Frankham were appointed to provide structural engineering services for the design of a new fall arrest walkway system to the Platform 1 canopy at Yeovil Pen Mill Station.
- Octavius Infrastructure Ltd
- Yeovil, Somerset
The project formed part of planned maintenance and asset management works aimed at improving safe access for inspection and upkeep of the station’s roof structures.
The scheme required a practical engineering solution that integrated with the existing canopy structure, while ensuring compliance with current safety and accessibility requirements and minimising disruption to station operations.
The primary scope of works included:
- Replacing the existing glazing on platform 1 canopy
- Installation of new access hatches
- Replacing existing box gutter
- Inspection of the canopy structure
- Completing a quantitative assessment of the existing canopy structure
Frankham were responsible for producing the detailed design, including carrying out the inspection, design development, quantitative assessment of the station canopy structural capacity and delivery of the design assurance package.
We adopted a structured approach, beginning with a targeted site inspection to assess the condition of the timber structure, gutter housing and potential support locations.
This informed a structural assessment of the canopy to determine its capacity to accommodate new maintenance loads. Where defects or limitations were identified, the design incorporated allowances for localised timber repairs, including resin repairs and scarf splice details, to extend the life of the existing structure.
The proposed solution included:
- A Glass Reinforced Plastic fall arrest walkway system and access hatch to
provide a durable, lightweight access solution. - Specification for replacement of roof sheeting where existing materials were
deemed inadequate. - Integration with third-party gutter design to ensure a coordinated outcome.
The design was developed with a focus on buildability, safety and long-term asset performance.
