With its new Xsafe Catch Fan, Doka is redefining benchmarks for construction site safety. The impressive system adds an innovative safety solution and improves efficiency minimising the workforce necessary for assembly and application. Falling material, tools, or debris are a considerable risk on construction sites. Doka provides a safe, high-quality
Doka’s versatile ParaTop bridge formwork provided the ideal solution for the rapid, high-specification creation of concrete decks that are integral to providing patients with a crucial new transport link to a cancer care centre. The 56-metre single-span bridge will improve road access to the Velindre Hospital in Cardiff. Known as
Groundforce Shorco has supplied a bespoke support system for a major excavation in Dublin. Contractor Bennett Construction is building a new eight-storey campus building in Dublin city centre for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Two of the building’s eight storeys are below ground, which means the site
Doka supplied the specialist formwork and technical support to facilitate a multimillion expansion of South Harbour in Aberdeen, the largest marine infrastructure project in Trust port history. The company worked in conjunction with contractor Beattie FRC on the harbour’s North Breakwater Crown Wall and surrounding main quay works. The overall
ScaffPlan, the Australian startup that is revolutionising the scaffolding industry with innovativesoftware solutions, has secured a spot in Cemex Ventures’ annual list of the most promisingConstruction Technology startups globally. The prestigious list reflects a rich tapestry ofdiversity, encompassing various geographies, technologies, and maturity of the start ups included. ScaffPlan’s inclusion
Millcroft Scaffolding has started work on the contract to provide an essential logistics gantry for the major works project at Blashford Tower on the Chalcots Estate in Camden. Situated on Adelaide Road in northwest London, Blashford Tower comprises 72 flats over 19 storeys and is one of five high rise
By crafting tailor-made solutions like a 21-metre Table Lifting System, Doka caters customers’ specific needs and boosts the efficient construction of the second highest building in Detroit. Doka is playing a key role in shaping tomorrow’s Detroit today by acting as an all-in-one supplier for the 209-metre (685-ft.) skyscraper and
International formwork and scaffolding specialist, Doka, has been rewarded for its commitment to service and design excellence in its UK business with the recent award of BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 certification for Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes and management. Compliance with the standard demonstrates that Doka provides information in accordance
Following the delivery of sanitation facilities earlier this year for Arena Church in Nottingham, Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson has transformed another disused space to help vulnerable city residents who need it most. As part of the company’s commitment to delivering social value in the region and building on its
Formwork, falsework, heavy duty support, ground shoring and safety & access systems specialist Altrad RMD Kwikform (Altrad RMDK) has provided temporary works to assist with the construction of 19-35 Baker Street. 19-35 Baker Street is a 10-storey commercial, retail, and residential mixed-use building in the West End of London, constructed
With its new Xsafe Catch Fan, Doka is redefining benchmarks for construction site safety. The impressive system adds an innovative safety solution and improves efficiency minimising the workforce necessary for assembly and application. Falling material, tools, or debris are a considerable risk on construction sites. Doka provides a safe, high-quality catch fan system, which can be deployed and re-positioned quickly in just a few simple steps. Maximum flexibility Two particularly clever mechanisms are at the heart of Doka’s development. In combination with the innovative suspension of nets, the easy-lock system enables efficient installation via a snap mechanism of the floor shoe: A safety lever secures the vertical tube of the Xsafe Catch Fan in place; without the need to use fastening couplers. With the quick-folding mechanism, the net is folded from the upper slab by pulling on a rope. This new solution does not require multiple workers working simultaneously on two levels but enables the net to be folded by just one user, minimising manpower and crane time during re-positioning and cleaning. All-round winner The vertical extensions of the Xsafe Catch Fan are specifically designed to meet the customer’s needs: Square tubes do not require hole alignment when securing with bolts. Once assembled on the ground, the Xsafe Catch Fan can easily be lifted and quickly re-positioned from floor to floor without adjustment to the vertical extensions. “With the development of the Xsafe Catch Fan, we identified the potential to provide additional safety on construction sites. Customers benefit from efficient and simple workflows, allowing them to focus fully on the essentials of day-to-day construction site operations,” says Thomas Lattacher, Product Manager, Xsafe Catch Fan. Continued innovation Since the beginning of 2024, the Xsafe Catch Fan also features a unique solution for areas sometimes difficult to cover. With it’s innovative, foldable and EN 1263 compliant corner solution, Doka sets new standards in protection against falling objects. With few additional parts, customers can create corner units from their existing stock or get full packages straight from their local Doka partner. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Doka’s versatile ParaTop bridge formwork provided the ideal solution for the rapid, high-specification creation of concrete decks that are integral to providing patients with a crucial new transport link to a cancer care centre. The 56-metre single-span bridge will improve road access to the Velindre Hospital in Cardiff. Known as the ‘Hospital of Hope’, the facility offers specialist and complex cancer services to more than 1.5 million people in south east Wales and beyond. Doka’s ParaTop bridge formwork was selected by principal contractor, Walters, as the ideal system for the rapid, effective formation of the bridge’s concrete parapets. ParaTop was created using modular principles, whereby the system can be adapted to specific applications. Its strength is its versatility, allowing ParaTop to be fixed to concrete or steel superstructures. The system contains an innovative insert-shoe, making it simple to erect whilst its cantilever formwork makes it easy work for cranes to install and lift when required via hard-plated insert-cones. ParaTop removes the need for platforms or scaffolds beneath the superstructure and fewer bracket planes are also required. Erection and dismantling times can be significantly reduced by using bolted, rather than threaded joints. In addition, ParaTop’s cantilever arm formwork eliminates the threading of tie rods in readiness for the concrete pouring process. For the Velindre Hospital Bridge project, the ParaTop bridge formwork was installed by Wyndham Construction. It was attached, via crane, to the bridge’s 2.3 metre-high, 1.2 metre-wide Corten steel beams. In total, the composite ladder beam-type plate girder bridge comprises 293 tonnes of steel. Rhodri Jones, Sub Agent at Walters, said Doka’s ParaTop bridge formwork ensured an installation that was rapid and issue-free. “The system hooked on quickly and easily to the bridge’s beams” he said. “The dismantling process was equally as straightforward, requiring the removal of just three bolts in what was a very simple and time-effective process. Overall, we’re delighted with the ParaTop bridge formwork’s performance on this incredibly worthwhile project for south east Wales.” The Velindre Hospital Bridge means visitors can travel to the cancer care centre, which is staffed by clinicians and scientists who are world leaders in their field, with greater convenience and comfort. Doka is proud to have supplied the high-quality formwork that is core to the structure’s long-term stability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Groundforce Shorco has supplied a bespoke support system for a major excavation in Dublin. Contractor Bennett Construction is building a new eight-storey campus building in Dublin city centre for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Two of the building’s eight storeys are below ground, which means the site is currently occupied by a deep excavation more than 50m long and 30m wide. Modular hydraulic equipment supplied by Groundforce Shorco is supporting the concrete secant-piled retaining wall while Bennett Construction completes the excavation and installs the reinforced concrete basement slab. Although the excavation is roughly rectangular in plan, it includes several irregularities that complicate the engineering of the support solution. Lateral forces impose geotechnical loads varying between 215kNm and 300kN/m which are supported by Groundforce Shorco’s MP150 and MP250 hydraulic props via a waling beam comprising the company’s modular Mega Brace system. However, where the shape of the excavation does not allow the use of standard equipment, bespoke beams and props have been designed and supplied to ensure that all of the concrete secant piles remain fully supported. Five MP250 props support the middle of the excavation, spanning almost 30m. These props are fitted with 1,220mm-diameter ‘super-tube’ (twice the diameter of standard extension tubes) to increase stiffness and prevent deflection. Each of the four corners of the excavation is supported by a combination of MP150 and MP250 props in lengths ranging from just over 5m to more than 18m. These props act as knee-braces, supporting the Mega Brace beam at angles of approximately 45o. This arrangement imposes a significant shear force on the retaining wall. “At certain locations there are very short lengths of retaining wall comprising only a few piles and these are unable to resist the shear from the knee braces,” explains Groundforce Shorco major projects manager Adam Fletcher. To enable the waling beam to resist the shear at these points, Groundforce Shorco designed bespoke steelwork that was welded to the Mega Brace beam in-situ. “When the final pile layout was determined we decided to split the frame to suit two levels of propping and designed a bespoke corner brace to follow the pile line and limit the deflection where shear keys could not be used,” explains Adam. Chiara Morena, Groundforce Shorco design manager, said: “In standard procedures, the props are located against the retaining wall using gallows brackets. These not only ensure the correct positioning of the prop but also carry its unsupported weight and prevent any risk of slippage. On this project, only the hard secant piles could be used for supporting the beam via gallows brackets and that was an additional challenge. Once a partial built wall was provided, we had to verify the anchored connection of the gallows brackets for each beam extension around the excavation. “However, due to the difference in level in the RCSI excavation, one of the MP250 props is installed at a 3o angle to the horizontal which introduces an upward force at the higher end of the prop as it is braced against the waling beam. To counteract this, we installed an additional gallows bracket upside down, in non-standard fashion, above the prop at this point.” Adam added: “Groundforce Shorco became involved when the design was at a very early stage and contributed to several revisions before the design was finalised, which also gave the opportunity to have a full picture of what was happening around the design. The bespoke solutions provided where the standard kit was not suitable are one of our strengths.” Damien Watson, project manager with Bennett Construction, commented: “Groundforce Shorco provided continuous assistance after completing the design and during the installation and removal phases. They even helped with elements that fell outside their responsibility as a supplier of temporary propping equipment.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Doka supplied the specialist formwork and technical support to facilitate a multimillion expansion of South Harbour in Aberdeen, the largest marine infrastructure project in Trust port history. The company worked in conjunction with contractor Beattie FRC on the harbour’s North Breakwater Crown Wall and surrounding main quay works. The overall aim of the ambitious development at the town’s largest harbour in Nigg Bay was to expand and diversify its use. The increased quayside space allows for more vessels to dock and significantly broaden trade opportunities around the North Sea. The 620m crown wall’s concrete construction was the result of detailed consultation between Doka and Beattie FRC. The contractor specified a two-pour solution in height involving 10m lengths boxes for what was an extremely largescale programme. With inclement weather a potential hinderance, the need for formwork that led to the wall’s construction within the client’s strict deadline was of the utmost importance. Doka had the knowhow and equipment to deliver the required solution. Equipped for building success The Framax Xlife & Eurex 60 550 plumbing struts, MF240 platforms, WS10 Platforms from Doka were key to the safe, timely completion of the crown wall pours, which varied from 3m to 5.5m in height. The system’s rapid-forming capability was enabled by its optimised panel sizes which worked perfectly for the new desired pour heights. Furthermore, its forming times are kept to a minimum by widely-spaced form-ties of up to 1.35m apart. With the Framax Xlife unit, accuracy is not compromised for speed, with all connectors and accessories fitting seamlessly by the site team. On the crown wall quayside, the Doka MF240 climbing formwork optimised any on-site works as these were all assembled offsite by Doka in Sheffield. It meant that when they arrived at the site, they were almost immediately placed on the wall. The fully edge-protected, 2.40m-wide working platform enabled engineers regular, controlled access to the crown wall during its construction, as well as being able to plumb and align the Framax. Similarly, this process was duplicated for the WS10 platforms for the North Sea side of the wall. On this side of the wall the top pour contained a cope that had to be formed and supported. This helped inform the WS10 platforms’ design. The cope’s load was transferred from the T7 spindles back to the platform and cast in wall anchors. This further intricate detail was easily accommodated by the range of quality Doka systems. The South Harbour’s expansion has achieved a number of beneficial outcomes. These include increasing the harbour’s water depth to 15m; enabled the berthing of 300m vessels; expanding laydown area to 125,000m2 and widening channel access to 165m. The harbour has opened to vessels, a number of which are docking at Nigg Bay for the first time thanks to the additional space the expansion has allowed. A huge investment that will profit the country as a whole, Doka is proud of its role in the regeneration of infrastructure that remains vital to the heritage and fiscal wellbeing of a grand Scottish town. For more information visit doka.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
ScaffPlan, the Australian startup that is revolutionising the scaffolding industry with innovativesoftware solutions, has secured a spot in Cemex Ventures’ annual list of the most promisingConstruction Technology startups globally. The prestigious list reflects a rich tapestry ofdiversity, encompassing various geographies, technologies, and maturity of the start ups included. ScaffPlan’s inclusion in the list is a significant affirmation of the company’s pioneering role inthe Contech sector. It highlights the company’s position as a critical player in the broaderstartup ecosystem, proudly representing Australian and regional innovation. The recognition received from Cemex Ventures is a major milestone for ScaffPlan, indicating thatthe company’s efforts to revolutionise the scaffolding industry are paying off. This validationserves as a powerful motivator, inspiring ScaffPlan to keep pushing the boundaries, drivingpositive change, and advancing the progress and technology of the temporary works sector. Commenting on the recognition, ScaffPlan’s founder Simon Boyes states, “To be listed as one of thetwo Australian companies on Cemex Ventures’ Top 50 Contech Startups 2024 is a source of immensepride for us. This acknowledgment validates our achievements and underscores the impact ofinnovation within the construction sector. It inspires us to drive positive change, and activelycontribute to advancing progress and technology in the scaffolding industry.” ScaffPlan’s innovative solutions are revolutionising the scaffolding industry, enablingconstruction companies to complete projects faster, safer, and more efficiently than ever before.As the construction industry continues to evolve,ScaffPlan is leading the way. As ScaffPlan and other Contech startups continue to develop innovative solutions that transform theconstruction industry, the industry will become more efficient, safer, and environmentallyfriendly. The future is bright, and ScaffPlan is leading the way. To view the report Top 50 Contech Startups 2024 | Cemex Ventures
Millcroft Scaffolding has started work on the contract to provide an essential logistics gantry for the major works project at Blashford Tower on the Chalcots Estate in Camden. Situated on Adelaide Road in northwest London, Blashford Tower comprises 72 flats over 19 storeys and is one of five high rise towers that form the Chalcots Estate. The £22m design and build recladding and fire safety works contract is part of Camden Council’s commitment to deliver a new standard of safety for residents. GRAHAM, awarded the Blashford Tower contract in September 2021, is delivering the project in two stages. The first stage involved extensive design work and tests to determine how the safety improvements would be implemented. The ongoing second phase includes setting up the site and installing an A1-rated cladding system, a curtain wall, new windows, and the replacement of brickwork to the underground level. Millcroft’s integral role in the project is to provide scaffolding, which will form a logistics gantry and distribution route and provide safe access to the site accommodation for workers. This entails the erection of a heavy-duty gantry extending from the face of Blashford Tower towards the site welfare facility, with scaffolding spreading to the Adelaide Medical Centre adjacent to Blashford Tower. The tower’s location and tight site constraints, including limited storage, have presented several challenges for Millcroft’s team. This is a live site with residents remaining in the tower until work on their respective floor level starts, when they will be moved to temporary accommodation. Further complications arise from the need to always keep the pedestrian ramps along the tower’s east and west sides clear, as it serves as vital access to the medical centre. The tower’s location has also required careful consideration. The site runs adjacent to Network Rail tracks at the bottom of a densely vegetated slope. A ground investigation was conducted to assess the slope’s stability and confirm its capacity to withstand the additional force and loads imposed by the gantry and scaffolding. Additionally, as the scaffolding is being erected on Network Rail land, the design of the scaffold had to be submitted to Network Rail for approval. Billy Jones, Managing Director at Millcroft, said, “GRAHAM is a long-term strategic partner and valued client of ours, and our Pre-Commencement team has been working with them on this project for around three years to ensure all aspects of our scaffolding meet the required standards and design for this complex site. We started on site at the beginning of November and expect to complete our part of the contract installation works by February 2024.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By crafting tailor-made solutions like a 21-metre Table Lifting System, Doka caters customers’ specific needs and boosts the efficient construction of the second highest building in Detroit. Doka is playing a key role in shaping tomorrow’s Detroit today by acting as an all-in-one supplier for the 209-metre (685-ft.) skyscraper and providing one of the fastest self-climbing formwork solutions on the US market. The Hudson’s Site project is a mixed-use development located in downtown Detroit, Michigan, USA. The project includes two buildings: a 209 meter (685-ft.) high-rise tower and a 70 meter (232-ft) mid-rise building separated by a through-cut. The tower will house modern offices, event venues, high-tech residences, and a luxurious 5-star hotel. It is expected to be completed in 2024 and will be the second tallest building in Detroit after the Renaissance Center. Experts are expressing high anticipation for this project, considering it a potential game-changer for the city. The Hudson’s Site project on Woodward Avenue is considered a bold and even iconic project. Its scale, prime location and the rich history of the neighborhood make it a colossal undertaking. Doka’s role in crafting a 49-storey masterpieceTo meet the special requirements of the project with limited on-site space in this urban area of Detroit, Doka developed a key to eliminating the need for traditional crane lifts between level-to-level transitions. Doka’s engineers came up with a self-climbing Table Lifting System solution, spanning a total of 21-metres (68,9-ft.) that is exclusively designed to lift slab formwork across six levels of the Hudson’s Site Tower. The hydraulic Table Lifting System not only increases efficiency by strongly improving the speed of material hoisting but also helps ensure safety – a paramount aspect in every Doka endeavour. Additionally, the adaptability of Doka’s Framed formwork Frami S Xlife system proved essential in navigating the project’s 112 different column cross-sections. Brian Gulick, Superintendent with Barton Malow, recognizes Doka’s professional support, saying: “It was crucial for us to have Doka on board. Doka’s personalized Table Lifting System enabled us to operate the construction site without the use of crane lifts between level-to-level transitions, which helped us to optimize construction speed.” Doka’s cutting-edge BIM Revit model is designed to analyse potential suspension points of the climbing systems of the core and slabs and to detect and prevent possible clashes on site by re-coordinating the schedule in advance. Doka ensured early on that the right solutions were in place for this complex project by collaborating closely with all stakeholders, which enabled the project to stay on track and meet its ambitious schedule. Global expertise, local precision in engineeringDoka’s engineering services for the Hudson’s Site project epitomize the global fusion of expertise of the engineers in the Austrian headquarters and the Doka team in the US. This dual approach ensures that the project benefits from cutting-edge solutions provided by Doka that are tailored to meet the specific demands of the local construction environment in Detroit. Doka’s engineers faced further challenges, such as providing the right formwork solutions for the skyscraper’s unequally-shaped core. Doka crafted a custom-made formwork solution featuring the large-area formwork Top 50, and the Super Climber SCP, which is recognized as one of the fastest self-climbing formwork solutions on the US market. A mini crane mounted at the top level of the Super Climber, supported the installation of heavy steel embeds, which significantly reduced the crane’s period of use. This tailored solution achieved an average five-day cycle time instead of the usual seven-day cycle time, resulting in significant acceleration of the construction while increasing efficiency and safety. What’s more, an integrated concrete placing boom facilitated the concrete pouring of the core, slabs and columns. A self-climbing Xclimb 60 Protection screen was designed for slab edge protection, as were several screens with integrated storage platforms as an extra feature. Project: Hudson’s Site TowerLocation: 1200 Block of Woodward Ave – Detroit, MIType of structure:High Rise, Residential & CommercialHeight: 209 m (685 ft.)Storeys: 49Developer: BedrockGeneral Contractor:Barton Malow CompaniesConcrete Contractor:Downtown Concrete Partners (JV between Barton Malow Concrete & The Colasanti Companies)Architect: SHoP ArchitectsStart of construction: 2017Overall completion: 2024Cycle time: 5 daysSq. Ft: 1,500,000 ft2 Products used:Core: Super Climber Platform SCP, Large-area formwork Top 50 SFacade: Xclimb 60 Protection Screen with integrated storage platforms & stair towers, self-climbing Table Lifting SystemSlabs & Shoring: Dokamatic S Table, 10k Shoring, SuperDekWalls & Columns: Framed formwork Frami S XlifeServices provided: DokaCAD 9 for AutoCAD, DokaCAD 9 for Revit, BIM with Doka, Doka Manuals, Engineering and Pre-Assembly Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
International formwork and scaffolding specialist, Doka, has been rewarded for its commitment to service and design excellence in its UK business with the recent award of BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 certification for Building Information Modelling (BIM) processes and management. Compliance with the standard demonstrates that Doka provides information in accordance with set processes and customer requirements using a structured format. This applies in particular respect to the company’s project work, product delivery and the management of data systems that ensure processes are carried out as efficiently as possible. Pieter Strydom, UK Senior Engineer and BIM Coordinator at Doka said: “Receiving a Certificate of Conformity to BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 is hugely important for us as a business. It informs our customers of our dedication to providing the best service and of our understanding of processes set out within the standard.” To achieve the certification, Doka underwent intensive assessments under the guidance of the British Standards Institute (BSI), one of the world’s leading national standards bodies. The three-day process included an external audit of Doka’s procedures in respect of its project delivery. This determined that BS EN ISO 19650-2:2018 standards were upheld in terms of documentation and building information modelling (BIM) systems used. Pieter continued: “It took us about a year to obtain the Certificate of Conformity. During this time, a significant portion was spent developing and organising internal documentation for the process to be developed internally. It was time well spent, however, as conformity with the standard and achieving BSI’s much sought after stamp of approval puts Doka among the forerunners of the formwork industry.” For more information on Doka’s full range of formwork, and scaffold hire range and services, visit: doka.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following the delivery of sanitation facilities earlier this year for Arena Church in Nottingham, Midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson has transformed another disused space to help vulnerable city residents who need it most. As part of the company’s commitment to delivering social value in the region and building on its long-standing relationship with the church, the contractor has provided ventilation upgrades and enhancement works for the basement area of the central city shelter in Western Street, Hockley. The contractor partnered with Amptron Electrical Services to provide upgraded ventilation systems which allow mechanical air change movements, to help with the lack of natural air flow, due to the location within the building. The G F Tomlinson Client Care team also carried out redecoration works to the space. These enhancements have enabled the basement area to become a more comfortable space within the church, providing vulnerable Nottingham residents with shelter, sanitation facilities and hot refreshments. New bollards were also installed to car parking bays, enabling the church to rent out the spaces to local businesses in the city centre, providing much needed revenue for the shelter. A drone survey was also completed of the building’s roof, to assist Arena Church with assessing repair and maintenance needs. In February, G F Tomlinson worked with local sub-contractors alongside Pastor, Jono Kirk, from Arena Community, to convert previously unused space into a shower and washer / dryer facility for vulnerable Nottingham residents to use who lack access to basic sanitation facilities. This year, the contractor has provided a total of £67,782 worth of social value-added opportunities for Arena Church, and the vital additions will act as an extension of the church’s mission to ‘Go, Grow, Love and Serve’ in Nottingham City, with facilities and spaces on hand ready for the church’s ‘Care for a Coffee’ initiative, which launches early next year. ‘Care for a Coffee’ will provide warm, safe spaces for vulnerable people to get a weekly hot meal, with an option to clean and dry clothes and make the most of a ‘shower hour.’ Stephen Green, project manager at G F Tomlinson, said: “It has been a pleasure to return to the Arena Church and to build on the great work we did previously, providing further necessary renovations to this community asset and provide help and facilities where most needed, especially in the wintertime. “As a company, we are strong advocates of the incredible work that Arena Church does for the local area, and it’s a privilege that the team have again been involved in further enhancing spaces to provide refuge for vulnerable people in Nottingham.” Jono Kirk, Pastor at Arena Church, said: “We’re very grateful for our relationship with G F Tomlinson and other subcontractors who have helped us on our journey to improve support services for city residents who need our help. Our community can now access vital facilities and safe, comfortable spaces which they wouldn’t have been had without the help of this partnership. Thank you to everyone involved.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Formwork, falsework, heavy duty support, ground shoring and safety & access systems specialist Altrad RMD Kwikform (Altrad RMDK) has provided temporary works to assist with the construction of 19-35 Baker Street. 19-35 Baker Street is a 10-storey commercial, retail, and residential mixed-use building in the West End of London, constructed by Laing O’Rourke on behalf of Derwent London. The project comprises 298,000 square foot of high-specification office space and 51 residential units, including an allocation for affordable housing. At the ground-floor level, the retail units fronting Baker Street, George Street and Gloucester Place will be linked by a central courtyard spanning the length of the site. Altrad RMDK supplied 19 Tubeshor props of 610/1060 diameter – with the longest prop spanning 39m – to support the single-level basement excavation, from which 98% of waste from the overall project has been diverted from landfill and recycled and repurposed during construction. All support equipment supplied for the project was CE-marked, which is a unique proposition from Altrad RMDK. It is the only UK supplier to offer equipment with full European compliance across its ground shoring fleet, which conforms with relevant EU design codes, material quality and manufacture under the controls of EN1090 legislation. The hybrid hydraulic ground shoring props are fitted with mechanical screw collars, which is another unique feature exclusive to Altrad RMDK. This innovation isolates the integral hydraulic cylinders after the prop pre-loading stage, preventing the chance of prop release resulting from hydraulic failure while providing a more robust and stiffer propping arrangement with higher deflection control. The Tubeshor 1060 props were also fitted with pre-camber shims placed between the bolted ring-flange joints. These boost the axial capacity of the props by reducing the amount of self-weight sag. Further prop performance benefits were afforded by inclusion of the unique Tubeshor Spherical Bearer end detail, which eliminates load eccentricity in both axes whilst providing 5° full circle rotation for on-site flexibility. In addition to props withstanding earth and surcharge pressures, there are daily fluctuations in prop forces due to thermal conditions, including daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations combined with the effects of solar gain; whereby props exposed to direct sunlight will attract more load than those providing support in shaded areas – all of which must be considered when calculating prop loads. Due to the sensitive nature of the city-centre site, wireless monitoring was selected which enables the site team and Altrad RMDK engineers to monitor prop loads 24/7. Alerts for prop loads outside of defined, scheme-specific values can be sent to customer and Altrad RMDK engineers, enabling any appropriate mitigation measures to be quickly identified thus ensuring the security of the excavation perimeter. Ajay Nagah, Commercial Manager – Ground Shoring, at Altrad RMDK, explains: “This project highlighted our ability to offer optimum wall support for basement construction – producing lean solutions whilst not compromising on quality or performance. Garrett Durkin, Laing O’Rourke Structures & Facade Project Leader, on the Baker Street project added: “This project posed engineering challenges that required a bespoke approach in order to meet the stringent allowable movements, of which Altrad RMDK were professional in their approach from concept right through to install and removal. “As the project challenges changed the Altrad RMDK team were always present and willing to support the Laing O’Rourke project delivery team with engineered solutions.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
