Steel Sheet Pile Wall Replaces Gabion Wall in MOD/NHS Project Design
Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd has recently played its part in a project underpinned by a groundbreaking collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the NHS. It is also one that has been carried out in Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak’s constituency in North Yorkshire.
The project involves providing an integrated health facility for two ‘camps’ of patients – military personnel and their families and local residents living around the Catterick Garrison.
The Catterick Integrated Care Campus has been seven years in the making, with the vision being to serve those living both on and around the largest British army garrison in the world with integrated medical facilities. From under one roof, those in uniform, as well as everyday civilians, will access medical services, community services, mental health care and voluntary, community and social enterprise sector services.
A vibrant and state-of-the-art healthcare facility, with all of its treatment areas spanning out from a central atrium, will become a new health and wellbeing hub for the whole of Richmondshire, without impacting on existing services in Richmond. Those rurally based residents, who struggle to access required medical services for travel and location reasons, will now find it far easier and less time-consuming to do so.
Sheet piles for permanent retaining wall structure
Why Sheet Piling UK became involved in this project is down to the recognition, on the part of the principal contractor, Tilbury Douglas, of the numerous benefits to be had from using sheet piles within permanent retaining wall structures. Such was their belief in steel sheet piles for an earth-retaining structure of this kind, that they suggested a revision to the client’s original plan, which had involved the construction of a Gabion Wall.
Tilbury Douglas was keen to have value engineering at the heart of this project and did not believe that a traditional gravity wall would deliver that. This viewpoint was a particularly strong one because Tilbury Douglas had seen the benefits of sheet pile retaining walls on Sheet Piling UK projects, including the Durham Custody Suite project.
Value-engineering proposal approved and delivered
Sheet Piling UK’s in-house design team was asked to step in and, in just three weeks, produced a design proposal that demonstrated how better value could be delivered by switching to a sheet pile retaining wall. The cost, programme and other benefits were compelling, leading to the original concept design solution being amended and a sheet pile retaining wall specified.
This was installed by Sheet Piling UK in just one week, with 90 Emirates Steel EZ19-700 steel sheet piles drawn from the extensive UK stockholding that Sheet Piling UK maintains. This speedy access to sheet piles, from the largest stockholding in the country, kept the project within required timelines specified by the critical path.
Pre-auguring of the pile line needed to take place, due to ground conditions. An ABI telescopic leader rig fitted with a vibratory hammer, installed the sheet piles. The rig was assisted by a service crane, which unloaded, handled and pitched the sheet piles.
Advantages of steel sheet pile wall over Gabion wall
The permanent retaining wall will provide both stability and longevity in a way that a Gabion Wall may not have done. The latter has a life expectancy of between 10 and 75 years, depending on location and other factors. A steel sheet pile wall can be expected to last at least 100 years.
Furthermore, it is a more cost-effective solution and is not prone to collapse, like a Gabion Wall, in which the filling of wire baskets has to be adequate, to prevent voids promoting the soil erosion that can weaken the structure. Stresses in the wall can also be caused by uneven settlement of the foundation. Other issues include the wire mesh of the baskets being prone to erosion and the build-up of hydrostatic pressures, if there is no sufficient back drainage. This too can cause damaging wall failure.
Contrast this with a steel sheet pile wall, which is stable, durable and which can also be made aesthetically attractive and the benefits are clear, particularly when cost and lifespan are also factored in. Add ease and speed of installation into the thinking and there are very many ticks that suggest that sheet piles are a much preferable solution for a temporary or permanent retaining wall structure.
Plans for a camp at Catterick were first mooted by Baden Powell, 100 years ago. The new sheet pile retaining wall should be in existence for at least that length of time, preventing any negative impacts on any other structures or facilities at the new Catterick Integrated Care Campus.
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Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is one of the UK's leading piling contractors. Owning and operating a comprehensive range of specialist piling equipment Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd also carry extensive stocks of new and used piles enabling rapid reaction to any urgent requirements or emergency situations.