Pavilion Leisure Centre

The Pavilion Leisure Centre was opened in 1992. In 1996 Adrian Cox Associates were asked by Bromley Council to inspect corroding steel cables supporting the waterslide. The condition of the cables was so poor that the waterslides were immediately closed.

Conditions in swimming pools are highly corrosive. Under these conditions stainless steel cables can fail at a tenth of their usual capacity. Adrian Cox Associates brought together cable specialists Certex Bridon Ropes, paint specialist Steel Protection Consultancy, corrosion specialist Coretest and with little time available came up with a novel solution.

The replacement cables were galvanised as before but painted white and fitted inside a clear polythene tube, sealed at both ends. The white cables are protected by the tube, but in the event of corrosion the rust stain is readily observed.

The replacement cables were installed in 1996 and were inspected by Adrian Cox Associates in March 2007. A sample cable was routinely tested last month. After ten years the ACA solution shows "no significant corrosion". These cables cost 10% more than their predecessors which lasted just 4 years.

The project was featured in the New Civil Engineer, 22 / 29 August 1996

Project Type

Swimming pools

Client

London Borough of Bromley, Bromley Mytime

Project value

£50,000

Completed

Completed 1997, monitored annually