fixing and balcony load tests
Excel Building Surveying Ltd have recently been involved in a number of load tests to prove installed fixing capacity. The first included proving the capacity of in-situ Juliette balcony balustrade fixings which had already been installed on a new build project clad with Etonite cementitious fake timbers. Work at height was completed via a 5m lightweight tower erected by the NEBOSH qualified surveyor and involved imparting a 0.5kN load on selected fixings using Hydrajaws 2000 hydraulic load test equipment. It was a client pre-requisite that the cladding panels were not disturbed and that the railings remained in place during the test. Tests were completed satisfactorily and no panels were damaged by the test. The second involved completing proof load testing of various fixings to foundations at a major tourist attraction prior to installation of steelwork. Loads applied ranged from 25kN to 70kN using Hydrajaws 2008 load test equipment. 23no tests were completed to the Structural Engineer`s satisfaction on a single day. The third project was for main contractors constructing a new-build university multi-storey building. Several different fixing types (Excalibur bolts, scaffold eye-bolts and Dividag expanding anchors) were tested in order to determine the most appropriate fixing for installation of temporary edge protection safety barriers during the build. The most recent project involved proving the capacity of slab soffit fixings within retail units of an international airport. Working with the Structural Engineers to design the proof test we were able to satisfy the client that the fixing potential exceeded the required capacity.
Test rig in place at pot and beam slab soffit during airport refurbishment
Excel Building Surveying personnel have over 15 years’ experience completing load tests ranging from factories, road and railway bridges, top London restaurants, commercial floors, change of use and the like.
Test load applied to Juliette balcony fixings on Etonite clad new-build
Please feel free to call Paul Gatland on 07850 494947 to discuss in confidence any load test requirements you may have.