Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Steel buffs unite!….I’m trying to decipher why the structure has used I-beam columns throughout the site and then occasionally SHS columns (generally on the outer columns).  In addition, the ground floor horizontal cross bracing uses SHS rather than I-beams.  On questioning the contractor – who were not the designers – they could only assume it was for blast protection.  Maybe so, but I’m not convinced as it’s also used within the building for diagonal bracing.  Thoughts?

With the sudden onset of Spring, the contractors are making hay whilst the sunshines…at least a bit of it anyway.  Concreting has commenced once more, although one would have anticipated more being laid in the time available.  It would appear that the subcontractor thinks it cheaper to have less manpower and work longer, rather than swarm the site and lay more concrete in one go…once again, we can only speculate, it is the contractors baby to manage as they see fit and from the last schedule review we held with them they guaranteed us they can meet the deadline within 3-days….a big shout!  Precast concrete curtains have started to arrive on site and should hopefully start to be put up next week.

I still haven’t got access to the USACE system.  They have reworked the application process for ‘foreigners’ and I’ve just found out that I’m the guineapig…the problem is that no one knows what to do with this guineapig when it comes to IT; frustrated to say the least.  Nevertheless, I’m trying to make best speed of what I can do without access so am also now undertaking reviews of upcoming construction of two main access control points to the site we are on…encompassing a large amount of environmental, drainage, wetland mitigation as well as interesting security and VBIED mitigations.