Is the Economy Starting to Improve?

Plate Bearing Test for Piling Rig Mat

OK we can’t really claim to be representative of the economy as a whole, but our recent workload suggests that construction activity is at last starting to pick up. In particular, our CBR and Plate Bearing teams have had their busiest month ever: in fact, they’ve been so busy that we have had to invest in more equipment to meet demand. We’re also seeing an upturn in demand for pile probing surveys which suggests that more constuction projects are getting into the ground. If you’d like to discuss your requirements for any of these services then please contact us here.

Subadra Complete New Fuel Storage Facility For Millenium Seedbank

This month saw us complete construction of a new fuel storage facility for Royal Botanic Gardens’ Millenium Seed Bank. A key aspect of the project was to ensure that the Seed bank was continuously supplied with fuel (used for heating greenhouses) as any protracted outage would have had dire consequences for the seeds. In the event the switchover was completed without a hitch.

Subadra were responsible for all the civils works (constructing the tank base and retaining walls, installing a dedicated drainage and spill capture system, electrical installation etc. Our partner, Vectec, were responsible for supplying and installing the tanks and associated pipework.

Contract Value: £50-100k

Foundations for Key City Data Centre

Whilst much of our work in carried out in the provinces we sometimes dabble with high finance in the City.

Subadra played a key role in the development of an £80 million multi-storey data centre facility in London’s docklands area. We were brought in at the inception of the project to carry out a geotechnical and environmental investigation to determine ground conditions.

Our investigation comprised a network of boreholes across the development area that were used to collect soil samples for analysis and groundwater and hazardous gas monitoring points.

The site was especially tricky geotechnically, comprising areas of in-filled docks, some highly contaminated and others containing very soft silts and clays.

We used the data to assist with foundation design and the classification of waste soil.

Contract value: £20-50k

CBR Testing for Highways

Our geotechnical site  teams have been kept busy this month carrying out in situ CBR testing for a major road development project in Essex. We have tested the density of the sub-base along the length of the highway extension, with each test accurately located using our Leica TotalStation surveying equipment.

Contract Value: <£10k.

For further information go to : CBR Testing or contact Duncan Eastland – 01296 739431