In 2022-2023, HTA was commissioned to conduct a comprehensive structural health and safety investigation of Portland House, a 28-storey office block. Working alongside Maclarens, Arup, and the BRE, the primary objective was to determine the condition and fire rating of the “hollow pot and beam” slabs and standard reinforced concrete elements throughout the high-rise structure.
The scale of the 28-storey structure required a massive data-collection exercise across every floor. A significant technical challenge involved the detailed inspection of the specialised “hollow pot” flooring system. Our team had to develop a method to conduct a full visual survey of every individual hollow pot and slip tile present on the reinforced concrete ribs, ensuring no localised defects were missed while simultaneously helping the client define a workable testing specification for such a unique structural system.
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We carried out the following.
HTA acted as a technical partner, not just a contractor, by assisting the BRE and Arup in defining the most effective approach for data recording. By combining large-scale visual inspections with precision CAD mapping, we provided Maclarens with a clear, floor-by-floor digital record of the building’s structural state. This collaborative approach ensured the investigation remained practical and data-rich, ultimately allowing for a clear assessment of the building’s fire safety and structural integrity.
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