WHATEVER THE WEATHER…
With the UK's infrastructure having experienced trial by severe floods, high winds and heavy snowfall over the last three years, our ability to withstand increasingly severe weather conditions has come into sharp focus.
In the handling and storage industry, the ability to maintain essential activities and, more importantly, to protect the health and safety of those engaged in these activities, whatever the weather, is clearly critical.
With the use of temporary buildings in the sector on the increase, companies need to be sure that the speed and ease with which such structures can be erected does not come at the expense of the structural integrity which will enable them to cope with the worst of the British weather.
Whilst the majority of modern temporary buildings are engineered to meet British Standards for wind and snow loading, this fails to take account of the level of tolerance (or lack of it) of a structure dependent on its specific location and application. Thus, in sites with a high likelihood of exposure to high winds and snow, for example, coastal areas, buildings manufactured to meet the minimum requirements of the British Standards will effectively have ‘zero tolerance'.
This was a major factor for engineering, procurement and construction solution provider, CB&I when it required a temporary storage facility to support its involvement in the South Hook LNG project in Milford Haven on the West Wales coast.
One of the largest hydrocarbon projects of its kind in Europe, the $2 billion project involves the construction of a receiving terminal, which will allow the import and regasification of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Due for completion in late 2009, the terminal will be able to provide the UK with a significant proportion of its natural gas requirements.
With winter wind speeds on the Pembrokeshire coast regularly reaching 40 knots, CB&I required an exceptionally robust structure to provide storage for building materials and tools, including piping and highly sensitive electrical equipment. To meet the extremely demanding construction budget and schedule for the five year project, CB&I also required a fast and highly cost effective solution and took the decision to purchase a temporary storage facility from Aganto.
Designed specifically to meet the requirements of the project and the location, the 600 sq ft storage facility was delivered and installed by one of Aganto's professional site management teams within two days, enabling CB&I to begin work more quickly and cost-effectively than if they had opted to invest in a permanent structure. Without the need for traditional foundations or civil works, the building also kept labour and material costs to a minimum.
More importantly for CB&I however, Aganto's temporary buildings are the only aluminium-framed units in the UK which exceed minimum structural integrities required in the UK for snow and wind loadings, combining the expected benefits of quick and easy installation with superior strength and solidity and offering unique levels of tolerance in even the most exposed sites.
And, with Wales being one of the areas worst affected during February's heavy snowfall, this was put to the test. Aganto's remarkably robust aluminium profiles and galvanized steel frames, which come with a ten-year guarantee, held firm and proved invaluable in ensuring the project was able to continue with the minimum of disruption once the snow had cleared.
A CB&I spokesperson comments: “Our only previous experience with temporary buildings was a project carried out in Alaska by our American parent company, where the facility had failed to withstand the extreme elements and was blown down, causing major disruption to the development. Naturally, we were wary, but after speaking to Aganto we were assured of the robustness of their units and their proven experience in such exposed locations.
“The technical specification of Aganto's buildings are to an exceptionally high standard, beyond the necessary requirements, which left us without hesitation that its temporary storage unit was ideal for our needs.”
Aganto has a broad and unique portfolio of temporary aluminium framed buildings and structures, ensuring a tailor made solution is guaranteed for each customer. Although several types of structures are available, the same superior engineering, quality and safety features are consistent throughout each range.
This is in evidence in the company's recently launched Part L2A compliant buildings which have the high level of insulation and air-tightness required to meet the mandatory U-values set out in Part L2A of the Building Regulations, making them ideal for use as high standard workshops and operational warehouse facilities.
Until recently the inability of traditional temporary buildings to meet the requirements of Part L2A of the Building Regulations has limited their use in more complex, long term projects, specifically those where heating is required and with a duration of two years or more.
The only product of its kind currently on the market, the new range provides a genuine alternative to a permanent building at a fraction of the cost.
Go Back
In the handling and storage industry, the ability to maintain essential activities and, more importantly, to protect the health and safety of those engaged in these activities, whatever the weather, is clearly critical.
With the use of temporary buildings in the sector on the increase, companies need to be sure that the speed and ease with which such structures can be erected does not come at the expense of the structural integrity which will enable them to cope with the worst of the British weather.
Whilst the majority of modern temporary buildings are engineered to meet British Standards for wind and snow loading, this fails to take account of the level of tolerance (or lack of it) of a structure dependent on its specific location and application. Thus, in sites with a high likelihood of exposure to high winds and snow, for example, coastal areas, buildings manufactured to meet the minimum requirements of the British Standards will effectively have ‘zero tolerance'.
This was a major factor for engineering, procurement and construction solution provider, CB&I when it required a temporary storage facility to support its involvement in the South Hook LNG project in Milford Haven on the West Wales coast.
One of the largest hydrocarbon projects of its kind in Europe, the $2 billion project involves the construction of a receiving terminal, which will allow the import and regasification of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Due for completion in late 2009, the terminal will be able to provide the UK with a significant proportion of its natural gas requirements.
With winter wind speeds on the Pembrokeshire coast regularly reaching 40 knots, CB&I required an exceptionally robust structure to provide storage for building materials and tools, including piping and highly sensitive electrical equipment. To meet the extremely demanding construction budget and schedule for the five year project, CB&I also required a fast and highly cost effective solution and took the decision to purchase a temporary storage facility from Aganto.
Designed specifically to meet the requirements of the project and the location, the 600 sq ft storage facility was delivered and installed by one of Aganto's professional site management teams within two days, enabling CB&I to begin work more quickly and cost-effectively than if they had opted to invest in a permanent structure. Without the need for traditional foundations or civil works, the building also kept labour and material costs to a minimum.
More importantly for CB&I however, Aganto's temporary buildings are the only aluminium-framed units in the UK which exceed minimum structural integrities required in the UK for snow and wind loadings, combining the expected benefits of quick and easy installation with superior strength and solidity and offering unique levels of tolerance in even the most exposed sites.
And, with Wales being one of the areas worst affected during February's heavy snowfall, this was put to the test. Aganto's remarkably robust aluminium profiles and galvanized steel frames, which come with a ten-year guarantee, held firm and proved invaluable in ensuring the project was able to continue with the minimum of disruption once the snow had cleared.
A CB&I spokesperson comments: “Our only previous experience with temporary buildings was a project carried out in Alaska by our American parent company, where the facility had failed to withstand the extreme elements and was blown down, causing major disruption to the development. Naturally, we were wary, but after speaking to Aganto we were assured of the robustness of their units and their proven experience in such exposed locations.
“The technical specification of Aganto's buildings are to an exceptionally high standard, beyond the necessary requirements, which left us without hesitation that its temporary storage unit was ideal for our needs.”
Aganto has a broad and unique portfolio of temporary aluminium framed buildings and structures, ensuring a tailor made solution is guaranteed for each customer. Although several types of structures are available, the same superior engineering, quality and safety features are consistent throughout each range.
This is in evidence in the company's recently launched Part L2A compliant buildings which have the high level of insulation and air-tightness required to meet the mandatory U-values set out in Part L2A of the Building Regulations, making them ideal for use as high standard workshops and operational warehouse facilities.
Until recently the inability of traditional temporary buildings to meet the requirements of Part L2A of the Building Regulations has limited their use in more complex, long term projects, specifically those where heating is required and with a duration of two years or more.
The only product of its kind currently on the market, the new range provides a genuine alternative to a permanent building at a fraction of the cost.
Go Back
