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Tag: Balconies Installed
Sapphire’s Remote Locker Device puts safety first
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Sapphire has always aimed for innovation within the construction industry. With mass timber, unitized facades and precast walls becoming increasingly popular worldwide, the Remote Locker brings a modern method of construction to the balcony business. The Remote Locker, novel and inventive by nature, has been patented by Sapphire due to its ability to change the market – helping residential construction to be a safer industry to be a part of.
What is it?
No bigger than a toolbox and allowing for the advanced, safe and cost-effective installation of a balcony, the Remote Locker is an incredibly smart. The Remote Locker is fixed onto a prefabricated balcony over preinstalled arms within Sapphire’s balcony Cassette®, the building’s stub-arms already installed. The Remote Locker then allows an installer to fix the arms to the stubs via radio. Finally, the remaining bolts can be safely fixed, and the Remote Locker can be removed, without a harness being needed.
Safer to install
The Remote Locker has significant health and safety benefits as it removes the need to harness a worker to the building for installation, as the fixing of the balcony to the building can be done via a radio controller. Sapphire’s Remote Locker device is battery-operated and charged on-site so once the Remote Locker is operational, the safety benefits are instantly tangible.
Saving money with remote locker
With the Remote Locker design, the balcony arms are installed within the Cassette® inside the factory. This comes with cost benefits at two major junctions. Firstly, time spent is reduced at the arm installation stage, as no stub arms will need to be fit onto the building’s façade at a later point. Secondly, labour costs will be reduced as the arms are already fitted inside the balcony, so less time will be needed to fit a two-piece arm onto the stub bracket.
Cost improvements often marry well with sustainability too – by using an innovative installation technique, the time spent on site can be reduced and so too will the carbon emissions present in longer installations, where workers must travel to and from a site each day.
Transforming the way balconies are installed has always been at the forefront of Sapphire’s ethos. By improving safety during the installation phase, costs could come down, less time will be spent on site and work will become more sustainable as a result.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
What’s the benefit of the Remote Locker Device?
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Innovation is one of the core principles of Sapphire’s existence. ‘Innovation to prosper the Community’ is a belief we have held strongly onto since our founding in 1992 and we continue to innovate to this day. Therefore, the use of our automated Remote Locker Device (RLD) across global projects has been paramount to success.
The Remote Locker Device is an automated installation tool, no bigger than a toolbox, which allows for the installation of a balcony in a safe and cost-effective manner. The RLD is fixed onto a prefabricated balcony over preinstalled arms within the balcony Cassette®, the building arms already installed. The RLD then allows an installer to fix the arms to the stubs via radio. Finally, the remaining bolts can be safely fixed, and the RLD can be removed, without a harness being needed.
Why is innovation important?
Sapphire has always endeavoured to innovate within the construction industry. With mass timber, unitized facades and precast walls becoming increasingly popular, the Remote Locker Device brings a modern method of construction to the balcony business. By being a forward-thinking, modern company, we can change with the industry as opposed to constantly catching up to it. The world of construction is ever-changing, so working with a 21st-century mindset is incredibly beneficial.
The Remote Locker Device is another of Sapphire’s inventions which has been patented due to the novel and inventive nature of the concept.
Is Remote Locker Device safer to install?
The Remote Locker Device has significant health and safety benefits as it removes the need to harness a worker to the building for installation, as the fixing of the balcony to the building can be done via a radio controller. Our innovative Remote Locker Device is battery-operated and charged on-site so once the Remote Locker is operational, the safety benefits are instantly tangible.
How can I save money with the Remote Locker Device?
Thanks to the design of the Remote Locker Device, the balcony arms are installed within the Cassette® inside the factory. This comes with cost benefits at two major junctions. Firstly, time spent is reduced at the arm installation stage, as no stub arms will need to be fit onto the building’s façade at a later point. Secondly, labour costs will be reduced as the arms are already fitted inside the balcony, so less time will be needed to fit a two-piece arm onto the stub bracket.
Cost improvements often marry well with sustainability too – by using an innovative installation technique, the time spent on site can be reduced and so too will the carbon emissions present in longer installations, where workers must travel to and from a site each day.
Transforming the way balconies are installed has always been at the forefront of Sapphire’s ethos. By improving safety during the installation phase, we can improve costs, spend less time on site and work more sustainably as a result. To find out more about how we strive to innovate, read more here.
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What’s the benefit of the Remote Locker Device?
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Innovation is one of the core principles of Sapphire’s existence. ‘Innovation to prosper the Community’ is a belief we have held strongly onto since our founding in 1992 and we continue to innovate to this day. Therefore, the use of our automated Remote Locker Device (RLD) across global projects has been paramount to success.
The Remote Locker Device is an automated installation tool, no bigger than a toolbox, which allows for the installation of a balcony in a safe and cost-effective manner. The RLD is fixed onto a prefabricated balcony over preinstalled arms within the balcony Cassette®, the building arms already installed. The RLD then allows an installer to fix the arms to the stubs via radio. Finally, the remaining bolts can be safely fixed, and the RLD can be removed, without a harness being needed.
Why is innovation important?
Sapphire has always endeavoured to innovate within the construction industry. With mass timber, unitized facades and precast walls becoming increasingly popular, the Remote Locker Device brings a modern method of construction to the balcony business. By being a forward-thinking, modern company, we can change with the industry as opposed to constantly catching up to it. The world of construction is ever-changing, so working with a 21st-century mindset is incredibly beneficial.
The Remote Locker Device is another of Sapphire’s inventions which has been patented due to the novel and inventive nature of the concept.
Is Remote Locker Device safer to install?
The Remote Locker Device has significant health and safety benefits as it removes the need to harness a worker to the building for installation, as the fixing of the balcony to the building can be done via a radio controller. Our innovative Remote Locker Device is battery-operated and charged on-site so once the Remote Locker is operational, the safety benefits are instantly tangible.
How can I save money with the Remote Locker Device?
Thanks to the design of the Remote Locker Device, the balcony arms are installed within the Cassette® inside the factory. This comes with cost benefits at two major junctions. Firstly, time spent is reduced at the arm installation stage, as no stub arms will need to be fit onto the building’s façade at a later point. Secondly, labour costs will be reduced as the arms are already fitted inside the balcony, so less time will be needed to fit a two-piece arm onto the stub bracket.
Cost improvements often marry well with sustainability too – by using an innovative installation technique, the time spent on site can be reduced and so too will the carbon emissions present in longer installations, where workers must travel to and from a site each day.
Transforming the way balconies are installed has always been at the forefront of Sapphire’s ethos. By improving safety during the installation phase, we can improve costs, spend less time on site and work more sustainably as a result. To find out more about how we strive to innovate, read more here.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]
The Truth Behind ‘Sapphire In a Box’ April Fool’s Day Video
Did you think Sapphire in a Box was too good to be true?
Were you suspicious of an April 1st robotic install launch?
Well, you were right! Whilst globalisation is a reality, these clever inventions are not… yet!
However, there is plenty of truth; check them out:
1. Sapphire Balconies in Canada have a Sapphire in a Box concept, where you could visit and get the look and feel of our balcony.
2. Remote Locker devices are used on several sites across the country where facades or tight site perimeters need something innovative. Here are some examples of our projects – Wembley Case Study, Tottenham Hale Works, where we have used our ingenious inventions.
3. Our COACH balcony configurator software is an innovative tool that automates the balcony design process, saving time and money.
However, remote locking can’t be controlled using our COACH app yet, but the COACH investment is taking us closer to an automated and controlled install.
It won’t surprise you to learn that Knotru Technologies are exactly that…Not True! We also stole the look of a Toronto police robot to create our clever balcony install robot.
Our R&D team is the envy of many in the industry, but there’s no Professor Pixedoost. However, we are always looking for forward-thinking, passionate professionals to join us.
Sapphire – Balconies made Rigid. Ready. Right!
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Discover COACH Today
[/vc_column][/vc_row]
The Truth Behind ‘Sapphire In a Box’ April Fool’s Day Video
Did you think Sapphire in a Box was too good to be true?
Were you suspicious of an April 1st robotic install launch?
Well, you were right! Whilst globalisation is a reality, these clever inventions are not… yet!
However, there is plenty of truth; check them out:
1. Sapphire Balconies in Canada have a Sapphire in a Box concept, where you could visit and get the look and feel of our balcony.
2. Remote Locker devices are used on several sites across the country where facades or tight site perimeters need something innovative. Here are some examples of our projects – Wembley Case Study, Tottenham Hale Works, where we have used our ingenious inventions.
3. Our COACH balcony configurator software is an innovative tool that automates the balcony design process, saving time and money.
However, remote locking can’t be controlled using our COACH app yet, but the COACH investment is taking us closer to an automated and controlled install.
It won’t surprise you to learn that Knotru Technologies are exactly that…Not True! We also stole the look of a Toronto police robot to create our clever balcony install robot.
Our R&D team is the envy of many in the industry, but there’s no Professor Pixedoost. However, we are always looking for forward-thinking, passionate professionals to join us.
Sapphire – Balconies made Rigid. Ready. Right!
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”7673″ heading=”Discover COACH Today” button_text=”Try COACH” button_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcoach.balconies.global%2F|target:_blank”][/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Looking Back on Pomona Wharf
[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Pomona Wharf was a record-setting project for us, achieving 34 balconies installed in a day. Time was critical and in short supply because there was no dedicated site crane available. Offsite manufactured concrete wall panels were chosen and required use of the crane to be installed.
It was essential that crane time was kept to a minimum and that balconies were installed as quickly as possible to keep the costs of crane hire down. To meet this requirement a high volume of balconies needed to be delivered to site smoothly and efficiently.
Once on site, the balconies had to be unloaded and installed quickly to allow for further lorryloads to be delivered. This had to be achieved by working in synergy with the install of the wall panels and other trades on site. The first installation day reached a total of 24 followed by 34 balconies installed on the next installation day by Sapphire accredited installers, McKean.
This was possible thanks to our offsite production and Rigid.Ready.Right. brand promise. With traditional JIT or Just In Time production, the speed of balcony install is limited by the speed balconies can be manufactured and sent to site. With our brand promise, we guarantee all balconies will be produced Ready for dispatch ahead of the agreed date, eliminating delays.
At Pomona Wharf, this meant balconies could be transported from secure storage at Winchester to site as required without delay avoiding additional crane costs and keeping the project programme on track.
Read the full case study here.
This article was originally featured in Insight Magazine, subscribe for your free copy every quarter here.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1594300923020{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][sapphire_contentLink order=”Content left / image right” image=”289″ heading=”Understanding Glide-On™ balconies” button_text=”Find out more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Four-product%2Funderstanding-balconies%2F|||”][/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1594300923020{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”6680″ heading=”Watch our MMC event video” button_text=”Watch” button_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.resi.build%2Fpast-events|||”][/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]
Further useful links
[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][sapphire_cta background_colour=”Green” custom_background_image=”” heading_colour=”White” heading=”Read more about offsite balcony production” text_colour=”White” button_colour=”White” button_text=”Read” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Fproject-pathway%2Fproduction%2F|||” alignment=”Left”][/sapphire_cta][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][sapphire_cta background_colour=”Green” custom_background_image=”” heading_colour=”White” heading=”Find out about a Sapphire CPD presentation” text_colour=”White” button_colour=”White” button_text=”Find out more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Fknowledge%2Fcpd-presentations%2F|||” alignment=”Left”][/sapphire_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Sapphire Beats the Clock at Watford Riverwell
While it’s no surprise that time is of the essence on site, the Watford Riverwell project had a particularly tight timescale for delivery and install of balconies. We rose to the challenge, keeping the project programme on track thanks to our Rigid.Ready.Right. brand promise.
The Watford Riverwell development built in partnership between Kier Property and Watford Borough Council is transforming 70 acres of contaminated brownfield site into a flourishing community. The project boasts 750 residential units, office, leisure and retail space as well as 4.5 acres of green open space.
The development has already elevated the local area as the River Colne and surrounding banks have been cleared, restoring it to its former tranquillity to the benefit of residents. The formerly industrial land is being given a new lease of life by being regenerated into a peaceful family-friendly neighbourhood including a new primary school and improved public spaces.
We were instructed to supply 84 Glide-On™ Cassette® balconies with vertical bar balustrades for the Woodlands phase of the Watford Riverwell project.
Schoeck anchors were chosen and cast-in but some were, unfortunately, cast incorrectly positioned, presenting a challenge for the Sapphire accredited installers. Delays to the balcony install would have been a significant issue for this project as time constraints were especially tight.
With traditional bolt-on balconies, misaligned anchors would cause significant delays. Fortunately, the Glide-On™ system can enable a +/-20mm tolerance so, despite the misplacement of the anchors, the balconies were successfully installed.
With consideration for the site programme, the balconies were prefinished offsite ahead of the deadline on an efficient and quality-controlled production line at our Winchester facility and safely stored until ready for install.
Once the site was ready balconies were loaded and ‘nested’ onto pallets to minimise the number of lorries heading to site and improve the efficiency of install. Reduced lorries not only reduce emissions and transport costs, but it also ensures minimal traffic onsite keeping the flow of deliveries as smooth as possible.
A further benefit of the Glide-On™ system to the Watford Riverwell scheme was that balconies could be installed in any order required to fit with the work of rest of the trades onsite.
Unlike bolt-on balconies, no installer is required to work under a live load and as they are installed from inside the building, there is no need for a ground-up approach. The flexibility this afforded meant time onsite could be organised more efficiently to meet the programme completion deadline.
The Sapphire Rigid.Ready.Right. brand promise meant that costly delays were avoided as the balconies were Rigid, meeting our high standard of deflection (L/360 twice the British standard of L/180), they were Ready ahead of the agreed date and they were Right, first time.
When asked how our balcony system compares to traditional balcony methods the project manager said “Miles apart. Glide-On™ is far superior”. The rapid speed of install also took the project manager by surprise saying he “didn’t believe it would happen”.
This article was originally featured in Insight Magazine, subscribe for your free copy every quarter here.
Balcony innovation by Sapphire glides to success at Glasgow development
Sapphire’s Cassette® balcony concept, with innovative Glide-On™ connections, has enabled hassle-free installation of projecting glass balconies at a residential development on the former site of BBC Scotland. Around 100 offsite-manufactured balconies, based on Sapphire’s patented technology, are installed to luxury apartments at The Botanics in the West End of Glasgow.
The balcony installation went really well and I can’t fault Sapphire’s comprehensive product and service package.
Sapphire worked in close collaboration with install partner, McKean Developments, to provide a bespoke supply and support solution for the project. Contracts Manager for McKean Developments says his team established an excellent working relationship with Sapphire, and comments: “The balcony installation went really well and I can’t fault Sapphire’s comprehensive product and service package.”
Manufacturing balconies offsite brings many cost and time saving benefits for contractors and developers. For example, it avoids the hassle of coordinating multiple trades on site as balconies are delivered preassembled, with minimal finishing works required. Additionally, Sapphire’s aluminium Cassette® balcony decks are approximately half the weight of steel alternatives. This can mean fewer brackets are needed to connect back to the main structure. Reducing the number of façade penetrations reduces the risk of potentially costly problems such as cold bridging and damp. Also, Sapphire Cassette® balconies have been carefully engineered to avoid visible welds and keep fixings discreet for added aesthetic appeal.
Glide-On™ Cassette® balconies for The Botanics were fixed to cast-in anchors, with arms installed to the façade by McKean Developments while the balconies were being manufactured. Balcony units were delivered complete with decks, balustrades, soffits and fascias, ready to be glided onto pre-erected supporting brackets, without installers having to fix them from underneath.
Utilising a modular 400mm construction for optimum design and production efficiency, Sapphire’s Cassette® balcony system was able to accommodate the two projection depths specified for different-sized apartments at The Botanics. The balconies’ contemporary design combines frameless structural glass balustrades from Sapphire’s Crystal system with stylish stainless steel handrails and contrasting powder-coated soffits and fascias.
In addition to high quality balcony units, Sapphire’s project package included comprehensive customer support, including pre-start construction meetings, installer training and installation innovations like the Counter Balance Lift (CBL). Developed and registered by Sapphire, the CBL is a key piece of equipment provided to installers as part of each project’s support offering. In essence, the CBL offsets the crane hook by using weights to balance the balcony, which opens the door to a wide range of install sequences.
Nick Haughton, Sapphire’s Head of Marketing, concludes: “Well proven on many prestigious residential projects, like The Botanics, our well engineered, patented Cassette Glide-on balcony system not only makes it quicker and simpler to install high quality residential balconies, but also creates a lighter weight rigid structure that requires fewer fixings back to the building.”
Balcony install achieves a rapid 34 in just 6 hours 13 Minutes.
New approach, new balcony install record.
With exceeding balcony install expectations in mind, Sapphire working with a Scottish balcony install partner, set a challenge to install more than Sapphire’s long-standing record of 22 balconies in one day. Having hit this goal with 23 installed at Pomona Wharf earlier in June, a further 34 balconies were installed in just 6 hours and 13 minutes of balcony installation time on 15th June 2017. That’s an amazing install average of just 10.9 minutes per balcony all day long. Testament to Sapphire’s unique and patented Glide-On™ Cassette® balcony systems, which enables install of fully assembled balconies in rapid times and with improved safety from the traditional bolt-on balcony approach.
Sapphire’s patented Cassette® balcony system is complementing the innovative design and build of a new high-rise development on Pomona Island, one of Greater Manchester’s ‘hidden gems’. The offsite-manufactured system’s fast-track install method, using Sapphire’s patent-protected Glide-On™ connectors, made it possible to install 23 balconies one day and a further 34 projecting balconies during another day, with just three installers and one crane (in two set up positions). Rowlinson Construction’s Project Manager comments:
“Although we hadn’t worked with Sapphire’s modular balcony system before the balcony install went very well and we are all happy with the end product”.
The two adjacent buildings at the new Pomona Wharf development are part of the regeneration of the former dockland site. The 10 and 11 storey apartment blocks have been constructed as complete precast concrete solutions. Individual sections of each building’s shell and envelope were delivered to site ready to be craned into position floor by floor.
Offsite production fundamental
Working in tandem with the build programme, Sapphire manufactured over 100 balconies for the project in its offsite lean production facility. Once each building’s floor slabs were cast, complete with thermally broken balcony brackets and cantilever arms. Sapphire began scheduled deliveries of fully assembled balcony units to site. The individual balconies, including glass balustrades and sub-deck, were installed by simply lifting them into position and ‘gliding’ them on to the arms – this method of balcony install saves time and minimises crane hire and associated site costs. A simple solution, unique and patented by Sapphire.
Balconies for the project feature frameless structural glass balustrades from Sapphire’s Crystal range, combined with an slim aluminium capping and durable, slip-resistant WPC composite decking. Unsurprisingly, glass balustrades are a popular choice for residential balcony projects like Pomona Wharf. As well as its enduring aesthetic appeal, glass offers a robust, low maintenance solution. In addition, Sapphire’s unique and simplistic base detailing design enables integration with the Cassette® structure avoiding the need of base channels which are often one of the most costly parts of a frameless structural glass balustrade, making Cassette® balconies a cost-effective choice for developers.
Increasing offsite
Offsite construction methods, as used at Pomona Wharf, are increasingly seen as the answer to many of the issues facing the construction industry; from increasing margins for contractors to addressing the housing crisis by reducing build times and labour requirements. Sapphire’s Marketing Manager, Nick Haughton, says Sapphire very much supports this approach. He comments:
“To install 57 balconies in just two days, especially with only a three man balcony install team and a single crane is simply beyond the conceivable possibilities of traditional bolt-on balconies. The achievement of installing 34 balconies in a single day sets a new industry record and is clear testament to our patented balcony innovation”.
Rapid balcony install is not about rushing and mustn’t compromise safety. It’s primarily down to innovative design of balconies, and about working lean and ensuring intelligent sequencing to minimise delays. Sapphire’s supply and support approach meant balconies were ready and right, enabling installers to complete balconies rapidly with installers safely inside the apartments, and without need to install soffits afterwards.