Pond Dipping Platform Installation at Sywell Country Park

Should you wish to take part in the selection process please complete this RFQ and return via e-mail rebecca.jenkins@northnorthants.gov.uk Sywell Country Park is undertaking the installation of a new industrial-grade pond dipping platform to enhance visitor engagement and educational activities around the amphibian pond area.

The platform will provide a safe, durable, and accessible structure for public use, including school groups and families, while meeting all relevant structural and environmental standards. The proposed design, as detailed in the engineering drawings, specifies a robust steel framework constructed from Grade S355 structural steel in accordance with BS 5950:2000 and the National Structural Steelwork Specification.

All steelwork will be fabricated to BS EN 1090-1:2009 + A1:2011 Execution Class EXC2, ensuring compliance with current UK and EU standards for structural integrity. Key structural elements include: Beams: Parallel flange channels (PFC) sized 200x90x29.7 mm (Refs B1, B2, B3). Columns: Square hollow sections (SHS) 100x100x6.3 mm for up to 1.75 m height and 120x120x10 mm for up to 2.5 m height (Refs C1, C2, C3).

Connections: Fully welded 10-12 mm thick plates with continuous fillet welds and bolted using M16 Grade 8.8 bolts, hot-dip galvanised to BS 729. Foundation: Columns fixed to existing concrete base via 350x350x12 mm base plates anchored with resin bolts (minimum 125 mm embedment), finished with non-shrink grout.

To ensure longevity and environmental safety, all steel components will be: Shot blasted to SA 2.5 or mechanically wire-brushed to remove contaminants. Hot-dip galvanised prior to delivery. Coated with a non-toxic, fish-safe epoxy finish suitable for prolonged underwater exposure, applied per manufacturer's instructions.

The platform will incorporate open grid grating panels for drainage and slip resistance, with optional Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) decking if required. Handrails will be installed using Kee Klamp galvanised fittings, complying with manufacturer specifications for safety and durability.

This installation will replace an existing opening in the stone wall, which will be infilled on a like-for-like basis to maintain the heritage character of the site. All works will be carried out by competent contractors following approved method statements and CDM 2015 guidelines.