Rockpanel transforms prominent London address

(4 Cam Road with non-compliant timber combustible cladding)

Creating a sleek, 21st Century facade  

Working with Rob Cela at main contractor, Bedrock Construction, Chris Saunders was project designer and co-ordinator. Chris described the process, “The brief was to give the building a sleek, 21st Century facade while ensuring its fire-safety credentials going forward. The project consisted removal of the  existing non-conforming ACM cladding, replacing it with lightweight, non-combustible A2 Rockpanel facades. The original panels were removed in sections, with the Rockpanel team, structural designers, and ourselves reviewing the existing support structure to confirm its suitability to receive new facade, ensuring the system was detailed to allow for required ventilation, fire-breaks and cavity barriers as stipulated by Rockpanel and building control.” 

Newham Council Planning Department were consulted at the outset of the project and advised that no additional consent would be required. It is recommended that advice be sought regarding whether any planning permission is required for planned works, especially at sensitive sites or in conservation areas. 

Rockpanel is proving to be very popular across all sectors for both new build and renovation, chiefly due to outstanding performance characteristics which include fire safety, supreme durability, weather, temperature and UV resistance and the fact that it requires little maintenance throughout its long life span. And even when the time comes for a Rockpanel facade to be replaced – in fifty years or more – the removed panels can be recycled into new boards with no loss of quality. Added to that, the unsurpassed breadth or surface design options available across the leading manufacturer’s collections enables specifiers to realise even their most creative vision without compromise. 

Rockpanel offers benefits to both occupiers and building owners 

In a competitive commercial rental market-place where attracting long-term, high quality tenants is key, the aesthetic appeal of Rockpanel facades, allied to their inherent fire-safety performance characteristics, adds additional appeal for prospective occupiers. For property owners, guaranteed compliance with recent building regulations helps with insurability and minimises unforeseen maintenance, repair and replacement costs, removing barriers to securing funding and investment. 

Bedrock Construction were responsible for the installation of the exterior cladding systems at 4 Cam Road. Around 2000m2 of facade panels were specified in a selection of three RAL-matched colours consisting, RAL 100 80 05 Light Grey, RAL 7001 Medium Grey, and RAL 7039 Deep Quartz Grey, arranged in complementary blocks and columns in varying widths and in line with or mirroring the full floor height window verticals, to accentuate the building’s angular elevations, its scale and shape.   

The right system for the most stringent fire safety requirements 

Rockpanel’s Rob Shirville, “With many urban projects where space is at a premium and access can be challenging, the lightweight nature of Rockpanel makes it easy to transport and move through the site. The panels can be precision pre-cut but are also easy to resize on-site with simple tools, saving time and money. The facade system at 4 Cam Road also utilised ROCKWOOL RainScreen Duo Slab® insulation which offers great thermal and acoustic values and achieves European fire class A1. Combined with Rockpanel A2 and an aluminium or steel substructure it fulfils the most rigid fire safety requirements and is required in achieving A2-s1, d0 Euroclass rating to ensure the ultimate protection and safety for the building’s users.” 

Rockpanel facade and ROCKWOOL insulation products share a common characteristic, their inherent non-combustibility, which is due to the naturally occurring and sustainable volcanic rock used in the manufacture of the stone wool that forms their core.  

The scale and complexity of high-rise properties and those considered to be vulnerable in terms of their use - including educational, medical and care facilities – must conform to the strict building regulations. This constitutes a particular challenge when it comes to ensuring the various parts of an external façade cladding system comply and work efficiently together. The Rockpanel team are always on-hand to offer comprehensive specialist technical information and support throughout every project.