www.newsteelconstruction.

com

January 2016
Retaining Leicester Square

Vol 24 No 1

Bomber Command memorial

Weathering steel links City blocks

Steel’s flexibility wins at Sunderland

Liverpool hospital bedded with steel

 In this issue

Cover Image
International Bomber Command
Centre, Lincoln
Main client: International Bomber
Command Centre Trust
Architect: Place Architecture
Main contractor: Lindum Construction
Structural engineer:
Alan Wood and Partners
Steelwork contractor: S H Structures

January 2016 Vol 24 No 1

5 Editor’s comment The UK’s constructional steelwork supply chain will remain robust and well able to
provide the world leading service that it is recognised for in 2016 and beyond says Editor Nick Barrett.

6 News Two new steel bridge design guides and a web-based frame stability tool are now available.

10 Art A 31m-high weathering steel spire is the centrepiece at the International Bomber Command
Centre.

12 Heathcare Structural steelwork takes on a vital role as Liverpool’s largest hospital undergoes a multi-
million pound rebuild.

14 Education A steel-framed vocational college campus is rapidly taking shape in Sunderland city centre.

18 Mixed-use Within a large retained façade, a new steel-framed development will overlook London’s
world-famous Leicester Square.

22 Commercial Large cantilevering elements dominate the City of London’s latest high-rise commercial
scheme.

24 Technical Mark Lawson of the SCI discusses some of the recent research and developments in
modular construction.

28 Advisory Desk AD 393 – Minimum requirements for column splices in accordance with Eurocodes.

29 Codes and Standards

30 50 Years Ago Our look back through the pages of Building with Steel features steel-framed domestic
dwellings.

32 BCSA Members

34 Register of Qualified Steelwork Contractors for Bridgeworks

These and other steelwork articles
can be downloaded from the New
Steel Construction Website at
www.newsteelconstruction.com

NSC
January 16 3
 Comment

Design guidance
tradition strengthened
At the start of last year the steel construction sector was confidently reporting to clients that
there was plenty of capacity in the sector to ensure that expected demand increases during
2015 would be easily accommodated. That confidence was proven to be well founded as
despite tales of shortages of labour and materials affecting other sectors, steel construction
prices rose modestly and there were no stresses evident along the supply chain.
Later in the year the BCSA reassured clients that the steel construction supply chain remains
strong and efficient despite the problems assailing makers of raw / rolled steel.
Full support was pledged to steelmakers in their bid to combat any dumping of raw / rolled
Nick Barrett - Editor steel into the UK market and to convince government of the need for level playing fields in
energy prices and carbon related taxes. The UK government has given signs that it is listening
to the industry’s case for help, and some action has already been taken.
The outlook for 2016 is for further modest increases in the price of fabricated steelwork,
but nothing out of line with construction price inflation generally. Looking over the horizon to
2016, it is clear that the constructional steelwork supply chain will remain robust and well able
to provide the world-leading service that it is recognised for internationally.
While these are interesting times for steelmakers, for most of us it has been business as
usual, as we can see in this month’s News pages. Providing up-to-date design guidance has
been a key part of the steel sector’s support for engineers and architects for over 30 years, and
this tradition is strengthened by the latest design guidance that has just been released by the
Steel Construction Institute, with financial support from Tata Steel and the BCSA.
All bridge engineers will want to familiarise themselves with P185 – Guidance notes on
best practice in steel bridge construction (6th Issue) as they represent important updates
and align guidance with the latest UK and European standards. Although aimed at bridge
designers, many of the Notes offer general information that will be helpful to all designers of
structural steelwork
Also of interest to structural engineers is the new web-based design tool that evaluates
the frame stability of multi-storey builings in accordance with the Eurocodes – another useful
addition to the ever-growing suite of software available on www.steelconstruction.info
Both represent the sort of support that designers need to have at their fingertips in their
day-to-day to work, the state-of-the-art guidance that the steel sector has always been
committed to providing, and which continued uninterrupted through several recessions.
The forecast that can be confidently made at the start of 2016 is that this support will
continue to be developed.

EDITOR NEW STEEL CONSTRUCTION IS PRODUCED BY EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Nick Barrett Tel: 01323 422483 BARRETT BYRD ASSOCIATES ON BEHALF OF THE Ms S McCann-Bartlett (Chair);
nick@newsteelconstruction.com BRITISH CONSTRUCTIONAL STEELWORK ASSOCIATION Mr N Barrett; Mr D G Brown, SCI;
DEPUTY EDITOR AND TATA STEEL, IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE STEEL Mr C Dolling, BCSA; Mr R Gordon;
Martin Cooper Tel: 01892 538191 CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE. Mr A Palmer, Buro Happold Engineering;
martin@newsteelconstruction.com Ms B Romans, Bourne Construction Engineering;
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR The British Constructional Steelwork Association Ltd Mr G H Taylor, Caunton Engineering;
Ty Byrd Tel: 01892 553143 4 Whitehall Court, Westminster, London SW1A 2ES Mr M Thompson, Mott MacDonald;
ty@barrett-byrd.com Telephone 020 7839 8566 Mr O Tyler, Wilkinson Eyre Architects
PRODUCTION EDITOR Website www.steelconstruction.org
Andrew Pilcher Tel: 01892 553147 Email postroom@steelconstruction.org The role of the Editorial Advisory Board is to advise
admin@newsteelconstruction.com on the overall style and content of the magazine.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Tata Steel
Alastair Lloyd Tel: 01892 553145 PO Box 1, Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, New Steel Construction welcomes contributions on
alastair@barrett-byrd.com North Lincolnshire DN16 1BP any suitable topics relating to steel construction.
NEWS REPORTER Telephone 01724 404040 Publication is at the discretion of the Editor. Views
Mike Walter Website www.tatasteelconstruction.com expressed in this publication are not necessarily
COMMERCIAL MANAGER Email construction@tatasteel.com those of the BCSA, SCI, Tata Steel or the Contract
Fawad Minhas Tel: 01892 553149 Publisher. Although care has been taken to ensure
fawad@newsteelconstruction.com The Steel Construction Institute that all information contained herein is accurate with
Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7QN relation to either matters of fact or accepted practice
Telephone 01344 636525 Fax 01344 636570 at the time of publication, the BCSA, SCI, Tata Steel
Website www.steel-sci.com and the Editor assume no responsibility for any errors
Email reception@steel-sci.com or misinterpretations of such information or any loss
or damage arising from or related to its use. No part
CONTRACT PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING SALES of this publication may be reproduced in any form
Barrett, Byrd Associates without the permission of the publishers.
7 Linden Close,
Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8HH All rights reserved ©2016. ISSN 0968-0098
Telephone 01892 524455
Website www.barrett-byrd.com

NSC
January 16 5
 News

New steel bridge design guides available from SCI

The Steel Construction Institute (SCI) has Much of the previous advice enquiry to SCI’s Advisory Desk about the
published two new steel bridge design remains valid but the SBG has taken the inconsistent and unclear requirements
publications that are now available opportunity to update and align them with in BS EN 1991-1-5 and BS EN 1993-2
at: www.steelconstruction.info/ new British and European Standards. for the determination of the movement
Bridges#Resources Two new Guidance Notes have been ranges to be specified for bridge
Produced with financial support written: one provides guidance on bearings.
from the British Constructional Steelwork the specification of fatigue quality, With advice from the SBG,
Association (BCSA) and Tata Steel, the reflecting the requirements of the recommendations have been developed to
publications are P185 - Guidance notes on Specification for Highway Works; offer a much clearer explanation of how
best practice in steel bridge construction the second offers specification clauses for designers should calculate the movement
(6th Issue), and P406 - Determining tension components, such as high strength range, taking account of both thermal
design displacements for bridge movement bars and strands, to supplement the change, and uncertainty in the relative
bearings. produced by the Steel Bridge Group (SBG), requirements in BS EN 1090-2. positioning of bearings on the sub- and
The Guidance notes on best practice has been comprehensively reviewed and Determining design displacements for superstructures. These are illustrated
in steel bridge construction (6th Issue), updated. bridge movement bearings responds to an with some simple worked examples.

The first phase of the Flemingate mixed-use

scheme in Beverley has opened its doors to
East Ridings’s largest regeneration scheme opens
shoppers.
Described as the largest development in the
town since the completion of the famous minster
in 1420 (see NSC October 2015), Flemingate’s
first phase includes three steel-framed buildings
consisting of a Debenhams anchor store and two
large retail blocks containing a variety of outlets.
Flemingate’s steel-framed cinema has also
opened, with more new shops and restaurants
completing in the spring.
An 80-room Premier Inn, a 500-space steel-
framed multi-storey car park, the largest in
Beverley, a new campus for East Riding College,
and 130 homes complete Flemingate’s offer.
Wykeland Managing Director Dominic
Gibbons said: “The opening of Flemingate is a
key milestone. Many of the exciting new retailers
and cafés, which opened on November 3, were
making their Beverley debut, not least of which

Photo: Hull Daily Mail

was Debenhams. Together, they are creating a great
new destination that will bring more visitors to the
town overall.”
Hambleton Steel fabricated and erected 2,000t
of structural steelwork for the project.

Plans for London A planned steel-framed skyscraper that

could become London’s second tallest
restaurant. At the base there will be a large
public square.
mega tower revealed building, overshadowing the adjacent The tower has been commissioned by
Gherkin and matching The Shard in height, Singapore-based Aroland Holdings and
has been unveiled. designed by London’s Eric Parry Architects,
The 73-storey building at 1 Undershaft which also created the headquarters of
will be 309.6m tall - exactly the same the London Stock Exchange in Paternoster
height as The Shard and the maximum Square.
allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority. A conceptual design by Avery
Sitting between the Gherkin and Associates for the previous owner of the
Leadenhall Street’s Cheesegrater, it will be 1 Undershaft site proposed an angular
the tallest in the City financial area and will sloping sided glass tower peaking at 270m
join a raft of a new skyscrapers planned for and prompted one contractor to dub the
the capital. building “The Fang”.
At its summit will be a free public The new design is for a more
viewing gallery, which will be higher than conventional office tower block with
the same area in The Shard, as well as an distinctive visible structural steel
education centre for school trips and a cross-bracing.

NSC
6 January 16
 News

New steel sector education NEWS

IN BRIEF
and marketing initiative The Kaltenbach Group of
BCSA has launched Steel for Life – a new Bartlett said: “This new industry-wide companies has announced two
market development programme designed approach will provide significant benefits new co-operations with leading
to ensure that steel maintains and develops to clients, specifiers and main contractors. machine tool manufacturers
its leading position as the preferred supplier Technical materials and practical design
Zeman and RSA. For the UK
of framing solutions for key sectors of the tools will continue to be developed and
market Kaltenbach said that its
market like multi-storey buildings and the single steel construction information
Bedford facility and RSA, who
single storey sheds. portal, www.steelconstruction.info will be
has offices in Telford, will be able
Steel for Life will carry on from the regularly updated as a valuable resource to
to work together to promote a
work of the Tata Steel-BCSA joint market the broader construction industry.
development programme that has led the By working together as an integrated full range of circular sawing and
sector’s drive to provide information and everything to hand to make designing in supply chain for the delivery of steel-framed deburring systems.
education to the construction industry on steel as straightforward and economic as it solutions, the constructional steelwork
the benefits of steel for the past five years. can be. Steel for Life will develop that legacy, sector will continue to innovate, educate Jaguar Land Rover has
Steel for Life is a wholly owned drawing on the resources of the whole steel specifiers and clients, and market the announced plans to build a
subsidiary of BCSA, with Chris Dolling supply chain.” significant benefits of steel in construction. new engine factory at the i54
leading on technical issues and Christina Christina said: “Steel for life’s key Steel for Life will be funded by sponsors development on the outskirts of
Gulvanessian focussed on strategic purpose will be to continue to promote from across the supply chain, including Wolverhampton. The 11m-high,
marketing. the advantages that steel offers to the BCSA and industry members who supply L-shaped factory building
Chris said: “Steel has earned a very high construction sector, highlighting the related products and services. designed by Associated Architects
market share partly because of the efforts key attributes of steel which make it the Steel for Life will be overseen by an will almost double the size of the
across the supply chain over many years to preferred material in key market sectors – independent Advisory Board, made up company’s existing plant.
ensure the quality and cost-effectiveness its cost-effectiveness, speed of construction, of BCSA members and key sponsors to
of the fabricated product, and to make safety on site, durability and sustainability.” ensure a tailored and collaborative offering.
Metsec said it has invested in the
sure that engineers and architects have BCSA Director General Sarah McCann Sponsors will be announced shortly.
future of manufacturing through
the appointment of four new staff

Frame stability tool available online members, who have become the
newest recruits involved with
A new web-based frame stability tool single vertical bracing system, which is have two or more bracing systems. the company’s apprenticeship
that evaluates the stability of multi- assumed to be a vertical Pratt truss. “The single bracing system analysed in scheme. The latest intake takes
storey braced frames, in accordance Beam and column members may be the tool will therefore carry only part of the Metsec one-step closer to its
with BS EN 1993-1-1 is now available at: selected from the full range of UKB and UKC lateral load and part of the vertical load.” ambition of achieving a 20%
www.steelconstruction.info sections respectively, and bracing members Wind load is assumed to be distributed home-grown workforce by 2020.
The parameter αcr is determined may be circular or square hollow sections. uniformly over the full height of the bracing
using the combination of the Equivalent Abdul Malik of the Steel Construction and is converted into point loads applied Architect Renzo Piano and
Horizontal Forces (EHF) and wind loads Institute said: “The programme requires at the nodes. In complex buildings with developer Sellar Property Group
on the frame, in conjunction with the the user to provide the lateral and vertical bracing systems of differing stiffness, it will have unveiled plans for a steel-
vertical loads. loading associated with the bracing be necessary to determine the proportion of framed 65-storey, £1bn mixed-use
The calculations are performed for a system – generally any structure will load carried by each bracing system. scheme for Paddington, west
London. The scheme at 31 London
Street has already been dubbed
North Wales steelwork contractor continues to the ‘skinny Shard’, as the team

invest in new automated CNC equipment previously worked on the capital’s

tallest building The Shard.

Following the installation of a new cutting and drilling line in 2014,

Graitec, the BIM and CAD
North Wales-based EvadX has now commissioned a new Voortman
V550-6 punching and shearing line to further increase its output to software developer, has
meet client demand. announced its file collaboration
The new Voortman machine has replaced the company’s and interoperability app for
previous 12-year old unit. Revit is now available as a free
EvadX Quality Manager, Robert Evans said: “This substantial download directly from its
investment is reflective of the company’s forward thinking Autodesk Exchange App Store.
approach and commitment to continual improvement.
“Directly linked to our drawing office, this equipment will automatic tool changer with five tools are the same as all other Joseph Ash Galvanizing has
further streamline our operations, improve quality and enable us drilling machines in the Voortman range, with carbide drilling, announced major expansion
to continue winning some of the most prestigious and challenging countersinking and thread tapping possible. plans for its Chesterfield plant,
steelwork projects in the UK.” A servo driven layout marking tool, to mark the bottom side of following on from the acquisition
The Voortman V550-6 is specially designed for punching and the profile, is standard with the V550-6. of a new plant in Sittingbourne,
shearing both flat and angle profiles, and punching is possible in The required floor space is kept to a minimum by the innovative Kent.
the horizontal and vertical plane. The drilling head as well as the design of the machine according to Voortman.

NSC
January 16 7
 News

AROUND SCI event focuses on steel

THE PRESS
construction’s evolution
The Structural Engineer
bigger than the current Chinese market,”
December 2015 he said.
Profile – Major Nick Francis For the European steelmaking industry
Francis spotted that the main to survive he said a better use of resources
was needed and this included the recycling
bridge on the arterial route
of scrap, which he termed as a natural
through West Africa linking resource.
Guinea, Sierra Leone and The trend towards thinner and
Liberia – a 250m span structure higher strength steels and the
advantages of offsite construction
– had been damaged. “I used
were two of the themes in the address
one of our local contractors to The past, present and future of steel The guest speakers were Michael delivered by Carl Perry.
manufacture the steel box to be construction was the theme of the Steel Walsh, Hatch Consulting and Carl More than 60% of the world’s steel is
slotted in to effect the repair. It Construction Institute (SCI) event, held at Perry, Bluescope, who both stressed the used in construction and consequently
The Crystal in London Docklands. importance of steel within the wider global changeability and technology must be
was all done in 96 hours.”
SCI Chief Executive Graham Couchman economy. embraced by the sector he said.
reminded the attendees that the SCI is now Mr Walsh said since 1980 global steel To highlight the benefits of modular
Construction News 30 years old. production has grown 4% every year on construction, Mr Perry talked about a
27 November 2015 “Formed in 1985, the SCI has a long- average and this is likely to continue well 120,000m2 distribution centre in the USA
term programme to continue to promote into the future. that was erected in just 28 days.
Costs continue to bite despite
the effective use of steel in construction,” “During the next decades emerging The event concluded with a question
record-low inflation he said. economies will provide a market even and answer session and the SCI AGM.
[Alan Hope, Midas Group] –
“Steel is getting cheaper.... but
New design guide from Lindapter
on most other commodities
Lindapter has launched an updated 76-page product guide for engineers
there’s a lot of cost pressure.”
and other professionals involved in the design of structural and
secondary steel connections.
Construction News “The design guide features popular products such as the Girder
13 November 2015 Clamp for quickly connecting I beams without drilling or welding,
and the Hollo-Bolt, the original expansion bolt for Structural Hollow
Office transformed for hi-tech
Sections (SHS),” explains Lindapter Marketing Manager Wayne Golden.
clients A redesign of the publication is said to make it faster for engineers
Summit House sits on an to find the relevant page and select the solution to their connection
L-shaped site, with busy streets requirement.
New features include a helpful product comparison table, typical
on three sides and a party wall
applications and independently approved safe working loads. New
to the east. The 1980s built five- products are also introduced such as the Type AAF high slip resistance
storey office is being stripped clamp and Type ALP adjustable lifting point.
back to the structural steel For more information go to www.lindapter.com

frame. The fifth floor is being

removed completely, with two Shopping mecca ushers in new retail era
extra storeys added at oblique at the request of tenants, while some
angles. even took place during the construction
programme,” said Keith Whitmore,
Westfield Head of Design & Construction.
Building Magazine “Steel enabled alterations to be made
13 November 2015 easily and this is why it is ideal for retail
Top form projects.”
“Most of the alterations were quite
[Notre Dame Catholic College] –
small, such as re-positioning lift and
The inner structure comprises a escalator penetrations in the frame, but
steel frame with concrete floors moving a steel column or two is much
and is configured to form the easier than altering a concrete wall,” added
The £260M Bradford Broadway shopping Marks and Spencer), car parking for 1,300 Mr Whitmore.
various internal spaces required
centre has opened more than a decade after vehicles and more than 70 other shops, Steelwork always contributes to a
by the school. It is based on an construction first started on the city centre restaurants and cafes. speedy construction programme and
8m grid which allows classrooms site (see NSC Nov/Dec 2014). “As with many large retail Broadway’s entire 6,800t steel frame was
of up to 64m2 The steel-framed project features two developments, the Broadway scheme erected in just over 25 weeks by steelwork
large anchor stores (Debenhams, and underwent a number of design changes contractor Severfield.

NSC
8 January 16
 News

Billington acquires new site and assets

Billington Holdings, the structural steel and construction The planned acquisition represents the company’s
safety solution specialist, has announced it has largest strategic investment in its history. Billington’s
conditionally agreed to acquire a new site at Shafton, near directors believe the new facilities will significantly
Barnsley, South Yorkshire. increase the output and complement its structural
The deal would see Billington pay £2.5M to Sabler steelwork divisions located at Barnsley and Bristol.
Enterprises and a further £2.38M to Sherling Steel (UK) Billington Chief Executive Officer, Mark Smith said: “It
for equipment and assets. is an exciting period of change for Billington and one that
The 25-acre site contains two industrial buildings with the directors believe will further strengthen the company’s
a combined useable area of 16,800m2 and was principally market position through increased capabilities, capacity
engaged in steel and plate processing for the steel industry. and product offerings.”

90-year old steelwork Newport’s steel-framed Friars Walk

contractor rebrands shopping complex opens

Loughborough-based Adey Steel Group has celebrated 90 years in the

steel industry with the unveiling of a complete rebrand, which pools all
of its separate companies under one name.
The company said the rebrand exercise will ensure clients can
distinguish between the broad ranges of the specialist services that the
steel firm has to offer.
Previously known as Adey Group, the steel company has merged its
four companies under one overarching brand, the Adey Steel Group.
The Adey Steel Group consists of four areas of expertise: Adey
Steel – previously Adey Steel Ltd, which is a steelwork contractor; Adey
SteelShop – previously SteelShop Ltd, offering stockholding and steel
processing for the UK housebuilding and construction industries; Newport’s multi-million pound new shopping designed to accept the building movement
Adey Technical – previously Technical Edge Ltd, a specialist arm of complex has opened its doors to shoppers, in what differentials from the main steel frame. The
the group providing structural design and steel detailing services; and is seen as a landmark for the South Wales city’s tubular steel beams that span the 11m wide street
Adey Transport – previously Transport24, a nationwide specialist steel regeneration (see NSC May 2015). are seated on large concrete plinths located on the
transport and haulage firm. Friars Walk has delivered 36,000m² of steel- roof of the retail units.
The unveiling of the new branding was held at Loughborough Town framed retail and leisure space consisting of three The project also includes an undercroft
Hall as Adey Steel fabricated the original steelwork for the clock tower main elements: a three-storey Debenhams anchor 350-space car park, 13 restaurants arranged
in 1980. store, an eight-screen Cineworld complex and two around a new public square and a new bus depot.
Adey Steel Group began in 1925 as the local ironmongers in main blocks of 37 double-height shop units set Working on behalf of main contractor Bowmer
Loughborough town centre by Harry Adey and his wife. The business either side of a pedestrian covered street. & Kirkland, Caunton Engineering fabricated,
has been kept in the family, seeing all four generations of the Adey sons Topping the street is a curved tubular steel supplied and erected 6,000t of structural steelwork
managing the business. frame that supports ETFE lightweight cladding for the project.

Diary
For SCI events contact Jane Burrell, tel: 01344 636500 email: education@steel-sci.com

Tuesday 19 January 2016 Tuesday 9 February 2016 Wednesday 10 February 2016 Wednesday 24 February 2016
Steel Connection Design Simple Beam & Column Simple Beam & Column Portal Frame Design
This course is for designers Design to EC3 Design to EC3 This course provide in-depth
and technicians wanting NEW – Four hour course NEW – see previous entry for coverage of the major issues
practical tuition in steel containing minimum theory description. surrounding the analysis,
connection design. and maximum hands-on Sheffield. design and detailing of portal
Swindon. member design – focussing frames.
Tuesday 23 February 2016
on practical design using the Leeds.
Tuesday 26 January 2016 Design of Portal Elements
Blue Book. The course is
Moment Connections 1 hour lunchtime webinar free Tuesday 8 March 2016
aimed at designers of
1 hour lunchtime webinar free to BCSA and SCI members, Essential Steelwork
orthodox structures where the
to BCSA and SCI members, considering design of portal Design - 2 days
resistance tables are the
offering an overview on elements. This course introduces the
preferred way of selecting
moment connections. Webinar. concepts and principles of
members.
Webinar. steel building design to EC3.
Leicester.
Birmingham.

NSC
January 16 9
 Art

The opening ceremony

Inspiring
took place on 2 October

memorial
A 31m-high weathering steel spire forms the
centrepiece of a memorial to those who served
with Bomber Command.

A
total of 27 Bomber Command
bases were located in
Lincolnshire during the Second
World War, more than in any
other shire, and earning it the title of
‘Bomber County’.
The area’s flat topography has very few
obvious landmarks with the exception
of church spires and towers. To this end,
Lincoln Cathedral provided an important
marker for crews both leaving and
returning from missions.
With this in mind it is fitting that, in
recognition and remembrance of those that
served in the Royal Air Force during the
War, the International Bomber Command
Centre is being constructed on an
escarpment overlooking Lincoln.
Because of the hilltop location, the
principal element of the Centre – the
31m-high weathering steel Memorial Spire
- is visible for miles around and from many
sites within Lincoln itself.
Place Architecture won the design
competition for the Spire and Project
Architect Stephen Palmer says the brief was
for a contemporary memorial.
The steel structure is said to represent
wing fragments with its height being the
overall wingspan of a Lancaster Bomber
with its base, at 5m wide the same width as
a Lancaster’s wing.
“By using weathering steel we fulfilled
the brief, but we also created a multi-layered
sculpture that references flight, aircraft
manufacture and is also a nod to nearby
Lincoln Cathedral,” says Mr Palmer.
“Weathering steel also allowed us to
design a sculpture with an organic feel and
one that has a changing hue, which is ideal
for its countryside setting.”
The structure was fabricated and
installed by S H Structures from 32
weathering steel plates. Perforated panels,
again reflecting the engineering principles
used in airframe construction connect
the rolled external plates. Built in jigs to
maintain the shape during welding the

NSC
10 January 16
 Art

structure was fabricated in two sections FACT FILE

– upper and lower parts - with sacrificial International Bomber
lifting frames to aid installation.
Command Centre,
Lincoln
The two completed spire assemblies were
Main client:
shotblasted by Jack Tighe of Scunthorpe International Bomber
after manufacture. This ensured all Command Centre Trust
fabrication marks were removed and the Architect:
process allowed an even patina to form Place Architecture
on the steel once it was exposed to the Main contractor:
elements. Lindum Construction
Once on site the two sections were Structural engineer:
assembled in-situ, with the base or lower
Alan Wood and Partners
Steelwork contractor:
section bolted down on to concrete
S H Structures
foundations. The two sections were held Steel tonnage: 55t
with a temporary bolted connection before
Spire sections take to
the road on their way being fully welded together on site.
to Lincolnshire “All of the joints are expressed welded
joints and by leaving them visible they add
to the contemporary design of the Spire,”
says Mr Palmer.
The spire is surrounded by memorial
walls (right) that record the names of the
25,296 aircrew that lost their lives flying
with Bomber Command while serving in
1 and 5 Groups that were headquartered
in Lincolnshire. These walls or panels,
arranged around the Spire in concentric
circles, are made from curved 20mm thick
weathering steel plate. Welded on to these
plates are 4mm thick steel panels with the
airmen’s names laser-cut into them.
In a second phase of work further
panels are to be added around the spire
commemorating the airmen that flew from
other UK Bomber Command bases. These
additional panels will bring the total of
named individuals to more than 55,500.
“It is a great privilege to work on
projects like this and contribute to what
will undoubtedly become a lasting legacy to
the memory of those who gave their lives The overall scheme
serving in Bomber Command,” says S H The Memorial Spire was officially unveiled last October
Structures Sales and Marketing Manager and represents the first phase of the International Bomber
Tim Burton. Command Centre.
“We were fortunate enough to be visited As well as Memorial Gardens, the scheme will also contain
by one of the surviving veterans during a visitor centre (known as the Chadwick Centre) comprising
our involvement in the scheme. Ex- Flight an exhibition hall that will tell the story of Bomber Command
Lieutenant RAFVR Roy Hill arrived with his through a multi-media experience, an education facility and
wife and daughter on the morning we were a comprehensive multi-layered digital archive.
loading out the completed sections of the These facilities will be housed in a two-storey 13,000m2
spire. Roy was kind enough to relate some steel-framed structure that is due to be constructed later
of his experiences during his visit and it this year.
really brought home the significance of the
project.”
International Bomber Command Centre Bomber Command in
Project Director Nicky Barr comments: “The numbers
Memorial Spire dominates the skyline as a
fitting tribute to the efforts of all in Bomber
125,000 aircrew served with Bomber
Command in World War Two.
Command, both who lost their lives and
364,514 operational sorties flown
those who survived.”
“The project is already making a huge 55,573 aircrew killed in action
impact within Lincolnshire and with 25,296 killed flying from 1 and 5
the planned interpretation building, Groups, headquartered in
Lincolnshire
the Chadwick Centre, will provide an
educational facility and tourism centre 70% of aircrew were killed,
Steel sections are taken prisoner or injured
welded together attracting international audiences.”

NSC
January 16 11
 Healthcare

The CSSB takes shape

quickly with the aid of
steel construction

C
urrently under construction, the the first phase of the redevelopment. The
new Royal Liverpool University new Acute Hospital building is being

Rebuild for Hospital will boast 646 beds all in

single ensuite rooms, 18 theatres,
23 wards and units, and one of the largest
constructed with an insitu concrete frame,
although there are a number of internal
steel elements within this 150m-long

Merseyside
emergency departments in the north west. structure, as plant enclosures, screens
Being built on land adjacent to the and one internal atrium are created using
existing hospital, this multi-million structural steelwork.
pound project is vital in regenerating and The largest steel element of phase

hospital
transforming an area that acts as a gateway one is the five-storey CSSB and its two
into Liverpool city centre. link bridges, a contract that has required
Overall the project has been divided Elland Steel Structures to fabricate, supply
into three phases; the first and current and erect more than 900t of structural
phase includes the building of a new Acute steelwork.
Structural steelwork is playing a Hospital building, a separate Clinical “Trust requirements had to be adhered
Services Support Building (CSSB) and two to when choosing which material to use,
crucial role in the redevelopment of link bridges, one spanning between the but after an appraisal steel was opted for on
the CSSB because of its speed and quality
one of the largest hospitals in the Acute and CSSB and the other linking the
CSSB to an existing multi-storey car park. of construction,” says Carillion Project
north of England. The new buildings are scheduled to be Manager Stuart Loftus.
complete by early 2017. Phase two will then The CSSB will accommodate storage
kick off with the hospital decamping its
Right: One of the services into the completed new structures,
20m-long service yard
girders allowing demolition of the existing 1960s
hospital to commence.
Far right: Level 5 steps Once demolition has been carried out,
back but could be
infilled in the future phase three will begin and this consists of
to create more usable constructing a large steel-framed public
space realm and car park (see box).
A hybrid design has been chosen for

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12 January 16
 Healthcare
FACT FILE
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Main client: Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen
University Hospitals NHS Trust
Architect: NBBJ; HKS
Main contractor: Carillion
Structural engineer: TPS
Steelwork contractor: Elland Steel Structures
Steel tonnage: 1,770t

Phase three

O
nce the existing hospital has been The public realm on top of the podium will
demolished a steel-framed podium, be formed with a 700mm fill within which there
accommodating a ground level car park will be numerous plants and trees, many of
with a public realm above will occupy the which will be in large planters.
large cleared space. Paths, leading to and from the surrounding
Founded on pad foundations, the steel podium will buildings, will crisscross the realm and public
measure 110m-long × 90m-wide, with a series of 305 access will be via a flight of stairs. Because of
UC columns erected around a 7.5m × 7.8m grid pattern. the site’s sloping topography, the CSSB will
This column spacing, with a floor-to-ceiling height of overlook the realm and will be linked to it via a
4.5m is considered to be ideal and the most efficient for ramp.
the car park. Gardens will provide solitude and a relaxing
Spanning the columns, a series of 610 UBs environment, while a café situated in the
facilities for medical supplies, laboratories supporting precast planks will form the roof. middle of the realm will offer drinks and snacks.
and offices. It is also the hub for many of the “The steelwork has been designed around the heavy Elland Steel Structures will erect
vital services that power the main hospital. loadings generated by the podium’s deep landscaping approximately 700t of galvanized steelwork for
Many of the power duct routes from the build-up,” explains TPS Structural Engineer Duncan Gray. this phase, with work due to begin in 2019.
onsite energy centre go into the CSSBs own
substation and then onwards into the Acute used to lift four 2m-deep girders, spanning
Hospital building. 20m and each weighing 17t, that form the
The CSSB has a footprint measuring yard’s open plan space.
60m × 40m and the steelwork has ben A series of 10m-high, 559mm diameter
erected around a regular 9.9m × 6.6m CHS sections, with 25mm thick walls,
grid pattern. support the girders. Once each CHS section
Two structural steel masonry lined was installed, Carillion had to concrete
cores provide the majority of the steelwork’s fill each member to add to the overall
stability, along with bracing. The main robustness of the column supports.
core was installed as part of the first steel Level two of the CSSB wraps around the
erection phase, as this then provided the loading yard, and so the first floorplate to
steel erectors with sufficient temporary cover the entire footprint is level three.
stability which all other areas of the This floor accommodates laboratories and
structure could be erected from. Five the connections to the two link bridges
phases, working to the full height of the
building were needed to complete the
(see box).
Level four is more or less identical to Link Bridges
structure. level three, while five steps back and only Connecting the CSSB to the Acute Hospital is a 42.7m-long
A large part of the ground floor of the occupies half of the CSSB’s footprint. x 5.7m wide steel link bridge. The structure is supported by
CSSB incorporates a double height service “We’ve added some flexibility into the a single 10m-high V-shaped column, positioned slightly of-
yard. This part of the erection programme structure as extra steelwork could be added centre due to a service road that runs beneath the bridge.
involved the project’s heaviest steel in the future to complete level five if the The steelwork for this bridge was brought to site in
members. hospital wants to expand the building,” says individual sections, which were then assembled on site using
Elland Steel Structures used a variety Mr Loftus. temporary support frames to minimize crane requirements.
of different mobile cranes for the job. The The entire project (including phase Also on level three, linking the CSSB to the adjacent multi-
biggest capacity crane was a 100t unit three) is due to be complete by 2020. storey car park, is another 21m-long bridge.

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January 16 13
 Education

Steel passes
college test The second of
the two teaching
wings is erected

and a car repair service, all of which will be Stone walls, polished blockwork and
A steel-framed college campus forms accessible to the public. metal cladding will give the Campus a
Principal at Sunderland College Anne modern exterior, while to utilise the plot
a major element of Sunderland city Isherwood says: “The City Campus has been a steel-framed structure incorporating a
centre’s regeneration. Martin Cooper designed to combine industry-standard 120m-long retaining wall was chosen as the
facilities and outstanding teaching for our best design choice.
reports. vocational and apprenticeship students, The retaining wall allows the steel-
and will equip them with the skills and framed structure to adapt to the site’s tricky

A
multi-million pound steel- practical experience they need for their topography and thereby include a
FACT FILE
Sunderland College, framed vocational campus future careers. basement level along the entire south facing
Holmside Vocational is being built in the heart of “As well as providing a wide range of classroom block.
Campus Sunderland to accommodate up professional and technical courses, it will “A steel-framed solution was selected for
Main client: to 2,000 students and more than 120 staff. also be home to the college’s commercial a number of reasons such as programme
Sunderland College Covering 12,500m2, the state-of-the- ventures and we are looking forward and cost. However the main driver was the
Architect: art City Campus will house vocational to welcoming members of the public to flexibility that this provided for services
Red Box Design courses, transferred from the nearby Hylton these facilities. We are confident that our distribution and for modification in
Main contractor:
Campus, including advanced engineering, flagship campus will enhance the vibrancy the future. Many of the classrooms and
BAM Construction NOTES:

manufacturing, construction trades, of the city centre and will be of benefit to workshops are heavily serviced and these
1) UNDER NO CIR
SCALED FROM

Structural engineer: 2) THIS DRAWING

OTHER RELEVA
ANY DISCREPA

automotive trades, travel and tourism, and Sunderland for many years to come.” require extensive ductwork for specialist
BROUGHT TO T

WSP Parsons 3) ALL DIMENSIO

COMMENCEME

4) THIS DRAWING

catering and hospitality. In order to achieve these aims, the Campus equipment. If the location of these changed
ARCHITECTUR

Brinckerhoff
REPRODUCED
WRITTEN PERM

Rev Description

Steelwork contractor: The well-equipped campus will also building’s design not only had to stand in the future, openings in floors and walls
1 Updated as
Review & Cl
document
2 Updated as
Review & Cl

Harry Marsh could be accommodated more easily with

document. Is

feature hair, beauty and barbering facilities; out within its urban surroundings but also
3 Issued for R
Walling Pac
4 General upd
GA's to date

[Engineers]
5 Updated to r

a spa; a bakery; a travel agency; restaurant maximise the space within its confined plot. a steel-frame than a concrete structure,” 16
1:50 elevatio

Steel tonnage: 900t

An adjacent railway line

dictates that the main
college façade is curved

NSC
14 January 16
CO
 Education

Steel design model of

the Sunderland Campus

14 explains Flexibility is at the forefront of the

WSP Parsons incorporates first floor’s design, as it is split lengthwise
Brinckerhoff Project perimeter columns between classrooms on one side and an
Engineer Andrew Cornwall. spaced at centres that vary outdoor terraced green roof.
The steel-framed Campus from 6.5m up to 7.5m. Internal spans vary “The terrace has been designed so in the
consists of two teaching wings. Along the depending on the classroom or workshop’s future, if the college needs more teaching
southern elevation there is the three and ultimate use, with the longest span space, it could be roofed over and converted
two-storey high classroom block, while to measuring 10m. into classrooms,” says BAM Project
the north there is a two-storey Learning The classroom block is the largest Manager Jason Kelly.
Resources Centre (LRC). Both of these section of the Campus. Filling up the During the design stage the foundations
wings are joined at the western end by a southern portion of the plot, it curves – and the columns in this part of the structure
three-storey high entrance building that via a faceted steel frame - along the site’s were future-proofed by being designed to
also incorporates an atrium. boundary adjacent to railway lines. accept the extra loadings the additional
Because the Campus is essentially one This wing incorporates workshops and columns and a roof would exert.
large braced steel-framed building, classrooms spread over basement, ground, The western corner of the classroom
a movement joint has been placed along first, and second floor levels. block incorporates a second-storey, which
the line where the LRC meets the A 5m-high retaining wall wraps then wraps around to the entrance block,
entrance wing. along the wing’s north elevation, which is entirely three-storeys high.
Bracing, located in stairwells, along with incorporating the site’s slope and As well as constructing the College,
the diaphragm action of the composite floor because of this the basement level BAM Construction is also responsible for
slabs, give the steel frame its stability. workshops are at ground level along the fit-out which will be completed by the
Predominantly, the steel frame has been the south elevation and have windows end of the summer, in time for the Campus
erected around a fairly standard grid that overlooking the railway lines. to open in September 2016.

Logistics and erection Photo © Amy Bell

R
ailway lines along one elevation and a city centre pedestrianized “However due to some design changes, we’ve had to sequence the
zone along another mean there is only one access route into the site erection programme and erect the furthest point of the structure last. We
for all materials. then bring our cranes out via the central courtyard before finally erecting a
On a tight and confined site such as this, logistics are a key factor in footbridge that links to the two teaching wings.”
successfully completing a project and Sunderland College is no exception. With little or no room for materials to be stored on site, especially
“Ideally we would have started the steel erection at the farthest end towards the end of the steel erection programme, steelwork contractor
from the site’s entry point, which is the entrance block, and worked our way Harry Marsh [Engineers] has delivered steel to site in 20t loads, which were
out,” says BAM Project Manager Jason Kelly. generally erected in one day.

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16 January 16
 Mixed-use

Steel construction
gets the red carpet
One of Europe’s largest retained façades is being incorporated
into a new steel-framed mixed-use development on London’s
famous Leicester Square. Martin Cooper reports.

R
etaining London’s listed façades attaining this on a plot, which has a listed
has become a widespread feature of façade, is to demolish the buildings innards
construction projects in the capital while propping and retaining the perimeter
during the last decade. walls. A new modern structure can then be
Recent examples include Oxford Street’s built behind the walls and incorporate the
ongoing redevelopment which is largely historic or listed façade.
being carried out behind retained façades, One of Europe’s largest retained façades
while the busy thoroughfare of Kingsway and is currently being incorporated into the
the City’s Finsbury Circus have both seen redevelopment of LSQ London in central
major developments that have incorporated London.
retained elements. Formerly known as Communications
Whether projects involve partial or House this 1920s building, which overlooked
complete façade retentions, the importance one of London’s most famous squares,
of keeping these historic, and quite often was said to have many attractive features.
listed, street frontages is vital in maintaining However over the past 90 or so years it has
London’s traditional streetscape. been enlarged several times and had become
Developers and tenants alike want inefficient in terms of maximum utilisation
modern spacious offices and the best way of of space.

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18 January 16
 Mixed-use

Steel to steel
connections
The steel-framed façade at LSQ London
mostly dates from the 1920s and 1930s,
however some areas, were added during
the 1960s.
The steel columns are all encased in
Portland stone and consequently in good
condition. However, steelwork originating
from various decades required extensive
laboratory tests to determine its make-up
prior to making the welded connections
for new brackets.
“We’ve installed a total of 250 brackets
that connect the new steel-frame to the
retained façade’s steel-framed columns,”
explains Bourne Steel Divisional Manager
Kevin Springett.
“The lab tests allowed for a trouble-
free onsite welding process and as we
were sure of the existing columns make-
up it meant works onsite ran smoothly
and efficiently,” adds Brookfield Multiplex
Project Director Asif Hashmi.

“Our brief was to create a high-spec office piled wall and the main central bearing FACT FILE
building and we felt that the goal was not piles. Then we excavated and enlarged the LSQ London
just to reimagine but reinvent, while also existing basement into a two-level deep Main client:
retaining the look and feel of the original facility, removing 13,000m3 of overburden in Linseed Assets
building, which is liked and admired by so the process,” explains Brookfield Multiplex Architect: Make
many people,” says Make Lead Architect Project Director Asif Hashmi. Main contractor:
Frank Filskow. Once this preliminary work and Brookfield Multiplex
Construction Europe
“Our design makes the best of the existing construction of the two main raft slabs were
Structural engineer:
building by retaining the historic façades, completed, steelwork contractor Bourne
Waterman Structures
and sensitively restoring them to maintain Steel was able to begin erecting the new steel Steelwork contractor:
The new frame the integrity of the original architectural frame that begins at lower basement level.
rises up within the
Bourne Steel
retained façades features and details. “Getting the steel-frame erected and Steel tonnage: 2,000t
“The design of the building naturally subsequently tied into the existing façade is
Visualisation of leant itself to using steel for the primary vital, and it is one of the main drivers of the
the completed LSQ structural elements. The design of the new scheme,” adds Mr Hashmi.
London
steel structure introduced a new central core, “Once the frame connecting into the
and enabled clear, open-plan floorplates, retained façade was erected and the concrete
improving the office spaces within the floors cast, we were able to begin removing
building.” the extensive façade retention steelwork
Waterman Structures Director Jody that surrounds the site and start work on
Pearce agrees and says: “One of the key renovating the original stonework and
aspects of a façade retention scheme is installing new windows.”
the alignment of new floors with existing The new steel frame is structurally
window openings. We promoted the use of a independent and gains its stability from
steel frame as it offered the flexibility needed two steel braced cores. Once the temporary
to suit the various interfaces that occur with propping was removed the new steel frame
the existing façade.” supports and restrains the four retained
“By integrating the suspended services façades, and so before the propping could
within the structural downstand beam zone, be removed a large number of connecting
the depth of the floor zone against the façade brackets had to be installed [see box].
was minimised, thus assisting the alignment The project’s new steel frame forms two
of new floors with existing windows further.” basement levels and a ground floor, which
The project’s main contractor Brookfield will accommodate high-end retail outlets
Multiplex started on site during November and a main entrance lobby.
2014, by which time the demolition work Above the ground floor there are seven
had been completed leaving four propped floors of office accommodation, five of which
façades surrounding a cleared site. are incorporated into the retained façade.
“Our first task was to construct a secant An elegant new curved roof will enclose

NSC
January 16 19
 Mixed-use

The new feature roof Temporary props support

rises up above the the basement while the
retained elements new frame is erected

the two uppermost floors, offering a unique box sections measuring 650mm × 450mm in turn supports a lightweight aluminium
21st Century interpretation of the traditional with a 25mm thickness. The sections were frame and glazing.
London mansard style. brought to site in 3.5m-long sections each This new and elegant curved mansard
The steelwork has been erected around a weighing 3t. roof encloses the building and offers a
regular grid pattern with internal office spans “The box section ring beam performs modern interpretation of the traditional
of up to 15m. Cellular beams have been two functions,” says Bourne Steel Divisional mansard style where arch geometry sits atop
utilised throughout for service integration Manager Kevin Springett. “The columns for a classical base.
and to minimise the structural void the feature roof are supported by the beam as “This respectful, contemporary addition
between floors. these are not aligned with the main columns to the building composition reduces the
The new fifth floor will be clad with for the rest of the building, and the stone existing top-heavy visual mass. The curve
Portland stone to integrate with the retained cladding for the sixth floor is also hung from also seeks to ensure the building blends in
façade below. This floor level’s steelwork is the beam.” seamlessly with the surrounding buildings of
topped with a ring beam that goes around The steel feature roof slopes outwards Leicester Square,” sums up Mr Filskow.
the entire perimeter of the building. from the two centrally positioned cores and LSQ London is scheduled for completion
The ring beam is formed from jumbo is formed with a cranked steel frame, which in the third quarter of 2016.

Site welding – to existing steelwork

by SCI Associate Director David Brown

T
he façade retention at 48 Leicester procedure is appropriate and can be used with necessary to make special arrangements for site
Square demonstrates that when confidence. welding. Safe access is an obvious issue, but it
properly thought through, site welding The site welding must follow, in every may also be necessary to provide protection
is an entirely appropriate technique aspect, the parameters, consumables, welding from the weather.
– and also demonstrates the adaptability of position etc. that were proved by the welding Non-destructive testing should follow
steelwork structures. Site welding is sometimes procedure specification. Welding must only be the completion of the welding as the final
thought of as slightly suspicious, but this carried out by properly qualified personnel – for operation to assure the quality of the welding.
notion is misguided – the proposition should the welding process, material, joint type and The National Structural Steelwork Specification
be that with proper consideration, site welding welding position. In some circumstances it is is recommended as the default acceptance
has the same high quality results as welding in criteria for both shop and site welding.
the workshop. In other parts of the world, site Although site welding to existing steelwork
welding is very common. may not be common, it can be completed
When welding existing material, the original safely and with confidence in the final result.
material must be investigated and tested. For For designers, there is a range of support
this project, the original dates of around 1920 resources that cover material and section sizes
makes it very likely that the material was steel likely to be found in existing buildings, with
– slightly older and there would be a possibility guidance on the design assumptions at the
that the beams were of wrought iron rather time that may assist in any assessment of the
than steel. The key to successful welding (there existing structure. Specific guidance is available
being no difference between shop and site) is covering site welding.
to demonstrate that a successful test weld can
be produced in circumstances that very closely Resources:
reflect the ‘final’ weld. A preliminary welding • Historical Structural Steelwork Handbook,
procedure specification will be developed, BCSA
fully describing the material, all the electrical • Appraisal of Existing Iron and Steel
parameters, the consumables, the joint type Structures, SCI
and welding orientation. The material used • Guide to Site Welding, SCI
in the test should be that encountered in the • Typical Welding Procedure Specifications for
real situation – in this case the steel from the Structural Steelwork, BCSA
façade. The test piece is subject to a number of • National Structural Steelwork Specification,
tests, which if successful, demonstrate that the (Fifth Edition, CE Marking Version), BCSA

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20 January 16
 Commercial

Storey-high trusses
support 2 London Wall
Place’s cantilever over
the adjacent road

L
ondon Wall Place will be a new

Cantilevering
destination in the City of London,
offering an acre of landscaped public
realm set between two landmark
office buildings with more than 46,000m2
of Grade A office space. The realm features

London Wall
remains from the Roman City Wall and a
Saxon church, surrounded by gardens, water
features and suspended walkways.
The project covers an area of more than
15,000m2, on a plot previously occupied by
Transfer structures supporting cantilevers abound on this City of numerous buildings including the 1960s
built 20-storey high St Alphage House.
London commercial development, reports Martin Cooper. Work started on site in 2013 with main
contractor Brookfield Multiplex demolishing
How the multiple all of the existing buildings, while protecting
cantilevers will look on the historic structures, and then enlarging
1 London Wall Place
the site’s existing basement to create a two-
level deep zone.
A portion of the high-level pedestrian
walkways, known as the Barbican and City
Highwalks, originally crossed the site and
were removed as part of the demolition
programme. These will be reinstated with
a series of new weathering steel bridge-like
walkways as part of the overall scheme
(see box).
Both buildings, to be called 1 and
2 London Wall Place are steel-framed
structures rising to 12 and 16 storeys
respectively. Structurally independent
they will however be linked by one of
the weathering steel walkways that will
eventually span the centrally positioned
public realm.

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22 January 16
 Commercial

The steelwork frame starts at ground

floor level atop the concrete ground floor
slab. Both buildings comprise a steel frame
with composite concrete floors stabilised by
concrete cores that incorporate the stairs and
lift shafts.
“A number of alternate structural systems
were considered during the design phase,”
says Brookfield Multiplex Project Director
Phil Clarke. “But it had to be a steel solution
to meet the structural demands of the
cantilevers.”
Providing more than 27,000m2 of
floorspace, the 12-storey 1 London Wall
Place is the largest, in terms of volume, of the
two structures.
The final shape of the external envelope
has been driven by the rights to light af-
forded to the adjacent Barbican and St Paul’s
Cathedral viewing corridor. Consequently
the structure sets back at a number of areas High-level walkways and around the new buildings linking all of the
bridges together.
to create terraces at the upper levels in order A unique feature of the London Wall Place project Crossing London Wall, Walkway 1 is the longest
to reflect the planning requirements. will be the reinstated walkway structures, or structure and it will be lifted into place, as one
“To maximise floor space this building Highwalks, that will cross the site to re-establish piece, during the coming Easter weekend. It is a
cantilevers out over adjacent roads on two links to other parts of the City’s high-level walkways. steel footbridge that will re-instate the north-south
of its main elevations,” explains WSP Parson Seven walkway structures fabricated from connection to the nearby Bassishaw highwalk.
Brinckerhoff Senior Technical Director weathering steel will be installed as part of William The 1 London Wall Place building frame will
Stephen Jackson. Hare’s steel package. support the bridge as it cantilevers more than 30m
1 London Wall Place cantilevers by up to Three of the structures are reinstated bridges, out over the London Wall carriageway. A 20m high
8m along the London Wall elevation and by one crossing London Wall and the other two stainless steel pylon with a series of suspension
up to 3.5m along Fore Street. spanning Fore Street, while a fourth will create stays will be used to support the far side of the new
Deep fabricated beams up to 1.95m in a new high-level pedestrian bridge across Wood bridge and transfer the loads back into the building
depth have been incorporated into the level Street. The other structures crisscross the site below foundations and the structure at level 4.
2 transfer structure to achieve the longest
cantilevers. Other local transfers are also be brought to site in two or three sections
incorporated within the building at every and then bolted together once they are in
floor to achieve changes in column grid as place. In this way the members will be within
the envelope sets back floors and terraces. the tower crane’s capacity,” adds Mr Smale.
Overall this structure’s floor framing On the adjacent 16-storey 2 London
typically consists of primary beams spanning Wall Place, the floor framing, from level
9m with secondary beams, spaced at 3m two upwards, typically consists of primary
centres, spanning up to 16.5m and in some beams spanning 7.5m and secondary beams
locations up to 18m. provided at 3.75m centres with spans of up
Steelwork contractor William Hare is to 13.5m and in some locations up to 15m.
installing numerous fabricated sections to This structure also features cantilevers,
act as transfer structures as standard rolled which have again been introduced to
sections do not provide the required capacity. maximise the floor area, although on this
“The heaviest fabricated beam we have building the cantilevers are approximately
installed is 70t and, like many of these large 11m beyond the nearest internal column.
beams, it had to be lifted into place by a 160t Along the south east corner of 2 London 1 London Wall Place’s
capacity crawler crane we have on site for Wall Place the building cantilevers out over cantilevers are up to
8m long
the early part of the steel programme,” says the main thoroughfare of London Wall,
William Hare Project Director Alex Smale. creating one of the project’s main features truss members and their supporting columns
FACT FILE
Having such a large crawler crane onsite and something of a structural steel highlight. are heavy and large requiring each truss to London Wall Place,
has been a challenge in itself. Because the A series of single-storey high trusses have be brought to site in two or three sections so London
basement extends below most of the site’s been installed to form these long cantilevers they are transportable by trailer. Once onsite Main client:
footprint and the slab would not ordinarily and to help limit the potential for high they were bolted together and then lifted into Brookfield, Oxford
be able to support such a large crane, more deflections. place by a 500t capacity mobile crane, again Properties
than 300 temporary props have been used to The chord members of the trusses are sited on the ground floor slab and supported Architect: Make
support the slab while the crane is onsite. 640mm deep fabricated sections that form by extensive back propping through the deep Main contractor:
Once the main transfer structure is part of the main floor framing. The diagonal basement.
Brookfield Multiplex
Structural engineer:
complete the crawler crane will be removed bracing elements are universal column The trusses rely on the main core walls
WSP Parsons
and the large transfer beams further up the sections enhanced with plates welded across and the tying action of the concrete floor Brinckerhoff
frame will have to be lifted into place by the flanges to provide the necessary strength slabs to assist in limiting deflection. Steelwork contractor:
tower crane. and stiffness. London Wall Place is due to complete William Hare
“At this stage all of the heaviest pieces will Supporting 15 floors of the building, the in 2017. Steel tonnage: 8,500t

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January 16 23
 Technical

Hybrid modular systems

using a steel-framed podium
Mark Lawson of the SCI discusses some of the recent
research and developments in modular construction.

Modular construction has established itself in the UK for medium vertical loads. A configuration of modules using this principle
and high-rise residential buildings, such as student residences is illustrated in Figure 2 in which 8 apartments comprising 16
and hotels, in which there is often need to provide open plan modules are placed around the core. Access to each apartment is
space at the ground floor level and for basement car parking. The provided from the central core.
structural system generally adopted is to support the modules on
a steel-framed podium or transfer structure in which the beams
align with the load-bearing walls of the modules and columns
are placed at multiples of the module width. This article reviews
some of the design considerations in planning modular buildings
when supported by a steel framework and is based on the results
of a recent research project called MODCONS, which was carried
out with support from the European Commission.

Modules supported by a steel-framed podium

The modules are relatively lightweight and so the steel structure
can be designed to support the vertical loads from the modules.
For modular buildings of six to eight storeys, long span cellular
beams may be used to provide open plan space below, as shown
in Figure 1. The columns are placed at 7.5m spacing which means
that the modules are 3.7m wide allowing for a gap between the
modules. This is the optimum solution for both the modular Figure 2: Typical layout of modules in high-rise buildings
(courtesy HTA Design)
system and the open plan space below.
Analyses of modular systems on a steel-framed podium
In the recently completed European Commission Framework 7
project called MODCONS, the Steel Construction Institute worked
with modular manufacturer, Futureform and partners from Spain,
Portugal and Finland. The behaviour of these hybrid structural
systems were analysed when subject to various actions including
seismic effects and loss of supports to take account of potential
robustness (avoidance of disproportionate collapse) scenarios.
The cases considered used two lines of modules with a braced
corridor between the modules. Studies were made of four-storey
and six-storey high groups of modules supported on a floor grid
of 7.5m square and 8.8m × 7.5m including the corridor and also
a 16.3m × 7.5m long span grid. The objective was to evaluate
the deflections of the hybrid system for various actions, and the
forces in the supporting frame and in the connections between
the modules. An example of these analyses is shown in Figure 3,
overleaf.

Planning guidelines
The following information may be useful in planning a modular
project supported by a steel-framed structure:

• A typical light steel module weighs 3 to 3.5 kN/m2 floor area,

or 10 Tonnes for a module of 30m2 floor area. The weight will
be higher if the modules are supplied with a concrete floor
Figure 1: Support to modules by steel-framed podium structure instead of a light steel joisted floor.
• The module sizes are limited mainly by transportation, an
For taller buildings, it is efficient to ‘cluster’ the modules around a external width of 4.2m can be transported without escort.
braced steel or concrete core, which provides the overall stability Module lengths may include the corridor.
of the building. In this building form, the modules transfer • Constraints of local roads and permitted times of working

NSC
24 January 16
 Technical

(a) Deflection (exaggerated) of steel frame supporting modules (b) Deflection when internal column is removed to simulate robustness

Figure 3: Analyses of structural frame supporting 4 levels of modules above

should be agreed at the planning stage as they will • A characteristic line load of 15 kN/m per module wall and
influence the optimum design solution. per storey may be used for scheme design to determine the
• For internal planning purposes in residential buildings, an loads acting on the beams at the podium level.
internal module width of 3.3m to 3.9m is efficient. Openings • Columns should be placed at typically twice the module
in the side walls of modules can be introduced, depending width along the building façade. A spacing of 7.5m to 8.0m
on the loads that are transferred. would provide for 3 car park spaces below.
• A combined wall width of 300mm and a combined floor • Beam spans equal to the room length plus the corridor
and ceiling depth of 450mm should be allowed for in the width will usually be most efficient (typically 7.5m to 10m
planning of modular systems although these dimensions span).
may reduce for some modular systems. • The modules will also act to stiffen the beams and so the
• A rigid welded frame often using RHS sections can be actual deflection response will be 20% to 30% less than
introduced at the ends of the modules if a fully glazed for the beams acting alone. The deflection of the beams
façade or large patio doors are required. These RHS under the weight of the modules and imposed loads should
members can also be used to provide support to balconies. be limited to span/360 but not exceeding 30mm to avoid
• Installation rates of 6 to 8 modules per day may be used damage to the finishes to the modules.
in planning, although times of working, bad weather and • The vertical services within the modules are often
winter working will influence this rate. distributed horizontally at the podium level through web
• Beams at the transfer level should support a composite floor openings in the beams. A separate service zone may be
slab (also needed for diaphragm action) and should align required above the podium level in cases of mixed tenure,
with the load bearing walls of the modules. such as housing above a supermarket.

NSC
26 January 16
 Technical

Figure 4:
Completed modular
hotel on Lavington
Street, Southwark
showing the use
of a first floor steel
podium structure

Case example From a sustainability view point the impact of the construction
A good example of this form of construction is a hotel near the operation on noise and local traffic was much reduced as modules
busy Southwark Street on London’s south bank which consists were delivered ‘just in time’ for lifting directly from the lorry into
of 192 rooms and corridors integrated within the Futureform position. The number of workers on site was reduced to one third
modules of 15m length. The completed hotel is shown in Figure 4. of those required in more traditional concrete frame construction.
The modules are supported by a single storey steel frame with the SCI also carried out an embodied carbon study of the modular
hotel reception and restaurant at ground floor. system and found it had 20% less embodied carbon than a
A fully glazed façade wall was created by a welded frame using concrete frame with blockwork infill walls.
80 x 40 RHS sections. This rigid frame provides resistance to
horizontal loads acting on the five-storey assembly of modules,
and also provides the attachment points between the modules. Acknowledgements
Modules were lifted into place at an average rate of 6 per day by a The information presented in this article is only a small part of the work undertaken
500T mobile crane with a long boom positioned on the roadside during the MODCONS project. The project was funded under the European Commission
at Lavington Street. The installation of the modules took only Framework Programme 7 (FP7) for support to SMEs and was coordinated by SCI. The
5 weeks out of a nine-month construction programme, saving other partners in the project were Futureform Ltd, HTA Design (both UK), Tecnalia,
an estimated 6 months relative to more traditional concrete- AST and IA3 (all Spain), University of Coimbra and Cool Haven (Portugal), NEAPO and
framed construction. This led to estimated savings of 1% of the Technical University of Tampere (Finland). Further information about the project is
construction cost per month for the hotel operator. provided at www.modcons-research.eu.

NSC
January 16 27
 Advisory Desk

AD 393:
Minimum requirements for column splices
in accordance with Eurocodes.
Clause 6.2.7.1(14) of BS EN 1993-1-8:2005 specifies minimum • To provide a connection capable of carrying the design forces.
requirements for component in bearing type splices. The Standard The design forces should include the second order effects
specifies splice material to be provided to transmit at least 25% of described in Advisory Desk notes 243, 244 and 314;
the maximum compressive force in the column. This requirement • To ensure the members are held accurately in position relative
can be satisfied relatively easily in medium rise structures. For very to each other;
large structures, accumulating load from a number of storeys, the • To provide a degree of continuity of stiffness about both axes;
compression in the column can be very significant, resulting in • To provide sufficient strength and stiffness to hold the upper
large and expensive splice details. column shaft during erection;
It is understood that the requirements in the Eurocode are • To provide resistance in tension, if the structure is to be
to provide a degree of continuity of stiffness about both axes. designed for vertical tying.
Previously, UK designers would have observed the recommended
detailing practice in the Green Books, where minimum As many designers will be aware, the Eurocodes are to be revised;
component sizes were specified to achieve this continuity of this clause, and 6.2.7.1(13) covering non-bearing splices, have
stiffness. been proposed for revision. Unfortunately, any revisions are some
SCI recommend that if the Eurocode rules lead to splices years away, so to wait for the revised Standard is not a solution.
which are significantly larger than previous practice, the issue
should be discussed between the connection designer and the
Engineer with responsibility for the overall design. It may be that Contact: Abdul Malik
agreement can be reached to detail the splices in a way which Tel: 01344 636525
meets the essential requirements, which are: Email: advisory@steel-sci.com

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28 January 16
New and revised codes & standards
From BSI Updates November and December 2015

BS EN PUBLICATIONS BS EN ISO 8504-2:2001 EN 10210-3

BS EN ISO 9934-1: 2015 (BS 7079-D2:2000) Hot finished structural steel hollow sections.
Non destructive testing. Magnetic particle Preparation of steel substrates before application Tolerances, dimensions and sectional properties
testing. General principles. of paints and related products. Surface preparation Will supersede BS EN 10210-2:2006
Supersedes BS EN ISO 9934-1:2001 methods. Abrasive blast cleaning EN 10219-1
BS EN ISO 9934-2:2015 BS EN 12668-1:2010 Cold formed welded structural steel hollow
Non-destructive testing. Magnetic particle testing. Non-destructive testing. Characterization and sections. General
Detection media. verification of ultrasonic examination equipment. Will partially supersede BS EN 10219-1:2006
Supersedes BS EN ISO 9934-2:2002 Instruments EN 10219-2
BS EN ISO 9934-3:2015 BS EN 12668-2:2010 Cold formed welded structural steel hollow
Non-destructive testing. Magnetic particle testing. Non-destructive testing. Characterization and sections. Technical delivery conditions
Equipment. verification of ultrasonic examination equipment. Will partially supersede BS EN 10219-1:2006
Supersedes BS EN ISO 9934-3:2002 Probes EN 10219-3
BS EN 14127:2011 Cold formed welded structural steel hollow
Non-destructive testing. Ultrasonic thickness sections. Tolerances, dimensions and sectional
BS IMPLEMENTATIONS
measurement properties
BS ISO 4990:2015 Will supersede BS EN 10219-2:2006
BS EN ISO 16276-1:2007
Steel castings. General technical delivery
Corrosion protection of steel structures by EN 14399-7
requirements.
protective paint systems. Assessment of, and High-strength structural bolting assemblies for
No current standard is superseded
acceptance criteria for, the adhesion/cohesion preloading. System HR. Countersunk head bolt
BS ISO 4993:2015 (fracture strength) of a coating. Pull-off testing and nut assemblies
Steel and iron castings. Radiographic testing. Will supersede BS EN 14399-7:2007
BS EN ISO 16276-2:2007
Supersedes BS ISO 4993:2009
Corrosion protection of steel structures by EN 14399-8
BS ISO 9477:2015 protective paint systems. Assessment of, and High-strength structural bolting assemblies for
High strength cast steels for general engineering acceptance criteria for, the adhesion/cohesion preloading. System HV. Hexagon fit bolt and nut
and structural purposes (fracture strength) of a coating. Cross-cut testing assemblies
No current standard is superseded and X-cut testing Will supersede BS EN 14399-8:2007
BS ISO 13521:2015 BS EN ISO 18275:2012 EN 14399-9
Austenitic manganese steel castings Welding consumables. Covered electrodes for High-strength structural bolting assemblies for
No current standard is superseded manual metal arc welding of high-strength steels. preloading. System HR or HV. Direct tension
Classification indicators for bolt and nut assemblies.
BRITISH STANDARDS UNDER REVIEW BS EN ISO 26304:2011 Will supersede BS EN 14399-9:2009

BS EN ISO 544:2011 Welding consumables. Solid wire electrodes, EN 14399-10

Welding consumables. Technical delivery tubular cored electrodes and electrode-flux High-strength structural bolting assemblies for
conditions for filler material and fluxes. Type of combinations for submerged arc welding of high preloading. System HRC. Bolt and nut assemblies
product, dimensions, tolerances and markings strength steels. Classification with calibrated preload
Will supersede BS EN 14399-10:2009
BS EN 1330-2:1998
Non-destructive testing. Terminology. Terms NEW WORK STARTED
common to the non-destructive testing methods EN 10210-1 ISO PUBLICATIONS
BS EN 1330-3:1997 Hot finished structural hollow sections of non- ISO 9018:2015
Non-destructive testing. Terminology. Terms used alloy and fine grain steels. Technical delivery (Edition 2)
in industrial radiographic testing requirements Destructive tests on welds in metallic materials.
BS EN ISO 8504-1:2001 Will partially supersede BS EN 10210-1:2006 Tensile test on cruciform and lapped joints.
(BS 7079-D1:2000) EN 10210-2 Will be implemented as an identical British Standard
Preparation of steel substrates before application Hot finished structural steel hollow sections. ISO 17641-2:2015
of paints and related products. Surface preparation Technical delivery conditions (Edition 2)
methods. General principles Will partially supersede BS EN 10210-1:2006 Destructive tests on welds in metallic materials.
Hot cracking tests for weldments. Arc welding
processes. Self-restraint tests
Will be implemented as an identical British Standard
 50 Years Ago

FROM BUILDING WITH STEEL NOV 1965

Steel framed domestic dwellings

One of the most important social problems really possible that greater use of industrialised installing plant and equipment for producing
facing this country at the present time is the building techniques is being encouraged. Many the various standard units on a ‘mass production’
acute shortage of living accommodation. The of these systems for single and two-storey houses basis. To bring this about Local authorities are
problem is so urgent and vital that its solution incorporate the use of steel frame construction being encouraged by the Ministry of Housing
has become one of the major political issues of and Local Government to form development
the day. The Government target for domestic Flexibility in Construction and Design groups so that large single contracts can be
dwellings - both houses and flats - is 400,000 The flexibility in this type of ‘system’ building placed on behalf of the Group instead of a
per annum, and it is estimated that 25% of makes possible, within certain minor structural series of small orders by individual Authorities,
the approvals given so far for public projects limitations, alterations of the basic design both perhaps placed at different times.
(Local Authorities, New Town Development external and internal before and after erection.
Corporations etc.) are for dwellings to be built For example, it is a simple matter for the The 5M Flexible House
by industrialised methods. architect to alter the layout of the rooms, the The basic principles of this type of house are to
To meet the above target a 55% increase in position of the staircases or the design of the be found in practically all industrialised systems
total output by the construction industry over roof to meet individual requirements. used today: the name ‘5M’ indicates a system
the next ten years is necessary and this will have To make industrialised building an economic based on a planning grid of 1 ft. 8 in., i.e. five
to be achieved with an increased labour force proposition houses must be ordered in quantities times the module of 4 in. The system is not
estimated at only 2%. It is to make this project sufficiently large to warrant the expense of based on type plans but on a series of standard
components which, as mentioned earlier, can
be used by architects to produce house plans of
practically any design.
A timber and steel composite frame is erected
on a lightly reinforced site slab without normal
strip foundations. The frame allows roofing and
walling to follow quickly after erection, creating
covered workshop conditions on site at an early
stage for the following trades. The frame also
acts as a jig for the placing of other components.
Wind forces are transferred to ground through
floor and roof diaphragms and thence through
the portal connection of the perimeter beams
and through diagonal braces in the party walls
to stanchions. The choice of cladding is wide and
may be timber, clay, concrete tiles, panels and
other materials.
The most significant innovation is the change
in the construction of the party walls which
are, in effect, movable partitions to incorporate

NSC
30 January 16
 50 Years Ago

wardrobes and storage shelves and with a high the external appearance. Some systems offer a
quality finish. choice of roof styles and other features giving
individuality to the houses and avoiding the
Steel-framed Houses ‘factory made’ look.
5M was the prototype design but in many later As a rule the steelwork is supplied to the site
systems frames are now all steel. The factory- suitable treated against corrosion. For instance,
made frames require no special skill to erect and in one system the parts are first degreased and
the structure is dimensionally accurate. then immersed on a red oxide/zinc chromate
Stress calculations can be made with accuracy paint and stoved. A second similar treatment is
and the greater strength of steel work has a given after fabrication into major components.
number of advantages, an important one being its The amount of steelwork naturally varies with
ability to withstand unequal ground subsidence. the design of the system but figures ranging up
Reduced fire hazard, freedom from distortion to two tons per house are typical.
with age and freedom from insect and fungoid Erection times vary according to the size
attack are other features. and design of the house but as a guide it may
In some cases the frames are supplied to site be mentioned that one firm claims that the
as completely rigid bolted or welded structures, complete structural cladding assembly for one
though the normal practice is to deliver as pair of their semi detached houses can be erected
separate components to be assembled on site: and temporarily waterproofed in 10 hours and
these are suitably marked to withstand unequal completed in 21 days at the most. Another states
ground subsidence. Reduced fire hazard, freedom that in 14 days six men can put up a pair of their
from distortion with age and freedom from insect semi-detached houses ready for occupation. A
and fungoid attack are other features. third firm claims that, on prepared foundations,
In some cases the frames are supplied to site the frame, walls and roof can be erected in one
as completely rigid bolted or welded structures, day by a team of six men and that the total
though the normal practice is to deliver as separate construction time per house can be as little as
components to be assembled on site: these are two weeks. Prices compare advantageously with
suitable marked to facilitate quick erection by the more orthodox type of dwelling.
unskilled labour. This makes unnecessary the To meet the rapidly increasing demand for
need for heavier cranes as two men can normally industrialised buildings a number of firms have
handle all items without difficulty. laid down production lines which in some cases
Columns and girders vary somewhat from are comparable in efficiency with those of the
company to company and in some cases are automobile industry. One organisation in the
of patented design. Considerable use is being north of England already has three such lines
made of square, rectangular and circular hollow capable of producing a total of 1,000 steel-
steel sections in the construction of frames and framed dwellings a year and by the end of the
for columns, floor beams, rafters, bracings and year will have in operation a new factory with an
certain architectural details. annual output of 6,000 of their ‘system’ buildings
In general the external walls are made as well as large quantities of components for the
up of panels of standard sizes, in many cases building industry in general.
steel framed. However, as will be evident from For general utility value and to supply a
the accompanying illustrations, many types gaping need this type of dwelling will be in great
of cladding are available. The modular sized demand. Constant care must be applied to ensure
windows are normally available in a variety of that good design is always in step with and even
designs, a feature which permits variation of ahead of utility.

NSC
January 16 31
 Listings

Steelwork contractors for buildings

Membership of BCSA is open to any Steelwork Contractor who has a fabrication facility within the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.
Details of BCSA membership and services can be obtained from
Gillian Mitchell MBE, Deputy Director General, BCSA, 4 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2ES
Tel: 020 7747 8121 Email: gillian.mitchell@steelconstruction.org

Applicants may be registered in one or more Buildings category to undertake the fabrication and the responsibility for any Notes
design and erection of: (1) Contracts which are primarily
steelwork but which may include
C Heavy industrial platework for plant structures, bunkers, Q Specialist fabrication services (eg bending, cellular/ associated works. The steelwork contract
hoppers, silos etc castellated beams, plate girders) value for which a company is pre-qualified
D High rise buildings (offices etc over 15 storeys) R Refurbishment under the Scheme is intended to give
E Large span portals (over 30m) S Lighter fabrications including fire escapes, ladders and guidance on the size of steelwork contract
F Medium/small span portals (up to 30m) and low rise catwalks that can be undertaken; where a project
buildings (up to 4 storeys) lasts longer than a year, the value is the
G Medium rise buildings (from 5 to 15 storeys) FPC Factory Production Control certification to BS EN 1090-1 proportion of the steelwork contract to be
H Large span trusswork (over 20m) 1 – Execution Class 1 undertaken within a 12 month period.
J Tubular steelwork where tubular construction forms a major 2 – Execution Class 2
part of the structure 3 – Execution Class 3 Where an asterisk (*) appears against any
K Towers and masts 4 – Execution Class 4 company’s classification number, this indicates
L Architectural steelwork for staircases, balconies, canopies etc QM Quality management certification to ISO 9001 that the assets required for this classification
level are those of the parent company.
M Frames for machinery, supports for plant and conveyors SCM Steel Construction Sustainability Charter
N Large grandstands and stadia (over 5000 persons) (l = Gold, l = Silver, l = Member)

Company name Tel C D E F G H J K L M N Q R S QM FPC SCM Guide Contract Value (1)

A & J Stead Ltd 01653 693742 l l l l l l 2 Up to £200,000
A C Bacon Engineering Ltd 01953 850611 l l l 2 Up to £3,000,000
A&J Fabtech Ltd 01924 439614 l l l
l l ✔ 3 Up to £400,000
Access Design & Engineering 01642 245151 l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £4,000,000
Adey Steel 01509 556677 l l l l l l l l ✔ 3 ● Up to £2,000,000
Adstone Construction Ltd 01905 794561 l l l l ✔ 2 ● Up to £3,000,000
Advanced Fabrications Poyle Ltd 01753 653617 l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
AJ Engineering & Construction Services Ltd 01309 671919 l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £1,400,000
AKD Contracts Ltd 01322 312203 l l l l l 2 Up to £100,000
Angle Ring Company Ltd 0121 557 7241 l ✔ 4 Up to £1,400,000
Apex Steel Structures Ltd 01268 660828 l l l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
Arminhall Engineering Ltd 01799 524510 l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £400,000
Arromax Structures Ltd 01623 747466 l l l l l l l l l l l l 2 Up to £800,000
ASA Steel Structures Ltd 01782 566366 l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £800,000
ASD Westok Ltd 0113 205 5270 l ✔ 4 Up to £6,000,000
ASME Engineering Ltd 020 8966 7150 l l l l l l ✔ 3 ● Up to £1,400,000
Atlasco Constructional Engineers Ltd 01782 564711 l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £1,400,000
Austin-Divall Fabrications Ltd 01903 721950 l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
B D Structures Ltd 01942 817770 l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
Ballykine Structural Engineers Ltd 028 9756 2560 l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £1,400,000
Barnshaw Section Benders Ltd 01902 880848 l ✔ 4 Up to £2,000,000
BHC Ltd 01555 840006 l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Above £6,000,000
Billington Structures Ltd 01226 340666 l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Above £6,000,000
Border Steelwork Structures Ltd 01228 548744 l l l l l l 2 Up to £3,000,000
Bourne Construction Engineering Ltd 01202 746666 l l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Above £6,000,000
Briton Fabricators Ltd 0115 963 2901 l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £4,000,000
Builders Beams Ltd 01227 863770 l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £1,400,000
Cairnhill Structures Ltd 01236 449393 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £3,000,000
Caunton Engineering Ltd 01773 531111 l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £6,000,000
Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd 01325 381188 l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Above £6,000,000*
CMF Ltd 020 8844 0940 l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £6,000,000
Cook Fabrications Ltd 01303 893011 l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
Coventry Construction Ltd 024 7646 4484 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
D H Structures Ltd 01785 246269 l l l l 2 Up to £100,000
Duggan Steel Ltd 00 353 29 70072 l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £4,000,000
ECS Engineering Services Ltd 01773 860001 l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 3 Up to £3,000,000
Elland Steel Structures Ltd 01422 380262 l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £6,000,000
EvadX Ltd 01745 336413 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 3 ● Up to £3,000,000
Four Bay Structures Ltd 01603 758141 l l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
Fox Bros Engineering Ltd 00 353 53 942 1677 l l l l l l l 2 Up to £2,000,000
Gorge Fabrications Ltd 0121 522 5770 l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
Gregg & Patterson (Engineers) Ltd 028 9061 8131 l l l l l l l ✔ 3 Up to £2,000,000
H Young Structures Ltd 01953 601881 l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 ● Up to £2,000,000
Had Fab Ltd 01875 611711 l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £3,000,000
Company name Tel C D E F G H J K L M N Q R S QM FPC SCM Guide Contract Value (1)

NSC
32 January 16
 Listings

Company name Tel C D E F G H J K L M N Q R S QM FPC SCM Guide Contract Value (1)

Hambleton Steel Ltd 01748 810598 l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £2,000,000
Harry Marsh (Engineers) Ltd 0191 510 9797 l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £1,400,000
Hescott Engineering Company Ltd 01324 556610 l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £3,000,000
Intersteels Ltd 01322 337766 l l l l l ✔ 3 Up to £2,000,000
J & A Plant Ltd 01942 713511 l l l 2 Up to £200,000
James Killelea & Co Ltd 01706 229411 l l l l l l l 4 Up to £6,000,000*
John Reid & Sons (Strucsteel) Ltd 01202 483333 l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £6,000,000
Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd 00 353 43 334 1445 l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £3,000,000
Leach Structural Steelwork Ltd 01995 640133 l l l l l l ✔ 2 ● Up to £4,000,000
Legge Steel (Fabrications) Ltd 01592 205320 l l l l l l l l 3 Up to £800,000
Luxtrade Ltd 01902 353182 l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
M Hasson & Sons Ltd 028 2957 1281 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £2,000,000
M J Patch Structures Ltd 01275 333431 l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
M&S Engineering Ltd 01461 40111 l l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
Mackay Steelwork & Cladding Ltd 01862 843910 l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £800,000
Maldon Marine Ltd 01621 859000 l l l l l l ✔ 3 Up to £1,400,000
Mifflin Construction Ltd 01568 613311 l l l l l 2 Up to £3,000,000
Murphy International Ltd 00 353 45 431384 l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £1,400,000
Newbridge Engineering Ltd 01429 866722 l l l l l l l ✔ 3 Up to £1,400,000
Nusteel Structures Ltd 01303 268112 l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £4,000,000
Overdale Construction Services Ltd 01656 729229 l l l l l l 2 Up to £400,000
Painter Brothers Ltd 01432 374400 l l l l ✔ 2 ● Up to £6,000,000
Pencro Structural Engineering Ltd 028 9335 2886 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £2,000,000
Peter Marshall (Steel Stairs) Ltd 0113 307 6730 l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000*
PMS Fabrications Ltd 01228 599090 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £1,400,000
R S Engineering SW Ltd 01752 844511 l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £100,000
Rippin Ltd 01383 518610 l l l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
S H Structures Ltd 01977 681931 l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £2,000,000
SDM Fabrication Ltd 01354 660895 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £1,400,000
Sean Brady Construction Engineering Ltd 00 353 49 436 4144 l l l l l l l l 2 Up to £800,000
Severfield plc 01845 577896 l l l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Above £6,000,000
Shaun Hodgson Engineering Ltd 01553 766499 l l l l l l l ✔ 3 Up to £800,000
Shipley Structures Ltd 01400 251480 l l l l l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
Snashall Steel Fabrications Ltd 01300 345588 l l l l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
South Durham Structures Ltd 01388 777350 l l l l l l l 2 Up to £800,000
Southern Fabrications (Sussex) Ltd 01243 649000 l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £800,000
Taziker Industrial Ltd 01204 468080 l l l ✔ 3 Above £6,000,000
Temple Mill Fabrications Ltd 01623 741720 l l l l l l l ✔ 2 Up to £400,000
Traditional Structures Ltd 01922 414172 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 2 ● Up to £2,000,000
TSI Structures Ltd 01603 720031 l l l l 2 Up to £1,400,000
Tubecon 01226 345261 l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Above £6,000,000*
Underhill Engineering & Building Services Ltd 01752 752483 l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £3,000,000
W & H Steel & Roofing Systems Ltd 00 353 56 444 1855 l l l l l l l 4 Up to £2,000,000
W I G Engineering Ltd 01869 320515 l l l ✔ 2 Up to £200,000
Walter Watson Ltd 028 4377 8711 l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £6,000,000
Westbury Park Engineering Ltd 01373 825500 l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 Up to £800,000
William Haley Engineering Ltd 01278 760591 l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Up to £4,000,000
William Hare Ltd 0161 609 0000 l l l l l l l l l l l l l l ✔ 4 ● Above £6,000,000
Company name Tel C D E F G H J K L M N Q R S QM FPC SCM Guide Contract Value (1)

Corporate Members
Corporate Members are clients, professional offices, educational establishments etc which support the development of national specifications,
quality, fabrication and erection techniques, overall industry efficiency and good practice.

Company name Tel Company name Tel

A Lamb Associates Ltd 01772 316278 PTS (TQM) Ltd 01785 250706
Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions Ltd 01332 661491 Sandberg LLP 020 7565 7000
Bluefin Group 020 3040 6723 Structural & Weld Testing Services Ltd 01795 420264
Griffiths & Armour 0151 236 5656 SUM Ltd 0113 242 7390
Highways England Company Ltd 08457 504030 Welding Quality Management Services Ltd 00 353 87 295 5335
Kier Construction Ltd 01767 640111

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 Listings

Industry Members
Industry Members are those principal companies involved in the direct supply to all or some Steelwork Contractor Members of components,
materials or products. Industry member companies must have a registered office within the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.

1 Structural components 8 Steel stockholders CE CE Marking compliant, SCM Steel Construction Sustainability
2 Computer software 9 Structural fasteners where relevant: Charter
3 Design services M manufacturer l = Gold, l = Silver, l = Member
4 Steel producers (products CE Marked)
5 Manufacturing equipment D/I distributor/importer
6 Protective systems (systems comply with the CPR)
7 Safety systems N/A CPR not applicable

Company name Tel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CE SCM Company name Tel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CE SCM

AJN Steelstock Ltd 01638 555500 l M Cellbeam Ltd 01937 840600 l M
Albion Sections Ltd 0121 553 1877 l M Cellshield Ltd 01937 840600 l N/A
Arcelor Mittal Distribution - Scunthorpe 01724 810810 l D/I Cleveland Steel & Tubes Ltd 01845 577789 l M
ASD metal services 0113 254 0711 l D/I CMC (UK) Ltd 029 2089 5260 l D/I
Ayrshire Metal Products (Daventry) Ltd 01327 300990 l M Composite Profiles UK Ltd 01202 659237 l D/I
BAPP Group Ltd 01226 383824 l M Cooper & Turner Ltd 0114 256 0057 l M
Barrett Steel Services Limited 01274 682281 l M Cutmaster Machines (UK) Ltd 01226 707865 l N/A
Behringer Ltd 01296 668259 l Daver Steels Ltd 0114 261 1999 l M
BW Industries Ltd 01262 400088 l M Dent Steel Services (Yorkshire) Ltd 01274 607070 l M

Steelwork contractors
for bridgeworks
The Register of Qualified Steelwork Contractors Scheme for Bridgeworks (RQSC) is open to any Steelwork Contractor who
has a fabrication facility within the European Union.

Applicants may be registered in one or more category to undertake the fabrication and the responsibility for any design and erection of:
FG Footbridge and sign gantries AS Ancilliary structures in steel associated with bridges, Notes
PG Bridges made principally from plate girders footbridges or sign gantries (eg grillages, purpose-made (1) Contracts which are primarily steelwork but which
may include associated works. The steelwork contract
TW Bridges made principally from trusswork temporary works) value for which a company is pre-qualified under the
BA Bridges with stiffened complex platework QM Quality management certification to ISO 9001 Scheme is intended to give guidance on the size of
(eg in decks, box girders or arch boxes) steelwork contract that can be undertaken; where
CM Cable-supported bridges (eg cable-stayed or FPC Factory Production Control certification to BS EN 1090-1 a project lasts longer than a year, the value is the
suspension) and other major structures 1 – Execution Class 1 2 – Execution Class 2 proportion of the steelwork contract to be undertaken
(eg 100 metre span) 3 – Execution Class 3 4 – Execution Class 4 within a 12 month period.
Where an asterisk (*) appears against any company’s classification
MB Moving bridges SCM Steel Construction Sustainability Charter number, this indicates that the assets required for this classification
RF Bridge refurbishment (l = Gold, l = Silver, l = Member) level are those of the parent company.

BCSA steelwork contractor member Tel FG PG TW BA CM MB RF NHSS

AS QM FPC 19A SCM Guide Contract Value (1)
20
A&J Fabtech Ltd 01924 439614 l l l l ✓ 3 Up to £400,000
Bourne Construction Engineering Ltd 01202 746666 l l l l l ✓ 4 l Above £6,000,000
Briton Fabricators Ltd 0115 963 2901 l l l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ Up to £4,000,000
Cairnhill Structures Ltd 01236 449393 l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ l Up to £3,000,000
Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd 01325 381188 l l l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ ✓ l Above £6,000,000*
Donyal Engineering Ltd 01207 270909 l l l ✓ 3 ✓ l Up to £1,400,000
Four-Tees Engineers Ltd 01489 885899 l l l l l l l ✓ 3 ✓ l Up to £2,000,000
Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd 00 353 43 334 1445 l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ l Up to £3,000,000
Millar Callaghan Engineering Services Ltd 01294 217711 l l l ✓ 4 Up to £800,000
Murphy International Ltd 00 353 45 431384 l l l l ✓ 4 Up to £1,400,000
Nusteel Structures Ltd 01303 268112 l l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ ✓ Up to £4,000,000
S H Structures Ltd 01977 681931 l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ l Up to £2,000,000
Severfield (UK) Ltd 01204 699999 l l l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ l Above £6,000,000
Taziker Industrial Ltd 01204 468080 l l l ✓ 3 ✓ ✓ Above £6,000,000
Underhill Building & Engineering Services Ltd 01752 752483 l l l l l l ✓ 4 Up to £3,000,000
Non-BCSA member
Allerton Steel Ltd 01609 774471 l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ Up to £4,000,000
Centregreat Engineering Ltd 029 2046 5683 l l l l l l l ✓ 4 Up to £800,000
Cimolai SpA 01223 836299 l l l l l l l l ✓ 4 Above £6,000,000
Concrete & Timber Services Ltd 01484 606416 l l l l l l l ✓ 4 l Up to £800,000
Francis & Lewis International Ltd 01452 722200 l l ✓ 2 ✓ l Up to £2,000,000
Harland & Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd 028 9045 8456 l l l l l l l ✓ 3 Up to £2,000,000
HS Carlsteel Engineering Ltd 020 8312 1879 l l l l ✓ 3 ✓ Up to £400,000
IHC Engineering (UK) Ltd 01773 861734 l l ✓ 3 ✓ Up to £400,000
Interserve Construction Ltd 020 8311 5500 l l ✓ N/A Above £6,000,000*
Lanarkshire Welding Company Ltd 01698 264271 l l l l l l l l ✓ 4 ✓ l Up to £2,000,000
P C Richardson & Co (Middlesbrough) Ltd 01642 714791 l l l ✓ N/A Up to £3,000,000
Total Steelwork & Fabrication Ltd 01925 234320 l l l ✓ 3 ✓ Up to £3,000,000
Victor Buyck Steel Construction 00 32 9 376 2211 l l l l l l l l ✓ 4 l Above £6,000,000

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 Listings

Company name Tel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CE SCM Company name Tel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CE SCM

Duggan Profiles & Steel Service Centre Ltd 00 353 56 7722485 l l M Longs Steel UK Ltd 01724 404040 l M
easi-edge Ltd 01777 870901 l N/A l MSW (UK) Ltd 0115 946 2316 l D/I
Fabsec Ltd 0845 094 2530 l N/A Murray Plate Group Ltd 0161 866 0266 l D/I
FabTrol Systems UK Ltd 01274 590865 l N/A National Tube Stockholders Ltd 01845 577440 l D/I
Ficep (UK) Ltd 01942 223530 l N/A Peddinghaus Corporation UK Ltd 01952 200377 l N/A
FLI Structures 01452 722200 l M l PPG Performance Coatings UK Ltd 01773 814520 l N/A
Forward Protective Coatings Ltd 01623 748323 l N/A Prodeck-Fixing Ltd 01278 780586 l D/I
Goodwin Steel Castings Ltd 01782 220000 l N/A Rainham Steel Co Ltd 01708 522311 l D/I
Graitec UK Ltd 0844 543 8888 l N/A Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings 01204 521771 l M l
Hadley Group Ltd 0121 555 1342 l M l Sika Ltd 01707 384444 l M
Hempel UK Ltd 01633 874024 l N/A Simpson Strong-Tie 01827 255600 l M
Highland Metals Ltd 01343 548855 l N/A Structural Metal Decks Ltd 01202 718898 l M l
Hilti (GB) Ltd 0800 886100 l M StruMIS Ltd 01332 545800 l N/A
Hi-Span Ltd 01953 603081 l M l Tata Steel Distribution UK & Ireland 01902 484000 l D/I
International Paint Ltd 0191 469 6111 l N/A l Tata Steel Ireland Service Centre 028 9266 0747 l D/I
Jack Tighe Ltd 01302 880360 l N/A Tata Steel Service Centre Dublin 00 353 1 405 0300 l D/I
Jamestown Cladding & Profiling Ltd 00 353 45 434288 l M Tata Steel Tubes 01536 402121 l M
John Parker & Sons Ltd 01227 783200 l l D/I Tata Steel UK Panels & Profiles 0845 3088330 l M
Joseph Ash Galvanizing 01246 854650 l N/A Tekla (UK) Ltd 0113 887 9790 l N/A
Jotun Paints (Europe) Ltd 01724 400000 l N/A Tension Control Bolts Ltd 01948 667700 l l M
Kaltenbach Ltd 01234 213201 l N/A voestalpine Metsec plc 0121 601 6000 l M l
Kingspan Structural Products 01944 712000 l M l Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd 01909 486384 l N/A
Lindapter International 01274 521444 l M Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd 01905 755755 l N/A

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