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CASE STUDY KINGAROY CREMATORIUM

Ritek® Building Solutions has supplied 1,670m2 of their new ecotek® Roof Panel to top off the new $3.4m Kingaroy Crematorium facility in Queensland.

The ecotek® Roof Panel is contributing towards the low carbon footprint for the new Kingaroy facility, by providing excellent insulation, high R values (of R3.73 in this case - for a 150mm panel) and an amazing water harvesting capability.

The new low pitched roof product is being launched in February 2009 as part of Ritek’s increasing range of innovative roof solutions. Comprising a Trimdeck profile upper sheet, EPS insulation and a corrugated bottom sheet all- in-one product, its composite concept is attracting high levels of attention both in the Australia and abroad.

The new roof panel is engineered to meet height restrictions in construction, suitable for a 2o pitched roof which allows designers the flexibility to either raise the roof, providing maximum interior height or alternatively to allow designers the option of adding an additional floor level.

The project has been ongoing for over three years and Architect Paolo Denti of John Mainwaring’s architecture firm ‘JMA Architects’ said, ”The client’s brief was for a single level building that was functional, provided some volume in the chapel as well as intimacy in the more private and personal spaces; insulation and practicality were chief considerations during the design process. A strict time frame and budget considerations meant that any thing which would improve the timeline during the construction phase would be beneficial to the bottom line. The main aesthetic considerations of the building was the relationship of it to the surrounding site and conceptualizing the 900m2 main roof as the continuation of the ground plane itself . With the choice of ‘Pale Eucalypt colorbond’ on both upper and underside and the low pitch the design should blend in to the environment, satisfy its varied functions , ranging from the contemplative to almost industrial use, while at the same time retaining a dignified human aspect.”

The building has a ‘flat’ roof and the benefits of the ecotek®Roof Panel including the 3o roof pitch capability and the 6.7 meter unsupported spans meant savings for both the project and the environment, as materials were reduced. Another tangible benefit of ecotek® is that it has over ten times higher water carrying capacity than Ritek’s Custom Panel Roof, and the whole roof area is being used to harvest water into a 37,000 litre holding tank, to store water for use throughout the building including potable drinking water as well as sufficient water for use in the case of a bush fire.

The architect for the project decided to launch ecotek® roof panel for this project “partly to reduce construction times. I have had many years experience with Ritek’s other roof product, the Custom Roof Panel, and believe that the quick installation feature of the prefabricated roof panel with its new low pitch roof capability would be a success , particularly for this project which is in a remote area with high solar intensity and rainfall, ” said Paolo Denti.

“The original building design was for a 3o pitched roof and was originally specified in another roof supplier’s system. However, after making initial enquiries the company was unable to supply satisfactory technical assistance with regards to the accessories and gutter supports commensurate to the Australian condition, as they are based overseas. I could not seem to get basic information such as how to fix the gutters to the roof panels with extensive projecting eaves”, he said.

The architect is no stranger to the Ritek Custom Roof Panel with many projects now completed with obvious benefits. He likes the aesthetics of the corrugated iron pre-finished ceiling and soffits and the low maintenance associated with both Ritek roof products. He has often specified the Ritek Roof products to builders who after using it for the first time, use the innovative roof product again and again in their future projects.

Ritek prides itself in being a market leader when it comes to new and innovative products. ecotek® provides an unsupported clear span capability of up to 8 metres, has excellent fire resistance, is BCA section J ready, has an environmentally sustainable EPS core which can be recycled back into EPS.

The builder for the project, Joseph Conti, Director of Symphony Homes, was impressed with Ritek’s latest roof offering, said “I believe the biggest savings when using this new product, will be realised towards the end of the project. This is when the project removes trades usually associated with traditional roof truss construction such as roof fixers who install trusses, plasterers, painters and insulation installers.”

Our experienced team provided the architect and his client with a complete roofing solution with custom flashings. Contact one of our experienced sales team today to see how ecotek can add to your next projects bottom line.

Ritek® the smarter, faster, easier way to build. Enquire online or call 1300 929 782