Fire safety is the most important consideration for any building.
It’s why we’ve recently welcomed government initiatives to appoint a regulator for building safety. The government also intends to introduce stricter controls on construction products.
Together, these initiatives should mean that new buildings are constructed to much higher fire safety standards.
But it’s not just new-build. Older-style social housing units also need to be brought up to date.
We’re therefore delighted to have completed a project on a social housing project in Bristol. This was to enhance fire safety on a 1960s social housing block.
The contract was completed in June last year but, because of Covid-19 restrictions, we have only recently been able to take photographs.
Delays
The project was inevitably delayed because of Covid-19 lockdowns, and social distancing rules.
The six-week project was for construction company Rateavon and part of a redevelopment programme for Bristol City Council.
We installed a protected escape route for Spencer Norton House, a ten-storey residential block.
An old aluminium non-fire rated curtain wall screen also had to be removed from the core of the stairway.
Spencer Norton House, part of the Redcliff Estate, was built as one of the City Council’s post-war neighbourhood units.
Wrightstyle installed a double-glazed screen from our SR60 range, with a roof maintenance access door.
The entire screen, from the ground floor upwards, is fire-rated to 30/30. This will greatly enhance fire safety on this older-style residential block.
Time and budget
Prior to work commencing, the site was fully surveyed, with further site visits to ensure the contract would be completed on time and budget.
These site visits also determined the best way possible to ensure social distancing and hygiene standards.
The safety of our staff is always our main concern, and everything needed to be planned in great detail.
Nor was it a straightforward project, with the screen itself being some 34 metres high and five metres wide.
It was also a screen of varying dimensions, reducing to some 2.5 metres in one of the bay areas, which added design complexity.
However, Wrightstyle has a dedicated design team to ensure that even the most complex of designs can be delivered.
It’s all part of our promise to only offer systems that are complete and guaranteed.
