Vertical Nets Providing Innovative & Improved Site Protection for LT McGuinness
At SafeSmart Access we are always looking to innovate and help with better temporary work methodology. This was showcased on a recent project with LT McGuinness. Below we cover the Archives Building Project, the challenge LT McGuinness were facing, and how we worked with them to provide a solution using our Triple Layer Vertical Nets.
The Project: The New Archives NEW Zealand Building
Archives NZ are building a national facility in Wellington to house the country’s rapidly-growing archival collections. Archives New Zealand chief archivist Stephen Clarke said opportunities with the new facility were massive.
“It will ensure archives are kept in the most modern facilities for conservation and care. But the biggest opportunity will be for the public to have greater access to view the wide range of taonga we care for on their behalf.”
LT McGuinness were awarded the construction partners and the project is expected to be completed in 2026.
THe ChallenGE:
LT McGuinness needed a solution that prevented debris from blowing around inside the building as well as something that prevented debris and workers from falling outside the building during construction. While classic edge protection helps reduce falls, it did not solve the problem of debris being blown around each level. A netting solution would reduce the need for edge protection and protect falls of both tools and workers better than traditional 2 guardrail edge protection methods.
The SOlution:
When presented with this challenge SafeSmart looked at a few different options to provide full floor-to-floor protection. A vertical netting solution was the ideal application for the site.
SafeSmart used our Triple Layer Netting product as it could provide:
- Weather Protection
- Fall Protection
- Privacy
- Full Floor to Floor securement
Not only did the Triple Layer nets work perfectly on site, they were also the most cost-effective solution for the project.
The Triple Layer nets were used in multiple stages of the project from the jump-form as the building was being built to when the facade was being install on the outside of the building. The nets proved very easy to work around corners and other structures and were easy to fix and remove when the facade needed to go on.
The nets reduced the requirements of traditional edge protection in some areas of the building which saved significant costs. The nets also have wind properties and reduced the strong Wellington winds gusting through the site.
The Result
The Triple Layer Nets worked very well and secured the site. Reducing the amount of edge protection and providing full floor to floor protection was a game changer, in safety, efficiency and cost.
These Triple Layer Nets will be able to be used on future projects and they can be converted into a horizontal solution for voids such as a lift shaft or atriums.
