Thin-joint system speeds major HA project

Celcon aircrete with the Thin-Joint System was chosen for a major, GBP18.75m project for the St Pancras and Humanist Housing Association.

The project is Woolmer House, which is phase 1 of the development of the QE2 hospital site in Welwyn Garden City.

When all three phases are complete this will provide 213 key worker accommodation units.

H+H Celcon Thin-Joint System was chosen because it is a Modern Method of Construction and so qualifies for Housing Corporation funding.

Woolmer House Phase 1 is a mix of 42 bedsits and one-bedroom flats which will be used by on-call doctors, consultants and other key workers.

Construction is concrete frame with Celcon blocks and the Thin-Joint System being used as a fast method of infilling the reinforced concrete frame.

Celcon Solar Plus blocks were used to meet the requirements of Part L in existence at the time construction started in January this year.

The exterior finish is facing brickwork, with insulated cavities.

The brickwork contractor was City Brickwork.

This is the second housing association project that contractor Durkan Limited has used Celcon aircrete products and the Thin-Joint System, the first was a 28-unit care home and offices for Octavia Housing and Care at Kensal Road, London W10.

Paul Shadbolt of Durkan, who has been contract manager for both projects, is very impressed with the system: "It's very easy; Celcon aircrete blocks can be laid by semi-skilled workers and the Celfix mortar sets very quickly".

"We learned a lot on the earlier project for Octavia Housing and were really able to use the system to its full advantage on Woolmer House".

Durkan has started work on phase two of the project, again using Celcon blocks with the Thin-Joint System.

On this second phase Celcon blocks will be used for the inner skin of the brick-clad cavity walls.

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