Material from Perthshire will be used to build Antarctic hut

Blair company’s products chosen to withstand extreme temperatures

Materials produced at a Perthshire factory are to play a key role housing personnel carrying out studies as part of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

Blairgowrie-based A Proctor Group specialise in providing solutions to condensation, airtightness and energy efficiency in buildings.

Their products have been selected for the construction of a purposebuilt hut to provide short-term accommodation for two operatives working in one of the world’s most hostile environments.

The BAS has science and support staff based in Antarctica and the Arctic, delivering research which advances understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet.

The organisation employs more than 500 staff, with more than 130 scientists publishing around 350 peer-reviewed papers each year on issues of global significance.

Two products made by A Proctor Group will be used in the construction.

The first, Roofshield, is an air and vapour permeable, water-resistant roof underlay.

The second is Procheck 500, a polyethylene vapour control layer, for use within roof and wall constructions to prevent warm, moist air escaping from inside the building and condensing within the insulation.

The main contractor on the project, Mike Robinson of Manchester-based Rothwell Robinson, said: Due to the extreme conditions, we wanted to ensure that only the highest performing products were used on the project.

“In light of the extreme temperatures involved, we approached the A Proctor Group who carried out a full condensation risk analysis.

“A key factor was that the chosen components needed to be lightweight to be carried from the shore to their final location on the island.”

The A Proctor Group operates from The Haugh in Blairgowrie.

The company also has a manufacturing facility on its 4.5 acre industrial estate in the town.

Some of the hut panels in place before being shipped to the British Antarctic Survey.