Arch Timber Protection’s Dricon fire retardant has been used in the recreation of a 16th century oak ceiling at Stirling Castle in Scotland.
All six apartments of the Royal Lodgings at the castle have been included in Historic Scotland’s £12m restoration project, but the most dramatic part of the work is the ceiling of the King’s Inner Hall, which was originally decorated with painted oak carvings known as the Stirling Heads.
These metre-wide carvings have now been recreated and are fixed to boarded oak ceiling, which along with the moulded ribs that form the coffers, have been treated with Dricon. The oak was supplied by Timbmet Glasgow.
Dricon was chosen because it offered fire protection without affecting the natural appearance of the wood.
“We chose Dricon because it gave us full flexibility,” said Ruth Vaughan, project architect for the restoration and senior architect on the Major Projects Team at Historic Scotland. “We were able to use Dricon-treated timber for both painted and unpainted areas and not even be aware it was there.”
“It’s fantastic to know that one of our products will be protecting a piece of Scotland’s heritage for many years to come,” said Jacqui Hughes, Arch Timber Protection’s fire retardant sales manager.
