A Mapetherm System has been used to complete an external surface refurbishment at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex. The installation for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust was carried out by C J Driscoll and Ruddick Contractors, for J W Steele & Sons Ltd, with Mapei materials supplied by RendMaster. A further Mapei installation will take place during phase two works.

Originally known as Essex County Hospital, Broomfield opened in 1940 as a tuberculosis centre. The complex retains an Edwardian manor house and a variety of original sanatorium buildings, along with two areas of woodland and expansive lawned gardens. Today, the hospital is home to the internationally renowned St Andrew's burns and plastics centre and it provides a wide range of services, including A&E, emergency medicine and surgery, elective surgery, maternity and paediatric services. The surface refurbishment works were carried out in a courtyard area, on a one-sided section of original walling spanning approx. 400m2. The second installation will include a 450m2 courtyard area and stairwell.

The Mapei specification featured Silancolor Tonachino 1.5mm, a full silicone resin topcoat and Silancolor Base Coat primer, which were both applied over Mapetherm AR1 GG, reinforced with Mapetherm Net and then applied onto Mineral Wool insulation boards, pre-installed by the contractor. Silancolor Tonachino is a water-repellent, breathable siloxane coating product, used to repair and protect internal and external surfaces. It is offered in four granulometries - 0.7 mm, 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm - with a 1.5mm grain specified for the hospital application.

Silancolor Base Coat is a coloured silicone resin-based primer in water dispersion, with micro granular quartz; it was used to even out the absorption of the substrate and promote bonding of the subsequent topcoat finish on the walls. Mapetherm AR1 GG is a high performance, one component cementitious base coat - for bonding, levelling and reinforcing thermal-insulating panels and thermal insulation systems - and Mapetherm Net is an alkali-resistant glass fibre mesh, ideal for reinforcing skim coats when repairing façades and installing Mapetherm thermal insulation systems.

“The Mapei system helped us achieve a great finish at Broomfield Hospital. It was easy to use, and it was also a pleasure to work with Mapei’s technical team – they supported the lads on site and were involved every step of the way,” explained Ruddick Contractor’s Director, Kevin Ruddick.