PROJECT FOCUS: MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Pollard explains how this project in the Omani capital drew on all of QAS’S experience and expertise:

“The architect required an enamel finished steel panel. The contractor had attempted to provide a four-millimetre bond system as the proposed steel structure was inadequate to take the load of the enamel panel, and after many months of wrangling came to QAS to provide the solution.

“QAS created a new panel by taking the enamel outer skin from our partner in South Africa, VITREX International. We then grafted this skin onto our Dutch sister company’s (AFS International) Q-premium honeycomb system, to reduce the weight of the system, on the structure.

“We then completely re-designed the secondary and structural support system, everything from the concrete core to the external face of the cladding, multiple extrusions and steel – the enamel panel was curved and also in some situations twisted to create the impression of a flower.

“The enamel was also an issue as the usual enamel panel has a gloss level in excess of 80 percent, which would blind pilots landing at the airport. So, we spent three months in design and development with VITREX to get the appearance desired by the architect with gloss level below 30 percent to ensure pilot safety.”