Church Case Study
Mount Hebron Church
In many construction projects there is no substitute for experience and creative solutions. Although every job is different, time and budget are critical components of success, and having the right partners and the proper equipment is imperative. Whether the need is for new construction or repairs, ongoing maintenance, or an emergency call, you can count on High Access Solutions getting the job done. We provide a range of options for any company with a need to put workers in the air. This case study examines one such example:
Case Study
Mount Hebron Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, worships in a large building with a sanctuary highlighted by a ceiling that soars to 50 feet at its peak. The space features four aisles that run parallel to one another from the rear of the church to an open area in front of a very large stage at the front of the worship area. The space is filled with pews.
Recently, a severe Texas wind storm damaged the roof of the church building. Structural engineers determined that two 50-foot steel beams were necessary to shore up existing wood beams spanning the distance from front to rear. Because we haveworked with the church for the past seven years, HAS was called in to help.
Challenges
As with any job of this scope, several challenges existed, including:
The desire to move a minimum number of pews
Access problems through narrow doorways
The need to protect thresholds, carpet and flooring transitions
Weight restrictions on the stage
The need for extreme reach and height with the lift
The request that regular services could be held on Sunday mornings while the work was in progress
Solution
During the consultation stage, we determined that two BlueLift 85 models, with the ability to reach to 85 feet height and offering a 45-foot effective reach, would be the ideal equipment to use.
Week 1: Clearing the Area
It was necessary to move more than 50 pews in order to gain clear floor area for the work to be completed above. For this part of the project HAS devised a type of hydraulic moving system to prevent damage to the “top-heavy” pews. We also used protective coverings to avoid damage to the carpet and flooring transitions.
Using a pair of strategically-placed lifts, workers were able to disconnect the wiring and lower 40-foot ceiling-mounted light bars and large speaker arrays carefully to the floor. They were removed from the space for the duration of the repair work.
Each Saturday, the HAS team removed work equipment and replaced the pews, allowing regular worship services to be held.
Weeks 2 and 3:
To facilitate the beam work, HAS brought back the two lifts, along with a mini-crane that was positioned at the approximate center point of each steel beam, with a lift on each side. Detailed coordination with the steel workers to devise appropriate systems made it possible to install each beam in a single week, although it was tedious work. HAS support personnel worked the crane and also closely supervised the lift operations.
Week 4: Final
Once the new steel beams were in place and approved, we devoted the final week to replacing the lighting and sound equipment, permanently reinstalling the pews and performing the final cleanup.
Summary
By devising a comprehensive plan at the outset, working as a team, and relying on our expertise, all work was completed according to specifications. Because of this, the Mount Hebron Baptist Church structural repair was completed with no problems and in record time. Without access to the specialty lifts, the time required to complete the work with traditional scaffolding and a larger crew would almost certainly have taken much longer, been more expensive, and created significant disruption for the congregation.
About High Access Solutions
Our fleet of specialized European lifts represent state-of-the-art technology, with high lift capability even in tight situations. Our aerial lift equipment is designed for maximum maneuverability and flexibility. They are lightweight, may be used indoors or out, and can perform exacting aerial tasks. We are unique in the rental equipment field because we don’t just deliver and unload our lifts. We provide onsite operator training and maintain personalized ground support on every project. It’s a solution that sets us apart. We are proud of our perfect safety record, and prouder still of the distinctive value and unique solutions that we offer to clients.
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