The replacement Horbury school was designed to achieve a ‘very-good’ BREEAM rating. Measures to achieve this rating and reduce summer overheating include exposed concrete soffit to provide thermal buffering, so the System 600 rafts are suspended directly from the open soffit. Sloped debris protectors were incorporated on the upper side of the rafts to ensure rubbish could not build up.

M&E consultants for the project were Silcock Leedham LLP, whose mechanical-services engineer Andrew Kirkham says, ‘SAS was chosen as we had complete confidence that it would be able to work with us on the design and manufacture of this bespoke solution. Combining the heating into the acoustic lighting rafts ensures a comfortable teaching environment is achieved, whilst allowing us to utilise the thermal properties of the concrete floors.

The HCP radiant-heating panels contain about a seventh of the amount of water of a traditional radiator system, reducing plant size and energy consumption.

These combined heating, lighting and acoustic rafts were also favoured because of their exceptional life space and minimal maintenance costs offered by the materials, which can be totally recycled at the end of their life.

To minimise disruption to the existing school, the proposals include the phased new build and demolition over two years. The entire project is expected to be completed in December 2008.

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