Cladding is arguably the hottest topic in construction at the moment and is a major consideration for both the residential and commercial property sectors. Whilst media attention is often focused on residential buildings of 18 metres or higher, the urgency that the Grenfell Tower disaster drove to focus on the fire safety of ALL buildings, means that many responsible commercial property owners are carrying out essential upgrade projects now so that they can be sure of future-proofing the value of their investments, as well as the safety of their tenants.
The team at BRAC Contracts recently completed a significant cladding and fire upgrade project for a client in Brighton. The project serves as an exemplar of ensuring that the building not only boasts the very highest standards of an A1 non-combustible finish, but that it now exceeds current compliance measures and meets future standards.
Re-wind to 2019: the building in question had commenced a major re-fit and extension project which was also led by the team at BRAC Contracts. As part of that project, the building was being extended upwards with a rooftop development and whilst its overall ‘new’ height fell within the parameters that allowed the existing cladding to remain, a decision was taken to upgrade the exterior façade to ensure that cosmetically it was in keeping with the interior look and feel, and that it did justice to the investment that had been made on the building elsewhere.
This was, however, far more than a purely cosmetic exercise.
A comprehensive survey of the existing cladding was carried out and, as a result, it was decided that a full façade upgrade would be delivered, totally replacing the existing cladding with the very best A1 non-combustible finish.
Work focused on the total removal of the façade and strip-out of all existing insulation material on all the building’s elevations, and their replacement with Rainscreen Duo Slab Rockwool and Vulcan non-combustible cladding. The BRAC Contracts team, with support from sister company BRAC Projects, also manufactured several bespoke cladding panels to meet the specific needs of the building in question and in doing so, demonstrated just how accessible market-leading fire-protection cladding can be to any building owner, no matter how niche their requirements. Other parties involved in the year-long project included Global Fire and Security who advised on all fire safety aspects, and Axiom Architects.
The result? Well, the images speak for themselves: the building is not only eye catching, complimentary to its brand-new interior and in-keeping with its super-cool Brighton location, it is also fit for the future boasting the very best fire protection and cladding. At such point as the law dictates that the replacement of cladding will be necessary for buildings of under 18m in height, this building is already compliant!
If you’re looking for high-quality, budget-friendly, experienced and reliable contractors look no further than BRAC Contracts. With a range of services on offer, we’re guaranteed to offer what you’re looking for. So, what are you waiting for? Get in contact with us today by either calling us on 01268 573933, emailing us at enquiries@brac-contracts.co.uk or by filling in our online form.
“We had a tight programme for a technically challenging project and BRAC Contracts managed the project from start to finish meeting our deadlines and delivering an excellent end result. It was an enjoyable experience working with such professionals”.
Paul Holliday – Queensmead School
SPACE have contracted BRAC on a number of occasions, they are a pleasure to work with , highly professional, they care about the detail and offer a value for money service. The BRAC team have a positive, can-do attitude and find solutions to any challenge. We recommend them highly.
Anna Harding – Chief Executive SPACE
The quality of the works undertaken by BRAC for the new Woolwich Ferry Operations office has been most impressive, as has been the efforts by all the construction team to ensure an on schedule and on budget completion.
Mark Willbourn – Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd
