Facades

Urban Seam® façade

Limited combustibility wall system suitable for use on buildings over 18m tall.

Tata Steel has taken its non-combustible Urban Seam® cladding sheet and incorporated it into a façade system comprising products that are classified as A1 or A2-s1,d0 and therefore meet the requirement of the latest Building Regulations.

Fully supported standing seam cladding systems are typically supported by and fixed back to continuous plywood or OSB backing board. In the Urban Seam® Façade system the combustible backing board has been replaced by a non-combustible profiled steel deck. The lightweight profiled steel deck is fixed back to a helping hand rail and bracket system which in turn is fixed back to a typical steel frame system.

The system has been independently verified by full scale CWCT testing for wind resistance, water tightness and hard & soft body impacts and also includes British Board of Agrement Approval for Colorcoat Prisma®.

Tata Steel construction urban seam facade wall
Tata Steel construction urban seam facade wall
Tata Steel construction urban seam facade wall
Tata Steel construction urban seam facade wall
Tata Steel construction urban seam facade wall
Tata Steel construction urban seam facade wall
Tata Steel construction wall facade
Product specification

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade-default

Urban Seam Façade
Specification details

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade | Overview

Overview

Made in the UK

Manufactured in Shotton, North Wales, Urban Seam® standing seam façade system consists of an A1 rated  pre-finished steel fixed to a Trisobuild® D32s carrier sheet. This construction makes the system ideal for multi-occupancy apartments, student accommodation, hotels, and mixed use buildings. It also future proofs the cladding element from changes in building regulations.  The  finish provides a stunning, but robust, aesthetic finish, with a contemporary colour palette. Quick build times are possible with neat crisp finishes to complement design and build choices.

Product benefits:

  • A1 Reaction to fire Classification for  and Trisobuild® D32s carrier profile tested to EN13501-1: 2002
  • Full scale CWCT testing for wind resistance, water tightness and hard & soft body impacts.
  • Quick fit system with invisible fixings, reduces installation time on site compared with traditional cladding products.
  • Contemporary colour range offering complete design flexibility with complementary colours and natural metal shades
  • Robust Confidex® Guarantee for up to 40 years upon registration which includes a colour guarantee for standard colours.
  • BRE Green Guide A+ rated product, and 100% recyclable at end of life.
  • Revolutionary 3 layer coating technology, providing enhanced aesthetics and long term performance and durability.
  • Independently tested for liberation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) against EN ISO 16000-9 and achieved an A+ rating.
  • Fully REACH compliant & free of chromates including hexavalent chrome.
  • Made in the UK. Certified to BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing Standard.

If you have any questions or for further information click here to contact us.

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade | Design details

Design details

Looking for help and advice with your designs?

The Colorcoat Urban® team of experts are available to offer the support you need and provide you with more detailed information on our Urban Seam® Facade. We have robust design drawings for the cladding detailing, including window detailing with respect to fire protection. 

Whether you are looking for a more detailed drawing or a copy of our specification guide contact our team.

If you have any questions or for further information click here to contact us.

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade | Technical data

Technical data

Trisobuild D32s carrier 0.7mm profiled sheet

 

Load span table - uniformly distributed loads (kN/m2):

 

Span condition

Span (m)

   

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Imposed

Single

8.09

8.09

7.28

5.12

3.20

2.12

1.47

Imposed

Double

5.17

5.17

4.47

3.45

2.75

2.25

1.87

Imposed

Multi

6.08

6.08

5.27

4.08

3.27

2.68

2.25

Suction

Single

8.18

8.18

6.63

4.62

3.41

2.62

1.93

Suction

Double

10.51

10.51

8.52

5.93

4.37

3.35

2.66

Suction

Multi

12.75

12.75

10.34

7.19

5.30

4.06

3.22

Pull out strengths:

Steel thickness (mm)

Ultimate pull out strength (kN)

Serviceability pull out strength (kN)

0.7

0.755 kN

0.378

Maximum recommended fixing centres for the Urban Seam® sheet based on serviceability pull out strength:

Panel width (mm)

Fixing centres (mm)

Maximum suction load (kN/m²)

514

180

4.08

514

240

3.06

514

300

2.45

514

360

2.04

305

180

6.88

305

240

5.16

305

300

4.13

305

360

3.44

Thermal properties:

Wall build up

Wall 1

Wall 2

Wall 3

Outer profile

0.7mm steel

0.7mm steel

0.7mm steel

Backing profile

0.7mm steel

0.7mm steel

0.7mm steel

Sheathing board

12mm

12mm

12mm

Vented cavity

50mm

50mm

50mm

Insulation

60mm mineral wool

100mm mineral wool

160mm mineral wool

Sheathing board

12mm

12mm

12mm

Insulation within steel frame

250mm mineral wool

250mm mineral wool

250mm mineral wool

Lining

2 x 12.5mm plasterboard

2 x 12.5mm plasterboard

2 x 12.5mm plasterboard

Finish

3mm gypsum plaster

3mm gypsum plaster

3mm gypsum plaster

U value (W/m2K)

0.21

0.18

0.15

 

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade | Colour range and hand samples

Colour range and hand samples

Urban Seam® is manufactured from  which uses a 3 layer coating technology to provide the best possible colour protection (from fade) on the market, and has undergone rigorous testing for its resistance to corrosion and uv fade.  The 3 layer process has enabled us to supply different colours – matter ‘matts’ and more sparkly ‘metallics’.  The new metallic colour names have been named with the prefix ‘Seren’ to give a nod to their Welsh heritage.

Our hand samples can assist in colour selection and finalising product specification.

Order samples online for Catnic® Urban

Click here to choose your Catnic® Urban colour to samples.

Alternatively, contact the Catnic® Urban team on +44 (0) 1244 892449.

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade | Confidex® Guarantee

Confidex® Guarantee

For over 25 years the Confidex® Guarantee from Tata Steel has remained best in class.

Confidex® is the product performance guarantee for Colorcoat Prisma® which is used to manufacture the Urban Seam profile. It offers the longest and most comprehensive guarantee for pre-finished steel available in Europe with Colorcoat Prisma® being guaranteed for up to 40 years.

The Confidex® Guarantee is project specific and upon registration provides a contractual relationship between Tata Steel and the building owner meaning that in the case of a claim the contact with Tata Steel is direct rather than having to go through the supply chain, saving time and money.

Due to the superior aesthetic properties of Colorcoat Prisma® a colour guarantee is uniquely included as part of the Confidex® Guarantee for up to 20 years (see terms and conditions). This includes all 29 standard colours in the range, subject to location and use.

The Confidex® Guarantee is transferable, so should the building owner change it is simply a case of filling in the form on the back of the guarantee certificate and posting back to Tata Steel.

Find out more

If you have any questions or for further information click here to contact us.

EN-Construction-Product-Urban Seam Façade-downloads

Downloads

Find below a list of all our downloads for Urban Seam® facade: 

EN-Construction-CaseStudy-Residential-Waterfront Shoreham

Colorcoat Urban Tata Steel Construction

Tata Steel's standing seam roof and wall cladding supplied for major residential development in Shoreham

Tata Steel’s A1 fire-rated wall cladding system, Urban Seam® Façade has been used alongside its standing seam roofing and cladding system, Colorcoat Urban®, for The Waterfront development in the coastal town of Shoreham-by-Sea. The systems have helped to provide a distinctive and durable finish to different properties within the development, whilst maintaining a sense of continuity in the overall design.

The Waterfront from Hyde New Homes utilises a disused plot next to the River Adur and creates 120 new homes. Built by PMC Construction and designed by HGP Architects, the development also includes commercial space, communal courtyards and a riverside café. The Waterfront is part of a wider, 15-year regeneration scheme in the Shoreham area that will include new leisure facilities and improvements to the harbour.

The Waterfront comprises three apartment blocks alongside groups of terraced houses. Tata Steel’s Urban Seam® Façade in several colours has been utilised in various places across the development. On one of the apartment blocks it has been used as Anthracite coloured exterior wall cladding, while another includes Urban Seam® Façade in Seren Copper on the balconies that overlook the river. Colorcoat Urban® cladding in Merlin has also been used on the houses to clad the oriel windows found on the end of the rows. Across the development the cladding systems were installed with the standing seam running both vertically and horizontally depending on the look that was required – demonstrating the versatility of Tata Steel’s systems.

Tata Steel’s Colorcoat Urban® standing seam roofing system in Anthracite was selected for use on all seven house types within the scheme. This included several different roof shapes and styles such as the terraced gabled roofs that create an ‘M’ shaped roofline. It also enabled the creation of an unusual flat-topped gambrel shaped roof with dormer windows that features on a block in the centre of the development. Colorcoat Urban® is quick to install and is seven times lighter than roof tiles, making it easier and safer to handle. It is versatile and can be fitted to roofs with a pitch as low as 5°.

“It was important that the different buildings and property types had their own identity but had common elements that linked the whole scheme together,” explained Matthew Edwards, Associate Director at HGP Architects. “Using the steel standing seam for the cladding, roofing, balcony edges, oriel windows and other details helped create a sense of continuity. Urban Seam® Façade and Colorcoat Urban® blends perfectly with the copper cladding, London Brick, timber and glass that feature heavily in the design.”

Due to the potential uncertainty around the cladding regulations at the time the scheme was being designed, it was important to ensure the fire performance of all cladding elements exceeded the current requirements. Also, due to the tight layout of the site and the mixture of apartment blocks and lower storey houses it was essential that the Urban Seam® Façade and Colorcoat Urban® products were adaptable to meet the requirements of the building regulations.

“Although the block on the north end, now known as Cormorant House, was under 18 metres high, we needed to make sure that the cladding was tested and fire-rated to the highest standard. Urban Seam® Façade offered the ideal solution, especially with the updated BBA certification in 2019,” added Matthew Edwards. 

The Urban Seam® Façade system consists of a high-quality steel standing seam mounted on a profiled steel deck. This steel deck replaces the continuous plywood or OSB backing board usually used in fully supported standing seam cladding and means the new system has an improved reaction to fire rating of A1. This makes it ideal for low- and mid-rise residential apartment blocks.

Furthermore, due to the development’s proximity to the coast, the durability and longevity of the roofing and cladding was also a consideration. Both Urban Seam® Façade and Colorcoat Urban® are manufactured from high quality pre-finished steel that features a Galvalloy® metallic coating for exceptional corrosion resistance and cut edge protection. The longevity and performance of this coating is covered by a Confidex® guarantee of up to 40 years.

“We knew from previous projects that we could achieve the required look and finish with Urban Seam® Façade and Colorcoat Urban®,” said Rob Clarke, Pre Construction Manager at PMC Construction. “The systems were simple to install on all areas of the scheme and we were very pleased with the help and support we received from Tata Steel right from the earliest stages of the project. This included full product training for our installation teams.”

Gordon Crichton, Business Development Manager at Tata Steel concluded: “The Waterfront project demonstrates the versatility of our systems and their ability to provide a modern, safe, durable and cost-effective alternative to both other metal systems and more traditional materials. We are delighted to have been part of a development that is such an important element in Shoreham’s ongoing growth and regeneration.”

EN-Construction-CaseStudy-Residential-The Goldsmith Avenue development

Goldsmith Avenue development, Tata Steel Urban Seam Facade steel cladding

Tata Steel has supplied its leading steel standing seam wall cladding system, Urban Seam® Façade to a new award-winning development in Portsmouth. The Goldsmith Avenue project is among the first in the UK to benefit from the A1 fire rating of the system, as well as its modern aesthetic and long-term durability.

The Goldsmith Avenue development, which won Regeneration Project of the Year at the South Coast Property Awards 2019, provides a total of 70 high quality flats, with 56 for affordable rent and 14 for shared ownership. The two, six-storey buildings, built by PMC Construction for VIVID, provide a much-needed mix of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom flats, with two designed specifically for wheelchair users.

The exterior of the two buildings features a mix of red brick alongside Tata Steel’s Urban Seam® Façade in Merlin Grey, which was selected for its aesthetics, increased fire performance and longevity.

Matthew Edwards, Associate Director at HGP Architects said: “We were looking to create a pair of buildings that offered something architecturally different but still reflected the local area. We looked at a range of options, but the standing seam was the one that best suited the surroundings of former industrial and railway buildings. The grey steel cladding provides an excellent contrast with the classic red brick and creates the sharp lines that give the buildings their character.”

The Goldsmith Avenue development was in the planning and design phases during late 2017 and therefore the design and specification of the façade was influenced by the increased focus on fire safety that followed the Grenfell tower fire.

Richard Crane, Technical Design Consultant at PMC Construction explained: “The importance of maximising safety has been underlined in the most horrifying way and with regulations likely to change, we adapted the specification to ensure it surpassed current standards. Following a discussion with the team at Tata Steel, they devised a solution that would satisfy the client by minimising the use of combustible materials in the cladding systems.”

The Urban Seam® Façade system consists of a high-quality steel standing seam mounted on a profiled steel deck. This steel deck replaces the continuous plywood or OSB backing board usually used in fully supported standing seam cladding. This means the new system has an improved reaction to fire rating of A1 and provides an ideal solution for use on residential apartment blocks such as the Goldsmith Avenue development. Tata Steel’s technical team also provided installation guidance and assistance in designing site-specific details such as those around the window and door openings.

“A standing seam system that features a metal deck was already in development,” said Gordon Crichton, Business Development Manager at Tata Steel. “When we learnt what was required for this project, it became obvious that the new system would be ideally suited. Because of how new this installation method was it required close collaboration from everyone involved but it has been a real success and is now being used on a range of new projects.”

Durability and the proximity to the coast were also factors in the selection of materials. Located on Portsea island and just over one mile from the Solent, the buildings’ façades had to be resistant to harsh weather and the coastal environment. Urban Seam® Façade is manufactured from high-quality Colorcoat Prisma® pre-finished steel and features a Galvalloy® metallic coating for exceptional corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the complete Urban Seam® Façade system has been independently tested to Centre for Window & Cladding Technology (CWCT) standards. The large-scale test assessed the system’s performance in relation to wind resistance, impact resistance and water tightness, including dynamic pressure tests.

“We are delighted with the quality of the build at Goldsmith Avenue,” said Mike Shepherd​

Director of New Business and Development at VIVID. “The look and feel of the external fabric is key to the building’s success. It has made a significant improvement to the street scene and will act as an excellent catalyst for future regeneration.”

Urban Seam Facade case studies

From essential structural building blocks to striking aesthetic features our range of products will help you realise the true potential of your project. We can provide the best solution for any project.

Architects, engineers, cost consultants and contractors are now, more than ever, using steel with confidence. Check out our case study gallery for inspiration for your next project. We can support you from start to finish with your latest project.