Tower BridgE
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About Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge (a grade 1 listed structure) is a combined bascule (a moveable bridge with a counterweight) and suspension bridge built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London.
The supended bridge deck connects the two towers and is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians; whereas the towers, high-level walkways and Victorian engine rooms all form part of the popular Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Key Elements
- Engineering Evaluations
- Fire Safety Design Advice
- Contracting Client: City of London Corporation
- Grade 1 Listed
- Location: London
- Sector: Heritage
The Challenge
IFC were commissioned to provide assurances for the client in the fire resisting capability of a number of bespoke joinery doors within the publicly accessible sections of Tower Bridge. To comply with regulations and ensure best practice, a prerequisite fire resisting time of 60 minutes was required. However, as historic door assemblies, there existed no test evidence to support a fire rating.
The Solution
Our product evaluation team undertook a detailed assessment of the evidence available, detailing the quantifiable characteristics and material properties of the door assemblies. Through stringent assessment using recognised guidance and engineering principles, our team were able to provide a substantial summative report upon the evaluated performance expectations of the doors.
The Outcome
The evaluations conducted by IFC provided the client, local planning authority and building control not only with the assurances required to retain the joinery doors, but also prevented removal of valuable historic fabric, minimised expenditure on replacement doors, and enabled swift continuity of the business operation.
