PRIVATE CLIENT

A £4.6m PCSA agreement for Survey & Design and Remediation Works completed under a JCT D&B Contract.

Vida House is a privately owned residential block consisting of 138 apartments over 5 storeys with a basement car park.

The existing façade was a mix of insulated render with a vented cavity and direct applied render to blockwork cavity walls. Our Client, a responsible landlord with a large property portfolio across the UK, acquired the building in 2011. After a number of fire protection issues/defects had arisen over the years they commissioned a survey of the external wall construction. This highlighted combustible materials within the external walls and defects within the fire compartmentation.

To provide certainty and ultimately protect their clients/residents the decision was made to replace the façade with A2 s1 d0 rated (or greater) products and to also future proof against any possible regulation change.

After a 2 stage tender process Alcema were engaged under a PCSA agreement to undertake intrusive investigations and produce a design to remove and reinstate the existing render façade, addressing all fire protection defects highlighted in the surveys.

Although Alcema were appointed with 100% design responsibility on the project, the Client had also appointed a stringent Fire Engineer to verify and approve the design, products to be installed, specification and methodology.

Well documented cases of poor design and use of inadequately rated products created a number of challenges. Whilst completing the proposal large gaps were also highlighted with manufacturer test data as they were unable to satisfy the Fire Engineers requirements, provide suitable BBA certification and Fire test data. After a stringent process a design was agreed and verified by all parties.

During the PCSA period of 6 months Alcema initially engaged with suppliers, fire engineers and architects to develop a robust scheme which was verified by the client’s design team, fire engineer and external consultants.

During the contract Alcema provided a resident liaison officer based on site to ensure smooth delivery and manage any concerns raised by residents who remained within the apartments during the works.

A clerk of works was appointed by the Client who liaised with our Site Management team daily to inspect details, installations and ensure QA standards were achieved, focusing on quality of remediation works and fire compartmentation details.

By completing a mini tendering process we provided cost certainty on all packages involved with the process. The project was adjacent to a live railway, a scaffold design was required during the PCSA stage so this could be communicated to TfL (Transport for London) and approvals gained prior to any works commencing.

To limit the areas exposed during installation and to provide continuity for the operatives we delivered a 2-phase programme, including scaffold phasing for front and rear elevations. The works involved the removal of all render and insulation from the facades back to the SFS infill panels or lightweight blockwork.  Large sections of defective/out of plumb SFS framework were refitted to provide a suitable substrate where defective. Existing blockwork repairs were required where failing and insufficient wall ties installed. The new system includes non combustible CP boards, fire resistant Rockwool insulation, Sto Silicone render with bespoke edge trims where windows are retained and new movement joints.

Tenmat Cavity barriers were installed to all cavities within the SFS and behind all existing spandrel panels at floor transitions and compartment walls between apartments. New aluminium bespoke, angled car park vents, copings and RWG was installed, and as a value engineering exercise the existing fascia was removed, stored, repaired and reinstated once the render was completed. New lighting, CCTV, access control and signage were installed along with new landscaping.

Completion of this 2 Phase EWI project has provided our client and the residents of the building with peace of mind that the building complies with all latest fire safety regulations.

All fire compartmentation defects have been rectified including removal of combustible materials within the external façade to prevent spread of flame.

The Client’s asset has been upgraded and protected against possible legislation change.

Fire Regulations have been achieved, ensuring protection of life to Tenants and safe evacuation if an emergency arises and an EWS1 Certificate has been issued to the client.