PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The 6No buildings were located across the North and East areas of Edinburgh – Lochend House, Restalrig House, Northview Court, Inchkeith Court, Kirkgate House and Cables Wynd. Our local knowledge , as an Edinburgh specialist, was essential in managing logistics.

The project involved the removal and replacement of existing HPL cladding panelling to the external elevations of high rise residential tower blocks, focused around the stairwell areas and below window openings. The panels were replaced with Rockpanel (A1 fire rated boarding) to meet current regulations. In order to achieve the required fire resistance requirements, the timber framing and backing boards were also stripped out and replaced with a new aluminium support frame structure, cavity insulation, fire resistant backing boarding and breather membrane.

• Erection of scaffolding to the full height external elevations of buildings
• Removal of existing cladding panel arrangement including timber framing and backing boards
• Installation of new fire resistant backing boards, aluminium support framing, cavity insulation and breather membrane.
• New fire resistant Rockpanel coloured external panelling
• Reinstatement of window cills
• Gaskets and Mastic sealant

The works were carried out in a live working environment with all residential flats remaining fully occupied throughout the works. Liaison between the Concierge and ECSC was of critical importance and we had to ensure that all occupants were made aware of what was happening and when.

Good communication was key to the successful project delivery and achieving buy in from all affected residents.
The safety and wellbeing of residents, the public and all impacted by our operations. Unauthorised access to scaffoldings was prevented by inclusion of extensive timber hoarding with security-controlled access doors.

Material deliveries and movement were carefully planned and co-ordinated outwith key resident access/daily movement times.
In order to meet the programme and achieve commercial efficiencies, we worked collaboratively with the Client, Design Team and our specialist supply chain partners to source alternative compliant panelling to the original specification.

Upon opening up the existing panelling, unexpected timber framing was discovered within the cladding system. We worked proactively with the design team using our specialist supplier knowledge and experience to achieve design alterations to the proposed support frame structure to maintain the fire retardancy requirements, meet the specification and still maintain programme.