Atrium Refurbishment & Glass Replacement

Project Snapshot

Location: Marks & Spencer, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol
Building Type: Retail store within a regional shopping centre
Services Delivered: Glazing condition survey, atrium glazing refurbishment, EPDM gasket replacement, glazing leak repair, high level glass replacement and solar control film
Access Method: IRATA-trained rope access technicians, existing gantry systems and crane lifts
Project Type: Phased out-of-hours night works within a live retail store
Project Date: April to August 2025

Dynamic Access delivered a comprehensive atrium glazing refurbishment across three overhead glazed atriums at Marks & Spencer, Cribbs Causeway, together with the high level replacement of six defective glazing units. The programme of works was completed in 2025 as phased out-of-hours night works, allowing the store to remain fully operational throughout.

The Brief

The Marks & Spencer store at Cribbs Causeway is naturally lit by three overhead glazed atriums positioned directly above the sales floor. Dynamic Access was appointed to refurbish the atrium glazing, rectify ongoing overhead glazing water ingress and address any defective glazing units identified during the works.

Areas of water ingress had been identified within the store, and the external weathering components of the glazing system were approaching the end of their serviceable life. A previously retrofitted film had also obscured the true condition of the glass. Following its removal, we carried out a full glazing condition survey and recorded every defect across the three atriums. All works were to be undertaken outside of trading hours, ensuring no disruption to store operations.

The Challenge

With the atriums positioned directly above a live retail environment, every element of the works involved working at height over the sales floor, with the store required to be fully operational each morning.

Our condition survey identified eight defective glazing units: two cracked units, four suffering from hermetic edge seal failure, and two earlier replacements installed in an incorrect tint, which were visibly inconsistent with the surrounding glazing. With the heaviest replacement units weighing approximately 170kg, a crane lift strategy from outside the building was required, again delivered out of hours.

No O&M information was available for the original glazing, so the replacement specification had to be determined on site to match the existing glazing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can atrium glazing be refurbished while a store remains open?

Yes. At Cribbs Causeway, all works were carried out as out-of-hours night works following store closure, with internal exclusion zones established beneath the atriums each night and cleared before opening. The store remained fully operational throughout.

How long does an atrium glazing refurbishment take?

Programme duration depends on the size and condition of the glazing system. At Cribbs Causeway, the refurbishment of all three atriums was completed within five weeks of night shifts, phased across four working zones.

What causes water ingress through atrium glazing?

Gasket and seal deterioration is a common cause. At Cribbs Causeway, ageing EPDM gaskets and external weather seals were contributing to water ingress, so all gaskets were replaced and the glazing system was comprehensively refurbished, providing a long-term solution rather than localised repairs.

How is glass replaced in an atrium roof at high level?

Each defective glazing unit is measured on site, then specified and manufactured to match the existing glazing. At Cribbs Causeway, the replacement units were installed via crane lifts from outside the store, with our IRATA-trained rope access technicians removing the defective units and installing the replacements across two night shifts.

Does an incorrectly tinted glazing unit always need replacing?

Not always. Two units at Cribbs Causeway were structurally sound but had been installed in an incorrect tint. An externally applied solar control film colour-matched them to the surrounding glazing, avoiding the cost and disruption of replacement.