Glulam timber
Written on Tuesday 9th of February 2010
Project: Timber condition Glaxo Bridge, Ware, Hertfordshire
Engineers: Mouchel
Client: Topbond PLC
Exposure Surveying Ltd have recently completed a Timber Condition Assessment of a glue laminated footbridge over the River Lea, Ware, Hertfordshire.
The footbridge has been in service since the 1980’s, constructed using glue laminated strips of Iroko.
Timbers were assessed using ultrasonic and microdrill non-destructive testing equipment to evaluate the sub-surface condition of the timber components.
A pontoon was used to assess the parts of the footbridge that spanned the canal, providing good access to the underside of the structure.
The structure was in a serviceable condition, but localised areas of fungal decay were found throughout the structure that would require targeted repairs.
The inspection conclude that some works required immediate attention.
Our recommendations for the repair of the footbridge were mindful of the environmentally sensitive nature of the project with its close proximity to the watercourse.
Ultrasonic decay detection (UDD) equipment quickly evaluates sub-surface decay of large areas of timber.
The non-destructive technique of micro-drilling is carried out to quantify the extent of subsurface decay.