The high load capacity of the RMD KWIKFORM Megashor shoring system was the deciding factor in its being chosen for the façade retention at the Old Post Office redevelopment site in Newport, Gwent.

Megashor's 1,000kN leg capacity meant that the number of legs used in the construction of the restraint towers could be greatly reduced, when compared with other façade retention systems. This allowed the legs to be positioned outside a 3.6 metre working envelope of a major telecommunications duct that housed sophisticated and expensive fibre optic communications equipment. It also significantly cut the overall cost of the façade retention.

The Megashor towers were 14.85 metres high and each comprised four Megashor legs. Vertical RMD KWIKFORM Super Slim Soldier horizontal ledgers were located every 2.7 metres to 2.9 metres and the towers were tension braced with flat sections.

The Towers were fixed to Super Slim Soldiers, which ran horizontally on both sides of the façade wall. These were fixed to each other using 1.75 metre long Rapid Tie bars with hexagonal nuts that, wherever possible, were positioned at window openings. Either three or four horizontal sections of Super Slim Soldiers were used, depending on the number of floors in the part of the building being retained. Typically these transferred horizontal loads of between 1.50kN/m to 3.5kN/m.

The façade retention erection was carried out by A B Demolition (SW) Limited and the consulting engineers for the project was Ove Arup and Partners. Brunswick Developments was the main contractor.

The Old Post Office redevelopment was another example of the high degree of flexibility that accounts for much of Megashor's popularity. Virtually any beam or column length can be assembled using standard, off-the-shelf components, plus an array of purpose designed accessories combine to ensure Megashor's suitability for heavy duty falsework applications, cofferdam work, bridge bearing replacement and façade retention.

Sophisticated Megashor travelling falsework was chosen for the construction of the arched soffit to the new 25 metre wide by 260 metre long single-span Bollin Tunnel – part of the second runway development at Manchester Airport. It was also utilised at the Canary Wharf Station in London.

 Go to Case studies

 Go to Case studies