Presentation on the Development and Publication of the EFFC-DFI Guide to Working Platforms

PPT Presentation

Pdf Summary

The presentation outlines the second edition of the Guide to Working Platforms, developed through field research and industry collaboration. Its goal is to improve safety and sustainability while narrowing differences in working-platform practice across countries.<br /><br />Everyone involved—including clients, designers, contractors, installers and testers—has responsibilities. These should be clearly assigned in contracts, specifications and company procedures, supported by workforce training and industry-wide guidance.<br /><br />Platform design should begin with an early project brief and be undertaken by a competent geotechnical engineer. Track loading, ground parameters, calculation methods, safety factors and verification testing must be compatible. The guide discusses current loading methods, cautions against relying on basic track-pressure calculations, and introduces a simplified EFFC-DFI method for cases where FPS loading information is unavailable.<br /><br />Testing should be specified by the designer and results reviewed. Because field-test results can vary considerably, lower-bound data should be considered. The guide also recommends improved PLT and LWD practices, including a proposed hybrid procedure. Verification testing can increase confidence, support design optimisation and confirm installation against the design through the EFFC-DFI Working Platform Certificate.<br /><br />Regular, documented inspections are also important. The inspection plan should identify who inspects and how often, address repairs to soft spots, and specify any periodic testing.<br /><br />Finally, platforms should deliver safe, economical and sustainable value. This includes considering recycled or secondary aggregates and planning for reuse of platform materials while maintaining their quality.

Keywords

working platforms

safety

sustainability

geotechnical engineering

platform design

loading methods

verification testing

inspection planning

recycled aggregates

industry guidance