RISERSAFE® FLOORING TAKING COMMERCIAL BUILDING SAFETY TO NEW HEIGHTS

Ambar Kelly’s revolutionary riser shaft flooring system, RiserSafe®, has been chosen for the redevelopment of 2 Aldermanbury Square, a vibrant city centre hub in the heart of London. 

The project, set to deliver more than 300,000ft² square feet of commercial space, incorporates the patented RiserSafe® solution to guarantee unparalleled safety throughout the construction phase and provide added security for occupants upon completion. 

With the new development set to be a hugely important community building, an effective and safe system was needed – not only to protect workers during construction but also to ensure the riser shafts wouldn’t act as chimneys and would remain resistant to fire throughout the building’s lifespan.

The redevelopment has a concrete substructure and concrete core, with Ambar Kelly providing 57 of its modular riser flooring units (80m²) for the substructure and 431 units (373m²) for the superstructure – all bespoke designed and manufactured using advanced 3D modelling in the virtual world.

All units were manufactured off-site and supplied complete on-site, reducing the build time dramatically. 

The client, Great Portland Estates (GPE), also had an ambitious challenge to reduce the carbon footprint over this new development, making it an exemplar building for the future and one Ambar Kelly took great pride working on. 

To meet the sustainability target, the secondary steel was replaced with a three-sided RiserSafe® supporting system, leaving one edge unsupported instead of using secondary steel. Extended flanges were incorporated to serve as support for the metal decking.

Additionally, in locations where RiserSafe® units exceeded 7m in length, the frame contractor placed temporary supports supplied by Ambar Kelly, which were reused on higher floors. This allowed the composite slabs to be cast, with the supports subsequently removed after the structural slab had cured.

Both actions enabled the substantial reduction of carbon emissions and a major improvement of the building’s carbon footprint.  

Offering superior buildability and safety, the RiserSafe® modular riser flooring system was also utilised on the roof of the building. This not only improved safety for those working on the building but also significantly sped up construction.

Lendlease was working on behalf of GPE to bring the plans to life, with Keltbray as the contractor responsible for the substructure and William Hare as the contractor responsible for the superstructure, along with Arups (engineer), Allies and Morrison (architects), Sweco (MEP consultant), and TClarke (MEP contractor).

Tom Perry, the Structures Lead at Lendlease, highlighted the close collaboration between Ambar Kelly and Lendlease. 

He said: “There was a real willingness from Ambar Kelly to work with subcontractors and main contractors and the site and design team listened to the specific requirements, which made the project so much easier to complete. The Contracts Manager also allowed coordination to take place, which really helped.”

Ambar Kelly’s Euroclass A1 non-combustible riser flooring solution is designed to meet the specific interface requirements of each project. The RiserSafe® flooring system is a complete solution for riser shafts, that works with all structural frame types and is installed as the structure is formed. This prevents the dangerous risks of fire and falling from height in a single product. 

The permanent, bespoke and flexible flooring solution provides benefits to all key parties within the supply chain, allowing other disciplines to continue their work on the project without hindrance, while offering enduring safety and structure. 

Lendlease and Ambar Kelly share a vision for a sustainable future, which is evident in the collaboration on the 2 Aldermanbury Square development. The project features a blue roof water attenuation system, solar shading, and a 10% increase in ecology through landscaping. Both companies met regularly during the project to discuss low-carbon building practices and experimental ideas. 

The use of Risersafe® in the redevelopment of 2 Aldermanbury Square is a testament to Ambar Kelly's commitment to safety and innovation. With its advanced design and buildability, it is no wonder that this revolutionary product was chosen over traditional fall protection solutions. The project is set to reshape London’s office landscape and provide a safe and secure space for occupants. 

Situated in the heart of the City of London, this ambitious development entails the demolition of an existing building and reuses some of the steel for the new building, in order to reduce the carbon footprint. Positioned close to St Paul’s, Bank and Moorgate underground stations, and with added pedestrian routes, the development offers convenience for commuters. Plans include a double-height entrance, a striking central atrium and 20,000ft² floor plates, offering a large, attractive and fresh workspace, with extensive energy efficiency measures being incorporated into the design.