Lighthouse project for Oldenburg and the entire Northwest

If you take a closer look, it is only logical that special attention should be paid to the physical safety of the workers when building a new hospital. Perhaps one more reason why the scaffolding erector commissioned, Nietiedt Gerüstbau GmbH from Wilhelmshaven, relied on SpeedyScaf from Layher, with it is system-integrated, advancing and TRBS-compliant I-Guardrails, for the more than approx. 30,000 m² of facade scaffolding for the new buildings at Oldenburg Clinic hospital. The premise for its development was that the solution should be compatible with the existing SpeedyScaf material and not bring with it any disadvantages during assembly, making it a genuinely cost-effective alternative. Single-person assembly of the lightweight, single-part frame construction from a secured level can be easily integrated into the assembly process and is a very safe and efficient solution for larger scaffolding areas, too.

“Safety is a top priority in our company. We don’t just pay lip service – we monitor it very strictly on our construction sites. That’s why collaborating in the development of the I-Guardrail was a matter of course for us in order to improve the safety of our employees”, says Tobias Hansjürgens, Managing Director of Nietiedt Gerüstbau GmbH, explaining the company’s philosophy. “Furthermore, we insist on the highest quality standards in our work, and when it comes to scaffolding, the market leader, Layher, is naturally on our supplier shortlist.”

Consistently safer
“With frame scaffolding, safer assembly was often difficult and only possible with additional PPE. However, the latest TRBS demands new solutions. We prioritise protective measures according to the TOP principle. It starts with helpful “T”echnical measures, which include the scaffolding materials used, such as the I-Guardrail. Step 2 is the corresponding “O”rganisational framework, which we have created with four of our own in-house, full-time safety specialists. Finally, there are the “P”ersonal measures, which we ensure above all by consistently wearing PPE on our construction sites”, says the scaffolding expert.

Safety meets efficiency
In order to make Oldenburg Clinic hospital fit for the future, two large new buildings were erected on the site. A five-storey extension and a four-storey perinatal centre with a total of 370 beds complement the existing facilities. Nie-tiedt Gerüstbau GmbH was already involved in construction of the shell as a scaffolding partner, and, with a crew of four to six erectors, erected a good approx. 30,000 m² of Layher SpeedyScaf with I-Guardrails to facilitate installation of the external facade while construction was in progress. “Our scaffolding erectors are fully trained in assembly of the I-Guardrail, so even scaffolding as large as this is no problem – quite the opposite”, explains Andreas Janssen, Site Supervisor responsible for the project. “Thanks to the advancing guardrail, our erectors no longer have to attach their PPE to the scaffolding. This gives them greater freedom of movement without jeopardising their safety. As such, the system allows us to combine efficiency and safety in the best possible way!”

I for Integrated safety
“In order to also meet the changed legal framework conditions and stricter safety requirements when using the SpeedyScaf System, we have collaborated closely with our customers to develop the I-Guardrail and together worked to continuously improve it”, explains René Stender, Regional Sales Manager at Layher, introducing the topic. “For such close cooperation to work, you need a common understanding of the practical requirements on the construction sites and an openness on the part of the manufacturer and their sales team to see potential for product development in these requirements.” “All of this is the case with Layher, making the company the customer-focused and flexible partner we need for our work to be successful”, concludes Tobias Hansjürgens. “For us, that makes all the difference!”

I for Integrated simplicity
The I-Guardrails is simply assembled from below from the secured level, advancing forwards. The decks are then assembled and you can climb on to the secured level. This means the scaffolding erectors no longer need to attach their PPE to the scaffolding. The guardrails and decks are then secured by attaching the next frames. Thanks to a matching, crane-movable tube pallet, the frame and matching guardrails form a single unit and can be transported together to save space. Once installed, the I-Guardrail can no longer be dismantled and therefore reliably protects subsequent trades from the consequences of unauthorised dismantling. When using the hinged I-Guardrail, it can be opened with a special key and folded down in order, for example, to bring materials onto the scaffolding or into the building. This means that the construction site can be stocked with materials even with the scaffolding fully erected.

From the North Sea to the Main
The Nietiedt Group has its beginnings in the 1930s and has grown since the war to an impressive workforce of 600 permanent employees. What began purely as a painting and decorating business has developed since the 1960s into a group comprising many different trades and 16 locations across Germany, covering a wide range of services in connection with construction and building protection. The scaffolding division is now the largest independent business unit, with headquarters on the impressive 3.6-hectare site at the oil terminal in Wilhelmshaven. It’s from here that Nietiedt’s scaffolders cover the entire country. Right from the start, the company has worked exclusively with scaffolding solutions from Layher. For three generations, the name Nietiedt has stood for quality and safety, and the company is one of the largest and most modern service providers in the scaffolding sector, with its technically sophisticated craftsmanship.