New precast beam from Akela Ground Engineering
Akela Ground Engineering have launched a precast concrete beam system they claim could dramatically speed up the delivery of new homes.
The ‘ABeam’ features a special mechanical pinned joint, allowing for prefabricated ground beams to be installed in a matter of hours.
By combining off-site fabrication, alignment, interlocking sections with secure fastening, the joint design ensures “a robust, reliable and efficient way to connect precast ground beams”, say Akela.
Following tests at Akela’s purpose-built facility at Thornliebank, it claims the ABeam offers housebuilders the potential to lay foundations for up to three plots per day.
Will Payne, general manager, Akela Ground Engineering, said: “After reviewing the precast ground beam options available on the market, we found many still had considerable downsides, the use of pile caps, in-situ concrete, and tie bars were common, this requires sequencing of works and could also be impacted by weather conditions, all of this leads to considerably longer installation times.
“Akela’s new ABeam precast system eliminates these issues and offers significant advantages in terms of construction installation, performance, and overall project quality.
“In addition to the significant time savings and efficiencies, our new ABeam system can be delivered using the same plant equipment for the installation process, with lighter bearing pressures from our JCB JX driven piling rigs.
“Using sustainable methods of production at our purpose-built facility and existing equipment for installation, we’re able to reduce our carbon footprint and offer developers a more modern and energy-efficient alternative to existing ground beam options. For example, with ABeam, clients will no longer need to install crane platforms or hard standings at their sites.”
Andy Borland, construction director at Bellway Homes, said: “Akela’s ABeam system has meant we were able to release plots to our wider teams a lot faster compared to other precast ground systems we have previously used. Our bricklayers were working on multiple plots within three days of pile installations, rather than taking over a week and relying on the weather.
“We also didn’t need to install any crane platforms as Akela used the same excavated plant for the entire installation process, saving us money on preparatory works that other precast ground beams systems require.”
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