MD Martin Kirk of ThermalWall explores the company's first year in business...



Following the launch at Ecobuild 2014, it’s been a busy year for the team at Kirk ThermalWall, developing and promoting their range of insulation backed and un-insulated horizontal back site anchor natural stone cladding systems.

In May 2014 an insulated Kirk ThermalWall granite system was supplied and fixed at a prestigious office development at 32 Queens Road, Aberdeen. This project consisted of two contemporary style extensions to a traditional granite property, with one being a simple rectangle shape with straight walls but the other a half moon shape with a total of 24no rows of facetted panels.



The facetted shape of the curved extension certainly provided a challenge for the Kirk ThermalWall team, as every granite panel and its insulation backing had to have the sides accurately angle cut to fit neatly around the curve, to provide the high quality finished result which has been achieved.



Towards the end of 2014 an un-insulated horizontal rail system, comprising helping hand brackets, vertical/horizontal support rails and polished black granite cladding panels was supplied to SGS Group for a project at Peterhead Prison.




In addition to new projects, further testing and development work has also been carried out. Of particular note is the achievement of CWCT test standard for both the insulated and un-insulated systems at Vinci Technology in October 2014. The CWCT standard is widely recognised by architects, main contractors and developers, and means that Kirk Thermal Wall can be specified with confidence. Achieving CWCT test results gives comfort to those involved in natural stone cladding projects that any Kirk ThermalWall system is fit for purpose, and will to meet and in many cases comfortably exceed all expected performance standards.



A very comprehensive technical manual available in both hard copy and e form has also been produced to provide detailed product information for architects, contractors and clients, and also a working standard for those involved in the factory assembly and site installation of Kirk ThermalWall.



The UK Patent applied for the insulated Kirk ThermalWall system in 2013 has been published after progressing through all search and examination phases, and is expected to be granted by mid 2015. In view of the international market potential of the system, an International PCT has also been applied for to ensure worldwide protection of the novel and innovative insulated Kirk ThermalWall concept.



In terms of market development the benefits of Kirk ThermalWall systems are being actively promoted to architects, main contractors and specialist building envelope facade subcontractors. Since CWCT testing was achieved, with assistance from Scottish Enterprise, the system has been widely promoted and is currently under consideration for a number of large scale natural stone cladding projects ranging up to 1600sq.m in size and contract value £1m+.



An approved CPD presentation will be available from mid 2015 to promote the benefits of the system, which include:

• Improved building energy performance to specified levels

• Factory assembly ensures rapid construction on site

• Ease of fixing, plus demountable, upgradeable and re-usable

• Lifetime upgrade to any building with unrivalled whole life cost

• Comfortably exceeds building and performance standards

• Highly sustainable with low embodied CO2

• Upgrades run down buildings to better than new for less cost



www.kirknaturalstone.com



(IT/MH)