Construction
CWAI are chiefly bridge designers and manufacturers
We send out kits and assembled bridges for others to install
However our massively experienced team have built many bridges over decades and still occasionally build one today (they get bored very easily)
We offer the following thoughts
Building a bridge is not a small undertaking.
Foundations will be needed for the bridge to be fastened down to
Legal consents and approvals are usually required
There are ecological issues which are mandatory legal requirements and need to be addressed
When we take on a project we use the services of Donbass Limited. They secure the neccesary consents and manage the issues around Foundations
Once these demanding issues containing many potential pitfalls have been negotiated the question of Construction Management arises
A Risk Assessment is the starting point and a Method Statement follows. If a bridge is to be lifted in a Lift Plan is Best Pracrice .
Only then can work begin.
The CDM Regulations require certain minimum standards and set out in Codes which have the force of law how these Standard are to be observed
There is a Legal Duty of Care on The Employer. This is not widely understood.
The key point (but not the only one) is to appoint a Competent Contractor
Foundations
Bridges need foundations to be fixed to and to spread the weight of the bridge and its users into the ground efficiently
Foundations carry two loads.
The dead load is the weight of the bridge. This is usually spread equally between foundations
The Live Load is the load applied by its users
The Live Load is also spread equally between the foundations
These loads are combined to decide how wide the foundations need to be to spread them safely into the ground
There are very many considerations to be taken into account when making this decision
The Ground Conditions are critically important when making decisions about the foundations
These can be assessed by digging pits or in extreme cases by sinking bore holes, testing samples and calculating their strength
These processes are rarely iused when “Designing” small bridge foundations as the loads are so small.
Modest concrete pads are usually adequate but this is not always the case.
why choose countrywide access?
We use modern technology, but much prefer to discuss their projects with our clients.
Please call us on 01270 297 666 or email us at info@cwai.co.uk
Or complete the enquiry section of our website.