Unitech Group's Burntwood factory has a new roof and 592 solar panels after an eight-month project worth over £1m. It removed 5,555 sq m of asbestos cement.

Unitech Group’s factory in Burntwood has a new roof and 592 solar panels. The eight-month project was worth more than £1 million, according to the contractor, Lichfield-based Roofclad Systems (Roofclad Systems release, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce).

The 90,000 sq ft site’s old roof dated from the 1980s. The release says it had reached the end of its working life, with leaks and limited insulation.

What was done

  • 5,555 sq m of asbestos cement sheeting was removed
  • insulated composite panels went on, with a 25-year guarantee
  • 592 solar panels were installed
  • gutters were refurbished and new triple-skin rooflights added

The panels are expected to generate about 241,000 kWh of electricity a year. Unitech’s own assessment puts the payback period at around three years.

Doing both jobs together means the panels will not have to be taken off for a later re-roof. The release says phased working kept disruption to production to a minimum.

Stuart Harrison, Unitech’s general manager, said: “Roofclad Systems worked safely and coordinated effectively with our on-site operations.”

What it means for you

  • For neighbours, 5,555 sq m of asbestos cement roofing has gone from the site.
  • For other firms on older sites, the three-year payback is Unitech’s own figure for this building. Yours will depend on your roof and your energy use.

Sources