Friday, August 29, 2025
20.7 C
London

The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008ย  |ย  U.K. Edition

World’s First ScaffFloat Bridge Aids in Hams Hall Demolition

- Advertisement -

In an industry-first, specialist contractors have utilised a floating bridge crafted entirely from standard scaffolding to complete the demolition of the Hams Hall Bridge over the River Tame in Birmingham.

Following a multiphase demolition project on the disused railway bridge by AR Demolition, the final phase required the brick pier in the middle of the river to be broken out and removed.ย 

To accomplish this, AR Demolition teamed up with the experts at ScaffFloat, a firm already reputed for guaranteeing a safe floating pathway after being involved during the primary bridge demolition phase.

The brief was to provide floating access for a 9t long reach machine to track out from the bank and remove the pier.ย 

The phase presented a myriad of challenges, including restricted river access and low-hanging power cables that ruled out the use of cranes for pontoon section placements. Undeterred, ScaffFloat brainstormed a revolutionary concept, which was later honed into a concrete design by engineers at Richter.

Paul Boddy of Richter elaborated on the collaboration’s depth:ย “We’ve worked with ScaffFloat over the last three years assisting with schemes for access, moving and storing materials, floating welfare facilities and lifting operations. With this buildup of knowledge and expertise, we had the confidence to help Toby with this next logical way of using ScaffFloat for plant operations.”

The design underwent a meticulous Cat 2 check to validate its structure, buoyancy, stability, and minimum freeboard. The resultant modular pontoon boasted three distinct modules, each 8m in length and 4m in breadth, meticulously crafted using 450mm lattice beams, 13ft scaffold tubes, and 0.5m^3 ScaffFloats. Their relatively lightweight nature at 1.2 tons per module permitted an effortless launch using a 20t swing shovel. Once launched, the modules combined to form the main body of the floating bridge, further fortified with a layer of scaffold boards.

In an industry-first, specialist contractors have utilised a floating bridge crafted entirely from standard scaffolding to complete the demolition of the Hams Hall Bridge over the River Tame in Birmingham.In an industry-first, specialist contractors have utilised a floating bridge crafted entirely from standard scaffolding to complete the demolition of the Hams Hall Bridge over the River Tame in Birmingham.

The Contracts Director of Midlands Scaffolding, Ben Ekins said,ย “We have been providing scaffold access on the Hams Hall demolition project from the start. We are always trying to come up with innovative solutions to our customers’ problems, and it was great to be able to help solve the last piece in the puzzle by building a floating bridge from scaffold for the pier removal.”

Nathan Taylor, the vigilant Project Manager at AR Demolition, commended the spirit of innovation that permeated the Hams Hall project, saying,ย “Innovating to provide the right solution is what we do, and working with ScaffFloat at Hams Hall has ensured we delivered a workable solution in challenging conditions.”

This landmark achievement not only sets a high standard for future demolition projects but also highlights the boundless possibilities of scaffolding innovations in modern construction.

- Advertisement -

Popular Categories

Most Read >

Game changing UK-First in Scaffolding Innovation under the Forth Road Bridgeย 

Layher pioneers its advanced cantilever technique with Hardrock Scaffolding...

SMART Scaffolder to unveil new mobile app at ScaffEx25

SMART Scaffolder will launch its latest mobile app, SMART...

Scaffolding design platform ScaffPlan to feature at Trimble event

ScaffPlan, the scaffolding design and management platform, is set...

Scaffolders Could Down Tools in Heatwave Under New HSE Proposals

Scaffolders could be given the right to stop work...

Scaffolders take on 50-mile run to help colleagueโ€™s baby daughter

Two scaffolders from Northamptonshire are preparing to run an...
- Advertisements -

Related Articles >

ScaffFloat Delivers Floating Scaffold Platform for Safer Pier Work in Teesside

ScaffFloat has deployed an innovative floating platform in Teesside to support complex pier maintenance work, enhancing both safety and efficiency for scaffolders working over water. The specialist access firm partnered with industrial services provider...

Latest Topics

Shaun Ryder tipped as VIP guest at ScaffEx25 awards

Musician Shaun Ryder is rumoured to be among the...

Leachโ€™s secures exclusive deal to supply Staht Digital Pull Testers to Scaffolders

Leachโ€™s has signed an exclusive agreement to supply Stahtโ€™s...

Game changing UK-First in Scaffolding Innovation under the Forth Road Bridgeย 

Layher pioneers its advanced cantilever technique with Hardrock Scaffolding...

Scaffolders take on 50-mile run to help colleagueโ€™s baby daughter

Two scaffolders from Northamptonshire are preparing to run an...
- Advertisement -