Archetech Issue 44 2019 | Page 97

BIG FOOT SYSTEMS SUPPLIES SUPPORT FOR ACOUSTIC SCREENING - HATTON WALL, LONDON Big Foot Systems has supplied custom support for acoustic screening on the rooftop of a development of luxury flats, offices and retail outlets at Hatton Wall in Holborn, London. The acoustic screening surrounds a group of condensers and plant on a PVC membrane and green roof which effectively blocks plant noise from the surrounding private homes. Big Foot’s technical team designed a system which would support the heavy acoustic screening using supports which were designed to ensure the pressure exerted by their feet did not exceed the limit of the lightweight roof. Calculations established the size of frame required and the number and size of foot bases in contact with the roof needed to ensure the cumulative weight was dispersed evenly over the roof area and was within workable loads of the roof build up. Dynamic forces were also taken into account as the structure had to withstand the high winds created due to funnelling by the surrounding buildings. The framework installed was therefore wider than the screens they supported, affording a greater degree of protection against ‘tipping’. Big Foot’s customised system proved the ideal solution, offering project specific non- penetrative support. “The normal ways of fixing screens to our supports had to be modified to allow the panels to fit. Normally, we would hang panels from our posts or A-frames but the weight and space meant that this wouldn’t have worked” explained Ashley Simmans, Big Foot Systems Site Engineer. “We designed and tested a new set of bracketry alongside contractor Bespoke Acoustic Solutions to allow the panels to sit on top of our supports which worked well. Installation was completed within a matter of days.” aspenpumps.com