P-Clad rainscreen system

Simplifying hospital projects with Eurobrick

Building Products Index Ltd September 30, 2024 Brick slip cladding, Cladding Leave a Comment

In busy hospital environments, expansion projects and building works must be planned in meticulous detail to minimise disruption to day-to-day operations. Fast-track building methods are frequently used and, during this process, selecting an appropriate rainscreen cladding system is very important to ensure the successful function of the building and the design aesthetic.

Leading specialist Eurobrick Systems has been distributing its proprietary brick and stone slip cladding for over 30 years and has supplied many hospital expansion projects where budgets, space and time are limited.

THE RIGHT FIT
Eurobrick is an obvious choice for these types of projects, offering different systems to suit different applications, all of which are tried and tested and can be specified with confidence. This is backed up by Eurobrick’s team of experienced estimators who take the time to ensure the most suitable system is chosen to fit the specific requirements of the job. Eurobrick offers technical advice at every stage of the specification process, from estimating, and ordering to installation and any ongoing support.

FLEXIBLE
Supply schedules can be tailored to meet contractors’ work programmes and can take into account on-site conditions such as storage limitations. This was particularly important at Leicester Royal Infirmary for example, where a restrictive site situated at a busy roadside with a limited storage area, meant the P-Clad rainscreen system materials for a two-storey extension to the Congenital Heart Centre, needed to be delivered in phases, as and when required. Eurobrick worked closely with the contractor, Industrial Contracting Services to achieve this.

SPEEDY SOLUTIONS

Eurobrick’s cladding systems are lightweight and fast to install making them a good option for contractors’ working to meet challenging deadlines. Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital had this experience, where a new state-of-the-art 4300m² ward development was delivered in a compressed timeframe of just 1 year (instead of the expected 3 years) using factory-built modular construction. As Eurobrick can be off the critical path, the systems could be installed on-site without affecting the activities of other trades. These brick slip systems are also suitable for off-site installation and are robust enough to be transported to site and craned into position.

ON OR OFF-SITE

Versatile, yet simple, Eurobrick is suitable for modular and new build projects offering a fast track to a real brick finish that is low maintenance and will weather like traditional brickwork. The award-winning new Wellbeing Hub at University Hospital Southampton is a 20 modular bay building which was finished on-site using Eurobrick’s X-Clad EWI system with extruded brick slips from their Britannia colour range.

Hospital projects can present a plethora of challenges to the NHS, its architects and contractors, who need creative solutions that keep projects on time and on budget. Reliability, versatility, robustness and speed are key considerations in the decision-making process.

If you would like to discuss a project with Eurobrick you can take a look at their website at www.eurobrick.co.uk, call 0117 971 7117 or email info@eurobrick.co.uk.

Upward extensions with Eurobrick

Building Products Index Ltd June 22, 2023 Brick slip cladding, Cladding Leave a Comment

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Adding floors to existing buildings is economically attractive however designs and building methods have to avoid overloading the foundations. Lightweight cladding systems can help to simplify the process. Eurobrick has been leading the brick slip cladding sector for over 30 years and has been involved in many such upward extension projects. Of course, each project of this type brings its own challenges but building upwards can be an effective solution where available space is limited. It enables a building to be redeveloped maximizing its potential and extending its functional life. This is far more sustainable than demolishing the existing and constructing a new building.

Chiswick High Road

An extra floor was added to the existing 2 storey, mixed-use, end of terrace property in London which had a ground floor retail unit with residential spaces above. The upward extension allowed for an internal reconfiguration to provide 7 self-contained flats, with the extra floor allowing the contractor to add 3 more flats than the building previously contained.

Planning requirements stipulated that the building must not harm the character and appearance of the surrounding area, so a brick finish was required. The project also required a lightweight system as the new floor was being added to the existing structure and foundations.

Eurobrick’s X-Clad system provided a lightweight brick slip solution. With options available on insulation, the installed system weight of X-Clad starts from just 36kg/m². The system was finished with BEA Burwell White slips and Eurobrick’s Europoint pointing mortar in white, creating a fresh look in keeping with the neighbourhood.

Norwood Road

Another London based project involved the redevelopment of an existing commercial building. The original building included a large ground floor retail unit with snooker club and offices above. The proposal was to demolish the upper floors and build nine new residential apartments over the retail unit.

This project was particularly challenging because the retailer had to continue trading throughout the build. And although they wanted to add two floors above the retail unit, the existing foundations and structure of the building could not be altered.

The new parts of the building were constructed with an insulated timber frame with an exterior sheathing using Eurobrick’s P-Clad rainscreen system. This is a faster construction technique than traditional building methods and was important for minimising disruption to the retailer and its customers. P-Clad was installed with specially ordered brick slips alongside render panels to create a distinctive mixed finish to the building.

Pechiney House

This ambitious project in Slough involved the conversion and redevelopment of a 2-storey office building into residential apartments by adding a 4-storey upward extension to the existing building. X-Clad was the lightweight solution that helped to simplify the process, as it was attached to a ply panel on the lightweight steel frame construction, reducing the overall weight of the upward extension considerably.

The resulting redevelopment contained 42 new residential units, including studios and 1 & 2 bed apartments. The mixed palette of finishes, using both bricks and timber, created a contemporary look that was sympathetic to the original building.

Eurobrick provide flexible brick slip cladding systems for many different types of projects offering a fast track, simple and robust solution. Brick slip cladding is lightweight and durable requiring little to no maintenance and is ideal for projects with engineering challenges to overcome.

For more information, please visit www.eurobrick.co.uk.