High speed Hi-Point cuts installation time

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Apr 17, 2006

Roof installation programme for a new multi-storey luxury apartment block in Liverpool was dramatically cut to just two days, thanks to the use of the new Hi-Point roofing system from Corus.

The roof installation programme for a new multi-storey luxury apartment block in Liverpool was dramatically cut to just two days, thanks to the use of the new Hi-Point roofing system from Corus.

At 27 storeys the residential development, which is part of the mixed use Unity Project, presented numerous challenges, not least because of its location in the heart of the city centre.

Owing to the scale of the project; speed of installation and increased safety by reducing man-hours working at height, were prime considerations for designers Dane Architectural and main contractors Laing O'Rourke.

The striking 1.5 degree pitched Hi-Point gull wing roof, which sits 94 metres above the ground, proved to be the ideal solution.

The 22 Hi-Point modules were lifted and bolted into position in just two days by approved Teamkal contractor EHS Roofing, allowing significant reductions to be made in both the roof installation programme and the overall site time.

According to project designers Dane Architectural's Contract Manager William Morrison, both the speed of assembly and the accuracy of the positioning of the Hi-Point roof went particularly well, so much so that it 'fitted like a glove'.

Additionally, the lifting method was used for the very first time on this project.

The new process sees the lifting lug incorporated into the design of the roof purlin cleat, which then remains in place to allow the roof to be easily removed and recycled at the end of the building's life.

As whole life performance and durability were also important factors in the specification of the roof, the Hi-Point system was equipped with 1.2 mm clad stucco embossed Kalzip 400 aluminium standing seam sheets.

A range of Kalzip fabrications including verge and roof flashings, mono ridge and verge capping details, was also specified in a stainless steel finish to complement the wall panels, all of which were manufactured by the Kalzip Fabrication department.

The 398 square metre Kalzip roof also features a new 25 metre long thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) walkable insulated membrane gutter, produced by Corus in two modules for connection on site.

Fully recyclable, the TPO gutters are also environmentally friendly and produce no harmful gas emissions during the manufacturer or the hot-air welding process.