Renovation of fire-suppression tower 21 at Tata Steel
VTG renovated the fire-suppression tower at Tata Steel IJmuiden during ongoing production — an exceptional, multidisciplinary two-year project.
Who can renovate an entire fire-suppression tower during production?
Building a new fire-suppression tower was not an option at Tata Steel IJmuiden. The existing tower had to be renovated while production continued — an enormous challenge that demands creativity, precision and specialist knowledge. The tower is a critical part of Tata Steel's fire-safety infrastructure and may under no circumstances be out of service for any extended period.
The condition of the concrete was such that intervention could no longer be postponed. At the same time, a full shutdown of the installation was neither financially nor operationally acceptable. VTG was asked to devise a solution that reconciled both interests: a thorough renovation, without interrupting production.
Creativity and craftsmanship at the highest level
VTG developed a phased approach in which the tower was renovated section by section. In each phase a section of the tower was taken out of service, fully renovated and brought back into operation — before the next phase began. This kept the tower as a whole operational while the work simply continued.
The scope included hydrodemolition for the reinforcement-sparing removal of deteriorated concrete, sprayed concrete for the repair, injection to make cracks watertight, and the dismantling and installation of new components. The project ran over a period of two years — testament to the complexity and ambition of this unique renovation project.
A revolutionary method for a unique challenge
VTG applied a revolutionary method to renovate the fire-suppression tower during production. Hydrodemolition, sprayed concrete, injection and the dismantling and installation of a new part of the tower were all part of the scope. By cleverly combining these techniques, the tower could be renovated step by step without shutting down production entirely.
The result is a fully renovated fire-suppression tower that once again meets all safety and functional requirements. A multidisciplinary project of exceptional standard, in which creativity, craftsmanship and technical innovation went hand in hand. Images say more than a thousand words — the project film gives an impression of this remarkable project.
Arjan de Waard
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