Project Description
GTL designed an access system, designed to BS 8118, BS EN 1011-4:2000 and BS EN 895:1995, which is now known on site as the ‘flying carpet’ – that comprises independently movable access plaGorms at four different levels of the roof at King’s Cross.
All in all there are 56 bespoke work plaGorms positioned on four levels of both the east and west barrels. The plaGorms are individually shaped to the contour of the building and are repositioned using Aluminium Structures’ unique track design.
The innovative access system allows 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 plaGorm can carry a load of 1.5kN per square metre and provides a 30m-long working area at each level. Once work has
been completed on a section of the roof, the work plaGorms can be easily moved to the next position and available for work within a macer of hours. The access plaGorms also allow multiple teams to work at the same time, the workplace is more accessible and the site is tidier and safer because there is no need to store and move steel scaffolding tubes.
The glazing work is part of a major project to refurbish the roof, for which Kier Construction is the main contractor for Network Rail.
These permanent works consist of two levels of walkway on both sides of each of the station’s two 250m-long barrelled roofs – a total of around 2km of walkways – as well as 16 movable gantries that will be used for cleaning and maintenance of the finished roof.
GTL overcame difficult design challenges and delivered the project on a very tight schedule.
Client Name
Kier Construction
Partners
Ramboll
Project Name
Kings Cross Station Redevelopment
Services Provided
Structural Engineering Structural Aluminium Design
Site Surveys
Location
London, UK
Value
£1, 367,000.00
Completion
2013
The Team
- Gavin Rixon – Project Director
- Tristan Toynbee – Structural Design Director