Tag: Glide-on

Glide-On Variation: Connecting to a Precast Façade

Posted on by sapphireadmin

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With the shortage of housing in The Netherlands, we felt that now was a great time to introduce ourselves. We’re Sapphire Balconies. We’ve spent the last 30 years building up our expertise in the balcony marketplace and can provide up to 20 rapidly installed, prefabricated balconies per day, using our wealth of industry knowledge and skill.

Whilst it might be the fastest way to install a balcony on the market, Sapphire’s Glide-On™ Cassette® solution isn’t the only way to install balconies for your project. Our new low-carbon Glide-On variation is easy to attach to a concrete wall, saves a great deal of carbon and saves money in the process.

Latest innovations in balcony installation

Using our intelligent new system, we can attach balconies to concrete walls using fewer, smarter connections. This not only reduces the load on the wall but allows us to reduce thermal bridging, putting our balconies at a lower risk of heat loss.

How is Sapphire staying sustainable?

The carbon benefits of our new system are enormous. By reducing the penetrations in the façade of a building, not only will less operational carbon be emitted after the building is in use, but less carbon will be emitted when first constructing the building. Saving on both embodied and operational carbon is a great benefit and will keep the balcony sustainable for long-term use.

Cost benefits of Sapphire balconies

Finally, by reducing the penetrations in the building’s façade and guaranteeing fewer carbon emissions, the overall cost of the building can be reduced. These savings include, but are not limited to:

  • Reducing the cost of the wall by using a precast façade, which is lighter.
  • A lighter wall allows a smaller crane to be used on-site, reducing initial building costs.
  • A lighter wall also allows more internal floor space in each apartment. The client will therefore get a greater return on investment.
  • Finally, our new system enables a simpler waterproofing and fireproofing detail. This allows savings in labour in other packages, such as a lack of need for external access.

Sapphire has recently worked on a project in the UK where these cost savings can be observed. The project in Wembley, London required 444 balconies and using our new low-carbon system, we were able to save £800,000 in construction costs.

Why choose Sapphire Balconies?

We can help to bring your balcony project to reality – by reaching out to us using the contact form below, we can assess whether your project is suitable for our new system. If so, we can work with you at an early design stage to see whether our new alternative solution to Glide-On™ can bring these significant savings to reality.

Our Glide-On variation is something we’re working hard on at Sapphire and will reveal more in the future. In the meantime, read more about the benefits of our new low-carbon system, or download one of our whitepapers on innovation to learn more.

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Glide-On Variation: Connecting to a Precast Façade

Posted on by Sajjad B

[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]With the shortage of housing in The Netherlands, we felt that now was a great time to introduce ourselves. We’re Sapphire Balconies. We’ve spent the last 30 years building up our expertise in the balcony marketplace and can provide up to 20 rapidly installed, prefabricated balconies per day, using our wealth of industry knowledge and skill.

Whilst it might be the fastest way to install a balcony on the market, Sapphire’s Glide-On™ Cassette® solution isn’t the only way to install balconies for your project. Our new low-carbon Glide-On variation is easy to attach to a concrete wall, saves a great deal of carbon and saves money in the process.

Latest innovations in balcony installation

Using our intelligent new system, we can attach balconies to concrete walls using fewer, smarter connections. This not only reduces the load on the wall but allows us to reduce thermal bridging, putting our balconies at a lower risk of heat loss.

How is Sapphire staying sustainable?

The carbon benefits of our new system are enormous. By reducing the penetrations in the façade of a building, not only will less operational carbon be emitted after the building is in use, but less carbon will be emitted when first constructing the building. Saving on both embodied and operational carbon is a great benefit and will keep the balcony sustainable for long-term use.

Cost benefits of Sapphire balconies

Finally, by reducing the penetrations in the building’s façade and guaranteeing fewer carbon emissions, the overall cost of the building can be reduced. These savings include, but are not limited to:

  • Reducing the cost of the wall by using a precast façade, which is lighter.
  • A lighter wall allows a smaller crane to be used on-site, reducing initial building costs.
  • A lighter wall also allows more internal floor space in each apartment. The client will therefore get a greater return on investment.
  • Finally, our new system enables a simpler waterproofing and fireproofing detail. This allows savings in labour in other packages, such as a lack of need for external access.

Sapphire has recently worked on a project in the UK where these cost savings can be observed. The project in Wembley, London required 444 balconies and using our new low-carbon system, we were able to save £800,000 in construction costs.

Why choose Sapphire Balconies?

We can help to bring your balcony project to reality – by reaching out to us using the contact form below, we can assess whether your project is suitable for our new system. If so, we can work with you at an early design stage to see whether our new alternative solution to Glide-On™ can bring these significant savings to reality.

Our Glide-On variation is something we’re working hard on at Sapphire and will reveal more in the future. In the meantime, read more about the benefits of our new low-carbon system, or download one of our whitepapers on innovation to learn more.[/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][sapphire_textOverlayBlock image=”7660″ heading=”Explore Balcony Designs with COACH ” button_text=”Start in COACH” button_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcoach.balconies.global%2F|title:COACH%20Balcony%20Configurator|target:_blank” double_height=””]Tailor the balcony to your exact project requirements. Options include drainage, balustrades to soffits and many more.[/sapphire_textOverlayBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” image=”712″ heading=”Specify Your Bespoke Balcony” button_text=”Specify Now” button_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcabs.balconies.global%2Fbalcony-configurator%2F|||” double_height=””][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Looking Back on Pomona Wharf

Posted on by Sajjad B

[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

Posted on by Sajjad B

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 Rigidity Wows at Blackfriars

Posted on by Sajjad B

Balconies at Local Blackfriars in Salford, Manchester are among the most rigid achieved to date, eclipsing the British standard for deflection of L/180.

Heritage and modern architecture blend beautifully at Local Blackfriars as the Grade II-listed former pub has been transformed into a gateway entrance to the gated community. In a nod to the local history, the former Black Friar pub is flanked by two striking modern towers that provide 380 apartments to the area.

Concrete wall panels were chosen for this project which the contractor wanted to connect balcony bracket to, in lieu of the slab. To meet this challenge we designed a bespoke bracket that maintained the thermal break inside the cavity, while also meeting our Rigid.Ready.Right. brand promise.

The specialised brackets were produced and cast-in at the concrete wall panel manufacturer’s factory in Dublin before being shipped back to Manchester for install.

Our brand promise guarantees all our balconies will be Rigid.Ready.Right. first time. This means they must meet a minimum of L/360 deflection which is twice as rigid as the British standard. At Local Blackfriars we achieved an outstanding 0-1mm deflection when tested with a 200Kg weight making these some of the most rigid balconies installed to date.

Not only did we manage an extremely high rigidity result, we worked harmoniously with other trades to ensure the smoothness of the project programme. All 290 Glide-on™ Cassette® balconies were prefinished offsite at our production facility in Staffordshire ahead of the agreed delivery date and securely stored ready to be called to site.

The balconies were then ‘nested’ onto each pallet to optimise transportation costs and efficiency, reducing the number of lorries arriving to site and reducing emissions.

The concrete wall panels required the use of the crane Monday-Friday, so we scheduled delivery and install of our Glide-On™ balconies on weekends. This way crane costs could be minimised, the project could progress quickly, and synergy could be reached between the different trades active on the project.

The simplicity of the Glide-On™ innovation enabled teams to achieve 30 per day meaning lost program time caused by other trades could be caught up.

The result, exceptionally rigid balconies wowed at Local Blackfriars and provided residents with essential private outdoor space for a bustling central Manchester lifestyle.

Residents benefit from communal facilities including a reception, laundrette, cinema room, fitness studio, bike storage and car parking space. This development offers luxury living with their extensive indoor facilities as well as access to a relaxing ‘urban orchard’ between the towers.

Situated just two-minutes’ walk from Manchester’s vibrant shopping district, the lively northern quarter and the buzzing nightlife of Deansgate and Spinningfields. The development was designed by 5Plus Architects and delivered by Salboy.

This article was originally featured in Insight Magazine, subscribe for your free copy every quarter here.

Speedy Installation Stuns at Woodberry 1B

Posted on by Sajjad B

Sapphire’s innovative offsite prefinished balcony system enabled all 20 balconies to be delivered and installed rapidly at North London’s Woodberry Down. All balconies were delivered and installed in a single day, leaving onlookers stunned. Berkeley Group themselves were doubtful this could be achieved until it unfolded in front of them.

“I even lost a bet thinking that it wasn’t possible!”

Site Manager – Berkeley Group

Balconies were manufactured offsite in one of Sapphire’s production facility while connections were being completed. With the building prepared the prefinished balcony units, complete with glass balustrades and soffits, were transported to site ready for fixing to the façade using the system’s innovative connectors. Sapphire’s fast-track solution saved the housebuilder time, labour and crane hire charges. Once again, Sapphire’s Glide-On™ system has allowed record-breaking balcony installation speeds. As soon as the installation team got up and running, they were able to unload and install a lorry-load of six balcony units in just under an hour. In addition, Sapphire designed special first-fix bracketry to suit the apartment building’s timber frame construction.

Aimed specifically at the high-rise housebuilding sector, Sapphire’s Glide-On™ balcony system makes balcony installation simpler, faster and more cost-effective. Allowing high quality residential projects like Woodberry Down to have balconies installed rapidly and to excellent factory quality standards. Manufacturing and finishing balconies in its factories allow Sapphire to maintain a high degree of quality control and efficiency. In addition, Sapphire’s offsite solution helps minimise site time and associated costs, such as scaffolding and crane hire, and product quality is kept consistently high compared with completing more of the work on site.

Balconies installed on the apartments at Woodberry Down incorporate Crystal® glazed balustrades. The structural glass panels are combined with a stainless-steel top rail which enhances the minimalist appearance whilst offering high corrosion resistance. Being a frameless balustrade system, Crystal® requires no vertical support posts so residents can enjoy clear views over the capital.

In addition to this phase of Woodberry Down, Sapphire has also manufactured and installed over 150 glide-on balconies for Skyline, the development’s 30-storey residential tower. Once all phases are completed Woodberry Down will deliver around 5,500 new homes, situated alongside reservoirs and open spaces and yet just a short distance from Central London and the City.