Schöck Isokorb for ArtHouse alternating and stacked balconies
Structural thermal break units from Schöck continue to feature strongly in many significant new build projects that involve the thermal partitioning of balconies and other cantilever connections. One of the latest completed projects being 'ArtHouse', part of the King's Cross Central Regeneration project, located just north of St Pancras International and Kings Cross stations. It offers 143 high quality one, two, three and four-bed residential apartments; 29 of which are al-located for affordable housing. ArtHouse is an intriguing design. The façade utilises part glazed terracotta tiles and there are four residential clusters with interconnecting towers finished in polished stainless steel. The combination of towers and private roof terraces form an interesting castellated roofline to the building – with a further unusual feature being the incorporation of alternating and stacked balconies.
It is here that the prevention of thermal bridging was an early design considera-tion. Not only to minimise any resultant heat and energy loss, but to prevent condensation and mould growth forming, which can result in potential health and respiratory problems for the occupants.
The Isokorb type K from Schöck, for concrete-to-concrete connectivity, is incorporated into the ArtHouse development. In addition to providing an efficient thermal break between the varied connection profile and the concrete structure, it also transfers bending moment, stress and shear forces. The type K provides BBA Certification and LABC Registration, as well as comfortably exceeding the requirements of BRE IP1/06 and Part L of the Building Regulations. Here the temperature factor used to indicate condensation risk (fRSI), must be greater than, or equal to, 0.75 for residential buildings. A stipulation comfortably exceeded by incorporating the Schöck product into the design. To guarantee the accuracy of its current performance values, Schöck recently submitted the type K for independent evaluation by the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD), at Oxford Brookes University.
