LIV Student, Sheffield
CURTAIN WALLING REMEDIATION SURVEY & REPLACEMENT
Client Details
Project Summary
Trident Facades was appointed to investigate significant curtain walling defects at LIV Student Accommodation in Sheffield following multiple glass unit failures. Working alongside WSP and the project team, Trident carried out an intrusive investigation of the west elevation commercial space to establish the condition, construction and causes of the failures. The investigation identified a number of structural, installation and component defects within the existing curtain walling system, leading to a programme of remedial replacement works.
Scope of Works
The project involved intrusive investigation, removal and replacement of defective curtain walling and glazing. Trident’s scope included opening-up of the existing system to inspect concealed connections, fixings, waterproofing, thermal breaks and supporting elements, together with detailed dimensional and tolerance checks.
Following the investigation, defective curtain walling frames and glazed units were removed and replaced. Remedial works also included reconstruction of structural substrates and spigot connections, installation of engineered steel transfer plates to support cantilevered sections, and precision reinstallation of the curtain walling system with new gaskets, seals and correctly formed expansion and drainage clearances.
The works were undertaken to address the identified structural and installation defects and restore the performance and integrity of the curtain walling system.
PHASE 1: DIAGNOSTIC AND INVESTIGATIVE SURVEY
Scope and Investigative Services
Key Survey Findings
Structural Design Deviations: Substituted concrete upstands with timber battens and blockwork, stripped 8 mm base plates from spigots, and used unapproved teck screws instead of 2x M10 dead-load through bolts.
Cantilevered Slab Stress & Bowing: First-floor screens cantilevered over slab edges with as little as 30 mm purchase on concrete without engineered steel angle supports, resulting in bowed brackets and unisolated pivoting base plates.
Workmanship & Tolerance Errors: Transoms installed out of tolerance, compromising the mandatory 7.5 mm clear air/drainage gap around glass perimeters and putting thermal/deflection strain on glass edges.
Glazing & Component Failures: Used narrow PVC packers over aluminum glazing shoes, causing point-loading on the inner glass pane; missing EPDM seals, crushed thermal breaks, and uncompressed louvre gaskets were also identified.
PHASE 2: REMEDIATION AND REPLACEMENT WORKS
Scope and Contracting Services
Complete removal and safe disposal of existing, defective glazed units and curtain walling frames.
Supply and fit of brand-new replacement curtain walling frames and double-glazed units.
Substrate and spigot reconstruction, including casting structural concrete upstands to original specification with newly engineered spigots and 8 mm base plates.
Installation of engineered steel transfer plates beneath first-floor cantilevered sections to safely transfer grid loads back to the slab.
Full precision re-erection of the SF52 system to strict tolerances (+2 mm) with new gaskets and proper 7.5 mm expansion clearances.
