01458 270900 info@encoreelectrical.co.uk
Our fully qualified inspectors carrying out anchor point and cross street testing in shopping centres, High Streets and buildings throughout Somerset, the South West and the UK. Using industry leading Hydrajaws testing equipment we can produce GPS location specific certification for all of your fixing points.
If you are going to suspend festive or other decorations above pedestrian areas or across highways, your anchor points should be tested at least annually.
Anchor bolts and fixings are most commonly used during festive and Christmas installations. But more and more often we are seeing shopping centres and High Streets suspending features and decorations throughout the year. Occasionally this happens with little or no thought to the integrity of the anchor points – often the weakest point in any suspension system.
From the moment an anchor bolt is installed it starts to degrade. As time passes, the substrate (brick, block or stonework) in to which the bolt is inserted weakens, as does the anchor bolt itself. This process is accelerated by repeated fixing and derigging of festive or other schemes, and overtightening by inexperienced installers.
At Encore we have worked with some of the UK’s largest retail land owners such as Landsec and British Land, and these companies test their anchor points thoroughly and regularly. We have also advised small towns and villages in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and work closely with them in the run up to Christmas. We know that they are under pressure to deliver an impressive festive lighting scheme, and money spent on infrastructure testing can’t be seen and eats in to their often limited budget.
But we really can’t stress the importance of anchor bolt testing enough. We know that emphasising this can sound like scaremongering, but consider the consequences should an anchor point fail. If you are suspending anything above pedestrians or across highways you simply can’t afford to take risks.
As with all preventative maintenance, the key is to plan in advance. If you need your anchor bolts and fixings tested in readiness for your festive or Christmas installs, don’t wait until November to start organising it! Many companies that carry out anchor bolt testing (ourselves included) also install the festive schemes, so we simply won’t have the time. Instead, get your testing done in the summer, when the weather is good and the nights are longer. Assuming you make no changes (such as moving or installing new points), your certification will cover you throughout the Christmas period up until the following summer.
So for professional advice regarding all aspects of anchor point installation and testing, get in touch. We are happy to talk you through your options without cost or obligation.
