New steel railings for the BSI
Project surveyors: Kirsop
Name of fabricator: Claydon Architectural Metalwork
Galvanized by: Joseph Ash Galvanizing
End client: British Standards Institute
Finish provided: Hot dip galvanizing and powder coating
Size and amount of steel: 82 linear metres in length, approximately 900mm high and weighing just under two tonnes.
Project goals
In 2014 the BSI required some steel railings outside their building in Hertfordshire as part of larger refurbishment works on the whole building. They engaged Kirsop as the project surveyors, who then engaged Claydon Architectural Metalwork (CAM) for the railings design, build and installation.
Producing any of kind of project for the British Standards Institute is a daunting task, because of the very nature of their work. As one of the world’s largest independent certification bodies for management systems, with over 120,000 registered sites across the globe, the BSI has very high standards to meet!
What happened
CAM was approached by Kirsop, the project surveyors, to design the new front elevation railings for the BSI building. CAM was happy to take on the project and they chose Joseph Ash Galvanizing to provide the finishing treatments: a duplex coating consisting of hot dip galvanizing and powder coating.
Kirsop asked CAM to design and build the new railings in early 2014. By June the railings were fabricated, at which point they were collected by trucks from Joseph Ash Medway, driven to Sittingbourne (where the plant is based) and prepared for treatment.
The railings have to last a long time, remaining attractive and protected from corrosion and rust. With this in mind Joseph Ash Medway treated the steel with a duplex coating consisting of a galvanized substrate plus a powder coated finish.
Once the steel had been treated, Joseph Ash Medway delivered it back to Claydon’s site in Suffolk, ready to be installed at the BSI.
Materials and size
The railings are made from steel and measure 82 linear metres in length and stand approximately 900mm high on top of the existing wall at the front entrance to the building. The steel weighed just under two tonnes.
Outcome
The railings have been standing outside the BSI building for six years and they look great.
Both CAM and Joseph Ash Galvanizing were very pleased with the railings and work well together as a team.
Claire Rycraft, from CAM said: “As a company it is important for us to adhere to all the required BSI standards when completing work for customers – not just the British Standards Institute! Because of this, we choose suppliers to help us complete projects that also adhere to important standards. Joseph Ash Galvanizing is one such company and we have a great deal of confidence in their work.”
Next pageGalvanized by: Joseph Ash Walsall
End client: Cannock Bowling Club
Finish provided: Shot blasting, hot dip galvanizing and powder coating
Size and amount of steel: 1 tonne
Project goals
Cannock Bowling Green, which dates to 1760 and sits in the centre of Cannock Town Centre in Staffordshire, wanted to refurbish the steel fencing, surrounding its Green. Joseph Ash Walsall was pleased to help with the project.
What happened
Cannock Bowling Green sits in the centre of Cannock Town Centre in Staffordshire and dates to 1760. Its members include people from the local community, some of whom have been enjoying everything the Club offers since the 1970s.
Members take pride in the green and decided it was time to repaint the railings surrounding the Club. The Bowling Club Committee originally obtained quotes to have the railings sanded down and repainted, however the Walsall plant of Joseph Ash Galvanizing suggested an alternative solution involving shot blasting, hot dip galvanizing and powder coating, to protect the steel and avoid further expensive maintenance expenditure for many years.
Stan Williams, a life Honorary Member of the Club, and former MD and Chairman of two galvanizing plants in Walsall and Netherton, was an advocate for a full treatment as he knows the benefits that hot dip galvanizing and powder coating can bring.
As well as providing shot blasting, hot dip galvanizing and powder coating, Joseph Ash also offered to provide the transportation for the steel – weighing in at about 1 tonne – as part of their competitive quotation.
For Joseph Ash Walsall to treat the steel, the heavy panels had to be cut free from the wall surrounding the Green, taken away for processing, and refitted to the wall.
President of the Bowling Club, Tony Rose, purchased the necessary tools to free the panels and new galvanized bolts to replace the rusty old bolts which snapped because, for decades, they had been painted over several times.
Permission was also obtained from Staffs County Council for Joseph Ash Walsall to park their lorry alongside the Green in the pedestrianised area to load and unload the material.
Arrangements were also made for enough strong members of the Club to be available to help the Joseph Ash Walsall driver lift the panels from the Green onto the vehicle for processing at the Joseph Ash Walsall plant.
Outcome
The local Conduit Trust offered a grant of £1,000 towards the overall cost of the project, and with a contribution of expertise from some members, the club funds and the cooperation of the Joseph Ash Walsall, the project was successfully completed.
The tips of the black panels were even been painted gold to match similar fencing around the town which is maintained by Cannock Council.
The green is an attractive area in the town, creating a pleasant ambience where the public can see over the wall or can enjoy a peaceful rest on the ancient snake benches when members are playing bowls.
The team at Joseph Ash Walsall enjoyed working on this project and were delighted to see how stunning the newly refurbished railings look in the centre of Cannock.
Next pageConstruction and engineering: W.S. Atkins
Name of fabricator: Claydon Architectural Metalwork
Galvanized by: Joseph Ash Galvanizing
End client: Medway Council
Finish provided: Hot dip galvanizing and powder coating
Size and amount of steel: 300 metres of railings
Project goals
As part of the first phase of a £1 billion regeneration scheme of the Medway Towns in Kent in the early part of the 21st century, more than 300 metres of bespoke railings were required along Strood Waterfront.
What happened
Appointed by main contractor W.S. Atkins on behalf of Medway Council, bespoke architectural metalwork specialists Claydon Architectural Metalwork designed and installed a new railing system that would run alongside the redeveloped riverfront and around a play area in Watermill Gardens.
Phil Pizey, Owner of Claydon Architectural Metalwork said:” We designed and installed over 300 metres of railings on Strood Waterfront, all of which needed to be galvanized and powder coated. For this, we turned to the unrivalled quality and service of Joseph Ash Medway,”
Joseph Ash Medway applied its hot dip galvanizing techniques, followed by a matt blue powder coating finish to the new metalwork. Hot dip galvanizing provides a tough, long lasting finish which, when combined with powder coating, offers an aesthetic, colourful and durable coating that will last for many years.
Operating to stringent quality control processes and fully accredited to all the latest BS and ISO standards, the galvanizing process provides at least 25 years’ worth of corrosion protection often considerably more.
Outcome
The stunning blue railings were installed along Strood Waterfront in 2001.
As the redevelopment of Medway Towns has taken shape in the last 20 years, the regeneration of Strood Waterfront and its extensive riverside railing system will continue to look its best for many years to come.
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