The Hilton Hotel in Kingston upon Thames is undergoing major cladding remediation works to meet updated fire safety standards, with a blended scaffolding solution from PERI playing a key role in the project’s safe and efficient delivery.
Main contractor Hamilton specified a system scaffold from the outset to create a safer working environment and support a tight programme schedule. Assemble Scaffolding, the E&D specialist for the project, selected PERI UP Easy as the primary system due to its fast installation and built-in safety features.
The system’s integrated guardrail hook allows advanced fall protection to be installed from the level below, while its lightweight standards reduce manual handling risks. The modular build sequence also supports faster assembly, helping the team maintain progress across the hotel’s seven-storey façade.
One of the most complex aspects of the job involved maintaining guest access through the hotel’s main entrance, where the scaffold could not be grounded. Design engineers at Prime Scaffold and Structural Designs (PSD) developed a bespoke solution to redistribute loads through bracing at each lift, transferring weight into adjacent standards.
For the first lift, engineers combined PERI UP Easy with Flex components to create the necessary clearance. This allowed subsequent two-metre Easy lifts to be safely installed around the rest of the structure.
A hybrid approach was also adopted at the rear of the building, where air vents and shafts had to remain accessible. Here, PERI UP was combined with traditional tube-and-fitting beams to maintain continuous access while spanning the obstacles.
Thomas Bellis, Design Manager and Senior Scaffold Design Engineer at PSD, said the project demonstrated the versatility and engineering advantages of the PERI UP Easy system.
“The system’s wide range of compatible components enabled us to develop a scaffold layout that was not only structurally robust but also efficient to configure around the changing building profile,” he explained. “We were able to adapt quickly to evolving requirements without compromising safety or buildability.”
The project highlights how modern system scaffolding can combine modular design with adaptable engineering to meet the challenges of complex refurbishment work while maintaining full site safety and operational access.
