Hoists handle roof lowering project

THE EYE-CATCHING building, a former HMRC complex similar in design to London’s O2 Arena, is today part of Nottingham University’s Castle Meadow Campus.

The leaking tensile roof covering had reached the end of its 30-year lifespan and required replacement. To ensure the optimal solution to this technically complex challenge, the specialist subcontractor responsible for the job approached Hoist & Winch. The objective for Hoist & Winch was to specify and supply a complete hoisting solution that would enable safe, even lowering of the original fabric roof to ground level and raising of the replacement fabric roof to its final installation height.

Following a number of site meetings and consultations with both designers and roof installation personnel, Hoist & Winch was able to propose a complete package of equipment and technical support.

At the centre of the proposal were 12 Yale/CM Lodestar electric chain hoists. These 2t swl (safe working load), 110V top-hook suspension hoists were coupled with correctly sized 30m long power feed/control cables. The idea was to operate the hoists simultaneously in sets of four while suspended from the customer’s specially designed lifting beams. Hoist & Winch also provided three separate single free-standing control stations of bespoke design to manage hoist unit motion, either individually or in sets of four, during lowering of the original fabric roof and lifting of its replacement.

Another aspect of the project saw Hoist & Winch supply a combination of 15t and 6.3t swl William Hackett lever hoists to assist with de-tensioning the original fabric roof prior to lowering operations and re-tensioning the new fabric once lifted into its final position.

As always, technical consultancy proved a core element of the overall package from Hoist & Winch. The company’s highly professional approach ensured the specialist roofing subcontractor received guidance on project-critical factors such as lifting equipment legislation, lifting operation planning and management, overall design and sizing of two bespoke portable electrical transformers, electronic load cell selection, selecting loose lifting tackle, and site examination and testing procedures prior to the commencement of lifting operations.

“The outcome was the safe and successful removal of the original fabric roof and the installation of its replacement as part of a finely controlled, smooth process,” reports Hoist & Winch Director Andy Allen. “The customer was delighted with the professionalism of our expert team and the solutions we proposed. Taking projects like this from concept to fruition is where we excel, ensuring our customers meet all of their objectives in a safe, competent and timely manner.”

Such was the impression made on the specialist roofing subcontractor that it subsequently engaged Hoist & Winch in further work to adapt the already acquired lifting system and used the knowledge gained from the Nottingham project to bid successfully for another multi-point lifting project in Copenhagen.

For more information, visit www.hoistandwinch.co.uk