Steel tops the shopping list at two-storey B&Q

Barrett Steel Buildings has recently completed steelwork erection for a new two-storey B&Q superstore in Stevenage.

Main contractor Simons Construction awarded Barrett a design and build contract for all structural steelwork and associated sub-trades.

Jonathan Davis, Barrett’s Associate Design Director, said the building is a beam and column structure on the lower level with a traditional portal frame above.

“We used universal sections on the ground level and erected a lightweight portal for the upper storey,” said Mr Davis.

The two-storey superstore is 110m long, 65m wide and 17m high. The ground floor has a height of 8m and above this Barrett has installed 400mm thick pre-cast concrete planks.

B&Q stipulated a tight deflection criteria which meant the simulation of a ground floor finish in what is a suspended second level. “Ordinarily the deflection would be around 50mm, however B&Q’s criteria restricted it to 10mm and our design had to be adapted accordingly,” said Mr Davis.

The B&Q store is scheduled to open in early 2008.