Site report: RC frame construction for £5.7m residential project

Fairview / Rialto recently developed a site at Gypsy Corner, Acton in West London. The development, Westgate W3, consists of two blocks, one 14 storeys high and one of 13 storeys, containing 255 residential units. The developer opted for RD frame construction and contracted CJ O’Shea to carry out this £5,700,000 package. Building two adjacent multi-storey blocks simultaneously lent itself to using static concrete pumps and stationary placing booms and so CJ O’Shea approached Camfaud to provide the placing booms.

The contract required one boom to be supplied along with two columns, one for each RC frame building. The boom was moved between the buildings, using a tower crane, to suit the pour schedule. By using a static pump and stationary placing boom the contractor was able to increase the speed of each pour, reduce the size of the concrete gang and improve site safety. In addition, the pump and boom were used to pour walls and columns thus freeing up valuable crane time. The boom that Camfaud supplied with a 30-metre horizontal reach was ideal for the footprint of the two buildings as it reached right to the edge of each floor without requiring additional pipeline to be laid across the slab.

A stationary concrete placing boom can be set on a fixed column and used as a free-standing item. Alternatively, it can be set within a building and, with the use of floor frames, climb through the building as it progresses. Due to the height and footprint of the buildings, O’Shea supported the columns on floor frames supplied by Camfaud and climbed the boom in sequence with the development of the buildings. Camfaud offers a complete service to erect the boom at the start of a contract, supervise the movement of the boom and the climbing procedure, as required, and dismantling the boom at the end of the contract. This work is carried out to the manufacturer’s recommendations and agreed method statement to ensure a safe and successful outcome.

• Pump: Schwing WP1250

• Boom: Schwing SPB30

• Customer: C J O’Shea Construction Ltd.

• Site: Gypsy Corner, London

• Concrete Supplier: Tarmac Topmix

• Date: Spring / Summer 2005