Magply virgins AHR and Q9 sign up for a repeat

AHR architects and specialist sub-contractors Q9 Cladding Solutions give Magply boards a definitive thumbs up.

The use of fire-resistant roofing boards from leading UK manufacturer Magply on an exemplar Passivhaus school was a first-time experience for the architects and installers. And both would be more than happy to use them again.

Magply’s 12mm-thick boards, which meet Euroclass EN13501 (A1 Non-Combustible) standards, were specified for a warm roof build-up by AHR architects for Caledonia High School in Rosyth, Fife, Scotland.

The magnesium oxysulfate boards were installed over metal roof deck sheets by specialist sub-contractor Q9 Cladding Solutions for main contractor BAM to help provide a lightweight, flat surface for the waterproofing.

AHR senior architect Keith Peterson said: “We were initially looking at using a weatherproof cement board but the contractor was keen to look at alternatives as this was quite an expensive solution over the whole roof area.

“We also considered not using any board product at all and installing the roof VCL directly onto the structural deck, but our concern was that without a flat substrate, we might have had issues achieving the airtightness requirements for the project.

“The Magply board was a cost-effective solution that would ensure the airtight VCL layer was well supported to help achieve the Passivhaus standard. And the Magply boards have performed well. We don’t have any formal air test results, but initial smoke testing confirmed that the envelope is performing as intended for a Passivhaus project.”

He added: “From my understanding, the site team have been quite happy laying the boards and have been able to achieve a good level of workmanship overall. I had not used Magply before but would be happy to specify them again based on the experience we have had so far on our projects.”

Installers Q9 Cladding Solutions had a team of six men on site.

Contracts manager Graeme Ritchie said: “We have used a similar product in the past but this was the first time we had used the Magply product.  It was the specified product on this project. It was great. There were no issues with its installation. The boards were easy to cut and quick to lay. Time was mainly spent fixing the boards down due to the number of fixings required but we didn’t find any particular challenges.”

He added: “We don’t specify products ourselves but we have recently been working on a project using a similar product and I believe Magply is a superior product. The similar product absorbed water more easily and was more difficult to dry out.”

Caledonia High School is being built on the Fleet Grounds in Rosyth as a state-of-the-art replacement for the outdated Inverkeithing High School. It will accommodate 1,735 pupils over three floors, with an open “see and be seen” approach throughout.

The latest in Fife Council’s £88million programme to renew all of its secondary schools, its Passivhaus build ensures Caledonia High School will use around 75% less energy than a standard UK new-build, helping to meet the education authority’s net zero carbon ambitions.

The details for Caledonia High School were also used by AHR at Templehall Community Hub, also a Passivhaus project, in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Both projects are due to open around July 2026.

Keith said of the two: “The Magply board was selected as it is A1 rated and dimensionally stable so was a good product for substrate to the roofing system.”

The Magply boards were supplied to Caledonia High School by CCF in East Kilbride.