane application. The system is self-adhesive, requiring no hot works during application, and features prevent Graphite Fire Wall Technology. During the heat of a fire the graphite expands, drawing the heat out of the combustion process and creating a 'crust' after expansion. This crust effectively forms a barrier against the flames, acting as a smoke suppressant and halting dripping from the underside of the roofing.

The annual FRA Awards are judged by leading figures from the construction industry. Speaking about the award, Bill Jenkins, Director of the Flat Roofing Alliance, said,"The standard of entries for the Innovation Award was very high and the shortlisted entrants are just the tip of the iceberg. Product development is key to our industry and the quality of entrants this year was certainly encouraging. The key to the success of SafeStick is the safety it offers in performance as well as installation, something which the judges were all impressed by."

Simon Chapman, Product Marketing Manager at Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems, said,"Investment in product development is at the heart of our business as we strive to deliver products and systems for a rapidly changing marketplace. The FRA Awards are a key event in the flat roofing calendar and we are absolutely delighted to receive this accolade for an innovative system which delivers fire safety on several levels."

Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems worked with the Warrington Fire Research Centre to ensure that its graphite technology was rigorously tested and professionally certified and Prevent membranes have achieved the highest performance ratings in all sections of fire tests EN 1187 Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 (BS 476 part 3: 2004), hence the EN in the name.