Product used: MechSlip
Brick type(s): Ibstock Himley Ebony Black
Architect: TACP Architects
Challenge
Durability, safety and aesthetics needed to work together for the Burton Borough School project. The client (Telford and Wrekin Council) and the building’s designer (TACP Architects) wanted a highly attractive facade solution which is also safe, durable and which makes a statement with its appearance.
With a projecting header pattern on the front elevation of the building, made by alternating between half bricks and full bricks, the new sports hall creates a fascinating and truly eye-catching impression.
Safety is paramount as this building will be used primarily by schoolchildren, it was especially important that it was built using a durable solution which can stand up not only against weather conditions, but is fully noncombustible.
Solution
Working through Kynaston Contracts with Pave Aways Building Contractors and TACP Architects, Ash & Lacy proposed the use of its exclusive MechSlip façade. Developed in conjunction with Ibstock Kevington, MechSlip is a lightweight, mechanically fixed system that offers significant advantages including reduced installation times and associated costs, as well as being classified A1 (noncombustible) to EN 13501-1 fire testing standards.
MechSlip has a design that allows specifiers and architects to create distinctive façades thanks to the flexibility of different sizes of brick slips and choice of multiple colours and textures, allowing the development to achieve its appealing projecting header pattern. Ibstock’s Himley Ebony Black was the brick of choice. The system works with slip-cutting technology that allows the vast majority of stock and wire cut bricks to be mechanically fixed into horizontal rails at flexible heights, making the entire design and installation process simple, from concept to completion. This allows architects and specifiers to use brick to maintain the integrity of their design, whilst the efficiency and versatility of the mechanically fixed system opens up a whole raft of options for integration with modern methods of construction.
Peace of mind as well as offering the reassurance provided by a mechanically-fixed design, MechSlip has been rigorously tested to the Centre for Window & Cladding Technology (CWCT) standards, for wind resistance, water tightness and impact resistance. The result is that it eliminates the weather dependency of traditional building methods without compromising on the choice of brick finish. Furthermore, the system has been tested by the independent organisation Exova Warringtonfire and is classified A1 (non-combustible) to EN13501-1 standards, making it the ideal choice for a modern structure like Burton Borough School’s new sports hall.