Pilkington Has The Power

The Pilkington Planar frameless glazing system has been specified for the construction of Pulrose Power Station on the Isle of Man.

Designed by architects, Savage Chadwick, the glazed tension structure forms a high performance skin for the Manx Electricity Authority's gas turbine power station.

The design of the structure had to appear transparent and visually lightweight but able to withstand high wind loads, due to its location by the Irish Sea.

Also, the design had to minimise the effects of solar gain, solar reflectance and deal with any condensation that may occur over such a large glazed area.

"We primarily desired a large, clear, unframed wall of glass," said architect, Mark Savage.

"The Pilkington Planar system fitted the design requirements in terms of performance and visual appeal." Pilkington Planar provided the solution and 3,000 sq.

m of the system has been installed to form a glass wall to enclose the turbine hall on the east and south sides.

The building comprises a column free hall, measuring 48m long by 36m wide and 27m high, with a three storey service and control block located along the northern flank wall.

The Pilkington Planar glazing complements aluminium composite cladding panels which are installed to the north and west elevations.

Charles Henshaw and Sons were responsible for detailing the glass fixings and interfaces between the glazing and other parts of the building as well as undertaking the glazing installation.

The point fixed frameless Pilkington Planar glass facade comprises a vertical inner glazed skin and an inclined outer skin of 15mm Pilkington Optifloat plus glass, with panels sizes measuring 3.5m wide and 1.7m high to a span of up to 25m.

The structure is separated and supported by a tensioned rod rigging system, which was favoured over conventional steel mullions and transoms as the high vertical spans would have required large steel sections, resulting in the loss of lightness and transparency.

The glazing was fixed using 902 austenitic stainless steel bolt assemblies and Pilkington Planar Nexus castings with electro polished finish, bolted back to the trusses and compression tubes.

On the inner glazed wall, the spider castings interface the connection between the tension structure and the horizontal CHS props by incorporating a single bolt connection for both elements.

To prevent excessive solar heating and condensation the air space between the two skins was ventilated.

The power station is due for completion in September 2003 and when finished, will stand on the Isle of Man's Pulrose site demonstrating the flexibility and visual appeal of structural glazing as a creative design material.

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