Royal Pavilion
Apartment building benefits from the exceptional thermal performance of OPTIM-R floor insulation
Case Study4 min read
OPTIM-R
Vacuum insulation panels
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Glasgow City Council has been working extensively to improve conditions in Glasgow schools as part of a long-term plan to bring them up to 21st Century standards. An alternative teaching space, named ‘The Shed’, at Pollokshields Primary School in Glasgow has been refurbished. Built in 1878, the enhancements offer pupils a new interactive games area, a quiet room, and a flexible space for activities such as performances and exhibitions.
"We wanted to ensure the learning space could be used by the school all year round rather than only in the summer months. The Kingspan OPTIM-R Flooring System was specified to give the project the best thermal performance possible."
David Russell, Project Architect at Glasgow City Council
"The existing space was an external, uninsulated undercroft with a solid concrete floor. To remove the concrete floor and dig down would have been cost prohibitive, so we adopted to build up from the existing floor with the shallowest and most cost-effective insulation possible to maintain maximum headroom.
A significant benefit of the system was the speed and ease of installation achieved by the contractor. Moreover, as the area to be insulated had been site sized there was negligible waste and only the required material was delivered to site. This assisted the site manager as there was limited space for the storage of materials."
David Russell, Project Architect at Glasgow City Council
A damp-proof membrane lined the concrete floor of the annexe and then the OPTIM-R boards were laid above this as it is also a suitable substrate for a tongue and groove floor that results in a minimal build-up. To fill the awkward spaces around penetrations, brackets, reveals and where fixtures and fittings need to be installed, OPTIM-R flex strips were supplied in the same thickness as they can be cut with a fine-tooth saw to achieve close-butted joints and continuity of insulation.
In addition to the benefits of outstanding thermal performance in a slim build up, the OPTIM-R system also helped to streamline the build programme. A panel layout drawing was supplied by our technical team, ready for the council’s approval. This ensured the system could be supplied in accurate sizes, reducing the time spent fitting the insulation.
Page updated 21/01/2026
85.29 m2 of the OPTIM-R Flooring System of vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) was specified for the school. This allowed the project to beat its target U-value of 0.20 W/m2K by achieving a U-value of 0.18 W/m2K with a 25 mm thickness.
