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Concrete, Cement, Admixtures
News Release from: Milbury Systems | Subject: Karapace concrete retaining structure
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 December 2006
Milbury Karapace concrete retaining
system
In the first installation of its kind, Milbury System's Karapace concrete retaining structure will form the foundation of a large steel framed building at Sharneyford Works, Todmorden.
In the first installation of its kind, Milbury System's Karapace concrete retaining structure will form the foundation of a large steel framed building at Sharneyford Works, Todmorden, on the West Yorkshire Moors Formerly a maggot farm, the site is currently being redeveloped by TEG Environmental plc as a waste composting plant
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 13 Apr 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Karapace which was introduced this year by concrete engineering specialist, Milbury Systems, comprises two differently shaped units which fit together to form a strong and effective retaining construction suitable for a wide variety of applications in all types of environments where strength and durability are critical factors.
The Sharneyford Works project is the first time that the system has been used as part of the foundation for a building, comprising a wall of 70 metres at 3.6 metres high and 72 metres at 2.4 metres high, which effectively tiers the levels on site.
This is also the first construction where Karapace has been installed to form a wall three units high.
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"It was speed of installation which interested us in exploring the possibility of using the Karapace precast concrete system", commented Peter Lodge, consulting engineer for contractors, Prinz .
"And the product certainly lived up to expectations with construction work set for completion three months earlier than schedule.
Each wall was erected in the space of just one week, which is much faster than constructing an in situ retaining wall." A feature of the system is its simplicity and the speed of installation, with no requirement for a foundation where soil conditions are suitable as the units can be laid directly onto a prepared substrate, preferably with a granular bed, to enable even bearing and fine levelling.
"Milbury specially modified the system to suit a standard 6 metre length as the Karapace units were used to form the foundation basis for the steel frame of the building", said Peter.
"Normally we would have to construct a reinforced concrete foundation for the portal but in this case we used concrete infill with the Karapace units which acts as the foundations to form the base of the portal frame.
A horizontal tie was provided between the portal legs to prevent the thrust affecting the wall.
"A budget was set for building the retaining walls and we were able to meet this because of the adaptability of Karapace" Peter confirmed.
"The units have worked very well and we are pleased with the result and the aesthetics of the building as we have actually turned the Karapace units around so that the castellated face is showing outwards, allowing us to fix tanking to the flat face".
"We adapted the Karapace system to fit the required lengths by installing a special wall between each unit", explained Brian Mees, sales director at Milbury Systems.
"These units are positioned at the base of the steel framed building, an unusual application which has never been done before.
We are very pleased with the results which demonstrates the adaptability and efficiency of the product".
Versatile and flexible in terms of deployment, freedom of design and "strength to size" ratio Karapace can be installed up to a height of 7 1/2 metres.
The units are designed to be loaded from either side and all parts of the system can be used either together or individually.
Another bonus of the system is that in its retaining wall applications it can be set up to offer a range of planters which are robust enough to be used for trees.
The first retaining wall to feature tree planting was installed two units high at a business park in Warwickshire and another two unit high version of the retaining wall is currently on site near Stoke on Trent.
Karapace is manufactured by Milbury at its precast concrete production facility in Lydney, Gloucestershire.
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