Royal Pavilion
Apartment building benefits from the exceptional thermal performance of OPTIM-R floor insulation
Case Study4 min read
Our OPTIM-R Flooring System has been installed as part of the 1 billion pound refurbishment of London Bridge Station. The floor insulation was specified in two retail units due to its optimal thermal performance. This allowed the construction depth to be minimised, providing an even transition for shoppers entering from the concourse.
LOCATIONLondon, UK
ArchitectGrimshaw Architects
ProductsOPTIM-R Flooring System
London Bridge Station is currently one of the busiest railway stations in the country with approximately 56 million travellers passing through every year. To meet rising passenger numbers, the station building was redesigned by Grimshaw Architects.
Some of the retail units constructed on the lower concourse were situated directly above uninsulated platform space. As such, specifiers required an insulation solution which could provide the required thermal performance in a slim thickness — avoiding the need for a step-up from the outer concourse. With a lower thermal conductivity than that of commonly used insulation materials, OPTIM-R vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) provided a clear solution.
OPTIM-R panels have a microporous core which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gas-tight envelope. With this design, the panels achieve a declared thermal conductivity of 0.007 W/mK. The VIPs were installed as part of the OPTIM-R Flooring System. OPTIM-R flex infill strips of the same thickness are also supplied with each system to fill awkward gaps and to allow penetrations in the insulation layer.
The OPTIM-R Flooring System was specified in a 25 mm thickness which was fitted above a 3 mm rubber crumb layer and then a screed overlay. Despite the slim build-up, the outstanding thermal performance of the OPTIM-R panels ensured the units met their U-value target.
20 - 40 mm thick OPTIM-R panels are also certified under the demanding BDA Agrément scheme.
Page updated 21/01/2026
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