A new water mains project serving Warkworth town centre needed safe access into a deep excavation shaft while preserving space for the work taking place below.
With pipe jacks and micro-tunnel boring machines operating at the bottom, the access system needed to be compact, quick to install and adaptable as excavation progressed.
We supplied a solution combining 600mm-wide AdjustaStairs, custom hanging landings and perimeter edge protection, designed around the site’s restricted space and changing working levels.
The challenge
Space inside the shaft was limited. Workers needed practical stair access, but the system could not take up valuable room required for tunnelling equipment and pipe installation.
Traditional scaffold access was considered, but it would have occupied more space and required additional labour to modify as the shaft depth changed. Our challenge was to provide an access solution that fitted closely to the existing structure and could adjust as excavation progressed.structure and adjust with the excavation.
Custom landings connected to the existing steelwork
We supplied 600mm-wide AdjustaStairs with hanging landings, modified to connect directly to the shaft’s steel waler beams.
Our team custom-designed the landings around the existing steelwork, allowing the contractor to bolt them to the waler supports partway down the shaft. This kept the access close to the shaft walls, minimising its footprint and preserving working space below.
By using the existing supports, we avoided the need for a larger supporting scaffold structure within the excavation.
Fast installation and adjustment
The contractor’s own team installed the access system. Once the hanging landings were secured, the stair sections could be positioned quickly, helping reduce installation time and labour.
As excavation continued, our AdjustaStairs could be adjusted to accommodate the changing working level. This gave the contractor flexibility without the extensive alterations that a conventional scaffold access system would require.
Edge protection at ground level
Access into the shaft was only part of the requirement. The excavation also needed perimeter protection for construction personnel and the surrounding public area.
We supplied 2m-high face and base-mounted guardrail posts, which the contractor fitted with wire mesh. The posts accommodated the project’s minimum edge protection height requirement of 1.5m and supported a protective barrier around the shaft.
The result
By combining AdjustaStairs, custom hanging landings and perimeter edge protection, we provided a practical solution for the restricted site.
The project team benefited from:
- Compact stair access that preserved space for equipment and construction work
- Custom landings connected directly to the existing waler beams
- Fast installation by the contractor’s own team
- Adjustment as excavation depth changed
- Reduced labour compared with conventional scaffold access
- Mesh perimeter protection around the excavation
This project shows how we adapt our access systems to suit the structure, space and working conditions on site, helping contractors keep construction moving.
Need access for your civil or infrastructure project?
Our team can develop stair access and edge protection solutions around your site’s space, structure and changing requirements.
