New Church Steeple
19th April 2011
Robert Horne, the materials expert, was approached by Sign Metals & Plastics Ltd (SMP Ltd), Birmingham with an interesting project in mind. A church in Castle Vale, Birmingham required a new steeple. The process was truncated with talks between architects, local church authorities, SMP Ltd and Robert Horne. Robert Horne materials are increasingly being specified for innovative projects, because it gives expert advice on materials, holds large stock levels and a speedy turnaround is ensured.
The unique church steeple is a statement in modern design and is set to become a landmark in the area. It is made from Lexan Margard Polycarbonate, in a colour-specific green tint, giving it a fresh vibrant look. The Lexan sheeting is exceedingly hard wearing and the finish means minimal cleaning is required, when compared to alternative products.
SMP Ltd interpreted the design, routed the material and then fitted the steeple. Andy Hillier, SMP Ltd says: "This was not a run of the mill project and we wanted to ensure the end result was spectacular yet cost effective. We had to have a product that would be tough enough to withstand adverse weather conditions. As a material, Lexan Polycarbonate offered a 10 year warranty on breakage and 7 year warranty on weathering. This combined with the service and back up offered by Robert Horne were key to our choice of material. The installation was made so much easier because this product is exceedingly lightweight."
Marcus Prickett, Account Manager, Sign & Display, Robert Horne comments: "As Robert Horne's key supply partner for Polycarbonate materials, we used the vast technical resources of SABIC Innovative Plastics. For over 25 years SABIC have made it easy for architects and builders to obtain the support, customised products and design assistance needed to help complete projects and meet stringent specifications. This enabled us to identify the correct material for this project. Lexan Margard combines the high impact strength of Lexan polycarbonate with a proprietary abrasion/UV resistant surface that is close to glass in performance. This makes it ideal for use in applications where frequent contact and cleaning may occur. The surface is also resistant to graffiti, a factor for this project, which allowed restoration to a good-as- new condition. It provides superior impact strength and forced entry protection (up to 250 times impact resistance of glass and 30 times that of acrylic), which again is important for specifications in large urban areas.
The architects had stringent specifications. We were able to offer design support and customise the products to meet tough criteria. Design considerations were key to the success. We had to calculate wind speeds to decide on the actual loading on the panels and make sure all the fixings had the right mechanical strength, as well as allowing for thermal expansion. These factors, together with the excellent clarity, high resistance to abrasion and UV protections, made Lexan Margard perfect for this project."
The unique church steeple is a statement in modern design and is set to become a landmark in the area. It is made from Lexan Margard Polycarbonate, in a colour-specific green tint, giving it a fresh vibrant look. The Lexan sheeting is exceedingly hard wearing and the finish means minimal cleaning is required, when compared to alternative products.
SMP Ltd interpreted the design, routed the material and then fitted the steeple. Andy Hillier, SMP Ltd says: "This was not a run of the mill project and we wanted to ensure the end result was spectacular yet cost effective. We had to have a product that would be tough enough to withstand adverse weather conditions. As a material, Lexan Polycarbonate offered a 10 year warranty on breakage and 7 year warranty on weathering. This combined with the service and back up offered by Robert Horne were key to our choice of material. The installation was made so much easier because this product is exceedingly lightweight."
Marcus Prickett, Account Manager, Sign & Display, Robert Horne comments: "As Robert Horne's key supply partner for Polycarbonate materials, we used the vast technical resources of SABIC Innovative Plastics. For over 25 years SABIC have made it easy for architects and builders to obtain the support, customised products and design assistance needed to help complete projects and meet stringent specifications. This enabled us to identify the correct material for this project. Lexan Margard combines the high impact strength of Lexan polycarbonate with a proprietary abrasion/UV resistant surface that is close to glass in performance. This makes it ideal for use in applications where frequent contact and cleaning may occur. The surface is also resistant to graffiti, a factor for this project, which allowed restoration to a good-as- new condition. It provides superior impact strength and forced entry protection (up to 250 times impact resistance of glass and 30 times that of acrylic), which again is important for specifications in large urban areas.
The architects had stringent specifications. We were able to offer design support and customise the products to meet tough criteria. Design considerations were key to the success. We had to calculate wind speeds to decide on the actual loading on the panels and make sure all the fixings had the right mechanical strength, as well as allowing for thermal expansion. These factors, together with the excellent clarity, high resistance to abrasion and UV protections, made Lexan Margard perfect for this project."
