CASE STUDY SERIES #11

Transcription

1 THE PROJECT TELFORD MILLENNIUM VILLAGE APPLICATION POST-SUPPORTED GABION MESH WALLS, RESIDENTIAL LOCATION TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE DATE MAY 2016 DESIGN SUPPLY INSTALLATION CLIENT CONSULTANT DESIGN/BUILD CONTRACTOR TAYLOR WIMPEY TRAVIS BAKER ENVIROMESH MV KELLY

2 PROJECT BACKGROUND This project was completed for the Telford Millennium Community in Shropshire (an English county located between the West Midlands and Wales). The millennium communities programme was set up by the Homes and Communities Agency in conjunction with Communities and Local Government (CLG), with a remit to create seven sustainable communities across the UK. The development at Telford Millennium Village is one of them. The scheme s ethos is to provide a range of high quality and environmentally friendly homes and to facilitate a happy, healthy lifestyle via green open spaces, wildlife areas and play facilities. Enviromesh were initially approached by the technical team at Travis Baker with whom Enviromesh had previously worked at Beacon Business Park in Stafford. The brief for the car port was to present an alternative solution to the similar brick-built structures that were being constructed at the village. Structurally, the gabions would need to work to the tolerances outlined in the footprint of the building whilst achieving an aesthetically pleasing look by using contrasting aggregates in a modern style. The granite was sourced in Leicestershire whilst the gritstone buff came from Lancashire. Series of photos showing the preliminary stages of the perimeter gabion wall being erected around the pre-existing steelwork structure which was installed prior to the commencement of the gabion walls. Once completed the facility would service the residential development at Telford Millennium Village, characterised by the new build apartments visible in the background.

3 A 5425 E D C THE CHALLENGES The key considerations for this project were partly the need to engineer a solution which would complement the development as a whole, coupled with the tight time schedules. Enviromesh have a great deal of experience in working alongside other contractors, so we were very confident that both the timescales could be met and the handover of the apartments to the residents would go to plan. There were some access issues which we quickly resolved by using a telescopic handler to enable the install team to have rock fill materials easily to hand as the work progressed The photo (above, left) was taken at completion and shows the corner of the structure at elevation B as referenced in the drawing. The difference in levels between the back of the structure and entrance C to the car port are evident in the horizontal bands in the facing stone. Areas D and E above were set aside for residential storage (bicycles, recycling units etc.) the entrances to which can also be seen here. B 2175

4 Series of photos showing the quality of the finished wall, the structure s internal steelwork and the contrasting hand-placed gabion stonework in the final wall. ENGINEERING AND THE DESIGN SOLUTION The design brief required that the car ports have a rustic feel utilising natural materials. Set within a new-build residential development, the car ports would be a focal point and therefore needed to blend in to their surroundings, whilst architecturally providing a practical solution for the residents. A fusion of natural stone used in conjunction with modern building materials and methods allowed us to blend a mixture of two different rock fill types (Granite and Gritstone). This resulted in a visually appealing and balanced solution with the textures and shades of stone creating visual bands running horizontally around and through the perimeter of the structure. Enviromesh designed the gabion wall structures, specified the mesh and the bands of stone infill to create a clean, contemporary finish in keeping with the newly built homes, which would complement the development as a whole. We brought in a granite from Hinckley and gritstone from Lancashire. The design specified a robust 4mm bi-axial welded mesh, with the gabion unit diaphragms placed at 675mm centres for perfect alignment and free from any bulges. Timescales Three weeks to complete Wind-support posts Incorporated into the core of the gabion wall, for additional structural support Internal vertical steel columns Drilled on site and bolted flush to the gabion walls, and secured in three positions equidistant to the height of each column (top, middle and bottom). See photo, above.

5 DESIGN DRAWINGS The Enviromesh design drawings here illustrate the various elevations and dimensions as well as a plan view of the structure, including the position of the internally placed SHS Posts in elevation C E1 D1 C1 The wall was constructed having a mm first course and successive 675mm lifts to a total height of 3150mm. ELEVATION: A ELEVATION: B Completion of the structure in a timely manner was important to achieve to allow a separate tiled roof to be installed, following completion of the gabion walls. B S with base brackets Gain 25mm at joints Gain 25mm at joints ELEVATION: C ELEVATIONS: D and E C D E 5425 A

6 SERVICES PROVIDED BY ENVIROMESH Project consultation Detailed designs and associated drawings Gabion mesh basket manufacture and supply of rock fill materials Technical and engineering support Dedicated and experienced team of gabion wall construction personnel (to fabricate the gabions, joint fill and fair face the baskets on all sides) PROJECT BUILD COMPONENTS, SUPPLIED BY ENVIROMESH Gabion Rainscreen to car port, bin shed and cycle store Post-supported gabions Free-standing posts Elevation A of the finished structure as viewed from the back corner looking along the continuous section / side wall. The central band of stone here comprises granite rock fill which was sourced from Hinckley, and gritstone layers, sourced from Lancashire. 75mm 75mm welded mesh gabions (4mm wire diameter, galfan coated) External facing walls with internal partitions Gabion rock fill material: 6G Gritstone, 6G Granite Telescopic handler, compressor, hand tools and pneumatic tools All fixing accessories including CL50 C rings and lacing wire Dedicated and experienced team of gabion wall construction personnel Technical and material specifications: Fabric type Bi-axial welded mesh BS EN :2012 Steel wire and wire products (general wire dimensions and tolerances) Tensile strength (wire) 540 to 770 N/mm 2 Weld strength 75% of the minimum ultimate tensile strength of the wire BS EN :2009 (Class A) Zinc and zinc alloy coatings on steel wire BBA certification Design lifespan up to 70 years in a mild environment