As part of its strategic estate and asset management planning, the Excel Learning Trust worked closely with Garland UK's technical manager, Rob Wall, to refurbish the roof and reduce electricity bills at Carr Junior School, safeguarding the site from future energy cost hikes.
A detailed roof condition survey revealed various issues with the existing build-up, including signs of cut-edge corrosion that had severely diminished the composite steel roof panels. In some cases, the protective coating was non-existent in large sections, exposing bare steel to the elements.
In its current condition, Rob Wall advised that the existing roof was unsuitable for supporting a solar PV system without substantial refurbishment. Installing solar panels on a deteriorating roof would lead to high costs and operational downtime for future repairs, as the panels would need to be removed and reinstalled.
One Project, One Partner
An initial Solar Investment Analysis revealed that by installing 70 PV modules using Garland’s Solarise PV system, Carr Junior School would realise a 28.7 kWp system, generating 26,287 kWh a year and providing £5,840 in first-year energy savings.
Garland UK designed a solution that would restore the roof’s integrity and make it solar-ready in a single programme of works. The refurbishment used the R-MER CLAD system, a lightweight and durable metal overlay that avoided the need for full roof removal, reducing waste and disruption to the school day.
Long-term Sustainability Goals
Rob Wall was the client’s single point of contact throughout the project, providing weekly site visits throughout the roof refurbishment and solar installation and supplying detailed progress reports to all parties via Garland UK’s cloud-based RAMP (Roof Asset Management Programme) system.
Specifying the R-MER CLAD system resulted in significant environmental savings for the Trust, with the encapsulation process (rather than complete removal) mitigating 4.7 tonnes of waste sent to landfill. The metal R-MER CLAD system is 100% recyclable, meaning that when the roof reaches the end of its natural life, the school can recycle the panels and avoid further unnecessary waste in landfill.
The roof refurbishment significantly improved Carr Junior School's overall thermal efficiency, achieving a 0.18 U-value. In addition, with the Solarise PV system in place, the school has successfully reduced its carbon footprint and is expected to negate up to 12 tonnes of CO2 emissions yearly.
Supporting Sustainable Estates
On completion, Garland UK supplied the Trust with the industry-leading 20 year Single-Point Guarantee for the R-MER CLAD system and a 15 year product and 20 year performance guarantee for the Solarise system.
The Trust will see a return on investment for the solar installation in just over 4 years. Oliver Johnson, director of estates, adds, “The team at Garland UK did a fantastic job! The school is already seeing the benefits of the improved roof and solar panels, and we're confident this project will achieve the Trust's long-term sustainability and cost savings goals.”
