Ravago Building Solutions, the UK’s original manufacturer of extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation, is playing a key role in two landmark housing projects in Dublin, including what will be the largest Passive House development ever built in Europe.
By supplying 35,000m2 of Ravatherm XPS X 300 SL in a range of thicknesses for both green and blue inverted roofs, the company is contributing to the delivery of warmer, more sustainable homes for thousands of Dublin residents.
The product was supplied via SIG Ireland, with Beton Construction Services contracted to deliver the roofing package.
Pipers Square
At Pipers Square in Charlestown, Dublin 11, developers are creating a new community designed to set a benchmark for sustainable housing across the continent. Once complete, the project will be recognised as the largest ever Passive House development in Europe.
Richard Powell, Roofing and Sales Manager at Ravago Building Solutions UK, said: “This project demanded insulation that could support the very specific thermal and environmental requirements of a Passive House. Ravatherm XPS X 300 SL has a design lambda of 0.032 W/mK and extremely low water absorption, which is key to maintaining performance in a green or blue roof.
“The product is developed specifically for inverted roof applications, and the infrared-blocking particles within the board help to scatter and reflect heat radiation, keeping buildings warm in winter and cooler in summer. These properties, together with its closed-cell structure, which limits long-term water absorption to below 0.7%, allow the product to deliver reliable performance over the lifespan of a structure.”
Michael Neill, National Technical Manager at SIG Ireland, said: “For a project like this, you need insulation with consistent thermal conductivity, resistance to moisture and good compressive strength – Ravatherm XPS X 300 SL delivers on all three.
“In practical terms, Ravago’s XPS offers one of the lowest thermal conductivities on the market. That means thinner boards can be used to achieve the same performance, sometimes reducing thicknesses by 25–30mm compared with alternatives, which is a real benefit on complex roofing projects.”
Eugene Eggar, Project Manager at Beton Construction, added: “From an installer’s point of view, the boards are extremely precise and straightforward to work with, which makes for a smooth installation on site. Combined with reliable delivery and good communication through SIG and Ravago, the whole process has been very straightforward. It’s one of the easiest insulation systems we’ve ever used.”
Seven Mills
Ravago’s involvement in Dublin housing projects extends beyond Pipers Square. At Seven Mills, Dublin 22, a new town is taking shape on a vast site between Clondalkin and Lucan. Once completed, Seven Mills will be comparable in scale to Irish town Maynooth, with more than 5,500 new homes and a projected population of 15,000.
Here too, Ravatherm XPS X 300 SL was specified. Working closely with Beton and SIG, Ravago supported the project team with U-value calculations and product selection to meet Passive House standards.
Michael Neill, said: “With green and blue roofs, the load on the insulation can be considerable. Ravatherm XPS X 300 SL offers the compressive strength and compressive creep resistance needed while also delivering the desired thermal performance. That combination makes it a very robust solution that will last the length of the building’s life and the thermal values achieved here go beyond current statutory requirements.”
John Forde, Director at Beton Construction Services, said, “Meeting Passive House U-values was a key priority at Seven Mills, but we also needed to minimise layers of insulation to keep installation efficient and costs under control. Ravago supported us in achieving the required U-values with just two layers, which was a big advantage.
“We’ve been working with Ravago for more than five years now and the technical support has always been excellent. They’ve consistently provided advice that helps us balance performance, cost and practicality on site.”
Alan Meredith, Technical Manager at Beton Construction, added: “Quality is hugely important to us, and Ravatherm XPS X gives us that. From a U-value perspective, from a buildability perspective, and from an overall quality perspective, it ticks every box. It’s easy to work with, very practical, and any challenge we’ve encountered has been met with a solution.”
Ravatherm XPS X is manufactured in the UK at Ravago’s King’s Lynn manufacturing facility, where XPS insulation has been produced for more than 65 years. With a dedicated commercial and technical team offering more than a century of combined insulation expertise, Ravago provides customers with the support needed to specify and install insulation that will deliver consistent, long-term performance.
Available in a wide range of thicknesses and delivered to site within three to four days after an order is placed, Ravatherm XPS X continues to be the inverted roof insulation of choice for major developments across the UK and Ireland.