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CASE STUDY

Bow Business Centre (formerly Poplar Town Hall)

Client

Project

Value

Duration

Role

The Issue

Scaffolding processes enable a critical role in a vast number of ways safeguarding the general public, local infrastructure, property, assets and ensuring activities can progress safely whilst often under immense time constraints. Accessing compromised damage property as a result of fire, even when measured meticulously been planned, has the potential for huge risk yet, through coordinated temporary works efforts and decades of post-fire experience means coordinated emergency scaffolding delivery is a role we thrive in. Fire damage buildings differ in the extent of compromised stability, planning, sequencing and temporary access implantation depending on the interested parties, whether it’s a residential, historic buildings, commercial and industrial. Often our role is to assess and appraise if the forensic and parties with interest such as insurers, telecommunication, roof solar etc can safely go about accessing the source of fire commencement. In most cases after any serious fire where the cause of the fire is mysterious still there may be the need for forensic fire investigation to be carried out by the fire service and loss adjustor. This often causes a lot of delays and distress for parties most effected such as the owners, and families. With more delays building fabric deteriorates as often fire service would have of course pumped a lot of water to put fire out during blaze.

Stability/ Protection
Following a fire some buildings are unfortunately so badly damaged building will be getting deconstructed and it is crucial that the structure remains stable throughout each phase and often too neighbouring properties require support/ protection solution especially party wall boundaries. Stability solution is often dependent on extent of damage, and this could mean tie to building is not an option. Free standing scaffolding  with kentledge has been a widely used option however on high risers/ dense urban areas usually impractical and so we treat each scenario uniquely. We bring forward temporary works structures necessary for project, and this could be a number items and not exclusive to this: access such as staircases, formwork/ falsework, scaffolding, hoarding, exclusion fencing, façade retention, edge protection, temporary roofs to protection from further damage to the building from the weather elements. Working closely with industry leaders in temporary works designers/ engineers and health and safety personnel with vas experience in dangerous structure we are able to package the scope of works most appropriate for the nature of works in the immediate aftermath and during the reconstruction phase. â€‹At times a mix of temporary works solutions are necessary because of location of the building, height, the vicinity of others facades and major infrastructure. â€‹â€‹

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Containment for Protection

​As a result of fire damage building can be left more exposed to the elements such as wind, making it easier for debris to blow off roofs, window, cladding. Containment of such martials is major task to achieve safely. At 1st this may mean cording of large areas (working in busy London street not possible- and other measures such fans and gantries is what we mostly revert to) and those areas are rereleased once containment is assured. Screen erectors such as scaffolders will work under a very tightly set RAMS to ensure no breaches of safety from anyone’s perspective. Can a containment apparatus such as scaffold be used for the phases thereafter to facilitate works. Can it form part make safe/ structurally sound, make water tight, facilitate access for major repairs, facilitate works fully with little to no adjustment’s temporary works element? We pride ourselves understanding the many moving parts to safety, safe time and cost effective. 

Lifting and Lowering Equipment’s

With substantial amount of waste created by the fire and the process of putting large fires out having mechanical efforts (i.e., hoist) are paramount to aid most of the phases following a major fire- especially true on high risers. Where possible mechanical effort has great power for efficiency. Having the correct machine capabilities/ and its location is major determiner of project success. How so: having great shortage labour in construction its obvious establishing efficiencies is business smart for all parties especially so when schemes are high risk works. Our collaborative efforts from initial enquiry, through to project execution means success.   

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