THE Caretaker enclosure system developed by Designer Composites Technology has been designed to provide secure, permanent access to bridge undersides for inspection and maintenance. Fitted to road bridges over Railtrack routes at Bromley South and near the western entrance to the Severn Tunnel, the Caretaker enclosures remove the need for rail services to be interrupted for the use of traditional access equipment.
In the Caretaker system, a structural floor is suspended from the soffit of a steel or concrete bridge, with floor and side membranes formed from lightweight composite materials. In addition to providing easy access for inspection and maintenance, the enclosure protects the underside of the bridge. Monitoring of a road bridge installation in northeast England revealed that the corrosion rate of painted steelwork was reduced to between 2 and 10% of the rate outside following the installation of a Caretaker enclosure.
Designer Composites Technology LtdGreat Britain
Reader Enquiry Number 142
