Project Highlight: Building Maintenance Units in Canary Wharf 

Lerch Bates Europe was recently engaged to conduct a detailed survey and provide reporting services on two existing Building Maintenance Units (BMUs), also known as cradles, at the headquarters of a financial institution in Canary Wharf. These permanently installed suspended platforms, used for accessing and maintaining the exterior of tall buildings, had been experiencing reliability issues. These issues had stemmed from excessive downtime caused by a lack of replacement parts. 

Following our initial assessment and reporting, Lerch Bates Europe has been awarded a new contract to oversee work on both BMUs. The scope of this work will include factory visits, progress inspections and witness testing. We will also be conducting pull tests and a full inspection on the existing tracks to see if reuse is an option. Evaluating whether existing structures can be utilised is just one way that Lerch Bates Europe can help you meet your building’s sustainability goals. Any necessary corrective work identified during this evaluation process will be addressed prior to reuse. 

Furthermore, due to an absence of a direct goods lift route to the roof, all materials will be lifted directly on and off the roof. A detailed structural analysis has been completed to verify the suitability of the rooftop landing area.