28 BUILDING FABRIC - BALCONIES & BALUSTRADES
avoiding the traditional need for time consuming soffit fitting and improving programme costs. Balcony construction is critical for fire
spread prevention, as they are often the space used for smoking and even barbe- cues. With modular solutions, measures to reduce the risk of fire spread can be included at design stage, making the process more efficient and cost effective. MMC has often been used inaccurately
as more of a buzzword than a range of innovative solutions to industry challenges. But if these modern methods were implemented successfully, they may revolutionise the industry and have the potential to transform the landscape to meet modern demands. Developers like Berkeley, L&Q and
balcony design costs and common issues can be significantly reduced. At the design stage, improvements and lessons learned from previous projects can be applied consistently across all modules and components. For example, a fire stopping solution like a StubGuard is CNC manufactured for the bespoke stub and interface. The design is intended to avoid gaps in the firestopping, and because it’s moulded for the specific stub, it cannot be installed incorrectly. A modular approach provides the benefits of CNC machined
Wire Rope Stainless Handrails
products and avoids the variations and issues of high labour products. Other risk reducing measures can also be implemented at design stage, such as soffits in modular balconies, ensuring uniformity across the project. Soffits help to stop fire spread by containing balcony fires and preventing falling embers reach- ing the balcony below and blocking flames from reaching the balcony above. With some MMC modular balconies, soffits are installed offsite and arrive pre- finished and ready to be quickly installed,
Barratt are among the key early adopters to embrace MMC within their business model, with significant investment. Others are gaining the benefits of offsite production by working with expert supply chain partners – innovative experts within the supply chain bring the benefits of MMC without the capital investment and logistical challenges of radically trans- forming project processes.
Mary McCollum is marketing executive at Sapphire Balustrades
Frameless Glass
Stand-Offs
Pro-Railing stainless steel handrail component system requires no welding. Simply cut, glue & screw on site to create stunning handrail & balustrades, that will look great for years to come. Whatever the project we have a cost effective solution.
01708 25 35 17
sales@brundle.com
www.fhbrundle.co.uk
WWW.HBDONLINE.CO.UK
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