Two Scaffolding Association members team up to beat the tide on pier project

Audited Members of the Scaffolding Association, PL Scaffolding Solutions Ltd and TAD Scaffold Designs, who are Associate Members, have been working together to provide access for remedial works on the Victorian heritage landmark, Penarth Pier.

Penarth Pier originally opened in 1898 with the now Grade II listed Art Deco pavilion being built in 1929. It has gone through some major changes and challenges in its time and a structure of this age naturally requires remedial works.

Recently access was required to change a waste pipe from steal cast to plastic. This would have been a simple job, however the waste pipe that needed changing goes to the toilet block halfway along the pier, meaning the tides played a huge part in how the project could be achieved.

Robert Pearce, Director at TAD Scaffold Designs, explained:

“The biggest problem that we faced with this design was that we couldn’t quantify the tidal flow. Because we couldn’t calculate the pressure of the waves the scaffold had to be elevated above the predicted high tide line

FIND OUT MORE: for the specific time that it was going to be in place.

Therefore after a few site visits we came up with a bridged scaffold design that spanned the existing trestles of the pier.

It also meant that it had to be erected during a low tide period to ensure the tide wouldn’t breach the scaffold. Around the dates that were chosen to undertake the work the tide gave them an approximate window of 3 to 4 weeks to erect the scaffold, complete the required work and dismantle everything. This meant that we had to design a scaffold that was as streamlined as possible to make sure there was enough time for all that was necessary before the water levels rose again.”

Joshua Penberthy, Operations Director at PL

National Piers Society: www.piers.org.uk/piers/penarth

PL Scaffolding Solutions Ltd: www.linkedin.com/company/pl-scaffolding-solutions-ltd

TAD Scaffold Design: www.tad-designs.co.uk

Scaffolding Solutions, agreed that the tides created the biggest test:

“We had to work within the tidal times which was a big challenge, we had to check the times and work around them.

The streamline design meant we had it up in plenty of time to change the waste pipe and they also did some further testing to determine whether further work on the brackets, and possible strengthening works, are required. We have taken it down now as we could not leave it up past the window we had been originally given due to the tides.”

The pier remained open to the public at all times, including a very busy Bank Holiday, the PL team accommodated this by creating a handrail between the public and the works to ensure a safe environment for all.

Garyn Lucas, Director at PL Scaffolding, concluded:

“Seeing it complete was a proud a moment for us. As expected, this project threw plenty of challenges our way such as working to the tidal times and the pier remaining open to the public, but our dedicated team of scaffolders were not fazed by this and conducted themselves brilliantly once again. We would like to say a big thank you to TAD for their design input on this one once again and also to the Local Authority for continuing their trust in us.”