Cork

Cork is a natural product obtained from the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber l) found primarily at the western end of the Mediterranean in Spain, Portugal and North Africa. The bark thickens and develops with age and can be harvested as a regular crop, about every nine years, from huge commercial plantations. The granulated cork is compressed, steam baked and held together by the natural cork gum. It is then imported into the UK in blocks of plan dimesions 500 mm x 1000 mm to be cut into flat boards, or cut-to-falls. It provides a good substrate of good laminar and compressive strength suitable for asphalt roofing and with its low coefficient of thermal expansion will accept a fully bonded built up roofing specification. Although cork is somewhat friable during handling, it is firm under foot traffic and is suitable insulation to use below membranes which are subject to continual foot traffic, due to its resillient properties, i.e. when compressed, cork will tend to recover to its original thickness. An underlay may be required to support the cork over the troughs of a metal deck, depending ont he thickness of the cork over the troughs width. The thermal conductivity of cork is 0.042 W/mK – only about half as good as rigid urethane foam.

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Tagged as: Architectural Technologist, Architectural Technology, Architecture, Bark, BIAT, CIAT, Collaborative Professional Development, construction, Construction and Maintenance, Continuing professional development, Cork, Cork Oak, CPD, Design, Energy, environment, MSAAT, technology, Thermal and Moisture, Thermal conductivity