A state-of-the art green roof is set to provide warmth and protection as well as a perfect natural environment for flora and fauna in a new £8million community care centre in picturesque Darley Dale in Derbyshire. And at the heart of the inverted ‘green roof’ solution is Sundolitt XPS, the extreme strength, extruded polystyrene sheet designed to provide high insulation levels, strength and rigidity.

The UK’s leading independent green roof installer, BBS Green Roofing Ltd, was briefed to provide and install the high-tech yet natural roofing solution for the Meadow View Community Care Centre. It is a new facility from Derbyshire County Council and includes 16 long-term specialist residential care beds, 16 short-term beds aimed at helping people return home after respite care and rehabilitation and a 20 place day centre, café and health and well-being zone.

Given the location in the Derwent valley close to the edge of the Peak District National Park, the project needed to reflect the outstanding natural environment in Darley Dale and the inverted roof design incorporating Sundolitt XPS is the natural solution according to BBS managing director Scott Manhood, “We’ve been garden designers for more than thirty years and the last twenty of those have seen us developing green roofing and walling solutions across the UK.

The use of XPS in a project like this means we can incorporate a strong sub structure whilst at the same time achieving high levels of thermal protection. It’s an ideal material for the job and, together with the other specialist materials, enables us to give a 20 year Insurance-backed guarantee that covers the green roof, insulation and all other parts of the roofing system”.

Sundolitt XPS is already a preferred solution in industrial floors such as cold stores and chilled warehouses where high insulation, high strength attributes are critical but is also becoming increasingly specified in inverted roof applications. Sundolitt XPS Sales Manager Bryan Mawer said, “XPS gives high rigidity and impact strength as well as exceptional thermal performance.

It will not deteriorate over time nor is it affected by high moisture levels. For all these reasons it is being used in commercial flooring and domestic foundations, as well as inverted and flat roofing applications, where heavy loads and potential moisture levels are encountered”

Sundolitt XPS is manufactured in a wide range of thicknesses and sheet sizes, the primary range having a thermal conductivity of 0.033 – 0.037 W/mK (EN 13164). According to the type of use, it achieves outstanding compression resistance from 200 – 700 kPa (EN826) and offers exceptionally low moisture absorption through its closed-pore system – making it an ideal thermal insulator for a wide range of commercial and domestic construction applications.

It is available ex stock from Sundolitt in the UK in square or shiplap edge – the latter having the advantage of preventing thermal bridging and capillary action. Being a vertically integrated company, production is covered by Sunde Environmental Management System (EMS) ISO14001.

The Meadow View Community Care Centre is due to open this summer and as well as supporting those requiring care, it has created 40 local jobs. Sundolitt’s UK expert team can help and advise architects and specifiers on the most appropriate XPS specification for their needs. Specifiers can call the Sundolitt UK Head Office on 01786 471 586.