Winter 2006

City Gate opens with a change.

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Lawtech Ltd was instructed to carry out the insulated render to City gate House. The 19 story office block had been acquired by Fairview Homes to convert into apartments. The contract was to comply with NHBC guidelines and therefore a render system with a drain cavity needed to be designed. Working with our client Harley Curtain Walling and our material supplier Alumasc, a swissrail specification was proposed. This involves mechanically fixing a rail system to a 12mm cement particle board (fixed to a lightweight steel frame e.g. Metsec or similar) thus forming a drain cavity. A frame rail is fixed around all windows and window heads are protected by a deflector rail so that if, in the unlikely event, any water does get behind the system it is drained off beyond the windows. An intumescent strip was also installed at each floor level and vertically between each property.

The deflector rail caused a particular problem at City Gate House due to the long length of window (20m) and the low gradient of fall available. However, the site team overcame the problem by creating a ‘V’ channel and draining half the widows into the back of the rain screen cladding installed by our client Harley Curtain Walling. In addition a lot of skill and effort was employed in achieving the correct rail configuration where new balconies were fitted into the structure.

Once all the rails are in place 80mm thick mineral fibre boards were mechanically fixed to the rails and the render finishes applied. A full description of rail systems can found elsewhere on the wed site (coming soon).

Lawtech Ltd is an approved contractor for many of the leading façade material suppliers. We are able to provide assistance in the design and installation of various systems including lightweight metal frame and rail system as well as traditionally fixed systems.