Building safer, faster, stronger and more sustainable in the Monastery Quarter

Comprehensive package of thermal bridge breaks and masonry supports for San Rufino

The contours of the Kloosterkwartier in Veghel are becoming increasingly visible. On the spot where the Franciscan Sisters have lived for many years, more than 500 homes are being built, 41 of which are in the San Rufino building. This new residential building at the entrance to the Kloosterkwartier is a development by Z-enzovoorts BV. Construction company van de Ven is responsible for the construction, while Granito Concrete Products produced the precast balcony slabs. On behalf of the contractor and concrete manufacturer, Leviat supplied the thermal bridge interruptions and masonry supports.

Leviat is a world leader in lifting, connection and anchoring technology for construction and industry. "From ground-level housing to high-rise projects and from masonry support to concrete and precast construction: we devise, model and produce technical solutions as well as innovative products that enable contractors and concrete manufacturers to build safer, faster, stronger and more sustainable," says Gerko van Gortel, Sales Engineer Concrete Department at Leviat Borne. "By thinking along with us from an early stage in terms of technology and assembly and by, for example, integrally engineering thermal bridge interruptions, façade supports and lintels, clients are completely relieved of their concerns and quality and feasibility are raised to an even higher level. That this is appreciated is proven by many close and long-term customer relationships, such as with Bouwbedrijf van de Ven and Granito Concrete Products."

Structural connections

"On behalf of Granito concrete products, we calculated and delivered the appropriate thermal bridge interruptions for the balcony slabs of San Rufino," Van Gortel says. "The main function of thermal bridge interruptions is to provide a structural connection between the (concrete/concrete, concrete/steel or steel/steel) structural members without creating a thermal bridge. This greatly reduces heat loss at cantilever components such as precast balcony slabs. Based on the final form drawings from the precast concrete supplier, the data from the wide slab supplier (concrete quality of the structural floor), and the calculations and load quotations from the main structural engineer and our colleagues from the facade department, we worked out a smart, good and easily workable package for the thermal bridge breaks."

Halfen HIT thermal bridge interruptions

At the basis of this package is the Halfen HIT system, explains Maartje Rijkeboer, Project Engineer Concrete Department at Leviat Borne. "We chose Halfen HIT-HP thermal bridge interruptions with 80 mm insulation and a standard fire resistance of 120 minutes, which are applied for both cantilever elements and transverse force situations. During product selection, we expressly took into account the applicable requirements and quality marks, such as KOMO, so that strength, rigidity and stability are guaranteed at all times. We also took into account the various types of masonry on the balconies."

Included in the prefabrication process

The thermal bridge breaks were included in the concrete manufacturer's precast process, says Van Gortel. "Then the precast balcony slabs including HIT elements were transported just-in-time to the construction site where, after setting, they were poured along with the structural floor. A nice animation of this can be found on our website." All products are supplied including clear and unambiguous processing instructions. "This allows not only faster and safer, but also stronger and more sustainable construction."

Halfen FK5 masonry supports

To cope with the loads of the San Rufino masonry, Leviat supplied a comprehensive package of masonry supports (facade supports and lintels) to Bouwbedrijf van de Ven. "The lintels are mostly applied above the window frames," says Martijn Lansink, Project Engineer Façade Department at Leviat Borne. "In locations where this is not possible and from the third floor up, facade girders are additionally applied. Our Halfen FK5 façade girders are adjustable in height and depth, offering maximum flexibility. A nice detail in this project are the cantilevered masonry piers, so many modified gable supports with a wider corner piece were applied. To ensure that the correct products are applied in the correct positions, all facade supports have a unique laser-cut marking that corresponds to the anchoring representations, drawings and calculations."

Also for blocks C, D and F

Following on from building San Rufino (Block E), Leviat is also supplying thermal bridge breaks and masonry supports for the Borneo (Block C), Solano (Block D) and Fioretti (Block F) buildings, on behalf of Lithos Construction and Development and Lammers Concrete.