DuPont™ Tyvek® Enhances Energy Efficiency of New Peebles High School

Construction of the new state-of-the-art Peebles High School commenced in August 2023 and is being delivered by Scottish Borders Council’s development partner Hub South East alongside main works contractor BAM Construction.

DuPont™ Tyvek® is enhancing the energy efficiency and sustainability of the newly constructed Peebles High School. This state-of-the-art facility replaces the previous school, which suffered significant damage from a fire in 2019.

With a commitment to achieving the highest specifications for durability and efficiency, the construction of the new school integrates the latest in building technology. This initiative is crucial to ensure the facility meets key criteria, particularly concerning sustainability and reduced maintenance costs.

With the emphasis on sustainability, BAM, the leading contractor for the project, are constructing the new school in line with Passive House principals of airtightness. The combination of DuPont™ Tyvek® Airguard Control, Tyvek® Structureguard, Tyvek® Flexwrap, and Tyvek® single-sided split release tapes has been carefully selected to protect the building envelope and to enhance its thermal performance over the life of the structure.

DuPont™ Tyvek® Airguard Control is a lightweight and easy-to-install air and vapor control layer (AVCL) that offers superior mechanical strength. It is designed to reduce uncontrolled air leakage and minimize convective heat loss in roofs, walls, and floors.

DuPont™ Tyvek® Structureguard has all the renowned properties expected of the leading breather membrane, including excellent vapour diffusion, strong yet lightweight durability, plus superior water hold out (above W1 at 1500mm) and robust wind washing resistance.

Our Tyvek® specialists provided on-site training for the installation team, sharing best practices for effective membrane application. This hands-on support continued over several weeks, ensuring compliance to the Passive House standards.

Mark McCall, of lead contractor BAM, stated, “This combination of air-tight, lightweight, easy-to-install membranes is designed not only to protect the building envelope but also to significantly enhance the thermal performance, improving interior comfort and reducing the carbon footprint.”

He added, “We had a full day’s training, plus further site visits and very clear guidelines that helped us understand how easy the system was to work with. We are pleased to have achieved a high standard of results that align with the sustainability objectives for this development.”

The new Peebles High School exemplifies the commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency in modern educational facilities, ensuring a comfortable learning environment for students and faculty alike.