The Avon Dry Wall Beam

Concept and Advantages

The Avon Dry Wall Beam is an off-site manufactured façade solution for the rapid enclosure of a building envelope. Advantages include:

• Rapid enclosure of the external envelope
• A simple installation method
• The ability to be erected in all weathers
• Flexible unit sizes allowing most structures to be catered for
• Ability to accommodate any external cladding option
• Off-site fabrication so no site waste
• Scaffold free site
• Cost savings from early completion of envelope
• Slim wall construction maximises available floor areas

Design

The Avon Beam is constructed from a structural steel ladder frame and urethane insulation core, encapsulated within an inner and outer skin of cement particle board.

The standard sandwich thickness of 126mm exceeds the requirements of Building Regulation L2 with a U-Value of 0.34W/m²K.

Greater values can be achieved, if required, by increasing the Avon Beam thickness or converting to a phenolic core.

Capabilities and Testing

The Avon Beam has been fully tested at Taylor Woodrow Engineering´s test centre in accordance with CWCT Standard Test Methods:

• Air Leakage Test: 0.16m³/hour/m² , far improved upon the 1.5m³/hour/m² standard.
• Water Tightness: No visible penetration from static, dynamic and hose pressure testing.
• Wind Resistance: Passed both serviceability and safety.

Taylor Woodrow Test Results (PDF)

Installation

Purpose built bracketry consisting of male/female interlocking units have been designed to enable rapid installation when on site.

The female brackets are fitted during manufacture, whilst the male brackets are fixed, lined and levelled to the columns of the primary structure prior to installation of the Avon Beam.

All dead load support is obtained at column grid positions on the main structural frame via the adjustable brackets.

If lateral restraint is necessary for wind loading, this is provided by sliding brackets at points along the Avon Beam, as determined by wind loading calculations to BS6399.

The sliding brackets are also designed to accommodate floor/frame deflection under applied load.

The system is designed with a cladding zone tolerance allowance of up to 41mm provided via purpose designed shims.

The Avon Beams are lifted into position using a telehandler forklift, crane or monorail system.

Flexibility

Cladding Options

• Aluminium Rainscreen
• Terracotta Rainscreen
• Insulated Render Systems
• Brick Slip Systems
• Pre-Finish Board
• Glasal
• Resoplan
• Trespa
• Promat
• HD External Cladding System

Material Lining

• 8mm Eternit Pyroc (standard)
• Board lining to client choice
• Promatect-FW
• 60, 90, 120 minutes fire protection (for easy integration and direct decoration)

Awards

The Avon Dry Wall Beam has won numerous awards including:

• The Queen's Award for Enterprise - Innovation (2004)
• Growing Business Award - Best New Product
• Building Magazine - Innovation of the Year
• Contract Journal - Construction Product of the Year
• Quality in Construction Awards - Innovation of the Year