Introduction
Network Rail’s largest engineering works depot is housed at Holgate, in York. This massive depot includes a 12-acre maintenance building. Here, Network rail houses equipment, Workshops, sidings cranes and switches. Specialist trains are prepared, maintained and serviced in the facility.
Triflex provided expertise and a heavy-duty industrial floor, capable of withstanding the rigours of heavy equipment for years to come.
The challenge
The industrial flooring of the existing steel framed buildings comprised of either bare concrete, or concrete that had previously been coated. Areas had become worn and delaminated, leaving the exposed concrete unprotected.
Used to undertake heavy industrial activities, the sheds house various heavy plant with large forklift trucks and cherry pickers trafficking the surface. The concrete slabs also have rails within the structure for movement of machinery across the areas. This meant that some areas of the concrete slabs were identified as being contaminated with oils, chemicals and rubber tyre markings.
Network Rail required refurbishment of the industrial floor, with a capability to withstand the rigours of heavy industrial equipment. In addition, a high level of slip resistance (high PTV) and robust demarcation, capable of performing well under heavy vehicular access, was a must.
This busy, large engineering works required a fully tested and certified system with minimum disruption to site operations.
The solution
Originally developed for the high traffic and demands of the car park, the Triflex DeckDefence Eco is tough, durable and offers high levels of chemical and mechanical resistance. Ideally suited for the protection of concrete, the system comprises of a self-priming waterproof coating layer with a rapid curing PMMA finish.
The existing concrete floor was assessed by Triflex experienced technicians. Full dolly testing, sample installations and additional PTV and anti-skid tests were completed in sample areas to ascertain the preparation, adhesion, and appropriate finish of the Triflex system to the concrete substrate. With a heavy industrial application, Network Rail wanted to assess the properties of different types of quartz sizes in situ. Following testing the Triflex DeckDefence Eco was specified, with a 0.4/0.8mm Quartz for high slip resistance.
Some repairs to the concrete base were undertaken, which included a number of local new slab area installations and enclosed shot blasting to renew the face of a few existing concrete areas. In addition, some levelling and scathing of the lineal areas was achieved using Triflex PMMA repair mortars. Triflex PMMA based mortars rapidly cure within an hour, meaning that the demanding schedule was readily achieved.
Following preparation to the concrete substrate, The Triflex DeckDefence Eco protection system was rapidly installed. The simple two-stage application provided a cost effective and rapid programme of works. The Triflex DeckDefence Eco system includes a self-priming waterproof layer which cured in around 12 hours, with the PMMA based Cryl finish ultra-rapidly curing within an hour. Available in a full range of colour ways, the chosen finish was Slate grey, with Dusty grey colour way areas. The demarcations were completed in Traffic yellow for high impact demarcation.
As the system is resistant to chlorides, carbon dioxide ingress, petrol, diesel, brake fluid, engine oil, battery acid, and de-icing and cleaning products, the heavy-duty industrial floor will be robust and durable throughout its lifetime.
Triflex work closely with authorised contractors to provide high levels of technical support and assistance. The project at Holgate engineering works was supported at regular intervals throughout the project, and was installed to the highest standards by Mike Thelwell Flooring Ltd. Network Rail were able to rapidly resume operations in the busy engineering works.
