As part of our programme of continually developing the quality management for all of our operations, Praeter have just been awarded certification by UK CARES for PT 1 as part of its Post-tensioning Systems Certification Scheme. Certification is only issued after a thorough audit of all of the operations and quality management on the project being assessed. This now complements our already gained certification for CARES PT 2 The Supply and or Installation of Post-tensioning Systems in Concrete Structures (Excluding Highways Structures) and CARES PT 4 The Supply and or Installation of Bar Post-tensioning Systems in Concrete Structures.

 What is CARES PT 1?

CARES Appendix PT 1 is the Supply and Installation of Post-tensioning Systems in Concrete Structures, for major structures with a high durability requirement such as The Concrete Society Technical Report 72 (TR72) type contracts and is for internal and external systems. Under this scheme an approved specialist contractor must supply and install, stress and grout (where required) the post-tensioning system.

 Why is this certification important?

CARES certification enables companies to comply with the major specifiers’ quality requirements and enable them to bid for major post-tensioning contracts.

Where can I learn more about CARES UK PT approved contractors?

Please click the link below to learn more about UK CARES

UK CARES Certification

Please do not hesitate to get in contact to discuss how we can help you.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week (8 – 12 Feb) we caught up with Kieran McAteer, the first apprentice we’ve welcomed into our team. He is currently studying a Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship at Bristol UWE and is in first year of study.

Can you tell us about your background and how you came to work for Praeter?

I’ve always been interested in engineering, and nearly did Mech Eng in university but after a month’s placement I decided it wasn’t for me. I went on to work in construction for specialising in post-tensioning and later was offered a role here at Praeter Engineering with the opportunity for training and career progression. 

What projects are you involved with at the moment?

Currently I’m working on a post-tensioning multi-strand job in Vauxhall but over the past year I’ve been involved with remedial work and load cell installation on the Avonmouth Bridge, heavy lifting solutions at Hinkley Point C, crane grillages in Edinburgh and jacking 3 levels of a building up in London. So a varied mixed of projects which is furthering my learning as opposed to just doing a degree.

What does your current role involve?

My current role is a combination of on-site and off-site work, from carrying out post-tensioning installations to receiving and providing training. I’ve had the opportunity to refresh a lot of training with Praeter and gain extra training such as becoming a face fit tester.

Can you tell us a little about your course and the subjects you’ll be covering?

The course is BEng Civil Engineering Degree Apprenticeship and is being undertaken over 5 years. My next two modules are Surveying and Civil Engineering Technology & Design which I’m looking forward to. Next year the Application Of Mathematics is going to be a good test, I’ve blown the cobwebs off my A-level books from 10 years ago!

Obviously, times are a little different at the moment, how has your course adapted to make it covid safe?

Initially the classrooms were made Covid secure and the cohort was split so the tutor will have to repeat the lecture two or sometimes three times. With the emphasis currently back on “stay at home”, all lectures are being delivered online which I prefer for the flexibility it provides.

How are you finding splitting your time between studying and working?

I’m finding it well balanced, Praeter Engineering has provided me with more time than what is required for study, the design and management teams here have offered loads of support, especially with technical queries.

Praeter Engineering Limited have been awarded the contract by Expanded Structures to carry out the post-tensioned slab design, supply and installation works on the Whiteleys development project.

The Whiteleys development is to be a mixture of retail, residential accommodation and a hotel built on the former site of the Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater which was London’s first department store and originally opened in 1911.

As part of the scheme the existing grade II listed facade is to be retained and the new structure incorporated around it to create a luxury multi-use development. In order to retain the facade a temporary steel frame has been erected to support it during the demolition phase of the project, the facade will be tied back into the new structure as it’s constructed.

The Main Contractor on this project is Laing O’Rourke with Expanded Structures carrying out the superstructure works. AKT II are the main structural engineers with responsibility of the overall structural design.

To read more on this project please refer to the official website of the Whiteleys regeneration project here.

Artistic impressions courtesy of architects Foster + Partners & AKT II

One of our recently completed projects the BBC 2 Television Centre (Plot A) has picked up 2 awards at the 2019 BCO Awards. The awards were for the “Best of the Best” and “Commercial Workplace” categories. The BCO’s awards are they to “define excellence in office space” and “provides public recognition for top quality design and functionality”

Praeter Engineering Limited carried out the post-tensioned slab design, supply and installation and most notably the precast pre-tensioned atrium bridges that span the atrium.

To read more on this project please refer to our project page here or alternatively the TV Centre’s official website here.

Great to see one of our completed projects receive such accolades!

Completed photos courtesy of www.televisioncentre.com

Praeter Engineering Limited have successfully completed the final post-tensioned installation on Level 67 of the South Quay Plaza 1 project, ahead of tender programme, on behalf of Expanded Structures Limited for Berkeley Group.

South Quay Plaza 1 (SQP1) utilises post-tensioning throughout the superstructure floor plates from levels 1 through to level 67, Level 68 being a constructed from steelwork. Praeter and WSP developed the design for the structure to maximise the efficiencies that post-tensioning can offer. As you can see from the photos (main elevation taken from Level 58 on One Park Drive) what a striking addition to the Canary Wharf/Isle of Dogs skyline this building is!

Praeter also carried out the torqueing of all of the crane ties during construction and will shortly be back on site to remove these.

Great team effort from everyone involved.

Praeter Engineering Limited have just successfully completed another secant pile crack resin injection project in Central London.

Praeter were called by a regular client to urgently attend site to solve the problem of leaking secant wall piles, this was preventing the client from handing over the area. Water leaks through the piles due to the high static head of the adjacent water table that is being retained behind the piles. Any small deficiency in the concrete pile forming process can allow water ingress through the weakest point, continued ingress will open up the crack further.

Praeter begin the process by carrying out a site survey to identify which piles need injection, piles are then clearly marked up and drilled around and through identified cracks in the piles. Injection lances are screwed into the piles and polyurethane resin is injected into the piles under pressure.

The water elastic resin stops active leaks and seals cracks permanently and elastically, when the resin comes into contact with water it reacts to create a highly elastic foam and remains permanently elastic after reacting. The elastic behaviour of the resin means that the resin can adapt to any movements in the pile cracks and ensure the crack remains sealed.

Praeter’s use of highly experienced operatives and quality products ensures that once the injection process has been carried out the area will remain sealed for the foreseeable future.

If you would like further information on how Praeter Engineering can help you confidentially on your next project please get in touch.

Praeter Engineering Limited joined the team at Expanded Structures limited on Friday in Canary Wharf to celebrate the topping out of the Wood Wharf Plot A1 (One Park Drive) project.

Wood Wharf Plot A1 utilises post-tensioning in the cantilever areas on levels 10 through to level 32, all other levels are designed as traditional RC by AKT. Praeter and AKT developed design and the use of post-tensioning to limit the deflections in the cantilevered areas and as you can see from the photos (taken from Level 66 on SQP1) what a striking and impressive addition to the Canary Wharf skyline this building is!

Praeter also carried out the torqueing of all of the crane ties during construction and will shortly be back on site to remove these.

Great team effort from everyone involved.

Praeter Engineering, Specialist Pre-Stressing Solutions provider, have won the Post-Tensioning Association’s (PTA) Award for Best Project for the second year running! This year’s winning entry was the Newfoundland project.

The awards were held at the Institution of Civil Engineers near Westminster, Praeter invited along members of the Expanded team who helped deliver the Newfoundland project at Canary Wharf.

The team effort between Praeter and Expanded, from initial concept through to delivering the project on site, is what made this project a success. Building on their existing strong working relationship on other projects, Praeter and Expanded were able to maximise efficiencies and ensure that the full range of specialist capabilities were adopted.

It was a great evening to showcase our abilities to successfully deliver such an innovative structure, one of many that we could have submitted for this prestigious award. If you would like to read the recent Concrete Society article on this you can find this here.

A few sore heads today throughout the post-tensioning industry this morning no doubt!

Praeter Engineering will be attending this year’s Post-Tensioning Association’s (PTA) Awards evening on Wednesday the 26th June. After last year’s success this will be held again at the Institution of Civil Engineers near Westminster, a great venue to host this awards evening.

Praeter have submitted the Newfoundland project for the Best Project award and are hoping to build on our success of last years win in this catergory with another win.

We are looking forward to catching up with our friends and colleagues throughout the post-tensioning industry and enjoying a beer or two in the process!