News / Press
Kingspan Off-Site centres on Network Rail
23 Sep 2008
Kingspan Off-Site’s Architectural Façade System (AFS) has been used to construct the Network Rail East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC) in Derby. Based on a derelict, brownfield site and incorporating renewable technologies, the centre will control the signalling and operations for the entire East Midlands rail network comprising over 350 miles of track.
The non-load bearing Kingspan Metro AFS through-wall panels were precision engineered to meet the specific architectural requirements of the three storey EMCC building, one of which was to create a structure with the ability to withstand a blast force. As such, 200mm enhanced stud centres and steel plate linings were specified for the Kingspan Metro AFS panels instead of the standard 600mm centres. The Kingspan Metro AFS panels were delivered to site ready for installation by approved installers WHL.
Manufactured at Kingspan Off-Site’s 12,000m2 facility in Sherburn, North Yorkshire, the Kingspan Metro AFS panels comprise a steel frame onto which composite panels were fixed. This precision engineered system can be applied onto steel or concrete framed buildings of any height and enables the building to be closed off quickly, forming a weatherproof envelope.
Dyan Crowther, route director at Network Rail, commented: “Our objectives for the East Midlands Control Centre were to provide modern, environmentally friendly facilities which would be cost effective and would utilise modern, sustainable construction methods. The Kingspan Metro AFS system helped us achieve these aims.”
The Kingspan Metro AFS through-wall system has been specified
for the construction of 18 similar Network Rail control centres
which are planned for strategic sites throughout the country, as
part of a £250 million investment program. A second, two
storey control centre in Glasgow has also been completed using the
Metro AFS through-wall system from Kingspan Off-Site.
