06.11.2007

What a challenge

When Nottingham University started looking for access equipment to maintain the exterior of the library of the Sir Harry & Lady Djanogly Learning Resource Centre on its Jubilee Campus, the situation looked bleak.
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The Sir Harry & Lady Djanogly resource centre

The building is surrounded for most of its diameter by water, being in the middle of a lake. In addition the pathway around the building is only around two metres wide, but worse still the building slopes outwards at a steep angle as the walls spiral upwards.

As if this was not challenging enough, the narrow walkway has a wood decking surface and therefore has a severe weight restriction.

The severity of the buildings cantilever eliminated suspended platforms or scaffolding, while the width, work height and weight restrictions seemed to rule out any self propelled lifts.
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Here is how you gain access to the paintwork

Just as it looked like a special barge would be needed Central Access, taking careful measurements of the job, realised that one of the Niftylift HR15 articulated booms from its fleet would just fit into the space and reach the work. The building is 12 to 14 metres high, well within the HR15’s grasp.

Thick plywood sheets were also laid on the walkway to further reduce point loadings on the decking. The key to the Nifty’s ability to carry out the work was the length of its two risers (lower booms) which just allowed the machine to operate with the boom angled outwards over the water, allowing it to profile the sloping walls of the building.
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No room for error when driving, the Nifty just fits

Note: Before the eagle eyed among you call in, this is an application where the operators are better off not wearing a harness, as per IPAF guidance for working over water.

The building is highly unusual in that internally its single storey spirals upwards around the circumference of the building. It was designed by the architect Sir Michael Hopkins, and named after the philanthropists Sir Harry and Lady Djanogly who gave a significant contribution towards the cost of its construction.

Sir Harry is the father of Jonathan Djanogly the MP for Huntingdon