Warmcel Heats Up School’s Eco-Friendly Project
05 March 2008

Dozens of children at a Dorset school can thank Excel Fibre Technology for keeping out the cold this winter after the company’s unique insulation product Warmcel - made from recycled newspaper – was installed in their innovative new eco-building.
The extension, built to facilitate environmentally friendly learning at St Mary’s Primary School in Thorncombe, has been developed in support of the Government’s Sustainable Schools Action Plan.

As part of the project Excel Fibre Technology was approached last summer to provide insulation for the walls of a sustainable classroom. Warmcel installer Andy Glossop, who works for Eco Timber Frame in Launceston, was subsequently contracted to do the job.
“Warmcel has very high sustainability credentials thanks to it recycled origins. Combined with the types of timber frame structure and wall boards used in this project it will be a very good thermal insulator,” he said.

“It will provide numerous energy efficiency benefits for the school. One of the main advantages of Warmcel is the ease with which you can install it into both open and closed cavity constructions. With this in mind I was able to install Warmcel into the walls of the eco-friendly classroom in less than one day.”

Roger Porter, divisional manager for Excel Fibre Technology, said: “School buildings are special places. They are the nerve centre of education, the places where children come together to learn and develop new skills. Schools are also used for adult education classes, voting, community events, and other activities, and may symbolise the community itself. We are very happy to be a part of the project at St Mary’s Primary School.”

The optimum temperature for school classrooms as laid down by the DfES guidelines recommends 18°c for classrooms*. Headmistress at St Mary’s Primary School, Tanya Foinette, said staff, pupils and parents are thrilled with the support the school received from Excel Fibre Technology and the performance of Warmcel.
“The classroom is lovely and warm, I think the best word to describe it is toasty,” she said.

“Warmcel helps the room maintain an even temperature; it’s never too hot or too cold. It is doing a very good job, the classroom is the warmest room in the whole school and there’s no heating in there.

“There are 23 pupils in the class which use that room but there are times when it’s just the five children we have in reception. I know everyone’s thrilled with it and we are very grateful to Excel Fibre Technology and Eco Timber Frame for supporting our project.”

Following the extension project, which was completed in October last year, St Mary’s Primary School is now being considered for a Silver accredited eco-school award, a status shared by only three other schools in the South West.