PRESS RELEASE
Tinsley Viaduct is described as an iconic image of industrial Sheffield. A two-tier steel box girder bridge running along the outskirts of the city, it is an integral part of the M1 motorway between junctions 34a - 34b and also supports the A631 trunk road. To cope with increased lorry weights of up to 40 tonnes, a re-strengthening programme was required for this north-south arterial road. It involved re-painting 200,000 square metres of the existing structure and protecting 50,000 square metres of new steelwork put into place.
To withstand the daily stresses of this major transport route, the structure’s designers had to incorporate new cantilevers, doubler plates and stiffeners into the structure. It was essential to prevent this exposed steelwork from corrosion. As you would expect, all the steel surfaces needed protection from road salts and general weathering.
Leighs Paints provided the paints for this project. Protecting both the internal and external faces with quality products that met the Highways Agency requirements, i.e. materials that will provide 20 years life to first major maintenance.
66,000 litres of Leighs Envirogard M624 and M625V2 water based epoxy system were supplied to protect the internal faces of the box sections. Approximately 6ft x 12ft in size and classed as confined spaces highlighted Health & Safety requirements, especially for applicators who could be at risk of an explosion if a solvent based system was used. However, Health & Safety issues surrounding the external surfaces of the steelwork however were less strict and a standard Highways Agency system comprising 128,000 litres of a Leighs solvent based system (Transgard TG111V2, TG112 and TG168) was applied.
A similar paint system was used to protect the external surfaces of the M5 Avonmouth Viaduct in Bristol and once again Leighs Paints supplied the materials. Around 100 site visits were made to Tinsley Viaduct by Leighs Technical Advisors. The combination of excellent product and service provided a true winner!
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Note to Editors:
Leighs Paints is the UKs leading independent manufacturer of high performance coatings employing 250 people worldwide. Through continuous innovation, and a commitment to the environment, Leighs product range includes protective coatings for the most exacting conditions. Leighs Paints also offers excellent technical advice, support and training to ensure technical understanding within the industry is of a high standard.
For further information please contact:
Helen Tiplady, Marketing Co-Ordinator, Leighs Paints Tel: +44 (0) 1204 521771, Fax +44 (0) 1204 382115, e-mail: helen.tiplady@leighspaints.co.uk, website: www.leighspaints.co.uk