Oxford Method Research Programme

Introduction

Generally:

It will be appropriate on many hospital sites in the former Oxford Region, for new buildings or abutting extensions closely to match the external appearance of the original "6M" building, both for reasons of consistency and for ease of achieving planning permission.
Many other aspects of the original 6M planning principles and construction will also have continuing validity and may appropriately be adopted, including the 600mm planning grid; general structural layout; floor and ceiling levels, including structure/services zones; ceiling construction; partition construction; drainage materials and layout principles; and interior components and assemblies, such as doorsets and sanitary assemblies.
Following sections identify specific ways in which these components may be matched using currently-available materials and current construction good practice, and propose substitute approaches in instances where the original 6M construction may no longer be available or appropriate.

Limiting factors

A direct re-creation of all aspects of the original 6M construction will not be possible in all respects, for reasons which include:

• subsequent changes to Building Control and other legislative requirements, such as thermal insulation standards and construction for fire safety
• project-specific design adaptations required for the intended first floor extension
• original building components no longer being commercially available; for example, the "Plannja" profiled metal cladding is no longer manufactured to the original "6M" profile
• simplification of the original construction details, all in order to achieve project cost savings; for example, a simplified lattice beam construction