Altrad RMD Kwikform introduces a pioneering tool to mitigate thermal loading in construction props.
- The Tubeshor Active Thermal Compensator reduces thermal loading by up to 90%, enhancing efficiency.
- Altrad’s hybrid hydraulic shoring system accommodates various shoring requirements with innovative thermal compensation.
- The new compensator aligns with updated industry standards addressing thermal challenges in construction.
- This advancement promises to optimize resource use, decrease costs, and lower environmental impact.
The construction industry is witnessing a significant advancement with Altrad RMD Kwikform’s introduction of the Tubeshor Active Thermal Compensator (ATC), a breakthrough solution designed to address the challenges posed by thermal loading in construction props. By reducing thermal loading by up to 90% compared to traditional mechanically locked-off props, this innovation significantly enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of construction processes.
The ATC, an accessory to the Tubeshor system, accommodates a range of shoring duties, acting as an essential solution for large excavation projects. As an evolution of the Tubeshor system, it incorporates a 450-tonne hydraulic cylinder coupled with a bladder accumulator. This system is pressurised before dispatch to suit specific geographical load designs. Consequently, the compensator allows for standard prop installations and leverages existing end-fittings, ensuring seamless integration and maintaining operational consistency.
The ATC’s technology is activated during temperature fluctuations that induce thermal expansion in the props. Compressed nitrogen within the bladder accumulator responds to such expansion by reducing prop stiffness, which prevents the usual load increase that results from expansion. Ian Fryer, Altrad RMD Kwikform’s Global Product Innovation Director, explains that this compensator effectively mitigates the substantial axial load changes experienced due to varying temperatures, an innovative approach that challenges historical practices in the UK.
In light of updated industry standards that increasingly consider solar gain and other temperature extremes, the design thermal range can exceed 35°C. Such conditions can cause thermal loading to consume up to 50% of a prop’s axial load capacity, necessitating more robust or extra props, which traditionally increase both the cost and space requirements of construction projects. The Tubeshor ATC counters these challenges, ultimately providing a cost-effective and space-efficient solution that reduces the carbon footprint associated with construction activities.
The advent of this compensator is timely, addressing ecological and economic concerns in construction. By mitigating thermal impacts, it promises reduced equipment costs, lower transportation requirements, and a significant decrease in the carbon emissions associated with heavyweight plant and enhanced labour demands.
This innovation marks a substantial leap forward in addressing thermal loading challenges in construction, optimising efficiency and sustainability.
