Barking High Rise - Gas Explosion Protection

The dangers of a gas explosion in high rise blocks are appreciated far more now, following the collapse of Ronan Point in London, than when many of the building were originally constructed. In acknowledging this inherent danger, Barking Council decided to reinforce the concrete end panels on a number of its high-rise properties. Gas meters located on the inside of the external end walls were a cause for concern as a gas leak is more likely at one of their pipe connections. In the worst case, an explosion could cause a 'house of cards' effect from a progressive collapse.

Cintec anchors provided a solution which fixed the external panels to one another and also to an inner wall via the insulation cavity of the hollow concrete flooring. Extensive insitu load testing on the 33.4mm diameter, 7000mm long stainless steel tube anchors proved a loading of 240kN was possible, more than double the 105kN required strength.

The smaller external load transfer anchors also performed well beyond their required parameters. The anchor ensemble was held together by a 250mm diameter plate welded to the external end of the tubular anchor. The inner end of the anchor was locked to the internal wall by means of a 1400mm long grout filled sock that expanded into the floor cavity beyond the diameter of the drill hole on both sides of the wall in order to provide the strong mechanical bond achieved in testing (see diagram right for full anchor ensemble). In all, several hundred Cintec anchors were installed by WT Specialists Ltd and the project was complete in 1996.