Overview
To ensure the castellated cladding for a residential block at Brentford Quays met the A2, s1-d0 fire safety rating, we needed to demonstrate that the coating thickness stayed within the required limits across a complex extruded aluminium profile.
Location: Brentford, West London Sector: Residential/Retail Specification: C3 Urban
Architect: Formation Architects
Client: Eire Facades Main Contractor: Ballymore Area coated: 2200 sq m
The Requirement
The Brentford Project, developed by Ballymore, has been awarded the prestigious PROPS Development of the Year award. Brentford is now home to a large local community with apartments, community spaces and retail units fronting the river.
Aiming to add variety and interest to the various individual apartment blocks, the designers had chosen an attractive undulating, or castellated cladding profile produced by Eire Facades. These residential blocks needed to meet fire safety regulations across all the materials used and this would apply to the powder coated finish.
The Powdertech Solution
The architectural finishes used by Powdertech all meet the required fire safety rating A2, s1-d0. However, in order to comply, the thickness of the coating must be within specified limits across the entirety of the undulating profile.
Undulating panels have a much larger total surface area than a flat panel and the amount of powder required for coating takes this into account. Powdertech has years of experience in powder application with the techniques required to ensure that the average coating thickness meets both fire reaction specifications and the decorative performance requirements on a complex profile.
We produced test panels to show that an even thickness could be achieved. Minimum and maximum thicknesses to remain fire safety compliant were calculated, in conjunction with the powder manufacturer’s data. Once the work was underway every single panel was checked after application to ensure that these levels were consistently met.
We coated 2200 sq metres of extruded aluminium panelling in Anomatch C35 Matt Black, a Qualicoat Class 2 powder.
Why Powdertech?
- Powdertech’s commitment to the specification journey starts before any powder coating starts.
- Powdertech has over 40 years’ experience in applying high performance powder coatings to meet architectural standards.
- We have invested in the best equipment for powder application and for measurement and testing.
- We have access to PhD level technical expertise on surface coatings.
- All powders have fire reaction rating A2, s1-d0
- All powders are Qualicoat class 1 or class 2 approved and conform to BS EN 12206-1 and Qualicoat specifications
