Victoria & Albert Museum
February 2020

Q9 Cladding Solutions have partnered with fastener specialist SFS for the highly anticipated Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee. Their comprehensive building envelope package will ensure the visually stunning façade delivers on the architect’s aesthetic goals throughout its lifespan.

Due to open September 2018, the V&A is the centerpiece of the Dundee waterfront regeneration programme, a £1 billion project designed to reconnect the city with its river. The 30 year redevelopment scheme (2001-2031) stretches 5 miles along the Tay riverside and is expected to help create more than 7,000 jobs.

Designed by globally acclaimed Japanese architects Kengo Kuma & Associates following an international competition, the V&A Dundee is an impressive 8,000m2 building. Once complete, a total of 2,466 huge cast stone panels, weighing 3000kg each and spanning up to 4m wide, will wrap around the museum's façade, the design of which was insipired by the coastal cliffs of the North East of Scotland. This is Kuma's first building in the UK, who is considered by many as one of the most significant figures in contemporary architecture. He is also designing the stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As part of the building envelope package, SFS also worked closely with membrane manufacturer Sika Sarnafil to ensure that the innovative design of the V&A warm roofs could be delivered sustainably and to a superior build quality for maximum longevity.

This is part of SFS’s dedication to providing industry-leading support and guidance along the entire supply chain. Colin Black, Technical sales manager for Scotland worked closely with Sika Sarnafil and Q9 Cladding Solutions, providing multiple pull out tests at various stages of the project and technical backup during the installation phase.

The V&A building’s location is in a very exposed waterfront position, with an impressive cantilever over the River Tay and a roof height of 18m. These factors meant that wind load calculations required both the membrane and insulation layers be mechanically fixed. The exposed saline environment of this site demanded the highest level of corrosion resistance which necessitated the application of austenitic stainless steel grade A4, grade 316 fasteners. These will ensure that the life of the fastening system will meet or exceed the life of the roof system and eliminate the risk of premature failure.

Sika Sarnafil S327 membrane was installed with the Sarnafast fastening system, which includes thermally broken SFT sleeves and SFS's BS-S-4,8 austenitic stainless steel grade A4, grade 316 fasteners. The tapered insulation system was also installed with BS-S-4,8 fasteners which were combined with Sika SBT sleeves and SBIW insulation washers.

Being A4, grade 316 austenitic stainless steel, the SFS BS-S-4,8 fasteners are available with a 25 year warranty and have been proven in environmental conditions worldwide. This is due to the material characteristics of A4 austenitic stainless steel which is recommended for industrial and coastal regions where design life requirement exceeds 15- 20 years.

Colin Black says "It was great to work with both Q9 Cladding Solutions and Sika Sarnafil on this prestigious building. This development means a lot to the redevelopment and growth of Dundee and we are very proud to have been able to assist with our products and expertise".