Project Background
As part of the re-organisation of the campus at Grangegorman, the existing mental health facilities were replaced by a 54-bed, low security building. The project consisted of a 24-bed Intensive Care Unit, arranged around two courtyards at ground floor level, a 20-bed Continuity Care Unit at first floor level, and a 10-bed Rehabilitation/Respite Care Unit at second floor level. The building design was non-institutional in character, framed around two irregular shaped internal courtyards and intersected at an angle by a three-storey administration block.
The Challenge
Achieving acoustic reduction and impact resistance while meeting regulations for fire compartmentalisation were the main challenges on this project. There were many design features in the building that posed a challenge, such as recessed skirting details and building movement joints, and that had to be factored into the partition and plastering element design at an early stage in conjunction with the architects and the contractors.
The Approach
The main partition types used to achieve the required impact criteria were GypWall Quiet and GypWall Classic with Gyproc SoundBloc plasterboard as the inner layer and Gyproc Rigidur plasterboards as the face layer. The acoustic performance criteria was achieved through the installation of Gypframe CasoLine MF Ceilings frameworks with Gyproc WallBoards. Fire regulations were met through the use of Gyproc ShaftWall in the service and duct risers, while Glasroc F FireCase high performance plasterboard detail was used to maintain the fire integrity of partitions where IPS plumbing systems were installed. There were many bespoke details provided by Gyproc for the project, particularly in relation to door framing, recessed skirting, and control joints.
Gyproc Hard Coat was applied to all of the masonry backgrounds as the undercoat plaster, prior to a finish application of Gyproc Skimcoat, ensuring not only a durable base for the application of decorative finishes, but also offering an air permeability performance. The unique quick surface drying characteristics of Gyproc Hard Coat enabled the contractors to apply the Skimcoat finish once the Hard Coat undercoat plaster was set, ensuring that the project program was not delayed.
