Site rolling innovation from Ash & Lacy meets HSE requirements


3,000 square metres of Ashzip from Ash & Lacy in 0.9mm plain mill aluminium has been selected to create a curved standing seam roof on David Lloyd Leisure's first development in Oxford. The 40 metre length sheets were site rolled at eaves level and self-curved to a radius of 40 metres to create a continuous weathertight roof without any end laps. To satisfy the stringent HSE requirements the mobile roll former unit had to be positioned half way up the steep roof slope in a specially constructed metal framework. Designed by Ash & Lacy for this particular project, the framework allowed the container to be craned into place using slings and then positioned securely on the roof structure. As part of the standing seam roofing package Ash & Lacy also supplied their industry standard Ashgrid spacer support system.

David Lloyd Leisure is the UK market leader and currently has 55 clubs across the UK. This latest 5,500 sq m (59,202 sq ft) development, located in the Oxford Business Park has extensive facilities, which include three indoor, and three outdoor tennis courts, a 25-metre swimming pool, and a large fitness hall, as well as two aerobics studios. There is also a crèche, a café area for food and beverage, sauna & steam room and spa bath area.

Weighing just 13 tonnes the roll-formers can be suspended by crane for portable eaves level rolling and can manufacture in excess of 1,500 metres per day. Ashzip standing seam roofing sheets will self-curve to a radius of between 40-55 metres depending on material, gauge and profile width. To achieve convex and concave curves to tighter radii, sheets can be pre-curved onsite, or in a factory environment using mobile curving machines. To complete the range of options Ashzip can be taper roll formed to create a radial roof on plan and provide an attractive architectural feature.

Where Ashzip differs from other standing seam roofing systems is in the philosophy adopted by Ash & Lacy, which is based on offering a total roof envelope solution from a single source. This not only ensures compatibility between the individual components but it also recognises that the importance of effective perimeter detailing is often overlooked, when it is in fact as critical as the roof and wall cladding system itself. Badly designed and installed details can have a major impact on the overall performance of a building and can seriously affect the aesthetic properties both on a short and long-term basis.