Liverpool FC, Switchable Smart Glass Partition Installation

AXA Training Ground, Liverpool FC, Switchable Smart Glass Partition Installation.

We were approached by a long-standing client of ours, to provide our installation services for a project at Liverpool Football AXA training ground in Knowsley. The works consisted of the installation of five large switchable smart film/glass partitioning screens which formed part of a full refurbishment in the offices across two floors.

Due to the location of the project, all works had to be commenced and completed during the football summer break. We conducted a preliminary site survey to establish that the installation was achievable within the programme and as soon as the football season had stopped, we started onsite with 4weeks to completion. This was a tight timeframe.

The critical part of this project was measuring for the switchable smart film which couldn’t be carried out until all the glass had been correctly installed, there will be 3weeks until this could be carried out, leaving 1week for the production and installation of the film. The electrical element to the smart film was surveyed prior to the project started to ensure the feeds were in the correct location for the switchable film to operate. We worked closely with the client and their onsite electrician to coordinate the connection feeds.

Our glass specification was a double-glazed system, with one layer of 10mm toughened glass and one layer of acoustic 12.8mm laminated glass as the screens required both safety and an acoustic rating. These are not the pvc double-glazed units found in windows, they are individual glass panels cut to precise measurements. This glass was to be installed into a slimline frame which was concealed into the walls to make it a frameless design. The trackwork specification because of the frameless design was critical; this was a retrofit and the space where the track had to be positioned was already formed so there was no room for error. The wrong width channel would cause delays which we couldn’t afford due to the tight timeframe.

Once the refurbishment programme had successfully progressed to our glass survey stage, we were two weeks into the project. The survey of the glass was carried out once we had installed the trackwork and we had 40panels of acoustic and toughened glass to be placed into production.

The glass had a production time of 8days and if any of the glass was incorrect, we would need to re-order and the survey for the switchable film would not happen. We needed to be super accurate with our measurements. The glass company pushed through the production and all the glass arrived onsite Monday morning at 8am three weeks after the start of the project.

Our sequence for fitting double glazed walls is to install the outer laminated glass layer 1^st and then close-up the partitions with the inner layer of toughened glass, this had to be completed before any survey was taken for the smart film as this was being installed on the toughened glass. We had a window of 3.5 days to install the 40 panels.  Dust was a consideration throughout this time, and this was managed perfectly by the site foreman who stopped any access by other trades while we closed-up the partitions.

Once the glass had been successfully installed, we were able to survey for the switchable film which had to be millimetre perfect, on the Thursday afternoon. The switchable film went into production over that weekend with the proposed installation the following Tuesday/Wednesday (the final week of the project!).

To add complexity to the timeframe, members of the football team arrived back for a training session on the Tuesday morning and our work couldn’t be carried out until after 3pm in the afternoon. Once access was achieved our film fitters installed the smart film to the inside of the rooms to coordinate with the control units and worked until 3am to complete all the work. They cleaned down each panel of glass and working in sequence, they applied the film. The buzz bars at the top of each panel were connected to the electrics through the ceiling space. We were back onsite on the Weds to complete all the connections and test the smart film which worked perfectly at the flick of a switch.

The project was a huge success and despite the pressure the team pulled together and achieved a great result which we are all very proud of being involved in and completing on time.

Smart film or switchable smart glass features an interlayer that contains ion molecules, creating a cloudy effect when switched off to provide privacy. When switched on, an electric current forces the molecules into formation, making the glass transparent once again. The switch can be seamlessly integrated into the design of your room, in the light switch or via a discreet remote, for example, to conceal the mechanism. This intelligent glass solution is powered by electricity but is incredibly efficient with low running costs. As a fantastic addition your company logo can be also integrated into the design so when switched off this becomes visible making it a branding opportunity.

We can retrofit switchable smart film to glass partitioning systems so if you are considering this fantastic product for instant privacy then ask us for more details on 01254 812112 or email us an enquiry on info@altitudeglass.co.uk.