located directly below the membrane roof, meaning a crane could not be used to lift the roof into position. We worked with our engineers and rigging experts to design a complex and detailed lifting plan. The major constraints that impacted this lifting plan were: ● the only area available for laying and fitting out the fabric was the events plaza ● the membrane roof needed to be lifted vertically between 25 and 40 metres simultaneously from at least 10 points ● mobile crane access was only available for lifting two of the points at one end of the roof ● there was no access for cranes or access equipment to the events plaza area ● at all times during the lift, the membrane roof had to be able to shed water in case of rain, and ● the entire 3000-square metre canopy needed to be lifted and secured in one continuous process to ensure that it would not pond water or be damaged by winds. The lifting plan involved the following: ● five supervisors, five local riggers and 10 local labour ● all supervisors and crane operator connected via two-way radio ● one 200-tonne mobile crane connected to lift two points at one end of the membrane roof vertically, and up and over the innovation walkway ● 10 two-tonne electric chain motors with integrated control system, to simultaneously lift the 10 other points
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down either side of the membrane roof a two-stage rigging system devised using cable slings and a midpoint changeover rigging point, due to the chain motors only having 20 metres of chain, and ● each point changed over and rigged to shackles and slings for safety (not left on chain motors), once the membrane roof lifted into position. The lift ran smoothly and was completed in a period of 16 hours exactly as planned. Following the lift, the membrane roof was systematically tensioned to the side and end points using a combination of chain blocks and cable tifors. In order to tension the membrane to the correct fixing point design loads, final tension on the four main guy wires was completed using two 20-tonne hydraulic rams and pressure gauges. The initial tensioning of ●
the 3000-square metre roof was carried out over a period of eight days. The membrane was then further progressively tensioned over the next two weeks with the final tension on the main guy cables being completed using two of 20-tonne hydraulic rams with stress gauges, in order to monitor the tension forces needed for installation. Overall, this unique project was one of the most challenging that Fabritecture has encountered. The end result – very simple in form, yet highly complex in design at every stage. C For more information about this project, view this video: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Gz2j-BOCDxo For more information about Fabritecture, visit: www.fabritecture.com
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