First high-rise in Scotland finishes cladding remediation

The Aurora Apartments in Aberdeen have become the first high-rise building in Scotland to have hazardous cladding removed and replaced under a government pilot scheme initiated after the Grenfell tragedy.

This milestone, reported by The Fire Industry Association, ensures enhanced fire safety for residents across the country.

The nine-storey building underwent extensive construction to comply with stringent fire regulations established following the Grenfell Tower fire in London.

The project included the removal and replacement of combustible wall cladding and insulation materials with non-combustible alternatives.

Project details and management

The Scottish Government identified the Aurora Apartments as one of several ‘high priority’ buildings for cladding remediation under the Single Building Assessment (SBA) programme.

The project, costing £600,000, was funded by the government and managed by Diamond & Company (Scotland) Ltd Chartered Building Surveyors and Chartered Fire Engineers.

Phil Diamond, Managing Director of Diamond & Company, stated: “The Grenfell fire exposed a systemic failure in all aspects of cladding installation in buildings throughout the UK.

“The completion of the work on the Aurora apartments in Aberdeen now provides an industry blueprint on how to make similar high-rise buildings much less vulnerable in the event of a fire.”

Importance of the project

Housing Minister Paul McLennan highlighted the importance of this project, stating: “This is a very important moment for owners and residents and I was pleased to visit Aurora Apartments earlier this month to meet with those involved.

“The Scottish Government has provided £600,000 funding for the complex and innovative work at this building.”

The legislation banning combustible cladding on new high-rise residential buildings and high-risk buildings above 11 meters was enacted by the Scottish Parliament in April 2022.

This regulation also applies to recladding works on existing buildings, such as the Aurora Apartments.

Construction challenges

The remedial work at Aurora Apartments was conducted by a company in Arbroath.

Jacqueline Hacking, Managing Director, remarked: “This was an extremely complex job which involved not only the removal of the outside wall cladding but the replacement of internal materials.

“We had to strip the building right back to ensure all internal combustible materials were removed.

“This also included the replacement of the timber decking on balconies with fire-rated aluminium decking.

“However, thanks to the tremendous cooperation and support of the residents the project was successfully completed.”

Paula Roberts, Aberdeen branch manager of Trinity Factors, expressed relief and gratitude for the inclusion of the building in the government’s pilot programme: “Residents were understandably concerned when the survey work revealed the extent of the combustible materials on the outside and inside of the building.

“We also had the added complication that the developer of the building ceased trading several years ago, so it was a relief when the Aurora Apartments were included in the Scottish Government’s pilot programme.”

Future implications

This successful project at the Aurora Apartments sets a precedent for future cladding remediation works across Scotland and the UK, providing a safer living environment for residents in high-rise buildings.