Tait Communications is a global leader in designing, delivering and managing innovative communications solutions.

November 2014 saw the completion of Tait’s new global headquarters in Christchurch and as you’d expect from a company at the forefront of innovation, the best technology and latest innovations have been incorporated in the project.                                                                                                          

Designed for resilience (100% National Building Standard), STIC LVL timber, developed at the University of Canterbury, has been used as the primary structure. Ringfeder friction springs – an earthquake dampening spring that absorbs ground movement – have been installed while stainless steel high-tensile rods, supplied by Anzor Architectural, have been used to brace the steel structural elements in the building.         

Anzor Architectural, is a division of Anzor Fasteners Ltd. Since 2005 Anzor Architectural has been supplying stainless architectural fastenings and fixings to the construction industry. Recently Anzor has extended its range of stainless steel tension rod bracing to include galvanised carbon steel tension rods, allowing Anzor to satisfy a greater range of requirements within the Architectural Profession and Construction Industry.

As a specialist supplier in stainless steel fastenings, Anzor was able to provide the central atrium of the new Tait building with SRS 560 high tensile 316 stainless steel rods with a diameter of 48mm. This type of rod provided a number of advantages.

The principal benefits are that the high-tensile stainless rod allows for smaller rod diameters to be used, and also offers significantly reduced maintenance, explains Anzor’s Architectural Product Manager Berwyn Jones.  

“With an alternative like carbon steel, a maintenance program would have to be created to ensure the material doesn’t corrode,” says Berwyn. “Stainless on the other hand, by virtue of its unique chemical composition, requires very little if any active maintenance, significantly reducing associated costs for those components over the lifetime of the building.  As it is a higher tensile form of 316, this also means it is stronger and smaller diameters can be used when required over lower tensile stainless rods.”

“Aesthetically, the stainless finish provided an additional element to the interior – especially its juxtaposition with the painted steel framework,” adds Berwyn.

The new Tait Headquarters reflect the vision for Christchurch’s regeneration, a liveable city that embraces innovation. “It was a pleasure to be involved in the construction of such an innovative building and one that will ultimately mean a lot to the people of Christchurch,” says Berwyn.

NB: This information is provided as a guide only and Anzor does not accept liability for the application of this information. For advice about stainless steel contact the Nickel Institute