BUSINESS PROFILE
Movable access speeds King’s Cross project
W
hile working on a contract to install permanent walkways and gantries on the refurbished roof, Allystructures saw how the need to constantly erect and dismantle steel scaffolding was slowing down the
installation of the new glazing installation work. The Chester-based fabricator supplied a system – known on site as the ‘flying carpet’ – that comprised independently movable access platforms at four different levels under the roof at King’s Cross. The bespoke platforms were individually shaped to the contour of the building and moved using Allystructures unique track design. The innovative access system allowed the installers of the new roof, glass and photovoltaic solar power panels to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week (twice as fast as previously), resulting in a rapid acceleration in the construction programme.
Each platform provided a 30 metre long working area at each level. Once work had been completed on a section of the roof, the platforms were easily moved to the next position and available for immediate work (the platforms also allow multiple teams to work at the same time, making the workplace more accessible and the site tidier and safer, because there is no need to store and move steel scaffolding tubes and fittings).
The glazing work was part of a major project to refurbish the roof
– Kier Construction was the main contractor for Network Rail. This called for Kier to strip out the existing roof, grit blast, make good and paint the steel structure, then install the new glazing and solar panels.
PAGE 32 SEPTEMBER 2012
For further information contact Aluminium Structures (Work Platforms) Ltd. Tel: +44 (0)1244 531 889 Email:
info@allystructures.co.uk Web:
www.allystructures.co.uk
It also included the installation of a permanent walkway and gantry system by Allystructures. Paul Butt of Allystructures explains: ‘Kier’s open approach to working with its contractors allowed me to suggest improvements to the access requirements; I could see the benefit of creating multiple work faces, reducing the downtime and improving the work flow of the glass installation.’ To reach each section of the roof the glaziers had to erect steel scaffolding on top of the suspended access deck. The whole roof is 40 bays long and between April and August 2011 only 12 bays had been completed. After Allystructures installed the ‘flying carpet’ in November 2011, a further 13 bays were completed in a period of just eight weeks. Construction’s project manager Simon Matthews comments:
‘With the traditional glazing scaffolding we were spending more time erecting the scaffold than the glaziers used it. We developed the flying carpet with Allystructures to save time and cost on this high profile project. The platforms provided a safe and clear working area on which the glaziers were able to work at a much improved efficiency.’ Allystructures overcame difficult design challenges and delivered the project on a very tight schedule.
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