2 column news

Lightning Strike Causes Structural Damage to Lighthouse

August 2, 2018
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Over the recent weekend it has been reported that a staggering 90,000 lightning strikes hit the UK. The Old Hunstanton Lighthouse in Norfolk was a victim of one those strikes and the following photograph shows the severity of structural damage that can occur as a result of direct lightning strike.

The structural damage caused to the lighthouse and the subsequent risk the falling brickwork and masonry posed to the residents and members of the public emphasises the importance of having an up to date and certified lightning protection system fitted to your building to prevent costly structural damage, or worse, loss of human life.

Following the events of the weekend Rafferty’s lightning protection division has been awarded the contract to design, supply and install a lightning protection system to the lighthouse and surrounding buildings in accordance with BS EN 62305 requirements. Our qualified lightning protection engineers will be on site this week installing the new system to ensure that when the next thunderstorm occurs, this iconic structure and its residents will be fully protected.

For more information on lightning protection installation, testing, inspection & maintenance, please contact Steve Jacques: steve@raffertylps.com

The photograph was taken from the Eastern Daily Press website Credit: Eastern Daily Express. Photo by: Tony Bishopp. Read the full article here http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/weather/old-hunstanton-lighthouse-damaged-after-lightning-strike-1-5626841

January 5, 2018
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First and foremost we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

The year 2018 will see the Company achieve its 69^th year in business. Whilst predominantly being a leading name in the industrial chimney and steeplejack industry since 1949, the Company is now looking to diversify in to other sectors of the service industry which are closely linked to the services we have provided throughout our history.

Lightning Protection

Since its formation the Company has consistently carried out lightning protection work but in 2017 Rafferty’s recruited key employees to bolster this sector of our business, most notably, employing Steve Jacques who has 22 years’ experience in the industry. Steve gained his experience working for arguably the biggest Lightning Protection company in the UK and he has been tasked to head up our lightning protection services department. With the addition of Steve and several others, Rafferty’s can offer our clients a full comprehensive service whatever their requirements are in relation to lightning protection. For further information about our lightning protection services please feel free to contact us or have a browse the lightning protection services section on our website.

Specialist Access Services

Our vast experience and specialised methods of working at height on industrial chimneys can be adapted to almost any type of high level structure. We are now offering a multitude of services in high level inspection, maintenance and installation for industrial or commercial structures. To view our full range of services in this respect, please feel free to browse the specialist access services section on our website and contract us for any enquiries.

Our Objective

The key to the success of our Company during its 69 year history is repeat business and we have achieved this by providing our clients with a personal and quality service which is second to none. The Company has always been (and still is) a family run business and this ethos is engrained throughout the Company and will continue to apply to all services we are now proud to offer.

October 19, 2017
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ATLAS, the UK’s governing body for the steeplejack & lightning protection industry, have launched an Inspect & Protect campaign to raise quality standards for the testing and inspection of lightning protection systems. This campaign has been implemented due to the increasing number of companies who are not qualified or competent to undertake this specialist work. You can read the full article here http://www.atlas.org.uk/inspect-protect.asp

As longstanding members of ATLAS, a client can have complete confidence when employing Rafferty’s for this specialist work.

October 4, 2017
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Rafferty’s have recently carried out a major site lightning protection upgrade and refurbishment for a valued client in West Yorkshire.

Following a site specific lightning protection risk assessment, the lightning protection system was upgraded to Level 1 of BS EN 62305 ‘Protection Against Lightning’, providing the highest form of protection available. The work consisted of installing an additional 85 No. earth points to the sites existing system to deliver the required level of protection.

This is just one of many retrofit projects that we are currently working on as clients become more aware of the benefits an up to date lightning protection system provides to their premises.

For more information about our lightning protection services please contact Steve Jacques

steve@raffertylps.com

September 11, 2017
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Rafferty’s have recently completed the installation of new aircraft warning lights on a 89m high steel chimney located directly opposite London City Airport.

Our team of steeplejacks are due to complete the installation of new aircraft warning lights on the sites other chimney over the upcoming weeks.

August 16, 2017
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Rafferty Steeplejacks, Brick Chimney Demolition

Rafferty’s have recently completed the demolition of a brick chimney for a valued client in the North West, UK.

The brick chimney stood 57m high above ground level and measured 7.4m in diameter at the base and 5m in diameter at the termination point, a colossal structure.

The bulk of the demolition was carried out by our hardworking team of steeplejacks in a piecemeal fashion, depositing all rubble down the inside of the chimney. Access was in the form of specialised modular frame scaffolding which was installed at the termination point of the chimney and is designed to be lowered in conjunction with the demolition. The bottom approximate 20m of the chimney was demolished using a high reach machine.

The contract was successfully completed without any safety incidents and ahead of schedule.

Our clients lead engineer for the project had this to say;

As always, I am very happy with the work that you and your guys have carried out, and a pleasure to have them on site.

Thanks once again to your senior team who work hard behind the scenes to make sure that all aspects of the job come together when they should, your company has demonstrated an exemplary work ethic on a job that has been very much in the spotlight.