KNAUF DRYWALL SYSTEM AT CORE OF AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
A specialist drylining system from Knauf Drywall has won a "core" role in the development of the new Terminal 5 (T5) at Heathrow Airport, London. The Knauf Shaftwall system was specified for six service cores in the 440 metre-long satellite building, T5B. The cores, which extend over three, six and seven floors, contain stairs, lifts and service shafts.
Knauf Shaftwall is ideal for applications such as high rise buildings and infrastructure developments because it combines superior fire resistance and durability in the long term with ease of installation and cost effectiveness. Its special profile steel studs allow Knauf Shaftwall to be installed from one side, avoiding the need for scaffolding – or complicated fixing – inside the shaft.
T5B is part of the massive £4.2 billion development which is located on 260 hectares at the western boundary of the airport, and is due to open in 2008. When fully complete, T5 will provide Heathrow Airport with the capacity to handle up to 35 million additional passengers a year.
As a supplier to fit-out contractor Mansell Construction Services, drylining subcontractor Astins has installed 27,000m2 of walling – mostly Knauf Shaftwall. With much of the drywall construction involving several layers, this totals about 100,000m2 of board.
Most of the Knauf Shaftwall installation in T5B consists of 146mm Knauf ‘C-T’ steel studs supporting 19mm Knauf Coreboard. This is faced on the room side with two layers of 15mm Knauf Fire Moistureshield, a high performance plasterboard providing added protection against dampness.
The 178mm construction used at T5B typically provides up to two hours’ fire resistance and reliable protection for firefighters. It also provides 45dB (Rw) sound reduction – or 50dB with a 25mm insulation quilt in the void. Higher sound reduction performance can be achieved with additional layers of board and/or thicker insulation quilts.
As Knauf Coreboard is also fire and moisture resistant, shaft enclosures can be built before a building is weather-sealed.
Knauf Shaftwall is engineered for lift shafts in high-rise buildings. Its panels and fixings withstand sharp variations in air pressure when fast-moving lift cars are passing. The Knauf Coreboard facing into the shaft is normally unfinished, while the high performance boards on the room side are finished as normal partitioning.
More details on Knauf Drywall products and systems for use in commercial and public infrastructure buildings can be found in a comprehensive new brochure from Knauf Drywall. This can be downloaded on this site or call for your free copy on 08700 613 700.