24 July 2019
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 | Big Foot Systems has supplied custom support for acoustic screening on the rooftop of a mixed-use development of luxury flats, offices and retail outlets at Hatton Wall in Holborn, London. The screening surrounds a group of condensers and associated plant on a PVC membrane and green roof which blocks plant noise from the surrounding private homes. |
The supports were designed to ensure the pressure exerted by their feet did not exceed the limit of the lightweight roof. Calculations were carried out to establish 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 then undertook a site survey and a 3D model of the roof and existing plant was created to aid in the design and drawing work. Big Foot Technical modified the initial design to work with all the existing plant and hatches on the roof. The allowable space for the support and the feet was limited, so the drawing supplied for install was highly detailed to ensure the installation was carried out seamlessly.
Ashley Simmans, Big Foot systems site engineer, said: “The normal ways of fixing screens to our supports had to be modified to allow the acoustic panels to fit. Normally, we would hang panels from our posts or A-frames but the weight and allowable space meant that this wouldn’t have worked. We designed and tested a new set of bracketry in coordination with 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.”
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 then undertook a site survey and a 3D model of the roof and existing plant was created to aid in the design and drawing work. Big Foot Technical modified the initial design to work with all the existing plant and hatches on the roof. The allowable space for the support and the feet was limited, so the drawing supplied for install was highly detailed to ensure the installation was carried out seamlessly.
Ashley Simmans, Big Foot systems site engineer, said: “The normal ways of fixing screens to our supports had to be modified to allow the acoustic panels to fit. Normally, we would hang panels from our posts or A-frames but the weight and allowable space meant that this wouldn’t have worked. We designed and tested a new set of bracketry in coordination with 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.”
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