Tag: Right

How Do We Promote a Culture of Testing Balconies?

Posted on by Sajjad B

[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Construction products must be tested rigorously to not just ensure quality and compliance with local standards, but to ensure that our end-users receive the safest, highest-quality product on the market.

Doing so can help highlight future risks, and the data from such tests can be used to classify a building site and help make engineering decisions. When it comes to testing balconies at Sapphire, we conduct numerous tests such as structural tests, glass strength testing, decking strength testing, vibration testing, deflection testing and slip resistance testing on balconies. Without such trials, it would be difficult to know whether the product meets the standards detailed in the building regulations. Sapphire has been committed to testing right from the early days. Today, we have our in-house testing lab and work with various experts to ensure the highest quality of all our products.

Use of UK Accredited Services (UKAS)

To ensure the highest levels of protection and peace of mind for our clients in the high-rise housebuilding sector, we have continued to invest in testing at Sapphire. We worked with a leading UKAS-accredited test house to gain expert advice on testing and certification, as well as ensuring materials, components and structures conform to the required standards and meet specifications. We worked closely with this Notified Body under the Construction Products Regulation to conduct rigorous testing to create the most tested balconies in the industry today.

However, while working with UKAS test houses, we found that their test lab was not set up specifically for balcony products. Most of their testing equipment is for general construction products, and we felt this limited our testing capabilities. This led us to set up our in-house testing facility and invest in balcony-specific testing equipment.

These test houses can provide costly large-scale equipment for critical longevity tests. One such piece of equipment is the hydrothermal chamber. This lets us conduct ageing tests on all our products to ensure durability. We leave the product in the chamber for weeks and subject it to scorching and frigid temperatures. We also test for the effect of heavy rain, salt spray for seafront homes, and other factors that could affect our outdoor products.

We have tested our cast-in anchors, balconies, decking, soffits, facias, glass balustrades, vertical bars and powder-coated samples to test how they age in extreme weather conditions.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_contentLinkBottom image=”14914″ heading=”Research & Development” button_text=”Read more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Fabout-us%2Fresearch-development%2F|title:Research%20%26%20Development”]Find out more about our Research & Development team![/sapphire_contentLinkBottom][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]

In-House Testing at Sapphire

To ensure that standards are upheld, we have set up an in-house lab to test our balconies regularly. This lab can conduct a wide range of tests. Over the years, we have invested in various testing equipment to enhance our capabilities to perform most of our testing in-house – excluding specialist testing such as fire tests, during which we work with specialist partners at their test houses.

We have invested in numerous sensors, equipment, pneumatic computer-operated rams and other technology so that multiple forces, factors, measurements, etc., can be applied and recorded during the working day or over several days of 24/7 testing.

With many of the tests we do ourselves, we have done desktop assessments in-house and with experts in the field and often the tests are witnessed by highly qualified and chartered subject matter experts.

We conduct fire tests on our products with accredited testing houses to ensure compliance with the latest Building Safety Standards in the UK. we also engage with various fire and engineering science specialists for testing/studies in the other markets we work in, bringing a wealth of different tests and localised knowledge.

As balconies are such an excellent product, many standard industry tests are for related products rather than balconies directly. e.g. a fire test for external wall systems rather than a test for balconies. This often means that testing an exact balcony scenario needs the principles applied from various related tests to know more definitively how it will relate to a balcony. This often calls for complementary or adapted testing regimes to be set up in-house.

The disadvantage of such testing in-house to slightly different parameters is that it isn’t a formal test it is certified to; however, being in-house, it can often be done much faster than waiting for a test house, and the results are much more scenario-specific.

Overhead Costs and Testing Balconies

In order to conduct exhaustive tests during our research and development stages, we have invested in a balcony test rig that helps us determine many things, from deflection to the natural frequency of a balcony. We work with reputable external test companies and undertake in-house commissions to test components. By investing heavily in testing, we can refine, replace and improve existing products and test out market-leading innovations in terms of concepts and materials.

We work with experts in different fields to ensure compliance, not only with British standards but also with specialists to ensure compliance with KIRO codes, American standards, Canadian standards, Dutch standards and beyond. We work with renowned experts such as Oxford Brookes in the UK and RDH in Canada and North America to better understand and improve the performances of our products.

The disadvantage of testing regularly and having an in-house Research and Development team and test lab is that it is an expensive overhead. The more important thing is that there is much more certainty of performance and thorough knowledge of how balconies can be improved in the future, whether it’s been tested extensively for years or a new product in the market.

Testing fundamentally takes much of the guesswork out of performance and ensures peace of mind for those whose safety depends on our competency.

Get in touch with our team at Sapphire to learn more about our specific testing methods get in touch with our team at Sapphire.[/sapphire_textBlock][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=”” el_id=”” el_class=”” css=””][vc_column][vc_raw_html css=””]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

ESG in Balconies

Posted on by Sajjad B

[vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards are a set of guidelines used by a company to consider behaviours from a socially conscious perspective. Acting from a socially conscious perspective is incredibly important for a company that wants to demonstrate its values and consciously avoid preventable disasters.

Each aspect of ESG is intended to help communities to stay sustainable. Being socially considerate can help to prosper communities. Dealing closely with governance can help internal controls. Working from an ESG perspective can help to bolster conscious business and so Sapphire has become a steadfast supporter of ESG standards.

Environmental Impact

Considering your impact on the environment has never been more important than in today’s climate. Being aware of your processes and how they can have an impact on, either through harming or safeguarding, the environment should always be a major concern in whatever actions your company takes.

Sapphire has taken a sustainable approach when practising balcony design, manufacture, and installation. This can mean using our dedicated design tool COACH to consider the embodied carbon of a project at the design phase. COACH can assist in designing out unnecessary materials or simply help the design be manufactured and delivered to the installation site faster, reducing the fuel spent in delivery. Carbon reports are available at no extra cost to inform you of the carbon emissions your project has saved (or could save) with adjustments.

Social Impact

A modern company should take a social approach to their business. How does the company manage a relationship with their suppliers, their customers, or the communities in which it operates? Managing these relationships should be a priority in conducting yourself.

Since 1992, Sapphire has been firmly committed to supporting charities, improving standards within the balcony and construction industries, and has forged long-lasting and trusted relationships with our suppliers and our community. We work with our accredited installers to make sure a Sapphire balcony is installed to the highest standard on every project, and we work to innovate in the balcony and construction markets to keep our customers both happy and in possession of the quality products that they deserve. We operate as our motto suggests – Innovation to prosper the Community.[/sapphire_textBlock][sapphire_contentLink order=”Image left / content right” image=”10232″ heading=”Thermal Efficiency in Canada” button_text=”Learn more” button_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Flocalhost%2Fbalconies%2Fnews%2Fthermal-efficiency-in-canada%2F|title:Thermal%20Efficiency%20in%20Canada”][/sapphire_contentLink][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row width=”70″ background_image=””][vc_column][sapphire_textBlock]

Governance

ESG can also oversee how a company governs itself. Being ethical and having good standards involves implementing policies, audits, and internal controls as an incredibly important way to make sure a company is operating morally, efficiently and correctly.

Sapphire has implemented a long list of controls to not only make sure the leadership team are knowledgeable but also that the balconies we ship out are rigid, ready, and right every time. Our innovative Passport system is a process we have introduced to make sure that every balcony coming out of our factories is checked thoroughly and passes a series of strict checks. By using Sapphire’s Passport system, we can ensure that every balcony arriving for installation on site has met our standards of delivery. This strict self-governance is important, and we strive to self-govern at every stage.

It’s important to remember that ESG impact is more than surface-level decision-making. Environmental impact is more than fancy statistics and claims but is about understanding how making changes to processes can have an impact on the environment. Social impact about people and communities, charity work, delivering and measuring the value that you put out. Governance is about internal mechanisms driving company behaviours towards sustainable solutions such as fully electric company cars or fundamentally improved quality control processes.

Being aware of ESG means that Sapphire can operate in a conscious, moral, and efficient way without compromising on the quality of the balcony that we deliver. By considering our impact on the environment, our carbon emissions, how we can work to prosper the community and keeping ourselves in check at every stage, we can keep our position as the reliable leaders we are known to be.[/sapphire_textBlock][sapphire_videoBlock video=”8891″ video_url=””][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/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.

Ask the Expert: Our Right Guarantee

Posted on by Sajjad B

With an increasing reduction in skilled site labour and need to minimise site overheads, the necessity for products being delivered to site ‘Right’ grows. Sapphire has faced this challenge head-on by making a brand promise of delivering balconies Right. Here we answer your questions on how the company delivers on its Guarantee.

How can I be sure that the balconies I specify have passed quality testing?

Each Sapphire balcony has a unique identity and is subjected to a series of individual quality checks to ensure it meets the required standard. Each balcony is issued with a ‘passport’ with every stage of QC checks captured in the ‘passport’ and the balcony cannot leave the factory without a complete traceable history.

What if I have different standards to others?

We like to build prototypes ahead of time so that clients can visit and agree on what their required standard is.

What if my balcony isn’t delivered Right?

In the highly unlikely event that one of your balconies isn’t perfect, all you have to do is report it. We will investigate it according to which part of the promise applies, and once resolved will implement our goodwill guarantee.

What’s the goodwill guarantee?

We know the most important action, if a problem has occurred, is to resolve the issue. Once rectified, our goodwill guarantee, a refund of £100 per balcony affected (up to £300 per balcony), is given to you as an apology for not delivering our high standards of Rigid.Ready.Right. first time.