Project Focus: B&Q Superstore, Milton Keynes
February 2006
Equipment Installed
- 77m 4.8m high double skinned welded mesh security fencing.
- 215m 4.8m high single skin welded mesh security fencing.
- 14 steel security mesh panels mounted behind timber cladding.
- 6 fire/panic exit gates.
- 4 pairs 4.8m high, 6m wide manual swing gates.
Client Goals
To secure the Superstore with a high security fence whilst maintaining aesthetic appeal.
Darfen Solution
Darfen North London collaborated with its sister company Heras UK Fencing Systems in order to develop a fencing system to suit the needs of the B&Q chain. Heras UK worked with B&Q to design a specification for a security welded mesh system which was double skinned in key areas and single skinned in others depending on the level of security required. This provided maximum security to the rear and sides of the superstore, whilst 14 panels of steel security mesh were mounted between brick piers and then timber cladding was installed in front of it so as to provide maximum security behind a wooden system that is pleasing to the eye. Each of the panel systems took 2 days to install due to their complicated nature.
B&Q sites are typically made up of a superstore, with a garden centre attached and Milton Keynes fitted this specification. Six fire/panic exit gates were therefore installed to the service yard and garden centre in accordance with fire safety regulations. These panic gates then required lintel panels above them so as to suit the 4.8m high fencing.
The service centre to the store had 4 pairs of 4.8m high, 6m wide manual swing gates installed so as to provide ease of access for delivery vehicles to the service area. The installation of these gates proved to be an intricate process as the sheer size and weight of the gates meant that they had to be installed using machinery, this required enormous accuracy when setting up the posts which had to be set well over a metre into the ground.
The B&Q store is ultimately a shopping experience and so traffic gates and 320m of knee high timber rails were installed as finishing touches to improve the general appearance of the superstore.
B&Q work to a definite timescale, and so many teams were allocated to the site in various areas in order to achieve the strict completion date.
Customer Comment
Jon Pastoll the Site Manager for Marbank Construction said: "Darfen were a pleasure to deal with, you had some good guys on site who were easy to work with and very co-operative. Overall it was a good sub-contract."
