Grand Central, Birmingham

UltraScape pro-prime slurry primer has played a major role in transforming Grand Central Station.

Ultrascape’s BS 7533 compliant mortar paving system has played a major role in helping to transform one of the UK’s busiest train stations.

The long awaited redevelopment of Birmingham New Street (Grand Central) station has transformed what was previously a dark, overcrowded site with poor access for passengers, into a prestigious gateway to the UK’s second city. Highlights include more space and better facilities for passengers, brighter and clearer platforms, a stunning new station facade and a grand concourse enclosed by a light filled atrium.

Work was carried out by one of the UK’s premier concrete frame contractors, MPB Structures Ltd. It included reinstating existing station platforms as well as installing new structures, hardscaping around the station perimeter and the creation of Birmingham’s version of the ‘Spanish Steps.’ The paving was installed using Ultrascape’s BS 7533 compliant Pro-Bed HS fine bedding concrete, Flowpoint rapid setting grout and Pro-Prime slurry primer.

Construction was carried out in difficult circumstances as the station was fully operational throughout the project. It is the busiest interchange station in the UK with trains departing every 37 seconds and over 140,000 passengers passing through daily.

Ultrascape Flowpoint grout was ideal as its rapid setting properties enable areas to be open to foot traffic in just 1 hour, keeping downtime and disruption to a minimum. Simple to use, requiring only the addition of water on site, it is poured over the area and washed clean, filling all joints evenly, without staining.

Ultrascape Pro-Bed HS provided a perfect bound base for the pavers. It can be laid up to 75mm in one pass, with greater depths achievable using successive layers. The fast strength gain of Pro-Bed HS allows pedestrian areas to be trafficked in as little as 12 hours.

Ultrascape Pro-Prime was applied between the paving elements and bedding mortar. The addition of a slurry primer is essential to yield a bond strength compliant with BS 7533 and helps prevent costly failures.

Flowpoint and Pro-Bed HS are also available in ‘ECO’ which is ideal for use on schemes looking to achieve distinctive environmental performance in their work and recognition from the CEEQUAL award scheme.

Projects incorporating BS 7533 compliant materials benefit from a reduction in failures and considerable whole life cost savings. The materials have been independently and rigorously tested by UKAS accredited laboratories to assess their performance capabilities. This method removes the uncertainty of site batched mortars and offers a minimum construction life of 40 years.

The stunning new station opened its doors in September 2015 and has already become a destination in its own right. Ultrascape is proud to have been specified and involved in a project that has delivered a station fit for Britain’s second city.

Products used

pro-prime: Slurry Primer

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flowpoint: Rapid Set Flowable Grout

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