Thames Barrier Case Study
The Thames Barrier gate survey and steel preservation project started during the Summer of 2005. The first phase of this project was investigation work to assess the extent of any coating breakdown on the outside and inside of the gates. Treatment was also carried out to areas of Foxtrot gate. These areas were Vacuum Blasted and Recoated whilst working off Rope access.
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Strada was contracted by Volker Stevin who were the Environment Agency's Main Contractor to reinstate the coating system after the destructive testing of the existing system and to carry out minor coating maintenance work to the exterior of Foxtrot Gate.
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Summer 2006 saw the project move forward with major coating works taking place to a number of the gates on both internal and external faces.
Foxtrot Gate Flat face
The works to Foxtrot gate involved the removal of the existing coating system by High pressure water jetting using the Limpet system - this operation was carried out by Rentajet. Strada was contracted to carry out minor Vacuum blasting works to inaccessible areas that the Limpet couldn’t get to. Finally once the surface preparation standard had been achieved, the Coating system was applied by Airless Spray using a 63:1 unit.
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All the works on Foxtrot gate were accessed by Cherry pickers, which were located on the barge. The works were programmed around the tidal conditions.
Falling Radial Gates
The other works during 2006 involved the FRG Gate arms and surface treatment to the internals which are due to be completed during the 2007 programme.
The gate arms specification is to Ultra High Pressure Water jetting by Rentajet to remove the existing coating system. Once all the coatings are removed, Strada then open flash blast using Garnet abrasive to achieve an SA2.5 standard, prior to applying the finishing coats. Personnel involved in the works to the internal FRGs were confined space trained holding CP1 certification.
The summer 2006 works were handed back to the client within the specified programme period with all supporting quality management records.