Cumberland Clock Tower
Girder Clamps from steelwork connection specialist LNA Solutions were recently used to help renovate Cumberland County Courthouse Clock Tower in New Jersey. The clamps not only enabled a secure connection to be made, but proved convenient to install as no site drilling or welding was needed. Girder Clamp assemblies were used to construct a temporary steel jacking frame to enable the entire courthouse structure to be raised approximately 16”. Once raised the removal and repair of damaged timber beams, decking, limestone facing and the roof’s copper sheathing could be made. With the steel frame in place, the high friction Girder Clamp offered the extra benefit of being adjustable meaning the secure connection could be relocated if required. As no “hot work” or special tools are needed with the high friction Girder Clamp, installation was quick and simple and additional time and money was saved.
A typical assembly consists of eight clamp connectors, four high tensile bolts, nuts and washers, and a pre-drilled, central location plate. Designed for applications where high frictional loads are encountered, the high friction clamp is manufactured from high strength ductile iron, which enables it to withstand the increased tightening torque’s necessary to obtain superior frictional load performance. To suit various applications and conditions, a versatile adapter washer converts the high friction clamp from a recessed product, which captivates the bolt head, to a flat top product, which allows the bolt to be tightened. Inverted, the adapter washer features two projections, which engage the larger head sizes of high strength Friction Grip Bolts. The Clock Tower project is just one example of the connection solutions offered by LNA Solutions. Many types and styles of structural steel connections can be easily specified with the comfort that the LNA Solutions product will exceed all performance expectations. ARCHITECT: Watson & Henry Associates; Bridgeton, New Jersey ENGINEER: PMH Associates, Inc.; Moorestown, New Jersey CONTRACTOR: Masonry Preservation Group, Inc.; Merchantville, New Jersey
