Capping Beams
We can design and install reinforced concrete capping beams on a stand-alone basis or in conjunction with piles we have installed.
Our Geostructural Solutions division is renowned for geotechnical and structural works. Our in-house design team, working alongside our construction specialists, can solve the most demanding challenges with particular expertise in the high-end residential market, having worked on some of the most prestigious buildings and heritage structures in London. Our many repeat clients bear testament to the quality of our work and service level.
We offer the following solutions and services on a stand-alone basis or as a one-stop shop: deep underpinning, Pynford and needle beams, structural openings, multi-level basements and superstructures, reinforced concrete and steel construction, and structural jacking and moving.
We can design and install reinforced concrete capping beams on a stand-alone basis or in conjunction with piles we have installed.

We offer a complete package for design and installation of piled and gravity crane bases and other temporary support such as those required for façade retention. Our restricted access, low headroom, mini piling rigs can be used within existing buildings to allow the earlier installation of tower cranes and can shorten demolition and construction programs.
Working in built up areas, tower cranes are an integral part of construction schemes. However, they can be required ahead of the main works. We can supply a joined up solution to design and install piles and caps. This can be done as part of other works or as a standalone.
We work with all major crane suppliers to coordinate pile loadings and ensure the right solution is provided.

GSS can design and install a variety of ground beams and slabs to suit any project, whether of a permanent or temporary nature, including coordinating openings and drainage elements.

We have a unique capability for structural jacking and moving. Jacking solutions are often used to transfer loads from temporary works into new permanent works, while ensuring structural movements are minimised to the original or existing structures.
With shared experience running into hundreds of years, we realise that no two jacking moving projects are the same. Having our in-house design team and site teams with experience of these works allows us to develop and execute complex ‘one-off’ projects successfully. Often working within historical, listed and iconic structures, details matter, and even small movements can be critical. We pride ourselves on taking the care to safeguard these structures for many future years.
At Old Queens Street, the existing shared RC piled raft was removed and a new piled raft installed at a lower level while the existing structures remained insitu. At Gloucester Park, high loads were supported to prevent movement to an RC tower block and hydraulic flat jacks used to ensure a controlled load transfer.
At the Fulcrum, a series of hydraulic jacks were used to lower the existing monument in both a safe and controlled manner.
At Aberdeen Lead in Light, a lighting tower was moved to make space for a new development. This enabled the existing tower to be reused and disruption to be minimised.

We can offer a complete design and build service for piled rafts, as typically required for steel framed buildings. By early discussion with the structural engineer, we can optimise the design of the piles and slab to minimise material costs.
Our service comprises preparing the site for piling, pile installation, drainage coordination and installation, and slab construction.

Our temporary works design team can design temporary propping and steel support frames to provide lateral stability during excavation, demolition or structural alteration works.
Our site teams and temporary works coordinators can install propping and steelwork to our own design or those by others.

We combine our design, piling, reinforced concrete and steel work skills to deliver structural and ground works packages, including complete small - and medium-sized basement packages – often in challenging central London conditions and beneath existing structures.
This is often beneficial in smaller basements where it is preferable to avoid the coordination of multiple contractors or where there is a need for programme efficiency.
Structural works can be offered in isolation or as a package with our piling and basement capability.
Typically, structural works include:

GSS is able to offer a range of structural works in isolation or as a package with our piling and basement capability, which involves column removal, lift pit deepening, lowering and retrofit, the formation of cantilever structures and new full height openings, the nstallation of vibration damping systems and façade retention schemes.

We can offer a range of structural support options including Pynford beams, needles, stooling and related temporary works schemes.
Pynford beams were originally developed as a reinforced concrete solution for underpinning but are now offered by GSS for other applications such as structural openings and as a component of a temporary works scheme where working space is limited. This technique allows the installation of both reinforced concrete and steel beams.
It is a powerful solution which can enable an entire building to be modified to open plan. Used in the right circumstances, Pynford beams can form a single beam opening, a simple column/beam opening or a full box frame. We can install beams under occupied premises by using sacrificial beam supports within the walls instead of temporary works needles.
GSS also offers a range of structural support options, including needles and stooling, and has significant experience developing and designing these temporary works schemes.

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