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Harwell Multi-Storey Car Park Corten Mesh

Weathered Steel Expanded Metal Mesh

Expanded Metal Mesh In Weathered Steel

Introduction

As sustainability takes centre stage in architectural design, weathered steel (commonly referred to as Corten steel) expanded metal mesh stands out as a versatile and eco-friendly material. Not only does it offer a mix of durability, strength, and natural weathering properties for diverse applications, but it's also non-combustible, adding to its appeal. This material, celebrated for its rustic allure, undergoes a gradual weathering process, developing a protective oxide layer over time. This layer not only extends the material's lifespan but also enriches its aesthetic appeal, making it an excellent choice for environmentally conscious projects.

Environmental Benefits Of Weathered Steel

There’s a triple environmental benefit of using Corten steel expanded metal mesh, which stands out for its sustainability: It’s crafted from recycled steel, requiring minimal energy for production compared to conventional construction materials. Its durability and resistance to corrosion eliminate the need for toxic coatings or chemical treatments, and this also makes it easier to recycle at the end of its working life.

The Visual Appeal of Corten Steel

Architects and designers favour weathered steel expanded metal mesh for its ability to enhance the visual appeal of structures, offering a unique patina that adds character to buildings. Its customizable texture and pattern enable architects to achieve various aesthetic outcomes while providing functional benefits such as natural ventilation and lighting, reducing the reliance on artificial cooling and lighting systems.

Applications for Weathered Steel Expanded Mesh

The material finds applications in facades, cladding, and privacy screens, offering both visual appeal and practical advantages. Its versatility allows for innovative design solutions that blend seamlessly with the environment, fostering a sense of unity and integration. Overall, weathered steel expanded metal mesh presents an opportunity for sustainable and visually striking architectural designs that prioritize environmental responsibility.

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Deptford Railway Station London

Metal Mesh Applications in Rail and Energy Industries

Metal Mesh Applications in Rail and Energy Industries

Introduction

Mesh applications have become increasingly important in the rail and energy industries, offering solutions that blend functionality with aesthetic appeal. In this post Technical Director, Adrian Billingsley, explores a variety of mesh applications that are transforming these sectors. From enhancing safety to improving visual aspects, the versatility of mesh is unparalleled. Let’s dive into some of these innovative applications.

Platform Pedestrian Barriers, Parapets, and Balustrades

Our framed mesh, particularly useful for elevated pedestrian platforms and bridges, serves as a low maintenance, fireproof, and crowd-resistant barrier. Predominantly made from stainless steel and designed to be anti-climb, these meshes are ideal for ensuring safety. For a closer look, check out the projects at Deptford Railway Station, London and Cheltenham Racecourse. We also offer rigid pre-crimped woven meshes for these applications and can supply perforated panels.

Access Grating

We provide galvanized gratings frequently used in the oil and gas industry. An expanded metal version is available, featuring “heel-safe” apertures suitable for women's footwear on bridges and walkways.

Wedgewire

When a higher specification of grating is required, wedgewire comes into play. It's suitable for balustrade infill panels, façades, air distribution, and various bespoke applications. Notable examples include Elios Architectural Wedge Wire which is used for the Twin Sails Bridge project in Dorset.

Rooftop Plant Enclosures and Gantry Plant Screens

These applications often use woven meshes, expanded metal, and perforated metal to achieve a balance between airflow and opacity. Check out our projects at the University of Essex, Here East in London, and 55 Hudson Yards.

Fire Escape Stairs

Metal meshes are ideal for enclosing fire escape stairs due to their ventilation and fireproof properties. Examples include Reading International, The Met Office in Exeter, and Green Park, Reading. Our cable mesh and rope diamond mesh are also used in these applications.

Electrical Substations

Mesh is frequently used for substations, where ventilation, security, and aesthetics are crucial. Examples include the Severn Sisters, Highbury Substation and Oxford Science Park.

Ceilings

Metal mesh ceilings, installed in passenger halls and concourses, allow visibility of services housed above, while providing a visual screen. They are non-combustible and secure, as seen in the British Museum and Warsaw University.

Solar Shading

Most meshes can be used for solar shading, with more 3D meshes being particularly effective. Projects include Templeman Library Canterbury and Oxford Science Park.

Bird Exclusion

Our rope diamond netting range is effective for bird exclusion, as demonstrated at Greenwich Design District, London ), and Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Extruded Mullions

Developed for the Olympic Games in London, our extruded mullions have become a key component in our cladding projects. They are versatile and can be provided in various finishes and lengths.

Secure Cycle Enclosures

Our mesh enclosures, like the Cycle Hub at High Holborn in London, provide secure bicycle storage. We typically use perforated metal, but pre-crimped woven mesh is also suitable for these projects, as seen in the Midtown Cycle Vault, London.

Mesh applications in the rail and energy industries offer innovative, efficient solutions for a variety of needs. Whether it's enhancing safety, aesthetics, or functionality, the applications of mesh are as diverse as they are effective.

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Computer servers

Metal Mesh for Data Centres

Metal Wire Mesh for Data Centres

Introduction

In today's digital age, data centres play a critical role in the storage and processing of large amounts of data. With the ever-increasing demand for data storage, it's important to ensure that data centres are built to withstand the challenges of high density, high temperature, and high-power consumption. One of the key materials in the design of data centres is wire mesh, which has several applications in the construction and maintenance of these facilities.

What Is a Data Centre?

Data centres are specialised facilities designed to house large amounts of computer servers, storage devices, and networking equipment. They provide critical infrastructure and services for organizations  that require high-performance computing and data storage capabilities.
A data centre is designed to be highly secure, reliable, and scalable, with redundant power supplies, cooling systems, and network connections to ensure continuous uptime and availability of data. They are used by a wide range of organizations, including corporations, government agencies, healthcare providers, financial institutions, and cloud service providers.
Data centres can be located on-premises, within a company's own facility, or they can be outsourced to a third-party provider, who offers colocation services. Colocation services allow organizations to rent space within a data centre to house their servers and IT infrastructure, while still retaining control over their data and applications.

Computer servers

Why is Wire Mesh Used for Data Centres?

Wire mesh is the ideal solution for data centre cooling, through airflow management. Proper airflow is critical to keeping data centres cool and preventing equipment from overheating. Wire mesh panels can be installed on the front and back of server rackshttp://airflow to allow for maximum airflow, while still providing security and preventing unauthorized access.

It is designed to be transparent, which allows for maximum visibility and surveillance around the data centre. This is important for security personnel, as it allows them to monitor the perimeter of the data centre without obstruction.

Our mesh can be customised to fit any size or shape, making it a versatile choice for data centre security. It can be used to create secure enclosures, partitions, or fencing around the perimeter of the data centre.

It represents a cost-effective solution for data centre security, as it is relatively inexpensive compared to other security materials. This makes it an ideal choice for data centres that are looking to reduce costs without compromising on security.

External Staircase Cladding and Building Facades

Wire mesh can also be used as an external staircase cladding or building facades for data centres. It can provide several benefits such as increased safety, durability, and aesthetics.

When using wire mesh as external cladding, it’s important to select the right material for the application. Stainless steel is a popular choice because it is strong, durable, and can withstand harsh weather conditions and fire. Additionally, it is resistant to corrosion, which is important in an environment where humidity levels may be high.

The size of the wire mesh openings (aperture) should also be considered. The mesh should be small enough to prevent objects or debris from falling through, but large enough to allow for proper ventilation and air circulation.

It is also important to ensure that the wire mesh is properly installed and meets local safety standards and regulations. A competent professional should be consulted to ensure that the wire mesh is installed correctly and will provide effective safety and durability for the application.

Pre-Crimped Wire Mesh Cladding for Added Security

Pre-crimped wire mesh can be a good choice for security at data centres, as it offers a number of benefits over other types of security fencing. Here are some of the key advantages of using pre-crimped wire mesh for data centre security:

Locker pre-crimped wire mesh is made from high-quality steel wire, which provides exceptional strength and durability. This makes it difficult for intruders to penetrate and helps to deter unauthorized access to the data centre.

It can be customised to fit any size or shape, making it a versatile choice for data centre security. It can be used to create secure enclosures, partitions, or fencing around the perimeter of the data centre.

Wire mesh is a transparent material, which allows for maximum visibility and surveillance around the data centre. This can be particularly useful for security personnel, as it allows them to monitor the perimeter of the data centre without obstruction.

Benefits for Fire Protection

Finally, wire mesh can be used for fire protection in data centres. In the event of a fire, wire mesh can be used to contain and control the spread of flames and smoke. Fire-resistant wire mesh panels can be installed in areas where high temperatures are expected, such as server rooms and electrical distribution areas.

Pre-crimped metal wire security mesh

Conclusion

In conclusion, wire mesh plays a critical role in the design and construction of modern data centres.
Its versatility and strength make it an ideal material for airflow management, physical security, raised floors, and fire protection. As the demand for data storage continues to grow, the use of wire mesh will likely become even more prevalent in the design and maintenance of data centres.

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Locker Architectural Stand 72

Locker are at the Architect at Work Exhibition

Architect at Work Exhibition, March 2023

Come and Meet Us!

The Locker Architectural team are at the Architect at Work Exhibition and would love to meet you. We're at stand 72 on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd of March, from 1 pm to 8 pm. The exhibition is held at the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1 6QR.

Please drop in and meet our experienced team of designers and installation project managers.

You can register here for free access to the show.

 

Architect at Work Exhibition
Architect at Work Exhibition

Contact our team for more information

Don't worry if you can't attend the show. Just contact our sales team or call us on 01925 406620 to discuss your project requirements.

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Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 4

Architectural Metal Mesh and Lighting

Architectural Metal Mesh and Lighting

Metal mesh has a huge number of inherent qualities which make it excellent for a multitude of architectural applications. Corrosion resistance, durability, flexibility, strength, open area for air flow, fire rating etc. are all prioritised by architects and contractors alike.

One of the benefits that we don’t celebrate quite so often is the range of aesthetics. The varying textures, openings and profiles of metal mesh are perfect for creating both dynamic and dramatic lighting features, whether they be for bar grilles or huge multi storey car park facades.

Megaro Hotel
Leeds University Multi-Storey Carpark Lighting

Here at Locker, we like to encourage all use of metal mesh. Whether it be for architects and contractors for use in a project, or as recently demonstrated at the Wire Works Exhibition right here in Warrington, for artistic expression.

We frequently issue samples to students of architecture, as well as sculpture and photography.

The following photos were taken by Finleigh Palmer, GCSE student.

Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 1
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 2
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Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 4
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 5
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Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 8
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 9
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 1
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 2
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 3
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 4
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 5
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Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 7
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 8
Finleigh Palmer Architectural Mesh Photograph 9
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“I love working with metals, especially metals with patterns or cut outs because you can pass light through them and it will create its own unique shadow. Changing the colour of the light that you use can change the whole perspective of the photograph.”

 

  • Finleigh Palmer - GSCE Student

Contact our team for more information

If you are looking to specify mesh for a large-scale cladding project or building envelope, and you have concerns over the fire safety of your specification, contact our sales team for a more in-depth discussion.

Click Here for details of our full product range, or phone 01925 406600.

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2 Cumberland Place Dublin Close Up

Fire Performance Ratings

Fire Performance Ratings

Building safety during construction and occupancy is important for everyone involved in the process; from architects, product manufacturers, to contractors and end users.

Fire safety is of upmost importance when considering which external cladding material to specify for the building’s façade. Fire breaking out in or around a residential or commercial building has the potential for disastrous consequences such as severe structural damage or even worse, the loss of life.

Fire ratings for Cladding and Juliet Balconies in High Rises

Since the Grenfell tragedy in 2017, the materials used to construct high rise buildings have been under incredible scrutiny.

Architects and specifiers are now acutely aware that the materials they specify must carry the appropriate fire rating, lest they end up like Studio E, the architectural practice in charge of the Grenfell tower refurbishment in 2015-16.

Studio E filed for liquidation after becoming embroiled in a lawsuit and unable to afford legal representation at the Grenfell Tower inquiry.

Westlegate Tower Balcony in Norwich

Fire Ratings Made Simple:

The UK Building regulations on fire safety were issued in 1991 and use (from best to worse) Class 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ratings to classify materials. However, since then, the UK Government has adopted the far more thorough and exhaustive Euroclass system:

  • Class 0 is not a fire classification identified in any British standard test. Despite that fact, people still incorrectly cite Class 0 – 4 when talking about Fire Ratings.
  • European fire ratings (Euroclass) are (from best to worse) A1 , A2, B, C, D, E or F.
  • Smoke emissions are indicated using a (from best to worse) S1 , S2, or S3 rating.
  • Smoke classifications are not given to products with an E or F Euroclass rating.
  • Flaming Droplets/particles are indicated (from best to worse) using a d0, d1 or d2 rating.
  • A1-rated products are not given a smoke or flaming droplet rating, as it is assumed they do not contribute to fire growth or spread.

The building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 specifies that materials used for and attached to the external wall of buildings 18m+ high must achieve Class A2-s1, d0 or A1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 (later superseded by BS EN 13501-1:2018).

The UK Government is also exploring a proposal that would further include 11m+ high buildings.

First Street in Manchester

What does this have to do with Juliet Balconies and Cladding?

Though it wasn’t applied retrospectively, this effectively resulted in a ban on the future use of laminated glass infill panels for balustrading and Juliet balconies in high rises, as they fail to achieve the necessary fire rating.

As of today, there are few companies who have managed to achieve this fire rating using glass materials. Those that have are offering a product which is too expensive to be practical. At the time of writing, none have ever managed to achieve an A1 rating.

Just in case you were wondering – the glass panes in windows and doors are specifically exempt from this rule and can be made using laminated glass.

Locker Architectural Products

EU Publication 96/603/EC lists materials that are class A1 rated without fire testing (provided they are not finely divided) inclusive:

  • Steel
  • Zinc and zinc alloys
  • Stainless steel
  • Aluminium
  • Copper and Copper Alloys (including brass)

Locker Architectural metal meshes are generally made entirely from aluminium or stainless steel before the introduction of a secondary finish.

This means that they are automatically classed as A1 fire rated and can safely be specified for high rise buildings, be it Juliet balconies, façade cladding, rain screening, sun screening etc.

Stainless Steel

brocklebank_205 precrimped woven wire mesh

Stainless Steel is typically left with a natural finish (i.e. no secondary finish is applied) which means the finished product is A1 rated.

Aluminium

garston-expanded-metal mesh

Aluminium is often provided with a secondary powder coated, or anodised finish. Powder coated finishes are typically rated A2, whereas anodised finishes typically achieve an A1 rating.

Contact our team for more information

If you are looking to specify mesh for a large-scale cladding project or building envelope, and you have concerns over the fire safety of your specification, contact our sales team for a more in-depth discussion.

Click Here for details of our full product range, or phone 01925 406600.

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