HAKI provides sound weather protection for HPC pool bunker project

Representing a significant milestone in the UK’s nuclear power industry, Hinkley Point C (HPC) is the first of a new wave of nuclear power sites across the nation which will supply low-carbon electricity for around six million homes.

Under construction, HPC is Europe’s largest construction site, divided into multiple projects covering the breadth of work required to construct this 3,200 MWe nuclear power station.

HAKI is working across HPC, supplying temporary buildings and shelters throughout. As a result of its pre-existing work on the project, HAKI was the natural fit to deliver the temporary systems for the east and west pool bunkers.

Project scope

For this part of the project, there was a requirement for temporary buildings to shelter workforces, products and equipment during the construction of HPC’s east and west pool bunkers; the latter of which was to be constructed first to inform the development of the second. These temporary buildings will be anticipated to be in-situ for up to seven years.

Each pool bunker has two roofs and is a large, above-ground concrete structure standing 20m high. Once HPC is active, each bunker will contain vital equipment which will be integral to the running of the nuclear power site.

HAKI was approached by BYLOR, a joint venture comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics and Laing O’Rourke, which is delivering HPC’s main civil engineering works. A major concession which had to be factored into the design process was the project’s scale and the site’s exposure to the strong winds coming off the Bristol Channel. As HPC is positioned near an estuary, the bunkers would be exposed to, at times, treacherous weather.

Additional consideration, therefore, had to be dedicated to the level of protection required and the compatibility of both the temporary and permanent works that would have to work in harmony whilst the bunkers are still under construction. As a result of the project’s complexity, multiple iterations of the initial design were considered to ensure its simple design complemented the complex requirements of the project’s engineers.

Project solution

To fulfil these contrasting demands, HAKI tailored a solution using its HAKITEC 750 temporary roof and HAKISPAN products, designed by scaffolding engineers, 48.3. Measuring 35.5m long and 33.97m wide, the 750 weather protection roof is a highly robust and easy-to-maintain solution which enables the optimum working conditions for construction work to be undertaken efficiently and safely. As the bunkers’ roofs will be crane-lifted on/off multiple times either in their entirety on in sections for the next five to seven years, the resilient 750 roof system was the perfect choice.

Furthermore, to ensure the 750 solution was continually fit for this purpose, HAKI gave the client notice on whether there will be maintenance upgrades and amendments to roof sheeting or beams, so the system can be maintained over its lifetime. Temporary works typically have a two-year lifecycle but, impressively, HAKI’s 750 system has an anticipated timeline of five years.

With construction work beginning in December 2019, BYLOR’s scaffolding contractors erected the works under supervision of HAKI’s onsite specialists. The west bunker was finished first to a tight deadline of February 2020 and the east will follow. This particular project was highly complex, yet the diligence of HAKI’s staff meant no stone was left unturned in the pursuit to identify a weatherproof solution to protect both workforce and equipment come rain or shine.