Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth gets Protec Evolve Roof Refurbishment

The area of roof needing refurbishment extend to 1200m2
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These air conditioning units needed lifting 150mm above the upstand
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Disruption in the hospital wards below would have been extensive had it not been for the Polymer System
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Aberystwyth's hospital roof is now snugly protected for over 30 years
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Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, West Wales, had some unique needs for remedial roofing work. Despite previous repairs by another company, the roof was leaking in numerous places, with the asphalt upper area of the main roof in especially poor condition. Its solar-reflective coating had worn away completely, exposing the felt, which had cracked and blistered in the elements. The felt upstands had also delaminated, leaving gaps into which water had ingressed, and the capping joints had migrated, thanks to eroded mortar, adding to the water ingress problem.

All in all, the roof was in a bad way and needed urgent attention.

To ensure as much continuity of patient care as possible, healthcare and emergency service settings need low-disruption solutions, something we were highly familiar with from previous hospital roof work. The polymer system's super low-odour qualities during installation were also a distinct advantage, as was the fact we were able to overlay the existing structure rather than starting the roof from scratch.

We began by replacing the faulty cappings and eroded mortar, before installing Polyroof Pre-Formed GRP 75mm Drip Trims to the roof's outer edge. We then primed the existing felt with Polyroof SA Primer, ready for the self-adhesive Polyroof SA Sand-Faced Carrier Layer - a high-spec bituminous membrane offering fast, cold-applied application.

To overlay the existing roof, we used the extremely fast-curing (30 mins), ultra low odour Protec Evolve System - which has a BBA durability rating of 30+ years and is ideal for sensitive settings requiring the bare minimum of disruption. This section of the roof was over a cancer department where vital, life-saving treatment had already been delayed by repairs and could not be further delayed.

To finish the installation, we then then inserted scaffolding poles through the air conditioning unit lifting points, raising the units 150mm above the upstand so we could apply the Protec Evolve system to the detailing. A quartz anti-slip finish was then installed, creating safe maintenance walkways and, when the roof was cured, we sealed it using Protec Evolve Low Odour Sealer.  

We are very pleased to confirm the project was a complete success. The roof is now fully watertight, with a proper walkway and a long-lasting system in place, enabling hospital staff to keep doing what they do.

For us, that was paramount. As Colin said at the time:

"The installation at Bronglais Hospital was indeed a challenge, because of the extremely tight turnaround we faced in relation to the hospital’s crucial operational requirements. The effects of the water ingress, which had affected multiple areas of the main building, had resulted in one of the wards having to close until the issues were resolved, putting significant strain on the hospital’s ability to provide patient care. As such, we had to act fast in order for the ward to reopen and resume service.  

“Thanks to the RapidCure technology and low odour nature of the Protec Evolve System, we were able to refurbish the failed flat roof within Bronglais Hospital’s strict timeframe, resulting in minimal disruption and swift resumption of operations. Without the capabilities of Polyroof’s advanced liquid waterproofing technology, the ward could have been closed for significantly longer.”

Polyroof’s Regional Technical Sales Manager, Craig Smith, added:

“It has been a pleasure to collaborate with our highly valued approved contractor, RM Polymers... The installation, combined with the capabilities of our Protec Evolve System, meant the project has been completed according to the specification requirements, achieving high performing, long-lasting waterproofing that will futureproof the building and prolong its service life.” 

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