"grp"

Non-Conductive Fencing, Trench Covers and Access Structures | Case StudyPower and Energy Infrastructure Contractor Morgan Sindall was appointed to design, build and commission the new converter station and chose to work with Dura Composites to provide safe, non- metallic Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) utility fencing for the AC/DC Halls, as well as a range of non-conductive access structures, utility trench covers & handrailing across the site.The IFA2 project aims to connect the electricity systems of Great Britain and France using high voltage subsea cables and will be capable of exporting or importing 1000MW of power between the UK and France, enough to power up to 1 million homes. In this project, the client specification mandated the use of non-conductive and non-metallic materials which could be used to construct removable fencing, permanent fencing and sliding gates to enable access to specific authorised personnel, whilst preventing others from accessing high-risk areas.

GRP Rail Station Platform - Hybrid Install | Case StudyRobroyston station features two brand new platforms constructed using the Dura Composites recommended hybrid GRP and steel solution which is designed to meet the requirements of Network Rail standard NR/L3/CIV/030 and combines the strength of a steel foundation with a Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) Dura Platform surface. The platform surface has incredible durability and anti-slip properties which is shown to reduce by only 5% after a million footfalls (tested to BS 7976-2:2002+A1:2013).AmcoGiffen were responsible for delivering the design and build works for the development, with funding for the station coming from Glasgow City Council, Network Rail and the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.In choosing the GRP/Steel system from Dura Composites, the platform installation for the project (using GRP Dura Platform and steel trestles) has been able to take place largely while the line is open, minimising the impact on customers using the line.

Many of the GRP Riser Floors we install are fitted during the initial build. Using a framework made from GRP profiles, capped with panels of GRP Grating, we fill usually simple shapes as a building goes up, ensuring people and equipment can’t fall down the holes required for services installation.In an older building, the chances are the services are already in place, which means we need to cut around any pipes, cables and ducting to ensure a neat fit with no gaps.Gainsborough House in Richmond was one such installation. The riser gaps were actually quite small so, while there was no risk of a person falling through, dropped tools could, presenting – at worst – a potential hazard to people and equipment below and – at best – an inconvenience as tools need to be retrieved or replaced. We were sub-contracted by Westgreen Construction to bring the spaces around the risers up to the current safety standards and help prevent future accidents.On some floors the gaps were almost full of services trunking and, as an added challenge, electrical cable trays coming forward presented an uneven surface to work on. We built frames between each tray, creating a raised base to fit the grating to. The mesh was then carefully cut to accommodate the various services in place.In other parts of the building the client needed the grating to be 50mm away from already-installed duct work to allow for lagging and requested a kick plate rather than the normal flush fit. This required a modified frame to give the site team something to fix the plate to.GRP is an incredibly flexible material to work with. It’s much lighter than steel equivalents making it relatively easy to manoeuvre into position. It’s also easier to cut and non-sparking so doesn’t require a hot works permit. This allows us to make adjustments onsite, achieving a high level of precision in a fraction of the time, keeping quality up and costs down.No matter what type or age of a building, our expert teams will find a GRP riser solution to ensure site safety. For more information call us on 01206 396 446.

We were asked to provide teams at Scottish Water’s Treatment Works in Whitehillocks, Glenesk with safe access to a large chemical bund for operational and maintenance activities.A new installation, our client chose a GRP solution for its non-corrosive, low maintenance properties. We were tasked with designing, fabricating and installing the new platforms, the last phase taking just four days.As always, the project began with a detailed survey after which the CAD engineers created drawings to enable costings. The platform was initially constructed on our site at Brantham to ensure every component was accounted for and that the completed structure would meet all the requirements of our client. Once engineers here were satisfied, everything was shipped up to Scotland where our team rebuilt it in situ, making any fine adjustments as required. An enclosed working space often adds challenges but, by keeping the area tidy and organised at all times, everything went as planned.Step on Safety operatives hold relevant English (EUSR) and Scottish (DOMS) Water Hygiene certification and have a great deal of experience working on Water Treatment Works all over the UK.The finished solution features a raised GRP Anti Slip Grating platform on a GRP Profile frame with our Ergonomic Modular Handrail and steps at each end. This was carefully aligned with the bund wall to make a continuous, trip-free surface without compromising the integrity of the wall itself. A 4m GRP Ladder with Safety Hoops takes you up to a secure Anti-Slip Platform enclosed by Handrail and a Safety Gate.  

We are onsite in Stratford this week improving GRP Riser Floors that had been installed by another company using sub-standard GRP grating. The GRP supporting joists we are adding will ensure the riser floors meet all the safety standards for decades to come.The building on Pool Street West is one of two developments on the new UCL East campus. Together, the new buildings will house hi-tech laboratories and research space, student accommodation and designated areas for working with schools, charities and local groups. They will total more than 50,000 square metres and be home to 4,000 students and around 260 academic staff. Pool Street West is due to open in 2022, and Marshgate the year after.The two new buildings are part of Transforming UCL, a £1.25bn ten-year programme of investment in UCL’s estate across London to support the University’s continuing growth. Hopefully, the alterations won’t delay construction; glass reinforced plastic structural beams are a fraction of the weight of steel equivalents so are quick and easy to install. We don’t know why the original supplier made the material choices they did but, at Step on Safety, all the work we do is ISO accredited, meeting a minimum load requirement of 5kn/m2. Our grating is the very best quality and our design and installation teams are trained to provide solutions that meet every requirement, every time.To ensure you get the very best GRP solution, talk to the Step on Safety team. We pride ourselves on providing outstanding customer service and take great care to ensure that each project is completed to our client’s complete satisfaction.

d² Dura Grating Mini Mesh, Dura Profile & Dura Platform 40 | Case StudyDura Composites was engaged by Premier Marinas to work with their engineering company to produce a composite floor structure around their travel hoist supported by large 305mm GRP Dura Profile beams between 6-10m in length. The team chose the GRP material over steel due to its superior performance in corrosive salt-water environments. Unique in the market, Dura Profiles exceed the higher performance E23 grade requirement of the BS EN 13706 standard.Also central to the efficient operation of the washdown and hoist are Dura Grating and Dura Platform 40 flooring made from moulded and pultruded high-performance GRP panels which are unique in design to Dura. The open mesh section utilises 55mm d2 Dura Grating Mini Mesh in dark grey, which facilitates drainage whilst maintaining strength and unrivalled anti-slip properties. The solid surface sections were created using patented d2 Dura Platform 40, which are crankable to create an in-built fall to aid water runoff.

GRP End of Platform Steps | Case StudyContractor AmcoGiffen selected Dura Composites to design and fabricate 6 sets of GRP End of Platform Steps for Kings Cross Station in London, which were installed by Amco in a very short time frame to meet the needs of the tight project timescales. Weighing up to 80% less than steel and 30% less than aluminium, Dura Composites End of Platform Steps offer equivalent performance for considerably less weight. This results in major savings including lower installation costs due to more economical transportation, handling and on-site positioning.The client was delighted with the quality of the design and workmanship and with Dura’s ability to turn the fabrications around in such a short space of time, describing the structures as having “gone in like a dream”. As well as fully fabricated non-corrosive and non-conductive single unit GRP end of platform steps Dura Composites can also supply in component or flat pack kit form ready for quick assembly on-site.

Bespoke Access Structure | Case StudyThis two-level access structure with staircases, cladding, edge protection handrailing and anti-slip grating flooring was designed by Dura Composites in conjunction with our client ENGIE Fabricom UK, who provide engineering and construction services to sectors including renewables, oil and gas, power, chemical and energy from waste.With the ability to supply both composite timber cladding for the containers and all the required GRP elements for the project, Orsted chose to work with Dura Composites. Although steel had previously been considered, the rising cost of steel versus GRP and its tendency to corrode in coastal environments made composite materials a far more durable and cost-effective option.The resulting access structure is safe, looks attractive and is non-conductive and non-corrosive. With a long design life and 25 year warranty, the GRP components are part of the latest d² range from Dura Composites which offer safer, stronger, faster and proven properties.

Lionweld Kennedy designed, fabricated and supplied modular flat packs of both steel and GRP gratings, handrails, barrier ladders and gates to the 'GDF Suez Cygnus Bravo' gas field, which is owned by Heerema Fabrications. Using both steel and GRP, Lionweld Kennedy were able to design a system of walkways and handrails around the 250km2 field. Cygnus Bravo is an unmanned satellite wellhead platform tied-back to Cygnus Alpha’s processing platform. Cygnus Bravo is located approximately 150km off the coast of Lincolnshire, UK.Both our steel and GRP products can withstand harsh environments, such as oil rigs due to their durability from the high-quality material.Using both products in conjunction allows for a cost-effective flooring and safety solution for the client.

Lionweld Kennedy supplied the walk ways for the 'East West Rail Phase 1' for Network Rail.This new rail has connected Oxford to Bicester, with the second phase expected to connect Oxford even further.We supplied GRP walkways and approximately 1km of GRP parapet handrails to bridges in multiple locations along the new East West rail road.GRP and Flowdeck is an efficient material for this due to its lightweight and high-strength which makes it a great solution for walkways an platforms.

A chance encounter a couple of years ago has resulted in the development of a close, collaborative relationship between Step on Safety and client Anglian Water, clearly demonstrated by the recent refurbishment project at the London Road Pumping Station in West Thurrock.The station has four large foul chambers, each with maintenance platforms up to 11 metres deep providing access to the inlet and outlet pumps. The existing steel grating and handrails had begun to corrode, rendering at least one of the chambers unsafe to enter. An urgent solution was required to replace some or all of the platforms in each one – a challenge under any circumstances but even more so in working chambers during flood season.The first issue was access. The chambers are classed as Level 3 Enclosed Spaces so can only be entered by qualified engineers. The condition of the platforms was, in some cases, so poor that the surveys had to be done using 3D scanners lowered into each pit. The uneven build-up of residue on the walls and existing surfaces resulted in imprecise measurements which meant that whatever material was used, some adjustment would be necessary once work started. GRP was the ideal choice because it’s faster and easier to cut – even when you’re working in a hole. It’s also lighter so easier to manoeuvre into position.The second issue was the installation itself. Because of the access restrictions, Step on Safety teams were unable to go down into the chambers to install it themselves; specialist Anglian Water engineers completed the install whilst working collaboratively with Step on Safety onsite service teams cutting, bonding and fabricating up top. It was agreed that an SoS installer would be onsite throughout the project, assisting and advising the AW teams every step of the way.The new platforms were built just above the old steel ones, which acted as a safety net during the installation. Most of the cutting and assembly was done at the SoS workshop Brantham, Suffolk, with only minor adjustments needed during the project. The GRP profiles, open mesh grating and handrail was all made using isophthalic resin which has superior resistance to the toxic environment it will sit in. As an added precaution, every cut edge was treated with resin to maintain the integrity of the materials. Once the GRP was in place, the rotten steel was disassembled and lifted out for disposal.Step on Safety’s Dave Atkins worked alongside Anglian Water crews to get the project done. “It was a new way of working for us as we are usually down in the working areas hands-on” he told us. “Communication from top side was critical in which and what measurements were needed for a smooth project installation. Marcin and Ken’s team were fantastic and I’m really happy with what we have achieved together.”Clear, effective communication was key to the success of the project and Marcin Jacobowski was more than happy with the outcome. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for helping me to complete this project” he wrote. “We had a lot of problems during the project (flooding incidents), but we managed at the end. What have I learned is, without the good communication and co-operation with AW Operations and the subcontractors’ support (Cadman & Step on Safety) this scheme wouldn’t be the success that it is. I can highly recommend Step on Safety for quality of work and great communication.”

Undergoing some serious regeneration, Bromley High Street in East London has several building projects underway at the moment with new, affordable flats and houses springing up everywhere.Thomas Sinden was appointed by Poplar HARCA as their contractor to deliver one such project, building 13 new homes, including a large family dwelling in a single residential block.The infill site at 70-76 Bromley High Street, E3 was underused, but will now provide 3 affordable/social rented units and 10 intermediate houses, as well as a private amenity space and a large communal garden.The architect specified GRP Riser Flooring and Thomas Sinden selected Step on Safety to supply the ten risers required over five floors. They were fabricated by Step on Safety staff at the workshop in Brantham and subsequently installed by the Thomas Sinden site teams. We find that, on fast moving projects where time and space are critical, clients prefer to have fabrications supplied in one delivery so they are available as and when needed rather than co-ordinating multiple site teams. It offers a cost saving too.We are finding that GRP solutions are being chosen by the architects at the very beginning of a project far more frequently, rather than it being left to the preference of the contracted builder. Whether panels and profiles are being cut to fit on or offsite, the benefits over steel alternatives – such as weight, strength, ease of cutting and longevity – are now widely recognised.To find out how Step on Safety can help you meet your architect’s requirements with GRP service riser flooring, call 01206 396 446 today.

We were privileged to be contracted by Keltbray to install 350 riser floors at The Broadway, an exclusive new development at St James’s Park.The Broadway is a vibrant new living quarter located in the heart of Westminster. Described as the epitome of British innovative design and contemporary cool, six impressive towers are home to 258 exquisite apartments with five-star facilities. While the outside is steeped in iconic architecture and a revival of Art Deco design, behind the scenes, architects specified the very latest in building techniques and safety protocols, with Step on Safety’s GRP RiserDeck™ System at the very core of each building.Providing a modern, high-spec alternative to traditional galvanised steel and ply board service riser duct flooring, RiserDeck™ comprises of GRP Open Mesh Grating supported by composite Channel, Angle and I Beam sections to provide additional panel support. Manufactured from durable fibre-reinforced polymers and available with either a closed or open mesh surface, both of which facilitate multi-directional spanning, the inherent strength of these panels is provided by alternating, bi-directional layers of glass fibre woven rovings, which distribute the imposed load throughout the panel surface. The glass fibres are impregnated with polyester resin binding agent, which also provides the necessary corrosion resistance. A silicon carbide grit is applied to the top surface to provide an effective anti-slip finish to this GRP Riser Flooring.The resulting system requires no hot works to cut and fit onsite and is light enough for manual handling – no heavy lifting equipment is needed to manoeuvre into place.The project took ten months, with timings of each riser critical to ensure the smooth running of the project with no delays to other contractors; this had to be achieved while navigating the COVID-19 restrictions that came into play throughout. Three teams of three installers were onsite for the duration, making it one of our largest projects to date.To find out more about how Step on Safety can support your next project, call us on 01206 396 446 or email us at sales@steponsafety.co.uk.

We were invited by Kier to come up with a new way of doing things for the Service Riser flooring on phase one of the Perry Barr Residential Scheme in Birmingham last year. When complete, the scheme will provide 1,400 much-needed new homes for Birmingham. Part of a much wider project, it will also act as a catalyst for circa. 5,000 new homes and wider regeneration in the north west of the city – including improved leisure and community facilities along with upgraded transport infrastructure. Phase one includes a mix of one and two-bed apartments and three and four-bed houses, an ‘extra care’-type facility providing housing, a variety of services for the older community and areas of public space, as well as private courtyards and amenity spaces.For the apartment blocks, 120 GRP Riser Floors were required but, rather than us installing them after the floors were poured, they needed to be cast in by the contractors responsible for the concrete.There are advantages to doing it this way:You avoid having riser voids in the floor that people or equipment can fall down and you don’t need the fencing on site to protect them – 25% of workplace fatalities are due to falls from height, 13% are caused by falling/moving objectsThe risers are done by the flooring contractor at the pace they set (usually earlier in the process than a ‘retro’ fit), so no co-ordinating of teams from different organisations meaning fewer delaysBecause the modular riser units were all constructed at our premises in Suffolk, there were no extra teams working around each other while cutting and building on the siteThe steel industry has been providing the profiles for this for a while but, if you wanted to use a complete low-maintenance GRP solution, it hasn’t been possible. Our engineers came up with a solution that worked, allowing a seamless integration into the schedule with minimal fuss. The resulting riser duct floors met every requirement and holes for service pipes and cables can be quickly and easily cut in as required with no hot works or sparking hazards.If you have an idea of a new way of doing things and need a GRP partner to help you develop your thoughts, get in touch today.

The elegant Ely Place, just to the north of Holborn Circus, was until relatively recently, considered to be a part of Cambridgeshire, privately owned by the Bishops of Ely. Even today, the street has its own gatehouse and beadles. The historical site boasts an extraordinary history and was once the site of the Bishop’s Palace and Hatton House. It’s still home to the Chapel of St Etheldreda, parts of which date back to the 13th Century and Ye Old Mitre Public House, originally built in 1546.In 1772, the estate was sold to the Crown and the old palace, now in a ruinous state, was demolished. The handsome rows of townhouses that now stand on either side of the street were built in the same year. Today its buildings are mostly occupied by prestigious legal firms, but its colourful array of former residents are still celebrated and its history has very much been kept alive.It’s always a pleasure to be invited to work in London’s older buildings, effectively becoming a part of the care and restoration required to keep them alive for generations to come and no job is considered too small; this was just a one-day project, replacing a rotten wooden Hop Over and a rusty flight of Access Stairs on the 4th floor with smart, low-maintenance, long-lasting GRP equivalents.They were constructed using QuartzGrip® Anti-Slip GRP Standard Mesh Open Grating and Universal GRP Structural Profiles for the framework and handrailing. Bright yellow Anti-Slip Stair Nosing highlights the potential trip hazard, further reducing the risk of slips and falls. Both were built in our Suffolk-based workshop and transported in chunks for quick and easy fitting onsite. Old or new, is it time to upgrade your site access? We are happy to supply anything from the smallest hop over to extensive maintenance platforms and multi-storey staircases. For more information call us on 01206 396 446.

Situated in South Kensington, the home of science, arts and inspiration, and directly opposite the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal College of Music is one of the world’s great conservatoires, training gifted musicians from all over the world for international careers as performers, conductors and composers. Opened in 1883 by the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), the RCM has trained some of the most prestigious figures in British and international music life, including composers such as Holst, Vaughan Williams, Turnage and Britten; conductors such as Leopold Stokowski, Sir Colin Davis and Sir Roger Norrington; singers such as Dame Joan Sutherland, Sir Thomas Allen and Alfie Boe and instrumentalists such as Sir James Galway, John Lill, Gervase de Peyer, and Natalie Clein. Bringing an older building up to code regarding health and safety is always a challenge. Modern amenities were squeezed into spaces as they became available, but the emphasis was always on preserving as much of the original building as possible; going back in – often decades later – to make those spaces safe for maintenance crews or to replace outdated systems that involves crawl-spaces, false walls and hidden hatches.It was just such a request we received recently. A GRP Cat Ladder and RiserDeck floor with access hatch were required to allow work on the hidden pipework within a very narrow space. The ladder needed to be positioned in such a way that the pipe behind it wouldn’t be kicked; the hatch would be small, so needed to be 100% snag-free and the ladder height required safety hoops to help prevent falls. After drawings were approved by our client, the ladder was built onsite at Step on Safety and cut in half to allow it to be loaded onto a flat bed vehicle and to ensure it could be manoeuvred into position once it reached RCM. You can see from the photos that even the two-man installation team would have been a tight squeeze! GRP is lightweight so the fact that only two people could be there to lift it into place wasn’t a problem and being GRP, now the ladder is there, it will last for decades to come.Find out how Step on Safety can fill the gaps in your Health & Safety certification by calling Amber on 01206 396 446.

The Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is looking to improve its Adult Mental Health Inpatient services and Dart Valley Systems provided products for its new Sherwood Oaks unit. The new unit aims to give patients, staff, and visitors the best form of services and level of care by providing single accommodation and en-suite facilities that will improve privacy and dignity for patients. The products provided for the project are as follows: • 72 x VR01-030 High security V2 basin with integrated backplate (not including sensors) • 72 x SH07-040 High security shower head 30 degree • 36 x VR01-072 High security WC pan less abled with grey top • 36 x VR01071 V2 high security WC pan with grey top • 72 x VR07-004 Washroom control system kit – for DVS High Security backplate & WC Our high-security and ligature resistant products are virtually unbreakable and create a safe solution within all mental health facilities. The Sanitaryware, basins and accessories are manufactured from GRP (glass reinforced polyester) which is cost-effective, vandal-resistant, and completely shatterproof. Complete with a high-grade polyester gel coat finish, GRP provides a more domestic and familiar feel to the room creating a more therapeutic environment for those requiring an inpatient stay. 

Degaflex Fire Rated Roofing system providing a watertight finish, either smooth or textured. This installation was required to overcome a long standing issue with water ingress / leaking through the roof.The building was an outhouse in Snodland, Kent. The roof had been leaking for some time, Degaflex was installed onto a felt substrate by London GRP Roofing Ltd.Stephen Knuckey, the Director of London GRP Roofing Ltd. posted on LinkedIn ‘Our #Degaflex overlay. Safe to say I’m extremely pleased with the finish on this. Being a felt overlay and turning out this smooth, I’ll be looking forward to applying it directly to an OSB deck.’

London GRP Roofing Ltd, specialists in fibreglass flat roofs and terraces, recently completed a Degaflex roofing installation using our high-performance system and gave their professional opinion.Stephen Knuckey, the Director of London GRP Roofing Ltd. posted on LinkedIn photos of their project along with a comment of ‘our "Degaflex overlay. Safe to say I am extremely pleased with the finish on this. Being a felt overlay and turning out this smooth, I’ll be looking forward to applying it directly to an OSB deck.’

A new youth centre’s development is underway to the west of Werribee, in the surrounding area of Cherry Creek and Dart Valley Systems have provided products from the Safe Ensuite range for the project. The Safe Ensuite range is manufactured from Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) which is a single skin configuration that has three different weaves of glass fibre to give the product a good internal structural integrity, this is then impregnated with polyester resin to matrix it all together to produce the strong and extremely durable composite material. GRP is virtually unbreakable and ideal for high security and correctional facilities. The range of products provided are as follows:178 x VR01-010 High Security Ligature Resistant Toilet 37 x VR01-072 V2 High Security WC Pan Less Abled with Grey Top

GRP Rail Station Platform - Mountbridge Install | Case StudyThe Island Line and its associated infrastructure on the Isle of Wight in the UK has recently been upgraded to offer a more frequent service and introduce a refurbished fleet of Class 484 trains. Key to the project was creating improved accessibility between the train and the station platform to allow the new trains to operate effectively. This was achieved by deploying GRP Dura Platform panels from Dura Composites in conjunction with the Mountbridge™ system from Hammond ecs ltd to raise the platform gauge by up to 400mm at 5 stations on the Island Line, including Ryde Pier Head.The patented 40mm Dura Platform solution (Patent No GB 2 523 381) has a span of 1.5m per 5kN/m2 UDL and delivers multiple benefits in terms of faster, safer and easier installation, reducing time on site, therefore reducing disruption to passengers, and providing major cost savings versus traditional materials such as concrete. The platform panels can accommodate fully integrated tactile recesses, illumination of the coper and integrated heating to remove frost & ice build up and reduce the future maintenance burden of the platforms.

Non-Conductive, Anti-Slip Flooring and Walkways | Case StudyArena Events Group chose Dura Composites to supply the tiered structure stadium decking for the seating and platform areas, manufactured from our high quality and corrosion-resistant Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) Dura Slab 40 and 20 products which provided an anti-slip, fire-tested and load-tested alternative to the Buffalo® Board and traditional plywood used previously. Dura Composites’ ability to be able to meet a range of stringent test requirements including flare resistance tests and FEA analysis made us the ideal choice for this high profile project which not only allows for future changes to seating configurations, but also improves access to amenities on the concourse. The two types of Dura Slab used on this project are precision engineered GRP structural flooring systems that provide an incredible strength to weight ratio. High strength fibreglass composite is pultruded in one mass to produce a consistent quality flooring structure that is also non-corrosive, chemically resistant – and has an anti-slip walking surface.

Lionweld Kennedy designed, supplied, fabricated and installed extensions to existing platforms in order to accommodate longer trains and add a new emergency end of platform staircase . The platforms we worked on was Shepherds Bush, Imperial Wharf, West Brompton and Clapham Stations).We provided GRP deck, below deck screens, mesh litter screens, end of platform steps, fencing and lockable gates as well as associated handrails, plinths, fixtures and fittings.The GRP deck panel’s increased strength allows spans of 4000mm clear span with a 5kn/m² pedestrian loading. This meets all network rail load requirements and is fully approved and in use. Additional strengthening to the deck was required to accommodate the lighting/CCTV columns shown above.We added white and yellow edge lines and safety lines as well as the tactile pavers moulded to the deck. The gritted anti-slip surface is also ideal for this application where safety is paramount.

Lionweld Kennedy designed, fabricated and supplied the modular flat packed steel and GRP grating and stair treads to the 'Clair Ridge Oil Filed' for Hyundai Heavy Industries.Using both steel and GRP, we created an efficient solution for their flooring. Both materials thrive in harsh environments, which is why Lionweld Kennedy supplied an range of our products to cut down on costs, while maintaining high strength. Clair Ridge is the second phase of development of the Clair field which, with an estimated eight billion barrels of oil in place, is the largest undeveloped hydrocarbon resource onthe UKCS.The £4.5bn investment involves two new bridge-linked platforms.

Lionweld Kennedy supplied and installed both open mesh flooring and GRP light out removeable handrails to 4 twin level access gantries at the 'Doncaster Carr IEP Depot' for Hitachi Rail Group.We supplied and fixed demarcation fencing with integral gates to form the stores area within the facility.Also, we supplied and fixed internal depot protection to fork lift routes, including column protection, bollards and spring steel barrier systems.Using both steel open mesh flooring and GRP handrails was a great cost solution for the client, as we were able to utalise our products to create a safe working environment which is fully compliant with British and European standards.

Working for Burntisland Fabrications, we designed, fabricated and supplied modular flat packed steel and GRP grating and handrails to the 'Solan Topside' oil field which is owned by Burntisland Fabrications.Lionweld Kennedy utalised both steel and GRP grating and handrails to create a cost effect solution which suits their load bearing requirements. The Premier-operated Solan oil field is located west of the Shetlands in the North Sea and it is expected to produce 40 million barrels of oil with an estimated initial production rate of 24,000 barrels of oil per day.

The Nottinghamshire Healthcare Foundation Trust is looking to improve its Adult Mental Health Inpatient services and Dart Valley Systems provided products for its new Sherwood Oaks unit. The new unit aims to give patients, staff, and visitors the best form of services and level of care by providing single accommodation and en-suite facilities that will improve privacy and dignity for patients. The products provided for the project are as follows: • 72 x VR01-030 High security V2 basin with integrated backplate (not including sensors) • 72 x SH07-040 High security shower head 30 degree • 36 x VR01-072 High security WC pan less abled with grey top • 36 x VR01071 V2 high security WC pan with grey top • 72 x VR07-004 Washroom control system kit – for DVS High Security backplate & WC Our high-security and ligature resistant products are virtually unbreakable and create a safe solution within all mental health facilities. The Sanitaryware, basins and accessories are manufactured from GRP (glass reinforced polyester) which is cost-effective, vandal-resistant, and completely shatterproof. Complete with a high-grade polyester gel coat finish, GRP provides a more domestic and familiar feel to the room creating a more therapeutic environment for those requiring an inpatient stay.

Contacted by Tefken Construction, we designed, fabricated and supplied modular flat packs of both steel and GRP gratings, heavy duty barrier rails, gates, ladders, treads and handrails to the 'Chirag Oil Field'.Our designers ensured that all material and placements could withstand the given environment. Using both steel and GRP allowed for cost efficiencies for the client, while maintaining a great strength for their platforms and rails.Our modular flat packs allow the client to install their flooring and other items easily.Chirag is an offshore production, drilling and quarters (PDQ) platform located 120km east of Baku in the Caspian Sea, at a water depth of 120 meters.First oil from the platform was achieved on 28 January 2014.Total Chirag production was on average 53,000 barrels per day.

A new youth centre's development is underway to the west of Weribee, in the surronding area of Cherry Creek and Dart Valley Systems have provided products from the Safe Ensuite range for the project.The Safe Ensuite range is manufactored from Glass Reinforced Polyester (GRP) which is a single skin configuration that has three different weaves of glass fibre to give the product a good internal sttructural integrity, this is then impregnated with polyester resin to matrix it all together to produce the strong and extrmely durable composite material. GRP is virtually unbreakbale and ideal for high security and correctional facilities. The range of products provided are as follows:·       178 x VR01-010 High Security Ligature Resistant Toilet·       37 x VR01-072 V2 High Security WC Pan Less Abled with Grey Top

The overall aesthetic appearance of this project was very important. Originally, traditional metal roofing was considered, but the client had reservations with possible noise issues and theft problems, and local planning constraints did not permit the use of traditional slate. So, Williams Roofing Contractors of Chandlers Ford were tasked in finding an alternative solution.Polyroof’s BBA approved 185 GRP System can replicate the look of metal sheeted roofing at a fraction of the weight and the price and, having no scrap value, is not prone to vandalism or theft.The contractor worked closely with the Polyroof Technical Department, the client, and the planners to produce a detailed specification for the project incorporating pre-formed trims to create a lead effect. The system was successfully installed within the project time frame and upon completion was given the usual insurance-backed 20 year guarantee from Polyroof Products Limited.Polyroof’s simulated metal finishes are achieved through the installation of Polyroof pre-formed GRP trims which are fixed to the deck or substrate prior to the application of the Polyroof waterproofing membrane. The project was nominated for the LRWA Roofing Awards due to the high level of intricate detailing that was undertaken and the care that was taken to ensure that all preformed profiles were fitted in balanced, parallel positions. The overall attention to detail by the Polyroof approved skilled operatives was first class.

Project detailsToyota contacted Watco looking for a long lasting anti slip decking solution. Four of Toyota GB Plc Head Office fire exits open onto an outdoor decking area, leading to assembly points. The decking is also used as a seating area at lunchtime for staff. In wet and frosty weather the decking becomes slippery, causing concern around slip hazards, especially in an emergency evacuation.Whilst the safety of its employees was the main concern, Toyota also wanted to ensure that the anti slip solution was easy to fix and would blend in with the natural colour of the decking.In addition, they needed a solution that could be fixed in the decking indentations. Having looked at several other solutions, it seems that most involved fixing the anti slip strips in the gaps between the boards, thus requiring extra work as the existing gaps were not wide enough. Our solutionWatco recommended and supplied heavy duty slip resistant GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) Decking Strips. The strips in ‘stone’ colour blended in well with the timber and were supplied pre-drilled for easy fixing.Toyota were delighted with the outcome. The new anti slip decking strips provide safe fire escape routes for staff, whilst maintaining the aesthetics of the landscaped outdoor area."Our GRP Decking Strips are virtually indestructible, based on an extremely durable fibreglass base with a coarse, ceramic grit which is bonded to the top for a heavy duty, slip resistant surface. Chamfered edges minimise trip hazards. The strips are available in black, stone or yellow."Watco Decking Strips are supplied pre-drilled and with screws. The strips can be trimmed on site using a hacksaw or, if required, Watco will supply the strips already cut to size.

We were thrilled to work at KOKO in Camden recently, installing an 11m suspended access platform as part of the huge redevelopment project currently underway.The music venue closed back in April 2019 for a redevelopment project which included the acquisition of two adjacent buildings and a complete renovation of the iconic rooftop area. Progress was somewhat hampered by a fire in January 2020 that destroyed the famous dome, but work has continued, and we’ll hopefully see the finished results soon.The venue began life as the Camden Theatre back in 1900. Renamed the Camden Palace in 1982, it was quickly established as a crucial part of the London music scene and watched the rise of New Romantic, Dance and New Wave, Rave, House and Acid House before closing in 2004. Since its reincarnation as KOKO, it has hosted stars including Madonna, Coldplay, Prince, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Amy Winehouse, Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, J Cole, Skepta and many, many more. As a century-old, listed building it posed us some unusual challenges regarding what we could and couldn’t do to achieve the result the client needed. Two storage tanks with a combined weight of 2.5 tonnes were to be positioned in the space below the listed roof. Easy access was needed to safely reach the tanks whenever required. Because of the listed status we were unable to fix the platform to the wall – it had to be suspended using drop rods.Our highly qualified and experienced install team came up with a solution, spending just two weeks creating a multi-level walkway that placed no weight on the internal roof and had minimal interference with the listed building’s structure. Composite materials were the logical material to use. It’s lightweight; so easy to manoeuvre and work within such a constricted space but still meets the loading requirements.  QuartzGrip® Open Mesh GRP Grating is manufactured to ISO 9001 quality standards providing the highest slip-resistance available, while our heavy duty SafeRail™ GRP Handrail System is certified to BS 4592:0.The result? A bespoke solution that has provided the client with a non-corrosive walkway meeting all Health and Safety maintenance access guidelines in document M & K of the building regulations and the equalities act, keeping future users safe in an otherwise unsafe maintenance regime. 

The Host Helix building, also known as the “Helter-Skelter,” was a unique and striking structure built in 2011 with stunning views of North London and Wembley Stadium. Over time, the building experienced general wear and tear and water began to enter the buildings’ complex structure.Polyroof Products were called in to consult with the clients and offer a seamless, encapsulated solution that could address the many unusual details associated with the building’s design.The SolutionA full survey of the roof terrace areas was conducted by the Polyroof Technical Services, after which a bespoke specification was produced for the works. The proposal document detailed a comprehensive set of recommendations for producing a seamless solution to encapsulate the problematic roof, therefore solving the issues that had arisen over the years due to its condition and age, as well as the issues associated with the original design of the pitched, curved roof.Polyroof SA Carrier Layer was then applied over the cement particle boards with Polyroof pre-formed GRP Drip Trims fixed to the external edge. For continuity and to create a uniform finish, the SA Carrier Layer was extended onto the main roof sections as a substrate for the Protec system.Any details requiring local reinforcement were treated with Protec Resin and 75mm wide Polymat 450. The curing process was allowed to take place. To accommodate structural expansion / contraction movements at appropriate details, 25mm disbondment tape was installed prior to local reinforcements.The first coat of Protec Resin and Polymat 450 was applied at a minimum coverage rate of 1.3 – 1.5Litres/m² (0.66 – 0.77m²/Litre) and was allowed to cure. To complete the system, a second coat of Protec Resin was applied at a minimum coverage rate of 0.5Litres/m² (2.0m²/Litre) and was allowed to cure.ComplexitySuch an iconic building in the local community, the client wanted to protect the original aspects of the building to the fullest extent, so the Protec system installed at the perimeter was color-matched to the original blue and grey colours. This was achieved by blending pigments until they matched the desired colors, in turn the pigment was then blended into the Protec resin before application. The survey revealed concerns about the original building designs from 2011 and the roof’s drainage system. Due to the roof’s pitch, rainwater was cascading down the curved slopes at high velocity and causing water to bounce into the building under the original capping.After many discussions between the main contractor and Polyroof, as well as the provider of the external cladding, it was agreed that the perimeter detail needed to be encapsulated with the new waterproofing system to prevent further water ingress. Fire-retardant cement particle boards were fixed to the internal and top faces of the external parapet walls, and the Polyroof SA Carrier Layer was applied over them with Polyroof pre-formed GRP Drip Trims fixed to the external edge.The Protec System was then applied to encapsulate the entire parapet detail, meaning its waterproof integrity would be covered under the Polyroof Guarantee. The curvature of the building added complexity to this process, and the contractor took great care in cutting the trims to size and fixing them to the external edge to ensure they followed the profile of the structure. Due to the building’s height, all the trims were face-fixed to prevent wind uplift.WorkmanshipIn order to improve drainage and prevent water from accumulating in hotspot areas of the roof, the contractors were instructed to install new internal curved gutter channels at the point where the roof and building met. These channels were designed to have a sufficient height and angle to effectively direct rainwater towards the outlets, preventing water from pooling on the roof. However, the installation process was made more complex due to the curved nature of the building’s architecture, which required careful measurement and customization of the gutter channels to fit the unique shape of the building.Additionally, the contractors had to consider the many joins of the gutters and how they would hold up to the elements over time as the building structure expands, contracts and moves. Extra steps were taken to ensure the gutters liquid membrane was properly sealed and secured to prevent leaks.The contractors were instructed to repair all protrusion and mansafe post details as necessary in order to allow the Protec System to be installed to a minimum height of 150mm, and to terminate it underneath a suitable weathering flange or jubilee clip. In addition, all right angles were to be reinforced with double taping. Any protrusions that were liable to significant movement was required to have disbondment i.e., bond break, tape applied to it to stop the external coating from stressing on expansion. Furthermore, all pipes were to be abraded, solvent wiped, and where necessary, primed in accordance with the Polyroof coatings manual. A flashing detail was also to be created with a weathering flange or seal.All outlets were inspected to ensure that they were functioning properly. Any outlets that were deemed unsuitable were replaced with new ones. The outlets were cleaned, prepared, and primed as necessary. The Protec system was then dressed into the outlets as far as was practical. The inspection and replacement of the outlets and the preparation of the Protec system helped to ensure that the drainage system functioned effectively.ConclusionThe refurbishment of the roof was completed within the client’s target timeframe and budget. Following a final inspection by Polyroof Technical Services, which highlighted quality workmanship of Tower Asphalt Ltd, the client received Polyroof’s trusted Accredited System Guarantee and now has the peace of mind the roof will be leak-free for decades to come.

In 2017 BMDS supplied Multivault GRP rooflights to a new build, 180,000 sq ft ambient warehouse constructed as part of a growth and expansion redevelopment at the Henderson Group headquarters in Mallusk outside Belfast. The new 12.5million warehouse which incorporates cutting edge design, was designed to streamline logistics and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Ireland. BMDS supplied Multivault GRP Barrel rooflights to cover just over 2,200m2 or approx. 13% of the roof area – 22 runs extending over 16 metres with a further 2 runs of 8 metres streaming natural light into the group warehouse.

A comprehensive set of rooflight solutions has been provided, including Energysaver factory assembled GRP rooflights, to a newly expanded production facility in Dundee. Brett Martin was selected for this project due to meeting for 3 separate specifications. This involved supplying daylighting solutions to an existing building, new building and link corridor. These rooflight play a significant part in ensuring this facility meets its energy targets, whilst enhancing the working environment. Specifications: Factory Assembled Rooflights: 230m2 of Trilite 3.0 Energysaver FAIRs Vaults: 2 x 8m and 10 m Triple skin GRP Multivaults Skylights: 2 pyramid glass Ritchlights, 2.5m x 2.5m

The award-winning Skelton Lakes motorway services near Leeds is using bespoke manufactured architectural linings from the Pendock Linea range. GRG pilasters were specified to provide a consistent finish between shop fronts, whilst integrating with the dry lined walls above. They also include a 30mm radius on each corner to ensure there are no sharp edges and a stainless-steel kick plate at the base.GRP bulkheads are used to conceal the steel floor beams at first-floor level, which were manufactured to follow the gentle curve incorporated in the design of the shop fronts. By using GRP it allows a small amount of flex to ease installation and ensures the minimum additional mass is added to the structure.