Trent Brick Panel : innovative envelope system designed according latest UK national fire and energy performance regulations

In November 2018, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, the Ministry of
Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) introduced an amendment to the
Building Regulations 2010, which outlined stricter rules banning the use of combustible
materials defined by the new Building Regulation 7(2). This change had a significant impact
since early 2019, on the materials and systems that can be used in the construction sector. In
2020, the global pandemic caused by the diffusion of the COVID-19 virus represented a new
challenge for the industry, with implications on programme certainty, material procurement,
workforce management, moving towards offsite manufacture. The development of the Trent
Brick Panel is set against this historical and social context. The envelope prototype is the
opportunity for innovation that follows the turn of events. The offsite manufacturing of glassreinforced
concrete panel, mimicking several finishes, is the result of a design investigation
carried out with the market-leading actors: developers, main contractors, subcontractors,
engineering consultancies, architects, local authorities and warranty providers. The research
aims to give an overview of the design principles, sequence and buildability study, assessed
weathering performance according to CWCT Sequence B test and fire performance.