Schlüter-Systems for the renovation of Eiffel Tower in Paris

Transcription

1 Schlüter-Systems for the renovation of Eiffel Tower in Paris Few landmarks in the world have the same recognition value as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Built between 1887 and 1889, the structure was inaugurated on the occasion of the World Fair to commemorate the 100 th anniversary of the French Revolution. Named after its builder, Gustave Eiffel, the tower was the world s tallest building at the time of its construction, and maintained that status until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York City in Still the tallest structure in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is among the most visited landmarks worldwide, attracting approximately 7 million visitors a year. Since the 1980s, the Iron Lady has been restored and rebuilt regularly to offer more space and comfort for visitors. Due to the unique properties of the building and the large visitor numbers, such work is no easy undertaking. Thus, renovating the first level of the Eiffel Tower proved to be an extensive as well as unusual project. The renovation project, self-financed by the operator company SETE (Société d exploitation de la tour Eiffel) with a sum of approximately 25 million, aimed to make the platform at a height of 57 m more attractive for visitors. It involved rebuilding the Eiffel and Ferrié pavilions as well as three access structures to the elevators, along with renovating the facade of the restaurant. Overall, the work extended over an area of 4,586 m². This also included the installation of a transparent glass floor and a glass balustrade, which gives visitors a sense of floating in open space. A structure in motion As part of this unique construction project, the company EDM Paris was commissioned to install a natural stone floor in the Ferrié Pavilion. In addition to 300 m² of floor space, this also comprised some 85 m² of wall coverings on sloped areas, along with covering a staircase and various structural pieces such as seating benches and counters. The large numbers of tourists and the resulting vibrations represented a special challenge. It made a standardized, conventional approach impossible, explains Sebastien Sollier, project manager at EDM Paris. We had to obtain a structural engineering report to have the material and the method for implementing the work approved. Above all, we had to take the enormous weight load into consideration: every single element that was removed from the pavilion was brought down and weighed, and the same pro- 94

2 More p://www. projects? Follow us on.com 95

3 cedure was followed for every element that was transported up. We were working under the requirement that the weight of the Eiffel Tower had to be exactly the same after the renovation as before. At the request of the architect, the bulk of the floor area was to be covered with natural stone panels in a size of cm. In order to limit the weight of these panels and to avoid an assembly height exceeding 10 mm, EDM recommended the use of the Stone Performance technology. The panel chosen in this case is a material mix consisting of a 10-mm natural stone layer on fiberglass, which is structurally bonded across the entire surface. The material s installation The material was installed over a steel substrate panel in the Ferrié Pavilion. After applying a bonding primer, the EDM workers began to install the Schlüter-Systems uncoupling membrane *Schlüter-DITRA 25. It not only serves to neutralize different tensions between the covering and the substrate, but also absorbs the building s vibrations, as Sébastien Sollier emphasized: When we were calibrating our laser leveling device, the display kept moving back and forth. The tower is constantly in motion, which is particularly noticeable at peak visitor hours. The level only was reasonably stable in the morning, when the tower was still closed for visitors. The bonded uncoupling membrane was installed with a flexible, malleable adhesive mortar by Mapei, which allowed for the installation of the panels after a curing phase of the mortar. The bonded assembly of natural stone and fiberglass was attached to the mat with an epoxy-resin modified twocomponent polyurethane 96

4 adhesive. The Stone Performance panels, which weighed approximately 25 kg each, were set into place with suction lifters. The entire covering area was subdivided into 40 m² segments, using movement profiles of the type Schlüter-Dilex-EKSN. These profiles, which were also installed in the door transition areas, are optimally suited to absorb the continuous movement and elongation changes caused by sunlight within the covering. After grouting the panels, the floor was cleaned and crystallized. According to Sollier, this process creates a lasting sheen, makes the bonded assembly more resistant, and also facilitates cleaning. The installation of large-scale panels of 5 mm natural stone on a 20 mm bonded honeycomb fiberglass material in the wall area elegantly rounded off the redesign. The reliable bonded uncoupling assembly now guarantees the permanently damage-free appearance of the attractive floor covering, even under these extenuating circumstances. Overall, this extraordinary renovation project required strict organization to stay within the tight time schedule. Ten workers were involved in the on-site installation for approximately three months, while the preparation of the construction work took half a year. 5 *Schlüter -DITRA 25 is a pressure stable polyethylene membrane with a grid structure of square cavities and an anchoring fleece laminated to its underside. The fleece backing becomes anchored in the adhesive to the substrate. It also prevents the air channels on the underside from being filled with adhesive. With the fleece backing, installation is accomplished using a very thin layer of adhesive. On top of the membrane, the adhesive is anchored into the square, cut back cavities, which are only 2.5 mm deep. Schlüter -DITRA 25 is pressure stable and can be walked upon as soon as it has been adhered to the substrate. Thus, no waiting time is required before setting the tiles. 97

5 S T O N E B O X DAL1975 CERCOM CERAMICHE Via A. Volta 23/ Casalgrande (RE) Italy Tel /911 Fax Italy Fax Export