Identifying quickly the source of the problem.

Safety of occupants working in the vicinity.

Determining what to do to ensure trading is not interrupted.

This building had suffered termite damage at one end of a timber rafter spanning 40m and had shown many signs of failure.

This beam, 10-15m above floor level and spanning 40m, had deflected far too much.

Siga identified the initial hazard and instructed that the beam was to be made safe immediately.

Providing a solution which was cost effective, could be implemented quickly in order to minimise disruption to tenants and suitable for the builder was imperative.

Siga provided the documentation of final solution and necessary site supervision for its implementation, including repositioning (lifting) of beam.

To determine what was causing the cracking and movement in the brickwork to the front façade and then determining whether it was from the foundation movement, wind loads, impact loads or otherwise.

Stopping further movement and maintenance expense.

Elimination of possible safety concerns associated with the instability.

Ensuring the owner, tenant and contractor would all work together to get the project completed properly and quickly.

Dealing with the unknowns of an existing structure. 

Priority was to stabilise the front façade to cope with normal wind loads and the loads from power lines.

Foundation movement was considered to not be a current contributing factor to the movement.

However, the unusual loads on the brickwork due to power lines was considered to be the main cause of the brickwork movement.

Site inspections, supervision, issue of instructions to ensure the above structural works were conducted in accordance with our specifications.

The key objective for this project was all about time, or lack of it. The design began in early May 2006 with construction being completed mid March 2007.

Typically projects like this involve a warehouse with a suspended concrete mezzanine. However, this project had some of the following requirements:

2 separate suspended concrete mezzanines and one additional internal mezzanine (3 total).

Suspended external concrete paving to minimise impact on nearby tree root systems.

Car repair facilities, changing what would ordinarily be concrete internal paving to providing access work pits, recessed concrete pits, grates and suspended concrete areas.

Site conditions weren’t exactly routine either. This site is near the water and adjacent to a low lying open drainage canal (which changes depth with the tides). 

Siga provided the design for the footings, internal and external floor slabs suspended concrete mezzanines, structural steel to the warehouse, mezzanine walls, roofs and storage mezzanine. We also provided site inspections and professional advice throughout the project.

 Screw piers ended up being used for the footings due to the softness of the soils.

Co-ordinating all the requirements for a construction certificate approved through council within time limits.

Preparation of all the structural details for construction.

Co-ordinating relevant works on site to ensure the job progressed well.

Avoiding headaches affecting the construction schedule.

Providing on site advice and organising of works to enable construction to be as seamless as possible.

Liaising with neighbouring owners to sort out how to deal with the over-excavation. We could not start until this was sorted out.

Providing the structural engineering details which we believe are to a standard amongst the best in Sydney to facilitate the construction.

The project is now complete where we facilitated completion including:
- Co-ordinating trades.
- Organising documents such as certificates and work as executed drawings.
- Final occupancy certificate from council.

Modernisation of 1970’s poorly maintained building.

Modifications to the existing building including removing portal columns, installing large trusses around the new manufacturing machinery.

Verifying the adequacy of structural steel frames, bracing and the remainder of the structure including footings.

Providing the basis for a work method statement and working load limit for the building.

Designing 18 metre trusses able to carry crane loads.

Cut existing portal frame columns out and suitably redesign structural frame.

Checking the existing building to make sure it can cope with the new working conditions and loads.

Finding out that the footings may not cope with our loads.

Determining the client’s requirements regarding loads, machinery, production and crane load needs.

Making sure the truss details were available for the work crew to manufacture and erect.

Co-ordinate & liaise for truss installation with footing upgrade requirements.

Specify a strategy for footing upgrades / in service testing as a result of site findings.

Working with client to ensure building structural adequacy will be verified by the time the workshop will be in full operation.

Ensuring that the new foundations blended with the existing buildings constraints.

Determining how to prepare the existing soils and concrete for the new slabs and the new machinery loads.

Making sure vibrations from a piece of key machinery was isolated. This required the construction of an isolated concrete plinth. 
 

Design and detailing of the plinth. (vibrationally isolated from the floor slab).

Design and detailing of the concrete floor slab to support the plinth.

Site inspections and certification to the structural steel reinforcement.

A very complicated tilt-up (in-situ precast concrete wall panels) development

Despite the property having no right angles, the challenge for the developer was to fully utilise the property

In addition, the longest boundary, being the rear boundary, was curved

Workshop detailing of the tilt-up panels – including lifting inserts

Structural steel roof framing

Concrete raft foundation

Concrete driveway pavement

Of great importance to this concrete batching plant was the maintenance and fine-tuning of these lime silos

Simplifying the maintenance procedure and improving safety

Installing safety rails, ladders and stairs in an area with many obstructions

Planning the details of each component to ensure proper installation 

The high location meant that installation needed to be quick and efficient, and that the components could be easily transported

Conducted the initial site inspection to discuss and check proposed design loads, supports and details

Reviewed workshop details, checking for structural adequacy

Certified structural adequacy of the design

After adhering to a number of constraints including truck turning circles and parking, the building size was maximized to approx. 900 square metres

The building was irregular in shape and required 3 different portal frame sizes to accommodate the structural steel design & fabrication requirements

The floor slab was cast over an existing concrete floor that was cheaper to construct over, than remove

Piers required drilling & pouring

Designed the foundation slab & piers

Designed the structural steel portal frames

Redesigned initial steel clad proposal for hebel precast panel wall cladding adopted 

Provided site inspections and certification for the foundation piers and steel reinforcement to the floor slab.

The need for tilt up panel construction to provide an economical and cost effective solution (to an extension with extensive fire requirements)

The requirement to match up with existing roof levels on two sides

The importance of avoiding disruption of production in the existing building

Designed piers to concrete raft slab

Design of concrete raft foundation slab

Design of concrete tilt up panels including lifting inserts

Design of structural steel to roof

Provision of site inspections to the piers, steel to raft slab and tilt up panels

This site had been well overdue for a facelift as the simple task of retrieving material meant driving a forklift on wet road base

The site had been used for storage of materials, without adequate paving

The storage space had become invaluable to the business functioning on neighbouring properties

Any improvements required council approval with the usual time consuming red tape before any work could be done

Organised a collaboration of consultants to provide the necessary details to gain council approval

Provided the structural design to the concrete paving

Provides the site inspections and certification for the structural steel