University of the West of England – Glenside Campus

The existing cold roof system at the University of the West of England had significantly deteriorated, resulting in persistent water ingress and poor thermal performance within the lecture space. These issues affected internal conditions and highlighted the need for a full roof overlay. The construction phase plan also confirms widespread defects, with severe leaks across the building driving the requirement for intervention.

The roof area, covering approximately 480m² across multiple sections, had reached the end of its serviceable life. The build-up no longer met current insulation standards, and the detailing around parapets, drainage, and roof penetrations required upgrading to ensure long-term performance and compliance.

A key challenge was delivering the project within a live university environment. The building remained fully operational throughout, requiring works to be phased and carefully managed to minimise disruption to lectures and daily campus activity. Noise mitigation measures and controlled working hours were implemented to maintain a suitable learning environment.

Health and safety management was central to the project, particularly given the use of hot works and working at height. Strict site controls were enforced, including permit systems, fire watch procedures, scaffold inspections, and daily monitoring. The construction phase plan outlines comprehensive risk management processes, ensuring safe working practices were maintained at all times.

Logistics and access also required careful coordination, with deliveries planned around campus activity and materials transported via designated routes and hoists. This approach ensured efficiency on site while maintaining safety for students, staff, and operatives.

The completed refurbishment resolved the long-standing issues of water ingress and thermal inefficiency, delivering a compliant, durable roofing system that improves internal conditions and supports the building’s long-term performance.

Central Group delivered an overlay of the existing roof system, installing a Bauder Total Roof solution designed to improve durability and thermal efficiency. The new system incorporated an activation primer, vapour control layer, 120mm PIR insulation, and a torch-applied waterproofing membrane, providing a robust and compliant build-up.

In addition to the main field areas, detailed works were undertaken to upgrade parapets, drainage, and roof interfaces. Parapet heights were increased to meet current standards, new rainwater outlets and sumps were formed, and lead flashings were introduced to ensure effective water management. These elements were critical in resolving the causes of previous water ingress and improving overall system integrity for the university.

The project also required careful scaffold design and access planning, including goods hoists and protected working areas. All works were sequenced to align with a safe-to-torch strategy, ensuring that high-risk activities were tightly controlled and carried out in accordance with strict safety procedures.