A beautiful summer morning, a £30 million new build property and two lift shaft beams to proof load test, certainly not a standard site visit.
Our team was asked to attend an impressive new-build property in Leatherhead, Surrey, to carry out proof load testing on two lift shaft beams. The beams sat within a 10-bedroom guest and pool house forming part of the residential development.
After all, why use the stairs when you can install a lift?
Before the lift installation could progress, both beams needed to be tested to confirm that they could safely support their specified working loads.
Every proof load test requires careful planning, the correct equipment and a controlled method of applying and measuring the required load. On this occasion, the lift shaft beams were already installed within the building, so we needed to establish a secure reaction point below each beam to safely apply the test load without causing unnecessary damage or disruption to the surrounding property.
Given the exceptional standard of the new development, it was equally important that our engineer worked cleanly and carefully, leaving the area exactly as he had found it.
Our engineer arrived on site on a beautiful summer morning, signed in and completed all required site inductions, toolbox talks and safety procedures before being directed to the lift shaft.
Working to a method agreed in advance with the principal contractor, he installed concrete anchor points into the lift shaft pit floor to provide the secure reaction points needed to apply the test loads. Calibrated load-measuring equipment was then connected to each beam using suitable lifting slings and a lever hoist. The load was applied gradually and under control, allowing him to monitor and accurately record both the forces imposed on each beam and the deflection of each beam throughout the test.
Both beams were successfully tested to their required loads. Each was then marked with its own unique identification number and confirmed working load limit, giving the site clear identification and traceability for the life of the equipment.
Both lift shaft beams passed their proof load tests, allowing the lift installation to proceed as planned.
With testing complete, all tools, equipment and debris were removed from the lift shaft and the working area was thoroughly cleared and made good. The customer inspected and signed off the completed work, after which our engineer signed out and began the journey back to our workshop, dreaming, perhaps, of how the other half live.
Each beam was marked with its own unique identification number and confirmed working load limit, giving the site clear identification and traceability.
From inspection and testing to supply and bespoke engineering, our specialists keep operations lifting safely, nationwide across the UK.
