Securing the Queen House Offices in Ipswich

In 2017, tbf Scaffolding, RSK’s specialist scaffolding company, took on a project in Ipswich, UK: a reinforcement and protection job on behalf of Colwyn Developments. The property development company planned to renovate Queen’s House in Queen Street. The former headquarters of the Britannia Building Society was to be converted into flats on the upper floors. The ground floor would remain open to the public during the work, as a branch of the Co-op Bank, so ensuring public access and safety were paramount to tbf’s project remit.

The tbf team had to ensure that the scaffolding installed would withstand the elements and would remain reliable once attached to the front elevation of the building. Our adept team erected five scaffold lifts with ladder beams over the shop entrance, which ensured easy access for the public. For reinforcement and added safety, the team also installed three lifts to the top section balcony.

As contractors were busily modifying the building, including refurbishment work to the front of the building and installing windows, we erected scaffolding to the rear of the building from ground to roof level. A vital project requirement was ensuring that the marble exterior was not damaged. To reduce the chances of damaging the marble, we tied the scaffolds through the windows of the building. To further ensure on-site safety, we erected handrail edge protection to the top, middle and lower roof at the building’s rear.

Throughout the seven-month project, we had to retain and update our scaffold pavement licence with Suffolk County Council. A licence is needed when work is carried out on a public highway: in this case, a public street with active businesses. The licence required renewal every eight weeks, which involved the scaffolding being continually reassessed to ensure public safety. Once the renovations were finished, the team quickly and safely dismantled the scaffolding equipment and the project concluded on time in December 2017.