Lindapter Girder Clamps provided a solution for connecting the framework for the stainless steel and glass façade.
Location: Madrid, Spain
Market: Façades & Cladding
Product: Type AF Girder Clamp
Quantity: 3,000
Client: Zurich Insurance Group
Engineer & Contractor: Bellapart, s.a.u.
The Zurich Blue Building is the Spanish headquarters for Zurich Insurance Group located close to Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, Spain and designed by Rafael de La-Hoz architects. The new building was designed to be an energy efficient and sustainable modern office block, with a complex stainless steel and glass double skin façade.
Spanish construction company, Bellapart, were awarded the design and build contract for the Blue Building. One of the most important phases of the design was the bespoke, geometric, double skin ventilated façade with light reflecting glass to contribute to the overall building energy efficiency through a motorized solar control and glare reduction system.
The design consisted of an internal skin of solar protection glass and aluminum frame, and an external façade using solar protection curved glass and stainless steel micro perforated curved sheets with mirrored finish. During the design Bellapart identified that they required an alternative solution to drilling and bolting or welding the façade to the main building structure.
Lindapter’s technical support team were approached by Bellapart to offer a suitable solution and they were pleased to recommend a simple connection detail using Lindapter girder clamps.
The solution comprised a C shaped bracket with slotted holes connected to the steel beams of the main building using Type AF size 1/2" girder clamps in a four-bolt configuration. The glass and stainless steel cladding panels could then be connected to the external face of the brackets. This solution provided the necessary tensile and slip resistance to support the double skin façade.
The contractor used over 3,000 Type AF girder clamps to secure the brackets to the steel frame. Installation was quick and easy due to the lateral adjustability, which allowed the contractor to simply slide the bracket into the correct position on each steel beam before tightening with standard hand tools.
The Lindapter solution provided a fast installation and avoided costly and inconvenient field drilling or welding that would have been difficult when working at height. The adjustability of the girder clamps also gave the contractor flexibility to overcome any alignment issues when installing the glass and stainless steel façade panels to the brackets as contractors could temporarily loosen the girder clamps, adjust the position and then once in their final position tighten them to the recommended tightening torque.
The Blue Building is considered a benchmark building for sustainability and energy efficiency in the capital, and received the “3 Diamond Award”, which recognized it as the most efficient building in Spain. It also achieved energy certification A and the LEED Platinum Certificate.
Want to find out more about this product?
Watch the
installation video
How can we
help you?
Reasons to choose Lindapter
Save time and money
Clamping two steel sections together avoids time-consuming welding or conventional drilling and bolting.
Safer connections
Drilling and welding in the field is avoided, removing the need for hot work permits and encouraging safer site conditions.
High strength
Lindapter clamps are manufactured from high strength materials to resist high load requirements and harsh environments.
Industry leading approvals
Lindapter has earned a reputation synonymous with safety and reliability, gaining multiple independent approvals.
Adjustable
Quickly align steel sections by sliding the section into the correct position before tightening the Girder Clamp to complete the installation.
Free connection detailing
Lindapter’s experienced Engineers can detail a custom connection based on your specific requirements free of charge.
You must have a Lindapter account to access this content
Log in to your account
Register for an account
Don't have an account?
Click here to registerAlready registered?
If you have registered for an account but have not received your confirmation email, please click here to resend.
Headquarters
Lindapter Internationalnews