Powdertech ‘Peat Fire’ adds the finishing touch to new student accommodation at Exeter University.
The Project
Over the last three to four years The University of Exeter has been building a substantial amount of new student accommodation. VINCI Construction has won the contracts for these new builds which include the £27.2 million Spreytonway & Moberly House project to provide a total of 382 student rooms. The architects were Wilmore Iles Architects.
Rusted metal appearance
The rainscreen cladding panels for the building is Dales DF-System Panels, supplied by Dales-Eaves. These are manufactured with a stiffer aluminium alloy using face-fixings. The on trend rusted metal look was required for the panels and Powdertech’s Evolution coating ‘Peat Fire’ was the perfect choice. Unlike Corten, Evolution finishes will not leach into the ground after rain or cause staining to surrounding materials. Powder coatings are free of VOCs, halogens and heavy metals and leave no hazardous residue. The Peat Fire finish is “consistently inconsistent”, visually interesting and offers flexibility in design and manufacture of architectural metalwork. The coating also conforms to the reaction to fire rating ‘A2, S1-d0.’
Aluminium preparation is important so Powdertech pre-treated the panels in a 6-stage Titanium Zirconium (TiZr) chrome-free technology process. The panels were then finished in ‘Peat Fire’ from our Evolution collection which reflects aging of metals and patination.
Benefits of Powdertech Evolution Collection
A wide range of effects to reflect the patinas that occur naturally on metals, using polyester resins system.
- Excellent durability and colour stability
- Striking visual and tactile detail
- High performance weather resistance
- Low maintenance
- Conforms to A2, S1-d0.
- Conform to BS EN12206-1
- Qualicoat class 1 or class 2 approved powders.
- Leaves no residue or stain
- Up to twenty-five-year guarantee.
Images courtesy of Adrian Toon (a2n) Photography
