ESDEP WG 3
FABRICATION AND ERECTION
To give guidance on site welding and to discuss the operation of Quality Control and Safety Procedures on site.
Lecture 3.2.1: Erection I
Lecture 3.2.2: Erection II
The following lectures might be helpful:
Lectures 3.1: General Fabrication of Steel Structures
Lecture 3.3: Principles of Welding
Lecture 3.4: Welding Processes
Lecture 3.5: Fabrication/Erection of Buildings
Lecture 15A.8: Offshore: Fabrication
Lecture 15B.12: Introduction to Bridge Construction
The lecture deals with the planning and careful preparation required for site welding; it also discusses the requirements of a Quality Control Programme and gives guidelines for improving site safety.
Lecture 3.2.2 discusses, in detail, the technical aspects of steelwork erection including the requirements for bolted connections. In some cases it may not be possible to use bolts and site welding may then be necessary. Where welding is used careful pre-planning is required, as outlined in Section 2 below.
It is always necessary to have quality control and safety procedures in force on site to ensure the successful completion of the project with minimum risk to the workforce. This lecture discusses these matters in detail, outlining the basis for a Quality Control Programme and giving guidelines on how risk to the workforce may be minimised.
It should be the aim of the designer to ensure that site connections are bolted wherever possible. There will be occasions, however, when site welding is necessary. In such cases, careful pre-planning will be required as follows:
The Quality Assurance Manual defines the appropriate procedures required to ensure that the finished product is up to specification. The staff responsible for the erection must be informed of all the variables affecting the quality of the assembly, so that they can be monitored.
The Quality Control Programme is the particular programme, that has been specifically written for the job in hand.
It is based on the following:
The Quality Control Programme will consist of:
The Inspection Programme is based on the erection plan and is complemented by written procedures and points of inspection. Its aim is to ensure good standards of workmanship.
It may incorporate the following:
welding
heat-treatment
non-destructive testing
alignment and plumbing
tolerances
HSFG bolting.
By its very nature, erection of a structural frame is a process involving a certain amount of risk. The work is carried out at height and, until it has progressed to a certain point, there is nothing to which a safe working platform can be attached. In fact, it is true to say that the process of establishing a safe working platform can be as hazardous as the erection process itself; a possible solution may be to provide mobile access platforms if ground conditions permit.
The object of a Safety Procedure is to ensure that everything possible is done to eliminate the risk of an accident. In order to achieve this objective the following procedures should be adopted:
The work should be organised so that as little as possible is done at height. The danger can be minimised as follows:
× by the use of sub-assembly techniques.
× by fixing ladders and working platforms onto the steelwork before it is lifted into place.
× by the early provision of horizontal access walkways.
× by the provision of temporary staircases or hoists, where appropriate.
× Splices should be positioned to give simple site connections, bearing in mind that these may have to be connected at height.
× Lifting cleats and connections for heavy and complex components should be incorporated, as far as possible, in the fabricated elements to be connected.
× Consideration should be given, at design stage, to incorporating cleats, brackets or holes in the fabrication to facilitate fixing of safety belts, safety nets and working platforms.