Grand Ocean, Saltdean

We were appointed to carry out two phases of work at Grand Ocean, Saltdean. The first was to carry out fire safety remediation works to the cladding elevations of the penthouse level apartments. This was funded as part of the Homes England Government funding initiative. The scope included for the removal of the existing rain screen cladding system including face fixed panels, aluminium rails and brackets, EPS and Celotex insulation, breather membrane and cement-based board to SFS.

A new system has been installed consisting of Y wall fixed to existing SFS, Tyvek Trifecta breather membrane, cavity barriers, helping hand brackets, rockwool insulation, aluminium rails and face fixed Hardie Panels, to give fire safe certainty to the apartments. The second phase included for the removal of the existing traditional sand/cement render to the existing 1930’s built Art Deco building, originally constructed as a hotel, to be replaced with a new cementitious render with decorations. The works also included masonry repairs and waterproofing works, which had become an issue in this very exposed location overlooking the English Channel.

The first phase of works to remediate the existing EPS cladding system on the penthouses at Grand Ocean, gave us the opportunity to determine the type of cladding panel and helping hand system that would be best served at this location. During the PCSA process, there was much research and design into the support structure that would give the warranties required considering the marine and exposed windy position. Similar to other projects of this nature, we were also carrying out activities in a busy dynamic site, with 6 stories of apartments and a doctor’s surgery also located in the building, which always brings unique challenges that need to be appreciated and brought into the schedule of the construction programme. Whilst not being a BSR development, this non-HRB was constructed with the same ethos with regards quality and its documentation as any project undertaking similar remediation.

Every project is unique, and like most this one brought its own range of issues that needed to be overcome during both the PCSA and construction phases. Whist the FRAEW report that formed part of the Tender documentation was a starting point for the information to design the works, the site’s rooftop location meant that further investigation and validation of these findings was limited until the scaffold access was in position. It is therefore essential to ensure the new designs put forward to Building Control are extensive and robust enough to cover every scenario that may be encountered when access and removal of the existing can start. During the project, the benefits of good communications to the Client Team and the building’s residents were confirmed, with statements and briefings of the upcoming works being regularly transmitted so that everyone who needed to be were fully engaged with CBG’s activities.