Schöck and CHC collaborate on environmentally improved debris screens
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An innovative Bury based civil engineering and building contracting firm, Cheetham Hill Construction (CHC), are collaborating with Schöck to improve the environmental performance of culvert debris screens. Traditionally these would be steel reinforced constructions, but the versatile Combar glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) product from Schöck is a welcome alternative. This is a ribbed reinforcing bar made of corrosion resistant glass fibres, bound by a vinyl ester resin. The high quality components and the unique manufacturing process result in an outstanding material which is highly durable, corrosion resistant and much stronger than steel, but significantly lighter.
First debris screen for Combar
Combar has been used for the first time in the construction of the debris screen structure at Torkington Park, in Hazel Grove, a suburb of Stockport. The brook that flows through the park is culverted under a road from the downstream end. Heavy rain in the past had caused the debris screen located at the culvert inlet to became blocked, causing a local flood event. As a result the Environment Agency (EA) took the decision to rebuild and upgrade the downstream debris screen to reduce the risk of future flooding. CHC hold a place on the Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management Operational Framework (FCRM), created to deliver design, civil engineering, culvert clearance and maintenance works in the river, coastal and estuary environments. The company was also successful in its application for funding from the Environment Agency Net Zero Carbon Innovation Pathway Fund (2021/22) – and it is this that led to the collaboration with Schöck.
Ticking the boxes
CHC Site Manager, Lee Farrar takes up the story: “Using the Schöck Combar product ticked quite a few boxes. Being a GFRP reinforcement, it offers a reduction of up to 80% of embodied carbon when compared to traditional steel reinforcement. Other benefits are that it is significantly lighter than steel, so the health and safety benefits involving manual handling are significant. The GFRP reinforcement doesn’t rust either. So the finished structures are more durable and require less maintenance, while still achieving an expected design life of 100 years. The Torkington Park debris screen reduces the risk of flooding to the surrounding houses and its design results in less visits being necessary by the EA to clean out the screen debris. We are looking to incorporate Combar more widely in future designs and anticipate using the product again very soon”.
For Combar enquiries visit www.schoeck.com
or contact the company on 01865 290 890