Brockwood Park School is an international co-educational boarding school in Hampshire that has undertaken a large refurbishment to its accommodation facilities using fermacell drylining boards.

Brockwood Park School is an international co-educational boarding school in Hampshire that has undertaken a large refurbishment to its accommodation facilities using fermacell drylining boards.

Carrying a class O reaction to fire, fermacell provides a solution to exceed the minimum provisions set out in the building regulations. Its acoustic qualities also meet the regulations - a single board either side of a metal stud provides 43dB without any additional insulation. fermacell is a "one -board-type" solution suitable for walls, ceiling and floors simplifying the whole process, from drawings to installation. The boards are made from recycled paper, recycled gypsum and water, enabling project of this kind to take greater environmental care as well.

Peter Broadbelt, associate of Roderick James Architects LLP, comments: "We use fermacell boards on the floors, ceilings and partitions for its denseness, acoustic separation and robust qualities. fermacell was a prominent material used throughout the build and was fitted easily to softwood studwork. Its sound insulation qualities are particularly important in this project to prevent disturbance from room to room, as they are constantly affected by noise levels from neighbouring rooms cold impinge on pupils' living and learning conditions."

Choosing only standard building materials in the initial planning stages of any public sector build can considerably bolster the overall cost and multiply the risks. Safety is the highest priority in public sector buildings and choosing materials that not only fulfill, but exceed regulations is of great importance particularly in environments that have a dual purpose. As a result, specifiers andinstallers must source materials that are fit-for purpose, sustainable and long lasting, in order to "future proof" and maintain high quality standards and safety throughout.