Project Brief
Adept was appointed to deliver structural engineering design services for Etex’s Calciner Platform and Kettle Mills Heat Recovery projects. From its Bristol facility, the Belgian-headquartered business manufactures Siniat plasterboard.
Our remit was to design new access platforms and supports for plant and ductwork associated with the facility’s industrial processes. The work required meticulous planning and coordination around existing structures and equipment.
Solution
Adept was responsible for designing and developing general arrangement layouts for the new platforms and ductwork supports, producing detailed sections and connection details to ensure safe, effective integration with the building fabric and existing equipment. Where new ductwork intersected with existing features, Adept identified and detailed necessary removals, or modifications, of elements such as handrails and cable trays, ensuring installations met safety and operational requirements.
The steel frames and supports were designed to Eurocode standards, and the team prepared comprehensive technical documentation, including structural specifications for steelwork, foundations, demolition and temporary works. These specifications were structured for easy update as the design advanced. Adept also produced 3D visualisations and markups of the existing and proposed steelwork to support coordination across the project team.
Material schedules were included to provide clear information on beam and column types and quantities, aiding procurement and installation. Coordination with site teams was proritised, with critical dimensions and positions confirmed on-site to ensure compatibility with existing structures and equipment. Sustainability was embedded in the process, referencing embodied carbon calculation tools to align with best practice.
Adept’s approach combined robust technical solutions, clear documentation, and proactive collaboration with trades and site teams, ensuring full integration of ductwork and supports with the existing structure and operational needs.
Incorporating plant supports into the access platform avoided the need for separate structures, reducing costs and material use.
The structural elements were successfully delivered within challenging timescales
