Offset shelf angle support is CFS proprietary structural, thermally-broken shelf angle support system, allowing for continuous insulation behind the shelf angle.

Masonry support

Applications and features

Adjustability

Specification 

Materials

Determining bracket spacing for 38/17 channel

Determining bracket spacing for 49/30 channel

CFS adjustable masonry support (AMS) is designed to withstand heavy loads with maximum on-site tolerance for applications in masonry, stone or GRC facades. The system consists of brackets bolted to a stainless steel support shelf and it is made to measure based on your requirements.

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AMS standard support

Applications:

Features:

Vertical adjustment 

Horizontal adjustability

Specification

In March 2020, we were contacted by a major UK-based contractor to review the masonry support designs at Fulham Riverside, a residential-led development on the North Bank of the Thames.

The team on site had noticed that the movement joint was being crushed, and brought us on as consultants to carry out a full review. Through our assessment, we found that the loads being experienced were significantly higher than had been allowed for, with loads in some areas as high as 35 kN, when as little as 11 kN had been expected.

In essence, the masonry support for the project had been under-designed. Crushing of the movement joint meant the masonry façade didn’t adequately allow for movement that would occur as a result of temperature and moisture content, a problem which could ultimately lead to the brickwork cracking. A thorough redesign was required and had to be turned around quickly, not only to ensure Fulham Riverside didn’t suffer serious consequences down the line but to avoid costly delays elsewhere on the site.

In construction, efficiency is always of the essence. With this project, however, the pressure was immense. We were proud that our flexibility and determination meant we were able to deliver success – and lift the contractor from a challenging situation – at Fulham Riverside.

Despite being contacted initially as a consultant, we were brought on straightaway to restart the entire project. The existing masonry and support had to be stripped out and our own installed, and with the project falling significantly behind schedule as a result, everything – including the design work – had to be done at record pace, to help make up the time lost. 

An additional layer of complexity presented itself during the process of having our designs approved. To avoid a repeat of the previous miscalculations, designs that would usually require only minor comments were being subjected to heightened levels of scrutiny. Ultimately, the system held up. Whereas most fully welded systems are rigid, ours was advantageous in that it’s fully adjustable, covering all site tolerances by offering vertical adjustment, lateral adjustment and horizontal adjustment. As a result, we could work at speed and operate with enough flexibility to complete the project on time.

Fulham Riverside masonry support project

The facade design required a GRC band to be supported as well as masonry support, that sat directly above a GRC diamond. At the time, there was no company offering combined masonry and GRC support brackets. This means, that contractors usually need to deal with two suppliers and two technical teams, one for masonry support and one for GRC support. This naturally brings in the complexity of not only coordinating the two suppliers to ensure timely delivery but also coordinating the actual structural design.

Chelsea Waterfront is a mixed-use redevelopment of the original iconic Lots Road Power Station, originally powering the London underground.

Designed by Sir Terry Farrell, it combines low raise townhouse-style buildings, the original power house, and two new high-rise towers, combined with public access landscape gardens, this redevelopment aims at bringing new life to the area.

114 Lots Road is part of the development. McMullen Facades were contracted by the main contractor, Midgard, to deliver the facade.

Combined GRC and masonry support brackets bring a significant reduction in labour hours on site. Additional savings are made by simplification of the supply chain – this also reduces risk associated with supplier management and increases transparency across the project. This approach proved to be successful and is used in other projects as well.

As a result, CFS is now offering combined GRC and masonry support brackets.

Having worked with CFS on a previous project, McMullen Facades approached CFS to see if there was some way to simplify the situation and invited CFS to tender.

In theory, the GRC and masonry support brackets can be combined into one, however, it brings additional structural challenges to consider and requires a good understanding of structural engineering.

Given CFS's experience both in the design of GRC support and masonry support, CFS were able to consider the additional design challenges and designed a novel type of combined masonry and GRC support bracket. The design adjustment resulted in savings on masonry support brackets, because of smaller material use despite the brackets being relatively large.

Using a combined bracket also meant that Midgard needed to work only with one supplier – simplifying the whole supply chain.

Midgard Design Services rationalised the design to be modular and repetitive. This was achieved by using a small number of masonry pier variations and window openings allowing for repeated supports to be used throughout each level. All this meant that CFS were able to deliver just several variations of the combined GRC and masonry support bracket.

114 Lots Road, Chelsea Waterfront combined GRC and masonry support project

Award-winning architects Patel Taylor have been inspired in their facade design by London’s classic redbrick mansion blocks. Where residential blocks tend to be uniformly designed, Patel Taylor made subtle changes to each story, meaning each level has a unique design.

The facade itself was designed by Ardmore to consist of stone and brick elements.

The general concept was that there was a stone band that went through each level, that would support the masonry. Originally, there were two suppliers to deliver the façade, one for the stone support and stone delivery and CFS, both designing and delivering the masonry support.

This proved quite a challenge in terms of coordination of the project, given two different suppliers were providing different types of brackets, especially since each level was slightly differently designed.

 is a large regeneration project in south London, being built in several phases due to the sheer scale of the project. Phase 4a, the latest phase of this large project, will provide 386 new homes for shared ownership and affordable rent. The £120 million development will also include a new NHS medical centre and flexible workspaces for local entrepreneurs.

’s involvement in the scheme focuses on seven blocks of up to 18-storey residential blocks, arranged around a garden square called New Mansion Square.

The Ardmore group now works closely with CFS, where CFS is brought in early in the project to deliver the design of the masonry support in collaboration with the Ardmore group.

CFS also offers initial design meetings outside of the project to discuss the possibilities and if there could be challenges to consider, such as the placement of the fire barrier. This also gives an opportunity to discuss requirements and design considerations that could possibly make the masonry support cheaper to deliver.

Since the Battersea Power Station Phase 4a project, CFS and Ardmore group established a process that means that the projects are planned seamlessly.

To simplify the delivery of the project, CFS were asked to tap into their masonry support knowledge to apply the same design principles to the stone support. This also helped to solve one of the design concerns as when the stone was supported by masonry support, the cavity became less congested on the slab face. 

CFS were also able to coordinate with several suppliers to provide the stone components and support for the facade in time as they were needed. In some areas brackets were not needed, so close collaboration between all suppliers was needed to ease the pressure for storage at the construction site.

It also helps that CFS's masonry support brackets are adjustable during the installation.

New Mansion Square masonry and stone support project

When designing Masonry Support for Block D of the project CFS encountered a hurdle of a Soffit which was unusually split into 3 sections – a front section, back section and a central GRC section.

Back in 2020 we were contacted by McMullen Facades on behalf of main contractor Midgard to design and supply the Masonry Support for the Sackville Road project. Designed by Whittam Cox Architects, the former trading estate near Hove Station was transformed into an intergenerational neighbourhood featuring over 800 modern homes, including 564 Build to Rent units, 10% affordable housing, and 260 care community residences.

The development provides long-term tenancy options and state-of-the-art amenities such as communal lounges, dining areas, shops, restaurants, and co-working spaces. With 70% of the site dedicated to public and green spaces, including roof terraces and landscaped gardens, the project aims to foster a vibrant and connected community.

We were delighted to contribute to the creation of a dynamic, intergenerational neighbourhood that prioritises community, sustainability, and modern living.

Whilst the front and back sections were easily supported with from the underside of our masonry support angle, this left the 550x2000mm GRC section completely unsupported. As a solution, we fixed 2 Brackets per panel to the underside of the downstand which meant that the central GRC section was now supported.

Sackville Road 

The redevelopment was a sizeable project to deliver, blending old masonry facade and new additions, the project required a big attention to detail. Every level required a slightly different design. The Ardmore Group required a project partner who would be able to minimise the risks and challenges during the major heritage refurbishment. 

The redevelopment of Southwark Fire Station was a major mixed-use development, branded as Brigade Court. The plans included a comprehensive refurbishment of a Grade II listed former fire station, Headquarters, museum, and training facility originally built in 1777, alongside the development of a 10-storey residential building to create 199 new apartments, commercial space, and a new school to house 1,150 students.

The new secondary school with a sixth form was designed by Peter Taylor Associates to blend in, incorporating space within the existing fire station as well as a new building that is being constructed using pre-fabricated off-site modular technology.

The project was awarded to Ardmore Group due to their experience with complex projects and major refurbishments.

The Ardmore Group decided to bring in CFS to support the project because of our extensive experience in complex masonry support design. This project required a significant number of designs that had little repetition per floor never mind per level. CFS worked together with the Ardmore Group to provide design of the masonry support used.

Southwark Fire Station redevelopment - masonry support project

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AMS standard support - 1.1

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Masonry support - 1.1

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Construction Fixing Systems Limited is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 2567516.

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Component	Material	Description
Bracket	1.4301 (304) or 1.4401 (316)	Austenitic stainless steel
Angle	1.4301 (304) or 1.4401 (316)	Austenitic stainless steel

AMS standard support

Applications and features

Adjustability

Specification

Materials

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

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