On 15 April this year, Pendrich Height Services (Pendrich), part of Premier Technical Services Group Ltd, were contacted by CBRE/Carlsberg due to the failure of an acoustic baffle at their Northampton plant. This incident required an urgent response to secure the baffles and ensure the plant could resume operations safely.
The acoustic baffles, suspended from roof trusses by deteriorating 2mm wire slings, posed a significant risk as they could fall and damage equipment or endanger personnel. The baffles had been in place for approximately 20 years and weighed around 35kg each.
Pendrich quickly mobilised a team of nine, arriving on-site the next day. After finalising paperwork and permits, the team began work on 17 April. The initial plan to secure the baffles using ladders and new slings had to be revised due to the fragility of the existing wires.
The lead Carlsberg engineer proposed using modified metal hooks to secure the baffles. This new approach involved:
1. Attaching S-hooks to the baffle’s D-rings without touching the baffle.
2. Lifting and securing the baffle to the roof truss using the hooks.
3. Repeating the process for all baffles in the line.
4. Lowering every other baffle to expedite the process.
5. Cutting away old slings, installing new ones, and removing S-hooks.
Pendrich adapted quickly to the new plan, working efficiently alongside Carlsberg staff who used MEWPs to access additional baffles. The team secured all 600 baffles by April 23rd, demonstrating their ability to respond effectively to urgent situations and complete the task ahead of schedule. A three-man team remained to conduct inspections, finishing the job by April 24th.
By swiftly addressing the issue and securing the baffles, Pendrich saved CBRE/Carlsberg over £2 million in potential losses from the shutdown of their production plant in Northampton. Their expertise and flexibility ensured the safety and operational continuity of the plant.
