Arch Timber Protection had double success with the award-winning Savill Building in Englefield Green, Surrey, where it has provided two levels of protection to the spectacular curved timber ceiling.

The 12mm double skinned birch plywood roof was treated with both VACSOL Aqua and DRICON, providing both a preservative and fire retardant to its impressive structure.

The 4,200m2 of birch plywood was double layered, the outer being treated with VACSOL Aqua as a preservative. This decision was made specifically because the Savill Building is in an area that requires protection from Longhorn Beetle, and DRICON to provide a fire retardant with a Class 1 Surface Spread of Flame protection.


Located at the Crown Estates, close to London, the project was designed by architects Glenn Howells, the contractor was Green Oak Carpentry and the timber was supplied by James Latham & Co. The inner plywood layer was treated with Dricon at Arch's Castleford plant and the outer layer was treated with VACSOL Aqua by Travis Perkins. Each layer of the plywood is 12mm,acting as both a structural layer to tension the roof and as a visible soffit to the roof ceiling, with the plywood remaining self coloured.

The building was awarded Gold at the annual Wood Awards on late 2006 and features timber extensively in both its construction and the design of the interior.

"It is very encouraging to see specifiers recognising the inherent benefits of using timber in their designs," said Janet Brown, marketing manager of Arch. "Both the treatments provided by Arch for this project have impressive credentials – DRICON has been the recipient of industry-leading long term tests over 21 years with pleasing results, and it remains the only BBA acredited fire retardant treatment available. VACSOL Aqua, with its service life of 60 years, complements DRICON to provide the double protection needed."

(CL/SP)