Basildon Test Report

The dynamic tests therefore demonstrated that the anchors induced plate action in the plank floors which supported the presence of the lateral connectivity assumed by SWK in justifying the stability of the dwellings with the anchors installed.

As a result of these tests, and trials conducted by SWK to assess the reliability of the installation method, the whole estate of HSSB housing was strengthened using the anchor system without the need to decant the occupants.

Further Collaborative Test Programme Conducted by BRE

Background

When the strengthening work was completed on the estate an opportunity was available to conduct further testing and research on the anchor system which would enable its effectiveness to be measured right up to failure of the floors and roofs and its influence on the structures' post failure behaviour to be evaluated qualitatively.

The dynamic testing had not used all the resources set aside for testing the effectiveness of the strengthening system and as a result the Commission for the New Towns, who have responsibility for the dwellings, gave permission and support for SWK to conduct some additional testing. This was to be undertaken as part of a demolition scheme for the three dwellings which were no longer required.

SWK approached BRE with proposals with a view to commissioning a test programme.

On consideration of the SWK proposals it was clear that although BRE could devise and execute a test programme to provide the assessment an opportunity existed to demonstrate a much wider capability of the anchor system. If this proved successful it would provide building owners with an effective additional method of strengthening against loading conditions such as gas explosions, progressive collapse etc., in high rise construction.

In view of this potential the DOE (Building Regulation Division and Housing Directorates) agreed to fund some additional testing to investigate the possible wider applications. With the additional DOE funding, the SWK commission and a contribution from Cavity Lock, BRE put forward a proposal for a range of tests to evaluate the influence of the anchors on the structural behaviour of the dwellings from the elastic range through to collapse.

CINTEC, CINTEC MC Systems, Presstec and Archtec are all Registered Trade Marks, Copyright Š1996-2002