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Basilica of St. Peter, Rome
PERI UP scaffold solution ensures uninterrupted church activities during restoration work
In the interior of the Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, the dome mosaics of the Chapel of the Presentation of the Vergin, are in the process of being restored. These important mosaic works were realized during the time between the end of 17th century to the beginning of 18th century. Conservation measures were carried out in the year 1840.
The work, which could possibly last for more than one year, has presented those responsible for the daily administration of the church´s affairs with a significant problem: namely, that free and unhindered access to the church should be guaranteed for all visitors and worshippers throughout the entire duration of the restoration work and no part of this important centre of cultural interest should be closed due to safety reasons.
Because of the valuable artistic surroundings and the necessity to reduce the assembly and dismantling times as well as any disturbance to normal church activities to a minimum, the planning of the scaffold construction proved to be particularly extensive and complex. Accordingly, the church administration awarded the task to the building contractor which took this into consideration in their offer submission.
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PERI UP Rosett
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On the basis of the PERI UP scaffold system, PERI provided a solution which made it possible to erect a “floating platform” as a working platform in scarcely one week – this created optimal conditions for the team of experts to carry out the planned restoration work. At the same time, the maximum in safety is guaranteed during the work as well as for the visitors in the area below the platform. |
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For the erection of the working platform at a height of 26 metres, support scaffold was assembled to begin with which served as an intermediate storage facility and access points up to the time when the platform was mounted in its final position. The high node rigidity of the PERI UP Rosett system allowed the assembly – and later dismantling – of the temporary shoring tower from the floor to the required height without any anchoring, support or other securing equipment to the church building itself.
This was followed by the assembly of the 124 m² working platform whose construction proved extremely difficult at first due to the insufficient number of possible anchor positions. Before the actual assembly work began, PERI engineers developed four different, computer-aided spatial models. They designed an efficient solution using PERI LGS girders which were suspended over a length of 17.50 m. After this, PERI UP Rosett node braces were mounted to the LGS girders in the form of a balanced cantilever. The skylights of the four large windows of the elliptically-shaped dome could be used as points of support. The combination of PERI LGS girders and PERI UP Rosett components form the basic construction of the platform. This was rounded off with radially-positioned PERI VT timber I-beams with a plywood and linoleum covering. |
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After completion of the "free floating" working platform, the shoring tower together with the access ladders – needed only to construct the platform – was dismantled. For the restoration team, accessing the platform takes place via the outside of the dome and through the large, now-opened windows at the height of the vault transom. From the working platform itself, PERI UP
Rosett units allow safe entry right up to the dome lantern. These are equipped with access decks with fitted ladders as well as an integrated ladder system so that climbing up and down is made as easy as possible. The working platform is designed for a maximum load bearing capacity of 200 kg/m².
Pre-calculations for the scaffold construction materials, the church vaults as well as an inventory appraisal, carried out by PERI engineers, resulted in that all the shear forces affecting the thicker vaults can be transferred to the support points for the auxiliary construction and from there to the main columns of the basilica. The weight of the structure was determined whilst considering the load capacity of the basilica´s structure and load distribution. |
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Frequently, technical difficulties arise when work is carried out in buildings of high artistic value as well as through the organisation and logistical operations on the site. Even moving the required materials and equipment, which would appear to be of minor significance in other construction site projects, has here crucial importance.
Design planning for the scaffold construction work with the help of PERI UP and LGS Lattice Girder System, logistics as well as assembly and disassembly work were therefore carried out with special care and attention. Work was completed in only 15 working days after the official start to the construction site. The requirements of the client were completely fulfilled: apart from optimal conditions and maximum possible safety conditions for the restoration team members, the PERI working platform has ensured that regular church activities remain totally unaffected for the entire duration of the dome renovation work. |
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PERI Press Release 12/04
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