TNT Express, Dordon, Tamworth

TNT Express, Dordon, Tamworth

Client: TNT Express
Architect: Bowmer & Kirkland Ltd
Contractor: Atlas Ward
Value: £300,000 + VAT
Type of works: supply of a mezzanine floor, staircase and balustrade system.

RDA have always focused primarily on the construction industry client, serving leading main contractors and design and build specialists. This project was a classic example of perfect co-operation between sub-contract trades on a major new site.

TNT Express secured a long-term contract to store and distribute parts for automotive giant VW/Audi and required a new distribution centre to operate from. The unit at Dordon was designed and built by Bowmer & Kirkland with the three-level mezzanine structure main steel frame being constructed as part of the initial build by Atlas Ward.

RDA were invited to provide a complete decking and accessorising service to this basic structural frame, including deck support steelwork, high-density particle board decking, tower staircases, handrails and loading facilities.

The fire-engineering solution for this installation was unusual in that approval was granted for the three-tier mezzanine to be erected without fire protection to the soffits. Only the main steelwork was intumescent painted to one-hour degree.

To allow for smoke detection and dissipation, the mezzanine floor surface was constructed with large areas of open steel grate, inserted to sit level with the main surrounding timber deck. The steel grate areas were designed to flow in the designated storage racking access aisles and transverse gangways to ensure that they would never become covered or obscured

The design co-ordination and integration for this hybrid deck, and its interface with the following storage installation, was just about the most complicated ever done by RDA, particularly as the nature and extent of structural support required for the two-deck media was completely different, but had to work in the same plane and at the same level throughout.

Since this project, RDA have worked regularly with B & K on retail, industrial, production and distribution projects throughout the UK including the largest single RDA project undertaken to date at Next Distribution, Wath-Upon-Dearne. See separate case study for details.

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