Citispace Leeds
A thriving mixed-use complex just a ten-minute walk from the centre of Leeds city centre, Citispace Leeds is home to over 300 apartments, shops, and shared spaces. In an effort to ensure the complex is a safe
space for those who live and work there, remediation work is being undertaken under the Building Safety Fund (BSF) scheme in which any
non-compliant elements were to be replaced by Speedclad, the main contractor.
Sector: Domestic/Retail
Façade Design Consultants: Patrick Ryan Associates
Main Contractor: Speedclad
Product:
Speedpanel A2® Glass
Finish: RAL9005 Jet Black
Quantity: 460 panels, totalling 642 m2
As part of this work, the facades of the building’s spandrel zones - the
areas which sit between floors and conceal the structural elements and
auxiliary connections - have been refitted, in compliance with current
fire regulations. It was decided the look
and feel of the iconic Leeds structure should
remain identical, wherever possible, requiring a product which could be
designed from the outset to recreate the original design aesthetic
whilst enhancing performance. Speedpanel A2® Glass provided an ideal
solution.
Why Speedpanel A2® Glass?
One would be forgiven for seeing no difference in the before and after
images, yet the property now boasts enhanced thermal efficiency and
uncompromising fire-performance in the spandrel zone. Façade Design
Consultants, Patrick Ryan Associates, envisioned Citispace
retaining its original appearance, reinforcing the existing structure’s
iconic design. Installed in line with Speedclad’s FIRAS accreditation,
certifying them as a skilled and competent installer of active and
passive fire protection, Speedpanel A2®’s rigorous
independent testing to the A2-s1, d0 standard, in accordance with EN
13501- 1:2018, ensured that Citispace’s remediation work was completed to the highest safety standard with minimal disruption to the lively complex.
Flexibility at scale
Speedpanel A2® Glass is a pre-manufactured, pre-insulated glass spandrel
panel, comprising a steel tray, an inner non-combustible insulated core
and a striking, impact resistant glass face (tested in accordance with
the TN 75 Hard Body Impact Test). As Speedpanel’s
Production Manager, Phil Marsh, recounts:
“Speedpanel A2® Glass was original designed and developed to provide
core insulation of either 100mm, 120mm or 150mm - thereby providing a
glazed-in insulated spandrel panel.
With the increase in demand for a thinner version, driven in part by the
refurbishment of spandrel panels on buildings using the Building Safety
Fund (BSF), we developed a thinner Speedpanel A2® with a minimum
overall thickness of 31mm which allows it, in many
applications, to be used as a direct replacement for non-certified
panels.
Specifiers are now able to order the panels with glazing edge details
from 28mm to 48mm, and an overall thickness from 31mm to 157mm. The
process of adding the new reduced thickness panels included full testing
by Warringtonfire and extensive pre-production
calculations to ensure the panels would meet the requirements of this
and future projects clients.”
The expertise and adaptability of our technical team allowed us to
create a solution to remedy the challenges experienced on this and other
remediation projects, and since it was independently tested and
certified to the same high standards of our original
Speedpanel A2® panels, it is now available as a standard sizing for
specifiers of these demanding projects.
Ease of install
Another benefit of Speedpanel A2® is the way it is designed as a single
unit, not requiring built-up assembly whilst on site. Reflecting on the
advantages of this approach, Speedclad’s project lead, Fraser Brown,
commented:
“Speedpanel A2® allowed for quickness and reduced disruption whilst
replacing panels in under floor areas – our installers could complete
large areas without damaging existing furnishings or needing to handle
lots of material on site. By glazing directly into
the existing curtain walling system, the Speedpanel A2® spandrel panels
were able to be installed swiftly and fit in a range of rebate depths
to suit these older facades.”
Although it’s easy to think this is the final chapter for the project,
we know that the design of our panels matter long after a project is
completed, and Speedpanel A2® will maintain its appearance and
performance for decades. The panels are also manufactured
using recyclable core materials.
To explore how Speedpanel A2® Glass, Aluminium or other bespoke
variations can help to support a new build or remediation project, explore our product pages or get
in touch with our team.
