Renovation of Historic Buildings Challenge Scaffolding and Formwork
Date: 22 June 2015
WEISSENHORN/GERMANY, June 8, 2015 – Renovation or construction work on existing buildings offers great challenges for the stakeholders. Formwork and scaffolding technology provider Peri offers unique solutions for different situations in order to address these challenges.
Nature and diverse number of tasks involved in modernization and renovation work in existing buildings pose a number of challenges to construction companies. In such structures, work is carried out in very confined spaces within the existing structures, which in turn increases the risk potential. Hardly any space is available for the installation of equipment as well as material storage, and there is no possibility to use heavy cranes. In order to be able to work quickly even in such cramped conditions, the equipment used should be easy to install and move, preferably by hand. As a rule, one needs supporting formwork concepts and working platforms, which are adapted specifically to suit all geometric and structural requirements. Peri claims that systems provided by the company can be tailored according to requirements in order to "fit like a glove" in such situations.
The Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe, which is currently undergoing extensive restoration work is benefiting from Peri’s Expertise. | photo: Peri
New sites bring on fresh challenges
During the renovation of a fire station in Paris, slabs with different thicknesses positioned at different heights in the building had to be realized – without the use of a crane. For this, Peri provided a very economical solution (Skydeck panel slab formwork), which allowed early striking and thus reduced material requirements on the construction site to an absolute minimum. The Skydeck elements are made of aluminum and have a maximum weight of 15 kg, allowing an installation by hand.
In another instance, during the renovation and modernization work at the west wing of the Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe, Peri engineers supported the complex museum reconstruction with a comprehensive formwork and scaffolding solution from a single source. A Variokit framework construction supported the historical west facade while the old wing behind this was demolished. A replacement tract was formed and concreted conforming with the highest architectural concrete demands poured – all this during normal business operations.
Adaptable for all requirements
Peri modular scaffolding with metric grid dimensions can be adjusted to accommodate large loads and the most complex geometries thus providing safe working scaffold for a wide range of tasks – whether the refurbishment of the Maritime Museum in Tallinn, Estonia, which is housed in a 100-year-old concrete domed structure from the Tsarist era, or for restoration of the Gothic-style St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, built in 1344.
Building work during ongoing operations
Public buildings, in particular, remain partly or completely open while measures are carried out which means short construction periods are required. In order to manage the high work rates and at the same time ensuring that no persons are put at risk, the systems must guarantee maximum safety. Thanks to a solution developed by Peri Canada engineers, one of the largest shopping malls in the country – the seven-storey Eaton Centre in Toronto – could be extensively modernized and still remain open for the complete two-year refurbishment period. After the fast and safe erection phase, the Peri Up Rosett scaffolding solution fitted the inside geometry of the centre like a second skin. Through the use of large advertising banners, this remained largely hidden from passers-by. By means of integrated working platforms and access points, all levels could be easily reached by the craftsmen to ensure fast and reliable realization of the tasks.