AN INNOVATIVE fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) lock gate project carried out by ECS Engineering Services has been shortlisted for Technical Innovation of the Year at The London Construction Awards.
Installed at Sunbury Dry Dock on the River Thames for the Environment Agency, the lock gates are the first set constructed from moulded FRP in the UK.
The London Construction Awards celebrates innovation across London’s construction industry. Taking place on September 23 at the Leonardo Royal London Tower Bridge Hotel, the event will see ECS join nominated contractors, developers, architects, civil engineers and suppliers.
Designed, constructed and installed by ECS on behalf of the Environment Agency, the new FRP lock gates at Sunbury Dry Dock offer reduced maintenance, lower costs and increased sustainability compared with the previously installed timber gates.
The FRP used features ‘InfraCore® Inside’ technology, patented by FiberCore Europe, with each panel having an expected service life of at least 100 years. Essentially maintenance free, materially sustainable and relatively lightweight, FRP actively reduces the CO2 footprint of installations.
A proven, durable solution for inland water control installations, this has been recognised by the awards in the Technical Innovation of the Year category, which highlights products for the built environment with innovation at their core.
ECS pre-contracts director Steve Crapper said: “With our experience building, installing and maintaining lock gates nationwide, we believe that FRP offers a futureproof solution for durable, cost-effective and low-carbon installations on Britain’s inland waterways.”
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