"Innovation is rarely done alone"
What do you get when you give two industrial pioneers a blank page? A solution that goes beyond what is currently common. Willy Naessens Group, together with Recticel, developed a unique skylight with smoke extraction, insulated with Deck‑VQ vacuum insulation. The result is a product that excels in safety, energy performance, and constructional ease. “When you work with strong partners who truly want to collaborate, the chance of success is almost guaranteed.”
Willy Naessens Group has long been known for its vertically integrated approach. With more than 50 companies and 2,500 employees, the group manages a large part of the construction process in house.
"One missing link in that integration was a tailored active fire protection solution for buildings," says Tom Vandamme. As Head of D-Glas, he leads the group's specialist company for the production, supply and installation of architectural glass. He also heads the Smoke & Vents department within Willy Naessens Industrial Buildings.
Smoke and heat exhaust systems are mandatory in virtually every new industrial building project. "A smoke vent skylight is one of the simplest and most efficient solutions. The challenge is that many of the skylights currently on the market are still based on designs from thirty years ago. Building regulations, construction methods and architects' expectations have evolved significantly since then. There is also considerable room for improvement in the way these systems are integrated into buildings. That's why we wanted to develop an entirely new concept that better meets the diverse needs of today's construction process."
In the photo:
- Geert Dekyvere, Business Development Manager, Recticel Insulation
- Tom Vandamme, Head of Department, Smoke & Vents, Willy Naessens Industrial Buildings
High performance meets aesthetics
Tom and his team started with a blank sheet of paper. One of the key objectives for the new product was to combine outstanding performance with an attractive design.
"The upstands of traditional skylights often provide insufficient insulation, or they rely on very thick insulation. While that delivers good thermal performance, it is less appealing from an aesthetic point of view. We wanted a slim, elegant design without compromising on insulation performance."
That search led him to Recticel.
"Deck-VQ vacuum insulation offers a core thermal conductivity of just 0.006 W/mK in an exceptionally thin construction," explains Geert Dekyvere, Business Development Manager at Recticel. "To achieve the same level of performance with conventional PIR insulation, you would need up to three times the thickness. That made Deck-VQ vacuum insulation the perfect fit for this project. In addition, Deck-VQ contains up to 50% recycled material."
As a result, the complete roofing system, including accessories such as these skylights, complies with the Broof(t1) fire classification. For this smoke vent skylight solution, this provides a clear point of differentiation compared with other solutions currently available on the market.
Tailor-made
Recticel and Willy Naessens Group worked closely together to find the best way to integrate Deck-VQ into the skylight.
"As with any new development project, there were challenges along the way," says Geert. "The vacuum insulation panels are manufactured in Slovenia, so communication was not always straightforward. It wasn't simply a matter of sitting around the table together. Even so, we succeeded in developing a tailor-made solution step by step."
The Deck-VQ panels were specially adapted and manufactured to fit the skylight's unique geometry and construction. The skylight itself protects the Deck-VQ vacuum insulation panels against puncture, while the thermally broken aluminium profiles minimise heat loss.
Safer and more efficient
The new skylight stands out for more than just its exceptional thermal performance. Safety was a key priority throughout the development process. The skylight therefore features, among other things, an integrated safety anchor for inspections and high-strength polycarbonate glazing.
"Safety matters to everyone involved: the building owner, the installer and the people carrying out maintenance later on," Tom emphasises.
The complete skylight unit is installed on the roof as soon as the roof slabs or steel deck have been put in place. Once on site, it can be lifted onto the roof and securely clicked into position. The skylight has also been designed with easy disassembly in mind, making it easier to reuse components at the end of their service life.
"The fewer operations required on site, the safer and more efficient the installation."
The first three production runs have now been completed, and the skylights are already being installed on Willy Naessens Group construction projects.
"The feedback has been very positive," says Tom. "We are now focused on further optimising the production process. Every production run helps us identify new opportunities to save time and reduce costs."
Strong partnerships
For both partners, this project confirms the value of co-creation.
"Innovation is rarely achieved alone. It certainly helped that Recticel is located just around the corner," Tom says with a smile. "More importantly, they were open to dialogue and actively contributed ideas. When you collaborate with strong partners who are willing to share their expertise and think alongside you, success is almost guaranteed."
For Recticel, the project was equally rewarding.
"It was an exciting collaboration, not only because Willy Naessens Group is a major, forward-looking player, but above all because this was a genuine co-creation project," says Geert. "It demonstrates how Deck-VQ vacuum insulation can unlock new applications when partners share the same ambition. That's exactly what we do at Recticel: helping construction professionals build smarter through high-performance insulation."
Deck-VQ vacuum insulation
Deck-VQ® is a vacuum insulation panel (VIP) designed for flat roofs, terraces and floors where insulation space is limited.
With a thickness of just 45 mm, Deck-VQ® delivers an R-value of 5.00 m²K/W, providing a solution for applications where conventional insulation systems may not achieve the required thermal performance within the available build-up
