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JCW Level Pod Cradle System Supplied for Queensland Road Development
- Project: Queensland Road, London – Phases 1 and 2
- Client: Newlon Home Partnership
- Main contractor: Kier Construction
- Flooring contractor: MBM Contracts, Hertfordshire
- Contract value: £88,000
- Phase 1: December 2011 to November 2012
- Phase 2: December 2012 to June 2013
- Product: JCW Level Pod Cradle System
- Phase 1 quantity: More than 17,000m²
JCW Acoustic Supplies secured a contract to supply the JCW Level Pod Cradle System for the Queensland Road residential development in Islington, London.
The two-phase project was located opposite the Emirates Stadium and involved the construction of 173 one- and two-bedroom homes.
JCW supplied the system to flooring contractor MBM Contracts, working on behalf of main contractor Kier Construction. The total value of the JCW supply contract was approximately £88,000.
More than 17,000m² of the Level Pod Cradle System was supplied during the first phase alone, demonstrating the quantities and logistical coordination required for a residential development of this scale.
The Queensland Road Development
The Queensland Road scheme provided new homes in a densely developed part of Islington, close to established residential properties, transport connections and the Emirates Stadium.
The development included 173 one- and two-bedroom properties, with part-ownership opportunities available through Newlon Home Ownership.
In multi-storey residential buildings, floors must meet several practical requirements. They need to provide a level and stable surface while accommodating services, floor finishes and the acoustic requirements of the complete construction.
The flooring system therefore needed to support both the construction programme and the intended performance of the completed homes.
Why an Adjustable Cradle System Was Selected
Structural floor surfaces are not always sufficiently level to receive the final deck and floor finish directly.
Variations across a subfloor can create problems with:
- Finished floor levels
- Door and threshold heights
- Connections between adjoining rooms
- Fitted kitchens and internal joinery
- The installation of services beneath the floor
- The stability of the final floor deck
The JCW Level Pod Cradle System uses adjustable supports to create a level platform above the structural subfloor.
This allows installers to compensate for variations in the original surface without relying solely on wet levelling materials across the entire floor area.
The resulting void can also provide space for suitable building services, subject to the floor design and installation requirements.
Supporting Acoustic Floor Construction
The Level Pod Cradle System can form part of an acoustic floor build-up where resilient separation is required between the structural base and the finished floor deck.
This separation may help reduce the direct transfer of impact vibration through the floor construction.
Impact noise is produced when footsteps, furniture movement or dropped objects make direct contact with the floor. The resulting vibration may travel through the structural slab and into adjoining homes.
A resilient cradle system can contribute to reducing this transmission, but the completed acoustic result does not depend on the cradles alone.
Other important elements may include:
- The structural floor
- The resilient cradle components
- The supporting battens
- The floor deck
- Insulation within the floor void
- The final floor covering
- Perimeter isolation
- The treatment of services and penetrations
These components must be specified and installed as a coordinated system.
Airborne and Impact Noise Between Homes
Floors separating homes may need to address both airborne and impact sound.
Airborne noise includes voices, televisions and music. It initially travels through the air before reaching the floor construction.
Impact noise results from direct contact with the floor, including footsteps and moving furniture.
Different parts of the floor build-up contribute to controlling these noise types. Resilient separation is particularly relevant to impact transmission, while mass, cavity treatment and airtightness can influence airborne performance.
No single component should be treated as a complete solution for every acoustic requirement.
The Importance of Perimeter Isolation
A resilient floor must remain separated from surrounding walls and other rigid building elements.
If the floor deck, battens or finishes make direct contact with the perimeter walls, vibration may bypass the resilient components through these rigid connections.
This is known as acoustic bridging.
Suitable perimeter isolation details are therefore an important part of the installation. Care is also needed around:
- Door thresholds
- Columns
- Pipework
- Service risers
- Internal partitions
- Changes in floor level
The system should be installed in accordance with the relevant construction drawings and product guidance.
Floor Levelling Across a Large Development
Supplying more than 17,000m² during Phase 1 required consistent product manufacture, quantity planning and delivery coordination.
On a development containing numerous homes, small variations in floor level can become significant when repeated across several blocks, plots and construction phases.
An adjustable system allows installers to establish the required finished level across each area while accommodating reasonable variations in the structural base.
Accurate setting-out remains essential. Cradle positions, batten spacing and deck installation must follow the specified design so that the floor remains stable and suitable for its intended loads.
Coordinating a Two-Phase Programme
The Queensland Road contract was delivered across two main phases:
- Phase 1 ran from December 2011 to November 2012.
- Phase 2 ran from December 2012 to June 2013.
A phased development requires materials to arrive according to the progress of individual plots and work areas.
Supplying the complete quantity too early can create storage, handling and damage risks. Delivering materials too late can affect flooring contractors and the trades that follow them.
Effective coordination may involve:
- Confirming quantities for each phase
- Scheduling deliveries around site progress
- Providing suitable packaging and identification
- Allowing safe storage before installation
- Coordinating with the flooring contractor
- Responding to changes within the construction programme
The scale of the Level Pod order demonstrated JCW’s ability to support a substantial multi-phase flooring contract.
Installation and Quality Control
The performance of an acoustic cradle floor depends heavily on installation quality.
Potential problems can include:
- Incorrect cradle spacing
- Inadequate support beneath the battens
- An uneven finished deck
- Rigid contact around the floor perimeter
- Services bridging resilient components
- Changes to the specified floor build-up
Regular checks during installation can help confirm that the system follows the intended layout and remains level across the floor area.
Acoustic testing, where required by the project, assesses the completed construction rather than an individual cradle or board in isolation.
Acoustic Performance Depends on the Complete Building
Laboratory or system information can help project teams understand the intended use of an acoustic floor product. However, performance within a completed development can also be affected by the surrounding building.
Relevant factors may include:
- Junctions between floors and walls
- Connected structural slabs
- Service penetrations
- Internal partitions
- Workmanship
- Flanking transmission
Flanking transmission occurs when sound bypasses the principal separating floor through connected walls, columns or other structural elements.
The floor system must therefore be considered alongside the wider acoustic design of the building.
A Significant Acoustic Flooring Contract
The Queensland Road project was an important contract for JCW Acoustic Supplies because of its size, programme and central London location.
The supply of more than 17,000m² during Phase 1 illustrated how the Level Pod Cradle System could be used across a substantial residential development requiring consistent floor levelling and acoustic detailing.
The project also required coordination between JCW, MBM Contracts, Kier Construction and the wider development team throughout the two phases.
Find Out More About Acoustic Floor Systems
The most suitable acoustic floor construction will depend on the structural base, required finished level, floor covering, available build-up height and acoustic objectives of the project.
Explore JCW solutions for floor soundproofing, or call Acoustic Supplies on 01204 548400 to discuss an acoustic flooring project.
