Temporary Works

Methodology for the demolition of the reinforced concrete Silvertown Bypass, including several approach spans and a central bow-string reinforced concrete span over rail tracks, cutting and major carriageway. A completely alternative temporary works design was produced and successfully executed in place of the design produced by the Local Authority, achieving substantial savings. Special driving techniques were used, and lifting frames were designed for two separate 260-tonne girder lifts. A 1,200-tonne mobile crane was used, requiring temporary works pile caps to support it, together with a substantial crash deck spanning the road and rail cutting.

Temporary works for the construction of the Hoverport in the Western Docks, Dover, comprising two 200m-long, two-walled sheet-piled cofferdams constructed using overhand working techniques. Strengthening Prince of Wales Pier bents to support 45-tonne crawler cranes with 5-tonne piling impact hammers. Piling gates and supports for 45-tonne cranes, with temporary beams supported from shear plates and clamps attached to driven permanent bearing piles. A 200m jetty deck with a rock wave-absorption wall beneath it. Soffit jack-up rolling formwork was designed to cast the 0.8m-thick jetty deck.

Removal of six large cable-hoist lifts in the centre of Harrods, London, and their replacement with 14 escalators, with the store remaining open throughout these substantial modifications. Eight floors with stairwells and landings were either suspended from pairs of full-strength spliced 900 UB sections welded to existing steel columns using steel hanger rods, or propped from the basement using beam flanges, flat jacks and resin jacks to reduce movement.

The entire 33-storey building was badly damaged by a major IRA bomb. Special scaffold support platforms and A-frames were designed for complete scaffolding around the perimeter of the tower block in eight-floor units. Scaffolding platforms were designed to accommodate loads from removed external steel frames and debris. Temporary bridging and propping were provided to damaged basement areas, together with substantial temporary strutting to basement walls and temporary decking to support plant and cranes over basement areas.

Jointly used by Network Rail and London Underground. Consultancy work was undertaken under an NEC contract, employed by a joint venture of international contractors. Produced Design Approval in Principle (AIP) and Conceptual Design Statements (CDS), together with full documentation and completed designs, including AutoCAD drawings. Strengthening vaults and arches to support loads from the outrigger legs of large mobile cranes.

Major road bridge deck slide-path structures on a 1-in-7 slope, including the sliding operation to move the deck into position and jack it down onto bearings.

• Two tunnels under the Thames and approaches – appointed as Temporary Works Category 2 checkers for a 0.9m-thick roof slab and falsework. Designed diaphragm wall beam fixings.
• Dublin Port Tunnel – cross-strutting and temporary services bridging across wide-cut approaches.
• Network Rail and London Underground works on numerous sites.
• 22-storey building foundations at ground level for scaffolding and 22 access platforms, plus 25m spans over ground floor extensions.
• Greenwich Peninsula Millennium Site, London – sheet-piled walls.
• King Post Pile shoring to office block basement
• Tate Gallery, South Bank, London.
• Tower crane foundations on various sites.
• New Bond Street – six- to seven-story building major alterations, including design and checks of lateral stability bracing and propping to floors.
• Civil enabling works at Liverpool Street Station for Crossrail.

• Falsework and scaffolding
• Formwork
• Cofferdams
• Piling for foundations and retaining structures, including bored piles, CFA, contiguous, combi and sheet piling
• Piling and impact hammer selection advice
• Support to the sides of trenches
• Headings and thrust-bore chambers
• Piling frames
• Tower crane bases, piling mats and carpets for heavy plant
• Temporary bridges
• Demolition temporary support
• Support to large, deep basement excavations
• Elevated working platforms for vehicles and ready-mix trucks
• Underpinning
• Crash decks
• Bridge slide techniques and slide-path support structures
• Temporary jetties, wharfs and leading-in dolphins
• Pontoon design and stability checks
• Strutting to diaphragm reinforced-concrete walls for large basements and launch chambers
• Steelwork detailing
• Reinforced-concrete reinforcement detailing and scheduling
• Checking of falsework for casting bridge decks and large areas of covered approaches to tunnels
• Façade support and existing retaining-wall support
• Heavy lifts and lifting techniques, including lifting-beam design
• Top-down construction techniques
• Checking of proprietary support structures
• Reinforced-concrete water-retention caissons, 12–15m diameter and up to 12m deep (permanent works design)
• Temporary drainage systems