red letter day

When appointed to a large project, contractors must be both organised and flexible, in terms of working alongside other companies and being able to accommodate any changes during construction.

Auckland Steel had been awarded the contract for the structural steel fabrication of the New Zealand Post building when the main contractor, Haydn & Rollett, called for a change to the parabolic roof. The original single curve needed to be stepped to accommodate the cladding, says Auckland Steel's managing director Tim Watkins.

"This meant that on the north side, the roof would be lower than on the south side. This necessitated changes to many parts of the design, including the column heights. Bracing positions also had to be changed, and compression members were affected."

After the revised design was signed off by the engineering consultants, Auckland Steel completed the steel detailing of the project, providing drawings for its fabrication operations. Despite the challenges, the company still met the original deadline.

Steel makes up a large part of the structure, especially in the processing hall, which was designed without internal columns or walls. To support the large spans, 1369m-deep Steltech welded steel sections were used at the knee of the portal frame, tapering to a shallower section 1000m deep. Stainless steel wall bracing helps provide the lateral resistance required.

For details, contact Auckland Steel, 11B Volger Drive, Wiri, South Auckland, phone (09) 250 0790, fax (09) 250 0799. Website: www.aucklandsteel.co.nz.

Story by: Trendsideas