Wates Thin-Joint trial cuts build time

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Sep 7, 2005

Celcon's Thin-Joint system has saved time for Wates on substantial assisted living home developments for client Sunrise Senior Living.

Celcon's Thin-Joint system has saved time for Wates on substantial assisted living home developments for client Sunrise Senior Living in Banstead and Purley in Surrey.

This was the first time Wates has used the Thin-Joint system with its quick-setting Celfix mortar.

The inner leafs of the two complexes were constructed using Celcon Hi-7 blocks, which were chosen to meet the structural load requirements of the project.

Wates decision to trial the Thin-Joint system was taken for commercial reasons, with the objective of completing a weather-tight envelope quickly, to enable second fix to start inside the home while the facing brickwork was still going up.

Following the trial it has now been decided to use Celcon's Thin-Joint system for future Sunrise projects at Fleet and Bournemouth.

Commented David Easter of Flahive Brickwork, brickwork contractors for the projects: "This was the first time we have used Celcon's Thin Joint system: Our bricklayers adapted to it very easily, and we were impressed with the speed of construction that can be achieved.

"We found Celcon's Thin Joint system simple and tidy to use on this steel framed building.

Tying into steelwork was no problem with the purpose made fixings.

We also had a fair amount of cutting to do, but the combination of bench saw and aircrete blocks made this easy".

Both thermal and fire insulation were superior using aircrete with thin-layer technology: The better fire insulation properties enabled Wates to do away with the horizontal cavity barrier, as the external leaf was fire rated.

The Sunrise homes at Banstead and Purley comprise assisted living accommodation for frail older people with a total of 165 bedrooms - a mix of single and double, bathrooms, kitchenettes and living areas.

Common areas include wider than normal corridors, bistro and public and private dining areas.

Construction is steel frame with suspended metal decking and concrete slab floors with facing brickwork and a concrete tile roof.