Merry Hill Flats

Project Details:
The properties were built in 1966 using an insitu concrete frame infilled with no fines concrete. During surveys conducted by engineers it was established that the no fines concrete was of extremely poor quality and as such it was stipulated that the new cladding system should not be fixed in any way to the infill concrete.

Solution:
Structherm designed the new cladding system to be anchored directly back to the insitu concrete beam/column framing elements. As the primary frame was concealed by 4” of the no fines concrete, expansion type wall ties were used which ensured that the fixings were anchored into the dense insitu concrete elements.
 
A full detailed wind analysis was undertaken to verify the design wind loads at varying locations on the facade. Fixing pull out tests were undertaken using the above data and detailed installation drawings were prepared to indicate the required number of fixings in each bay of the structure.

Structural cladding panel has been fixed directly into columns and spans between the 3.5m centre columns.

Results:
The cladding applied upgraded the thermal efficiency of the structure from 1.38W/m2K to 0.34W/m2K at the same time improving the overall aesthetics of the building.