Shortlisted for the Reinforced Bitumen Membranes category of the UK Roofing Awards 2021, the Natural History Museum at Tring, demonstrates that a close working relationship between contractor and manufacturer can accelerate, simplify and streamline a complex roofing contract.
Originally built in 1889, the museum today houses one of the world’s largest and priceless collections of stuffed and preserved animals. With the existing flat roof sections of one building nearing the end of their life, swift remedial action was required.
Faced with a variety of challenges for each section, BMI, working with IMA member, Corby-based Premier Roofing Systems, specified a number of products from its comprehensive range of bitumen membrane solutions. The recommended solution was the BMI Profiles XL system incorporating BMI Icopal Thermazone insulation.
All Intelligent Membrane Association (IMA) members have demonstrated consistent excellence in roofing projects of all sizes and are committed to ongoing training. A not-for-profit organisation, the IMA is supported by BMI Icopal and IMA members not only use products from across the BMI Icopal product range, but also have exclusive access to Icopal’s highest quality roofing systems; these demand the greatest installation skill and therefore carry Icopal’s most comprehensive guarantees.
The £350,000 project was carried out in three phases: the main block, the ornithology block, and then the link roof. A detailed roof survey determined that the existing waterproofing was suitable to be overlaid and could be utilised as a vapour check. All three blocks needed overlaying with BMI Icopal Thermazone Tapered Insulation to boost thermal performance in line with the required U-value, while also encouraging the movement of rainwater to the dedicated outlet positions.
The team at Premier Roofing had to contend with a number of challenges throughout the project, from removing and refitting pieces of plant equipment to dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. BMI’s technical team inspected the site weekly, checking that the workmanship and materials matched the specification so that it was able to issue a 25-year guarantee on completion.
With the project complete the new flat roof brings the Natural History Museum’s construction into the 21st century in terms of performance and protection while keeping priceless exhibits safe for the nation.