Acc & Ross College
Accrington and Rossendale College reported issues with their existing passenger lift, which had been installed within a lightweight concrete blockwork shaft. The lift structure relied on embedded pad stones and cast-in Halfen channels for support. Over time, the continuous operational movement of the lift had caused the shaft wall and its fixings to deteriorate, resulting in visible cracking and instability. The damage rendered the existing wall unsuitable to safely support the lift equipment, creating a risk of further deterioration and potential downtime. The college required a solution that would stabilise the shaft, restore structural integrity, and allow the lift to remain in service with minimal disruption.
TJ Lift Solutions Ltd was contacted to assess the structural condition of the lift shaft and develop a cost-effective and durable stabilisation method. Following a detailed inspection and engineering review, our team designed a bespoke system of full-length steel support brackets to reinforce the existing structure.
The solution involved installing these steel brackets spanning between the existing pad stones, providing continuous vertical support for the lift guide fixings. Each bracket was anchored securely into the blockwork using certified chemical resin anchor fixings, positioned at 300–400mm intervals to ensure robust load distribution and long-term stability.
All work was carefully planned and executed while keeping the lift operational where possible, and ensuring the college’s daily activities continued with minimal interruption.
The stabilisation works were completed efficiently and within the agreed timescale. The new steel bracket system successfully restored the structural integrity of the lift shaft, preventing further wall deterioration and ensuring the safe, continued operation of the passenger lift.
Accrington and Rossendale College were highly satisfied with the outcome, commending TJ Lift Solutions Ltd for delivering a technically sound and practical engineering solution that safeguarded their existing lift investment and avoided the need for a full shaft rebuild.
