ALFIX MODUL MULTI 4.0 in use for scaffolding works at the uphill access road to Wolkenburg Castle
Innovative solutions were called for at the site of the road renewal and maintenance works at the uphill access road to Wolkenburg Castle in Limbach-Oberfrohna. The protected cultural heritage site that includes the castle park, church and a steeply sloping terrain presented particular challenges to the different trades. In order to ensure that the roadworks could be carried out safely, a reliable fall protection system had to be planned and installed along the entire length of the uphill access road to the castle.
The castle has an access road that runs for a distance of around 40 m between the neoclassical village church and the castle grounds. The road has a gradient of approximately 14 per cent and a difference in height of around 7 m which meant that the local conditions were anything but standard. As the construction works comprised the entire road surface, conventional solutions such as flat-roof side protection were ruled out already in the planning phase. Following joint consultation between all the trades involved, the decision was made to use the versatile and robust ALFIX MODUL MULTI 4.0 modular scaffolding system. Working closely together, the scaffolding contractor FÖRSTER GERÜSTBAU GmbH, the specialist trades involved and ALFIX GmbH developed a concept that optimally suited the project’s specific requirements. This collaborative coordination, right from the planning phase, made it possible to identify technical challenges at an early stage and implement solutions in a cost-effective and safe manner. The system proved particularly effective thanks to its high adaptability to complex site conditions and its ability to implement project-specific and practical safety structures. In combination with system-independent steel and aluminium lattice girders, a custom-fit fall protection system that adapted efficiently to the grounds was designed and implemented.
In order to transfer the horizontal guardrail forces and to ensure the required stability, support towers with base dimensions of 3.07 m × 2.57 m were erected at intervals of approximately 5 to 6 m. The tower heights ranged from 4.0 m to a height of up to 8.5 m, depending on the ground profile. Transverse lattice girders connected the towers to one another and completed the two-part side protection along the entire length of the construction site. Due to the at times considerable heights of the structures and the resulting leverage, some towers had to be additionally ballasted. This enabled creating a structure that allowed the trades involved to work productively and safely on the steeply sloping grounds. Furthermore, the structure proved to be particularly well-suited to the task: thanks to its robust design and the large number of lattice girders used, the different trades also used the scaffold as a temporary storage area for pallets containing tools and building materials.
The project in Wolkenburg clearly demonstrates the versatility of the ALFIX MODUL MULTI 4.0 scaffolding system. ALFIX MODUL MULTI 4.0 features the full range of possibilities of modern scaffolding construction, from facade scaffolding and complex industrial scaffolding right through to sophisticated load-bearing and support structures. Thanks to its well-designed modular system technology, high cost-effectiveness and ease of use, even exceptional requirements can be met safely and with maximum adaptability. The proven wedge-lock connection technology without time-consuming bolted connections ensures both form-fit and force-fit connections. At the heart of the system is the ALFIX connector disc (rosette), which is arranged at 0.5 m intervals and has eight connection options, allowing for maximum flexibility in all directions. Due to this metric system logic, working platform levels can be adapted almost freely and precisely to suit the specific requirements of each construction site – economically, fast and systematically. The system truly stands out on projects with complex floor plans, significant differences in height or special structural requirements. The project on the uphill access road to Wolkenburg Castle clearly shows that ALFIX MODUL MULTI 4.0 is not only suitable for traditional scaffolding applications, but can also be used as protective scaffolding for temporary construction structures. Compared with conventional timber formwork solutions, the system shines as a sustainable, reusable and cost-effective alternative.
Whilst a custom-fit solution was required for the uphill access road to Wolkenburg Castle, the scaffolding manufacturer ALFIX GmbH offers tried-and-tested system solutions for many standard applications as well. These include, in particular, the ALFIX flat roof side protection, which was designed specifically to provide safe fall protection on flat roofs (see advert). This solution stands out thanks to its flexible and ergonomic design, and because it is particularly easy and fast to assemble. The folding side protection allows for safe working on the entire roof eliminating the need to reposition safety elements which usually takes up a lot of time. Its low weight ensures it is easy to handle on site, whilst its robust and durable construction is designed for daily use. At the same time, the system offers excellent value for money and can be flexibly adapted to suit different needs. It can be extended whenever needed and is suitable for applications both with and without attics. The ALFIX flat roof side protection is approved for roof pitches of up to 5° and can be used at a maximum working height of 40 m above ground level. The maximum attic height is 0.35 m, allowing for a broad range of applications. The system is available as a complete unit, as an extension to an existing scaffolding or in other structures that combine system and system-independent parts, which ultimately provides additional flexibility at the construction site.
Whether used as a standard application or a custom-fit design, ALFIX system solutions can also handle the most demanding projects whilst remaining cost-effective, safe and durable.
Detailed information on the system solutions and technical data can be found on www.alfix-systems.com. Contact the ALFIX team via the contact form on the website for individual enquiries, technical advice or project support.