Temporary Works Assessment: Facade Installation

Timber Square, London

Project Overview

Liba Consulting was appointed to deliver the temporary works structural assessment for the installation of facade panels at the Timber Square development in London. The project required the engineering design and verification of the lifting and installation methodology for the proprietary facade system supplied by Spiral, ensuring that all structural interface points and handling procedures met rigorous safety and design standards.

Our Role 

We provided a comprehensive structural verification package for the facade installation, including:

  • Structural assessment of the primary building frame to accommodate installation loads
  • Verification of temporary fixing points to the primary frame and handling brackets
  • Verification of temporary propping and restraint systems for the support of the primary frame from the temporary loading and lifting equipment
  • Verification of the primary frame for the locations of the material storage during the façade installation
  • Detailed technical support for compliance with project-specific safety requirements

Key Engineering Challenges

The project involved complex structural coordination between the building envelope and the primary frame:

  • Managing the high-precision requirements of the Spiral facade panel positioning
  • Ensuring the primary steel/concrete frame could support temporary point loads imposed by the lifting gear
  • Maintaining structural stability during the critical transition between "in-transit" and "permanently fixed" states
  • Assessment of the CLT floor panels and existing concrete slabs for the temporary loading
  • Coordinating with installation teams to ensure load paths were managed throughout the lifting cycle

Engineering Solutions

Steel Structure Design

  • Performed structural integrity checks for temporary loading in the primary frame
  • Assessment of the CLT floor panels and existing concrete slabs for the temporary loading
  • Verified the stability of the primary structure to handle the specific installation load cases.

Risk Management & Compliance

A structured risk assessment was carried out covering:

  • Structural failure of temporary handling components
  • Potential for excessive facade movement/damage during lifting
  • Interaction between facade installation and the permanent structure’s structural capacity
  • Site safety during high-level installation (compliance with CDM regulations and industry best practices for facade glazing/cladding)
  • Mitigation measures for wind-induced loading during the installation window

Outcome

The project delivered:

  • A validated, safe methodology for the systematic installation of the Spiral facade system
  • Structural confirmation of the facade-to-frame interface
  • Full compliance with structural safety standards and project requirements
  • A clear, technical operational guide for the installation team

Why This Project Matters

This project demonstrates Liba Consulting’s ability to:

  • Provide high-level engineering support for complex, high-rise facade installations
  • Bridge the gap between specialist facade systems and the main structural design
  • Prioritize site safety and structural integrity in fast-paced construction environments
  • Deliver precision-based temporary works solutions that facilitate architecturally demanding projects

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