Transformation of a London landmark into the DfE's new head office
CLIENT: WILLMOTT DIXON PROJECT COMPLETION: JUNE 2018 LOCATION: OLD ADMIRALTY BUILDING The Old Admiralty Building is quite unique in structure. Asbestos had been mixed with clinker concrete to form the floors and a percentage of the walls within the building. Because of the abundance that was on the site at the time of construction, the same compound had been used for patch repairs, filling and structural bonding wherever required. This meant that the structure of the building could potentially contain asbestos containing materials literally anywhere, it was impossible to survey where all the asbestos was within the building. eBrit have been appointed by Willmott Dixon Interiors to carry out enabling works throughout the project. The works are undertaken using the following methods to ensure control measures are in place so as not to expose any site worker to asbestos.
Encapsulation Where clinker floors are exposed, eBrit Operatives spray ET150 paint generously in three coats, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next. This ensures that the raised floor contractors can attach their pedestals with resin whilst minimising the risk of exposure to asbestos
Chases All electrical chases are carried out within polythene enclosures placed under negative pressure. The wall chasers are fitted with a H type exhaust and surfactant and water is sprayed within the enclosure. Any exposed asbestos containing clinker is encapsulated with ET150 following completion of the chase. Chases are repaired and the surface is made smooth with Fosroc render in preparation for the setting of new conduit and back boxes Spaces for electrical boxes for new services are also formed within the enclosure using the same method
Fire Hearths Old fire hearths are saturated with a water and surfactant solution. An enclosure is formed around the hearth which is placed under negative pressure. The hearth is broken into four manageable pieces with the enclosure and wrapped in 1000 gauge polythene and sealed with cloth tape. The floor is now encapsulated with ET150 encapsulation paint to seal the exposed clinker where the hearth once sat
Drilling All drilling is carried out on site by eBrit Services using a shadow vacuum or local exhaust ventilation(LEV techniques). eBrit use a Hilti Chem Fix and Rod system which leave a threaded rod hanging from the ceiling so that ceiling fixing can commence without exposure to ACMs
Floor Penetrations eBrits Managing Director developed a new method for core drilling through floors to create holes for services. Bespoke Perspex domes were made that sat directly under a drilling rig. The domes had one hole for air intake and one for a H type exhaust. The ceiling below the penetration has a polythene shoot attached to it which leads to a wheelie bin placed on a scaffold tower. All dust is taken from the dome via the exhaust and any fragments fall directly into the asbestos bags lining the plastic bin. The result is a totally dustless method that has not seen any elevated fibre levels
01268 685886 www.ebritservices.co.uk