SCHÖCK
With the Rotunda , the contractor had opted to precast the ‘ pie-shaped ’ balconies where possible . However , for structural reasons , or because some were too large for precasting ( one unit was so large it had to be split into two parts ) it was necessary to cast insitu . This presented the Schöck team with load capacity considerations , as well as delivery scheduling challenges involving different sites .
Above left , Diagrammatic example of the T type K . Above right , Diagrammatic example of the T type SK
When finished , the 13-storey building ( now called the Metropolitan ) will house 193 apartments and accommodate shops , restaurants and cafes along a 100 metre mall at ground floor level . Also , as part of this second phase , alongside the main Metropolitan Building there will be a 25 storey East Tower and two nine-storey refurbished residential buildings , one of which is a rotunda .
MINIMISING THERMAL BRIDGING THROUGHOUT
Throughout the entire development , improving the performance of the building envelope and minimising any risk of thermal bridging has been a key element in the design detailing . Quite apart from meeting compliance with the Building Regulations , this is increasingly important in meeting the criteria for the impending Future Homes Standard . Thermal bridges are localised areas of the building envelope , where the heat flow is usually increased in comparison with adjacent areas . As a result , the temperature of the interior surface near the thermal bridge is lower and if this area becomes too cold it can lead to condensation . Over time , mould is likely to form , potentially damaging the building structure and even posing a health risk to the inhabitants .
There was a major revision also involving the 13-storey Metropolitan Building . Isokorb units T type SQ , were to be incorporated at all levels to bolt the external steel walkways back to the concrete frame . However , there was a late design change to the project , which resulted in the steel walkways being converted to concrete on all but the first floor . This resulted in a complete review of the structural thermal break requirements and a tie force also had to be accommodated into the design to tie the balcony walkway structures back to the main structural frame .
ALL PRODUCTS ARE FULLY COMPLIANT
The comprehensive Isokorb range offers solutions for concreteto-steel , concrete-to-concrete , steel-to-steel and – and even a maintenance free alternative to wrapped parapets . Products meet full compliance with the relevant UK building regulations , have NHBC approval and offer LABC Registration . There is also the security of independent BBA Certification . The requirement that the temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk ( fRSI ) must be greater than , or equal to , 0.75 for residential buildings , is also easily met by incorporating the Isokorb .
Contact Schöck on 01865 290 890 ; or visit the website at www . schoeck . com for full details of the Isokorb range
The ideal solution is the Isokorb load-bearing structural thermal break from Schöck , which has featured throughout since the start of the development . Primarily the requirement has been for conventional balcony detailing and involved the Isokorb T type K for concrete-to-concrete and the T type SK for concrete-tosteel . The SK is a complete system thermal break and is unique in being the only formally UK approved product that satisfies the load-bearing and thermal insulation requirements for this type of application . There were though a number of special demands as well .
MEETING THE CHALLENGES
The prominent corner plot on the site is an L-shaped building with a frontage on Lots Road and a wing extending towards the Creek . The interior features a continuous walkway and at the 90 degree intersection lateral forces had to be accommodated . To resolve the vertical and horizontal reactions a configuration was used that involved the Isokorb type HP ( which transfers forces either parallel or perpendicular to the insulation layer ) and type Q ( for transferring shear forces on supported balconies and recessed balconies ). In addition , there was also a slight castellation to the thermal break line , which had an impact on calculations involving the optimum cut lengths of the elements and their required loadcarrying capacity .
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