Oxford Method Research Programme

The Alternative Solution

 As time has passed by the panels of many buildings are breaking down and the remedies described will not have long lasting effects. A solution has been found to give the building a more secure life extension, one with minimal disruption to the occupants.

The 2M method used an extended pressed metal cill which projects forward over a concrete external wall. With the metal cill removed the concrete wall provides the ideal foundations to support a skin of brickwork that becomes the new external cladding. With the wall tied back with brackets to the metal frame, the only cladding panels to be removed are those to the corners and columns. At window openings new windows are built into the external skin and then the existing windows are removed and minor works are required to form new jambs and cills.

At coping level, the existing coping to be tied to the new brickwork with timber supports and covered with a preformed aluminium coping.

The following photographs shows the first 2M building to have this form of treatment. (click to enlarge)

From a method that had a limited cladding life left with the solution relaing to painting and patching it is now possible to reclad and give, for a reasonable expenditure, a regenerated building.

The concrete wall under the cill which allowed 2M buildings to have this work carried out does noe exist to 3M buildings. The stub cill has no wall under and the concrete wall is flush to the steel frame on the outside (see below)

If a concrete beam can be bolted to the external wall the same solution could be achieved and all 2M & 3M buildings given a new lease of life