Shard Tower
Shard Tower in London is currently the tallest building in Western Europe. To protect this impressive feat of modern architecture, FOAMGLAS® tapered insulation was used for the entrance to London Bridge Station and on the roof. Key considerations included compressive strength, long‑term insulation performance and the roof’s water management design.
At 310 m, Shard Tower on the south bank of the Thames currently holds the title of Western Europe’s tallest building. The lower levels of Shard extend out under the paved public concourse at the entrance to London Bridge Station.
Technically speaking this concourse is actually a roof. It must have excellent thermal performance, be strong enough to support around 10,000 commuters daily, and, in exceptional circumstances, heavy transport or emergency vehicles.
A truly unique roof insulation was needed. FOAMGLAS® insulation combines compressive strength, long-term insulation performance and is available with a precut taper in the upper surface. Using their "in house" CAD systems, FOAMGLAS® designed a bespoke Tapered insulation system which incorporated slopes to shed water, and channels to accommodate drainage and pipework. Taking advantage of its low coefficient of expansion, FOAMGLAS® insulation and waterproofing membranes were adhesively bonded over a hot‑melt waterproofing system to minimise thermal bridging. Lastly the FOAMGLAS® system was covered over with porous bedding and stone paving.
FOAMGLAS® insulation is impermeable to water vapour and supports stable thermal performance over time, based on its material structure.
Adamson Architects commented: "FOAMGLAS® insultion has proved itself to be the perfect solution for the difficult loadbearing areas of the Shard. Specifying cellular glass insulation ensured complete integrity and performance in key areas of the Shard Tower."
The building maintenance platform on level 75 is located directly above the viewing galleries, and essentially forms the Shard’s roof. To shed water, the flat metal platform required an insulation with a tapered top surface.
In this extremely exposed location, and with significant loads upon the platform, a truly reliable solution was needed. FOAMGLAS® insulation combines compressive strength, long-term insulation performance, and is available with a pre-cut taper in the upper surface.
Taking advantage of its low coefficient of expansion, FOAMGLAS® insulation and its associated membranes were adhesively bonded onto the metal structure to minimise thermal bridging. The unique ability of FOAMGLAS ® to withstand high compressive loads ensures regular maintenance work can be safely carried out without damage to the insulation or the membranes.
Adamson Architects commented on this project: "With such a high-profile project, specifying materials that would not only meet high specifications but also genuinely deliver outstanding environmental credentials was vital. FOAMGLAS® insulation therefore was the ultimate solution."
