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Month: October 2018

NEWS | IG Masonry Support receives BBA Certification for its Brick On Soffit System (B.O.S.S.)

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IG Masonry Support is delighted to have been awarded certification from the British Board of Agrément (BBA) for its Brick On Soffit System (B.O.S.S.). The B.O.S.S. range is an innovative masonry support system which makes achieving deep brick soffits and intricate brick patterns around window heads and openings quicker, easier and much more cost effective.

The B.O.S.S. range offers a lighter alternative to concrete which is faster to install and more cost effective compared to traditional hanging brick systems. Installed to a pre-fitted masonry support system, the B.O.S.S. range allows increased adjustability along three axes.

The BBA is one of the UK’s leading certification bodies within the construction industry offering approval, certification and test services to manufacturers of products and systems. The key factors assessed in the BBA testing include thermal performance, condensation risk and durability.

BBA certification is recognised as one of the most trusted marks of quality, safety and reliability within the construction industry. The BBA conduct rigorous testing and assessments including laboratory tests, on-site evaluations, quality management checks and inspections of production before awarding a product or system with an Agrément Certificate.

Scott Denham, National Sales Manager at IG Masonry Support commented “We are thrilled our B.O.S.S. range has been awarded BBA certification. Third party certification for structural products has never been more important within the construction industry and BBA certification is widely recognised as an important mark of quality assurance. We have been working closely with the BBA throughout the development process of our B.O.S.S. product range to ensure we are providing our customers with innovative solutions which meet the highest quality and safety standards.”

Find out more about the B.O.S.S. range.

BLOG | World Architecture Day – Kyle Alexander Explores The Stonebridge Park Project

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As we continue to celebrate World Architecture Day, Kyle Alexander explains how the Stonebridge Park project gave him the opportunity to push the boundaries in design when developing the curved, stepped feature entrance to the Rotunda building. The Stonebridge Park Project is  £16.6 million development which created an entirely new neighbourhood, producing 117 new homes in the area. Kyle explains how his design used manageable brick slip units to achieve a complex design resulting in the impressive entrance to this 9 storey circular building.

What challenges did this project present?

The curved, and stepped feature entrance to the Rotunda building required a solution that would achieve the architect’s complex design in a relatively short space of time, these time constraints put additional pressure on us to provide a successful solution. Due to the complexity of this feature and the dimensions and location of the structural RC frame that we had to fix the product to, we had to overcome a wide variety of structural concerns.

What solutions were developed to overcome these challenges?

To overcome the time constraints of this project, I worked in conjunction the clients Structural Engineer who designed a steel framework for us to fix our steel work onto. This allowed me time to work on the design of the building’s façade and the connection of the system to the steel frame. My design included tall structural steel hanging brackets fixed to the steel frame which in turn allowed for a curved manufactured stainless steel angle to support brickwork. To accommodate the underside of these steel angles, I designed a brick clad, curved stainless steel unit in small, light and manageable sections and finally bolted this to the angle above. My final design came about by considering many aspects. The factors I needed to take into consideration included, but were not limited to; the structural adequacy of the element and how it would complement the other building techniques used in the project, the longevity of the building as a whole and the ease and speed of installation.

What is your favourite architectural feature on this project?

My favourite architectural feature is definitely the entrance to the Rotunda building which provides an outstanding feature to the project as a whole and will serve as a landmark for many years to come.

Why did you enjoy working on this project?

The Stonebridge Park project gave me a chance to push the boundaries in design and provide a system which has proven to be the key feature for this award winning project.

BLOG | World Architecture Day – Jonathan Lamb Explores The Coventry University Project

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All this week in honour of World Architecture Day, we are celebrating our engineering team’s passion for creating beautiful architecture. Jonathan Lamb explains how the IG team used an existing product in a completely new way to meet the architects requirements, creating these impressive brick clad fins on the new Science and Health Building at Coventry University.

What challenges did this project present?

The main challenge that this project presented was using an existing product in a completely new way. The product used in this project is traditionally used on a smaller scale and applied to soffits. We needed to develop a solution that would allow us to use the product on a much larger scale. The elevation of the project also meant we couldn’t use traditional building methods due to the fins being projected from the building. Therefore the solution we developed had to be light but also provide the same aesthetics as traditionally built brickwork. We also encountered a further challenge of returning the MAG board brick slip units around the fin on to the back side; we had to consider how best to support the MAG boards around a corner, effectively making a U shape around the fin. This was something that had never been done before with MAG board and would normally require the use of steel.

What solutions were developed to overcome these challenges and why did you choose these options?

After extensive testing, we managed to come up with a solution to the challenges of this project and we were able to achieve the desired effect that the client and architect wanted for the project. We developed an innovative solution which allowed us to use MAG boards around a corner, which previously had never been done before. Luckily we always look to provide our customers with a solution that meets their needs and the team at IG always work hard to help the architect achieve their vision. After developing this solution we were able to offer this type of corner detail to other customers as a more effective solution and it has been very well received.

What is your favourite architectural feature on this project?

My favourite feature from this project has to be how the finished project looks, standing back and taking in all of the fins protruding from the building. For many people this detail may go unnoticed, however those with a keen eye for detail will wonder how the brick is supported and will wonder at how something like this can be achieved. It’s a great feeling to know this project could inspire future architects and show them that anything is possible.

Why did you enjoy working on this project?

I enjoyed working on this project because it gave me the opportunity to apply products in a completely different way which also allowed me to consider new applications for how we use our products. This project expanded the use of MAG board to a larger scale and provided me with a great feeling of accomplishment each time I saw it. I look forward to the next time we have a request to use a product in a different way as I know that anything is possible.

BLOG | World Architecture Day – Harry Robinson Explores The Residence Project

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To celebrate World Architecture Day, we asked some of our engineers to describe their favourite architectural project. Harry Robinson explains how a bespoke design was required to form his favourite architectural feature on the Residence project – the impressive double arch at the entrance to the building. The Residence is a luxury residential development situated on London’s South Bank. The IG team were tasked with developing almost 140 brick slip arches which helped to achieve the architect’s vision creating intricate brick elements while manufacturing these offsite ensured a high level of quality and savied time on site, reducing the need for skilled labour.

What challenges did this project present?

This project incorporated many unprecedented bespoke designs and therefore presented many challenges, one of which being the double brick slip arch lintel. As the two arches were so close together and sat on a narrow pier, there was insufficient bearing zone on this pier to have two separate arches so we had to develop a solution to accommodate these requirements. Another challenge was that some of the full arches had very deep soffits meaning we had to develop a solution using two separate arches to keep the weight down and make it easier to install.

What solutions were developed to overcome these challenges and why did you choose these options?

To overcome the double brick slip arch challenge, we designed the arches as one prefabricated unit, which then just needed to be lifted in to place. Creating this double arch made the production very complex in terms of the steelwork fabrication, it also meant we required small cut infill bricks between the arches and either side, we decided to cut these bricks and bond them to the lintels in our controlled factory environment which allowed more accuracy and helped speed up the build on site. The full arches that were made separately had to be bricked up in tandem to ensure all the bricks aligned. We also tested the arch installations in our factory to ensure they lined up perfectly prior to delivering them to site.

What is your favourite architectural feature on this project?

My favourite feature on this project is where the two full arches with deep soffits meet adjacent to each other on the same corner pier. Both arches were bearing on the same pier internally and met at the same point, which meant the steel of one arch had to be notched around the other, and brickwork from one arch had to run into the brickwork of the other. This is not something anyone would really notice on initial inspection, unless you were part of the great deal of work that was conducted behind the scenes to make this possible. It took a great deal of accuracy from the production team to ensure the steel element fitted together perfectly and the bricks of the two separate arches aligned perfectly when the two came together.

Why did you enjoy working on this project?

I enjoyed working on this project because the challenge of creating something unprecedented was exciting. The building itself was a beautiful design and you could visualise the arches. There was a real sense of achievement when the finished product was installed perfectly as we had intended.

BLOG | World Architecture Day – Paul Graham explores the Dawson Street Project

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To celebrate World Architecture Day, we caught up with some of our IG Masonry Support engineering team to find out about their favourite architectural projects, the challenges they presented and the innovative solutions the team developed to achieve beautiful architectural features. Paul Graham explains the challenges of working on the Dawson Street development, which involved the major refurbishment and remodelling of an existing office building in the heart of Dublin’s business district.

What challenges did this project present?

The main challenge this project presented was the fact that this was a retro fit project where we were developing masonry support and brick slip products to be applied to an existing building originally built in the 1970’s. Another challenge presented by this project was the use of non-standard brick types including Petersen Kolumba.  The project saw significant structural modifications and aesthetic improvements made to the existing building, replacing the outer leaf brickwork with a distinct handmade Petersen brick type.

What solutions were developed to overcome these challenges?

Due to the large brick size and the proposed stretcher bond pattern the brick soffits posed a big challenge due to the length. We designed a bespoke system for accommodating the deep soffit above the office accommodation’s main entrance, combining both Brick Slip Soffit Panels and B.O.S.S. products. We developed a header course bond pattern which provided a 37mm face height with a 37mm face width and a 226mm return soffit. This proposed solution was approved by the design team and is the finished product visible on site today.

What is your favourite architectural feature on this project?

The deep return brick soffit on the Dawson Street Elevation forms an impressive architectural feature on this project and is definitely one of my favourite features. This elevation has a full height deep recessed opening which is achieved by Masonry Support and the B.O.S.S. system. The up lighting introduced to this opening also enhances the aesthetic appeal of the building and highlights the intricate details of range of products provided by IG.

Why did you enjoy working on this project?

The non-standard brick type was something that we never used before and overcoming the various challenges to achieve the architect’s vision was the most enjoying element of this project. The proposed elevations detailed a contemporary new exterior, balancing the intricate detailing of Petersen Kolumba brickwork and large elegant glazed areas recessed into the facade. The development has breathed new life into the 1970’s building, transforming it into contemporary office space.