Articles about CUR96

Bridge design is not just structural performance but also about how a bridge looks and the social benefits that a well-designed bridge can deliver in the context of the surrounding environment. Highways England have recently published a document entitled “Principles of Good Road Design” in an initiative to improve the design process which we fully support. There is an emphasis on innovation using long lasting quality materials which we can deliver with an FRP composite bridge. At Lifespan we work with leading bridge Architects to deliver a design concept based on the brief from the Client.

We are now in a position to offer vehicle bridges that carry traffic loads shall be designed for BS EN 1991-2 [Ref 4.N] load models (LM) LM1, LM2 and, if appropriate for pedestrians, LM4 which are fully compliant with the latest DMRB standards. We are currently in the design phase for two vehicle bridges to be supplied and installed later this year. We started the business in 2015 and without an established market for moulded FRP composite bridges in the UK we decided to target the local authority sector with footbridges, this has been very well received.

Information on the design of FRP footbridges has developed quickly over the last few years, with the new version of the DMRB which included the publication of CD368 - Design of fibre reinforced polymer bridges and highway structures, and the updates to recommendations in Europe such as CROW-CUR recommendation 96-2019 Fibre-reinforced polymers in buildings and civil engineering structures (CUR96)
Whilst CD368 is now very much in line with CUR96, there are still some fundamental differences between the 2 documents.

We are pleased to offer a new CPD introducing our Footbridge Management Service.  To book this CPD please contact martin@lifespanstructures.com
Tailored to the requirements of all footbridge owners and stakeholders the CPD is identifies the key actions required during the life of a footbridge, from initial concept to end of service and everything in between. Through Lifespan Structures we will introduce the services that are available to develop, manage and maintain a footbridge portfolio via our group of companies, and see how we can offer a solution to wide range of footbridge management issues.

DESCRIPTION
The Client had already purchased 4 moulded FRP composite footbridges from Lifespan Structures since 2018 recognising that for a similar purchase price to a steel bridge the Lifespan bridge significantly reduces installation costs and future maintenance costs. For Albany Park Lifespan designed and delivered 2No. bridges each 12m long. One bridge was a pedestrian bridge 2m wide and the other one was for pedestrians and service vehicles 2.5m wide. Each bridge had galvanised steel, powder coated bespoke parapets to the Client’s design.

Very few people in the construction industry are aware of the significant commercial opportunity from identifying R&D processes and expenditure within the business. If a contractor has changed or improved a traditional process, and applied it to the project, then the resources involved may qualify as R&D expenditure and contribute to a claim. By offering an alternative construction technique using a Lifespan Structures composite deck, clients can often qualify for an R&D claim which will reduce the tendered costly of the scheme or enhance the profit margin.

The English Version of CUR96 is now available! CUR96 Recommendation describes the principles for the design of fibre-reinforced polymers (FRP)
It is available for download at https://crowplatform.com/product/crow-cur-recommendation-962019/
Please do contact us directly if you would like a to understand more about the content of this document.

The DMRB was updated by Highways England just before the lockdown started. We were probably all distracted from noticing this at the time. The technical changes were substantial, especially regarding FRP bridges but the structure of the suite of documents changed. A summary of these changes can be seen at (https://standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/help#new-structure)
One key change for us is the replacement of BD90/05 with CD368. CD368 updates the approach to FRP bridges. The new approach is now quite closely aligned with current European guidance documents.

The existing skewed reinforced concrete footbridge had come to the end of it life, so an FRP Replacement was selected to provide reduced maintenance in the tree enclosed environment over the Gutter.  Following completion of new abutments and associated retaining walls, the lightweight, preformed, replacement allowed fast and simple installation on site using a lorry mounted crane, to both transport and lift the bridge into place.  The colour scheme was selected to match the clients requirements.

Lifespan Structures FRP cycleway Bridges on Horsey Way, Eastbourne, were highly commended at the 2018 ICE South East England Engineering Excellence awards in the best infrastructure category..no mean feat when going up against much larger schemes, congratulations to all involved in the project! The new Horsey Cycleway crosses a wetlands area where two footbridges with service vehicle access were required to cross waterways on the route.  Due to the poor ground conditions the bridges needed to be lightweight to aid installation and reduce the abutment loadings.  The client, had already used an FRP composite footbridge on a previous scheme and commissioned Lifespan Structures to design and manufacture the two FRP composite Footbridges.  The bridges were both 3.0m wide  and had clear spans of 14.8m and 10.6m with respective deck weights of 5600kg and 3350kg.