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BUSINESS PROFILE
Movable access speeds
King’s Cross project
While 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.
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.
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
Page 32 september 2012