Flat Roof Constructions
We investigate the different types of flat roof construction
Knowledge Article5 min read
Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, the angular form of V&A Dundee immediately demands attention. Kengo Kuma & Associates’ concrete-faced design draws inspiration from the dramatic cliffs of East Scotland and sets the tone for the visitor experience. Inside, carefully curated permanent galleries explore the past and future of Scottish design, while world class exhibitions will explore a wide range of subjects.
LOCATIONDundee, Scotland
ArchitectKengo Kuma & Associates
ProductsThermataper TT46, Thermaroof TR26, Attiro magnetic engineered timber flooring, Kingspan Data & Flooring’s RMG600 medium grade system
Several of our flooring and insulation products have been used to create the first V&A museum outside London.
With the museum attracting over 860,000 visitors in its first year, its internal floors needed to not only deliver aesthetically, but also provide lasting durability with easy maintenance access to services located below. Kingspan Data & Flooring supplied an RMG600 medium grade access flooring system for the project, finished with Attiro magnetic engineered timber flooring.
The BREEAM ‘Excellent’ building also celebrates the best in energy efficient design, utilising air source heat pumps in combination with geothermal energy from thirty, 200-metre deep bore holes to heat and cool the building. To maximise the fabric performance of the external building envelope, Thermataper TT46 and Thermaroof TR26 were installed as part of a tapered roofing scheme.
Designing from the ground up
The museum’s unique design consists of two buildings at ground floor level which merge from the second floor to create an open foyer and further galleries. RMG600 medium grade system, finished with Attiro magnetic engineered timber flooring, was used throughout these spaces.
Attiro engineered timber features a high-quality oak veneer and is magnetically attached to the RMG600 raised flooring system. This created the look and feel of a high-end timber floor whilst also allowing simple access to the service spaces beneath. Individual staves can be lifted and returned with minimal risk of damage, and the floor can also be walked on as soon as it is laid, assisting project scheduling.
"Kingspan RMG600 and Attiro was used on the second-floor circulation, foyer and galleries. The raised floor and Attiro system was chosen to provide flexibility, especially to the gallery spaces which might need to be reconfigured for different exhibitions."
Maurizio Mucciola, Director at PiM.studio Architects
The museum’s expansive flat roof was not only a potentially significant source of heat loss, but also required careful drainage management. To address this, our tapered roofing design team created a detailed layout and specification featuring Thermataper TT46 and Thermaroof TR26.
Thermataper TT46 features tapered, hip and valley and flat packer rigid insulation boards which can be laid out to achieve suitable falls on even large and complex roofs. This ensures required thermal performance and drainage in a single, lightweight system. Our designers carried out careful U-value calculations to ensure the design U-value was met with the slimmest possible insulation thicknesses, minimising the weight of the final construction. Their scheme layout plans also provided a simple reference guide for installers, Q9 Cladding Solutions, ensuring rainwater is effectively channelled off the flat roof.
As part of the project’s commitment to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ Rating, considerable care was taken to ensure the materials specified met the highest standards in responsible sourcing.
Images: Hufton & Crow
Page Reviewed: 28/07/25
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