Page 303 - 2018 DIGITAL BROCHURE

Swallownest

Natural Cement Distribution Ltd. recently received an enquiry for advice on the
use of their natural cement based binder materials for either grouting or pressure
pointing from EarthTec/Morrison regarding their contract at Swallownest.

This project was being carried out on behalf of Railtrack and involved the refur-
bishment of an old brick culvert running beneath a live railway line. Site agent for
the contractor Russell Grimbley also pointed out another problem which involved
construction of wing walls and that using conventional methods of shuttering and
pouring concrete would require a
programme period of 17 days in
total to complete these works and
it was valuable programme time
that the contractor could not afford
to lose.

Following discussions it was de-
cided that the contractor would
utilise a Natural Cement Distribu-
tion Ltd dry sprayed concrete with
an 8 mm aggregate.

Mr Grimbley told NATM : "This was a radical approach to the traditional construc-
tion methods, however as it was going to save us 15 days working time it was a
method well worth trying."

A potential problem may have reared its head; trying to find skilled operatives in
such a short space of time to apply the dry shotcrete mix. Therefore Natural Ce-
ment Distribution Ltd's Technical Engineer Ian Armitage gave a pep talk and un-
dertook the training of two "operatives".

Operative Jim Coyle explained: "It was an easy introduction to sprayed concrete,
and I was a bit dubious at first as this was obviously my first time, but the technical
advice was good and I wouldn’t mind doing this type of work again."
The work was completed within the stated two days.