Page 8 - MCRMA Metal Matters Oct 2022

Wraptite Provides Client: Canary Wharf Group
Architect: Horden Cherry Lee
Specialist Contractor: Sharpfibre
Protection

An impressive build-to-rent development in the heart of Canary Wharf, London
has highlighted another benefit of the high performing Wraptite air barrier from
A.Proctor Group.
The iconic Newfoundland building, also known as ‘The Diamond Tower’, rises
60-storeys above the Thames and is home to 636 apartments with amenities
including a health club and spa, restaurant, café and retail units and offering
dramatic views over the city.
The project design was by architects Horden Cherry Lee on behalf of the client
Canary Wharf Group.

The slim diamond shape of the tower is determined by the narrow footprint of the
site and the diagonal alignment of adjacent streets. The design of the diamond
pattern of the external structure presents a clear and striking new landmark form
for Canary Wharf.
Specialist contractor Sharpfibre provided fire stopping to the 636 apartments and
common areas, installing Firetherm Intubatt and Intucompound and fire protection
to the structural steels using Knauf Fire-Tek 160.

During construction, the structural steels were exposed to the elements until the
contractor could install the cladding, which could have caused an issue due to
declension.

Knauf Fire-Tek 160 does not have any hydrophobic additives to prevent the
insulation from wind-driven rain or moisture, so a solution was required to offer
temporary protection from the elements. The answer was to cover the protected
steels with the Wraptite airtightness membrane.
Wraptite is designed as an effective vapour permeable air barrier to maximise the
energy efficiency of buildings. The application of the Wraptite membrane provided
class W1 protection from the weather elements to the Fire-Tek and the exposed
steel until the diamond shape façade was installed and completed.
Wraptite is the only self-adhering vapour permeable air barrier certified by the BBA
and combines the critical properties of vapour permeability and airtightness in one
self-adhering membrane. The self-adhered nature of Wraptite and its high level of
water resistance and simplified detailing made it an ideal choice.
The high vapour permeability of Wraptite allows the substrate beneath to dry
quickly, moisture vapour to escape and reduces the likelihood of mould, mildew,
condensation, timber distortion and metal corrosion.
There are considerable benefits to incorporating the Wraptite System within the
facade design. First, the use of Wraptite helps ensure “as-designed” performance,
narrowing the gap between as-designed and actual energy performance and
reducing the likelihood of potential failures to meet required airtightness levels.

Wraptite is a self-adhesive breather membrane applied externally, quickly and
efficiently as part of the rainscreen system. Traditional internal air barriers will
need to accommodate building services such as electrical, lighting, heating and
drainage systems, increasing the gap between as designed and built. However, the
Wraptite membrane fully bonds to virtually any substrate, requiring no mechanical
attachment, seals or tapes to suppress air leakage around junctions or penetrations.
Wraptite is compliant with Part B regulation changes and also has BRE approval
for use in the external wall systems of buildings over 18m in height, both as a
continuous layer on sheathing board, behind fire classified insulation, and for use
to tape joints in insulation behind the rainscreen.

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