he triple award-winning renovation project, headed by Solearth Ecological Architecture, topped the Best Cultural Building and Best Sustainable Building categories in the 2014 Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland Awards, and was also named Ecocem Green Building of the Year in the 2014 Green Awards.
Manufactured using Accsys Technologies’ proprietary process, and distributed by Abbey Woods in Ireland, Accoya is one of the most advanced modifi ed wood products on the market, delivering outstanding levels of performance, stability and class 1 durability. Exceeding the high-quality and aesthetic attributes of tropical hardwoods, it also boasts excellent environmental credentials by using wood sourced from FSC-certified and sustainable forests.
Mike Haslam at Solearth Ecological Architecture, was lead architect for the renovation project at Airfi eld and specified the use of Accoya. He said: “Accsys Technologies’ application of acetylation technology makes softwoods – a sustainable timber option – perform just as well as, if not better than tropical hardwoods. Visually, Accoya was ideal for the overall design of Airfield, and we have great expectations for the durability and stability of our Accoya cladding.”
The hat-trick success isn’t the first time that Accoya has scooped success for glasshouses and similar constructions. Back in 2012, a restoration and conservation project in Co. Cork was named the Irish Georgian Conservation Awards Winner.
Three glasshouses in the world renowned gardens of Fota House, Co.Cork were restored under the plans of John O’Connell Architects, who selected Accoya as the preferred product both to support the salvaged remains and replace rotting splices. The 19th century property with extensive gardens had been abandoned and deteriorated to virtual ruin before its restoration was commissioned in 2011, following the purchase of the estate in 2007 by the Irish Heritage Trust.
The wood’s dimensional stability allowed new splices to be fitted to the glasshouses without the risk of differential movement making the joint lines visible through the paint. In addition to its remarkable aesthetic qualities, the use of Accoya also simplified and sped up the process of repairing old timbers as it avoided the need for other added preservation treatments.
Timber is increasingly becoming the material of choice for builders and architects alike, replacing the use of materials such as aluminium, concrete and PVC which are made from non-renewable resources and release an intolerable amount of pollution including carbon dioxide during production. As an alternative, trees suck carbon dioxide out of the air and produce the oxygen we need in return. When managed well, forests are an inexhaustible source of raw materials which can be recycled or burnt for green energy at the end of their life cycle, preventing the use of fossil fuels.
Accsys Technologies’ acetylation technology accounts for the claim that in order for these more sustainable options to be realised, the poor performance of fast growing soft wood must be overcome, enabling it to replace high performance but unsustainable materials such as tropical hardwood, PVC and aluminium.
Modification technology
The acetylation process, based on 80 years of global scientific research, is the ‘gold standard’ against which other modification methods are measured. Accsys uses acetylation on raw soft timber to effectively transform free hydroxyls into acetyl groups. Holding properties of the acetyl group, the wood’s water absorption is reduced by 75% compared to other wood products, rendering it dimensionally stable and extremely durable. The benefits resulting from these chemical changes make Accoya suitable for demanding architectural applications. The process is carried out at molecular level resulting in very low CO2 emissions, and the wood remains 100% non-toxic throughout.
Ensuring that the wood is modified through to the core not only ensures reliable consistency throughout, but also guarantees that the resultant product is not left vulnerable when sawn or exposed to architectural, environmental or constructional challenges and eradicates the need to apply chemicals or preservatives when the wood is cut or planed. Dimensional stability means that paints and varnishes last twice as long as other wood products, thus greatly reducing maintenance costs, and the non-toxic and recyclable nature of Accoya means that the environment is protected from the harmful effects of common treatments, and the wood may be safely reused.
Bryan Crennell, Sales and Marketing Director for Accsys Technologies, said: “Accoya is proven as a sustainable, durable, and stable material, which is guaranteed against rot and decay for 50 years for exterior use, making it perfect for glass houses as well as exterior cladding, windows and doors and more structurally-focussed projects. Acetylation – the very best in modification technology – allows the perfect match of this reliable, durable and dimensionally stable construction material with the sustainability and aesthetic requirements of projects such as the renovation of Airfield and restoration of Fota House.
“It is testament to the quality of the products used and the project teams involved that these projects have been recognised amongst the best in the industry.”
Accoya is distributed in the UK and Ireland by Abbey Woods, James Latham, Vincent Timber, Arnold Laver, Russwood.
