Suspended HAKI Staircase - DEEP Research Campus

Project Background

Located on the southern edge of the Wye Valley in Chepstow you can find the DEEP Campus which is used to trial and test industry leading underwater systems.

This former diving site and quarry is now being used to develop technology to permit underwater living through its Sentinel System.

Client Initial Specified Work Scope

HAKI were presented with the challenge of providing a solution for safe access and egress from the upper site office level down into the flooded quarry which has a deepest underwater point of 80 meters. A provision for the evacuation of injured personnel via stretcher back up to the upper level was also required. 

This solution needed to have multiple levels above and below the water to provide employees access to the research facility and the 360m2 pontoon for deploying submersibles. This was to allow for the fluctuating water levels within the quarry. 

Our Solution

A combination of HAKI Public Access Stair (PAS) with HAKI 450 Beams and HAKI Universal for the main walkway; all secured to the bespoke steel supports going out over the quarry. HAKI 750 Beams were then used to brace the suspended stairs into the water below.

For support HAKI 450 Beams and Universal were deployed for the ties into the rock face wall at two different levels with corrugated sheeting and netting fitted to create a barrier for debris.

The result was an impressive 23.5 meter suspended Stair Tower including two lifts below the water that were expertly installed by the DEEP dive team.

Safety & Commercial Benefits

The overall access system comprising of public access stairs and a decked walkway over the twin RSJ supports provided hazard free all weather access to the site personnel needing to access the pontoons. 

We included multiple lower exits to allow for the variations in water depth within the quarry to ensure site personnel would always have a suitable access and egress point regardless of the height of the pontoon relative to the staircase due to the changes in water depths.

Casualty evacuation from the pontoon is easily possible from the pre-installed rescue point at the top of the stairs from which the HAKI Fast Rescue system can be anchored and the casualty can be secured in a stretcher and lifted the height of the staircase in a comfortable inclined position.