FSC certified SmartPly OSB and its new coated hoarding and security product SiteProtect, from Coillte Panel Products, have been specified for two significant projects in the South West. New shopping ‘destination’ SouthGate Bath is nearing completion, and construction recently began on a brand new school for pupils of Hartridge High School in Newport.

Bath's £360m Southgate is a modern shopping destination, with classic Georgian-style open streets and public spaces. Located within the city of Bath, SouthGate Bath has over 55 new stores which were opened in 3 phases: November 2009, May 2010 and the final phase in autumn 2010. Throughout the construction of SouthGate Bath, 18mm SmartPly OSB3 was used to securely board all the new stores. Most of the units are now let, but the black painted SmartPly OSB3 is still visible on the last few stores, still in excellent condition and with no deterioration. SmartPly SiteProtect, painted vivid yellow, has also been used to provide secure work areas in front of the new stores while shopfitting construction is underway.

Construction of the new £29m state-of-the-art building for Hartridge High School in Newport, started in May 2010, as part of the Council’s major secondary school redevelopment programme. With its innovative design, which includes two teaching wings wrapped around a central atrium, the new school is intended to offer the best possible environment for Hartridge’s 1,450 pupils, raising education standards as well as offering first-class community facilities and providing employment opportunities. The work is expected to be completed by spring 2012.

The new scheme will replace the current school, which is housed in three 1960’s buildings. The main construction site has been fenced off from the existing school with over 500m of SmartPly SiteProtect creating the impressive perimeter fence, with peep-holes left to view the ongoing works.

“Created specifically for use in applications from temporary site hoarding through to a range of high quality security installations, SmartPly SiteProtect is FSC certified and an ideal sustainable solution for most projects”, says Geoff Rhodes, marketing and business development director, Coillte Panel Products. He continues, “Renewal and regeneration across the board - from shopping and leisure facilities to new schools - are essential, and all sites requiring hoarding which is low maintenance, reliable and secure. We have the answers to most hoarding and security requirements, and SiteProtect in particular was developed and introduced as a quality, durable and sustainable solution for applications exactly like these.”

The smooth heavy-duty exterior cross-linked polymer coating provides an excellent surface for artwork, advertisements, company logos and painting, and the substrate of SiteProtect - SmartPly OSB3, a tough, engineered wood-based panel product without added formaldehyde - makes the panel suitable for both exterior and interior applications.

SmartPly SiteProtect is supplied in standard dimensions of 2440 mm x 1220 mm x 18 mm for interior and exterior use. SmartPly OSB is part of the panel products division of Coillte, the Irish forestry and forest products company.

28 September 2010