The performance of Wraptite membrane is founded on it being a simple, self-adhesive solution, with the added benefit of Wraptite Tape being used for particular areas of detailing. This approach saves on the labour and material costs associated with meeting modern energy efficiency requirements, which are at the forefront of Glass Bottle’s conception.
Responsibility for installing Wraptite on Phase 1 of Glass Bottle fell to the subcontractors, Platt & Reilly Ltd. Talking about having experience of using different air barrier membranes, Project Manager Ionel Danaca explained what makes Wraptite different.
“We’ve found Wraptite is the easiest membrane to work with,” he said. “It’s the quality of the membrane and the quality of the adhesive – and not just that it is a self-adhered membrane, but the strength of the bond itself is superior.” Creating an entirely new quarter in a historic city like Dublin is no small undertaking. It means creating, from scratch, a community that is designed to integrate with the existing fabric of the city over decades and even centuries.
New residential development must be capable of standing the test of time, especially in the face of climate change. The three Phase 1 buildings have already been subjected to some severe weather during construction. Tony Ruth, A. Proctor Group’s Regional Sales Manager for Ireland, likened the rain to “monsoon” conditions, which the Wraptite had to bear the brunt of.
In part thanks to Wraptite’s W1 classification for water holdout, Platt & Reilly’s installation held up. “Over three floors, with thirty apartments per floor, there were just two small corners where some water ingress was evidenced – and even that wasn’t a failing of the membrane, but construction moisture which needed to dry out,” said Ionel.
Of course, product quality alone does not guarantee in-situ performance. Workmanship on site must be of a high standard too, and Platt & Reilly more than met their side of the bargain. A collaborative approach from both Platt & Reilly and A. Proctor Group has helped to get the best results during installation.
As Ionel Danaca described: “Tony has visited site several times and been really helpful. He made suggestions about installation relating to things like detailing around scaffolding, brackets and balconies, as well as how to get the most from the roller to bond the adhesive, and we implemented all of them.”
The benefits of this learning were quickly realised as Platt & Reilly moved from building 1 to buildings 2 and 3. Tony has been pleased to see the progress made and the performance achieved, even as construction work continues to take place:
“Platt & Reilly are proactive and helpful, so from my side it’s been about support and getting to site. You have to be there to support the best possible result, especially on such a landmark development for Dublin.”
Find out more: https://proctorgroup.com/products/wraptite
